The article “Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget is ‘dead on arrival,’ Council critic says” on Oct. 31 was probably right on target. Who wants to pay more property tax, which is probably the most unjust tax of all?
Johnson is proposing to raise property taxes to balance the budget, even though when running for election he said he would not do so. He refuses to institute furloughs or layoffs because of the unions. He instituted a hiring freeze, but I see no action on this.
The aldermen are up in arms about the property tax increases, rightly so, but I have not noted many proposals from them to make up for the deficit. Moreover, amid their angst, 48 of 50 aldermen decided to take their cost-of-living pay increase, surely knowing that this would add to the deficit. City Clerk Anna Valencia and Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin likewise did not turn down the pay increase. Such a profile in courage. It’s like, “I’ll take mine, but you have to pay for it.”
Today’s politicians at every level of government do not know how to cut expenses. They only know how to create more programs and how to raise more money through all kinds of taxes.
It will be interesting to see who wins this round: the mayor or the aldermen. Certainly not the taxpayers.
Mario Caruso, Lincoln Square
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Step up coverage of nation, world
Thank you for your editorial in the Nov. 3 paper comparing Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on the major issues of the campaign. I understand your policy as a nonprofit of not making endorsements. Seeing the facts spelled out for each candidate’s proposals allowed each voter to make their own decision.
The facts were clear to me as to which candidate was better for Chicago, Illinois and the country. With the editors of the other Chicago paper losing their spines, the Sun-Times staff must step up. Your limited budget may prevent you from hiring more reporters, but you must give more emphasis to covering national and world news.
Some low-cost ways may be to expand your letters to the editor section and guest opinions. The most important decision would cost you nothing. Please move the Nation/World section closer to the front of the paper instead of hiding it with the obituaries and classifieds.
John Regan, Lemont
Right choice for border
Trump’s choice for border czar, Tom Homan, is a great choice. He has a chance to reduce illegal border crossings of people from all over the world. Starting with the most dangerous criminals first, a mass deportation program will begin. The current administration has left a lot of problems that need to be undone.
Local law enforcement will probably be encouraged to help with the process. Democratic governors will oppose the effort. “Sanctuary city” status may need to be eliminated.
Bill Fischer, Plainfield
Keep up climate fight
As a voter and lifelong resident of Illinois, I cast my vote in this recent election with climate change at the forefront of my mind. The progressing state of extreme weather in our home state is disturbing, and I fear that we have not seen the worst of it yet.
However, I believe in this fight on all levels, both in our backyards and in Washington. I ask that you do whatever you can to support climate-based legislation in both the final days of this Congress and the next, and support citizen-powered campaigns such as the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Though things may seem uncertain now, I believe that we can still win.
Jack Purcell, Batavia