The Sun-Times has reported extensively on the proposed new police station near Midway Airport to alleviate the backlog of calls for police service in the 8th District. All of this and the accompanying commentary have not addressed the main point — namely that buildings don’t answer 911 calls; officers do.
The real problem is that all police districts in Chicago are as understaffed as the 8th, and adding another building will merely aggravate the issue. The lack of patrol coverage and response has probably cost more lives than canceling ShotSpotter. Restoring the Chicago Police Department to full strength should be the obvious No. 1 priority.
David L. Milligan, Portage Park
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Police staffing is a problem
I have read about people who want to split the 8th police district in half. They want to open a new station in an unused National Guard Armory. These proponents have overlooked one huge problem. Where do they think the approximately 100 officers needed to staff this new station are going to come from?
Well, they’ll come from uniformed patrol, leaving fewer officers patrolling the streets of the 8th District. If the residents think police response times are too long now, just wait and see what will happen with 100 fewer officers on patrol.
Michael C. Flynn, retired Chicago police lieutenant, Norwood Park
More red-light cameras, please
Today, I happened to drive into the city. Normally, I’d take the train, but where I had to go was not convenient by train. I took the expressways in, but I took the “local” route home to the southwest suburbs (just to see how the city has changed).
Anyway, on to solving the budget crisis.
I’m no speed demon driver, but not a snail either. I cannot count the number of cars passing me as if I were standing still. Ten, 15, 20 miles over the posted limit. They crossed double yellow lines, turned right from the left lane, passed on right in bike lanes, etc.
Simple enforcement of existing laws and subsequent fines would most likely help ease the deficit. Adding red light speed cameras on every main street would eliminate the debt and create money to repair the decrepit streets.
People constantly complain about those red light cameras, but I completed my 20-mile trip without a single ticket.
I see the cameras as a voluntary self-imposed tax. Don’t want to pay it? Don’t speed or run red lights. If you continue, you’ll have the satisfaction of solving the city’s debt problem.
MJ Smith, Oak Lawn
The 78 is perfect for a fairground
The 78 would be a perfect place for a Chicago festival and fairground, which could host events such as Lollapalooza, the Chicago Marathon and other marathons, Taste of Chicago, and other large gatherings, concerts and festivals — maybe even NASCAR.
This would allow Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain to be open for the enjoyment and relaxation of residents and tourists year-round, rather than having it barricaded with chain link fencing, filled with large trucks, shipping containers, porta-potties, etc. Grant Park has been trying to do double duty as an ornamental landscaped park and a fairground for too long.
Michael Shawgo, Edgewater