The Soapbox

Hit the jackpot?

Well, did ya win? Did ya? Did ya? Yeah, neither did we. Oh well.

Then again ...

One or two people may have proved themselves “geniuses” by turning a few-dollar investment into hundreds of millions. But scores of millions of the rest of us who just watched our dollars vanish without a trace aren’t feeling nearly so smart.

Hello, are you listening?

Closing Spectrum Youth Center “is probably the biggest decision we made during our time,” Schaumburg Township Supervisor Mary Wroblewski says — a decision made easier, no doubt, by not talking to anyone beforehand. Government agencies aren’t entitled to perpetual life, but it’s cavalier to act with no chance for comments from those affected.

Foaming at the mouth:

One of the basic duties of a county health department is ensuring pets are properly vaccinated. Well, Kane County pretty well blew that, sending out a slew of tickets for expired rabies tags when it was the county’s information that was out of date. Now the county needs to spend $30,000 to set things straight.

Political traffic jam:

Sigh. Thanks to a handful of dig-in-your-heels congressmen, the U.S. House was still stalled over a major transportation bill with significant repercussions for the suburbs at the deadline this week. Result? Another 90-day crisis extension. Stopgap No. 9 since 2009. This cannot continue.

When a ‘cop’ stops you:

It’s easy for teen drivers to be intimidated by a man with a badge, which makes it even more important they understand what to do when pulled over. Take a lesson from a Barrington girl who escaped physical harm after being stopped by an impostor. Stop in a well-lighted area, don’t get out of the car and call 911 if there is any suspicion.

Empowering residents:

Kudos to Hanover Park officials who are working to connect residents with various resources for assistance through a communitywide fair and seminar April 14. Through their efforts, families and individuals who have been hit hard by the economy will have a single place to find the help they need.

Jackpot redux:

And kudos, too, to Des Plaines aldermen who are moving toward adopting guidelines for spending casino revenue that prevent folding the money into the operating budget. Flooding and sewer work do sound like a top priority for this funding, for starters.

While sitting in traffic ...

If there’s any thought to ease the pain of the rebuilding of massive ramps near O’Hare International Airport, we can know that hundreds of construction workers are putting food on their tables and helping to hasten an economic recovery. Feel better?

Been there, done that:

An international panel of scientists this week said global warming is leading to such severe storms and heat waves that nations should prepare for an unprecedented onslaught of costly weather disasters. Alarming? Maybe. But having endured Chicago’s extreme weather under normal conditions, we don’t need global warming to understand what others face.

Rejection hurts:

So, the University of Illinois athletic director was rejected at least twice — and perhaps as many as five times — before hiring a men’s basketball coach from Ohio University. You’re not alone, Mike Thomas. A lot of great students around the state who were rejected by U of I over the years know exactly how you feel.