Soapbox: Big Pay, No Work II
It's bad enough a spineless Elgin Area School District U-46 school board obligated Elgin taxpayers to bankroll Connie Neale's lavish retirement in Missouri. But this week, for reasons no one at city hall would explain, the police department placed embattled officer Jesus "Jesse" Padron on paid leave a week after an arbitrator ruled he had to be given his job back. Padron has said he makes $60,000 a year, not including benefits and overtime. "He is drawing pay for sitting at home doing nothing, which I'm sure the taxpayers are thrilled about," his attorney quipped. Apparently, the joke is on us.
Words to remember
Though prevented from interrupting a recent Minuteman meeting, Latinos Unidos, McHenry County College's Latino student organization, still got the right message. They understood the need to stand and be counted in spite of criticism. In a post-meeting news release, they pointed to the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at the times of challenge and controversy." Words to remember in a democratic system.
Moving graduation?
In the suburbs, the idea of having high school graduations in large arenas like the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates is nothing new. So why all the secrecy surrounding a possible move there by St. Charles School District 303? If moving it there means there's room for Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Joe and Aunt Susie, why not do it? The costs are the same, according to the school board president. Sitting in comfy seats in an 11,000-seat arena doesn't compare to jockeying for bleacher space in crowded, hot and sticky gyms.
Who loses here?
The Big Ten Network-vs.-Comcast television war is getting a lot of attention, but in this battle -- like most between two rich and powerful competing interests -- the public is losing. You could say the big cable company is squeezing everyone for more profits. But are the public universities planning to dump some of their profits back to the states -- and taxpayers -- who support them? Maybe the two parties could agree to air the games and taxpayers could get some relief in the form of a cut of the network's profits.
Still doesn't get it
Isn't it a sad thing that when an Illinois politician is sent off to serve his prison sentence, as former Gov. George Ryan was this week, there's a ready supply of ex-con politicians available to give him advice. "You can't change things now, so you get on with your life," said Ambrosio Medrano, a disgraced former Chicago alderman. "Corrupt politicians, corrupt police officers, corrupt attorneys are generally looked down upon" by prison administrators. "I assume that it's because we've so-called 'betrayed the public trust.'" There's nothing "so-called" about it. And it's clear Medrano still doesn't get it. May George Ryan be a quicker study.
Killer Kirk to Risky Randall
It used to be Killer Kirk. Now it is Risky Randall that is the most dangerous road to drive in Kane County. In terms of accidents, various intersections along Randall Road rate as nine of the county's top 10 most dangerous intersections, with a Kirk intersection comprising the last. Huntley Road at Randall had the most crashes and crashes with injuries. Just a short distance away, Route 72 at Randall had the most fatal crashes. Which pretty much explains why Sleepy Hollow resident Betty Brewster won't let the newest driver in her household drive on Randall. Would that we all had that choice.