Saturday Soapbox: Cook County
Mt. Prospect steps up to challenge
Mount Prospect officials this week unanimously backed the idea of a south side neighborhood center, one that would offer outreach resources to an area that sometimes struggles to adapt to its large immigrant population. Further research is needed on location, cost and feasibility, given municipal funding challenges, but the news has already brought a barrage of complaints to village hall and in online story commenting at the Daily Herald. As Mayor Irvana Wilks said, in the current furor over broken borders, many people incorrectly equate "immigrant" with "illegal" -- and this center would be available to all residents not just recent immigrants. But with a population that is a quarter foreign born and dozens of ethnic groups represented in the schools, the village is wise to be proactive in dealing with issues that aren't going away.
Tony Arredia, role model
Kudos to Des Plaines and its new Pounds Down program, encouraging residents to get healthier. As anybody who has ever tried to shed weight can tell you, it's a lot easier to do it with the support of others than struggling along in solitary self-denial. And let's hear it for Mayor Tony Arredia, who has clearly been practicing what he preaches. Looking good, mayor!
Kitty in Packham's (gun) sights?
Candid, yes. Refreshingly so, not so much. Hanover Park Trustee Robert Packham showed a frankness rare for a politician when he said during a village board discussion last week about controlling the feral cats population, "It if was up to me, I'd buy more bullets for the police department." He complained that we live in an age of "raging political correctness and nobody wants to hurt these cats' self-esteem." But Packham is reducing the issue to a gross oversimplification. And, come on, do we really want to grant police the power to shoot feral cats on sight?
Felony conviction is major shout-out
When a Lake County jury convicted a Fox River Grove teen of falsely making a terrorist threat this week, it should have shot a resounding message through every Internet Web site. In this case, 17-year-old Jeremie Dalin, a former Barrington High School student, posed as a Stevenson High School student while posting a threat against the Lincolnshire school on a Web site. His posting was on the Internet for less than 10 minutes, but police and the FBI identified him within a day. Dalin claims he didn't know a Stevenson High was near his home, and he was just trying to "stand out" on a site that views violence, rape and racial slurs as humorous. What he got was a felony conviction that will follow him for the rest of his life. His case should be proof such pranks are no laughing matter.
Fiscally irresponsible graffiti
Paper signs in the men's restrooms at the DuPage County courthouse remind gentlemen to flush urinals. However, several of the signs have been tagged by a few of the lazier users demanding the county get urinals that flush automatically. One example: "Cook County has them". To the vandals, remember your suggestion when the judge levies your fine at a higher level than your attorney anticipated to cover the cost of your reckless suggestion. Now that would be flushing money down the toilet.
Waiting room Web
Here's a thought for all the doctors' offices, car repair shops and other places where people have to sit and wait: Invest in wireless Internet access for customers. With many people carrying laptop computers, it would be nice if, when stuck waiting through an oil change or for your turn to see the doc, you could surf the Web or connect to your workplace server. Beats reading old copies of Parenting or Golf Digest.