The Soapbox

Regional outlook:

As Rahm Emanuel prepares to replace Richard Daley as mayor of Chicago, we add our voice to the chorus from suburban leaders reacting to his victory last week. Work actively with the suburbs. Open lines of communication will be good for everybody.

Budgeting lessons:

The Cook County Board and President Toni Preckwinkle seem intent on proving that government can make deep, reasoned spending cuts. Friday, the board affirmed early a plan to eliminate all of a hated sales tax increase. Who'd have thought that Cook County — unions and all — would be the model for getting spending under control?

Speaking of control:

Stepping in after the felony-convicted Lake County coroner's departure, Sheriff Mark Curran says he's re-educating deputy coroners on their “real duties.” Clearly that's an office that needs some new direction, but Curran may be premature to declare it understaffed. That may or may not prove true when employees are doing their “real duties.”

Is Lite-Brite next?

Sounds like the old cook-with-a-lightbulb Easy-Bake Oven will morph into what's basically a child-safe electric toaster oven once sales of 100-watt incandescent light bulbs end Dec. 31, as columnist Burt Constable wrote this week. That's really taking the heat off.

Added safety worth the cost?

Chicago Executive Airport plans to spend $12 million on a system to prevent planes from overshooting runways, something that's happened twice in 22 years with no injuries. All but 2.5 percent of the cost would come from the federal and state governments. Safer yes, but is this the best investment for our cash-strapped governments?

Today's lesson is . . .

There's a real good reason for those flashing yellow lights on roads adjacent to schools: Safety for all involved, especially the children. So when we're doing the required 20 mph, don't compound your unnecessary rush by sitting behind us and honking.

Monday's black ice damage:

We editors witnessed the consequences of black ice Monday on Route 53 in the Northwest suburbs: endless accidents. One of us was in one, resulting in two totaled cars and a frightened teenage driver. We sure wish IDOT hadn't been so surprised by the freezing rain.

Handling those accidents:

State police had to go into emergency mode with that black ice, forcing accidents victims to take notes themselves and file reports later. Understandable. What we didn't expect was the state police being so difficult to deal with the next day when people were trying to file reports. Or at least difficult at the Des Plaines headquarters.

A bright side to high gas prices:

Responding to high gas prices, two suburban residents told us they'll ride their bikes to work once it gets warmer. If more take that option seriously, that's a good side effect of the costly gas.

A voice in D.C.:

Congratulations to Superintendent Jose Torres of Elgin Area School District U-46, who has been named to a high-powered Department of Education commission looking at equity and excellence in education. He can bring to the table funding inequities his district has faced.