The Soapbox

Sharing pain:

In their one-day session to address budget issues this week, Illinois senators also moved to participate in the needed sacrifices. They joined the House in taking 12 unpaid furlough days and giving up a cost-of-living increase. Nobody’s saying lawmakers are overpaid, but the pay cut is the right signal that lawmakers will share the pain of recovery.

Pay like rest of us:

In the private sector, when insurance rates go up, employees generally pay more or get lesser coverage. Why shouldn’t the same apply for the people whose salaries the taxpayers fund? Kane County is trying to work out a new contract with deputy clerks, but some board members are reluctant to raise the out-of-pocket cap. Why?

True patriots:

Kudos to Stevenson High School and its students for winning the prestigious Jefferson Award in recognition of the thousands of hours students committed to volunteer projects in the past year. The honor — dubbed the Nobel Prize for public service — is huge, but so is the impact of the students’ good works. Great job.

A perfectly good word ruined:

Used to be — oh, six months ago — that a flash mob was a spontaneous gathering of a crowd to commit a harmless and often pointless act. Sadly, the recent violence in Chicago has given the term a sinister meaning. So when you see flash mob in a headline, you’ll have to pay extra close attention. Like it or not, language evolves.

Putting the house in order:

Low-income tenants of the Tree House apartments in Schaumburg were relieved they wouldn’t have to move out despite higher rents caused by renovations. The owner worked with the county to ease residents’ utility costs and thus their financial stress. That kind of cooperation deserves high praise.

Don’t lose it:

Artists are dreamers, right? This week’s Suburban Standouts column told of Elgin’s Lucy Miller, the Larkin High School valedictorian who excels at art as well as academics. Her self-portrait will hang in the U.S. Capitol for the next year. As a pragmatist, she isn’t sure art is a sound career choice. But don’t lose that artist’s sense of wonder, Lucy.

Right, no one cares:

So the city series talk about the Cubs-White Sox showdown was that it has lost its luster and no one cares when two not-so-good teams play. Don’t try telling that to Jake Peavy and A.J. Pierzynski, or Carlos Pena and Carlos Zambrano. A couple of wins at Wrigley in the next round by either side and the other will have some explaining to do.

Tough decision:

Des Plaines has rejected an expansion from five beds to eight for a home for people recovering from spinal cord and brain injuries, citing traffic. The home’s location on a cul-de-sac with limited parking complicates the issue. The offer to lease off-site parking seemed a reasonable compromise, but still the city was reluctant to police compliance.

Late on Red Gate:

Times and opinions all change, but citizens and leaders in St. Charles over the past 20 years have consistently supported plans for the Red Gate bridge. Now comes a vocal group trying to derail the project, though much of the groundwork and funding is set. Is this the best use of energy at the 11th hour?