Route 53 interference

If there is any doubt why poll after poll shows historically low levels of trust and respect for all levels of local and state government in the Prairie State, one only needed to have watched the recent Illinois Tollway Authority meeting. Crony capitalism and shameless profiteering were on full display as Downers Grove was temporarily transformed into the capital hallways in Springfield.

The prospect of wasting $25 million in taxpayer funds on an unneeded EIS for the Route 53 extension proposal was merely the appetizer. The main course was hoisting the unwanted $3 billion boondoggle onto Lake County taxpayers. And the audience was hungry. Like a surreal scene from an indie flick (think Jim Jarmusch directing a version of "Oliver Twist'), an army of special interests marched up with their arms outstretched and bowls in hand, voicing "support" for the project while anxiously waiting for the ITA to dispense the taxpayer gruel.

But how will this be paid for? Is there consensus that this is the best solution? Why has support been withdrawn by virtually every signatory to the BRAC report? Why are there no representatives from Lake County participating in this decision? Why hasn't a single ITA board member read any of the three previous EIS reports? Never one to disappoint, Chairman Robert Schillerstrom summarily dismissed all of these valid issues without discussion. And with a wave of the gavel, Lake County and its residents were now financial hostages to the ITA for the next five years, all because of the actions of a handful of nonelected and unaccountable bureaucratic tyrants.

Isn't it time to let Lake County use its tax dollars to solve its traffic issues with its own solutions without interference from the ITA? We deserve better!

John Freihammer

Hawthorn Woods