The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
This editorial represents the consensus opinion of The Daily Herald Editorial Board.
This week's Clippable Quote
"Every moment wasted looking back, keeps us from moving forward." - Hillary Clinton
Heroic efforts
Kudos to Jose Bosque Jr., Jose Bosque III and Michael Curtis. All three area residents put their safety on the line to assist Kane County sheriff's deputies during two incidents in March. They stepped up when they were needed. It is inspiring to see everyday people do something heroic.
Police social worker is busy
In a report of five Geneva police officers who talked a teenager off a train trestle Wednesday came the fact that the social worker hired to work with police has been involved with 312 cases since July 2021 - on a part-time schedule. More suburban departments are hiring help with cases involving mental health. Looks like there's plenty of reason to.
No substitute for training
While social workers can be valuable, simple training is, too. Just look to Geneva, where five compassionate, determined officers talked down a 19-year-old who was threatening to harm himself at a train tressle. The department works with a social worker, but the person was not involved in this case. Good training and skillful officers led to a successful outcome.
An all new meaning to "Hump Day":
It's hard enough for some people to climb steps, and 18-year-old Lucy Westlake of Naperville made it to Earth's highest point, the summit of Mount Everest. For those of you heading upstairs, that's more than 29,000 feet for Lucy, the youngest American woman to accomplish the feat. Bravo.
Offices becoming homes with offices
Schaumburg trustees on Tuesday approved a plan to replace languishing office space on Algonquin Road with a 411-unit apartment complex. That's massive, but there's more. Many of the apartments will have office space. Plus there will be common work and conference space on the fourth floor. This developer is buying the work-from-home trend.
Paperwork accountability
DuPage County lost an estimated $3 million to $4 million in potential cannabis sales tax revenue. The county board chairman and clerk blame each other, and it's hard to verify exactly what happened. But the bottom line is the state was never told to collect the county's 3% tax. The board and the clerk should fully review procedures to make accountability specific and clear.
Got milk?
It's a parent's worst nightmare - not being able to feed their child. In a land of excess, it's crazy to see parents scrambling to find baby formula. In times like this, milk banks are a great idea. The Human Milk Banking Association of North America accredits more than 30 nonprofit milk banks in the United States and Canada.
Play ball!
The weather is warming up and it has finally stopped raining just in time for the Schaumburg Boomers, Kane County Cougars and Chicago Dogs to open their seasons. Nothing says summer in the suburbs like catching a game and enjoying a hotdog and cold beverage without having to take out a small loan to pay for it.
Apology deserved, accepted
Sherman Hospital in Elgin took steps this week to right a 71-year-old wrong, apologizing to Betty Brown for rejecting her nursing application because she was Black. Brown, 90, found another nursing job and built a successful career in business and community service in Elgin. "Never become bitter," Brown said, "because that destroys things."