Article on project lacked depth, context

I am writing in response to the article published on Dec. 26, 2025, titled “Grace Terrace Comes Full Circle,” by staff writer Steve Zalusky. My concern is not with supportive housing, but with the accuracy, verification and reporting standards reflected in this article.

The caption under the project rendering states that Grace Terrace will provide permanent supportive housing for “veterans and persons with disabilities.” This presents veteran housing as an established fact. Yet none of the quoted sources in the article mention veterans. The interim FCC President and CEO speaks generally about housing barriers and the Housing Task Force co-president refers only to individuals with disabilities. These statements do not support the caption’s claim.

This is not a minor oversight. Captions strongly shape public understanding. Presenting unsupported information as fact is misleading and weakens the credibility of the reporting.

I contacted the village to ask whether veterans remain a required or prioritized population. The response I received did not clarify this issue. This unanswered question is material to public support for the project and should have been addressed through thorough reporting.

The article also states that the project will generate “three permanent positions once operational.” Most readers would interpret this as three new, full-time, on-site jobs. After seeking clarification from Full Circle Communities, I learned from FCC that these roles include a property manager, maintenance technician and service provider. No details were provided regarding on-site presence or hours.

This context was not included in the article, leaving readers with an incomplete and potentially misleading impression.

Local journalism carries a responsibility to verify claims, challenge vague statements and provide full context. On issues involving public trust and community impact, accuracy is essential.

Public expectations should be based on verified facts. Our community deserves reporting that is thorough, transparent and accountable.

Kendall Schafer

Arlington Heights