DuPage referendums far from 'pointless'

We were surprised and disappointed the Daily Herald missed the mark in its Aug. 14 editorial regarding referendum questions that will appear on the November ballot for DuPage County voters.

Your contention that the three advisory questions, two of which involve public safety and the third, public health, are “pointless softball issues” could not be farther from the truth. These issues are precisely why people choose to live, work and raise their families in DuPage County.

The global pandemic that has claimed the lives of 525 DuPage County residents and the lawlessness we witness every night in Chicago, present compelling issues of the highest priority.

Prioritizing public safety questions, when some government agencies are considering funding reductions to law enforcement, provides voters with an important opportunity to weigh in. Asking a question regarding funding supplementary training of police officers, to protect both officers and criminal suspects, is not “meaningless.”

Using federal CARES Act funds, DuPage County has purchased personal protective equipment (PPE) for the county nursing home and sheriff's office.

The possible purchase of this same PPE for all long-term care facilities, first responders, health care providers and at-risk communities in the county would require a significant allocation of CARES Act monies.

Such a large financial obligation should only be assumed by the county at the direction of voters.

In these uncertain times, what could be more meaningful?

Dan Cronin, county board chairman; Robert Berlin, state's attorney; James Mendrick, sheriff