Aid for rule breakers

During the Oct. 27 meeting of the Finance Committee of the DuPage County Board, a proposal to offer grants totaling $2.5 million to restaurants and bars to help them get through the pandemic was discussed. A common-sense amendment was offered that would ask those bars and restaurants applying for public dollars to certify that they were abiding by all state and county rules regarding occupancy, indoor dining, mask mandates, social distancing, etc.

In a total abdication of this duty, the GOP-dominated board voted down the amendment, with Republican Board members spouting the same old talking points about regulations, allowing businesses to regulate themselves, and finally, unbelievably, that the reason we can't ask businesses to certify they are following the law before we reward them with our tax dollars ... it's just too hard to enforce.

The first duty of any public governing body is to protect the health and safety of the citizens it represents. If this is too hard to do for some county board members, perhaps they should be replaced.

Mike Malone

Glen Ellyn