Letter: A candidate's silence
Congressional candidate Keith Pekau claims Orland Park is the safest community in Cook County. As a resident of Palatine, I take issue with that.
According to the FBI's crime statistics, Palatine's crime rate dropped 44% from 2017 to 2019, while Orland Park's crime rate only dropped by 28%. According to the records from each village, Palatine maintained a lower crime rate than Orland Park in 2020 and 2021.
Both villages are in Cook County. Both are under State's Attorney Kim Foxx's jurisdiction. Yet despite having a larger population, Palatine still managed to have a lower crime rate than Orland Park. Fortunately, our mayor isn't looking for a promotion.
I think at the very least, a candidate sincerely concerned about crime would denounce the vandalization of the UpRising Bakery and renounce any support from the Proud Boys for their intimidation tactics against local boards and their role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Pekau's silence suggests that his real motto is Pekau over people and politics.
William Brinkman
Palatine
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