BND readers sound off on Hofbräuhaus, airport spending, race
Bürgermeister greeting
The comedic saga of Eckert’s Hofbräuhaus continues. End of the year opening? Yeah, right. Hey, Eckert and the TIF clowns: When will the hotel, gas station, and soccer fields be finished? In 2021, just in time to see the Hofbräuhaus close up due to lack of business? Every time I pass Eckert on the street, instead of saying hello, I’ll say “Hofbräuhaus” and chuckle.
Pardon our dust
Belleville has been hoodwinked twice — once by the Hofbräuhaus and once by St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. While it’s true that St. Elizabeth’s has agreed to leave some employees in Belleville, it’s mainly support staff. Now we get to look forward to the demolition of the building. We’ll need to watch that carefully as it’s an old building and the walls are probably filled with asbestos.
Appointees rule
The BND reports that the St. Clair County Public Building Commission, “approved roughly $625,000 worth of work at MidAmerica Airport’s passenger terminal.” What’s wrong with this picture? The PBC is made up of political appointees spending our taxpayer dollars. This is how democracy works in St. Clair County.
MidAmerica air-pit
After reading the BND MidAmerica $625,000 upgrade article, you really have to wonder. They say the FAA will be picking up 90 percent of the tab. The Federal government displays the same level of ignorance demonstrated by St. Clair County voters — spending $625,000 on an airport that never has and never will make a dime. Kern and his clowns have pared down the annual taxpayer waste from $12 to $8 million a year, but that’s only because Kern refinanced the airport bonds, causing the dumb voters to pay millions more in interest. MidAmerica Airport is a Democratic slush fund and a St. Clair County money pit. The wasted millions every year could go to the police, sheriff or any number of worthwhile endeavors.
Senator should quit
Missouri state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal wrote, “I hope Trump is assassinated.” This unhinged, mentally challenged person should resign her position. If the Democrats don’t force her out, the Democrats will show they are nothing more than racist political scum. What I really think of trash like Chappelle-Nadal can’t be printed.
Hate begets hate
The only way to eliminate racism is to emphasize the fact that we are all Americans. Joining a hate group to protest a hate group that you hate is guaranteed to increase hate in both groups. All lives matter.
Troubled waters
BND’s recent, “Pump money was ‘wasted,’ so town flooded, officials say,” article dwelt more on the sins of the past rather than the vision for the future. The reporters failed to highlight the professional qualifications of the new Metro East Sanitary District board members and didn’t even identify St. Clair County’s two board appointees — Victor Darwin and Curtis McCall — who may be more part of the problem rather than the solution.
Kern’s bobbleheads
Kern sure is spending a lot of taxpayer money considering eight months ago the sheriff department was in dire straights and still is. Kern was crying crocodile tears about St. Clair County being broke. Spending $477 million for “just in case we need it” office space is stupid. Then again, Kern runs an airport that looses $8 million a year. Kern has to start paying off his buddies and Democratic friends with make-work jobs. As far as Kern’s unelected but personally appointed Public Building Commission bobbleheads go, none of then have the necessary qualifications to hold the position. Kern doesn’t want smart people, just a bunch of dummies to do his bidding. Bet half the commission didn’t even show up for the vote.
Democratic blather
Southern Illinois continues to decline — empty strip mall spaces, empty houses, sky-rocketing property taxes for people who actually work. Mike Madigan, Jay Hoffman, the dingy office at the corner of High and Washington that cranks out fraudulent ballots, home of the Indivisible 12th. Free stuff, free everything for you all, but most important, Democrat, Democrat, Democrat. Stop already. Your blathering is shameful. November 2018 — see you there.
Belleville, West Vermont
“The Indivisible 12th will continue our peaceful resistance, promoting our values and ideals.” So, can you all help me get market value for my house that I’m trying to sell to get the hell out of this forsaken Dem hell-hole that used to be the home of hard-working, salt-of-the-earth people? The Indivisible 12th and Mad Mike are driving people out by the droves. Oh well, free stuff is sweet, ain’t it? Bernie, baby. Belleville, West Vermont has a nice ring to it.
Recreation at rest?
What in the world is happening at Collinsville Area Recreation District? Per board member Ron Jedda, more people are asking to be disconnected from CARD which could cause taxes to increase for those remaining in CARD. What does CARD actually do these days?
Seniors wait at DMV
The DMV in Belleville needs to be more accommodating to senior citizens. When you go to the DMV, you have to stand in line for over an hour before getting to talk to anyone. After that, I could sit down, but an hour is a long time for a senior citizen.
2-1= no confrontation
I’m not a white supremacist nor do I condone what they do, but they had a permit to march. If the other group hadn’t shown up, there wouldn’t have even been a problem. The hate speech marchers would have gone home after 30 minutes.
Corruption probes end
To the Brendan Kelly supporters, if he gets elected, don’t come crying to us when Sprague appoints a state’s attorney who won’t do anything about the corruption.
Can’t ignore teen drinking
The BND reported there were, “upwards of 100 high school and college kids gathered to drink and play beer pong” at the rural clubhouse in Clinton County, where Jacob Arter died from a punch to the head. Was the adult population near this rural clubhouse completely oblivious to this activity? One hundred teenagers can make a lot of noise. The price for a lack of supervision on the part of adults and parents was too high to pay. One young man is dead. Another is going to prison. “We used to do the same thing when we were kids,” doesn’t cut it anymore. Wake up.
Blame to go around
At the clubhouse party in Clinton County where Jacob Arter died, the minors admitted that they were there for a beer party and beer pong tournament. All of these teens were underage drinkers. Nothing is being said or done about the alcohol violations. At least one fight per night happens at these clubhouse parties. This was not an isolated incident. The victim, Jacob Arter, had alcohol in his blood, too. Does he bear some responsibility? What about the responsibility of the clubhouse owners and the people that furnished the alcohol to the minors?
Duckworth’s response
I listened to President Trump’s Afghanistan speech and read Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s response in the BND. Two things struck me odd about Duckworth’s response. First, Duckworth didn’t write her response and second, she didn’t read her response. I doubt she even listened to the speech. If she had, she would have known most of what was in her response was DNC hogwash. Duckworth spent time in the military. If anyone should know, she should know you don’t tip your cards to the enemy before they are played, like Obama continually did. Duckworthless is just another Democratic stooge.
Leftist spin
As we’ve seen in St Louis and from statements by Bethlehem, Pa., local NAACP chapter president Esther Lee, there are good people (not KKK or White Nationalists) who believe Confederate memorials do not need to be removed. It’s not inconceivable some were in attendance in Charlottesville and, if so, Trump was right. Just as he was right that some leftist Antifa members came prepared to commit violent acts. Yet the leftist media continue to twist Trump’s words and attempt to figuratively crucify him. If Trump could miraculously turn water into wine, the media would say he’s promoting alcoholism, that the act is anti-Muslim, and that he should have turned it into champagne.
Removing bad actions
Removing memorials and renaming public structures are political acts which truly have little effect on society. We can all identify bad behavior and we must use discipline to make our society better. We can do it if we all really try.
Stinky fish
What’s going on with all of the dead fish at the Mascoutah Sportman’s Club? You drive by and it stinks so bad. There were 15 to 20 dead fish floating around in the water. What did they do — add some chemicals to the water? You can smell it a half mile before you get to it. Somebody should clean that up.
This story was originally published August 27, 2017 at 7:00 PM with the headline "BND readers sound off on Hofbräuhaus, airport spending, race."