BND readers sound off on Illinois 15 development, panhandling, disasters
Belleville whiners
When did Belleville become such a bunch of whiners? Hofbräuhaus has been a colossal disappointment, no doubt. But anyone who’s driven by it over the past few weeks has seen a noticeable uptick in activity. There’s the retaining wall and the decorative additions around the base of the building. Whatever funding issue there was seems to have been resolved and work is progressing. Did it take way longer than promised? Yes. But the continuous moaning and groaning is getting ridiculous. It seems like only yesterday people said Highway 15 would never be completed, yet here we are. Should we discuss ways of preventing future delays on state-funded projects? Absolutely. But quit the belly-aching, please.
Nowhere man
Is Mayor Eckert just simple or do under the table contributions make Eckert do stupid things? Another sewer line extended for an upscale subdivision, which is two years behind in development. Sound familiar? Good news is, taxpayers are only out $502K. Bad news is, the developer is named Keller. Good news is, if the million dollar homes are built, they can shop at the new Walmart. Bad news is, anyone who wants to build a million dollar home isn’t going to do it next to Belleville Township High School West. But, Eckert is optimistic. It’s not Eckert’s fault he is a very poor business man. After all, in spite of everything, the people of Belleville reelected him. Eckert should be known as the “Sewer Lines Mayor to Nowhere.”
Money smarts for lawmakers
Finally, the Illinois State Board of Education will require Illinois students to learn life skills by incorporating financial literacy standards in elementary, middle and high school. Hopefully, if the lessons are taught correctly, students will be better prepared to manage their finances and become more productive members of society. I wonder if the financial literacy standards could be applied to Illinois Democratic legislators, who have almost bankrupted Illinois during the past 20 years? Bet Hoffmann, Clayborne, Greenwood, and Costello would be sweating bullets if they were required to take a financial competency test. If teachers were required to take the classes, maybe they would finally figure out Democrats have been lying to them for 20 years, and their pension system is almost bankrupt.
Target panhandlers
Kudos to Councilman Ron Mosley for addressing the panhandling problem in East St. Louis. I’d like to know what the mayor office’s position is on this problem or do they even know it exists? The police chief stated that areas like Belleville and Fairview Heights have more resources to address these problems. This might be true, however, they also have a strategic plan for policing it that East St. Louis does not have.
Dangerous beggars
The BND editors appear to have had little exposure to panhandlers. Have they witnessed a beggar commute to work on the streets in a vehicle more valuable than their own? Do they believe the panhandler’s personal problems will be solved through begging? Do they think that lowering retail sales, thereby lowering funding via taxes to local governments to provide help to beggars is wise? And, finally, have they been mugged on the streets enough to know that the easiest way to get close to a potential victim is to pretend to be a beggar?
Panhandling angel
Kudos to the editorial board. You rock. One never knows when there might be an angel hidden among the panhandlers of East St. Louis.
United we stand
Isn’t it amazing that when a crisis strikes like Hurricanes Katrina or Harvey, Americans pull together to help each other? Regardless of the recipient’s age, race, gender orientation or ethnic background, we all show that we are Americans and we help everyone. God bless all the people who are suffering. God bless all those who are organizing the drives and everyone who gives. And, God bless America.
Non-politician-in-chief
What’s the difference between a politician and non-politician? A politician sees a natural disaster, they proclaim how sorry they are for the victim and give them lots of taxpayer money. With Trump as president, he expressed how sorry he was and then pulled $1 million out of his own pocket to send to flood relief. I’ll take the non-politician over the politician, any day.
Slave owners
At a store recently, I received change with a black X on the front of the bill. I asked the clerk about it. He said there’s a movement to put black Xs on the 1, 10 and 20 dollar bills to brand these men as slave owners. First statues and now our currency. What’s next? What is our country coming to?
Obama’s legacy
Hope died months ago for the spy mapping agency being built next to Scott AFB. Hope died when our Illinois president, Obama, chose North St. Louis instead of Scott AFB. Maybe Missouri should build Obama’s library.
Belleville eateries
Not sure what this says about me, Belleville or both. Two more restaurants closing in Belleville and I didn’t even know they were there. Never heard of Seafood by Crushed Velvet or Nanny Lou’s come up in a discussion about where to eat or good places to eat in Belleville. Then again, it’s Belleville. Another BND article says two new chain restaurants are coming to Fairview Heights. Other than Tavern on the Main or Papa Vito’s, I rarely considered dining in Belleville. Fairview Heights and O’Fallon have an excellent variety of restaurants. Since my TIF money paid for it, I can’t wait to taste the German food at our Hofbräuhaus in 2019.
Useless Clayborne
State Sen. James Clayborne voted present for the school funding bill. Maybe Clayborne was sleeping when it was his turn to vote. Maybe he was waiting for Madigan to tell him what to do. Maybe he was confused about what he was voting on. Maybe Clayborne was afraid his law firm would lose clients if he voted. Maybe Clayborne wanted to be like Obama, who set a record for voting present when he was an Illinois senator. Like Obama, Clayborne can now take either side of the fence when asked about the school funding. When a politician can’t give an up or down vote, they are essentially useless. Clayborne has helped flush Illinois down the toilet.
‘Present’ is cop-out
State Sen. James Clayborne’s constituents should take special note that he was just “present” when a “yes” or “no” vote was needed in regards to the school compromise funding vote. What a cop-out. That’s like going to a Cardinals game versus playing in one. Fifty-seventh district voters deserve a competitor rather than an observer as their state senator and will get their chance to voice their discontent at the polls in 2018.
Alvin Anonymous
I saw in the Sound-off last week that Alvin Parks is still writing his own letters to the BND and not putting his name on them. He is as delusional as the president and maybe he should send his resume in to be on the president’s staff. You could tell the Sound Off about the Miles Davis house was his. Alvin Parks, please go away. East St. Louis was better without you.
Tragic deaths
The tragic death of teenager Raelyne Cheek and the serious injuries to her friend Erica Wallace provides a teachable moment for parents. Two helmet-less 13-year-olds run through a stop sign en-route to disaster. Neither Illinois’ lax laws on ATV operations nor the truck driver are to blame.
More Leonard Pitts
I always find the editorials by Leonard Pitts well written, well thought out and a pleasure to read. I wish you would print more of them.
Less Leonard Pitts
I’m sorry, BND, but your Leonards Pitts has to go. I read his Harvey opinion piece, with the hope Pitts could write something that didn’t include something racist. Pitts manages to work in his racism and white hatred into another article. Does the BND understand that racist people like Pitts are part of the problem?
Racial-Lee sensitive
Anyone living in the United States with the last name Lee or a horse named Traveler may be offensive to some groups. Remember the great, late martial artist with the last name Lee? These types of groups are offensive to me.
Disaster doesn’t matter?
If Black Lives Matter were true to their slogan, they would have been down in Texas donating their time and money to help black people. They didn’t do that. They’re a terrorist group. Black Lives Matter is a joke.
This story was originally published September 10, 2017 at 7:00 PM with the headline "BND readers sound off on Illinois 15 development, panhandling, disasters."