Posted in Chicago Tribune, Elections, Letters to the Editor, Politics on September 19, 2025| 1 Comment »
In Wednesday’s Tribune (“After latest threat, Pritzker says Trump is ‘losing it’”), Gov. JB Pritzker is quoted as saying that President Donald Trump is “losing it.”
Instead of running for president, the governor of our state should be focusing on solving problems right here at home. His deafness to the people will result in his failure to realize his ambition. He has already lost it.
— Bobby Ferguson, Barrington Hills
Posted in ComEd Four, Crime, Deception, Ethics, Illinois Policy Institute, Letters to the Editor, Perjury, Politics, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Unions on June 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after being sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison and fined $2.5 million during a hearing on June 13, 2025, in Chicago. | Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced Friday to 71/2 years in federal prison and fined $2.5 million after being convicted on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud. While Illinoisans finally see some justice, they also see Madigan’s corrupt political legacy still hurting them.
Madigan was the longest-serving statehouse speaker in U.S. history. Under his reign, Illinois achieved the nation’s lowest credit rating and ranked as the second-most indebted and corrupt state. On average, more than one Illinois public servant per week — for 40 years between 1983 and 2023 — was convicted of corruption just in federal court, not including local prosecutions. High taxes, the pension crisis, massive debt and corruption have driven residents to better-governed states. Much of it can be traced to Madigan and how he pulled the levers.
The structure Madigan built concentrated power in ways exclusive to Illinois. He crafted rules that continue to give Illinois House speakers unparalleled power to control which bills become law, he is responsible for the state’s extreme gerrymandering and he nurtured the culture of corruption that continues to plague Illinois.
Lawmakers must unravel Madigan’s influence and the control he built through little-known rules of procedure. Madigan rewrote these to gather power and co-opt the legislature, effectively silencing voters’ voices when in conflict with leadership’s agenda.
Through these House rules, the speaker wields nearly absolute control over the legislative process. The most troubling of which allows the speaker to effectively control which bills, amendments and motions even make out of the Rules Committee. Madigan designed the process so everything must first pass through this committee, so that the speaker hand-picks the majority and bills opposed by leadership can simply die there through inaction.
Getting a bill out of the Rules Committee requires either unanimous consent — virtually impossible — or three-fifths support from both parties’ caucuses, with each supporter required to sponsor the bill. That’s an extraordinarily high barrier found in no other state. The Rules Committee has rarely voted contrary to the speaker’s wishes.
Madigan’s successor, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, has adopted a similar rule by which only bills with 60 Democratic sponsors get called for a vote on the House floor. That makes it very difficult for bills without a large, progressive-leaning caucus to emerge.
Additionally, Madigan championed the state’s extreme gerrymandering by drawing the maps during the 1980s, 2000s and 2010s, plus influenced the 2020s effort. It was how he first started gathering power, saving Chicago Democrats’ seats in the state legislature by nipping off just enough of the growing suburbs to dilute their voting power. By doing so, he exacerbated Illinois’ uncompetitive elections in the following decades, leaving voters without choices and little reason to go to the polls.
When more than 560,000 registered voters in 2016 tried to stop him and ensure legislative maps were independently drawn, he used one of his ComEd cronies to sue and kill the effort. That decision still thwarts any reforms unless state lawmakers initiate them.
Illinois lawmakers should make that break with Madigan’s corruption by adopting an independent political mapmaking process for the people’s representatives in Springfield and in Washington, D.C. There’s little they could do of greater significance than giving voters back their power.
In addition to the elimination of Madigan’s rules and creating independently drawn political maps, the state needs comprehensive ethics reforms. Those reforms must go beyond the toothless package the legislature passed after his indictment. They include:
Until Illinois reforms gerrymandering, ethics laws and House rules to better reflect democratic principles seen in other state legislatures, Madigan will continue controlling us. The power to make law will remain concentrated in the hands of a few.
Madigan’s punishment should include sitting in his cell knowing his machine is being dismantled. That would be full justice for Illinoisans.
Matt Paprocki is president and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute
Published June 17, 2025 in the Chicago Tribune
Posted in 220, Barrington High School, Letters to the Editor, Resident Spotlights, School Districts on June 3, 2025| 2 Comments »
Right, in front, third from left, is Shreeya Gandhi of South Barrington before Barrington High School graduation at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington on May 30, 2025. | Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press
By Karie Angell Luc | Chicago Tribune
The 672 graduates of the Barrington School High School Class of 2025 were celebrated at a ceremony inside Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington on Friday evening, May 30.
The Class of 2025 for the Broncos and Fillies had students beginning freshman year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To Pioneer Press, Craig Winkelman, superintendent of schools for Barrington 220 School District, said, “I’m very proud of them for obviously being able to come back from the pandemic.
A graduate crosses an aisle as other students file into the auditorium at the Barrington High School graduation at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington on May 30, 2025. | Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press
“It was hard,” Winkelman said of early COVID-19 years. “I’m just so happy for our kids and so happy that they get to have a night like tonight.”
Jonathan Curbelo of Barrington offered the senior speech, reflecting on a freshman year launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our greatest challenges are what form our new beginnings because we know that sometimes the sun shines the brightest after the storm hits the hardest,” Curbelo said.
“And when it comes down to it, that’s what defines the Class of 2025.
“The sheer will and resolve to carry on through the storm is what defines a Bronco and a Filly,” Curbelo said.
“We have yet to cease facing adversity, but if there’s one thing I have learned from BHS, it’s that we can choose how we respond and our destiny.
Jonathan Curbelo of Barrington offers the senior speech at the Barrington High School graduation at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington on May 30, 2025. | Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press
“We can choose who we are, who we will become, and what we do,” said Curbelo, who concluded with, “Never stop climbing that mountain.”
Read more here.
Editorial note: There was some disagreement recently among commenters as to where Barrington High School graduation ceremonies took place prior to when Poplar Creek Music Theater became available in June of 1980.
Someone who read the comments and who attended a 1970’s BHS graduation ceremony was kind enough for forward the photo below and (insisted) we post it.
Barrington High School 1970’s graduation ceremony.
They also provided a scan of a 1970’s BHS yearbook supplement which can be seen here, and verified that graduation did occur in the BHS gymnasiums (apparently walls between multiple gyms could be opened for larger assemblies).
Related: “Barrington High School graduation ceremonies are tonight at Willow Creek”
Posted in Deception, Dinky, Ethics, Letters to the Editor, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Village Board on April 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »
The Illinois Firearms Association recently the following on their Facebook page:
“J.B. Pritzker and the Dems in Springfield just rammed a gun control bill (Senate Bill through the Senate, but they didn’t do it alone! RINO-Traitor Darby Hills voted for this crap, even though it could put gun owners in prison for years! Get the details by watching our video in the comment section….then call Senator Hills TODAY!”
Their post has drawn 174 comments and 163 shares at the time of this posting.
Additionally, they posted a video commentary on YouTube which can be found here.
Posted in Illinois Policy Institute, Letters to the Editor, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes on January 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »
The Illinois state flag flies outside of the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building on Jan. 14, 2025. | Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune
By Brad Weisenstein | Published in the Chicago Tribune
Illinois is considering whether it needs a new state flag. Why? Because Gov. JB Pritzker said “it may be time we create a new one that exemplifies the values of our great state.”
But when it comes to politics, some of our state’s values ain’t so great.
We are about to see whether the man who ruled Illinois as speaker of the Illinois House for nearly 40 years will spend several years in a federal cell for corruption. We’ve also seen four of 11 past governors go to the federal pen. There are 200 Illinois politicians on the Chicago Tribune’s “Dishonor Roll.”
Corruption and Illinois’ way of doing politics also created six-figures in pension debt for promises made to government unions after their generous support of politicians. The Chicago Teachers Union put one of its own in the Chicago mayor’s office. Government union hegemony is enshrined in the Illinois Constitution.
With all that to fret about, who really cares when politicians create a sweet little competition to redesign the state flag? Well, here’s why you should care.
Illinoisans are currently voting online for a new state flag. A commission narrowed 5,000 submissions down to 10 new potential designs. You can vote for one of the new designs, or two historic state flag designs, or the current flag.
Please. Vote for the current flag.
That’s not because the current flag is so great. It’s pretty plain — much like the bulk of our state before we started filling the plains with windmills and solar farms. It was adopted in 1915 and designed by Lucy Derwent of the Rockford Daughters of the American Revolution with the state seal on a white background. Nearly 55 years passed and a Vietnam vet decided our unexciting flag needed the word “Illinois” added because his fellow soldiers had no clue what the white flag represented.
Much more imagination was used on the 10 potential flag redesigns. There’s a cute butterfly, and one that looks like India’s national flag, and ones that look like we’re all about the U. of I. or love Chicago’s six-pointed star. But you should vote for the current flag because anything else wastes our tax dollars.
Something is certainly missing from this tally, but if we only replace state flags on the 102 county courthouses, 1,300 city halls, roughly 4,000 schools and 8,700 state buildings, we are talking $2.5 million for all those all-weather state flags to post outside the buildings. Then there are flags for meeting rooms, classrooms and others.
So, as a taxpayer who will ultimately pay for this excursion into history, symbolism and nylon, you should vote and vote every day as the commission has deemed is fair. Vote to keep what we’ve got, including our money.
There are plenty of things Illinois could use $2.5 million for, especially when our state budgets keep growing. We are at a record $53.1 billion currently, which is $15 billion more than when our current governor took office. Next year’s budget faces a projected $3.2 billion deficit and who-knows-what tax and fee hikes to fill it.
While $2.5 million is nothing compared with $53.1 billion, this flag vote is symbolic. The vote can be part of a taxpayer revolt. It can tell state politicians they are spending someone else’s money. And if this mini revolution succeeds, at least they won’t be spending your tax dollars on more than 14,000 new state flags.
It’s a chance to truly exemplify the values of our great state and tell Illinois politicians your patience with their shenanigans, distractions and excesses is, well … flagging.
Brad Weisenstein is the managing editor of the Illinois Policy Institute, a group working to expand liberties and prosperity in Illinois.
Once again, you can vote for your choice here.
Posted in Cook, County, Elections, Hoffman Estates, Letters to the Editor, Politics, South Barrington on January 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »
What follows was read into the record of the January 16, 2025 meeting of the Barrington Township Board of Trustees:
As a Township Trustee committed to upholding the integrity and trust of our community, I am addressing a matter of significant importance. In December 2024 it was announced that Bob Alberding, the elected Township Supervisor, and Dan LeTourneau, who was appointed as a Township Trustee, have been selected as Township candidates by the Democratic caucus held on Tuesday Dec. 3rd for the Consolidated Election on April 1, 2025.
When Bob Alberding was elected Township Supervisor in 2021, voters supported him under the understanding that he would serve as a Republican, adhering to the principles and policies of that party. Similarly, Dan LeTourneau was appointed as a Republican Township Trustee in October 2023 to fill a vacancy. These roles were conferred upon them based on their affiliation and commitment to Republican values.
While every individual has the right to align with the political party of their choice and seek office under that affiliation, it is my belief that holding positions as Republican representatives while running as candidates for another party creates a clear conflict of interest, erodes public confidence in Township governance, and betrays the electorate.
To maintain transparency, accountability, and trust with all the residents we serve, I request that Bob Alberding and Dan LeTourneau resign from their current positions effective immediately. Such a step would reflect their commitment to ensuring the integrity of our township’s leadership.
Thank you
Edgar B. Alvarado
Barrington Township Trustee
Posted in Daily Herald, Letters to the Editor, Politics on December 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »
In response to Jeff Robbins’ article on the Daily Herald’s opinion page of Dec. 19, I’d like to express my opinion. If the Daily Herald believes that “Facts Matter” as stated at the top of the page, why doesn’t the column by Jeff Robbins state who he is, a biased liberal Democratic lawyer? I would not have wasted my time reading his absurd opinion.
The headline caught my attention. “Kash as king: a hatchet man is coming to town.”
Of course, Mr. Robbins never states or acknowledges that the “hatchet man” Merrick Garland has been in town for almost four years. He came to town as the attorney general with a chip on his shoulder because the Republicans didn’t confirm him for the Supreme Court.
Come on, Daily Herald. Try to be unbiased and less deceptive. The silent majority doesn’t trust the legacy media and you wonder why.
Gerald L Hirsch
Barrington Hills
Posted in Chicago Tribune, Frau Blücher, Letters to the Editor, Look For The Union Label, METRA, Politics, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Unions on December 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The Chicago area’s looming $730 million mass transit fiscal cliff caused by the end of COVID-19-related federal subsidies is an inflection point for northeastern Illinois. Given the importance of transit to our region’s economic vitality and quality of life, sustainable funding for transit is a priority. Any changes to the region’s transit system, considered along with sustainable funding, must be guided by fiscal analysis and best practices.
The Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART) concluded that northeastern Illinois transit service has historically operated more cost-efficiently than most peer agencies in the U.S. In addition to reviewing potential funding sources to fill the federal subsidy gap, PART also sought to address the need for improved services through more collaboration and coordination among transit providers.
The report suggested two options for changes in transit system governance — consolidation of the Regional Transportation Authority and the CTA, Metra and Pace into one entity or an empowered RTA with the three agencies remaining intact. While consolidation may sound appealing and efficient, proponents of consolidation provide scant details while touting significant cost savings. The Northwest Municipal Conference believes that consolidation would have adverse consequences for the transit services so vital to our region.
Merging the CTA, Metra and Pace, each with its own labor agreements, procedures, debt and legacy costs, would increase overall costs for regional transit. Shifting legacy costs, specifically pension liabilities created by one of the agencies onto a new consolidated body, would not save money but would increase costs for suburban taxpayers.
The more effective strategy — an empowered RTA — would ensure fair, meaningful regional representation while fostering more collaboration and coordination among the service agencies. It would preserve the specialized focus and localized expertise of the service providers.
Talk of consolidating transit governance misdirects attention from the hard conversations that must occur regarding revenue sources and legacy costs to ensure the transit system serves the entire region in the 21st century.
The Northwest Municipal Conference will continue to raise its voice in these difficult conversations and oppose proposed consolidation efforts, which ultimately would compromise transit service for our constituents.
— Karen Darch, president, village of Barrington in the Chicago Tribune
Posted in Barrington High School, Chicago Tribune, Letters to the Editor on December 2, 2024| 6 Comments »
Chicago Tribune Letters to the Editor
I am a young Indian woman who was born here and strongly believes in women’s rights, which are at a critical point in this country. I believe it’s time we address the challenges head on.
From the persistent wage gap to the erosion of reproductive freedoms, women still face significant barriers to full equality. Despite all the progress we’ve made, women still earn, on average, 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. The disparity is even greater for Black and Latina women, who earn just 70 and 65 cents, respectively. These are more than statistics — they are a reality that affects families’ financial stability and limits economic growth. We need stronger laws that require pay transparency and hold employers accountable for pay discrimination.
The 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade was a devastating blow to women’s rights. Millions of women have lost access to safe and legal abortions, and this disproportionately affects low-income communities and women in rural areas who already face health care barriers.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, nearly 1 in 4 women will need abortion care by the time they are 45. This isn’t a fringe issue — it’s a vital part of health care. Congress must act now to codify reproductive rights because every woman deserves the freedom to make decisions about her own body.
Additionally, we cannot ignore the ongoing fight for safety and equality in education and public life. Gender-based violence remains a crisis, with 1 in 3 women experiencing some form of violence in their lifetime. Legislation such as the Violence Against Women Act provides vital resources, but more funding and enforcement are needed. At the same time, Title IX protections for students continue to face challenges, putting young women at risk of discrimination and harassment in schools.
Women’s rights are human rights. Ensuring equality in pay, health care, safety and education isn’t just the right thing to do; it benefits everyone.
We need leaders who will make these issues a priority, and we need citizens who will demand it. The future depends on it.
— Shriya Harish, student, Barrington High School, Barrington
Posted in Bicyclists, Contests, FPDCC, Letters to the Editor, Public Safety, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, VBHPD, Village Code, Village Government on May 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Posted speed limit signs dot Cook County Forest Preserve trails, this one at Old Stover Trailhead near Barrington. | Courtesy of Ralph Banasiak
By Ralph Banasiak | Daily Herald
“You can’t remind people about safety too much,” reader David Owens commented.
With warmer weather and more cyclists hitting the roadways, safety should rank top-of-mind for anyone sharing traffic with vehicles of greater mass and speed. As of early May, motorist crashes have already killed four Illinois cyclists, including two in Cook County. In 2023, 42 cyclists died in vehicle crashes.
Safety, however, applies to trails as well as roadways. For those biking on multi-user trails, roles are reversed. Cyclists are the “motorists,” faster, often heavier and more maneuverable. Trail traffic is diverse — runners, walkers, equestrians, dogs and others — all slower-paced.
A trail sign near Westminster, Colorado, offers safety advice applicable to all trails. | Courtesy of Ralph Banasiak
With trail users, ages range from toddlers to seniors, quick-reflexed to slow, able-bodied to those with disabilities, including visually and hearing-impaired. People frequent trails for different reasons, not necessarily to move quickly from point A to point B, like roadway users.
If we are all truly “along for the ride,” as this column aspires, responsibility for trail safety also must be top priority.
One Northwest suburban reader who walks frequently with her husband in numerous parks and forest preserves expressed frustration with zooming cyclists. Her complaint: they approach too fast and offer little warning or none at all. Consequently, the couple avoid Fabbrini Park and Barrington Road Pond in Hoffman Estates, and especially Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village.
Her fears are not unfounded. A June 2013 bike-pedestrian crash at Lake Arlington took the life of a trail walker there. A young biker collided with a 74-year-old woman who died from a head injury two weeks later (dailyherald.com/20130709/news/fatal-lake-arlington-trail-accident-renews-calls-for-safety).
The woman’s death led to improvements by the Arlington Heights Park District that included painted path arrows, directional signage and a change in the flow of biking vs. foot traffic.
Yelling is free
Cyclists can use horns, whistles or bells to signal their approach from behind. These inexpensive devices break the ambient calm of Mother Nature, easily heard even on windy days. Of course, yelling costs you nothing.
It’s just pure courtesy to alert someone you are about to pass. By the way, this also applies to all you speedier cyclists when overtaking riders like me.
Read more here.
Join the ride. Contact Ralph Banasiak at alongfortheridemail@gmail.com.
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