LETTERS
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BEACH CLOSURE UNFAIR I am concerned about the future of the Springfield beach, especially following the huge damage award against the city. I fear this will be the final death knell of this important local recreation site. It was the only lake swimming available to those who can’t afford to own beachfront property or a party barge. I now drive 50 miles to Clinton beach, a similar facility, to enjoy swimming. There are no lifeguards, as with most beaches, and no dividers between deep and shallow water. It is sloped. The farther out you go, the deeper the water. There is a prominent sign at the modestly priced ($1) entrance booth warning, “No lifeguards, swim at your own risk.” This is the way most public beaches are operated. Springfield beach closed just after the drowning, I’m assuming, despite other excuses, because of this tragedy.
It isn’t fair to the public.
Highways aren’t closed because of fatal auto accidents. I think it is just something CWLP doesn’t want to be bothered with. I have been told that the lifeguard jobs were, for the most part, summer jobs for children of city employees. That’s OK; give them jobs picking up litter. The beach reopened for awhile, and then closed again with the excuse of low attendance. Let me tell you the reason for that: They only reopened the shallow water that was only about the depth of a hot tub and totally unsuitable for swimming. That information was conveniently left out of reports. Reopen Springfield beach for swimming at our own risk. Springfield needs it. Michael J. Hart Springfield
SUPPORT CLEAN WATERWAYS This week, polluters and their allies on Capitol Hill launched a new round of attacks against clean water. Their target? A rule proposed by the EPA to restore Clean Water Act protections to thousands of streams and wetlands across the country, including those that help feed all Illinois rivers and help provide drinking water for over 1.6 million Illinoisans.
The clean water rule has drawn considerable support from more than 800,000 Americans, including mayors, aldermen and other elected officials here in Illinois. Yet a wide range of polluting industries from oil and gas to corporate agribusiness has been lobbying furiously to derail it. Wednesday’s joint hearings in Congress were clearly intended to set the stage for votes to block the EPA from finalizing this vital clean water protection.
The Great Lakes, the Mississippi River and all of our waterways need a strong defense from the latest dirty water attack while there is still time. Voice your support for clean water today. Matt Eisenbart Environment Illinois
BUSINESS AS USUAL This week, we learned that the sibling of a top aide to the governor got a nice state job in spite of a hiring freeze. We learned that a six-figure, no-bid contract went to the consulting firm owned by the governor’s recently named CFO. We learned that the governor still believes his appointees to high-level jobs deserve way more money than their predecessors in those jobs.
What I learned is what I suspected: Instead of “shakin’ up Springfield,” Bruce Rauner is bringing in business as usual. All over again. Barry House Chatham
