LETTERS

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ELECTRONICS GLITCH I was one of hundreds of Springfield residents who tried but was unable to recycle my electronics at the fairgrounds on Saturday morning. I arrived at 10:30 and waited in line outside Gate 11 until 12:15 when a Good Samaritan drove past and announced they’d stopped accepting donations.

This drop-off program, while arranged with the best of intentions, was poorly executed. How could the city officials who planned this not anticipate that there would be an enormous response for a service offered so rarely? The four-hour allotted window for accepting donations would only have been adequate if this were done on a regular basis. Also, they chose to do it in the heart of the summer, on a blisteringly hot day, which couldn’t have been pleasant for those who were unloading donated items.

The word passed between those of us who were waiting that there were very few people working on unloading the materials from vehicles. Did anyone consider seeking volunteers to help with this effort? I would have offered my time, and I’m sure many others would have done the same, and the donation drop-off would have run much more quickly and efficiently as a result.

The crowd queued up outside the fairgrounds, waiting for hours in the heat, is clear evidence that the people of Springfield want to dispose of their items responsibly. So then, to make this collection such a frustrating ordeal was a failure on the part of the organizers. On Sunday, countless electronics were hauled back into storage. Some may try again next year. But some, I’m sure, just got dumped. Surely Springfield can do better. Shawna Mayer Springfield

MY FY 2016 BUDGET Springfield-area retailers, please find this to be notice that because my 2016 Fiscal Year budget is at an impasse we will not be going to the movies, eating out, shopping for anything more than groceries, attending your shows, concerts, fairs or any other event that may cause me financial burdens. I will also, by no means, attempt to secure a “no interest” loan from any financial institution because I did in fact read the fine print that stated the “no interest” loan is for a 30-day period after which I will then need to begin repaying such loan (with no definitive income) and interest rates will then apply. It was a pleasure doing business with you in FY15 and although it is beyond my control I am hoping for a resolution to my FY16 budget soon. Robert Dunn Springfield

SSU MEMORIES Phil Bradley’s guest essay about Sangamon State University was right on target [see “My memories of Sangamon State,” July 9]. The school and its first president, Bob Spencer, were both gifts to Springfield. We received so much from his mission to emphasize public affairs involvement.

Certainly, the integration of our public schools in 1976, and the change to aldermanic government in 1986 benefited greatly from the involvement of the university.

I am grateful that all of this lives on in the University of Illinois Springfield and its motto “Leadership Lived.” Barbara Dickerman Springfield