LETTERS

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O’Hare pollution

I’ve been hearing about noise pollution in Park Ridge and Des Plaines due to the new runway at O’Hare.

Yes, noise pollution has serious health consequences, but I’m surprised that no one seems to talk about airport toxic emissions. If the O’Hare expansion moves forward, toxic emissions alone will cause cancer risks to increase for 98 Chicagoarea communities.

Where are all of the environmental groups on this one? Greenpeace in the UK is against aviation expansion as a general rule; the Natural Resources Defense Council has put out several white papers highlighting the perils of bigger airports to the surrounding communities. Wake up everyone — recycling isn’t the only way to help save the earth! Take a look at a big issue right over our heads.

Todd Ballenger Springfield

Gravel pits expensive

It’s nice that this paper did some actual investigative reporting concerning the gravel pits / wells issue [see “Will gravel pits do the job?” by Amanda Robert, IT, Jan. 15]. I noticed in this article that it says the capital cost for the six gravel pits alone would be $47,500,000. This would not be the total capital cost for the complete project though, as the cost of the 14 wells would have to be added to this figure.

Ms. Robert did a fine job reporting on this issue and I hope she keeps up the good work.

Reg Davis Springfield

Talk-show tour

Many people seem to be missing the point of Blago’s talk-show tour. It wasn’t about proclaiming his innocence.

It was about grandstanding. Since Blago couldn’t make a killing by “selling” the vacant Senate seat, he’s got to make money somewhere else. So, he’s going out of his way to make himself visible so that he can get a better book deal and possibly even sell the movie rights to his story.

Publishers will pay much more to someone who’s impeached than they would to someone who wins the impeachment trial. Therefore, even when he loses, he still wins. Very sad. L. Montgomery Springfield

Don’t be California

I see the problem as too much spending for what we can afford [see “The budget mess we’re in,” IT, Jan. 29]. Many of us are unemployed or “early retired” and are sensitive to future taxation. Those conditions will not change anytime soon. Promises to improve our lives by raising state taxes and equally lowering property taxes are not a better answer. California did that and is now reeling from dual demons of out-of-control spending and federalsized deficits.

Rich Charts Libertyville