Regarding the economic benefits of the NASCAR Chicago street race, I agree with Scott Niederjohn of Concordia University Wisconsin that benefits are almost always overestimated (“City boasts economic benefits from second NASCAR Street Race”).
It seems the city sure gave out a lot of statistics to justify their decision to repeat a third race next year. Did they factor in the possible loss of income by moving the Taste of Chicago from the Fourth of July week to September? This could have alienated a different type of tourist who may have wanted to visit in July for the Taste but did not come when it was rescheduled to September, or who avoided Chicago altogether because of the race. Not to mention the loss of the use and enjoyment of Grant Park for over a month of prime-time summer.
NASCAR should have been scheduled in May or September, not in July. You could have one group of tourists coming to enjoy July and the Taste, and another group of people coming for NASCAR. A win-win for both.
Mario Caruso, Lincoln Square
Signatures by fingertip?
Voter ‘signature’ by fingertip? The Oct. 9 photo of a fingertip squiggle on a touch-screen with the story of the Cook County plan to update voters’ signature records is, um, scary? Absurd? Just misleading? Encouraging?
Even with a stylus, it is difficult to give the gizmo a signature with the nuances of one’s legal sig. Retail checkers see this daily. Banks still scan checks, but how well? Vendors don’t care so long as they get the money. Registrars should.
Sure, sigs evolve. Some of us still sign legibly with the key points from our first legal one (Social Security, driver’s license or the draft). All should when it matters most: for a ballot.
John McClelland, Evanston
Lawmakers shouldn’t give in to mayor
Mayor Brandon Johnson is way in over his head and he needs to remember he works for the taxpayers of Chicago; they don’t work for him. The Illinois Legislature needs to hold Johnson’s feet to the fire and not give any hard-earned taxpayer money to the city of Chicago. There is a lack of leadership in Chicago.
With the mayor, it is take, take, take but nothing in return. I hope that the Illinois Legislature thinks long and hard, puts policies in place and changes some of the mayor’s authority. The citizens of Chicago run the city — not the Chicago Teachers Union. Johnson has to remember he is no longer employed by the CTU. He was elected by the citizens. So do your job.
Gerald Bernson, Tinley Park
Beware of dangerous Halloween decorations
Please do not use fake spiderwebs as outdoor Halloween decorations. They pose hazards for birds, bugs and other animals. The animals get caught in the webs and oftentimes die from injuries, starvation or predation. Enjoy your Halloween, but please get rid of the fake spiderwebs.
Bridget Ozolins, Norwood Park
