I just read the column on the possible demolition of the historic building at 161 E. Erie St. in Chicago. I’m a Texan who frequently visits the city and, in particular, the area where the building is located.
Yes, progress is good, but a respectful partner in history and new development is key to a quality community. For instance, a great historical restaurant building on State and Oak existed for many years (and housed Papa Milano’s). It was torn down to make room for a glass-front walk-up bank ATM-type building.
Lost is the charm, history and great restaurant that provided a welcoming neighborhood feel to go along with the office buildings surrounding the area.
What’s lost is the preservation of history one can’t get back with a half-full, half-empty building (if they are lucky).
Save this building, please.
Bret E. Broussard Sr., San Antonio
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Weather-page woes
It was disappointing enough a few years ago when the Sun-Times decided to change the weather page and remove all the international temperatures and the little article that mentioned celestial events. Now, once again, the weather page has been reduced. Wednesday, we didn’t get national daily temperatures. No individual cities and no map.
With all due respect to Frank Stewart, I don’t see why we need a daily bridge club column on the weather page. I imagine more people in Chicago are interested in the weather than playing bridge. How about moving that column to the sports section?
The strangest part is in the editor’s note that says, “We pared back our weather forecast to focus on more original local news that you can only find here.” All they did was take the weather page and put two large ads on it. Very disappointing move.
Alan Stoeck, Tinley Park
Not a favor to downsize weather page
Another downsize? No more regional outlook, sunrise/sunset times, statistics for that date, national map or national forecasts by city? No more extreme temps within the country?
Then you try to tell us that you’re doing us a favor so that you can “focus on more original local news that you can only find here.” Yet the rest of the page, which used to be filled with weather info, is now filled with advertising, some of which is for the Sun-Times itself. You also print a QR code where we can go to find weather info. Then you wonder why people don’t buy the paper anymore. The paper itself is essentially telling us, “You won’t find it here, so use the QR code.”
Jerome Logisz, Munster, Indiana
JD Vance gives too much credit to ‘Harris administration’
If JD Vance’s assertions during the vice presidential debate — attacking the “Harris administration” and blaming Vice President Kamala Harris for all that is wrong in America — were actually true, then Kamala Harris has been the most powerful vice president in our nation’s history. It appears that .0Vance has no clue what the duties of the vice president actually are. Hopefully, he’ll never get a chance to experience them.
Dan Lauber, River Forest
Ban plastic bags
California is leading the country by banning all plastic bags at grocery stores. It is finally time to stop us all from being smothered by plastic. Hopefully, Gov. JB Pritzker and all state governors will promptly follow suit. Europe has curtailed plastic bags for years. It’s just the U.S. being shortsighted while many parts of the world think globally.
Sandra Minor, McHenry