In Monday's Daily Southtown, it was reported that if the Democrats pick up even just one or two seats, they can override any veto from any governor's office. They'd become veto-proof. Michael Madigan, his cronies, the unions would have even more power. They'd run the state and have absolute rule over all our futures. They could do anything. Any person with any common sense knows and should be able to see that what he and they've done over the last decades and have brought us to where we are now. Bankruptcy. If you vote and give them the margin they need to become “veto-proof,” you are abetting Illinois' complete collapse.

Bob, Oak Forest

Neither is a candidate to make us proud, but if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency, she should send the finest chocolates, a basket of flowers, and an exquisite thank you card to Donald Trump. If another Republican candidate had won the nomination, her future address would not be on Pennsylvania Avenue. Come to think of it, he should do the same if he wins. The same could apply on the Democratic side.

Tinley Park

Thanks to a Southtown article, we now know why the mayor of Orland Park favored a pay raise for himself from $40,000 to $150,000. His pension will be based on the highest three years of salary. So, this increase guarantees a huge pension hike. He is an example of political greed, claiming the village is like a large corporation...really? A corporation is efficient and profit-based, answering to stockholders. He says his job as mayor is to “meet people” as the village manager runs the village. He is very greedy, and will have a hard time getting re-elected.

Let's just call Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin's salary increase from $40,000 to $150,000 a reward for past accomplishments. He supposedly will be taking on additional duties as a second village administrator and as a full-time economic development coordinator. How can anyone be expected to perform the duties of 1 full time and 2 part-time positions in an effective manner? That's assuming the mayor and second village administrator positions are both part-time. Also, Orland Park will not be saving money in the short term because they will have to pick up the employer difference between a pension based on $40,000 and $150,000. This cost may equal or exceed the cost of the new positions the mayor will be taking on. And when McGlaughlin retires in a few years all three positions will have to be filled with pensions for each position. Only in Illinois can taxpayers be taken advantage of in such an obvious way.

Jay, Tinley Park

I grew up in Oak Lawn, and I also wonder why the mayor there seems to blame Chuck E. Cheese for the bad behavior of certain patrons at that restaurant. There are other Chuck E. Cheese restaurants in this area, and they don't have this problem. Could it be that the people in Oak Lawn no longer know how to behave? Or could it be that the problem patrons live somewhere outside of the village?

Sean, Homewood

With a municipal election only six months away, you'd think the staff our elected officials have kept in place would be working overtime to make our village look like a community worth our ridiculously high property tax bills and their generous pay packages. Instead, we continue to see the same displays of decline and deterioration with no evidence of urgency to do anything about it. Is the power of incumbency that impervious that they don't have to care?

Tinley Park

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