Towns need to take note on apartment enforcement
Recently, there was an item on the news about a rather large apartment complex in Rolling Meadows. This complex is home to over 2,000 residents on 30 acres. The Rolling Meadows Police Department and city have installed concrete barrier walls closing off all but one of the 13 entrances/exits to the complex. The remaining entrance/exit is now being monitored by a police officer, who checks the identification of people wishing to enter the complex.

Evidently, this is one of those “nuisance” complexes, and this city has come up with a great idea to monitor it while keeping the residents safe and secure from those who have illegal activities on their minds.

In Paradise Valley, Ariz., this complex would be called a “gated community.”  Having a “guard” at the only entrance/exit is a mandatory plus for high-priced living.

But yet, there are lawyers with briefcases in hand, heading to court on behalf of the complex owners. The owners say that the barriers are “hurting their business” in regards to finding renters.  It’s too bad that it has to go this far before landlords will respond to the situation that their “investment” has created in a village.

Westmont ... Downers Grove, it’s time to flex some home-rule muscle on the problem rentals, and we know where they are, in your towns.
Hurray for Rolling Meadows.
Mary Robertson-Iversen, Westmont

Fire Station sign could send wrong message to public
I noticed a sign in front of Westmont Fire Station that reads “One Nation, One Flag, One Language.”

I don’t have a problem with the first two, but I wasn’t aware that there is an official language in this country. I also can’t help wondering if the “One Flag” refers to the stars and stripes or the Confederate flag.

Does that mean that if someone calls the fire department in an emergency and needs language assistance, i.e., speaks with a Chinese, Hispanic or Polish accent, the fire department will not respond? Perhaps the fire chief needs to be reminded that this is a nation of immigrants, not all of whom speak English. The only difference is that now many of the immigrants are non-white.

People visiting Westmont and seeing that sign might get the impression that we’re a bunch of hick-town bigots.

I don’t believe that biased political statements have any place on public buildings. As we near election day, will the sign be telling us who to vote for?

Perhaps Westmont’s hiring practices also need to be investigated, i.e., does the fire chief discriminate against applicants who speak with an accent?
John Skocilich, Westmont