Pawn shops, payday loan
sites offer needed services

The Elmhurst City Council shouldn’t be interfering with the personal finances of its constituents (“Council committee moves to restrict future pawn shops, payday loan stores,” Sept. 18).

Council members fail to realize that steering consumers away from loan options like short-term payday loans forces them to resort to less desirable and more expensive alternatives to make ends meet.

A recent New York Times Magazine article about short-term payday lenders explained that, compared to mainstream banks, they offer easy-to-understand conditions with “no surprises, no hidden fees.” Eliminating these services will deprive the city’s neediest residents of valuable financial tools, ultimately causing them to pay more for their financial services.

Borrowers are best served when they have more choices to pick from, not fewer — and an economic downturn is no time to raise costs for low-income workers.

Sarah Longwell, Center for Consumer Freedom
 

Carter’s statement on
Obama’s critics nonsense

Although I felt Jimmy Carter was the worst president of my lifetime, I thought of him as a decent man. No longer.

His constant criticism of Republican presidents who succeeded him was acceptable, because they were his opinions. But to bash George W. Bush at Coretta Scott King’s memorial service, while Bush was present, was out of bounds.

Recent comments made by Carter, however, should be considered reckless and dangerous. His suggestion that we who protest President Obama are racists is outrageous. Our opposition to President Obama is not because of race but because of his radical policies.

Pure and simple. If Obama were to govern conservatively like Reagan, we’d love him.

Bob Speziale, Elmhurst
 

There are effective ways
to deal with skunks

May I respond to your feature on Skunks in Elmhurst? I have been in Elmhurst almost 40 years, and we have always had skunks.

To deal with getting sprayed, dog or human

Make a solution of 2 pints hydrogen peroxide, one-quarter cup of baking soda and one-quarter cup of Dawn dishwashing liquid. Use this as a shampoo on dogs or people, wetting down with water first and then rubbing in the shampoo and then rinsing. It may be necessary to repeat this once, but it is more effective than tomato juice and not as messy. I got this recipe from my veterinarian. (Editor’s note: The mixture must be used immediately to work. Do not keep in a sealed container, as it creates gas and could break the container.)

Discourage skunks

Remove any trash or food that may be available to the skunks. If you find a nest under a stoop or out building, try to flush it out during the day and seal it with concrete. This is what we did, and remember, there is always another entrance to the nest.

Dante Laudati, Elmhurst
 

People must be sensible
about controlling skunks

After reading your most recent article regarding the skunk population in Elmhurst, I find it imperative to make a few solid points and bring some clarification to the concerns of Elmhurst residents.

First of all, skunk control is simply not the responsibility of the Police Department. Officers of the law have far more impending circumstances to concern themselves with than natural, predatory animal control.

For example, if a bird defecates on your vehicle, is it expected for the bird to be trapped and for valuable tax dollars to be spent on cleaning our vehicles?

Absolutely not.

In the autumn, skunks are looking for food, and it is primarily because there is a previously present food source that the animal has detected and is relying on as a consistent source of nourishment. If one finds and eliminates this source, the populace will decrease. Logically, if residents control their rubbish containment, and pet "treats" or bones or water, especially this time of year, skunks — along with raccoons and other animals present in their own territory — will not seek further nourishment.

Obviously, if presented with a dangerous situation, skunks will defend themselves as animals do! It is only natural for animals who have been residents of this area far beyond our current populace to defend themselves against dangers foreign to them, which of course includes family pets!

Please bring some logical attention to the needs of these animals, who are not pests in that they are only following their natural instincts as allowed with today’s residential sloppiness regarding pets, rubbish control and general knowledge of nature’s cycle.

Perhaps it is not the overpopulace of skunks that is the problem but the lack of common knowledge of predation regarding our Elmhurst residents.

Doug Salter, Elmhurst