THE ISSUE Darien’s plan to capitalize on a redevelopment trend has backfired, and now it doesn’t know what to do with land it owns.

OUR VIEW City officials must be more flexible in their approach to redeveloping the Triangle, realizing they may not get everything they want.

Speak up
What should Darien officials do with the 2.5 acres of property the city owns at 75th Street and Cass Avenue? Comment on this editorial at mysuburbanlife.com or e-mail us at opinions@mysuburbanlife.com.

THE ISSUE Some members of the District 113A Board are frustrated over how Janet Hughes conducts herself at meetings.

OUR VIEW Hughes should take training offered to new School Board members and make sure she’s prepared to act on agenda items.

SPEAK UP
Should training for newly elected school board members be mandatory in Illinois? Comment on this editorial at mysuburbanlife.com or e-mail us at opinions@mysuburbanlife.com.

THE ISSUE
The process to pass a balanced state budget continues to linger as the governor and legislators weigh their options.
OUR VIEW
They must stop playing games and make the tough choices necessary to get a budget deal passed soon.
SPEAK UP
What else is broken around town that you think leaders should address immediately? Click here to tell us what you think of this. Or e-mail your comments here.

THE ISSUE
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam issued his Five Principles for Health Care Reform last week in response to a speech by President Obama.
OUR VIEW
As part of an honest national dialogue, we must flesh out the challenges and concerns before moving forward on this costly new program.
SPEAK UP
What reforms are needed in our health care system? Click here to tell us what you think of this. Or e-mail your comments here.

THE ISSUE
Many downtown business districts are finding it difficult staying afloat amid intense big-box competition in the stagnant economy.
OUR VIEW
Individuals who support local merchants help to continually revitalize our communities and make them even better places to live.
SPEAK UP
Would something like the 3/50 Project be beneficial to your downtown business district? Click here to tell us what you think of this. Or e-mail your comments here.

It’s humbling to consider that so many of our fellow Americans deemed our security and prosperity more valuable than their lives. The least we can do is to take a few moments Memorial Day to remember the debt of gratitude we owe them.

The nature of government in Berwyn has been that individual agendas often trump public service. Today’s spirit of cooperation must not be allowed to devolve into tomorrow’s personal attacks on adversaries.

TELL US: Should restaurants in Berwyn be allowed to operate like nightclubs?

Leave us a comment, e-mail us at opinions@mysuburbanlife.com or call and leave a message at (630) 368-8882.

Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners showed a rebellious side last week that should be on display more often.

Some new members of the Community Unit District 201 School Board campaigned on the theme of increasing transparency. Here’s how they can get off to a good start: They should release information regarding Superintendent Steve Baule’s contract, particularly the goals set forth by the previous board.

The bank holding the deed to the Arcade Building in Riverside wants to sell the structure fast, perhaps a little too fast.

Let’s hope the high school students involved in two recent forums in Wheaton on gun laws weren’t the only ones to learn a lesson about debating public policy.

The death of a child is a parent’s worst nightmare and a horrible shock to the wider community. This tragedy is compounded when the death was by the youth’s own hand. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people age 15 to 24.

It would have been easy for families, alumni and supporters of Driscoll Catholic High School in Addison to accept the April 2 decision of the Christian Brothers of the Midwest to close the facility at the end of the academic year and move on with their lives. But they chose to pool their resources and make an effort to keep the school open. As of last week, members of a fundraising committee had raised more than $930,000 as part of a plan to save the school.

The state Open Meetings Act mandates public bodies to conduct their business in open session. The only exceptions to this are for personnel, property acquisition and litigation issues.

Some residents of Glen Ellyn still believe they didn’t have their say on the proposed relocation of a school. Are they kidding? Diamante Montessori wants to relocate to a vacant church at Park Boulevard and Hillside Avenue. The Glen Ellyn Village Board signed off on the plan in March, after the village’s Plan Commission held five public hearings.

Members of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3322 had a tough choice to make recently: Decline a pay increase of 3.75 percent by the city of St. Charles this year or potentially lose one of the Fire Department’s employees.