Take it from a Chicago 'polio pioneer,' vaccines keep Americans healthier

Neil Steinberg’s recent column on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggesting the polio vaccine be "studied" is a study in itself of the ways events decades ago affect our life today.

Steinberg points out the "blind trial in 244 test areas around the country" that gave 1,349,135 children a shot of either the vaccine or a placebo in 1954. Fifty years later, in a celebration of this event, the March of Dimes called these children "polio pioneers."

I was one of those children, one of dozens of second-graders in Kennett Schools in Missouri who were bused to Dunklin County Memorial Hospital to line up and get our shots. We were invited to be part of this national experiment by a group of Dunklin County doctors, led by my grandfather, Dr. Paul Baldwin.

A few years later, this same group of doctors led a program called Sabin Oral Sundays, in which county residents were invited to receive their polio vaccines orally, by eating a sugar cube laced with the vaccine. For three Sundays, people in Kennett went to the local high school to receive their free vaccine.

People in Chicago got those sugar cubes, too. Everyone in America and around the world has benefited from the scientific breakthroughs that vaccines represent.

We must not let Kennedy or any of Donald Trump’s minions rewrite history for their own ends. I remember those days when public health was a priority locally and nationally. Dr. Anthony Fauci and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention carried on this dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shame on any public figure (demagogue) who tries to twist facts to serve his own ends and cause people to doubt medical science and the people dedicated to serving the public.

I call on all recipients of these vaccines to contact their senators to oppose anyone nominated by Trump who opposes this and all other groundbreaking vaccines that changed the health and life expectancy of all Americans.

Virginia Gilbert, Andersonville

City erred in driving out environmental activist

We want to express our deep concern about Raed Mansour's resignation from his position with the city, apparently made under pressure by the mayor’s office.

Raed, as director of environmental innovation with the city’s Department of Public Health, brought the hope that our voices — the voices of low-income people of color — would be heard regarding the issues of air pollution, low tree canopy and lack of green spaces in our neighborhoods.

By driving out Mansour, the city has hurt our hope for cleaner air, soil and water. Not much of a gift as we head into Christmas.

Our basic health needs in our community should be a priority for the city. Children in areas with high levels of pollution may be more likely to develop mental disorders, including bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and personality disorders.

This is one of the reasons Women for Green Spaces is working so hard to plant native plant gardens and trees at schools and elsewhere.

But we need help from people like Raed, who often came to our communities to see the problems we are facing firsthand. The city should have let Raed continue his important work. Pushing him out was wrong, shortsighted and will hurt many communities in Chicago.

Claudia Galeno-Sanchez, executive director, Women for Green Spaces/Mujeres por Espacios Verdes

A snail mail tale

I am aware there are bigger issues right now such as a criminal, despicable human being taking over as president again soon, but can someone please explain to me why a priority package going literally two hours away still hasn't been delivered after five days?

I regularly send packages to a cousin in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and this is not the first time I could have literally walked the package to them faster. One other time the package actually went to Detroit, Michigan, first! Why pay for priority? That used to insure delivery in two to three days, which was still a joke.

There are no strikes, no bad weather. Why is this allowed? Last tracking information just says running late, in transit to the next facility. The next facility WHERE; the MOON? Did someone stop for a vacation? Maybe if the U.S. Post Office could solve these problems they wouldn't be in so much debt.

It sure doesn't inspire confidence in Mr. Louis DeJoy, and frankly I'm tired of this subpar service, especially when the Postal Service's answer is just to continue to raise prices constantly. Prices go up, service gets worse, our carriers are in danger. Something sure should be done. It's just ridiculous!

Betsy Teixeira, Chicago Heights

Elon Musk’s mess

Donald Trump and Congress are making a huge mistake letting Elon Musk tell them what to do. It's hard to believe Trump found someone whose ego is bigger than his.

At least when Trump shot down the bipartisan border bill, there was a strategic advantage in blaming the Democrats for the border problems before the election.

What is the strategy now? If people's trips are ruined because of the lack of federal employees or their Christmas is ruined because they didn't get a paycheck, there will be no one to blame except the Republicans.

Musk has no experience in government, holds no elected office, and many suspect he is at least mildly crazy. He has a mania about wealth and doesn't even use his money for good, as many other rich people do. He is so cheap that I heard he told his employees to bring their own toilet paper.

Why is this man being allowed to control our government and bring potential chaos to the country? Congress must stand up to and ignore him, or like a blackmailer, he will keep returning for more.

Joyce Porter, Oak Park

Regulate, don’t ban, hemp-derived products in Illinois

As a state representative, I have worked diligently for four years to regulate the hemp industry responsibly. With thoughtful business input, we’ve crafted policies restricting sales to those 21 and older, requiring rigorous product testing, mandating clear labeling and capping potency levels. These measures protect public health while supporting legitimate businesses and fostering economic growth.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s call for a total ban on intoxicating hemp reminds me of my days as a classroom teacher. When one or two students disrupted the class, everyone missed recess — the punishment didn’t just impact the troublemakers; it hurt the whole class.

Governing a state with sweeping blanket bans like this creates unintended consequences, harming responsible actors and undermining public trust in policymaking.

Illinois faces a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit. Banning a taxable luxury product like intoxicating hemp is not the solution.

Instead, responsible regulation can generate significant revenue to fund our priorities without placing additional burdens on families. Prohibition, on the other hand, won’t eliminate these products — they’re already here. We can’t unring the bell or put the toothpaste back in the tube.

Let’s be clear: Delta-8 hemp products are federally legal substances derived from hemp cannabis. Yet, Illinois — a state that has chosen to legalize a federally illegal substance, cannabis — is now considering banning a federally legal one. This contradiction is not just confusing, it’s irresponsible.

Hemp businesses also have a distinct advantage over cannabis businesses: They have access to traditional banking, enabling small entrepreneurs to thrive without requiring millions in upfront capital. This creates jobs and opportunities for people who might otherwise be left out of Illinois’ broader economic initiatives.

California provides a cautionary tale. Its ban on delta-8 hemp destroyed a $5 billion industry, driving products into an unregulated underground market.

History has shown us that such approaches disproportionately harm Black and Brown communities, increase crime and strain public resources. Illinois cannot afford to repeat these mistakes.

While I share the governor’s concerns about protecting our youth, banning intoxicating hemp outright risks recreating the very harms we sought to fix by ending cannabis prohibition. Regulation, not prohibition, is Illinois' brighter, fairer and more financially responsible way forward.

Let us embrace a balanced approach that empowers small businesses, generates revenue and protects public health. Together, we can craft a regulatory framework that allows Illinois to lead on innovation while safeguarding our communities.

Let’s support responsible regulation — not unnecessary bans.

State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago

Christmas memories

Christmas is pure joy for most kids, but when I was a boy of 5, I experienced mixed emotions as that hallowed day drew near. The joy of receiving gifts was replaced by blinding fear. I was anxious and afraid. I imagined a creepy guy on the loose sneaking into our house. I was afraid of Santa Claus!

I couldn’t fathom the idea of this oddly dressed fellow coming down the chimney, even if he was bringing me gifts. It got so bad that I told my folks I wanted to stay with my aunt until that reindeer runner pranced out of town. He could keep my presents.

My folks tried their best to reassure me, reminding me that last year came off without a hitch, but nothing would ease my mind.

The fact is, they told my brother and me the bloody truth in the early winter of 1956. They said we’d better keep our mouths shut around the neighbor kids, or those gifts we now knew came through the front door might not appear next year. I think they were bluffing.

Scott Thompson, Bloomington, Indiana