My son attends Orville T. Bright Elementary in South Deering. He’s in first grade in the cluster program for students with autism. I enrolled him at Bright two years ago because of the school’s excellent special education programming. If my son didn’t need that specialized program, Bright probably wouldn’t have been my choice for him — not because of what happens inside the building, but because of what’s missing outside it.
The video of Corshawnda Hatter and her son being attacked by kids near Bright went viral. People across the country watched and made judgments about our school, community and children. But the video doesn’t show the decades of disinvestment that created the conditions for the attack.
The Boys & Girls Club closed last April. There are no Chicago Park District after-school programs. No sports programs. The school has one security guard. We never had Safe Passage workers until after last month’s incident, even though parents and community leaders have demanded them since 2012.
This is not the school’s fault. Educators at Bright show up and advocate every day for our children.
South Deering is an impoverished community where families struggle. Some students don’t have parents at home when school lets out. Some live in shelters. Others struggle because there’s nowhere to go. Children need support. When that isn’t provided, we get what happened.
I grew up in circumstances like this, but adults connected me to music and art and others who invested in me.
The question Chicago needs to answer is this: Why should survival depend on luck? Why should children in working-class Black and Brown communities have to hope someone notices them before tragedy strikes?
After the attack, elected officials and Chicago Public Schools administrators came to Bright. They expressed horror and promised support. Days later, most were gone. The conditions that created that tragedy are still here, and we’re still waiting for resources.
Those resources are safe passage, youth jobs, after-school programs and what sustainable community schools provide to young people — mental health support and social-emotional learning for students carrying trauma from their communities.
Our elected officials are deadlocked over next year’s budget. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan asks large corporations to fund violence prevention and youth programs. The alternative would raise fees on struggling families. CPS, the City Council and Springfield have the power to prevent the next tragedy. The only question is whether they have the will.
Carshina Washington, outreach coordinator, Bright Elementary School Parent Advisory Council
Snowy sidewalks unacceptable
Chicago’s city government is failing us badly this winter. Neil Steinberg, Mary Norkol and Alden Loury all had detailed columns or stories in Friday’s Sun Times about people not shoveling sidewalks and CTA stops.
My own experience with trying to get the Chicago Department of Transportation to enforce these simple rules was dismal. After the heavy snowfall earlier this month, I used 311.chicago.gov to report how sidewalks along two blocks of Michigan Avenue and a block of 31st Street were never shoveled.
Those icy sidewalks were a hindrance to hundreds of people, including attending Illinois Institute of Technology students and employees. Calls to 311 asking about this case brought out that CDOT got the call. Nothing else was known.
A few days later on Dec. 10, I got the message that the matter was now a “Warm Weather Related Closure,” which I took to mean the snow melted on its own. CDOT, I assume, did not tell the property managers they must clear the snow from the sidewalks or face daily fines. What a letdown for Chicagoans who expect their government to work for them.
Is this now a similar policy about those who report apartments with no heat? Just tell them to wait until spring and then things will be fine?
Steven J. Bahnsen, South Commons
Chewing out Chuy
I have to disagree with recent letter writer Monica Trevino who wrote that “political attacks against U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia for dropping out of his reelection race are part of a” larger pattern that punishes Latino leaders who stand firmly with working families and immigrant communities.”
I have voted for Chuy each time he ran for Congress. I was happy to see his support for immigrants who had their rights trampled upon. But I was also feeling very left out as a voter when he dropped out at the last minute.
I have sat through this anti-democratic process before. William Lipinski was my congressman and dropped out after the primary. He anointed his son as his successor. Now Chuy did the same thing with his chief of staff.
The four other districts in Illinois that have open seats — Districts, 2, 7, 8 and 9 — have several candidates running in the primary. And we in District 4 have one. That is not democracy. I feel like a kid in a candy store whose parents do not allow sweets.
Illinois election law needs a change. If a candidate drops out late, an extension should be granted so that others can enter the race. It is easy to call President Donald Trump a king for not going through Congress for most of his executive orders. If Chuy calls Trump a king now, I would call Chuy a hypocrite.
Jan Goldberg, Riverside
Trump’s hypocrisy
President Donald Trump wanted Jimmy Kimmel fired for his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death, but then spits out vitriol about Rob Reiner and his wife. Time for Trump’s credits to roll on his horror film.
Robert Minor, McHenry
Bovino’s truth
After reading the Sun-Times story on U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino, I’ll say this. Regardless of his circumstances, he perjured himself in court. He is a known liar.
Tommy Dziallo, Lockport