Chicago police weren't 'complete failure' at handling Mexican Independence Day caravans

Although I agree with Ald. Brian Hopkins that there is room to improve how the Chicago Police Department managed checkpoints for Loop residents during the Mexican Independence Day celebration this past weekend, I completely disagree with Hopkins' words that the CPD's overall performance was "a complete failure."

My wife and I attended the event on Saturday evening. We drove to Pilsen from the suburbs. Then we took the Pink Line from Pilsen into the Loop, and then we walked from Wabash all the way to Grant Park to experience the El Grito event. We were glad we were there: Our Saturday evening in the Loop turned out to be a very pleasant and highly enjoyable evening!

From beginning to end, I noticed the professionalism of CPD officers throughout the celebration, whether in Grant Park or on Michigan Avenue by Millennium Park.

I was witness to the difficult job they patiently and responsibly carried out — directing and redirecting, as well as re-routing, the caravans in the safest way possible for all involved. They succeeded!

I personally want to thank the CPD officers for keeping the evening event safe for everybody, in spite of the incredible challenge.

One observation about our experience seeing the caravans of cars and trucks: Giving what I had seen on television and social media last year, I was also, like Hopkins, concerned about the caravans.

But what turned out to be fascinating to us is that most folks inside the caravan vehicles were, more often than not, parents (the drivers) and their kids, as well as groups of friends, of course, waving with cultural pride their beautiful Mexican flags.

While I was there, I did not see any misuse or unsafe use of the caravan vehicles by the drivers. I was very proud of our city of Chicago, a world-class city with a Loop that belongs to everyone, not just to fortunate, world-envied Loop residents.

Lastly, as much as I appreciate Hopkins' profound care for the city of Chicago, I was extremely disappointed when he noted "we haven't figured out a way to stop these caravans from coming downtown."

Hopkins and the rest of us need to remember what has made our country different from most countries around the world are several freedoms, including our freedom of speech and expression as well as our freedom of assembly.

I sincerely hope that next year Hopkins is able to join us, the Mexican community — not just in the Loop but also throughout the city of Chicago and beyond — as we celebrate "In the Land of the Brave and the Land of the Free," the importance of Mexican Independence Day, which was the beginning of Mexico's freedom from Spain in 1810.

Alejandro Lugo, Park Forest

Do more to keep prescription medication affordable

I am a retired educator struggling to afford my prescription drugs. I had the opportunity to attend a town hall where legislators discussed the impact of rising drug costs and how their proposed solution, HB4472, would make them more affordable. Having dealt with this issue myself, I was eager to learn more about the work being done to address it.

When I turned 71, I was told my severe allergy medications were no longer covered because there were no studies showing they were effective for patients over 70. I was stunned. How is it that my medications could suddenly cease being effective from one year to the next? That just doesn’t seem right.

If I wanted to continue the treatment, then I would have to pay for it all out of pocket, solely because of my age. As a result, I’ve attempted to personally negotiate the costs of my medications, with varying degrees of success. It’s a frustrating and time-consuming process.

I shared my experience at the town hall and asked what could be done to prevent this from happening to other people. A doctor explained how HB4472, to create a state board on health care access and affordability, would lower the drug costs for all Illinoisans, even for people like me whose insurance will not cover necessary medications.

To me, this issue is about more than just making prescription drugs more affordable — it’s about restoring dignity and respect for patients, especially senior patients who rely on prescription drugs more than any other demographic. I strongly urge lawmakers to protect patients and pass this legislation.

Mary L. Rothschild, Evanston

Make cops, not taxpayers, pay for misconduct

Why must taxpayers pay the entire amount of cop misconduct awards, never any share paid by the wrongdoing cops? That arrangement was put in place many decades ago when it was thought cops could do no wrong, before the late Police Commander Jon Burge showed otherwise.

The Sun-Times reported that yet another $50 million is to be paid to a man named Marcel Brown who spent nearly a decade in prison for a 2008 murder based in part on a false confession. Let it be noted that ordinarily, it is cops who secure confessions.

Not every cop is an "Officer Friendly" of legend. The near-absolute protection afforded cops is something that legislators may need to revisit. Taxpayers already pay a big enough tax burden for living in a well-administered municipality. This current situation presents a rare opportunity to balance the scales in favor of the taxpayers for a change.

Ted Z. Manuel, Hyde Park