Hi, this is Lombard calling. Not only should our downtown have jazz in the restaurants, there should be an all-ages rock ’n roll club down there. Music is what draws people. Anyone who’s in charge in this village who doesn’t believe that, I can tell you one thing. Downtown is dead, dead and dying. The only night of the year that that place is truly alive is the night that the Beatles band, American English, plays. If you live in Lombard, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Bring some music and some cool shops to downtown.

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Do the politicians, Republicans and Democrats, really represent us and our views? A senator stated that people in America really don’t mind pork in the legislative bills. Another said that immigration law enforcement is un-American. It goes on and on. It is time that the politicians be voted out of office. We suffer, they point fingers. The politician represents special interests, not us. AIG donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the politicians. The politicians gives money to AIG, who gives bonuses to their employees. We have no representation.

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I would like to congratulate President Obama for the job he has done so far. He took over a very big mess and it’s going to take a lot of clean-up. His approval rating is double that of Bush’s when he left, so most people like him. Things are changing for the better. It’s about time.

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To the person who was upset about receiving a $13 tax cut compared to a $25 increase for individuals on unemployment, anytime you want to switch places with me, I’ll do it gladly. Through no fault of my own, I am one of the hundreds of thousands of individuals who were laid off due to the economy. I am struggling to pay for my most basic necessities, trying to provide for my children. If you have a family to support, unemployment benefits do not cover these basic necessities. I have tirelessly searched in vain for a job, but so far no luck. There are hundreds of individuals applying for a single position. Be thankful you have a job. Your tax cut will continue, but my unemployment benefits may end before I find a job. Good luck to you and I hope you and your family never have to deal with the fear of unemployment.

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Hi, Lombard resident. In reading the responses to your questions to the candidates for village president, only Sam Jaber specifically mentioned constructing a safe, much-desired skate park in our community for our children. Bill Mueller, in all his years in office, has never seen fit to consider the requests of the families of Lombard to construct one. Clearly we have open land, safe spaces and parks where it could be located. Every other major town locally has a skate park.

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I take issue with the new red-light camera program, and it’s not just because of the big-brother-is-watching mentality. Municipalities think the violations are serious enough to warrant using them, yet only issue a ticket equal in weight to a parking ticket. Are they serious? There’s no comparison to parking illegally and committing a driving offense that could cause injuries or fatalities. If running a red light or making an illegal right turn isn’t a moving violation—like speeding—I don’t know what is. I know. My car was destroyed and I was injured when a driver illegally entered a now-monitored Lombard intersection. Here is a traffic violation serious enough to cause a crash, but not serious enough to affect one’s driving record as a consequence? It sure wasn’t a parked car that hit me.

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When Barack Obama comes on TV, he talks about the bad economy he inherited. Well, that guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about, because in just two months, he’s destroyed our economy more than it took eight years for Bush to do damage, and he’s doing it worse and faster. I don’t know if we’ll ever get out of this mess. Don’t listen to his rhetoric.

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Glad to know that since our President Obama has been in office for two months, he spends more time doing public service announcements and going on talk shows, than actually doing something about the economy in this country. I said from day one, do not elect this man; he is more of a diplomat/flash in the pan than somebody who’s going to get this country going where it’s supposed to be. It’s a sham, and everybody bought it. I told you so.

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Hi, this is Lombard. I went to the Pioneer Garden and Feed Store in Villa Park, and boy, is that a cool store. They have items for gardens, inspirational, funny, chimes and a lot more. I’m glad I finally went in. I hope a lot of other people frequent it, too.

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Our thanks to Janet Oliver and Tammy Hollingsworth of the Lombard Post Office, who took the time to resolve a delayed mail delivery of past due bills we had. We really appreciate everything you do for us in Lombard. Thanks.

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I totally disagree with Gov. Quinn’s proposal to raise income tax. Government in Illinois continues to swell totally out of control. Does anyone think 4 1/2 percent income tax is going to save the schools, is going to save everything? It will not. They’re going to come back to us just like everyone else and ask for more in a few years, and you’ll see it in the forms of fees and other increases, besides another chance of raising the income tax. This is a time to send a message to the governor that we must not allow this. Contact your congressman and have them vote your choice.

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This is in response to the person who got the $8 tax cut. Be thankful it wasn’t an increase of $8 a week. The trouble with us is we all want the job where we start at noon, quit at 1 p.m. and get an hour off for lunch, get a raise every year and wonder what the perks are. You don’t ask about the job and what it consists of, just what days you get off and how many sick days, vacation, etc. That’s how we got in this mess—wanting the same thing or better of everything than our friends and neighbors. Why not fill out another credit card and buy a Chevy truck? It would be nice if we could keep 95 cents out of each dollar.

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In regard to President Mueller, I think a lot of people forget he’s also the liquor commissioner who provides the licensing for Lombard. I think he’s greatly failed downtown Lombard in applying licenses for establishments that may have wanted to open up on an upscale basis. President Mueller, you should have opened up a martini bar.

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I think Hillary Clinton is a turncoat like Jane Fonda was. She was in Mexico blaming the United States for their high demand of drugs, because the drugs are coming across the border, and then she’s blaming the United States citizens for supplying them with guns. The guns are coming from Europe. Who is she kidding? We don’t need a person like Hillary Clinton; we didn’t need a person like Jane Fonda. You should write to your elected officials and demand she retract that statement. And stop flying that expensive airplane to get her around. It’s costing us too much money and she’s part of the economy problem.

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Now that spring is here, can you please, people, stop throwing your litter out your window when you come to a stop sign? The people who live there have to pick up after you. I don’t think that’s fair.

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This is Lombard calling. I want to thank streets and sanitation for filling the potholes. I was in there on a Thursday and asked them to come out to Kramer Avenue and they did a great job, so I just want to say thank you.

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This is a resident of another town calling. I just want to thank Lombard for putting all those no-left-turn signs on Route 53, so that those of us who don’t live in your town and don’t pay taxes in your town can have a nice, smooth trip through Lombard. I hope you voted for Mueller or Soderstrom, so that those of us who don’t live in your town can be assured of four more years of smooth sailing through Lombard.

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This is to the guy who has parked his work van and snow plow truck on my street. Would you please move your snow truck? It’s not really going to snow anymore. You’re bringing down the property values. And having business trucks on the street constantly is against village ordinance. Please move them.