The tragic shootings in Virginia have nothing to do with why Peter Roskam does not hold town hall meetings. Peter Roskam has not held town hall meetings since the marvelous, wonderful Republican health care bill has been announced. He will not hold the town meeting because he is a coward. Instead, he does town hall meetings on the phone, which we, the citizens, have to pay for because they are taken out of our taxes for his town hall phone meetings. That's why he doesn't have town hall meetings, because he doesn't want to be involved with his constituents, especially when he knows something so horrible as the health care plan. He doesn't know how to defend it.

Editor's note: Peter Roskam was quoted in the April 20, 2017, Elgin Courier-News as saying his campaign pays for the calls because of the “political and partisan” nature of the topics.—JAC

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I have seen a huge spike in the cars on the streets of Lombard and Villa Park that have very darkened front seat windows and often windshields as well. It is impossible to see the drivers. In this age of living with terror, it is more important than ever that the laws intended to add a level of safety and allow us to take proactive measures, if necessary, be enforced. Why are the police departments not enforcing the darkened window/windshield laws? We need this help from the police now.

The response from the Village of Lombard is as follows: “About seven years ago, the law was changed to allow certain levels of tinting on the side windows for the front seat. Previous to that, no tint was allowed on the side windows for the front seat of any vehicle. Unfortunately, the new law is very complicated and difficult to enforce due to the way it is written. This has discouraged many police agencies from enforcing the new law. However, the Lombard Police Department purchased tint meters when the law changed and has issued hundreds of citations for this violation since the law changed. As far as windshields are concerned, there may be no tint installed lower than the top 6 inches of the windshield. Lombard Police also do actively enforce this part of the law as well. If you have any questions, please contact Traffic Safety Unit Sgt. Joe Grage at 630-873-4667.”

Villa Park Acting Police Chief Michael Lay also responded: “The Illinois Compiled Statutes contains a section that governs window treatments. This law allows for a certain percentage of light transmittance on the front windows based on certain conditions. Windshields should be free from any tint with the exception of the first 6 inches below the top of the windshield. There is also an exemption for individuals with ocular conditions as long as they possess a letter from their physician. While some degree of window tinting is permissible, the Villa Park Police Department does regular enforcement pertaining to window treatment violations with the use of tint meters.”—JAC

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If Villa Park is reconstructing your street, be aware: 1. Your water may be shut off for the day without prior notice. 2. Construction takes five months. 3. You are not asked if you wish to upgrade your blacktop driveway apron from blacktop to concrete. 4. The house water connection at the street is not checked for lead piping for every house. 5. On many days, no workers will be present. 6. You will not be able to use your driveway to park your car for a minimum of two months.

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Peter Breen is my state rep. I am aware that he was the executive director of an anti-abortion group, and he is still their special counsel, so he has some strong feelings on the matter. But that is no excuse for him to jump up and start yelling during a debate on a resolution concerning the funding of Planned Parenthood. A little decorum in chambers, Rep. Breen.

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Lombard calling. Earlier this year U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam voted for a bill that would remove the restrictions placed upon mentally ill individuals from buying firearms. This doesn't sound like someone who thinks that people are going to be shooting at him. It was long before the June 14 shooting in Virginia that he declared he would not take part in any in-person town hall meetings. I think that his constituents would be more than happy to pass through a metal detector for the chance to speak with him.

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The mega lottery plans to pull out of Illinois, even though the money is supposedly set aside to pay for the winnings. Legislators talk about a property tax freeze. Both are related to school funding. The lottery was supposed to help pay for school funding; whatever happened to that? And, if property taxes are frozen then school districts will not get as much money, especially as long as the state has no budget and does not pay its share. However, I feel little sympathy for school districts when I stop to think how much of my property taxes to schools do not go into the classroom but to salaries for top-heavy administrations, as well as pensions I will never come close to seeing. It is time to concentrate on pension reform for incoming teachers and administrators, not just give it lip service. I will remember who does or doesn't when it comes time to vote.

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Last Saturday I fell and could not get up. I used my help button and wasn't sure it worked, so I called 9-1-1. Both police officers and paramedics showed up. They were kind and compassionate. I want to give a big thanks to the Lombard Police Department and paramedics. Great men.

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For the northsiders who are looking for a grocery store, something a little further north than Parkside, for instance North Avenue, is where we need a grocery store. There are two Villa Park grocery stores within walking distance of my house, but I would much rather use my money to spend it in Lombard. There is plenty of space on North Avenue. Use one of those and not the old Parkside site where the movie theater used to be. That can be used for something else. It shouldn't have been taken down in the first place.

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This message is to buyers of women's clothing. Please revert back to buying regular-fitting pants and have them available for women. Not everyone wants low- or mid-rise waists or skinny legs in pants. Most women look disgusting in them. Also, low-cut tops. Men's pants have remained pretty much the same. Why have women's pants changed? It appears that a majority of women are desperate to be noticed.

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Hello. I am hoping you can do some digging. It looks like the library has canceled yet another board meeting. They had one scheduled for June 27 and all of a sudden it was canceled. That means two of the past four meetings have been canceled yet on the Web site it doesn't explain why. The library was entrusted with how many millions of dollars and yet they can't even have a meeting? Can you give us some answers? I hope so.

Your inquiry was forwarded to library spokesperson Sue Wilsey, who explained: “Because the library board has their regular monthly meeting scheduled for July 11, the special meeting originally scheduled for June 27 was cancelled. The board agenda did not appear on the library Web site within 48 hours of the meeting due to a technical glitch. To avoid any violation of the Open Meetings Act requirements, items from that agenda will move to July 11.”—JAC

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Lombard will experience an increase of air traffic noise in the overnight hours July 2-8 as part of O'Hare's second test of the proposed fly quiet runway rotation. You can voice your concern and give feedback with the program survey at airportprojects.net/flyquiettest/survey. Concerns regarding airplane noise should be directed to the Chicago Department of Aviation, 800-453-9569.

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Hi, Lombard calling. What a joke. Trump said all along—although he could brush up on his social skills and stop all the goofy tweeting—he's been right all along, just like he's been right about bringing jobs back, building our defense and getting respect around the world. With the Russian garbage that the Democrats and the liberals like to purvey, CNN network is certainly eating some crow right now. If you pay any attention to the news, even the liberal outlets have to report it. I know they like to filter it and put their own liberal spin on it, which is what 90 percent of the news is, but they can't ignore this. There's nothing going on with Russia and Trump. He's not under investigation. Why did the fine news reporters, anchors, personnel at CNN quit? They're disgraced? They're a joke? Anybody with a brain knows they're a liberal spin machine, just like MSNBC, NBC or any of them.

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I read that District 44 is paying an interim superintendent $1,000 a day until the new superintendent takes over. How can the board possibly consider that fiscally responsible? I won't buy the excuse that they need to pay that much to get a quality person to fill the role; especially when the new superintendent will receive a  lesser salary of $190,000. What they saved in hiring a search firm is likely negated by this outrageous figure. I am appalled and all you taxpayers should be, too.

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I want to agree with the caller from last week. Thank you to all the people who came out to Ale Fest. It was just a wonderful program. and what better way to show support for our children than to purchase alcohol. What a great idea for a fundraiser. You know, as Homer Simpson would say: Beer. The cause and the solution to all of life's problems.

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Lombard calling. Great job; we've got people calling for the head of the president, wonderful Kathy Griffin. The loving liberals, Rob Meathead Reiner talking about Civil War supporters beating Trump supporters on the head with a sap, which in police terms is basically a club in a sock-type weapon. It's so ridiculous and it's just getting worse. The things we see on TV, all the protests with people cheap-shotting Trump supporters, it's beyond ridiculous. It needs to be put out there. CNN has been lying; basically every one of the news stations—but FOX News Network and maybe a few others, like Channel 9 in Chicago—has been lying. It's been proven.

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There’s someone who routinely calls Speak Out about Peter Roskam not holding a town hall meeting, but this person’s latest gripe about Roskam (June 29 issue) makes no sense whatsoever. The caller says, “If he’s worried about guns, then why does the NRA give him a 93 percent favorable rating?” and goes on to say, “He’ll just keep on hiding.” What does Roskam’s NRA rating have to do with holding a town hall meeting? In this political climate, especially with the congressman getting shot in Washington, if I were Roskam, I wouldn’t have a town hall meeting, either. But if he did, I can already tell you what would happen—this caller and every other unhinged leftist in the area would show up and shout him down, and turn it into a spectacle for the 10 o’clock news.