In one respect, I agree with the caller who said teens should be looking out for each other by marching or protesting over issues that affect them daily, like texting and driving, impaired driving, etc. However, where I disagree is in leaving the gun issues to the voting adults. What? Many of these teenagers are on the verge of voting age or may be 18 already, so as I see it, they are flexing their muscles in preparation for making their voice heard in the voting booth. Not since the 1960s can I recall such mass dissent among youth and young adults, and although they protested what they thought was an unjust war, like today's youth, what they have in common is no faith in the administration.

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Lombard calling. I voted for Bruce Rauner in the 2014 election. Rauner has thrown conservatives like me under the bus by supporting publicly funded abortions and making Illinois a sanctuary state, so he won’t get my vote—and I’m sure a lot of conservatives feel the same way I do. Mr. Pritzker won’t get my vote, either. His only solution to the fiscal problems facing this state is to impose a quote, “progressive tax” so those rich people like him and Rauner will supposedly pay their fair share. The problem is, rich people like Pritzker and Rauner always find loopholes so they won’t have to pay more taxes. It will be the middle class that will get hit once again. For the first time in my life, I’m voting libertarian as a protest vote, even though I know that the libertarian candidate has no chance of winning. Rauner and Pritzker are both useless.

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There was recently a fiery incident on our Prairie Path involving two young female mail carriers who were approached by a middle aged man who did not make sense and was exploding with anger. Allegedly the man was desperately in need of professional mental help. I am so proud of and admire our Villa Park policemen and firemen who were on the scene immediately after receiving a 911 call by the mail carrier. They were professional, held their cool and acted with compassion. Within 45 minutes or more of their arrival, they were able to put the man on a stretcher and take him for help in their fire department ambulance. God bless our policemen, firemen, mail carriers, those in need of mental help, God bless everyone.

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In a call to refute what another caller said was a people issue when it comes to gun control, the second caller said no, it's a gun issue. But this person then says a gun is an inanimate object that doesn't work unless the person picks it up and shoots it. Key word, person, so yes, that does make it a people issue. Cliché or not, while guns, knives, vehicles, rocks, broken bottles, arrows, spears, etc. physically kill, they are propelled by people. And also, a countermeasure of a bucket of river rocks in the classroom, as suggested by one school superintendent? Seriously? I heard someone else suggest that teachers have a fire extinguisher by their desk that can either be tossed or sprayed at an intruder to buy a few seconds. That sounds reasonable; but just make sure teachers' desks are located near the doors.

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To the person who called in about the kids who went out on the protest for the 17 individuals who were shot in Florida, most all schools went along with that and there was absolutely nothing wrong with these kids going out there for 17 minutes to stand in silence. These children should not be punished. They should not be thought of as doing something wrong because we have no idea how they feel. These children were young when Sandy Hook happened and now they live all their lives going to school worrying or seeing other school shootings. Why should they not be out there to protest and to honor the kids that were killed? I applaud them and I applaud the schools that allowed them to show that it's all right for you to protest or do something in a meaningful manner that is so important to these kids. Maybe these kids will be the tool that will bring some sort of reform to guns.

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Lombard calling. Is it just me or did anyone else notice that none of the candidates for governor showed up with a spouse? The only time I saw one was Mrs. Rauner when they went to go vote. It would have been nice if we could have met the wife of a potential governor, if Mrs. Rauner expounded on the fact that she's renovated the governor's mansion with private funding, but I don't recall seeing any wives with their husbands on the campaign trail; which is too bad because if you're the man, she goes right along with him and you need to see what you're going to take with the package. Thank you.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I have a great suggestion for stopping the violence and racism for the shootings all across the country and in Chicago. Very simple. Don't put yourself in the position have the cops stop you, or confront you, in the first place. It makes it real easy. Bye.

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Hey people of Villa Park. Villa Park is changing and going downhill real, real fast. It's time to get the board members out of there and start fresh before Villa Park is no longer the little town we all enjoy.

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Hi, Lombard calling. This is in reference to Office Depot closing at the High Point Shopping Center. Do people realize we have five times the amount of retail business and why is this we can't even fill up half these spaces and the turnover rate is incredibly high? Is something going to be done about this High Point Shopping Center on Roosevelt Road, maybe tear it down and put something more of use than looking at empty stores?

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Hi. I just want to answer the statement the caller made about FOX News and Trump. I wonder if this person knows the old saying, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink it." You must be one of those horses. Bye.

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I don't know that protesting accomplishes anything; blocking streets, etc., and arguing for gun control. Most of us know right from wrong. Guns, knives, etc. don't kill people; people kill people. Any gun can kill if picked up by a human being who doesn't value a life. Maybe we need to get back to family values and parenting. If it isn't taught at home, maybe schools should start a class on the value of a human life.

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This is for the people who blame Trump for getting old. You've got to stop blaming him for everything. It just seems every time a new president comes in, he gets blamed. That person says he or she is getting old because of Donald Trump. Yeah, you're old all right. You were probably a waiter at the last supper.

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This is Lombard calling for the finance and administration committee for the 2019 budget that you are meeting over. One major option for the 2019 budget that will increase the budget and will eliminate some of the cuts is to be able to bring video gambling to Lombard. I know that has been a sore issue for many years, but think: We're in 2018, going into 2019 and 2020. Villages around Lombard have video gambling. Why shouldn't Lombard have it and be able to make money that other villages are? Thank you.

Your comments were forwarded to Village of Lombard officials for a response, which is as follows: "In 2010 and in 2014 this matter was brought to the village board for consideration. The village took public comment and heard concerns from residents in the community. At such time, the majority of public comments reflected opposition to the concept and the village board voted not to proceed with video gaming.   Moving forward, the village board and Finance Committee will always look at all options to either reduce expenses and raise revenues in an effort to maintain our core services. In the event that the issue of video gaming is identified as a possible solution to the long-term budget plan any public discussion or debate on it will be well communicated in an open and transparent process due to the strong feelings previously voiced on the topic. However, at this time, the implementation of video gaming has not been identified as part of the FY 2019 budget or beyond."—JAC