What happened to the dinosaurs?  They perished with the climate changes.  The current climate of our sensibilities and values won’t sustain the remaining dinosaurs much longer.  So long dinosaurs!  I was pleased to see the NBA respond so swiftly and appropriately — to show solidarity, and to protect the integrity of the NBA games and members.  Sterling, who has a long history of racial discriminations, went way out of bounds in his rant to “V, snuggle bunny” about His ownership of His players — that He provides food, clothing and housing for them, and that HE is the game, not his players!  He sounded like an old slave-owner!   It’s just offensive on so many levels!   Do the fans come and pay to watch the players with special talents, or to view the owners lounging in their special seats?  Do they throw down big money to wear advertising gear because they love the teams or the owners?  And Sterling, interviewed by media-star Anderson Cooper, aired this week saying, He’s not a racist, and he wants a second chance, and blames it all on the media.  And knowing he’s talking for the media, he spews out another rant of unkind words that would have been better off unsaid.  Oh my!  So long Sterling!  With greater wealth and position Should come more responsibility.  We must think before we speak, and know that these days even our most trusted companions may be recording our words to “broadcast our ignorance to the world”.  We could try changing for the better.   We have no-one to blame but ourselves for our own bad consciousness and the actions and resulting storms that come out of it!

The narrowly divided Supreme Court decision upheld the right of city council members to begin their meetings with a prayer, as long as it did not denigrate non-Christians or try to win converts.  The 5/4 decision sounds about right since we’re still a predominantly Christian nation; though I  don’t expect the “prayer decision” to hold up much longer.  I feel the other side’s arguments, many people seem offended these days at any mention of God or Jesus.  I can’t say that I see the distinction, however,  of Justice Kennedy, who voted pro-prayer, when in 1992 “he was the author of an opinion that held that Christian prayer delivered at a high school graduation did violate the Constitution”.  I think we all need to practice more tolerance in our day to day activities.  If a meeting opens with a prayer, that does not force those present to pray; they are free to contemplate for a moment or two, whatever beliefs they hold.  I think it’s sad that some “unbelievers” want to outlaw church nativity scenes, when they have a right to exercise their freedom to not attend that, or any church.  I don’t think we need to deface government buildings or re-mint all our money that says: “In God we Trust”, just because many don’t.                *******************************

I agree with George Will (in his recent article):  “Taking offense has  become America’s national pastime; being theatrically offended supposedly signifies the exquisitely refined moral delicacy of people who feel entitled to pass through life without encountering ideas or practices that annoy them.  As the number of nonbelievers grows — about 20 percent of Americans are religiously unaffiliated, as are one-third of adults under 30 — so does the itch to litigate believers into submission to secular sensibilities.”

I don’t pretend to know which groups are most in need of housing.  There are at least several subsidized housing buildings for the elderly and disabled, and with the aging baby boomers, plenty more will be necessary.  With the state of our local economy, I’m sure there’s also a need for more low-income housing.  So many older homes in Galesburg have been demolished in the past few decades, and many more need to be, or need extreme renovations.  I’m sure more up-to-date family-sized homes are desired for those who can well afford to pay good prices for them.  So the City of Galesburg is proposing setting up its own local housing program to be funded by a $ million grant from Urban Development Action monies, which could also be used to hire a housing consultant to assist in its development and implementation.  Hopefully, this program will help many of our residents to improve their lives.

Yes, I liked when the Railroad Days festivities were bigger, and on Main St and the Public Square.  We should try to have more activities to involve more of the community in the celebration.  There should be lots of things to do, not just things to buy; though the fair rides, like Pharaoh’s Revenge (especially), should be kept for the Knox Co Fair.  Local talent in the forms of bands and barbeque near the beer tent was always a big draw; and lots of folks turned out for the volleyball games.  What’s a local celebration without some form of physical competition?  The railroads brought many diverse people together, and we can celebrate that diversity.  The library could host a special film (like: The Boxcar People) or a BIG READ about the railroad coming to Galesburg (for those folks who don’t like the heat on the street or the blokes on the blocks).  To be clear: volleyball in early afternoon, activities on Main St; then band, BBQ and beer tent around supper time.

More cities are incorporating bike lanes on their roadways as more citizens are becoming health conscious and exercising, and in today’s economy many can’t afford a vehicle with all the accompanying expenses.  With the road resurfacing scheduled for this summer, it’s a good time to make the change.  Is it better to have the bike lanes on Sanborn or Fremont?  I’m thinking the lanes should be extended down past Silas Willard school and up to the High School to emphasize the school zones and lower speed limits, and to make a safer crossing area on Henderson Street for cyclists and pedestrians.  There should be plenty of signage; and reflectors required on front, back and bicycle tire-walls.  Any pedestrians, walking on or near streets after dark, should be wearing light or reflective clothing; if they’re not, this presents a hazard to themselves and for drivers who aren’t able to see them well.  This has been an ongoing problem since the city and its residents have stopped maintaining decent sidewalks.  And the schools should go over the bicycle safety rules with their students before summer vacation.

Sounds like a good investment in our community, as it helps the library “stay in the running” for matching funds that would cover 75 percent of the cost of the construction of a new library; and if the library foundation doesn’t get the grant from the state, the city will get their $2 million back sooner.  The library needed to secure $5 million in funds, so with the City Council voting to purchase $2 million of the debt certificates, the Galesburg Public Library Foundation will acquire $3 million of the certificates issued.  Agreed upon stipulations from the city further reduce the risk factor with the loan.  One of those stipulations is that the library must use the grant money it receives before using the money lent by the City of Galesburg.  With all the advances in technology to come, hopefully our new library would be a great research facility with computers and classes, open more hours; and personally, I’d like to see Lonnie Stewart’s statue of Carl Sandburg welcoming all to our splendid library grounds.

The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey to gauge the business community’s response to raising Illinois’ minimum wage, wherein 87 percent were in opposition, and 11 percent were in favor of paying employees a more livable wage.  Interesting!    I guess the business community of the burg doesn’t want customers with more money to spend on goods and services.   Keeping so many people at or near the poverty level does not help our economy.  Low-wage workers can barely afford minimal rent, utilities, and food, if that; and the prices for everything keeps climbing, as do taxes!  The federal minimum wage would be near $11 an hour if it had kept up with inflation over the past 40 years.  The growing income inequality situation portends a serious problem for the stability of our nation.  The middle class is shrinking dramatically!  We might as well close the mall now and turn it into a retirement village, with shops for the elderly under one roof.  The wealthier among us can well afford $3 to $4 for a cup of specialty coffee, and can afford to travel farther to shop, or order goods online.  Just leave the dollar stores in the burg for the rest of us!