CPS' unaffordable vision

Chicago Tribune sent this email to their subscribers on May 30, 2024.

Chicago Tribune Opinion

Thursday, May 30, 2024

Good morning.

There's lots to chew on in today's Opinion section. Much of it has to do with budgeting, something we all do at home and our representatives do in Springfield and Chicago.

The Editorial Board writes on the dramatic changes Chicago Public Schools has made to how it distributes funding to each of its more than 600 schools. Per the progressive and union-centric ideals of Mayor Brandon Johnson, next year's budget props up neighborhood schools sitting half empty or worse. But, without an influx of revenue, those funds are coming at the expense of schools to which parents actually want to send their kids. This is wrong-headed.

The board also offers an unorthodox suggestion for promoting public safety on the CTA. More frequent trains. It promotes ridership and doesn't leave people waiting on platforms, essentially sitting ducks for criminals.

On the op-ed side, regular contributor Willie Wilson takes aim at the recently passed $53.1 billion state budget and finds it wanting in terms of funding things that would provide actual help to people in need. One of his best for the Tribune.

And we have pieces on the controversies over Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's graduation address at Benedictine College, as well as the surreptitious use of Scarlett Johanssen's voice for AI purposes.

There are lots of reader letters as well.

Enjoy, and we'll talk to you tomorrow.

— Steve Daniels, editorial board member

Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor | Meet the Tribune Editorial Board |

Editorial: Chicago Public Schools' new budget pursues an unaffordable vision

Chicago Public Schools is taking resources from schools to which parents want to send their kids in order to support those parents don’t.

Editorial: What’s the easiest way to make the CTA safer?

We need to start looking at more frequent CTA trains as a way of making the system safer. It’s a far better idea than cops, dogs and armed security guards.

Willie Wilson: Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget expands bureaucracy

Budgets are about priorities, and clearly the new state budget prioritizes migrants over citizens and politicians over working-class families.

Megan Thiele Strong: It’s not just Harrison Butker who perpetuates traditional roles

The work female students at Benedictine College did to become college graduates was disregarded at the exact point when they were to celebrate.

Michael Mattioli: The expensive push to create humanlike AI is wasted effort

It’s time we approach AI with a new perspective: not as something inherently good or evil, but as a tool that requires thoughtful care and wisdom.

Letters: Durbin needs to take action to deal with Supreme Court corruption

The time has come for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to hold hearings on Supreme Court corruption.

Text-only version of this email

Chicaao Tribune CHICAGO TRIBUNE OPINION Thursday, May 30, 2024 Good morning. There's lots to chew on in today's Opinion section. Much of it has to do with budgeting, something we all do at home and our representatives do in Springfield and Chicago. The Editorial Board writes on the dramatic changes Chicago Public Schools has made to how it distributes funding to each of its more than 600 schools. Per the progressive and union-centric ideals of Mayor Brandon Johnson, next year's budget props up neighborhood schools sitting half empty or worse. But, without an influx of revenue, those funds are coming at the expense of schools to which parents actually want to send their kids. This is wrong-headed. The board also offers an unorthodox suggestion for promoting public safety on the CTA. More frequent trains. It promotes ridership and doesn't leave people waiting on platforms, essentially sitting ducks for criminals. On the op-ed side, regular contributor Willie Wilson takes aim at the recently passed $53.1 billion state budget and finds it wanting in terms of funding things that would provide actual help to people in need. One of his best for the Tribune. And we have pieces on the controversies over Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's graduation address at Benedictine College, as well as the surreptitious use of Scarlett Johanssen's voice for AI purposes. There are lots of reader letters as well. Enjoy, and we'll talk to you tomorrow. — Steve Daniels, editorial board member Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor | Meet the Tribune Editorial Board | EDITORIAL: CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS' NEW BUDGET PURSUES AN UNAFFORDABLE VISION ~\ ‘n\ f/ o N 2 | @ e CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHICAGC kIC - Chicago Public Schools is taking resources from schools to which parents want to send their kids in order to support those parents don’t. Read more → EDITORIAL: WHAT’S THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE THE CTA SAFER? We need to start looking at more frequent CTA trains as a way of making the system safer. It’s a far better idea than cops, dogs and armed security guards. Read more → WILLIE WILSON: GOV. J.B. PRITZKER’S BUDGET EXPANDS BUREAUCRACY Budgets are about priorities, and clearly the new state budget prioritizes migrants over citizens and politicians over working-class families. Read more → MEGAN THIELE STRONG: IT’S NOT JUST HARRISON BUTKER WHO PERPETUATES TRADITIONAL ROLES The work female students at Benedictine College did to become college graduates was disregarded at the exact point when they were to celebrate. Read more → MICHAEL MATTIOLI: THE EXPENSIVE PUSH TO CREATE HUMANLIKE AI IS WASTED EFFORT It’s time we approach AI with a new perspective: not as something inherently good or evil, but as a tool that requires thoughtful care and wisdom. Read more → LETTERS: DURBIN NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION TO DEAL WITH SUPREME COURT CORRUPTION The time has come for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to hold hearings on Supreme Court corruption. Read more → Copyright © 2024 Chicago Tribune 560 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60654

Show all