Public Frustration Mounts Over RTA Budget Crisis
Late last month, the Illinois General Assembly failed to pass legislation aimed at plugging the $770 million deficit looming over the Regional Transportation Authority’s 2026 budget. While the measure passed in the Senate, it was derailed in the House, reportedly due to resistance from suburban legislators unwilling to support new tax hikes.
A Rogers Park resident and scientist, who commutes daily from Chicago to Lake County via Metra, submitted a powerful letter to the Sun-Times criticizing this political impasse.
“Everyone wants reliable, fast mass transit in theory, until they see the costs,” the letter states. “No revenue without reform” was a cute slogan to justify legislative inaction.”
The writer highlights that Metra’s reach is vital to Chicago’s suburbs and central business corridors alike. If cuts are made, he warns, hundreds of thousands of commuters will be forced back onto the highways, exacerbating traffic on already clogged arteries like the Kennedy, Eisenhower, and Dan Ryan.
“If these legislators think the proposed tax hikes were unpopular, they should consider how their constituents will feel when their commute is doubled because of RTA service cuts.”
Concerns About Foreign Influence In Illinois Elections
Another letter spotlights a less visible but no less urgent issue: the influence of foreign-owned corporations in Illinois elections.
Backers of House Bill 3071, including State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel (D-Ottawa), argue the law is necessary to close a loophole that allows corporations with more than 1% foreign ownership to fund political campaigns—despite federal bans on foreign election interference.
Organizations like Free Speech For People and Common Cause Illinois support the bill, warning that Amazon, Chevron, and Uber are among companies allegedly exerting undue influence due to their foreign ownership stakes.
Joe Mansueto Earns Praise For Chicago Fire Project
Joe Mansueto, founder of Morningstar and owner of the Chicago Fire soccer club, drew praise for funding the team’s new stadium himself at “The 78,” a planned development along the riverfront.
“There is nothing preventing ownership of the Bears and the Sox from doing what Mansueto is doing,” a reader wrote, suggesting other billion-dollar franchises should follow suit instead of lobbying for public funds.
From Sharks To ‘Da Pope’ — Readers Weigh In
In lighter fare, one letter marks the 50th anniversary of the film “Jaws”, urging readers to stop vilifying sharks and recognize their importance to marine ecosystems. The writer calls for stronger protections and public education, citing that apex predators are vital for oceanic balance.
Meanwhile, another Chicagoan celebrated the recent elevation of Cardinal Robert Prevost, a South Suburban native, to Pope Leo XIV. The local buzz, they say, feels almost as euphoric as the Cubs’ 2016 World Series win.
Serious Concerns Over Religious Interference And Fake IDs
Several other readers voiced strong opinions on topics like assisted suicide legislation—opposing Cardinal Blase Cupich’s stance—and the legacy of Trump University, tying the former president’s past to concerns over current immigration policy.
A final sharp letter tackles the argument for photo ID laws in voting, citing recent stories about realistic-looking fake IDs in Chicago as proof that signatures remain a more reliable safeguard.
What’s your take on the Illinois transit funding crisis, or foreign influence in local elections? Should sports teams fund their own stadiums like Joe Mansueto did? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
