After reading the opening line of the editorial about how the Parker resort project is “heaven-sent” for Galena, Illinois, I questioned everything — including the credibility of the Tribune Editorial Board (“Deluxe, ‘Sonoma-style’ resort is back on track for Galena, surviving a NIMBY court battle,” Nov. 17). Whose opinion is this? Who is telling me that the town I grew up in needs another resort?

The Parker project represents a classic, money/greed versus community/wildlife scenario where an out-of-state developer with a small portfolio has somehow convinced a few aging, unpaid and paid small-town leaders that they will in some way be empowered by allowing a massive resort to create more traffic congestion, light pollution and noise pollution in an area previously zoned agricultural that is rich with forest cover and wildlife, adjacent to a few residents’ homes and the Galena River.

Hundreds, yes, hundreds, of locals have spoken out against it. That is significant in a town with a population of around 3,000. Putting a vineyard so close to a waterway would impact all the wildlife that call this precious Driftless Area home.

You know what would truly be heaven-sent for someone like me who has watched the landscape slowly be encroached upon my entire life? I would like to see the town of Galena recognize that there are still people who live here, that this land that we call “Driftless” is a unique and irreplaceable part of our state that is worth saving and worth fighting for.

— Jeannie Coates, Galena, Illinois

An ill-informed editorial

Way to go to the Tribune Editorial Board for its Nov. 17 oversimplification of a complex issue and for the name-calling of a responsible, intelligent, compassionate and respectful citizen. The editorial regarding the recent appellate court decision on the proposed Parker development in Galena is about as ill-informed, inaccurate and one-sided as it gets.

The city chose to appeal the initial court decision. Why didn’t it just start the approval process over at that point rather than spend time and money to appeal? What is really going on here?

Has the editorial board watched any of the public meeting footage? The editorial is worthy of a cheap tabloid sheet.

— Bronwyn Clark Skov, formerly of Galena, Miesville, Minnesota

Increase in property taxes

The property tax bill that I just received is $5,540 after homestead and senior exemptions for a 1,400-square-foot single-family home in a neighborhood that is considered working-class. And last year, after being reassessed, my tax went up $900.

After reading the front-page story about the tax increases on Chicago property owners (“Record property tax hikes slam Chicago homeowners,” Nov. 17), especially on the South and West sides, I would like to have one of those tax bills. Let’s talk about actual dollars and not percentages.

— Anton Iberle, Evergreen Park

Information from county

I got my property tax bill late. It had a lot of information but was missing previously included info on what percentage of taxing body pension funds was covered. I tried to find it online, and the county taxing body info finder couldn’t recognize MWRD. So I typed in Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. I got a listing of the Alsip Park District twice and the Barrington Park District twice (not even in Cook County) and so on, filling up first-page space.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, please bring back that revealing info.

— Stephen T. White, Buffalo Grove

Downtown property values

Increased property values in downtown Chicago would only benefit the city if the property owners paid their fair share of taxes — which most of them likely don’t. High-priced, well-connected lawyers can get them off every time.

My property values increasing means I have to pay more since I can’t afford to challenge.

— Muriel Balla, Chicago

Guaranteed income pilot

Cook County property owners have been complaining about their recent tax bills.

The county over two years starting in 2022 gave 3,250 residents $500 per month in a guaranteed income pilot. That came out to $39 million. This is just one example of unnecessary spending paid for with taxes.

People don’t complain about their credit card bill because it reflects what they spent. They shouldn’t complain about the high taxes without complaining about unnecessary spending.

— Larry E. Nazimek, Chicago

Bravo to these aldermen

A group of Chicago aldermen are preparing their own alternative budget? You mean, acting like a true legislative body? Kudos to them!

Would that our Congress took a lesson.

— Daniel Heenan, Palos Heights

Tribune’s factual reporting

The Tribune was recently criticized for reporting factual information about a man who was shot by immigration agents when he allegedly resisted arrest. The Tribune was not criticized for reporting misinformation or making an error — but for reporting truthful information, which may or may not be relevant to the allegations that the individual resisted arrest.

I do not believe news providers should withhold information because it may not fit into someone’s version of the truth or it might be offensive to some.

When the Fourth Estate is reprimanded for reporting facts, we are in trouble.

— Clare Connor, Chicago

Pretrial detention request

Regarding “A woman was set on fire on the Blue Line. Chicago can’t shrug this off” (Nov. 21):  The most telling point in the editorial is: “The state’s attorney’s office told us they requested that Reed be held in detention over the alleged August assault. Incredibly, their request was denied.”

The standard in the SAFE-T Act for pretrial detention is that the arrested person is a danger to any specific person or people or to the community. And anyone with such a long criminal history is clearly a danger to the community.

I would like to read the details of that pretrial detention hearing. It sounds like a pretty serious failing on the part of the judge.

— Edward Gogol, Crystal Lake

National Guard at stations

Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson should agree to deploy the National Guard to all 146 CTA “L” stations 24/7 to decrease violent crime, robberies and vagrancy. Deploying two members of the guard at the turnstiles and two on the platforms would require about 1,000 troops. This added security would deter turnstile jumpers and criminals from entering the system and loitering.

The guard could also clear the trains and platforms at the end of each line and occasionally ride the trains.

In a matter of hours, the whole system could be safe for residents, workers and tourists. Legitimate riders would return, CTA revenue would increase and Chicago taxpayers wouldn’t be paying the Chicago Police Department overtime for added security.

— Mike Carano, Chicago

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/24/letters-112425-galena-resort/