Data center supported by commission doesn’t belong here
Re the article titled “Panel votes in favor of data center” in the Nov. 21 edition of the Naperville Sun, I never knew this project proposal existed. The former Lucent site is quiet and surrounded by families and greenery.
If a huge water-guzzling, diesel-powered set of engines is “proposed,” the commission needs to air that broadly and loudly to all nearby residents. Reading about some 8-1 “decision” in the paper with zero buy-in from the community is beyond unacceptable.
To Naperville Planning and Zoning Commissioner Whitney Robbins: please do your job better, for all our sakes. If you and eight people “steward” this land, you are getting very far — indeed, 180 degrees opposite — from your duties. No such data center belongs here, and you and we need to ensure the environment and healthy social aspects of this area remain free and protected.
Kudos to Commissioner Courtney Naumes for leading the way.
Let’s be real: Ms. Robbins’ comments about existing noise and pollution essentially meant, “There’s some noise on I-88 sometimes so let’s simply let the entire town go to pot.” Nope. Let’s do our jobs.
Shannon Pouran Dobson, Naperville
No reason for why for crisis intervention team needed now
It is difficult to vote against funding for the Naperville Police Department or mental health services because both are framed as essential to the well-being of our community. However, what was/is the driving reason we need the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT) at a cost to taxpayers of about $1.25 million annually?
The NPD is recognized as one of the best — 93% of our officers are trained and certified in crisis intervention. Also, Police Chief Jason Arres has indicated the department doesn’t have issues investigating or prosecuting cases. If this is so important, why can’t an MCIT be funded from the existing budget or by cutting expense from the general fund?
I also found it disturbing that Mayor Scott Wehrli offered a compromise to slow the implementation to make sure the city can afford it in the future but it was rejected by Naperville City Council, namely Councilman Ian Holzhauer. There’s more to this story than what’s been presented.
Gary Kochanek, Naperville
DuPage GOP wants election, vote-by-mail system review
The DuPage GOP calls for an immediate public hearing on the topic of election integrity, our voter rolls and the process by which vote-by-mail ballots are being distributed, collected and counted. We believe the DuPage County clerk’s office should make itself available to participate and to answer respectful questions about election integrity.
We welcome the participation of the League of Women Voters and DuPage County’s Democratic Party in this public hearing should it proceed.
Confidence in the integrity of our elections is at an all-time low. It’s abundantly clear there are a great many DuPage voters who do not trust vote-by-mail and who believe games are being played with how these ballots are distributed, collected and counted. General questions about our voter rolls also continue to persist.
Let’s talk about these concerns openly, transparently and publicly. We will keep all questions respectful and sincere. We hope this call is accepted by the clerk’s office. We also hope the other mentioned stakeholders participate. We call on this hearing to take place within 90 days and before the 2026 primary.
Kevin Coyne
Chairman, DuPage GOP
Dem senators who voted to reopen government need to leave
This letter is to the eight Democrat U.S. senators who caved and voted with their Republican counterparts to end the shutdown and reopen the government.
I am one of thousands, perhaps millions, of Americans who are grateful you were not an advisor to Winston Churchill during the World War II’s Battle of Britain. If you don’t have the stomach to fight for what’s right, get out of politics.
Joseph P. Drago, Naperville
Share your views
Submit letters to the editor via email to suburbanletters@tribpub.com. Please include your name, address and town of residence for publication. We also need your phone number and email address for confirmation. Letters should be no more than 400 words.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/letters-naperville-data-center-election-mcit-reopen/
