Letter from First v.p. Don Januszyk

[cdillon]

Donald Januszyk
First Vice President

The Chicago Mayoral election is over; Rahm Emanuel won. Judging from the amount of money he spent, it appears he bought his re-election. Emanuel stated that he is now a different person and will listen to Chicago residents; he even hired a person to head a transition team which typically only newly elected officeholders do. Rather than putting aside money for pension issues, he is spending money on a team to tell him how to listen to the people of Chicago. Great!!
Someone recently asked me if our pensions are in danger. Theoretically, our pension is protected by the Illinois Constitution, but elected officials are trying to change that. If they succeed in changing the pension for active members, that could affect the monies paid into the pension fund, hurting pensions. Like a Ponzi scheme, new members are necessary to fund our payouts because leadership failed to fund according to the law. Gov. Rauner is anti-pension and anti-union. Most of us can remember how it was working without a labor contract. Gov. Rauner, and Mayor Rahm and their camp will wield chaos over all government workers if they succeed in changing or eliminating current labor contracts.
In the private sector United Airlines and the Steel Industry were the first to eliminate traditional pensions. They argued that they needed the monies to keep their business afloat. Too often all corporate leaders are worried about is keeping their 7 and 8 figure salaries and stock options; their selfishness screws the people doing the grunt work.
Recently there has been an increase in news stories questioning the actions of the police. We need well trained police officers who know how to interact with citizens professionally. I’m not going to question the officers’ actions, however, I recently received reliable information that there are recruits in the Chicago Police Academy with learning disabilities who are given double the amount of time to finish tests, and certain individuals are allowed to leave class during the training day to privately engage in religious ritual practices. You have to be kidding me! Police officers on the street have to react and make decisions in seconds, and at times nanoseconds. Increasingly citizens are questioning the actions of the police, and Chicago now has officers with learning disabilities on the beat. Also, how many of us have interrupted a tour of duty to attend a religious service? Ladies and gentlemen please take the time and ask the mayor, the alderpersons, and anyone else in Chicago government to terminate this policy. We need the best officers possible to serve and protect Chicagoans.
The world is changing, and not for the good. I am ashamed at what we are leaving our children and grandchildren. The media is using their resources to desensitize us. More and more TV and movies tear down the American family, and diminish the respect we once had for each other. Take time to contact; better yet, write those in power in the public and private sectors. Tell them how you feel. We can’t let our United States of America be flushed down the drain. Stay informed and active; those contrary to your beliefs certainly are.

Take care and be safe.