Criticism of Holzhauer misses bigger council issue
Recently, the Naperville Sun published a letter to the editor from Kurt Dorr.
Dorr claimed that Naperville City Councilman Ian Holzhauer, through a social media post, “made a wholly offensive leap and not-so-subtle insinuation that hate and bigotry” drove opposition to funding for Naperville’s gay pride festival.
It seems that a few facts were missing from Dorr’s report. Firstly, Dorr himself previously posted to social media, with regard to Pridefest, “Just what I want to see, a bunch of men prancing around downtown Naperville in thongs.” Dorr is not the type of commenter that should be driving our local news, let alone participating in local politics.
Secondly, Dorr failed to acknowledge that half the City Council, behind closed doors and before the meeting, singled out Pridefest as the only one of 54 Naperville events for cuts from levels recommended by the Special Events Cultural Amenities (SECA) Commission.
Thankfully, those who had tried to kill Pridefest funding behind closed doors relented when faced with public pressure. Special thanks to council members Holzhauer, Benny White, Patrick Kelly and Theresa Sullivan for supporting the LGBTQ community throughout the process.
Who are the real heroes of Naperville? Those who stand up for historically disparaged groups, or those who mock them? This “Best Place to Live in America” should be doing everything it can to live up to its name for everyone, especially the LGBTIQA+ community.
Eric Sutton, Naperville
Questions for letter-writer who attacked Holzhauer
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Recently the Naperville Sun published a letter critical of Naperville City Councilman Ian Holzhauer in which the writer suggested Holzhauer’s actions in support of NaperPride’s full allocation of SECA funds were improper and called for the city’s attorney to investigate them.
Dorr has served for years as a local GOP attack dog on Democratic candidates. Mr. Dorr has been busy on Facebook recently, spreading the usual homophobic and racist tropes. His replies to Naperville residents’ posts include one in which he says he doesn’t want to see “men prancing around downtown Naperville in thongs.”
In another, he voiced a racist attack on Naperville’s state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (too outlandish to repeat). This is not the first time the local GOP has made racist attacks on Yang Rohr; last June, NaperPAC circulated a flier insinuating she was selling drugs, running her picture side by side with that of an alleged Asian drug dealer.
Come November, when the local GOP candidates try to earn your vote by claiming they are “moderate” because they know people who are gay or people of color, you should ask yourself if they have any connection to GOP members who are OK with homophobia and racism.
Nancy Turner, Naperville
Local leaders voice support for school boards, civility
As representatives for local volunteer organizations devoted to quality education for all, we are voicing our support of our elected, volunteer officials and leaders within our community. We are troubled by the lack of civility and respect shown to our local school boards.
In addition,
We support robust and equitable public education.
We support appropriate health measures in schools as determined by state and local health authorities and as implemented by the school district.
We believe that all voices should be heard and considered, but always in a fair, balanced, and respectful way.
We believe in a full, fact-based education that explores topics some may consider uncomfortable. We do not think we serve our society by limiting curriculum or books that some do not like or agree with.
We represent many community members who feel this way. We fully support our public schools and, though we may disagree with some decisions, we support our elected officials and school administration.
Sue Topp, president, AAUW Naperville Area
Barbara Vernon, president-elect, AAUW Naperville Area
Becky Simon, president, League of Women Voters of Naperville
Laura Welch, president, Illinois National Organization for Women
Jill Lexier, state policy advocacy co-chair, National Council of Jewish Women, Illinois
Trump supports Putin, would have backed invasion
Contrary to what a Naperville resident said in a March 20 letter to the editor, Donald Trump’s policies of extortion of Ukraine by withholding military aid for political purposes, his intent to withdraw the USA from the NATO Alliance, and his ongoing praise of Putin as well as Putin’s polices would most certainly have led to the invasion of Ukraine sooner than it already did. It probably would have resulted in expansion of Putin’s goals to retake territory formerly held by the USSR.
Trump’s constant deference to Russia on policy matters, even over those fundamentally held by the United States, including those from his own administration, lead me to believe that if Trump were still in office and Russia prevailed in its conflict with Ukraine, after hostilities had ended, there would be a state dinner for Putin at the White House.
Don Orchard, Naperville
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