Wehrli’s leadership, cooperative spirit a good fit for mayor
I strongly support Scott Wehrli for mayor of Naperville. He is a kind and accomplished leader with high integrity and a positive vision for the future of this community.
I have known Scott for more than 25 years, watching him grow from a young Naperville Park District police officer and dedicated Boy Scout volunteer into a successful business owner, employing more than 200 people.
As a lifelong resident of Naperville, Scott understands the community and the values that maintain the high quality of life here, including the city’s commitment to families, outstanding education, strong economic development, fiscal responsibility, public safety and volunteerism.
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As a business owner, he knows the importance of financial restraint and the impact of taxes.
And as a volunteer, he is involved with helping to resolve many of the issues facing Naperville. For example, he has volunteered with the Naperville Development Partnership for more than two decades, working to bring great businesses to Naperville and reducing the residential tax burden.
Scott Wehrli works hard, listens to all viewpoints, and brings people together to achieve important goals. I believe that, as mayor, Scott Wehrli will bring the experienced leadership, cooperative spirit and can-do attitude that Naperville needs at this time.
Jini Clare, Naperville
Learn CPR and you might just save someone’s life
Did you know that of the cardiac arrests that happen outside of hospitals, 70% of them occur at home or at a private residence? And that someone like you — a family member or friend — will most likely be the person who can take action to save a life. This is according to the American Heart Association.
Over 20 years ago, two people and I performed CPR on a man who had a cardiac arrest while playing basketball at a church gym. Fortunately, our Naperville EMTs arrived quickly and I learned the next day the man survived.
After all these years, I retook “Friends and Family CPR” at Edward Hospital this past weekend. This two-hour course is for the general public, and you’ll learn to perform CPR and use an AED on adults, children and infants. The class was expertly-run, including hands-on practice on mannequins.
During February, which is American Heart Month, Edward-Elmhurst discounts the class to only $10. The classes may be full for this month, but you’ll find plenty of opportunities in the coming months if you go to www.eehealth.org/classes-events/cpr-first-aid.
Please consider taking this class. Your family member’s life or a friend’s life may depend on it someday.
Bill Simon, Naperville
Preparing for the future should be a major council issue
I was delighted to see Suzanne Baker’s coverage of the Naperville City Council candidate forum in the Naperville Sun on Feb. 1.
I’m sorry I missed attending that event but my wife and I did attend the Jan. 31 forum hosted by the Naperville Senior Task Force, which was attended by all 11 candidates.
One question at the Indivisible Naperville forum did not come up at the Jan. 31 event: “What should the city do with the $13.3 million windfall from COVID-19 stimulus funds?”
Incumbent Patrick Kelly answered that “the council is intentionally waiting to see how the city bounces back after the pandemic so the money can be invested where the community will receive the biggest return.”
Jodi Trendler suggested “spending the stimulus on standardizing city practices for its emergency response to disasters, such as the 2021 tornado or the COVID-19 pandemic.”
I applaud Trendler’s response for two reasons: First, it is an appropriate allocation of funds given to ameliorate the effects of an international disaster, like the pandemic. When — not if — the next disaster hits, we would be able to say: “Your City Council wisely invested federal COVID-19 funds to enhance Naperville’s emergency preparedness. This time, those improvements saved lives.”
Second, I was delighted that Trendler brought up emergency preparedness as a topic. Her main focus has been on Naperville sustainability and the five-year strategic plan, largely based on work done by the Naperville Environmental Sustainability Task Torce (NEST) of which she was a major player.
Sustainability and emergency preparedness are connected, but neither is a sexy topic. Even though the costs of ignoring them are clear and inevitable, they aren’t as exciting as building new business districts or lowering taxes.
It is easy to ignore the future but watch out, our free ride on the bus of good fortune will not last forever. When the hospitals are full, whole neighborhoods are flooded, the water shuts off or the lights go out, it will be too late to prepare. These things are happening all over the U.S. and Naperville is not immune.
Russell Scott Manthy, Naperville
Be aware of ADA rules and report medical facility violations
Since I have become disabled, I am very concerned that some of the following items need to be resolved at medical facilities as soon as possible so they are in compliance with the American Disability Act.
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All buildings where physicians practice medicine need automatic doors or a warning system that informs staff to open the door for those who are unable to do so.
Medical practices need to have a bariatric-type wheelchair available for a patients’ use and it should have properly working brakes and be hygienically clean.
Physicians’ offices need to have at least one ADA restroom with an automatic door opener. Grab bars need to be on both sides of the toilet, the height of which must be greater than 20.5 inches.
Ramps into a medical building need to be at a slope that can be easily traversed by someone in a wheelchair.
I am seeking assistance from you by asking that you observe the medical sites you visit and note where improvements are needed. Please send your concerns to the site’s patient advocate or CEO.
You surely would like to see decent conditions for disabled people. Your cooperation may assist all ADA people to have a better life and be able to experience life as you do.
John M. Simonin, Plainfield
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