Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) proclaims in the Sun-Times that the cherished South Shore Nature Sanctuary is “actually all dead...it’s been dead for some years.”

How sickening this statement is — for its outright truthlessness and blatant disregard for the South Shore community, and its obvious prioritization of self-interest.

I commend the Sun-Times Editorial Board for calling out the alderman (“Bold Proposal for South Side Golf Course Still Hooking and Slicing,” Aug. 16), but the reprimand should have been more stern. Chicagoans cannot continue to accept a City Hall that acts capriciously, in darkness, often without honesty.

Having just visited the sanctuary one week prior, I can attest that I admired no less than 38 native plant species in the span of one hour, some of them on the state’s threatened and endangered list, and none anywhere near death.

Quite to the contrary, this is one of Chicago’s few thriving examples of a native lakeshore habitat, and surely one of its most beautiful. I’m certain the alderman is well aware of that.

Perhaps we should give her the benefit of the doubt and assume a misunderstanding of the reporter’s question. Could “it’s actually all dead” have been a response pertaining to her flagging political career?

Grahm Mathew Balkany, Grand Boulevard

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Lady Liberty is not an accountant

Contrary to what Immigration Services Director Ken Cuccinelli might think, the Statue of Liberty does not wear an accountant’s green eyeshade nor does she hold an accounting ledger book in her arm so she can check immigrants’ bank accounts as they pass by her to enter the U.S.

Cuccinelli’s proposed plan to allow only wealthy immigrants into the U.S. goes against everything our country stands for and tries to erase the symbolism and words inscribed on Lady Liberty that welcome the tired, the poor, the homeless, “yearning to be free.”

Maybe Cuccinelli’s ancestors came to this country with suitcases filled with cash, but many Americans know their ancestors came with the clothes on their backs, fleeing poverty, hunger and persecution. These immigrants were determined to work hard to build our cities and towns, our schools and churches, our factories and businesses — as new immigrants continue to do today.

Mary Jo Przygoda, Gurnee

Law-abiding citizens have no reason to fear Trump

I don’t quite understand why so many people in Little Village are fearful of President Donald Trump. He does not pose any danger to “law-abiding citizens.”

Trump has taken an oath of office to uphold the laws of this country and he is doing his best to honor that oath. For this, the president is vilified, despised, hated and condemned.

I for one do not want to live in a country without laws. Do you?

Eugenia M. Bauer, Portage Park