Ted Schnell
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On the article St. Charles Police Cite Four in Fight on Main Street
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On the article District 303, Teachers OK 3-Year Contract
Ted Schnell
4:35 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
ReplyHi Doug, I just wanted to offer a couple of points to consider:
One, teachers are paid for nine months of work. They don't get paid for their "summer vacation" unless they actually work for the school district during that time. I'd point out, too, that many districts around the nation allow teachers to have their salaries paid out on a 12-month basis instead of nine. That's a budgeting convenience for the teachers.
During the summer months, teachers often must attend classes to keep current on their certification and professional development. Many also take summer jobs during that time.
I'm not discounting your criticisms about the pay increases and pension spiking. Those are entirely legitimate concerns to raise. But the nine-month complaint seems rather hollow when you consider they are not really being paid for their summers off.
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On the Blog Post A Way Forward
Ted Schnell
10:46 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Hi Rich,
I don't think I defend the types of actions you mention. However, I do offer correction when someone's account is not in sync with the only written account of which I am aware. Here again, your version of this incident neglects to mention some key points that were in the official report. The officer saw a woman slip on a night when it was snowing. The report mentioned specifically the officer believed she had slipped in the snow, got up and went on her way, and did not notice anything wrong until she was driving, which is when the officer started following her.
That's the official version.
The suppositions others inject into incidents like this either reflect a bias against the police -- assuming the officer failed to carry out his duties -- or perpetuating a misunderstanding of a story I wrote.
If I am defending anything, it's the truth as reflected in the official reports of the incident. Yes, I know these reports are written by police, and checked by their supervisors, but they are the only pieces of the public record that are there.
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On the Blog Post A Way Forward
Ted Schnell
12:49 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013
The incident you cite about the police watching a drunk staggering around the street occurred in the course of a few minutes while the police officers in question were stopped at a traffic light, if I remember the report correctly. Regardless, the bar served the guy a drink after he walked in and was cited accordingly.
Still, talking about trying to control people whose judgment may become compromised over the course of an evening of drinking seems to me more akin to trying to herd cats. Alcohol is, after all, an intoxicant that affects judgment, which likely is the underpinning for many of the state laws that regulate bars, restaurants and taverns. Those same laws place much of the onus, or responsibility, on the license holder.
Is it a higher standard for that type of business? Certainly. Is it unfair? That's debatable. Other businesses face far greater regulation — anything in the medical industry immediately come to mind, as does the waste disposal industry.
Regardless, the distinction you make about creating new classes of liquor license may seem ill-conceived, but what the city is considering is not unique. Other communities have taken similar steps and been satisfied with the results. Is there a better way? Probably, and it seems that the city is looking for a better way.
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On the Blog Post A Way Forward
Ted Schnell
11:12 am on Monday, May 20, 2013
Two points to consider on this, Rich:
1) State statutes limit how high local ordinance fines can be -- I believe it's $750 tops for a misdemeanor. The city raised public fighting fine to $500.
2) Laws and their accompanying penalties fail to work as a deterrent for those who don't believe they can be caught. That's more than adequately illustrated by the number of people who actually obey the speed limit in the metro area.
The presumption that raising the fines high enough will end the problem would seem, then, to be flawed.
Still, as Police Chief Lamkin did point out to the council, the higher fines are having an impact -- those stung once don't want to be stung again, it would seem.
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On the article Stolen Car, Burglaries Keep St. Charles Police Busy
Ted Schnell
9:55 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
I grew up in a subdivision west of Elgin, so the mischief we got into as kids generally did not get any worse than ding-dong ditch. But I have to say it worries me something fierce when I see kids getting into trouble today. There seems to be far worse things available as distractions today than when I was, say, 30 years or so younger. Regardless, we never snuck into folks' homes.
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On the article Stolen Car, Burglaries Keep St. Charles Police Busy
Ted Schnell
9:12 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
Context is everything -- your initial statement sounded a little harsh without it. But I agree entirely in the right to defend ourselves. Actually, the report of the guy waking to find someone had been in his home while he and his wife and kids were asleep was pretty shocking to read, particularly as a husband and father.
Part of me wonders who does something like this? Is this an experienced thief or an opportunistic thief? A teenager out for thrills? Whoever it is, I hope the police get him soon before anyone gets hurt.
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On the article Stolen Car, Burglaries Keep St. Charles Police Busy
Ted Schnell
9:12 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
Context is everything -- your initial statement sounded a little harsh without it. But I agree entirely in the right to defend ourselves. Actually, the report of the guy waking to find someone had been in his home while he and his wife and kids were asleep was pretty shocking to read, particularly as a husband and father.
Party of me wonders who does something like this? Is this an experienced thief or an opportunistic thief? A teenager out for thrills? Whoever it is, I hope the police get him soon before anyone gets hurt.
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On the article Stolen Car, Burglaries Keep St. Charles Police Busy
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On the article Brazen Thief Makes Off With 33 PS3 Game in St. Charles
Ted Schnell
3:41 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
I took that to mean a very dark complexion, along the same lines as a pale male white or a tanned male white. Many shades in the spectrum.
Ted Schnell
6:14 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
I'm still trying to figure out whether it was a case of honest misdirection or a prank gone awry.