The Chicago GOP won’t blame Brandon Johnson. But that will hold him accountable. Chicago Grandstand

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In her April 10 column, Brandon Johnson will join other black mayors as GOP targets, Laura Washington seeks to air expected criticism of Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, identifying conservatives and Republicans.

The Chicago Republican Party has emphasized the pursuit of prosperity and better education as long-term remedies to our many civic ills. Johnson has so far offered a progressive agenda that includes implementing his vision of social justice. Without a vibrant economy, however, its ideological goals will never be realized as their pursuit drives this city deeper into the terrible maelstrom of decline through mismanagement that is our present destiny. Like other cities under progressive policies such as San Francisco; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle can now sadly attest, such policies are far more likely to result in social disintegration, not an urban utopia. Prosperity and education remain the best goals.

Chicago Republicans will not scapegoat Johnson as Washington predicts in his racist column. But legitimate, reasoned, and constructive criticism of a government’s policies, as well as offering alternative policies for consideration, is a natural right of every human being. If Johnson continues on the path he has charted so far, he can expect criticism and even outcry from many groups who disagree on finding a better life for him. all citizens of Chicago, including Republicans who live here.

Chicago Republican Party Chairman Steve Boulton

Letter writer John R. Madera Sr. is right to hold Donald Trump accountable (Hold Trump accountable, April 13). Trump swore and spat on and over 200 years of tradition, of a peaceful transfer of power. Trump encouraged his armed supporters to come to the Capitol, putting Capitol police, lawmakers and staff in imminent danger. He expressed no objection when a gallows was erected for Mike Pence, nor did he express remorse for those injured or killed on January 6. I will finally be happy when the arrest order is given for the crime of high treason.

Kelly Kleiman (Retiming Chicagos municipal elections, April 13) is also right. Stop making Brandon Johnson a darling of the progressive media. If more Chicagoans had voted, the outcome might have been very different. Johnson hasn’t proven anything yet, and some of his tax ideas are short-sighted and wrong. Let him take office and prove his worth. At the moment, I am not particularly optimistic about his becoming mayor.

Judy ArkesChicago

News articles from the April 6 edition (Manage Mississippi and Drink Only What’s Taken Home) highlight how climate change is contributing to conditions that cause loss of life and property, human suffering and cost economics associated with adapting to a changing environment.

Southern and Midwestern regions were hit by a series of tornadoes this spring, which killed more than 60 people. Although the role of climate change in tornadoes is not fully understood, scientists report that the tornado season appears to be getting longer, and future tornadoes are more likely to occur in more populated areas.

Last year’s drought conditions lowered water levels in the Mississippi River, leading to a slowdown in shipping traffic that affected supply chains and cost the national economy $20 billion.

Another story relates the misery suffered by people in coastal areas of India where rising sea levels have made groundwater too salty to drink or use for bathing. It is good news that India, the world’s third largest emitter of carbon dioxide, is working on the transition to clean energy. However, this will take time. Meanwhile, the country is already preparing for another year of extreme heat waves.

As fossil fuel companies continue to emit harmful emissions into the planet’s atmosphere, people around the world will continue to experience the effects of air pollution, extreme weather, lack of water drinking water and supply shortages caused by climate change. We urgently need policy solutions to reduce carbon pollution and accelerate the transition to a clean energy future that benefits people across the United States and around the world.

An important tool in the fight against climate change is a policy that puts a price on carbon. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has called carbon pricing the most powerful and effective strategy for reducing emissions. A carbon tax, combined with a dividend for American households, is a way to make polluting companies pay for the damage they cause to the environment and give people a cushion against higher energy costs.

Concerned Americans should urge their representatives to support a price on carbon.

Sheila Brown, Evanston

The United States House is looking at ways to reduce the benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program to those in need. House members have no trouble appropriating billions of dollars for war, but, for example, they declare the re-enforcement of the enhanced child tax credit a ban, strapped for cash.

SNAP is one of the most powerful tools our country has to fight hunger. Our elected leaders should reinforce the benefits of SNAP and protect the program from attack, not do the opposite. Our families are counting on our members of Congress to protect SNAP!

SNAP provides economic benefits to our country: Each SNAP dollar generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in economic activity.

Readers should reach out to their members of Congress to increase the benefits of SNAP and also to expand who can receive the benefits. War is not the only thing to be financed. Feed all who need it. Also, implement the child tax credit in an improved form.

Janice Gintzler, Crestwood

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