Your recent editorial criticizes President Trump for his decisions to pull the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change, undermine climate regulations, and encourage the drilling of fossil fuels — decisions that fly in the face of the scientific consensus that climate change is real, caused by humans, already underway, and getting worse each year.
While the president is trying to divide the American people from one another on climate change, as on many fronts, lawmakers are coming together in the House and the Senate to defy this division. In both legislative bodies, lawmakers have formed a Climate Solutions Caucus to discuss the problem and work on climate legislation. The House caucus has 66 members, 24 of whom are Republican. These include Illinois representatives Jan Schakowsky and Dan Lipinski, who are Democrats, and Rodney Davis and Adam Kinzinger, who are Republicans. The Senate Caucus just started and has eight members, half of whom are Republican.
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These lawmakers exemplify the practice of de-politicizing climate change, working from the understanding that it is affecting American households now and needs a solution. If they can continue to reach across the aisle and build understanding, I believe we can address climate change in a real and lasting way that endures and changes the government in Washington, D.C. These enduring changes are the climate solutions that the American people need, and I applaud all lawmakers, of either party, who are working towards those solutions.
Jim Schwartz, Oak Park
Make Uber, Lyft pay for better public transit
In regard to Laura Washington’s column “Higher Taxes Would Hurt Those Who Really Need Ride Hailing,” it seems to me that Chicago is lucky to have one of the best public transportation systems in the country, and that is what we need in such a densely populated city.
Public transit should be properly funded, so that it can offer the best service possible to every citizen. And it seems to me that a great way to fund it would be to further tax Uber and Lyft, as these companies use our public roadways, siphon riders and fares from the CTA, and add greatly to congestion. That slows down buses and endangers pedestrians, and degrades the quality of the air we all breathe. Furthermore, these companies do not pay their employees much, offer no benefits, and require them to use their own vehicles.
We would all benefit from making the CTA even better. Our concern should be aimed in that direction, and not at some ridiculous companies whose only objective is to make a profit.
Jeff Headrick, Hyde Park
