Regarding the editorial “How property tax increases became a new third rail in US politics” (Jan. 6) and Paul Vallas’ op-ed “Council can address the financial crisis to come if it begins now” (Jan. 3): The Tribune Editorial Board joins failed mayoral candidate Vallas in railing against taxes and imagining major city budgeting with absolutely no attention to the needs of Chicagoans and the broken physical state of the city. The editorial board appears unaware that property taxes have always been the first rail of financing cities and meeting routine and special needs. Vallas’ uninformed ideological op-ed fails on many levels. Most importantly, he and the libertarian Illinois Policy Institute ignore the very real peoples of Chicago and the overwhelming human, social, economic and physical needs of the city itself. With great irony, he joins the aldermen who revolted against Mayor Brandon Johnson’s flawed budget in their response to his proposed $300 million increase in property taxes. Resources and needs are inseparably connected. No one is addressing all together the Chicago Police Department’s shorthandedness, the large-scale absence of 311 and traffic enforcement, the plight of the public schools, and the broken condition of streets and sidewalks. There are no human needs in Vallas’ or the editorial board’s Chicago. There is no conception of the varieties of resources. Vallas’ long out-of-date, originally conservative conception of free market economics, in the form of zero-based budgeting, has nothing to do with genuine political economy or human lives and meeting our needs. Once associated with Milton Friedman’s University of Chicago school of economics, it is properly forgotten outside the pages of right-wing libertarians — who are not traditional, humane conservatives — and reproduced in the opinion pages of the Tribune. People and their needs must come before empty ideologies. — Harvey J. Graff, Chicago Anti-Zionism and antisemitism The op-ed by Jennifer Guzman (“Chicago leaders, we have an antisemitism problem,” Jan. 5) touches on an issue that warrants further discussion: antisemitism versus anti-Zionism. While there is absolutely no excuse for ever disparaging another’s religion or ethnic group, Israel’s continued destruction of Gaza and the mass killing of medical workers, journalists, humanitarian workers and, most egregiously, children has brought into focus the issue of Zionist principles, as practiced by the Benjamin Netanyahu government. The fact that major international humanitarian organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which was founded by Holocaust survivor Aryeh Neier, have stated that Israel is perpetrating genocide, cannot be ignored. One of the kindest men I ever met was an Israeli violist who immigrated to Chicago, so this is not an indictment of all Israelis or of American Jews. In fact, Israel has been encouraged to commit atrocities by an American president and House leader who flaunt their Christianity but whose adherence to Christian teachings, such as Christ’s instruction in the Gospel of Matthew to protect little children, comes up short. Compare this with their support of the arms industry. There was no outcry from them when American doctors presented President Joe Biden with a statement last year regarding the Israeli military shooting children. So this is an issue for Christians and Jews to confront. For years, Judaism and Zionism have been presented as one to Americans. Given the actions of the Israeli government, many are rethinking this. It should also remind all Americans of the value of the separation of church and state. — Marsha Wright, Evanston Clarify Social Security bill Regarding “Biden signs bill to give higher Social Security pay to millions” (in print Jan. 2), the article is unclear about why current and former public employees will be receiving these increased benefits. The public may be left with the perception that public employees will earn Social Security on top of pensions for the same work. Actually, the bill rectifies the unfair practice of cutting Social Security for the private sector work these employees have done. For example, if someone worked in a corporate job for 20 years and then became a public school teacher, they would now be able to collect the full amount of what they earned paying into Social Security for 20 years, which would be completely separate from whatever they earn toward a public pension. Please help clarify this for the public rather than stoking more anger that is sure to result from vague articles. — Mary Beth Lang, Wheaton Hypnotized by Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter never fared well on TV, but it was not from a lack of charisma. The cameras and mics of that era did not properly capture the man in all his soft-spoken glory. As a young Associated Press stringer, I interviewed him in 1975 at a private fundraiser on New York’s Upper East Side. I don’t remember what was said, but I’ll never forget the powerful intimacy of that moment on the balcony of a fancy high-rise. I was face to face with the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. And I once met Lee Remick! Carter’s lilting twang was so soothing that I soon felt my eyelids grow heavy. History has not been kind to Carter’s presidency, and perhaps he missed his calling. There’s no question he would have made one hell of a hypnotist. — John Knoerle, Shorewood, Wisconsin Carter’s pardon of dodgers I fully understand why a Vietnam veteran would feel bitterness toward former President Jimmy Carter for forgiving men who went to Canada to avoid the draft (“I can’t forgive Carter,” Jan. 6). I believe Carter was just leveling the playing field to those who used other means to avoid Vietnam, such as a medical excuse of sore feet. — Richard Schultz, Crete Repurposing Damen Silos Regarding Edward Keegan’s column “Our stewardship of historic buildings has been abysmal. Chicago must do better” (Dec. 15): It may be too late, but has the idea of repurposing the Damen Silos as a pumped storage hydropower system been considered? A historic Chicago structure could be saved while an advanced clean energy source is created. — Jeff Schimmel, Geneva Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].