OPINION — In the late 1970s, I was employed by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office Civil Division in Joliet, Illinois, famous for having the largest prison population in America. Not for my legal skills, more for my grant writing, research and master’s degree in urban studies.
A large prison population is bad for any community. In 50 years, nothing has changed. There is a family on my street whose son got involved with a Joliet gang and got bullets in him. At the other end of my street is a retired parole officer.
1. Surprise mayor and City Council: This warehouse sale was not a surprise. The town should have immediately employed experienced federal litigators and filed federal lawsuits. The mayor is wasting time trying to wear everyone out. I have seen this tactic before.
