Disbanding ESDA a ‘disconnect’ from reality
Goodbye, your services are no longer wanted. What served us for 50 years is gone. What helped keep Brookfield safe is gone. No more pat on the shoulder while saying, “We’ll be there when you need us.”
Under the direction and control of Village President Michael Garvey, the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, known as ESDA, has run its course with this administration. What should have been a testimonial for a group of big-hearted volunteers was promptly halted. What should have been a rallying for more volunteers from our community was halted.
This shows a real disconnect from the reality of today’s world. This is why villages are unprepared for any dangerous situations that may occur. Many disasters, such as train derailments, floods and a probable pandemic, will need an immediate, organized response to aid authorities in medical and non-medical responsibilities.
There was always a shoulder to lean on if your basement was flooded, or the social events in Brookfield needed help in crowd control, or simply aiding the fire department with lighting, as was the case with the fire on Southview a few years ago.
Turn in your badges, guys. Your unwavering support was not appreciated.
Jane Harps
Brookfield
What’s happening to Brookfield ESDA is wrong
What they are doing to Brookfield ESDA is wrong, very wrong. And as for that guy in Countryside taking over, that is wrong, too. He won’t do anything for Brookfield. He just wants all the equipment that Brookfield has. He just wants to make his little nation bigger.
They should give the equipment to someone who will use it and who would help out Brookfield if they needed it without a question of who is paying or looking for compensation, like the director of Countryside wants.
We would do it for free. The true meaning of ESDA is all about giving back to the cities and people, not to see how much money and stuff we can get.
Donald Haase
Brookfield
Leave me out of political infighting
I like living in Brookfield. I have a comfortable home, great neighbors, good schools and nice parks for my children to play in, relatively low in crime and very few issues that present problems for my family and myself.
That being said, one of the few things I dislike is the way that the political infighting, name calling and general bad behavior of some citizens is played out right here on the editorial page, which is why I am baffled at the fact that I have become involved in exactly that which I frown upon.
I refer to a letter in the May 3 edition of the Landmark (“SSA residents don’t want sales tax hike”) where [the letter writer] refers to me as the “new lackey for the PEP Party.”
This is almost laughable, as anyone who knows me will tell you I am the most nonpartisan person you will ever meet. I could not care less if the Brookfield government is run by the PEP Party, the VIP Party or a Tupperware party, for that matter. I have never liked labeling people, nor do I like being labeled myself. …
With all of that being said, I will say … that I am taking my ball and going home. … And while on the way, I am going to pedal down a newly paved street, past a fiscally stable library, maybe get a great meal at one of the new restaurants in town, have a refreshing glass of wine at the newly opened Salt Creek Wine Bar, maybe enjoy a quick ice cream at Cock Robin. And, as I pass by Hollywood School, I will smile at the knowledge that my kids will get a great education from terrific teachers. And, just for kicks, I will do a few loops around RB High School, to see if groundbreaking has started on the forthcoming improvements there as well.
I will also know that be it ever so small, I had a part in making it all happen. …
The voters of this village have spoken over and over again with the voice of democracy, and that voice cannot be shouted down. Thank goodness for that.
Dennis Meehan
Brookfield
