Frustrated with planes taxiing at O'Hare
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Sadly, because of a family member’s illness, I’ve visited Chicago 10 times in the past five months.
Half the trips I’ve flown into O’Hare Airport and half into Midway Airport.
Flying is not the problem.
Taxiing is.
O’Hare is beyond abysmal.
From when I touch down, it literally takes between 20 minutes to an hour to reach the gate.
One time flying from Nashville, we sat on the ground for longer — 80 minutes — than the actual duration of my flight.
Departing is little better from O’Hare, meaning you sit to pull away from the gate and then sit in line to take off, sometimes taking an hour.
In contrast, Midway is a breeze.
From when you touch down, you are at the gate within five minutes.
Same with takeoffs.
I read that https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2021/9/9/22665441/ohare-airport-expansion-runway-project-reconfigured-intersecting-parallel-noise-lightfoot-durbin" >Chicago took more than a decade and spent $6 billion for four new O'Hare runways, among other improvements designed to make travel easier.
This is what progress looks like?
From what I've seen, O’Hare is worse than ever.
I love your city but your main airport apparently meant to whisk people quickly from point A to point B does the opposite.
You used to be the “city that works.” Now you’re no longer the city of Mayor Daleys, but delays.
Jean Marie DuBois, Nashville, Tennessee
Cold, sweet memory
Sorry I'm late in responding to the reader question about Chicago businesses we miss most.
I miss the https://www.wbez.org/culture/2012/11/14/lost-landmark-the-buffalo" target="_blank" >Buffalo Ice Cream Parlor on the corner of Irving Park and Pulaski roads.
The business' three-scoop Hubba Hubba was a challenge even for the heartiest ice cream lovers, who came from all over the Northwest Side.
The https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4057" target="_blank" >Irving Theatre — also long gone — was across the street.
On summer evenings, moviegoers would head to Buffalo after the show.
The booths in the rear filled up quickly, and a line formed alongside the soda fountain counter, out the door and around the side of the building.
Folks waited patiently, because it was worth it — a perfect treat to top off a night out.
Dan McGuire, Bensenville
Beat down by betting
No more betting articles in the Sun-Times sports section, please.
Stories on people who don't realize the house always wins when they place parlays contributing to the corruption of sports, can be placed elsewhere.
Meanwhile, kudos to the Illinois Legislature for enacting one of the steepest state taxes on sports wagering, causing https://chicago.suntimes.com/casinos-gambling/2026/05/18/draftkings-pulls-plug-in-person-betting-sportsbook-wrigley-field" target="_blank" >DraftKings to plead poor mouth and close down live betting at Wrigley Field.
We don't need our baseball cathedrals — or other sports venues — athletes and fans to be dragged down by on-site sports wagering.
Considering the horror stories about people who experience severe financial and personal distress getting swept up by sports betting (and sweepstakes and video gambling machines), maybe it's time to reconsider whether we really want to encourage such easy access to such activities in our city and state at all.
B. Elizabeth Mina, Jefferson Park