Your weekly opinion and commentary overview

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Drag racing has been the talk of the town.

First, as a form of unsupervised, underground Chicago entertainment. But over the week, some bad apples almost caused serious injuries to a resident and a police officer. And, in a separate event not related to drag racing, a man allegedly killed a woman while trying to show off his flashy car.

Our streets are not racetracks. Anyone who won't adhere to the rules of the road must be held accountable before more lives are lost, the Editorial Board writes.

In a Letter to the Editor, Lynn Nealis of River North writes that she can't sleep with her windows open because of the noise of revving engines at all hours of the night. She writes that she is not alone when she says: "Arrest these people and impound their vehicles." Chicago is tired of car drifters' "we just wanna have a fun adrenaline rush" attitude that infringes on the rest of us, Lynn writes.

Lastly, another topic that's had people talking is Darren Bailey unoriginally calling Chicago a "hellhole." Chicago isn't the only place maligned by outsiders and dog-whistling politicians too lazy and arrogant to look beyond the headlines, Rummana Hussain writes.

There is violence, political unrest and oppressive regimes in many of these cities and nations. But as in Chicago, there's more to the story. A living hell only exists if someone is stoking the fire, Hussain writes.

— Ismael Pérez, editorial board member

To stop drag racing, rev up the arrests

A man climbs onto a Chicago Police Department vehicle as officers try to break up a street takeover at West 119th and South Halsted streets on the Far South Side Friday night, Aug. 26. Other such takeovers happened late Saturday into Sunday. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

There are no "Fast & Furious" movies being filmed in Chicago right now, and there have been no amateur tryouts for next year's NASCAR event that we know of.

But a red flag was raised this past weekend when stunt drivers and a throng of onlookers flocked to the streets, creating a chaotic and dangerous scene in several parts of the city.

The mayhem was more than a hint to authorities that impounding the cars and fining those involved in unsanctioned events isn't enough. More arrests, and perhaps higher fines as Police Supt. David Brown called for Monday, are necessary — and we know that isn't an easy thing to accomplish when police officers are being attacked by bricks and bottles.

The officers aren't the only ones who could suffer serious injuries or worse.

The daredevils behind the wheel and their fans are also placing themselves in harm's way as the vehicles spin and drift just inches from the crowd. The risks involved are hardly diminished when the cars try to evade the cops at a high rate of speed.

Read the full editorial here.

The Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board is the opinion voice of the hardest-working newspaper in America. It is headed by editorial page editor Lorraine Forte and includes Thomas Frisbie, Lee Bey, Ismael Pérez, Rummana Hussain and Mary Mitchell as members.

What others have to say

Rummana Hussain on Chicago and travel:

Many places around the world are deemed dangerous. Violence does exist in these locales. But as in Chicago, there's more to the story, and if a living hell exists for some residents here or elsewhere, it's because someone is stoking the fire.

Chicago isn't a 'hellhole.' Neither are many other places dismissed as 'dangerous.'

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More editorials we published this week

City must find answers for unwise policy of overworking cops

Changes announced by Chicago Police Supt. David Brown are a step in the right direction. But as long as cops are too fatigued from cancelled days off, they're at risk of making poor snap decisions.

chicago.suntimes.com • Share

Give an A+ for effort to grant landmark status for Bowen High School

It's time to landmark Bowen and bring more architecturally-significant school buildings into the fold.

chicago.suntimes.com • Share

In your words

"A man who goes by the name Draco says drifting gives him an adrenaline rush. Well, his selfish adrenaline rush is harmful. Not only does it hurt the environment, it puts others in harm's way."

— Lynn Nealis, River North

Nothing good comes from drifting cars and driving recklessly

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Every day we publish submissions from Chicago Sun-Times readers weighing in on issues facing the city and its residents. Send letters to letters@suntimes.com or reply to this email to share your perspective.

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By Chicago Sun-Times Opinion This Week

A weekly overview of opinions, analysis and commentary on issues affecting Chicago, Illinois and our nation by outside contributors, Sun-Times readers and the CST Editorial Board.