Letters to the Editor — Charter Changes, Dallas Prison, Pepper Square, Texas Doctors

Thanks for the charter review

Subject: “12 Dallas Charter Changes We Oppose,” by Mike Rawlings, Tom Leppert and Ron Kirk, Wednesday Opinion, and “These Changes Aren’t for the Better — Council Must Make Sure Special Interest Group-Inspired City Charter Changes Fail,” Wednesday Editorial.

I applaud The Dallas Morning News for publishing the well-researched, coherent and succinct rationale for the upcoming proposed Charter changes by Rawlings, Leppert and Kirk and your accompanying editorial. These opinions are logically laid out and I look forward to the rebuttal by the Dallas City Council defending their proposals.

This is how civilized discourse should be conducted, without fear of baseless personal attacks and banal statements that confuse rather than explain. All voters benefit from an intelligent debate on such important issues. Thank you very much.

Greg Polito, North Dallas

Check every voter and every ballot

Subject: “Sowing doubt about the election, not integrity – Activist groups have the right to object, but thousands of requests are a disruptive maneuver,” Wednesday’s editorial.

Wow, how the editors of The Dallas Morning News to actually and openly state that the goal of True The Vote is to “overwhelm election offices and sow doubt about the integrity of elections. … Even more worrying is that election manipulation is increasingly consistent with the goals of the Republican Party.”

Are you really that biased? Are you not clear about who your customers are?

I am a registered Democrat and a strong believer in voter integrity. All honest and upstanding Americans should want and expect every voter and every ballot to be audited.

What is permitted in the case of postal voting and false statements on voter lists is treason. Regardless of our party affiliation, it is our duty to proactively avoid doubts about our elections.

Beth Bissell, Dallas

Dancers are supported by the workers

Subject: “Venue cites video, not union effort, in firing – Dallas Black Dance retaliated against dancers, union says,” Wednesday’s Metro & Business article.

Dallas Black Dance Theater management is offering a tattered fig leaf to cover up its obvious and blatant union busting. The professional dancers they fired will have the full support of the Dallas labor movement, progressive community organizations, elected officials, and all area residents seeking justice.

Gene Lantz, Dallas

Nonprofit organizations can help prisons

Subject: “Dallas County Jail Too Close to Capacity – Inadequate Computer Data Obscures Whether Judges Are Pursuing Cases or Part of the Problem,” Tuesday’s editorial.

With regard to Dallas County's jail capacity, here are some suggestions:

1. End bail. 2. Sheriffs should work closely with local nonprofits that have bailout programs. Make it easier for the nonprofits to communicate with bailout candidates. 3. Dallas County's major and minor crimes divisions should have a uniform bail refund policy so nonprofits can use the money for more bailouts more quickly after cases are closed. Work with the nonprofits to get bail refunded quickly. 4. In July, about 315 people were arrested and charged with “poverty crimes,” all with bail of $1,500 or less. Some are now awaiting sanity hearings.

Again, work with local nonprofits to get these people help, but get them out of prison.

Kathy C. Harris, Duncanville

The government does not serve us

Subject: “Pepper Square plan goes to City Council for final vote,” Monday’s Metro article.

The Dallas City Plan Commission voted to redesign Pepper Square despite the overwhelming opposition of affected citizens. CPC positions are appointed by the City Council, not elected by the public.

The overwhelming majority opposition to the developer's plan to build residential towers above single-family homes was ignored in several public meetings. Emails to the City Council, CPC members and the Mayor received no response or justification for the plan.

The plan calls for over 1,000 high-rise apartments in an area that is already awash with apartments. Construction of over 3,000 apartments was recently approved. The quality of life of current residents will be dramatically reduced by the construction and there will be additional traffic congestion in an already overcrowded area.

Apparently the developers' money is too big to ignore. When did local government officials forget that they were elected to serve the public? One should be careful who one votes for.

John W. Joyce, Far North Dallas

Why should a gynecologist come here?

Subject: “Refutation of the Doctor’s Refutation,” by Lisa Woodcock, Wednesday Letters.

I completely agree with the letter writer. If you are a gynecologist, why would you open or move your practice in Texas where a frivolous lawsuit by a layperson could cost you your license, not to mention the time and money you would have to spend defending them? It's hard enough dealing with difficult pregnancies. Who needs the added burden? The unintended consequences of Texas's strict abortion law will result in us having fewer gynecologists.

Judy Brown, Coppell

Johnson's tribute is praised

Subject: “Remembering local allies of the civil rights movement – ​​Dallas was not friendly to the movement, but there were some shining examples,” by Peter Johnson, Sunday Opinion.

Thank you to Peter Johnson for his excellent tribute to some of the heroes who have contributed so much to social justice in Dallas. I especially appreciate the reflection by Bishop Mark Herbener, who has influenced me and many in our Lutheran churches and throughout the city.

We must continue the work of these gifted people. I welcome Johnson's reminder of these men and women who, along with Peter, have done so much for our community.

Karen Roberts, Old East Dallas

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