Letters – John Creuzot, Mueller Report, Ted Cruz, Senate Bill 2, Preston Center

Supporting CreuzotDistrict Attorney John Creuzot has my support today, just as always. This latest kerfuffle has been kicked up by the usual naysayers. However, Creuzot enjoys the support of an overwhelming number of my constituents and most of Dallas County.Newcomers to Dallas County can't comprehend the level of ingenuity and intellect Creuzot has for the court system and for the people. This concept, like the diversion programs that brought him praise, will eventually be praiseworthy.Creuzot readily offered that the policy is pliable. Some local law-enforcement officials are siding with Gov. Greg Abbott in wailing against anything new. This is the same Republican choir that brought us "Tough on Crime" and a record number of exonerations. They're for law and order until it reaches 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.? You'll catch that later!"Tough on Crime," is actually tougher on taxpayers. We meet every Friday to monitor our jail population, which exceeds 6,000 and is larger than 93% of the towns in Texas, including a limited number of beds for female inmates. Sixty-five percent of the taxes you pay to Dallas County go to public safety.According to "Beyond Banning the Box," an article published in Human Resource Management Review, America has a problem. More than 2.3 million people are confined in 1,719 state prisons, 102 federal prisons, 942 juvenile correction facilities, 3,283 local jails and 79 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, immigration detention facilities, civil commitment centers and prisons in the U.S. territories.Isn't it time we started to try something new? Creuzot promised to make a difference; get ready!John Wiley Price, Dallas County Commissioner, District No. 3Creuzot forgets store ownersRe: "Abbott and Paxton blast DA proposal - Letter urges him to rethink plan that may 'promote lawlessness,'" Friday Metro & Business story.John Creuzot's planned reforms drive another stake through the heart of brick-and-mortar stores. It's apparent that Creuzot should have been happy with retirement rather than thinking he would do Dallas a favor by being our district attorney once again. He is so driven by his quest to decriminalize certain offenses because they are "caused by need" of lower-income criminals, he didn't even think about the impact it will make on the hardworking, law-abiding store owners who are fighting to survive. Now they need to install new "No shoplifting over $750" signs. They find themselves between a rock and a hard place, having to hire more security and incur more financial stress while knowing the district attorney won't prosecute. Store clerks will be confronting more thieves and when a violent situation lets them walk away with the goods, their pay will be docked or they will be fired for content loss. Creuzot should be working the graveyard shift at the 24-hour deli-beer store at Grand Avenue and Interstate 30, where I'm sure he won't like the taste of the medicine he's trying to force-feed us.Ed Zahra, Dallas/Hollywood HeightsBuckle up for troubleI started spinning out of control after hearing about the Dallas district attorney not wanting to prosecute thefts under $750. Glad I don't own a small business in Dallas. Nothing like discouraging any business from opening in Dallas. It sounds like the same thing that Colorado did with the weed infestation. The "governments" don't have enough money to properly prosecute enough. "No" no longer means no. No means "well, maybe." I don't think we should have to stop for stop signs now either, or pay any attention to the speed limit. Heck, if my water bill is under $100, I don't think I should have to pay it.Ah well, life is going to pieces. Keep your seat belt on - we're in for a rough ride.Ken Gregory, MesquitePreston Place hostage situationMy mother is one of the residents who lost everything in the fire at Preston Place. Despite the immediate outpouring of support for the residents, my mother and many others remain homeless. They are not living on the street, but two years later they also are not back in their own homes. Most of the residents were retired and their homes were their biggest assets. Consequently, they cannot do anything until the piece of cement that was Preston Place is sold. Mom and the other residents remain stuck, unable to move on because they still own the land that was Preston Place. This is land they cannot live on but must still pay mortgages, taxes and membership dues on. Despite the continued support of Jennifer Staubach Gates and others, their right to sell the property has been blocked by an organized campaign of misinformation and delay tactics led by Laura Miller. Previously, when she was on the City Council, Miller nearly destroyed the Dallas Police and Firemen's pension fund and ruined any chance the city had of keeping the Cowboys. Now her refusal to negotiate in good faith is holding my mother and other residents hostage. It is past time for this to be resolved.Maura Cornell, Dallas/Forest Hills  Continue reading...