Erasing 'old' in East DallasRe: "Residents get extra time, deserve far more," by Robert Wilonsky, Sunday Metro column.I don't believe that the chic apartment tenants and white modern tinderbox homeowners deserve to call their neighborhood "Old East Dallas" after displacing more low-income tenants from historic neighborhoods. Strip them of the name if developers want to destroy everything that made it "Old" East Dallas. Call it "Leave or We'll Push You Out East Dallas."William Charles Dominguez, IrvingPoverty a bipartisan concernRe: "Athletes tackle politics — Allred joins rare list of ex-pros to serve in Congress," Jan. 15 news story.It was a joy to read your article on athletes tackling politics. I noted that among the athletes, both political parties were represented. Hopefully these newly elected politicians will make being informed on matters and compromise their top priorities. Colin Allred happens to be my representative. Even though he didn't have an office yet, he was willing to meet with a group of us from RESULTS ( advocates for alleviating poverty and its causative issues). Among other things, we discussed the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Allred agreed to sign on to a bipartisan letter to the secretary of state asking the administration to renew the U.S. contribution, thereby challenging other countries to continue to support this Global Fund. He has continued in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pete Sessions, who was also an advocate for the fund. Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson and Marc Veasey also co-signed this letter. Poverty is an issue that should be important to both parties.Jeanette Essl, DallasSo much power for one I would like to suggest that an interesting topic might be a history of U.S. Senate rules regarding the powers of the Senate majority leader, especially with regard to his ability to prevent introduction of legislation. Is this power in the Constitution? Is it Senate custom? Is it designed somehow to contain the "mob?" How can one person have the power to freeze the legislative process by not allowing it to come to the floor? I don't have a clue, and I'll bet many other readers don't either. Please shed some light on something that seems so pernicious.Warren McFarland, ArlingtonLittle governance going onReading and watching the news accounts of the initial days of Congress, one cannot help but realize that there probably will not be a lot of governance over the next two years, just a lot of investigating. And, since the Democrats wrapped themselves in such glory with the Judge Brett Kavanaugh hearings, it remains to be seen how shallow they will show themselves to be. Their one real goal over the next two years will be to take down Trump.Don Kolker, GrapevineNews layoffs disappointingI cannot tell you how disappointed I am with The Dallas Morning News for the recent round of layoffs. We, as readers, are certain to see the impact of the decision in the coming months, and I am not looking forward to it. I completely understand business decisions, but this one really seems to take the heart and soul out of the paper. There may come a time very soon where I will have to make one myself and stop subscribing.Michele Morgan, DallasCompromise not a dirty wordAs impasses go, this is a stinker. Both sides seem dug in. The president appears to have nowhere to go. The Democratic leadership seems intractable. On side wants a $5 billion wall. One side won't tolerate it. The impasse is at two weeks and counting.Is there a way out? Of course. There are solutions to this issue that will provide both sides a measure of what they want. The key is for the parties to focus on their interests and not their positions. Build something called a "wall" but agree to do it over time (Three years? Five years?). Build something called a "wall" but split the difference on the amount to budget for it. Agree to build a "wall" in exchange for concessions on other ways to manage our immigration issues more realistically. Agree to build a "wall" in exchange for eliminating tax breaks for our wealthiest individuals. Agree to build a "wall" in exchange for the president's cooperation on a broad range of issues of importance to Democrats. Compromise is not a dirty word! Appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission. There's a deal to be had. Everybody wins. Everybody loses. It's how our nation has thrived for over 200 years.Will Pryor, Northwest DallasIf Mexico sends money, build To Democrats in Congress: Stop blocking President Trump's wall! And give him exactly what he promised. Pass legislation to build the wall immediately after Mexico sends the money for it.Jack Bowen, North Fort WorthDA and Dallas' nosediveHaving read two recent articles about coming changes by the new Dallas County district attorney, I expect to see glowing signs at all entrances to the city of Dallas, saying "All Criminals Welcome," since many of their acts of violence will be excused. His ideas on criminal justice reform are frightening and disgusting, in my opinion. He excuses crimes committed by poor people as if they are entitled to rob, rape or murder without fear. Drug addicts may now be able to prey on the working citizens with no worries. The Dallas quality of life just began the fiercest nosedive in her history, thanks to the new DA.Robert J. Palmer, DallasAmen to spirituality and PTSD Re: "Spirituality can help with PTSD — Kevin Pham: To save lives, U.S. military must tell veterans truth about spiritual fitness," Dec. 28 Viewpoints.I completely agree that spiritual healing is needed and it does work. I am a former staff sergeant of the U.S. Army. After a tour to Iraq and a tour to Afghanistan, I was diagnosed with PTSD. I have since become closer to God and I am at church every Sunday, and I've gone on retreats and camps with the church. All of this has helped more than words can describe.John S. Lytle, San Angelo Continue reading...
Letters: Old East Dallas, Congress, Democrats, Layoffs, Shutdown, Dallas District Attorney, PTSD
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