Letters – Property Rights, Central America, Fabrication Yard, Betsy DeVos, Special Olympics, Veterans

Property rights issueRe: "Protect city zoning powers," by Anthony J. Nagy, Saturday Letters.What do you call University of Texas at Arlington parents, a traveling nurse and a military couple spending a weekend prior to deployment? I call them Airbnb guests; Nagy calls them "shady characters" and "transients." Friends or family staying a few nights? Renting all or part of my home for a month or more? It's nobody's business but my own. When was the last time you railed against a neighbor renting out their home? You may not like the new neighbors, but it's the homeowner's right to rent to whomever they want. Were it not for the Nagys of the world, state legislators would not need to weigh in. This is a property rights issue, not a zoning issue. While I have no right to infringe on Nagy's quiet enjoyment of his property, neither should he be able to infringe on mine. Disruptive technology does tend to disrupt and the advent of short-term rental hosting sites like Airbnb has given these Gladys Kravitzes something new to spend their time worrying about. Do you really want your nosy neighbor telling you who can stay in your home and for how long? Contact your legislators and ask them to support property and short-term rental rights.Marty McGee, ArlingtonCreate Central America strategyRe: "U.S. cuts aid to region, citing migrants - Democrats denounce end of payments to Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador," Sunday news story. I would like to know where is the Organization of American States? Instead of cutting off aid to three Central American countries, the administration should be using our influence with all our partners in the Americas to devise strategies to deal with the extraordinary humanitarian crisis that is at the heart of the U.S. immigration predicament. Why is Central America fundamentally different from Africa, Europe or the Middle East? The U.S. should request a United Nations task force to support Mexico's intent to prevent movement on the Mexico/Central American isthmus, while at the same time setting up a multinational OAS team to assess claims of asylum. Those with legitimate claims should then be distributed among nations of the Americas, not just the U.S., so that no one country is responsible for taking care of all these desperate people.Benjamin Levine, North DallasSave Fabrication YardRe: "Time's short for graffiti 'art park' - Fabrication Yard buildings may not last much longer," Sunday Business story.Few in Dallas are aware of the public art exhibit that is Fabrication Yard and now we learn its end is growing closer. Whether you're a fan of graffiti art or not, if you had witnessed the effort and skill these artists used to create this site, you would be impressed. It rivals Brooklyn's Bushwick, essentially an outdoor museum of street art and major draw to the community. As a photographer, I was saddened to realize these artists wouldn't receive recognition or profit from their efforts. That's when fellow photographer Bill Underwood and I attempted to find a venue where frameworthy photographs of this art could be sold to benefit the artists of Fabrication Yard. Unfortunately, conversations with private galleries and public art institutions so far have been fruitless. As the end approaches, may this be an open call to any venue willing to recognize these artists and their efforts so their art can continue and they can be rewarded.Paul Sokal, Dallas/Preston HollowDeVos' cuts are outrageousRe: "DeVos defends bid to ax Special Olympics funds - Bipartisan criticism lights up Twitter after she testifies in House," Thursday news story.Shame on you, Betsy DeVos. I am a father to a special needs daughter, Nicole. I was outraged watching DeVos answering questions from the Senate panel over her decision to cut the Special Olympics budget. DeVos sat there with a sinister smirk on her face while trying to defend her decision. Special needs kids don't have much in the way of outdoor activities. They don't have friends to play with on weekends and unfortunately most don't even have anyone who cares about them. So Special Olympics provides a lot of these kids the only opportunity to play with one another and not be made fun of or laughed at by the other kids. Nicole has been a participant in Special Olympics for years and usually wins the softball throw every year. Nicole and I walk around the block every weekend and we are confronted by people who tell me there is a special place in heaven for men like me who take care of their special needs child like I do. Well, if that is true then what does that say about DeVos? Chris Koustoubardis, Dallas/Lake HighlandsTime for veterans to actVeterans have a responsibility to speak truth to power, be it a foreign adversary or the White House. Veterans have a duty to call out those in power destroying who we are as Americans. We took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution Now is the time all good men (and women) come to the aid of their country, over party. I'm writing to ask GOP leaders for help. More than ever, Republicans need to enlist an inspirational leader in 2020 who can restore dignity and civility in Washington and to challenge the current morally unfit president. To restore the party of Lincoln and John McCain. To return America to our rightful place in history as a global leader. Today's politicians have shredded the fabric of our democracy through their political bluster - no party excluded. To them I say, grow up! For our future, help find a Republican with integrity, moral compass and the political courage to resist policies of divisiveness. Don't let the GOP lower itself to forever be defined as the "party of Trump." Raymond Meganck, Rochester Hills, Mich., Vietnam veteran   Continue reading...