Letters – Tariffs, School Funding, Innocence Project, Beto O'Rourke, Suburbs, VisitDallas, Press Passes

Opportunity for growth, stabilityRe: "Texans to feel spike in tariffs -- Businesses, shoppers face hikes in coasts as Trump battles China," Saturday news story.President Donald Trump raising tariffs on Chinese imports by an additional 15% on $200 billion is a problem? Just lower the tariffs on the same products by the same amount from other countries that manufacture the same products. Raise the tariff on pork to China? Lower the tariff to South America and Europe. Let them make up the difference. No brainer! What a great way for the United States to promote growth, manufacturing and stability in areas that presently lack in these areas. Why aren't we building factories and creating jobs in one or more of the five permanently inhabited territories of the United States to manufacture some of these tariffed products? Let's see, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. I'm sure they would appreciate the jobs. Tourism is not the end-all for these territories. Ecologically responsible manufacturing can be and is done all over the world. Our island territories should be no exception.John Eggen, WilmerSales tax was a better optionRe: "Austin Gets Schooled -- Voters want Legislature to fix funding, not hike state sales tax," Saturday Editorials.Your editorial about school funding ignores the elephant in the room -- Robin Hood. Yes, we voters want the ability to provide adequate funding for our local schools, but we don't want our local property taxes to be exported to other school districts. The higher sales tax would have addressed our concerns by raising funds from a single revenue source applied consistently to all Texans throughout the state.Robert Payne, DallasExamine prosecutor's actionsRe: "2 men 'released from bondage' -- Pair imprisoned for years in pastor's slaying declared 'actually innocent,'" Saturday news story.Stanley Mozee and Dennis Allen were wrongly convicted of the stabbing death of a South Dallas minister and they both spent nearly 15 years in prison. The lead prosecutor, Rick Jackson, withheld evidence that would have have been beneficial to the defense of the accused.The withholding of crucial evidence by a prosecutor should never happen. These unfortunate men were victims and they paid a horrible price for the actions of someone else.It seems to me that if it can be proved that a prosecutor intentionally withholds evidence that is materially beneficial to the defense of the accused, it should result in a felony conviction, jail time and a loss of the individual's license to practice law.Drew Kaplan, DallasVisitDallas salaries can't be rightRe: "Interim CEO plans to salvage VisitDallas -- His priorities: find new CFO, renew contract, hire replacement," by Robert Wilonsky, Friday news column.Surely these numbers can't be right! VisitDallas pays its CEO $700,000 to operate an organization with roughly a $40 million budget and just over 100 employees. At the same time, the city of Dallas pays its CEO, the city manager, $395,000 (not much more than the salary of the CFO for VisitDallas) to operate an organization with a $3.6 billion budget and over 13,000 employees. Surely these numbers can't be right.Tom Hopkins, GarlandFace reality about O'RourkeRe: "O'Rourke may be down, but he's not out -- Unfazed as numbers sink, he keeps plugging away on presidential campaign trail," Saturday news story.No matter how reporters want to spin it, they cannot change facts. Todd Gillman says Beto O'Rourke is connecting with people. Yet his support stands at 3%. The fact is beyond his charisma there is not much there, and the more he talks the more people realize that. He could not win against the least liked candidate in Texas, yet he thought he could win the presidency. He could that is until reality set in. That is the story that should be reported.James Clement, North DallasOur northern suburbs are thrivingRe: "Sprawling problems -- Residents saddled with costs of North Texas' disposable suburbs," by Michael Hendrix, May 5 Points.I found this commentary on North Texas disposable suburbs very interesting but somewhat devoid of factual content. The author implies that suburbs are destined to become victims of deterioration and eventual urban blight, but I do not see that in the many suburbs which I pass through on a daily basis. The suburbs, even those of more modest-income residents, are thriving after many years. They provide a sense of community and a place for families to own homes close to shopping, schools and services. Many of the suburbs have actually revitalized their old town squares and city centers with small businesses and new multi-family residence locations. Examples, downtown Garland, Plano, Rockwall and McKinney. The northern suburbs are great places to live and work. Go visit the commercial buildings in Plano and Frisco, then visit the central business district in downtown Dallas and tell me why employees would want to work there. I don't believe the author has visited these places. The more significant story I see here is the challenge Dallas has to attract people to come to anything south of LBJ Freeway, for example, the symphony hall, Music Hall in Fair Park and art museums.Sherry K. Looney, RowlettNo glory for the shootersIt's going to take one newspaper at a time to change how we deal with shooters. There should be zero information given about the killers -- no names in the media, no why they did it, where they live, how crazy they are. These killers want to be famous and they are learning exactly how to do it after each shooting. No one cares about the shooter. It's not about the killer; it's about the innocent lives that they have taken. Newspapers should only be glorifying these innocents and sharing how great these people were. Take a lesson from New Zealand. Don't give these shooters what they are ultimately wanting.Mary Ceverha, DallasOur democracy is being challengedA Washington Post journalist has press pass revoked! This news should be on the front page of every newspaper in the country. The White House is now revoking press passes of longtime journalists and President Donald Trump's critics and choosing who, exactly, they will allow to cover the almost non-existent press briefings. Tyranny is progressive and our democracy is being challenged mightily by the manipulator who is our president. Please, report on and investigate this. This is truly one of the most frightening things that he has done since being elected.Rachel Deering, Dallas  Continue reading...

Copyright The Dallas Morning News
Contact Us