Kudos for publishing the opinion by Barbara Epstein April 7, “What we need is public transit that actually works.” I believe she speaks for many. Officials could listen. When will they?

Susan Kleinman, Austin

The characteristics of success for a

bus system that’s worth modeling

Re: April 7 commentary, ‘What we need is public transit that actually works, April 7’

Barbara Epstein mentioned frequent service as the key to a successful bus system in Curitiba, Brazil. In addition to frequency, in Curitiba riders pay before boarding, just as on Austin’s Red Line. This allows Curitiba buses to have wide doors which permit rapid entry and exiting. The other key is bus-only lanes for the entire route. These two features allow buses to actually move faster than cars.

This model has been widely adopted, including in Mexico City and Ciudad Juárez.

Felipe Rosales, Austin

Border problems and the blame game grow

as agency marks its centennial anniversary

The Border Patrol will observe its 100-year anniversary this year. It was created due to emigration problems that existed then.

During this period the American people have elected 9 Republican and 8 Democratic presidents, and the emigration problems have escalated while the political blame game continues tearing our country apart.

Ramiro “Ray” Martinez, New Braunfels

No zero-sum game: Our economy is

stronger because of immigration

Immigrants work tirelessly to build this country, performing dangerous and demanding jobs. There’s no clearer indicator than last month’s Baltimore bridge collapse where six fathers, husbands, brothers, and uncles died while (repairing) the infrastructure of our nation. The sacrifices immigrants make for our country each and every day should be celebrated, not criminalized or demonized.

It’s time to cut through the noise and tell the truth about immigration: Our economy and country are stronger because of it. Some leaders would have us think it’s a zero-sum game when our country takes in immigrants, but that’s not true..

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the U.S. economy will grow by an extra $7 trillion over the next ten years thanks to immigrants. Moreover, in 2021 immigrants paid $524.7 billion in taxes. That’s money that fuels our nation’s K-12 schools, Medicaid, and Social Security.

Gisela Reyna, Austin

The U.S. should bill source countries

for the costs of illegal immigration

Source countries for migrants shouldThe governments of Mexico and other mass migration-source countries should be billed by the U.S. government annually for the costs to U.S. taxpayers of coping with their unlawfully-present citizens in our country. If these governments are going to argue against U.S. immigration enforcement in the U.S. Court of Appeals, they should help pay the freight.

Richard J. Douglas, Spring

Trump on abortion? Whichever way

is the most likely to win re-election

Trump’s position on abortion has been as changeable as Texas weather. In 1999, he said on “Meet the Press” that he was “very pro-choice…I hate the concept of abortion.”  Over the last 25 years, he’s been all over the map. Should it be up to the states or the federal government? How does the base feel?

In Tina Turner’s song, “What’s Love Got to do With It” there is this line: “What’s love, but a second-hand emotion?”   

Most people base their position on their moral values – something Trump lacks. To him, morality is a “second-hand emotion.” His decision depends on which position is most likely to win him reelection.

Carl Lloyd, San Antonio

Texans respect military history. The

Doolittle Raiders deserve our respect.

April 18^th marks the 82^nd anniversary of the Doolittle Raiders attack on Japan. Thirteen Texans were among 80 B-25 bomber airmen who flew off of the USS Hornet. No other state had as many. Texas high school history students are not taught about the mission that took place 132 days after Pearl Harbor.

Texans respect the military. Installations across Texas train service members. Nearly 1.5 million veterans call Texas home. The National Medal of Honor Museum will open in Arlington.  National cemeteries in Dallas, El Paso, Kerrville, and Houston provide a final resting place for Texas heroes.

We don’t teach Texas students about the mission that jolted Japan’s military and began America’s comeback in the Pacific. Not including the Doolittle Raiders in our state’s public school history curriculum helps students forget about their heroics.

Alan E. Mesches, Frisco

Clarification

An editorial about free tuition at Austin Community College in Wednesday’s edition should have noted that $6.8 million in state funding nearly doubled ACC net revenue for fiscal year 2023-24.

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