As vice chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party and a proud first-generation Salvadoran American, I urge Dallas voters to support Proposition H. This important measure will eliminate the restrictive citizenship and voter registration requirements for serving on key city boards and commissions, allowing everyone who calls Dallas home the opportunity to give their time and talent to building a better city.

Dallas has long prided itself on being a “welcoming city” — a place where diversity is celebrated and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. In 2019, Dallas became the first city in Texas to earn the Certified Welcoming designation, a recognition awarded to cities that demonstrate a commitment to integrating and including immigrants and refugees into the broader community.

This prestigious honor reflects our values as Dallasites to welcome all who wish to call Dallas home and make our city a better place to live. Yet this achievement rings hollow as many of our city boards and commissions remain closed off to a significant portion of our population — residents who contribute to our city’s success but simply do not meet the restrictive requirements to be “qualified voters” or “taxpaying citizens.”

This issue strikes a personal chord with me. As the daughter of an immigrant who worked tirelessly as a seamstress, cleaned homes, cared for children and elderly neighbors, and eventually started her own small business, I’ve seen firsthand how immigrant communities contribute to a vibrant and thriving economy. My uncles — essential workers, specialized carpenters, home renovators and custom tailors — have also built their lives and careers here. The contributions of people like my family are woven into the fabric of this city.

For those who are not aware, boards and commissions are led by volunteers who freely give countless hours of their time to help improve our city. Seats on these boards and commissions often have vacant seats, and it is clear to me that by denying noncitizen residents and others who are not eligible to vote the chance to serve, we are hindering our city’s growth and success. In 2020, the city of Dallas took an important step by removing the citizenship requirement from noncharter boards and commissions.

Now it’s time to finish what was started and ensure consistency across all boards. Proposition H will extend this inclusive policy citywide, fully embracing the values that earned us the Certified Welcoming designation. It’s time to show the world how truly welcoming Dallas is.

America has always been stronger because of the hard work and passion of its immigrants. The same can be said of Dallas. Our boards and commissions are advisory bodies designed to reflect the broad and diverse perspectives of Dallas residents. By eliminating outdated barriers, such as the requirement to be a “qualified voter” or “taxpaying citizen,” we broaden our talent pool, ensuring that the needs of our entire community are heard and that we have the most qualified people in the rooms where decisions are being made.

Proposition H embodies fairness and equality. We know the strength of our democracy lies in broad participation. Passing Proposition H would send a powerful message: Dallas values the contributions of all its residents and is committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate in civic life. Just as we fight for the right of every citizen to vote, we must also fight for the right of every resident to serve. Inclusive and representative governance is crucial to the health of our city.

This November, let’s vote FOR Proposition H and take a meaningful step toward a more united, inclusive Dallas.

Jasmin Flores is the vice chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party.

Proposition H: “Shall Chapter IV, Section 5; Chapter XV, Section 3; Chapter XVI, Section 1; and Chapter XVII, Section 2 of the Dallas City Charter be amended by eliminating the requirement that members of the redistricting commission, city plan commission, civil service board, and park and recreation board be registered to vote, qualified voters, or qualified taxpaying citizens?”

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com.

Former Auburn wide receiver Seth Williams will be at practice on Wednesday with the Dallas Cowboys, according to the NFL team’s official website.

The Cowboys have signed Williams for their practice squad after he caught passes at a workout for the team with a handful of other free-agent wide receivers on Tuesday.

Williams joins Dallas after the Cowboys placed wide receiver Brandin Cooks on injured reserve last week with a knee injury.

Williams has been out of football since the Jacksonville Jaguars waived him on Aug. 25.

The Denver Broncos selected Williams in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft after he had 132 receptions for 2,214 yards and 17 touchdowns in three seasons at Auburn.

The former Paul Bryant High School standout had a 34-yard reception in two games as a rookie for the Broncos, but he has not appeared in an NFL regular-season game since.

Williams has spent the past two seasons on the Jaguars’ practice squad.

Each NFL team can have a 16-player practice squad. The members of the practice squad do everything that the members of the active roster do, but they are not eligible to play in games – with one exception. Each team is allowed to elevate up to two practice-squad members to active status for each game.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season is in the books, and it was a good week for the Dallas Cowboys. There was a lot of movement in the NFL Power Rankings this week, and the Cowboys were one of those teams on the move.

Here is the NFL Power Rankings ahead of Week 6:

Not even Andy Dalton could save the Carolina Panthers from a 36-10 blowout defeat by the Chicago Bears. The Panthers have once again landed as the worst team in the NFL.

The New England Patriots are in a bad place in their current rebuild. Sunday’s loss was the worst of the week, and this team shows no signs of improving.

MORE: Cowboys get bad news with silver lining regarding Marshawn Kneeland injury

There will be no winless teams in the NFL this season, so it is time for Jacksonville Jaguars fans to celebrate. The Jaguars’ win was also celebrated by anyone who had the over in the 37-34 final score.

The Tennessee Titans had a bye week, but that didn’t stop the team from landing in the bottom five of the power rankings. Maybe things will look different after Week 6.

If you look up the definition of dumpster fire in the dictionary, chances are you will see the logo of the Cleveland Browns.

Things are a mess in Cleveland, and there are no signs of them getting better.

The New York Giants showed no sign of a hangover after their loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Actually, the team showed signs of new life with a Week 5 victory on the road in Seattle.

The Las Vegas Raiders have no stability at quarterback, and it shows. The Raiders were blown out by the Denver Broncos on Sunday, and the team’s season looks to be all but over.

The Los Angeles Rams are ravaged by injuries once again this season. But how many years in a row can that excuse be used before someone hits the panic button within the franchise?

The Cincinnati Bengals allowed another victory to slip from their fingertips, putting the franchise’s 2024 postseason hopes on life support.

The Miami Dolphins got the Week 5 victory over the New England Patriots. However, this team is a trainwreck with the absence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

The Denver Broncos were not going to lose wearing the throwbacks. The Broncos dismantled the Raiders, as the franchise becomes one of the surprise teams in the NFL.

The New York Jets were banking on a 40-year-old quarterback coming back from an Achilles injury to lead them to the promised land. However, the season is going exactly like you would think it would go, with a 40-year-old quarterback coming back from an Achilles injury.

Even with an outstanding performance from Joe Flacco, the Indianapolis Colts couldn’t make the comeback on the Jaguars. The Colts are another team that seems to be stuck in purgatory.

Was the Chicago Bears’ stellar Week 5 performance a facade due to the team playing the Panthers? I guess only time will tell, but for now, the Bears’ stock is going up.

The Arizona Cardinals put on an offensive clinic in their win over the San Francisco 49ers. The game was just another reminder of how deadly the Cardinals can be on any given week.

The New Orleans Saints had the unfortunate duty of playing the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. Saints fans had a bad night, but at least they looked good doing it.

The Los Angeles Chargers were on a bye week for Week 5, or, as head coach Jim Harbaugh called it, an opportunity to get better.

The Philadelphia Eagles were one of four teams on a bye week during Week 5. The Eagles are back in action this week, taking on the train wreck that is the Browns.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were one defensive stop away from a completely different ranking this week. However, the Steelers seem to be one Russell Wilson resurrection away from being title contenders.

Are things starting to fall apart for the San Francisco 49ers? It appears the reigning NFC Champions have a lot of ground to make up if they have hopes for another Super Bowl appearance.

The Seattle Seahawks dropped their second straight game when they fell to the New York Giants on Sunday. The NFC West is shaping up to be a very exciting division.

The Atlanta Falcons have become one of the hottest teams in the league. Their win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 may have put the rest of the NFC on notice, as the Falcons look like a legit contender.

The Dallas Cowboys are putting together a string of great performances. On Sunday night, the team came into the game banged up on the defensive side but only allowed the Steelers to score 17 points.

The Green Bay Packers’ victory on Sunday made it official: everyone in the NFC North has a winning record heading into Week 6. The black and blue division may be the toughest in the entire NFL.

Coaching malpractice cost the Buffalo Bills their second loss in as many weeks. A Week 6 showdown with the Jets will dictate the path the Bills take for the rest of 2024.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Thursday night. However, the Buccaneers continue to prove they have all the pieces to be a playoff team once again this season.

The biggest surprise of the NFL season has been the hot start by the Washington Commanders. The biggest reason for that hot start, is rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Commanders will be no easy victory this season for the Cowboys.

The Baltimore Ravens’ 0-2 start is now a distant memory, as the team has won their last three. The Ravens look to be on a mission this season. Unfortunately, one really good team will stand in their way.

New threads, same high-powered offense. The Houston Texans are 4-1 on the young season and look to be the team everyone expected that would take the next step.

The Cowboys’ Week 6 opponent had a bye week in Week 5. However, the Detroit Lions have looked impressive up to this point in the season. Sunday should be fireworks for both fanbases.

The Minnesota Vikings are one of two undefeated teams left in the NFL, which is something nobody saw coming. If quarterback Sam Darnold can continue his current play, who says the Vikings can’t make noise in the postseason?

It has almost become boring to watch a Kansas City Chiefs game. We know what the outcome will be, and yet, everyone believes it could be different. The Chiefs are a dynasty that is showing no signs of slowing down.

— Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI —

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