Let City Hall go

Re: “A tale of another city hall — What can Dallas learn from Boston’s commitment to its own, decades-old architecturally significant building?” by Emanuel Rame, Sunday Opinion.

As a graduate of architecture and 35-year project manager evaluating space for tenants, I often advocate saving an iconic building. Regarding Dallas’ City Hall, why repair it at overwhelming cost only to have its maintenance neglected? That’s only delaying the inevitable at massive cost.

Dallas’ record of deferred maintenance is unlikely to change. Sell it and get whatever is possible, then spend the money on fitting up functional leased space that a landlord maintains.

Further, nowhere in all of the discussions and opinions has the issue of temporary space during repairs, moves, etc., been addressed. That’s a huge cost, too. Just plan for new space, and the money will go further than spending it on a poorly designed building that will be more costly to repair and maintain than a non-iconic building that functions well for city offices, council chambers, etc.

Although Dallas’ City Hall is better looking than Boston’s, it has serious design flaws and deferred maintenance that will probably cause problems again in the future. There is also a lot of wasted space in the building for the massive atrium. I would never recommend a building with that much unusable space. Let it go.

Marsha Hayes Walker, Grand Prairie

Build but maintain, Dallas

I saw a quote from acclaimed independent filmmaker Werner Herzog that made me think of the current controversy over the fate of Dallas City Hall. It reads, in part: “Whether something lasts or not has nothing to do with whether it’s made of stone or steel or wood or fabric. A house built all in wood can be a monument that lasts for hundreds of years because it seduces people to live in it, to use it and maintain it. Eternity depends on whether people are willing to take care of something … no building can be neglected entirely.”

And that’s where we are with many iconic structures in Dallas (Fair Park, anyone?). This I.M. Pei-designed building that Dallas is so fortunate to have must stand as part of Dallas history, just as the Old Red Courthouse has and Reunion Tower, to name just a few. (Is Dallas even Dallas without Reunion Tower as part of the skyline?)

Build beautiful and unique, but above all maintain. Other places do it, for centuries and millennia in many cases, yet it seems Dallas wants the new and shiny every 40-50 years.

Borrowing an opinion from the great film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, “thumbs down” on that.

Sara Miskimins, Dallas/Lake Highlands

AG spends wastefully

Re: “Paxton sues Islamic center — Filing becomes latest effort by state to stop Muslim-centric project,” Sunday Metro story.

This guy just can’t stop himself from filing frivolous lawsuits and wasting large sums of money. Money that you and I pay in taxes. If you want to look at wasteful spending, look no further than the attorney general’s office.

Myriad possibilities exist for a better use of the attorney general’s office than what this partisan politician can dream up. Can we please open our eyes to the obvious and finally get rid of him, or are we completely blinded by our political leanings?

Erol C. Orer, Dallas

Wild in Dallas, too

Re: “A little bit of Texas frightens me — On a friend’s ranch, I learned you have so many reasons to wear boots,” by Christopher de Vinck, Saturday Opinion.

I really enjoyed de Vinck’s column about the wildlife in Texas. As a Dallas native, I can relate having spent 10 years in South Texas. It seems everything either poked, bit, stung or stabbed me in the beautiful wilds of Texas.

Interestingly, I now have coyotes and bobcats in my yard in East Dallas. What’s next, a javelina?

Nancy Turner, Dallas

New Jersey has critters

De Vinck’s fine column understated New Jersey’s natural hazards. The Garden State has plenty of venomous snakes including rattlers and copperheads, plus bobcats, and one native cactus, the prickly pear. Maybe no javelinas or chiggers, but plenty of ticks, black widows and other mean little critters — and rip tides.

Also, like Texas, New Jersey still has some beautiful rural scenery and even some night skies free of light pollution.

Peter Haskel, Lewes, Del.

Get behind Talarico

All the other Democrats should get out of the race, like we did with Beto O’Rourke, watch the Republicans fight it out in the primary and let James Talarico run against the Trump Republicans. Talarico is a proven winner, and if Colin Allred and O’Rourke couldn’t beat Ted Cruz, you know the rest of the story.

Andrew Goldsmith, Irving

A job or an education?

Re: “What are they teaching?” by Rick Williams, Thursday Letters.

Williams writes that in undergraduate and graduate classes he took “math, chemistry, English, accounting and finance.” Hopefully he also took courses in philosophy, ethics, world history and fine arts as well.

Otherwise, although Texas A&M and the University of Texas gave him a meal ticket, they did not give him an education.

Holmes Brannon, Plano

Put blame where it belongs

Our president has stated that immigration is the leading cause of dysfunction in our country. I must disagree. A political policy of hatred, scorn, revenge and ignorance is the leading cause of dysfunction in our country. One must look no further than the Oval Office.

Jan Schroeder, Lucas

Wake up on age limits

The Democrats had Sleepy Joe and the Republicans have, among other things, Dozing Donald. Any thoughts for age limits for public office?

T.P. O’Mahoney, Dallas

The wild card for both offenses in this matchup is the tight end position. Oronde Gadsden is a developing player with a high ceiling, while Dallas Goedert has been scoring more this year and has the talent to post a big game if coverage favors his opportunities. Which tight end offers more value on tonight’s DraftKings Showdown slate for Monday Night Football?

Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers (DK: $5,800)

From Week 6 to Week 9, Gadsden was an excellent waiver wire find at tight end. He had a floor of 12.00 fantasy points in four contests (7/68, 7/164/1, 5/77/1, and 5/68), highlighted by his best fantasy day (32.40). His role has been much lower over his last three games (3/13, 2/41, and 1/27) while averaging 4.3 targets. 

The Eagles rank fourth in tight end defense (109.00 fantasy points). They allow only 8.6 yards per catch, accounting for 15.3% of their receiving yards allowed. Only three tight ends scored.

• Jake Ferguson (5/23)
• Travis Kelce (4/61)
• Evan Engram (4/33/1)
• T.J. Hockenson (6/43)
• Jake Ferguson (5/60)
• Cole Kmet (3/36/1)

Gadsden doesn’t have a great matchup on paper, but the Eagles’ defense hasn’t played the most challenging tight end schedule. I like the pricing on the Chargers’ tight end in this matchup.

Best MNF Wide Receivers to Target for Tonight’s DraftKings Showdown Slate

Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (DK: $5,400)

Goedert is another player in this matchup over a quiet six-game stretch (3/18, 3/28/2, 4/43, 2/24, 2/20, and 2/27) on 21 combined targets. He scored seven touchdowns between Week 3 and Week 8 (six games), with his impact showing coming in Week 6 (9/110/1). 

The Chargers also play week against tight ends (130.60 fantasy points – 6th). They’ve allowed six touchdowns, with them catching 71.9% of their targets.

• Travis Kelce (2/47/1)
• Theo Johnson (3/17/1)
• Tyler Warren (4/69/1)
• Brock Bowers (4/63/2)

Goedert should be an overlooked asset by Los Angeles’ defense in this matchup. His ceiling supports his lower salary, putting him in the mix at the backend of the showdown ticket.

Best DraftKings Showdown Running Back For Monday Night Football!

DraftKings Showdown Lineup Strategy For Eagles vs. Chargers

Here’s my game plan for tonight’s showdown:

• Jalen Hurts
• Dallas Goedert/Oronde Gadsden/Cameron Dicker
• Dallas Goedert/Oronde Gadsden/Cameron Dicker
• DeVonta Smith/Ladd McConkey/A.J. Brown
• Justin Herbert

Tre’ Harris is my top low-value filler.

My easier team builds have Oronde Gadsden or Dallas Goedert as the captain. Jalen Hurts is a must for me. I’m fading Saquon Barkley based on his salary and direction, while also rooting for the Eagles’ passing attack. The over/under (41.5) in this game is relatively low, suggesting slower drives and a faster-moving clock. 

More Fantasy Sports On SI News:

The Stars were able to squeeze a 3-2 win out against the Penguins Sunday evening at home after a rocky sixty minutes of regulation.

The Stars welcomed back two key players who had been out of the lineup for weeks. Forward Matt Duchene and defenseman Nils Lundkvist were thrown right back into the swing of things in a game that never seemed fully in Dallas’ control.

The Stars struggled to get rolling in the first period. Passes were not connecting and shots were not going in. Thanks to goalie Jake Oettinger, the Penguins were held scoreless until Connor Dewar slapped a puck past him and got Pittsburgh on the board as the period winded down.

The Stars came out hot in the second period, with Jamie Benn leading the charge. Just under a minute and a half into play, Roope Hintz slid the puck to the captain, who shot it in and evened out the score. This is Benn’s fourth goal of the season after missing most of it due to a collapsed lung.

But the Stars’ momentum started to falter. They could not clear their own zone and took on two penalties in the process of trying to slow down the Penguins. Although the Stars killed both power plays, they could not manage to score on the other end, either. The Stars only recorded three shots on goal in the second period.

“It wasn’t our best game. I thought they were better than us tonight, five-on-five, especially in that second period,” head coach Glen Gulutzan said. “It took us a while to generate, we actually didn’t generate a ton… We’ve got to find our footing here a little bit. Whether it’s a little bit more rest or a couple practices to get sharpened up.”

Pittsburgh, who had 11 shots on goal in the second, scored with five minutes to go after Thomas Novak deflected a shot by Kris Letang into Oettinger’s goal.

Dallas came into the third period down 2-1, and for just over twelve minutes Dallas struggled to clear their zone and only recorded four shots on goal. Then, they were handed a chance after Ville Koivunen got sent to the box for slashing. But the Stars’ power play, which has been strong this season, could not deliver.

With just under five minutes to play, desperation for Dallas started to set in. The Stars fired off shots, but none could connect with the back of the net. Instead, they emptied their own net. The extra attacker gave Dallas the edge and defenseman Miro Heiskanen slapped a wrist shot past Tristan Jarry and tied things up.

This uphill battle of a game for Dallas was headed to overtime. Every possession looked like it could be the one to end things. Jason Robertson had a close chance, then Wyatt Johnston and then Robertson again. The Penguins had their own fair share of opportunities, but once again, Oettinger bailed out his team. Neither club could capitalize and the game went to a shootout.

Robertson missed the first shot and Oettinger gloved Bryan Rust’s attempt. Matt Duchene, who missed 24 games, could not convert his chance and neither could Sidney Crosby on the other end.

Mikko Rantanen lined up next, and as chants of “Moooose,” filled the arena, the forward shot the puck past Jarry. Letang had a chance to match that goal, but Oettinger stonewalled him. The Stars recorded another win, despite the uphill battle it took to get there.

“You don’t remember these games in a couple of weeks,” Rantanen said. ” You just remember the two points. So, we’ll take it.”

Dallas will travel to Winnipeg on Tuesday to take on the Jets at 7 p.m. CT.