Dallas, TX

Letters to the Editor — Dallas budget, Sen. Mark Kelly, Trump’s voting comments, Cowboys

Published

5 months ago

August 2, 2024

Letters to the Editor — Dallas budget, Sen. Mark Kelly, Trump’s voting comments, Cowboys

Recreation cuts a mistake

Re: “Budget could dry up pools — Community facilities are one possible target as city works to tackle $38 million shortfall,” Saturday news story.

To help deal with a $38 million shortfall in the next fiscal year budget, Dallas city officials are considering closing community pools, reducing city funding for the Dallas Zoo and Arboretum, and having less frequent mowing of parks and medians. These cutbacks would be a serious mistake.

Amenities available to Dallas residents are already inferior to those offered by most suburban jurisdictions. Better to increase taxes than make the city of Dallas even less competitive with its suburbs.

Bernard Weinstein, Far North Dallas

Not the pools or zoo

Oh, come on! Of all the things that could be cut, our city pools should not be touched. With our hot Texas summers that are getting worse from climate change, we need summer relief for all of our citizens, especially those who can’t afford backyard pools!

And asking partners like the Dallas Zoo to cut back is terrible.

I challenge all of Dallas (and those in Dallas County who enjoy these city venues) to send in money to meet the budget deficit. All we need is Parks Director John Jenkins to tell us where to send the money!

Gail Hill, Garland

Not ‘silly,’ catastrophic

Re: “Washington’s Rent Cap Plan Is Silly — Biden proposal would stall housing construction and cause economic disaster,” Monday editorial.

Thank you for this honest evaluation of a “politically cynical election year sop.” Unfortunately, the headline’s use of the word “silly” is biased — either intentional or accidental. The editorial explains the plan will: stall housing construction, make the affordability crisis worse and cause economic disaster. Nothing short of “catastrophic” is the correct adjective.

Vince Huston, Plano

A fan of Kelly for VP

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., seems to have impeccable credentials to be vice president or president. He’s a proven man of great courage as a former Navy combat pilot with his 37 missions, and as an astronaut with his four missions.

He is intelligent, receiving a bachelor’s degree with highest honors and a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and he is the author of several books.

Kelly is an accomplished Arizona senator, a devoted family man lovingly supporting his injured wife, Gabriella Giffords, and he grew up in a middle-class family. In other words, the polar opposite of Donald Trump.

Kelly casts himself as a moderate. He has national name recognition and he is from a swing state. I believe the Harris/Kelly ticket would be an unbeatable one.

Mary Clark, East Dallas

What does Trump mean?

I’m a longtime subscriber and regular reader of the Letters to the Editor section. For the last eight years, I’ve read letters from readers fawning over Donald Trump and extolling his virtues, and, while I disagree, those are valid opinions.

But I’m curious though how those writers feel about Trump’s recent statements that if he’s reelected, Christians “won’t have to vote anymore” because “It’ll be fixed” and “It’ll be fine.”

What do you think he means by that? What will he fix so that their votes won’t be needed anymore?

I know what I take from his statement. For me, I don’t disagree with Trump on politics because I understand he’s in favor of any policy that advances his personal goals, money, power, whatever. I disagree with Trump because he’s a morally and ethically bankrupt person who lies with every breath, who cheats and steals at every opportunity, insults and demeans regularly and who clearly wants to become a dictator.

He understands that the Supreme Court handed him a get-out-of-jail-free card and he intends to use it fully if given the chance. At what point do his apologists say enough is enough? This man is a clear and present danger to our democracy as we’ve known it for the last 248 years.

Keith Jones, Dallas/Knox-Henderson

A fan of VP nominee Vance

I didn’t know much about J.D. Vance until I read his book that was then made into a movie, Hillbilly Elegy. This man learned at a very young age how to deal with a sad and deprived childhood through perseverance, kindness and honesty. For the first time in my 71 years, I’ll be voting Republican.

Judy Webster, Plano

Cowboys, move on

Re: “How mighty have fallen — Cowboys fail to crack top 25 list of elite players for 21st century,” by Tim Cowlishaw, Wednesday SportsDay column.

Thanks to Cowlishaw and the other Dallas sportswriters for continuing to call out the laughable, unserious franchise known as the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott has worn out his welcome here. When asked about his disastrous performance against the Packers and how he felt about the fans’ frustration, he said “be a fan or don’t.” And then he said fans should “move on.”

The thing we all loved, despite the poor postseason performances, was how great a human being and hard worker Prescott is. But with his dismissal of fans’ feelings, I’m not sure about the human being part anymore.

Dak, take your bad attitude elsewhere and see how long they put up with zero playoff success. Yes, we need to move on — from you.

Blake Edwards, Garland

It’s time to step aside

The leader of the second most powerful organization in the world finally accepted that at the age of 81, he must step aside. Joe Biden did the right thing. Now it’s incumbent for the leader of the most powerful organization in the world, who is also 81, to step aside as general manager of the Dallas Cowboys.

John Webb, Frisco

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

Source link

Click to comment

Dallas, TX

Hania Aamir explains why she abruptly left her Dallas meet-and-greet

Published

3 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Hania Aamir explains why she abruptly left her Dallas meet-and-greet

After her Dallas meet-and-greet ended abruptly, leaving fans disappointed, Hania Aamir explained in an Instagram story that she left early because an event organiser allegedly verbally abused her and her manager, Maida Azmat.

In a detailed Instagram story, Aamir maintained that she loves and respects her fans, and that the event ending suddenly was unfortunate. She said she was proud of the fact that her fans had built a community of love, trust and support, and therefore offered some transparency regarding the matter.

“Everyone saw videos of me walking to the crowd and taking pictures and everything was fine. When I was going back to my seat I heard one of the organisers verbally abuse my manager. So I walked up to her and asked what had happened and told the man (one of the organisers) that he cannot speak to her like this. She was so distraught that she went backstage. I followed her to make sure she was okay and Fahad [Mustafa] being a gentleman also came to check up on her.”

Backstage, the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actors started taking pictures with fans, however, Aamir said the event organiser in question chased after them, allegedly calling them names and telling them to leave the premises.

“[He] called off the security protocols, and verbally assaulted us even more (people had to hold him back). We were rushed out by our promoter Arif Khan to not further escalate anything and we managed a personal means of transport to get back safely to the hotel.”

Aamir emphasised that no one had the right to disrespect another person, regardless of their position. She continued that just because women were in male-dominated fields, it was wrong to assume that someone could get away “with almost anything” without the women taking a stand for themselves.

“Thirdly, we as a fraternity put in a lot of effort to make our fans happy. And such people with their theatrics are mostly trying to paint us black. I don’t know, maybe it does something for their ego. But promoters/ organisers need to step up and make sure such clowns don’t ruin the events and the experience for the fans and the artists.”

The Mere Humsafar actor also called on media outlets to show responsibility with their journalism and stop levelling allegations against artists without facts.

“Last but not the least, I would like to apologise to every single one of you who came. And I dearly love every single one of you. I am sorry things had to end this way. Just have to get through with the bad days I guess.”

Support from entertainment industry

Soon after Aamir’s statement, she was flooded with support from the entertainment fraternity, with many decrying the disrespect she faced.

Fellow actor Yashma Gill reshared Aamir’s story and said, “Like always, immense respect for Hania Aamir and Maida Azmat for handling the situation not only professionally but also with bravery.”

Gill added that there was no place for disrespect in the entertainment or other industries. “Let’s call him out so no one ever has to go through the same because of him or people like him again.”

Actor Maya Ali said, “Disrespect is unacceptable at any cost or under any circumstances. I am so proud of you for handling this situation with such grace. It’s truly disappointing that some individuals failed to show respect to our Pakistani stars and their teams.”

Actor and internet personality Umer Khan, popularly known as Ukhano, shared pictures of him with both Aamir and Azmat, and said, “No one should have the right to disrespect our stars”.

Khan added that Aamir always devoted herself to her craft and fans, which is why she is “Asia’s most influential artist”, and that Azmat had been his mentor since he started working and inspired him with her professionalism.

“If some third-class promoter can’t show respect and love to our stars then everyone should walk out and boycott such promoters. We stand with you.”

Actor and musician Azaan Sami Khan said, “It’s unfortunate to see the artist being blamed without understanding the complete context.”

Actor Namreen Khan echoed others’ sentiments and wrote, “No one has [the] right to disrespect artists. Hania Aamir is a gem of a person! Her love and respect for fans and people is no secret.”

Radio personality Anoushey Ashraf also said that there was no room disrespect and abuse for anyone.

“Artists are our pride and assets. Am sorry you had to experience this. At the end of the day, people show their own upbringing and mindset when they decide to disrespect a woman (and many a times one from media).”

Filmmaker Nabeel Qureshi said, “This has always been the case with the majority of promoters. In the end, it’s the artists and fans who have to suffer, while the promoters still manage to benefit the most.”

Actor Hira Khan wrote, “No, you can’t put everything on the artist because it’s easier for you to do so!”

Fashion stylist Aarinda Noor, who dressed Aamir for the event, said, “No one has the right to disrespect anyone! It’s very easy to escalate negativity and extremely difficult to understand the responsibility.”

Aamir’s Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum co-star Fahad Mustafa has not commented on the situation yet.

Source link

Dallas, TX

Here is everything you need to know for Sunday’s Cowboys and Eagles game

Published

13 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Here is everything you need to know for Sunday’s Cowboys and Eagles game

The Dallas Cowboys are undefeated this season in games played where they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Whether or not that continues to hold true over the final two weeks of the regular season will be of extreme fascination.

Up next for the Cowboys is their final road trip of the year, a venture to face a division rival in the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the Eagles’ loss last week to the Washington Commanders that served as the final straw that eliminated Dallas from the playoffs, and as a result, Philly all but took themselves out of contention for the top seed in the NFC.

Still though, a win would give the Eagles the NFC East title, their first since 2023. Whenever the division is secured it will mark the 20th consecutive year that the NFC East has seen its reigning champion fail to repeat so Philly will in all likelihood be the team carrying that burden next year.

Cooper Rush, CeeDee Lamb, Rico Dowdle and co. will have their hands full on offense while Micah Parsons, Marist Liufau and DaRon Bland look to help Dallas continue their form on defense. Even with the season being effectively lost before it was official we have seen the Cowboys playing hard and it stands to reason that this will continue in the City of Brotherly Love.