Dallas, TX

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

Published

2 years 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

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is confident about cost estimates to repair, rehab City Hall and insists the process has been transparent

Published

11 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is confident about cost estimates to repair, rehab City Hall and insists the process has been transparent

Mayor Eric Johnson said he hasn’t made up his mind about the future of Dallas City Hall, the iconic I.M. Pei-designed landmark, but remains confident in the cost estimates to fix it.

City‑hired experts said it will cost $329 million to repair the nearly 50‑year‑old building and about $1 billion to rehabilitate and modernize it for the next 20 years.

Johnson said he trusts the numbers.

“I believe that those numbers are accurate,” Johnson said. “I just want to say that right up front, because I do know that there’s questions about whether or not these numbers are or have been inflated, or should we trust these numbers? I don’t know where we’d get another set of numbers that would be more trustworthy.

“These companies that have looked at this are very reputable, and so, I believe the numbers. I really believe that our jobs as a council and as a city are to do the best thing that we can, the best thing we can for our taxpayers. Not a good thing, but the best thing with the taxpayers’ dollars.”

The mayor said he, like everyone else, is waiting for more information. Earlier this month, he and eight council members voted to have the city manager determine how much it would cost to move City Hall to another building and compare that to staying and making repairs.

The city manager is also evaluating whether the current site could support private development. That report is due to the council no later than May, and the Finance Committee may be briefed on May 26. The full council could vote in June.

Development potential enters the conversation

Many people have floated the idea of a new arena and entertainment district downtown for the Dallas Mavericks, though no proposals exist.

Former mayors Ron Kirk, Tom Leppert, and Mike Rawlings have urged city leaders to move City Hall, saying it could attract billions in new development.

Johnson said he wants data, not instinct.

“I can’t govern the city based on a hunch or instinct or gut feel. I have to look at data. I would like to see what comes back and what they say this site could unlock,” he said. “Does my gut tell me that the best use of this part of downtown, is not to be a government center, which I think is kind of a dated concept in and of itself, to have a cluster of government buildings right in the middle of what could be the most vibrant part of your downtown that by definition closes at 5 p.m.

“My gut tells me that’s not a great idea. But I want the city manager to go through the exercise of actually exploring what private development options there would be. What interest would there be in this site? If there are really great economic development opportunities for the city that would be unlocked by us leaving this site, I would be very, very compelled by that.”

Preservationists push back strongly

Residents and preservationists have been vocal in their opposition. Former Mayor Laura Miller told CBS News Texas she doesn’t want City Hall sold or torn down and believes the process has lacked transparency and been “riddled with self‑interest.”

Johnson rejected that.

“I’m not sure why former Mayor Miller feels that way because I can tell you that the process has been the definition of transparent,” he said. “It’s just not true that this process hasn’t been transparent. You can go back to what I initially sent out, a memo. I put it in writing. I distributed it publicly, saying to the council, I want a committee to look at options for City Hall.

“So, that was very transparent. The meetings that were called subsequent to my request were all open to the public. Discussions were had at those meetings, and every single thing that has happened has been compelled by council action.”

Emails raise questions about engagement

The Dallas Morning News recently reported on 5,000 pages of emails related to the project and others, raising questions about how engaged the mayor has been.

Johnson dismissed the criticism.

“I’m fully engaged in everything that goes on around here. I’ve been fully engaged, and honestly, I’m going to decline to go quibble with the Dallas Morning News,” he said. “I don’t even know what these emails that they have found say. I do know what I do every day, which is I wake up early in the morning, come to this building, and give this city everything I have.

“I work tirelessly on behalf of the city, and I do everything I possibly can to make sure this city is represented well here, locally, nationally, internationally.”

Sports negotiations happening in parallel

The debate over City Hall comes as city leaders negotiate with the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars to keep both teams in the city. Johnson said he cannot discuss negotiations publicly.

“Keeping the Dallas Stars and keeping the Dallas Mavericks playing in the city of Dallas is one of the highest priorities of my administration, and it has been since I got here,” he said. “I can tell you this: We are going to do everything we possibly can to make these deals work for both of those teams and keep them in the city. I am confident that we will work this out.”

Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 Sunday morning on CBS News Texas on air and streaming.

Follow Jack on X: @cbs11jack

In:

Source link

Dallas, TX

3 takeaways as the Mavericks lose a fun one, 142-135, at the Denver Nuggets

Published

24 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

3 takeaways as the Mavericks lose a fun one, 142-135, at the Denver Nuggets

The Dallas Mavericks (23-50) dropped their fifth straight game Wednesday, falling 142-135 to the Denver Nuggets (45-28) in a game that felt within reach early before completely getting away from them late. Dallas had a few solid stretches to start, showing some offensive rhythm and energy, but couldn’t sustain it as Denver’s shot-making and overall execution took over. Cooper Flagg continued his strong stretch with 26 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while P.J. Washington added 19 points and 15 rebounds with steady production inside. On the other side, Jamal Murray put together a dominant performance with 53 points, and Nikola Jokić orchestrated everything with 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists, as the Nuggets controlled the game from the middle quarters on.

The Mavericks hung around for stretches in the first half, but a Jamal Murray explosion ultimately tilted the game, as the Denver Nuggets took a 68-59 lead into halftime in a game that quickly started to feel like it was slipping away. Dallas opened with solid energy, getting contributions from multiple spots, as Naji Marshall scored efficiently and Cooper Flagg made his presence felt early as both a scorer and a playmaker, helping keep things within reach. Flagg had a noticeable impact in those opening minutes—knocking down pull-ups, attacking downhill, and creating looks for others—while Marshall’s shot-making kept the offense afloat during key stretches.

But every time the Mavericks made a push, Murray had an answer. He completely took over the second quarter, piling up 33 first-half points on 11-of-15 shooting and 6-of-9 from deep, hitting pull-ups, step-backs, and tough contested shots that Dallas simply couldn’t slow down. At the same time, Nikola Jokić quietly controlled everything else, finishing the half with 11 assists and 9 rebounds, consistently creating easy looks and keeping Denver’s offense flowing even without scoring much himself.

Dallas had some bright spots, though. There were moments especially in the third where Dallas strung together a few stops and got downhill, but it never turned into anything real, as missed shots, turnovers, and Denver’s instant responses kept resetting the margin.

If this game didn’t make it obvious, nothing will Dallas desperately needs a guard who can defend at the point of attack. Jamal Murray didn’t just have a good night, he had complete control, getting wherever he wanted and scoring however he wanted, finishing with 53 points on 19-of-28 shooting and 9-of-14 from three. There was no real resistance at the top of the defense no one who could consistently stay in front, disrupt his rhythm, or even make him uncomfortable. Once he got downhill or into his pull-up game, it was over, and that kind of pressure completely breaks a defense before it even has a chance to rotate.

This is where roster construction starts to matter. Dallas has length and some versatility in the frontcourt, but without a guard who can actually contain the ball, none of it holds up. You can’t ask your bigs to clean everything up every possession, especially against elite shot-makers. That’s why this draft becomes so important. It’s not just about adding talen it’s about adding the right kind of player. Someone who can fight over screens, stay attached, and at least make life harder for guys like Murray at the point of attack.

Because nights like this aren’t just about one player getting hot they expose a structural issue. And until Dallas finds a guard who can defend at that level, this is going to keep happening.

Someone seeds to close, eventually

The Mavericks have played a ton of close games this season, but the results just haven’t followed, and that’s something that continues to show up late in these losses. Too often, possessions in crunch time turn into rushed shots, stalled actions, or empty trips, while a single defensive breakdown on the other end swings momentum the other way. It’s not just one game it’s been a pattern, and it speaks to a team that’s still learning how to execute when everything tightens up.

That said, context matters right now. Dallas isn’t necessarily trying to squeeze out every late-game win at this point in the season, and losses like these actually help their lottery positioning. There’s value in being competitive and getting those reps without sacrificing long-term upside, especially in a strong draft class.

But long term, this is something to watch especially with Cooper Flagg. He’s already showing flashes as a primary creator, but closing games is the next step: controlling tempo, getting to the right spots, and making the right reads under pressure. It’s okay that it’s messy right now given where the team is, but if the Mavericks want to take a real step forward next season, turning these close games into wins has to be part of that growth.

Cooper Flagg continues to shine

Cooper Flagg continues to look more and more like the centerpiece of what Dallas is building, and nights like this are a big part of why. He finished with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, impacting the game in just about every way despite the result. What stands out isn’t just the production it’s how he’s getting it. He’s initiating offense, pushing in transition, making reads out of drives, and consistently putting pressure on the defense as both a scorer and playmaker.

This stretch has been especially encouraging. Over the past few games, Flagg has been steadily trending upward, not just in scoring, but in overall control of the game. He’s starting to look more comfortable as the primary option, picking his spots better and showing more patience when defenses collapse. Even when shots don’t fall, he’s still influencing possessions through rebounds, assists, and defensive activity.

There are still things to clean up, especially late-game execution and shot selection in tighter moments, but that’s expected at this stage. The important part is that the flashes are becoming more consistent. For a team leaning into development, Flagg isn’t just putting up numbers he’s showing real signs of growth as a lead initiator, and that’s the biggest takeaway moving forward.

Source link

Dallas, TX

GOP considering Dallas for potential 2026 Midterm National Convention

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

GOP considering Dallas for potential 2026 Midterm National Convention

DALLAS – No contracts have been signed, and no proposals have been made, but representatives of the National Republican Party did receive all the rental information for the American Airlines Center (AAC).

American Airlines Center for potential RNC

What we know:

Sources confirm that the Republican Party is exploring a national convention for the midterm elections, with Dallas being one of the cities under consideration to host the event.

Dave Brown, the general manager of the American Airlines Center, told FOX 4 representatives of the National Republican Party toured the AAC in late February, but they didn’t share any details about the possible event.

The reps were given all the rental information, including technical aspects and rental fee details, which, on average, is about $125,000 per day.

As of now, no contracts have been signed, and there are no official proposals on the table.

Why the Republican Party is targeting Texas

What they’re saying:

Matthew Wilson is a political science professor at SMU.

“Typically, parties don’t have national conventions during the midterm cycle, but it signals, I think, a desire on the Republicans’ part to rally the troops,” said Wilson. “I think there are a lot of good electoral and coalition-building reasons why Republicans would focus on Texas, in particular as a site for trying to build some momentum to gin up greater Republican turnout in this fall’s electoral cycle.”

Cornyn, Paxton, and the 2026 Midterms

Dig deeper:

Wilson says choosing Dallas would signal that the Republican Party is taking the Texas races, in November, very seriously.

In particular, the race for U.S. Senate where Democratic state representative James Talarico will face the Republican runoff winner, either U.S. Senator John Cornyn or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

It’s unclear when the convention will be held.

The chairman of the Dallas Republican Party, Allen West, said he has no knowledge of the subject.

The Dallas Police Department says it doesn’t have any information about a potential RNC either.

“Typically, their presidential year conventions give both parties at least a temporary boost or bounce. We’ll see if this can work in the same way it’s not been done before, and depending on whether it succeeds or not, we’ll see whether it gets done again,” said Wilson.