Dallas, TX
Letters to the Editor — Dallas mayor, Prop U, DART, abortion care, political parties
Dallas mayor invisible
Re: “Mayor Eric Johnson Let Dallas Down — We needed his leadership; we got an op-ed,” Sunday editorial.
I just finished reading your editorial concerning Mayor Eric Johnson. I agree wholeheartedly with this opinion. Johnson shows he has no concern for Dallas and its residents. He seems completely preoccupied with his next political move and position.
He has been invisible on so many issues involving the city. I was initially so excited about the prospect of Johnson and voted for him. Huge regret on my and my relatives’ decision to support him.
He did not step up and speak up about these propositions. He actually hasn’t spoken up much about Dallas. He speaks about national issues. Good riddance!
Becky Autrey, Dallas
I voted for Proposition U
Your pages state that the passage of Proposition U is the result of poor leadership from Mayor Eric Johnson or an uninformed electorate. I disagree. I voted for Proposition U. I researched this issue in advance, read your coverage on the propositions and gave ample thought and reflection to my voting decision. I was not tricked or uninformed.
I have lived in Dallas for eight years and for the entirety of that time, the Dallas Police Department has struggled to be fully staffed, the Dallas Police and Fire Pension Fund has been underfunded, and politicians and city officials have pledged to do better. Yet here we are.
While violent crime statistics may show improvements, the reality is Dallas citizens do not feel safe. I know that the requirements of Proposition U will put enormous strain on the city, the city may fall short and the requirements of Proposition U may be unrealistic, but we have to start somewhere.
The vote for Proposition U is a statement by citizens that among the many vital functions that our city government must perform, keeping its citizens safe (and feeling safe) is paramount to all others rather than the result of an uninformed and gullible electorate.
Douglas MacMahon, Dallas/Bluffview
Addison paid plenty to DART
Re: “Suburbs miscalculate DART expenses — Cities get more for their money than they think,” by Patrick Kennedy, Sunday Opinion.
I see at least two things wrong with Kennedy’s column. If you go back nearly 40 years ago when Addison started paying into the contributions for DART, all they received in their decades and hundreds of millions of dollars or perhaps more, and amid myriad complaints was bus service from Preston Road to Marsh Lane along Belt Line Road.
The mayor of Addison and many members of the City Council expressed disgust over the lack of better service and delay of the Silver line. Had it been started earlier, the costs would not have been anywhere near a billion dollars and not anywhere near the $2 billion that appears to be the final figure with many cost-saving “benefits” to the service removed by DART.
The other is that Kennedy is one board of directors member among the 15 members who easily spend millions of DART dollars, and what do they get in return?
Better service to Addison would have created more restaurants and entertainment, especially for conventions, and more tax revenue for DART. Hindsight is 20/20.
Kenneth D. McLintock, Dallas
Doctor sets record straight
Re: “Lifesaving care for women in Texas is perfectly legal — Scaremongering about state abortion ban isn’t helping patients — or doctors,” by Sudheer Jayaprabhu, Sunday Opinion.
I was so glad to read this column on the legality of lifesaving care for women in Texas. Despite the lies in many political ads, pregnant women do legally receive treatment in problem pregnancies.
Two members of my family did — one after having a miscarriage and the other in the early delivery of a child after a health scare.
Thank you, doctor, for setting the record straight.
Julia Davis, Plano
Parties seal their fates
Re: “Here’s what makes America great — Rather than throw up your hands, marvel that our founders created a system that still works,” by Abby McCloskey, Nov. 3 Sunday Opinion.
As I read McCloskey’s opinion piece, a recurring thought came back to me. We just went through a big election and now there is relief that it is over and hope that maybe things will be better.
But then reality will set in and we’ll discover the winners are not interested in making things better, just in pushing their agenda as far and as fast as they can. Doesn’t seem to matter which side wins, the result is the same.
So we swing back and forth, left then right and back again over and over. Neither side ever realizes that most of the populace doesn’t want to push that far or that fast.
People are willing to move but in smaller increments with time to digest if the changes make things better or worse. Then they will decide how to move the next time. But the parties keep pushing too far and the voters rebel again.
The parties seal their own fates.
James C. Nolen, Terrell
Narrow election identity
McCloskey states that the prevailing identity of this election is that of traditional values, faith, marriage and family, and nationalism. If that was the case, the people wouldn’t have voted for Donald Trump. The only portion of the described identity that aligns with him is that of nationalism.
Victor Kaplan, Plano
Waiting on lottery suit
Re: “Lotto scheme games system,” by Dave Lieber, Sunday Metro column.
Regarding this column on lotto schemes, Attorney General Ken Paxton, do your job. Sue someone, anyone.
Peter Lehmann, Euless
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The launch of Dallas’s new “Dallas Go” water billing system has sparked widespread frustration, overwhelming the city’s 311 lines with 35-minute wait times due to confusing account features, unexpected convenience fees, and massive billing errors.
Kurt: The situation does seem a bit odd, doesn’t it? How often is a first-round pick seemingly overlooked? But because the fanfare surrounding Downs has been so overwhelming, Lawrence has sort of gone about his business under the radar.
We fully expect the former to step in at safety and be an impact player. Of course, he will. But what about the latter?
Well, Lawrence indeed should be a starter in 2026 as well. In today’s NFL, teams don’t use that kind of draft capital on players they hope to develop. They are looking for studs who can make their presence known right away despite their lack of professional experience. Meaning, the Cowboys want, or more importantly need, the Central Florida product to contribute from the get-go.
What will be interesting to see at training camp is whether Lawrence will be lining up on the edge when the first-teamers take the field. On our Hangin’ With the Boys podcast, Nate Newton has repeatedly said that first-round picks need to get first-team reps immediately. None of this ramping up or giving courtesy to the veterans. You drafted him in the first round, you expect him to play like a first-rounder, so the more reps he gets in practice, the better.
Regardless, he may be in the perfect situation. Most of the pressure that comes with that draft status will likely fall on the shoulders of Downs, which will allow Lawrence to keep doing his thing without the added glare of the spotlight.
Still, he’s a first-round pick. He’s got to produce. Now.
Fans of Japan’s national team have captured and warmed hearts, though it had nothing to do with the match against the Netherlands and everything to do with what happened when it was over.
When the Japan vs. Netherlands FIFA World Cup match ended, many fans headed for the exits, but Japanese fans reached for trash bags instead.
Viral cleanup effort captures global attention
The now viral photos show hundreds of Japanese fans cleaning up their section of Dallas Stadium. Trash bags in hand, they picked up cups, wrappers and anything left behind.
The Japanese men’s team even left their locker room spotless. No one asked them to do it.
“It’s kind of a habit or natural, I guess,” said Nina Shimaguchi, with the Japan American Society of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Shimaguchi wasn’t surprised. The value of cleaning up is a sign of respect and the habit starts young.
“The Japanese education system, we don’t have custodians from elementary to high school, so we have to take care of hallways, restrooms,” she said.
But for many, it goes beyond being tidy. Shimaguchi says it’s tied to what’s called “Shintoism” and the belief that everyday things carry meaning.
“Shintoism is rooted in Japan, where we think all natural items have a spirit, like a tree, stones,” Shimaguchi said. “Which go into all our daily items as well … There is a saying that one rice grain has seven spirits in it…”
Outside Dallas Stadium, thousands of Dutch fans added to the World Cup energy, chanting and celebrating long after the final whistle.
Team Japan leaves lasting impression on and off the field
But in the silence, a simple act of cleaning up is sparking millions of views and a bigger conversation about culture, curiosity and kindness.
“Through the game, probably many people see, ‘Oh that’s the culture,’” said Shimaguchi. “And that’s the next step of people trying to learn, trying to know…That kind of positivity remains.”
Kindness above all else.
Team Japan plays a game this Saturday in Mexico and then returns to Dallas Stadium in 10 days to play against Sweden. And if history is any indication, they’ll do what they did before: leave the stadium spotless. Maybe even inspiring a few others to do the same.
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