Thanks, Watchdog

Re: “How Texas ‘regulated’ homebuilders,” by Dave Lieber, Aug. 5 Metro & Enterprise column.

Once more, kudos to Watchdog Dave Lieber for explaining the Texas historical past as to why there is no such thing as a regulation of homebuilders, house remodelers or roofers in our state, and exhibiting that we, as shoppers, are put in danger.

It is a column that every one Texans ought to learn! Primarily cash is the reply. That’s, political contributions to our elected state officers to make sure that we, as shoppers, are available in final.

We have to remind ourselves that we elect our officers to serve us, not themselves. Test voting information, and don’t hear to simply what they are saying in particular person or in tv advertisements. Bear in mind this whenever you solid your vote this subsequent election.

I discover it fascinating that it appears the very first thing an elected official does after stepping into workplace is to begin elevating cash to get re-elected. It appears, too, that an excessive amount of that cash is “anti-consumer” cash. That is actually what is occurring and never solely in Texas.

Your vote is vital! Thanks, Dave.

Larry F. Kainer, Colleyville

7 steps towards fairness

I can assume of some issues Dallas may do to indicate it’s actually severe about fairness. 1. Shut the shingle manufacturing crops in West Dallas and Joppa now, not in seven years. 2. Cease permitting companies to function illegally with out correct certificates of occupancy, land utilization, zoning and many others. 3. Revamp the constructing allow course of ASAP! (No marvel new houses price a lot; between allowing and the provision chain, they hardly stand an opportunity.)

4. The neighborhoods which have submitted self-determination plans (no plans for us, with out us) needs to be processed ASAP and approved hearings needs to be scheduled in a well timed method. 5. Cease abusing the residents of Floral Farms! Power Almira off the property, clear up the whole space and get the park constructed upon the remediated website of Shingle Mountain.

6. Elm Thicket-Northpark residents deserve respect from town, not disdain. Cease making an attempt to pressure what the minority (cash) desires and deal with what the bulk wants. (By the best way, council members Cara Mendelsohn and Homosexual Donnell Willis characterize North Dallas and they’re each Anglo.)

7. For heaven’s sake, let T.C. Broadnax do his job! (I ought to have began there).

Bonnie Mathias, Dallas/Nice Grove

Put abortion on Texas poll

Kansas’ affirmation of the suitable to abortion handed with a large bipartisan majority. Justice Samuel Alito’s majority opinion, which cited quite a few authorized precedents, most of which had been rendered earlier than germs, sterile approach or antibiotics had been found, returned to the states the choice to permit abortions. Presumably a state’s choice needs to be primarily based on the vast majority of voters.

Texas Lawyer Common Ken Paxton’s shock on the end result of the vote in Kansas, a bastion of Republicans, and his lack of expertise of what voters need, raises a query. Does he know the voters of Texas? If he does, then let the voters of Texas determine. Put it on the poll, let the folks determine.

Paul Halebian, Dallas

Let’s talk about cisterns

I’m dwelling in Maine, the place we’re experiencing a drought, however nothing just like the drought within the West. Nonetheless, I run the danger that my properly will run dry.

One measure I’ve taken to cut back the draw on my properly is to put in three 75-gallon rain barrels, from which I water my backyard and new plantings and areas which want it. I do know that many components of the West forbid rainwater assortment off of roofs, however I’ve by no means seen the calculation that reveals why it might worsen the groundwater scenario, particularly if it had been paired with cisterns.

Rainwater runoff doesn’t at all times find yourself within the aquifer. I assumed that within the circumstances of heavy thunderstorms a lot of it causes flash floods, the place the water could drain away too shortly to remain within the native groundwater aquifer.

As water does grow to be extra scarce, if folks collected in cisterns they might then lower their draw on the groundwater. Why not?

Rebecca Brackett, Waldoboro, Maine

Have a look at Colorado water rights

My expertise in proudly owning water rights was in Colorado, the place the state owns all of the water within the state. An entity can acquire a water proper by placing a certain amount of water to useful use. The state will grant a certain amount of water relying upon the use, corresponding to municipal, mining or agricultural and the supply (river, aquifer or lake).

Instance: For agriculture use, the quantity that may be pumped from a properly relies upon upon the quantity of water within the aquifer supplying the properly that’s accessible to not injure a senior water proper divided by 100. Theoretically the annual quantity pumped would final 100 years.

Irrigating a crop is placing the water to useful use. To vary the agricultural water proper to municipal use, the proof of quantity, in acre ft, is decided by the quantity of water the crop truly used.

Irrigation is inefficient, so the municipal proper can be lower than the agricultural use. The developer may use the municipal quantity with out harm to anybody and there can be no agricultural use of this water. Some counties require a 300-year provide for improvement, which might shield folks.

Buddy Babcock, Plano

Cease scofflaw speeders

Right here is my query. Why are some drivers utilizing our tollways and expressways getting away with driving any velocity they need? These of us who use these busy highways for commuting to work every day are sharing the freeway with folks driving far in extra of the posted velocity limits. I can truthfully say I’ve seen a minimum of 100 miles per hour on the tollway and LBJ Extension.

If a digicam can see us getting into the tollway and once we exit, for the aim of a charge, why can’t this machine calculate the velocity of the driving force used on the tollway? No tickets, only a discover of the velocity noticed. Additionally, a discover that the following time the velocity logged is over 90 miles per hour, the driving force’s insurance coverage firm might be notified.

Robert Ponti, Far North Dallas

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