Dallas, TX
Letters to the Editor — LGBTQ issues, Dallas housing, student loans, public schools
Stonewall Democrats respond
Re: “Dallas County chooses sides in transgender debate — Commissioners should stay out of medical disputes,” Sept. 23 editorial.
We, the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, feel compelled to respond to the recent editorial addressing the resolution passed by the Dallas County Commissioners in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
We praise the Dallas County Commissioners in their resolve to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights and defend the health care and right to self-determination of all residents in Dallas County. Gender-affirming health care is lifesaving.
LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. According to the Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth seriously considered suicide in the past year. This is a health crisis.
Additionally, we take issue with the notion that this resolution divides the Dallas County LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ movement has always thrived on unity and mutual support. From the very beginning, transgender activists stood alongside gay men and lesbians during the Stonewall uprising, which sparked the modern gay rights movement.
Throughout the AIDS crisis, it was the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender individuals, who stood shoulder to shoulder with gay men, providing care and advocacy when many were abandoned by society. This solidarity has only strengthened over the decades as we collectively championed marriage equality.
While we acknowledge differing opinions within our community regarding certain issues, we must remember that our history is rooted in unity and mutual respect. We stand firm against any division that seeks to undermine our collective progress. We stand firmly with the transgender community in their struggle for lifesaving medical care and equal rights.
The Stonewall Democrats of Dallas Executive Committee
City Hall needs overhaul
Re: “Dallas adopts land plan — Outline passed after two years of drafting, months of community meetings,” Thursday news story.
Thank you to Mayor Eric Johnson and council members Carolyn King Arnold, Jesse Moreno and Cara Mendelsohn for supporting single-family neighborhoods. Every type of housing has its place, but not all in the same place. Strong neighborhoods are the backbone of the city. We pay taxes, we vote, we raise our families here. We purchased homes with the understanding that certain zoning protections came with that purchase. What other city promises will now be broken?
The culture at City Hall needs an overhaul. Recent stories about a failed lead removal program, failure to hold landlords accountable for substandard living conditions, failure to maintain city-owned properties (999 Technology Blvd. and at 711 S. St. Paul St., for recent examples) and permitting problems suggest a need for change.
We will have an election next May where we will have the opportunity to elect representatives who will support strong neighborhoods and the residents of the city of Dallas. Will your representative have your best interest at heart or their own interests? Vote and make your voice heard.
Laurie Johnson, Dallas
U.S. a great nation
Re: “We do not have a nation that’s dying — Despite what one presidential candidate says, our economy and generosity are alive and well. I see it every day,” by Peter Johnson, Sept. 22 Opinion.
I enjoyed Johnson’s opinion giving a positive view of America. I feel exactly the way he does. It certainly counters the dark dystopian and false view of our nation that Donald Trump keeps telling us about every day during his rally speeches. It is so depressing.
We need to be uplifted, and Johnson has done just that. We have a great nation no matter what the candidates tell us.
Richard Bach, Garland
Bankruptcy rights bipartisan
Students are losing on predatory student loans. Both parties should be fighting to return bankruptcy rights to student loans. This is a bipartisan issue. All other loans (mortgages, cars, unpaid taxes, etc.) have bankruptcy rights and consumer protections and student loans should be no different.
There are nearly 4 million Texans paying $8 billion to the Department of Education each year. How do politicians like U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and Rep. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, sleep at night?
Representatives of Texas should be fighting tooth and nail to get bankruptcy rights restored. Texas should support students and education. It’s important!
Jacque Abron, Midlothian
Texas and education
Public schools, as I see it, have three main functions: education, socialization and providing inclusivity for students. Texas ranks in the bottom half of states in education. Gov. Greg Abbott’s fixation on school vouchers will only help the wealthy while ignoring lower-income families, some of whom can barely afford school clothes and supplies. Will there be a maximum income for those receiving assistance?
Our “rainy day fund” would be better used to increase teacher salaries and improve the infrastructure for our public schools.
Including Christian teachings and posting the Ten Commandments is not inclusive of all faiths. Commandments 1-4 relate to the Judeo-Christian God, ignoring the gods of other religions. Good luck teaching Commandment 7 to young kids. Why not post Commandments 6, 8, 9 and 10, along with the Golden Rule?
Teaching only Christian values is demeaning to non-Christians. Should we also teach from other religious texts? I’m a Christian, but I also respect other faiths.
Why not set aside some classroom time each week to address bullying and conflict resolution? Teach kids how to live with each other peacefully. Maybe we could prevent future violence in our schools.
Vivian Bush, Ovilla
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The search for the next general manager or president of basketball operations of the Dallas Mavericks has begun. They terminated Nico Harrison in November, which was about nine months too late, and gave any available candidates clear notice that they were open for business.
The plan was always to wait until after the season to start the search. While names popped up as the season reached an end, they didn’t begin turning over the staff until the Monday after the season ended. However, Dallas Mavericks fans are not going to like how the team is going about the search.
Patrick Dumont Leading Search for General Manager
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Mavericks are not hiring a search firm in their hunt for a new lead executive. Instead, team governor Patrick Dumont is “acting as his own point person.”
This is an… interesting decision, to say the least. Dumont is not a basketball person whatsoever, and most organizations usually hire a search firm. The Chicago Bulls hired one as they look for their replacement for Arturas Karnisovas. Just because a firm is hired doesn’t mean a team will listen, though.
The Mavericks hired a firm in their last search for a GM. They let Donnie Nelson go in 2021 after a long tenure with the Mavs. Instead of listening to the firm, though, Mark Cuban ignored it to hire Nico Harrison, who had no previous NBA front office experience. Harrison had been an executive with Nike, which gave him connections with players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and plenty of others.
For a while, that seemed to be working out okay. While he still had some questionable transactions, such as trading for Christian Wood and letting Jalen Brunson walk in free agency, they were still able to make a run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Then, he blew it all up, trading away Luka Doncic for an older and injured Anthony Davis, and the team hasn’t been the same since.
It’s imperative that the Mavericks get this hire correct. The interim Co-GM setup with Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley has performed admirably, but the 2026 NBA Draft is important for the Mavs to get right. It’s their best chance to pair Cooper Flagg with another young star, as they don’t own their first-round pick again until 2031 after this.
Hiring the right GM could help bring in more draft capital by bringing in bad contracts or flipping veterans into picks.
Dumont was able to convince Rick Welts, a Hall of Famer, to come out of retirement to be the CEO and lead the charge for a new arena. Maybe Dumont pulls another rabbit out of his hat for the GM.
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For a moment, it looked like FC Dallas was on its way to another statement win at home tonight.
Petar Musa scored two first half goals, to extend his Golden Boot leading tally to nine goals. But after Dallas grabbed control, the Galaxy found a way back before halftime with goals from Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil.
The second half brought more chances and more frustration for Dallas, which finished the night with 13 shots to LA’s nine. In the end, the point stretched Dallas’ unbeaten run to five games, though just like last week, it felt like another match where Dallas left points on the table.
Key Moments
7’ – GOAL! After a poor pass back by a LA defender, Petar Musa was free to go one-on-one with the LA goalkeeper. After a touch to get ahead of a defender, Musa slotted home his eighth goal of the season from outside the penalty box.
21’ – Offside! Joaquin Valiente sent a floating ball over the Galaxy defense, where Musa was able to get behind the defense and make an easy play for what appeared to be his second goal of the night. The play was called offside despite a fairly lengthy review period.
38’ – GOAL! This one counts! Musa gets his second of the night off a great ball from Chris Cappis. Logan Farrington picked off the ball in the midfield. He then played Cappis wide to the left of the penalty area. Cappis immediately played a ball back across the goal for Musa to slide in and finish for his ninth of the season.
43’ – Goal LA. Lucas Sanabria got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He took a couple of touches to get outside the penalty box before firing a shot that beat Michael Collodi at the near post.
45+4’ – Goal LA. Gabriel Pec got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He pulled the ball back a bit, which caught a pair of Dallas defenders. This allowed Joseph Painstil to get free behind the Dallas defense as Pec played him through inside the penalty area. Pec immediately smashed home a shot above Collodi to tie the game.
75’ – Another offside goal. This time on a corner kick for Dallas, after a scrum in the penalty box, Kaick hammered home what looked to be the go-ahead goal. But after a few seconds the flag was raised due to a deflection on Osaze Urhoghide, who was in an offside position.
Instant Reaction
Yeah, this is another disappointing result for this team. In a real way, it felt like the first half against Houston from last month. Dallas grabbed the lead, looked in control, but some defensive miscues opened the game up for the visitors to climb back.
With a double-game week coming up, this will certainly be another game where Dallas will wonder ‘what if’ more than anything else…especially when you factor in the two goals called off for offside.
About the Subs
Eric Quill went to his bench for the first time in the 66th minute, as he brought on Santiago Moreno for Logan Farrington. Quill went to his bench again 81st minute with Ran Binyamin and Nolan Norris coming on for Sebastien Ibeagha and Deedson. The final sub came during stoppage time with Herman Johansson and Joaquin Valiente coming off for Sam Sarver and rookie Nick Simmonds, who made his MLS debut.
Man of the Match
No question about it tonight, it has to be Musa.
Where does this fit into the season
As of this writing, the draw puts Dallas into a three-way tie for 5th place with Real Salt Lake and Seattle. Both are in action right now and look firmly in control of their games. I’d expect Dallas to be in 7th place by the end of the night.
What’s next for FC Dallas
Dallas wraps up a three-game homestand next Wednesday night as they host Minnesota United.
Dallas, TX
Akheem Mesidor selected by Cowboys by Blogging The Boys in SB Nation’s community mock draft
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
Pass rush has been an issue since the Micah Parsons trade. The Rashan Gary trade helped, but Dallas still needs an injection of talent. Akheem Mesidor fits here because his body size allows for some versatility inside and out, something DC Christian Parker utilizes. Mesidor is also a high-motor player with a deep bag of pass rush moves.
His last season at Miami was full of disruption in the offensive backfield and he shows an all-around game, not just a bend-around-the-edge pass rusher. Yes, he’s a little older than you’d like in a rookie (25), but his motor, pass rush toolbox, and ability to play the run matches up with a need and makes him a quality pick at number 20.
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