Ripping our hearts out

If you haven’t already, you might want to consider an editorial cartoon depicting Stanley Marcus and Herb Kelleher turning over in their graves. How sad to see investors from outside of Texas ripping Dallas apart. The new Mavs owners are also in this group.

Suzanne Sprague, Dallas

Where is Mayor Johnson?

Tuesday’s business front page announced two sad stories regarding iconic Dallas companies: Southwest Airlines laying off 15% of its corporate employees and Neiman Marcus closing its headquarters. Plus there was the late-breaking story that the downtown store is closing.

What I want to know is where was the newly Republican mayor, Eric Johnson? Isn’t he pro-business? Dear mayor, shouldn’t you be courting our large, famous job creators that put Dallas on the map?

Claire Dewar, Dallas/Greenway Parks

The News complicit in censorship

Re: “Why ‘Doonesbury’ is no longer in The News’ Sunday comics,” by Stephen Buckley, Wednesday Opinion.

The very top executives now agree that the Doonesbury strips that criticize or make fun of Donald Trump are not “in the interest of fairness and balance” to the readers, not funny and are too repetitive and shouldn’t be continually criticizing the president.

But a comic strip by Pulitzer Prize-winning creator Garry Trudeau removed through censorship sets a dangerous precedent. It is censorship. It is not obscene or defamatory. And it is nationally and internationally popular.

This is a dangerous step. I fear that this step by The Dallas Morning News will at some point encourage Donald Trump to exert more control like he’d done with banning The Associated Press from news briefings. Obviously, there are factual differences but both are examples of selectively limiting news.

Please rethink your stand.

Tom Mills, Dallas

Kudos for ‘Doonesbury’ move

Kudos to The Dallas Morning News for your position on the Sunday Doonesbury comic strip. Since 2017, Garry Trudeau has reflected in his weekly comic strips glimpses of his Trump derangement syndrome. Over the years, and even after Donald Trump was defeated in 2020, Trudeau seems to have doubled down on his TDS rants.

No one seemed to complain when The News unceremoniously dropped the Sunday comic strip Mallard Fillmore by Bruce Tinsley. Mallard Fillmore (on the right) was, in my opinion, the counter to Doonesbury (on the left) and a lot less offensive than Trudeau has become over the years. This move seems to balance the scales although it took a lot longer for Doonesbury.

Howard Manning, North Dallas

Dallas streets not safe

While I’m excited to see Dallas ranked No. 1 for corporate relocations, we must address the growing concern about the safety of our streets. The influx of new business and construction, especially in Uptown, Knox-Henderson and downtown, is putting a strain on our infrastructure.

A few weeks ago, a tragic fatality occurred on Gillespie Street near the Rosewood Mansion when a young adult was hit while getting into an Uber. With more construction traffic, Amazon trucks, e-bikes and Ubers clogging our streets, it’s clear we’re not prepared for this level of growth.

In Uptown alone, millions of square feet of office space and thousands of apartments are being built, but the streets, sidewalks and light signals haven’t kept up. Too many narrow streets and poorly designed pedestrian areas leave us vulnerable.

In the past four years, I’ve known three young women who tragically lost their lives while walking. I even witnessed a mother and child on bikes get run over.

Dallas needs to enact a comprehensive plan for safer, more walkable streets before it’s too late. We can’t continue building without ensuring the safety of those who live, work and walk through these areas.

David W. Pemberton, Dallas

Try public transportation

Reducing traffic congestion in Dallas is inarguably a win for everyone — drivers and pedestrians alike. My husband and I are in the 6.8% of Dallas County households that have no car. For us, it is by choice; for others it is by necessity.

We have lived here for a year and nine months, relying on Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the McKinney Avenue trolley, our own two feet and occasional ride-sharing to get around.

The longer we use DART, the more we understand and appreciate its absolute necessity for the health and vitality of North Texas. We have become involved in the recently formed Dallas Area Transit Alliance. I urge readers to learn more about it.

As I talk to friends and acquaintances about our choice to rely mainly on DART to get around, I hear over and over, “I’ve never used DART.”

I invite your readers to try it. Don’t ditch your car; just try public transportation in addition. Pick somewhere you’d like to go — a restaurant, a coffee shop, a store — and see how it goes.

Dana Knickrehm Mildebrath, Dallas/Uptown

Red-light running rising

A while ago, I was almost T-boned by a crossing car as I entered an intersection when my light turned green. The miscreant decided that because his light had turned red only two to three seconds before he reached the intersection, he would simply cruise on through.

I’ve noticed an increase in this type of red-light running in Dallas over the past few months. When I moved here in the late ‘70s, a yellow light meant to put on the brakes. In the ‘90s, a yellow light meant hit the accelerator. Now a light that has just turned red means hit the accelerator.

So, when you are stopped at a light and it turns green, count to three and look both ways before entering the intersection. We are now driving like they do in Boston!

Fred Moss, northwest Dallas

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