Letters to the Editor — Sharon Grigsby, maternal deaths, No Labels, school closings

Grigsby set the standard

Re: “Writer is leaving The News — Pulitzer Prize winner will start new chapter after decades covering the community,” Tuesday Metro & Business story.

Newspapers have a long history of colorful columnists who often became the story. Mike Royko, a brilliant writer, was also known for his frequent visits to the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago. Jimmy Breslin from New York published a letter from the “Son of Sam” and ran for City Council president. Both made up characters to illustrate the ills of the cities where they lived and worked.

Sharon Grigsby chose a different path. Her goal was always to make Dallas a better place to live without making herself the center of the story. Her columns were based on in-depth research without the entertaining theatrics that made many columnists famous.

Her columns weren’t about her. They were about us. I did not always agree with her take on some issues, but I always knew reading her columns was well worth my time.

Sharon and her colleague Cheryl Hall set a standard for journalism that is not often duplicated today. Their work should be required reading for young journalists.

David Margulies, Lewisville

Grave disservice to women

Re: “‘Deaths will be in vain’ — Texas committee’s plan to skip 2 years of data raises concerns,” Saturday news story.

I am beyond appalled and incredulous at the decision to not investigate pregnancy-related deaths in 2022 and 2023. While you, Patrick Ramsey, may not want to “live in the past,” I’m sure the families of those women who died, some as a result of the Texas abortion ban, will be living in the past for the rest of their lives.

What other types of death did you decide to exclude from your investigations for 2022 and 2023?

Your failure to perform your job is a grave disservice to the women who have died and their families. It also denies all the people of Texas critical information on which to make political decisions and therefore is an obstruction of our civil rights.

Donnia Harrington, Rockwall

Politics intrudes on health

In this story, Patrick Ramsey is quoted as saying, “We cannot live in the past looking at maternal deaths.” What? Have I suddenly awoken to find myself in a different universe? One where we do not use past knowledge to guide us to better solutions regarding our laws?

The more I look at that quote, the angrier I become, because it appears to represent the intrusion — one more time — of politics into what should be impartial research into improving the lives of Texas residents. Please, for the love of God, let’s get these political sycophants out our health affairs.

Dan Siculan, Royse City

No Labels was on right track

Re: “More Than the Usual Dirty Politics — Democrats’ aggressive undermining of No Labels movement was voter suppression, pure and simple,” Dec. 5 editorial.

This piece answered a lot of questions about what happened to this quickly disappearing movement. I was intrigued by the concept and looking at the last several election cycles, I believed the timing was perfect for such an undertaking.

The Democrats lost in 2024 for the same reason they lost in 2016. A huge majority of the voters couldn’t picture its candidate in the driver’s seat.

So why was the election so close? An equally large number of voters couldn’t hold their nose long enough to pull the lever to allow a dishonest egocentric to represent us to the rest of the world.

In a nation of more than 334 million people, we all know there are many patriotic citizens with the intellect and heart to lead us forward as the beacon of freedom the rest of the world wants to see.

We have four years to find a few. Maybe a No Labels-type organization can start early and help the cause for the rest of us.

Ken Kelley, Pottsboro

Ignorance is expensive

Re: “District votes to close 5 schools — Lewisville elementary campuses will shutter as enrollment falls,” Wednesday news story.

As retired Texas teachers, it is disappointing to see the continued lack of funding and support for public schools in Texas. The recent school closing announcements in district after district is confirming the lack of commitment to quality education in our state.

According to raiseyourhandtexas.org, Texas ranks 42nd in the nation per student spending. It is shortsighted not to prepare future generations in Texas and have competitive education attainment. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.

Alan and Karen Beck, Plano

Hold DSO applause

I’d like to ask your music critic Scott Cantrell to keep pounding on the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to put into practice his easy suggestion for stopping the inappropriate clapping.

I tell myself to be patient with those who are uneducated about protocol and at least coming to the concert, but why doesn’t it dawn on them after the first faux pas that two-thirds of the audience is not clapping?

Why do they not realize that the conductor is not turning to the audience? Since they don’t, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra needs to try to educate them.

Dolores R. Rogers, Dallas

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