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Letters to the Editor — Texas A&M, preservation program, Dallas City Council, sheriff race

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Letters to the Editor — Texas A&M, preservation program, Dallas City Council, sheriff race


Bonfire wrong memorial

Texas A&M University is unique for many reasons. Its distinctive culture permeates every aspect of its existence. At the core of its culture is the courage to always do what is right regardless of opinion or consequences. While traditions are revered at A&M, those traditions can never supersede the dignity we accord every member of our community.

The effort to reinstate the bonfire tradition would disparage the memory of those students who lost their lives, including those who suffered enduring injuries, and it would tarnish the culture of Texas A&M University.

What is the appropriate memorial for the loss of 12 young, brilliant lives? Perhaps in this case, it is declaring that no amount of time erases that loss. Redemption is a powerful force, but must have a powerful purpose. Simply reinstating a symbol of sports rivalry does not carry that power; in fact it trivializes those 12 tragic deaths and deprives them of their basic dignity and the meaning of what they would have accomplished had they lived.

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The reinstatement of the traditional Thanksgiving football game between the University of Texas and A&M is rousing, but the game can be played without demeaning our values and disrespecting those we’ve lost.

Don Powell ‘21 (graduate school), Amarillo

Former chairman of the board, Texas A&M University System

Officials must support preservation

Re: “Preservation gets fresh look — City Council to vote on proposal this week,” April 7 Metro story.

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Kudos to Kate Singleton, who assumed directorship of the city’s preservation program and managed to turn it around. Nevertheless, it is with trepidation that I applaud this “fresh look.”

Under the previous director, the four historic preservation planners at that time (myself included) fought for additional staff, resources for community support, funds for translating materials into Spanish, money for educational outreach and resources for developing historic districts in underserved communities.

None of this was deemed important, and no one with authority supported us — not the former director, current mayor, departing city manager, nor most of the Landmark commissioners or City Council members. All stood by as our office imploded.

Upon realizing the futility in trying to advance the city’s preservation program, all four planners eventually left, determined to make a difference elsewhere and maintain their professional integrity. When an entire staff of dedicated, professional employees leaves, it is a huge red flag, but apart from one assistant city manager, no one raised an eyebrow.

My point is that no “fresh look” will succeed without the support of higher officials, Landmark commissioners, and City Council. Hopefully, a lesson has been learned. Dallas’ history and culture are too important to ignore.

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Marsha Prior, McKinney

Pay officials for sacrifice

Re: “Money Can’t Buy a Better City Council — Dallas officials must recognize work as public service, not a career,” April 7 editorial.

In an era of significant challenges and demands to and on government, particularly local government, public “service” is more important and valuable than ever. In general, the ongoing exodus of experienced representation from such roles is hampering cities’ abilities to meet the needs of the day and effectively prepare for tomorrow.

It is high time to consider paying and/or increasing compensation to such individuals. Public service often requires great sacrifice on multiple fronts — every day, including weekends.

The public at large often misunderstands the complexity of public sector roles and the amount of commitment, effort, grit, tenacity and time to perform such jobs, let alone to perform them well.

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An increase in pay would likely result in council members being better able to perform their roles as the full time jobs they actually are. This would benefit the communities they serve. Some City Council members must maintain full-time jobs while serving the public. This is almost impossible.

Dallas needs the most competent, available leaders possible in every seat — at all times. What happens in Dallas impacts North Texas, and sometimes you get what you pay for.

Mike Grace, southwest Dallas

GOP already capitulated

Re: “Don’t capitulate, GOP,” by William Pritchard, Wednesday Letters.

Pritchard exhorts Republicans not to capitulate to the Democrats’ immigration policies. He encourages them to back “a compromise that effectively controls immigration and grants amnesty to DACA individuals,” and then in the next sentence states that “Democrats seem dedicated to no compromise at all.”

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He has evidently not been reading or watching the news recently, where we have all seen the collapse of a bipartisan immigration reform bill produced after months of work by a group of Democratic and Republican senators. After the House speaker declared that he would never allow that bill to reach the House floor for a vote, Republican senators “capitulated” and refused to support the bill, all of which happened at the behest of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who wants no immigration reform unless he can take credit for it.

Democrats are willing to compromise; Trump and his Republican sycophants are not.

Karen Rosenthal, Irving

No more cutting taxes

There seems to be so much need in our country, in many areas. I am just a retired teacher, not an economist, but I have a novel idea. For years, the emphasis has been on cutting taxes. What about the very unpopular idea of increasing taxes and eliminating loopholes as well as cutting the fat in government?

We must try to help save democracy here and around the world. Poverty and homelessness are heartbreakingly prevalent. Teachers can’t live on their income. The border needs funds as well as ways to eliminate the causes of mass exodus from other countries.

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It is going to take sacrifice from all of us to climb out of our herculean debt while caring for those who desperately need help.

Carol McNatt, Athens

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



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Dallas, TX

Cowboys vs Giants on Thanksgiving: Dallas is favored after weeks as underdog

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Cowboys vs Giants on Thanksgiving: Dallas is favored after weeks as underdog


The Dallas Cowboys got back in the win column with a surprising upset over the Washington Commanders. Surprising in the fact that Dallas won, and surprising in that it was one of the crazier games seen in a while. The fourth-quarter alone was worth the price of admission.

The Cowboys were able to get their win even though they were roughly 10.5-point underdogs going into the game. Dallas has been the underdog for a while now, but this week they are favored. With their rivals in the NFC East, the New York Giants, coming to town on turkey day, Dallas finds themselves as 3.5-point favorites in the FanDuel odds.

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The Giants appear to be falling apart after cutting QB Daniel Jones, getting rocked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-7, then having multiple players calling the team’s effort ‘soft’ and questioning the game plan.

Could the Cowboys actually go on a winning streak? And how does this sit with a fanbase firmly looking toward draft position?



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Dallas, TX

CeeDee Lamb made NFL history on Sunday

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CeeDee Lamb made NFL history on Sunday


During the first quarter on Sunday afternoon against the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb set an impressive bit of NFL history.

By recording his fourth reception in the game (CeeDee got a lot of work early if that is not obvious) Lamb recorded four receptions for the 44th consecutive game. That is the longest streak in NFL history, according to the Cowboys’ public relations team.

Lamb surpassed former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas to set the record all to himself. The impressive thing about a streak like this is that it crosses over multiple seasons and in CeeDee’s case even multiple quarterbacks.

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Obviously this season has been a bit tough for the Cowboys, but seeing CeeDee continually perform is a bright spot throughout it all. Kudos and congratulations to him, hopefully there is a lot more history on the way for him and the team in sunnier days.





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Dallas police pension won big against the city, but there is still room for agreement

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Dallas police pension won big against the city, but there is still room for agreement


In August, when the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System filed a lawsuit against City Hall, we winced in concern.

The difference boiled down to which entity, the city or the pension board, had the authority to send a plan to the Texas Legislature to get the badly underfunded system back on track.

Well, the pension system won that fight in district court in Travis County. The plan it has crafted would offer substantially more funding to the pension system, with cost-of-living increases and a reduction in employee contributions in later years.

The city could drag this through an appeal, but as things stand, the pension system’s plan would become the required funding formula.

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Most readers know the pension system is underfunded by more than $3 billion. The difference here boils down to how much additional money the city will contribute per year to get us back on track. Under the pension system’s plan, it would be millions more per year.

But this is a wholly negotiable matter. Two sides have different figures in mind. The sides need to hash out those differences in a way that ensures the city is aligned with a 2017 state law that was passed for the express purpose of getting this pension funded.

There are serious people on both sides. What we need now is a leader at City Hall who has the standing to get this done. Normally, that would be the mayor, but our mayor hasn’t been doing the hard work at City Hall for a long time and we don’t expect him to start now. It could be the city manager, but that job is in the hands of an interim manager now.

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Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins has been doing the heavy lifting for the city, but whether he can lead the city’s side in negotiations is unclear.

All we know is that there is an opportunity for a solution that gets this thing out of court and a solid plan to the Legislature that, yes, includes sacrifices but that also stops the drumbeat about this important public benefit.

Someone needs to get on the phone, book a conference room, order some takeout and work the spreadsheets. There is time, but the clock is ticking.

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



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