Support House Bill 5

Re: “Paying for the ‘Texas miracle’ — Resurrecting tax giveaway program is a bad idea for Texas,” by Deborah Smith and Bill deHaas, Wednesday Opinion.

Opponents of House Bill 5, the Texas Jobs and Security Act, neglect to mention that the success of our public schools depends on the jobs and revenue that business investments deliver. When businesses relocate or expand, school districts need the flexibility to leverage economic development incentives to grow our schools and our economy.

HB 5 gives us those tools and does so in a transparent, responsible manner. While we’re supportive of including renewable energy in the program, it’s most important to reestablish a program that attracts and retains investment.

Without the Texas Jobs and Security Act, school districts will miss out on investments from high-demand industries. For example, Fort Worth missed a $5 billion investment opportunity when electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian bypassed North Texas to build a vehicle and battery production plant in Georgia.

We have a chance to create a more equitable and effective economic development program. Fast Growth and more than 700 school districts are pleased to see the Texas House approve HB 5 and hope the Senate follows suit. It’s a winning proposition for businesses and for the schools where these employers’ families send their students.

Greg Smith, Austin

Executive director, Fast Growth School Coalition

Finally, a real attempt

Re: “Finally, a Border Plan Worth Praising — Reforms enacted as Title 42 ends show Biden getting serious about crisis,” Thursday editorial.

Thank you for your fact-based opinions. The immigration issue has been a political piñata for Republicans for years, and unfortunately they seem to inflame this issue without ever proposing any practical solutions. Why would they?

In the current political environment where fear-mongering and pandering to the far-right are flourishing, fixing immigration is not a top priority. The Biden administration’s new border policies are far from perfect but they are an honest attempt to fix an outdated system without any help from Congress.

Francisco J. Salas, Allen

Devastating impact on schools

Re: “Wordplay hides school bill’s real intent — Make no mistake: ‘School choice’ legislation would hurt Texas public education,” by Lance Barasch, Thursday Opinion.

Thank you, Lance Barasch, for your column on “school choice” legislation. I agree that the language in Senate Bill 8 is designed to mislead us and our elected officials that this is something new instead of an intent to divert money away from public schools.

The proposed educational savings accounts do not provide a way out of poverty for students of lesser means. The Texas Constitution requires the Legislature to provide for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of free public schools.

SB 8 would have a devastating impact on public schools. A thriving economy requires an educated workforce and public schools are the most effective and accountable means of educating tomorrow’s workforce. Children are among our most vulnerable citizens and are our most valuable assets.

Please be their advocate by opposing SB 8 and contacting your elected representatives to urge them to oppose SB 8. They can only know the level of concern if they hear from us.

Martha Dorris, Richardson

Energized by younger voices

Re: “Vote pro-women,” by Sofia Rodriguez, Thursday Letters.

As a not-young woman, I send kudos to this young woman, Sofia Rodriguez, who expresses exhaustion but also determination in her letter. She deplores the limbo into which the litigation over the abortion pill (despite its proven safety and effectiveness) has placed millions of women and providers.

At the same time, she urges Texans to inform themselves and others about ongoing threats to women’s health and other critical issues and vote our current failed leaders out of office. Like Rodriguez, I am exhausted after many years of fighting for reproductive and other at-risk rights, but I am exhilarated and energized by the voices and determination of her and others of the younger generation.

Julie Lowenberg, Dallas/Turtle Creek

Vote them out

Re: “Uphill battle for gun control — Amid growing pressure, GOP leaders unlikely to push reform,” Thursday news story.

A commonly used argument against gun control is that it penalizes honest gun owners. It is disturbing since most of the massacres with guns have been committed by people who were law-abiding citizens until they pulled the trigger on their lawfully purchased semi-automatic weapon. They are law abiding until they aren’t.

No civilian needs to possess such devastating weapons of war! Voters of Texas need to help solve this mass shooting problem by voting out officeholders who are unwilling to regulate gun ownership sensibly. They won’t pass even minimal gun regulations and they make gun proliferation unending. Vote them out. Save our children. Save innocent lives.

Brian Bowles, Southwest Oak Cliff

Don’t just protest — strike

It’s time Texas workers, students and advocacy groups who wish to reduce gun violence organize a general strike and walkout demanding saner gun laws. While rallies, protests and voting for better laws help, a general strike and walkout by millions of Texans would have a much more powerful and immediate impact, especially if done in conjunction with something similar at the national level.

There’s enough anger and frustration with the status quo to make this the next logical step, and it’s time we take it.

Greg McCarty, Buda

Concrete boxes in East Dallas

Apartment living in East Dallas sure has changed. I guess it doesn’t take much to attract a “luxury” tenant today.

Everyone has driven by the old restored Gaston units with the Miami-style names. Built in the ’50s, many share a common courtyard, a barbecue area, pool and other community-driven amenities.

But drive by apartments being built a block away — on Live Oak, for example. A wall of out-to-the-street boxes, three stories high, with just enough concrete around them for maneuvering your car. And the old houses and trees just keep getting demolished to make room for the canyon-side to continue.

No matter, most of these developers don’t live anywhere near the hodgepodge, city-approved, max-density junk they leave behind anyway.

Mike Sundin, East Dallas

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