Pop up in Plano, please
Re: “Meeting people where they are — Community members visit with journalists at pop-up newsroom in Red Bird,“ Tuesday Metro&Business story.
What a wonderful idea your pop-up newsroom is. I’m sure it’s educational and entertaining for both the newspaper staff and their guests and can only work for the good of both. If you set up one in Plano, I’ll be there. Staying informed is challenging but important.
Susan Griffith, Plano
Perseverance
I have many concerns on the local, national and global levels. If I attempt to bring attention to one issue, such as the failures of the Dallas County Jail to fulfill release orders on time, public attention will quickly shift many times and that issue will no longer be pressing.
So, a front page article on the jail on Feb. 19 has no follow-up, letters to the editor published or editorial. What can I do? I keep fanning the flames so the issue is not completely forgotten.
Opinion
This may help others who see their priorities overwhelmed by the barrage of other news. Perseverance is the key.
Paula W. Keeth, Southeast Dallas
Affordable housing
Re: “A model for affordable housing,” Monday Metro story.
Right here in North Texas, Jericho Village in Wylie is showing the nation what’s possible — stable, dignified, wraparound housing that transforms families across generations. This is inspiring, and it deserves our full attention.
The problem is urgent. Collin County’s median rent exceeds $1,860, and nearly 40% of residents spend more than a third of their income on housing. Nationally, only 1 in 4 eligible families receives a housing choice voucher; the rest wait years for help that may never arrive.
The solution exists. Vouchers have proven results: They reduce homelessness, improve children’s health and education, and lift families out of poverty. Models like Jericho Village show that community investment works when paired with real funding.
Congress must act now. Contact Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Ted Cruz and your U.S. representative and urge them to fully fund all existing vouchers and add 250,000 new ones in fiscal year 2027. Families are waiting.
Bukekile Dube, Dallas/Turtle Creek
Thanks, fellow citizens
Re: “A cloud of bulldozer dust,” by Gary Sibley, Tuesday Letters.
Bravo to Sibley for his accurate assessment of the neglectful protocol at Dallas City Hall regarding the I.M. Pei building. Kudos to other writers on Tuesday who expressed their frustration with decisions being made, or not being made, by the Dallas City Council.
Every letter on Tuesday was spot on, evidence that folks are indeed paying attention and they are involved in local and state affairs. It restores my faith in my fellow citizens.
Ernie Stokely, Far North Dallas
Better way to spend ICE dollars
Re: “Horrifying situation,” by Jim Reisch, Tuesday Letters.
Reisch perfectly describes how I feel when I read about families that have been ripped apart by ICE. I, too, am horrified. Think of those traumatized and the children who almost certainly will have PTSD.
How did this become acceptable? Immigrants come to our country primarily to seek better lives for their families. They are the backbone of our health care and food service industries. They care for our landscapes. They clean our houses. They work to build and remodel homes. They do whatever it takes to survive and thrive. They pay taxes.
Many of them dutifully follow our current process and check in monthly as required, only to be detained and sent to a detention center.
Wouldn’t it be better to take the billions spent on ICE agents, detention centers, deportation flights and time negotiating with accepting countries and focus on a different approach? What if we designed a robust system of applications, judges, attorneys, citizenship and language classes and whatever else it took for a quick and effective path to citizenship?
Unless we are Native Americans, every single one of us is either an immigrant or our ancestors were. We must do better. I would definitely vote for a leader who chose a new path.
Anthropologist Margaret Mead said: ”Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Patricia Link, Dallas
The filibuster and SAVE
Republican Sen. John Cornyn now calls to get rid of the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act. This bill purports to solve a nonexistent problem. Cornyn knows that.
It will create new problems for millions of American voters. Republicans have long relied on the filibuster to block legislation related to guns, voting rights, health care and climate change, to name just a few. Desperate for Donald Trump’s endorsement, Cornyn wants to hand Trump the rules of the Senate. Previously, Cornyn handed over his constitutional responsibilities to control the purse, to authorize wars and to exercise judgment in the confirmation of competent Cabinet secretaries.
Cornyn can’t cite one confirmed case of noncitizen voters impacting a national election; however, millions of eligible voters in America can’t today produce the required piece of paper to prove their citizenship. Perhaps their birth certificate, if they had one, was lost in a flood or fire, or during a move.
About half don’t have passports. New married names don’t match their birth certificate. If Cornyn was serious about passing the SAVE Act, perhaps he would support amendments to ensure that those who don’t have documentation have the time and government assistance to obtain one at zero cost before the date to vote. That will take at least two years.
After November, Cornyn may want the filibuster back, but he’s thinking about himself now.
Bill Luthans, Dallas/Lake Highlands
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