Vote for Proposition 1
Re: “Measure would help fund college — Texas voters will decide Nov. 4 whether TSTC gets new funding source,” Monday news story.
As a Texas-based homebuilder, I see every day how much our state’s growth depends on skilled workers. Every home my employer, Tilson Custom Homes, builds requires electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, welders, and carpenters — all careers that start with technical training.
Across Texas, builders like us are struggling to fill positions fast enough to keep up with the state’s rapid growth. Skilled workers are short in supply.
That’s why Proposition 1 matters. It gives Texas State Technical College the resources to expand campuses, upgrade equipment and train more Texans for high-demand jobs — all without raising taxes.
Opinion
Our ability to build homes, schools and infrastructure depends on a steady pipeline of trained workers. The funding provided by Proposition 1 is more than an investment in TSTC — it’s an investment in Texas’ workforce, economy and communities.
Vote for Proposition 1!
Brett Martin, Houston
Senior vice president, Tilson Custom Homes, president, Texas Association of Builders
Proposition 15 questions
Re: “Amendment would codify parent rights — Proposal would not affect laws regarding child abuse, neglect,” Tuesday Metro & Business story.
The proposal, Proposition 15, would add the following language to the Texas Constitution: “To enshrine truths that are deeply rooted in this nation’s history and traditions, the people of Texas hereby affirm that a parent has the responsibility to nurture and protect the parent’s child and corresponding fundamental right to exercise care, custody and control of the parent’s child, including the right to make decisions concerning the child’s upbringing.”
Does this mean a parent has the right to get gender-affirming care for their child because they feel it is right for them? Can they request a child’s teacher to use a preferred pronoun when addressing their child? Can they request the Ten Commandments be taken down from their child’s classroom because that is not the religion they are raising their child in?
If not, this is bogus and a waste of time and taxpayers’ money.
Ida Lewis, Fort Worth
City Hall a dinosaur
I have been saying it for years — tear down Dallas City Hall. It is a dinosaur and needs to be torn down. Some of the offices are too cold or too hot, there are leaks inside throughout the building, the elevators are always going out (stopping, doors not opening when you get to your floor, 311 and 911 are in the basement, where there are no windows), the connectivity is weak and there’s a lot of wasted space.
There needs to be one building that can house the Permit Department, Code Compliance and a few other offices that are spread throughout the city.
Also, there should be enough parking for all, such as a six- or seven-story garage adjacent to the building. The list goes on and on.
Cindy Hall, DeSoto
Denying care coverage wrong
Regarding the current government shutdown, while Democrats are understandably wary of Republican promises to just trust them, I believe a practical path forward exists.
Congress should agree to a continuing resolution that funds the government at current levels for three weeks. That brief window should be used to negotiate a fair agreement on health care subsidies. At the end of the three weeks, either a bipartisan deal is ready for a vote, or we are back where we started.
Denying affordable health care coverage helps no one. When premiums rise beyond reach, people delay care. Inevitably, some end up in emergency rooms, where treatment costs far more and hospitals often go unpaid.
If a family cannot afford an extra few hundred dollars for insurance, they certainly cannot handle a multi-thousand-dollar hospital bill.
It’s hard to imagine that wealthy health care donors are urging lawmakers to create more uncompensated care and financial strain in the system.
Henson Rogers III, Dallas
Troops are to intimidate
Re: “Should the National Guard patrol U.S. cities?” Sunday Letters.
In last Sunday’s letters I was heartened to see that the majority of the 12 letters published opposed the outrageous attack on American cities by their own misguided federal government.
Of course, there always must be one who will blindly swallow the propaganda put out by the administration. That gentleman opined that local leadership was unwilling or unable to “protect citizens and federal officers.”
As one who lived for more than 50 years in Chicago, there is nothing new about the crime, which is mostly gang-related, and nothing these show troops will handle since they don’t go anywhere near the problem areas.
In my opinion, this is about us getting used to troops in the streets so that at election time they can intimidate voters to keep the GOP in office. It is illegal, unconstitutional and based on lies that some new emergencies exist.
Robert L. Barrese, Dallas
Leaders forget Jan. 6
I am 75 years old and have attended two protest rallies. First being in 1970 protesting the Kent State University shooting in which four students were killed by the Ohio National Guard. The second was the No Kings protest in June.
So the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer are now commenting that my participation in the rally shows I’m a member of antifa and or Hamas. Really? Is this their best justification against those who will participate in Saturday’s No Kings rally?
They are the ones who keep pushing a radical left narrative, but they fail to recognize the radical right organizations: The Three Percenters, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and others. Did they forget Jan. 6? What hypocrisy!
Michael Scott, Plano