Demand accountability

Re: “Maintenance required — Today’s City Hall crisis is yesterday’s deferred stewardship,” by Miguel Solis, Sunday Opinion.

Isn’t budgeting the problem?

I appreciated Solis’ representation of his role on the Critical Facilities Subcommittee and have an appreciation for the challenge of competing for funding for “boring” projects like building maintenance when up against “cool” projects like new parks and libraries.

But why do we require bond funding for maintenance?  Seems like we should fund our civic assets differently.  

Fair Park, City Hall and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center are examples where we can’t seem to “take care of our stuff.” 

The new convention center is being built with bond money. How much of the bond money has been set aside for simple upkeep of the facility, when completed? And for how long? If the answer is the tourist taxes (hotel, rental car) are going to pay for upkeep, then why didn’t that happen with the old convention center?  

We should ask the same question about the upcoming Dallas ISD bond election.  With a property tax base that has increased by $89 billion (and almost 20%) over the past two fiscal years, I recommend we find better stewards of our tax money.

Please don’t fall for the sucker’s bet and vote to raise your own taxes, but rather demand accountability from your local city manager, county commissioners and local representatives that they take care of what we’ve bought — and to budget and plan for maintaining it.

John D. Wilson, Dallas

The Gospel of Jesus

Re: “Pope takes on the cult of Trump — What we can learn from leaders playing God,” by Joshua Whitfield and “Searching for a church without politics — Finding a new home is harder than expected,” by Ronell Smith, Sunday Opinion.

The opinions concerning “the cult of Trump” and “church without politics” struck a nerve with me. The Bible is the guidance by which Christians are to lead their lives. No one or anything should be placed before God, according to the Ten Commandments.

Those Christian leaders who glorify and have lifted President Donald Trump to what I consider to be cult-status (or a living idol) are totally ignoring the word of God.

Trump’s tendency to speak other than truth, his self-admitted behavior to disrespect women, his disregard for the rights of others and his vulgarities are not behaviors that the Christ depicted in the Bible would condone.

Christian leaders need to rethink their roles and start preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and not the gospel according to Donald Trump.

Faye Walker, Farmers Branch

Hate on full display

Thanks for Whitfield’s column about President Donald Trump, politics and Christianity. Whitfield correctly holds Trump’s Christian supporters responsible.

The moral rot that Trump exploits predates his political rise by decades. Back in the ’80s, I remember an AIDS “joke” that some conservative Christians were sharing — they found humor in mocking the suffering of gay men dying from a disease to which there was no treatment. They also talked of “love the sinner, hate the sin.” The love was clearly missing, but the hate was on full display.

Years later, Trump openly expresses that hate. Sadly, some millions of people who call themselves Christians find that Trump’s vicious hatred speaks to their hearts in a way that Jesus’ message of love never could.

That hatred is the root of the Trump phenomenon.

Tom Desmond, Plano

Stay in your lane

Is it lost on Whitfield that leaders sometimes play God but also that priests and the Pope and other church leaders want to play political leaders?

If you are unable to see President Donald Trump twisting the Pope’s tail here, you are not very observant.

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone stayed in their own lane?

John L. Banks Jr., Richardson

Pass the Fix Our Forests Act

Re: “Climate change has wildfires burning more — Warmer, drier night temperatures mean blazes work overtime,” Saturday news story.

Wildfires are getting worse for a reason: Nights are no longer cooling forests down. As a heating planet drives higher overnight temperatures, vegetation stays dry around the clock, turning manageable fires into fast-moving disasters.

The Fix Our Forests Act S.1462 offers a clear, practical fix. By speeding up hazardous fuel reduction, expanding prescribed burns and restoring overgrown forests, it tackles the excess vegetation that feeds extreme fires. Healthier forests are less likely to ignite and less likely to burn out of control when they do.

Just as important, the bill cuts red tape so land managers can act quickly in high-risk areas instead of waiting through years of delays. That matters as fire conditions intensify faster than our response.

We can’t control rising temperatures overnight. But we can control how our forests are managed.

Passing S.1462 would reduce fire intensity, protect communities and slow the dangerous cycle of climate-driven wildfires.

As fire season heats up, I am asking that Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn do the right thing and support this nonpartisan bill that will benefit all of us.

Andrea Christgau, Keller

Are we winning yet?

Re: “Tax refunds for senior,” by Sanford LaHue, Friday Letters.

In his letter, LaHue praises the president for keeping a promise to help seniors. I’m glad that LaHue got the income tax relief that he sought.

Sadly, the president’s tariffs cost the average American family $1,000 in 2025 and a projected additional $600 in 2026. These figures do not include steep rises in gasoline and energy that the ill-advised Iran war have generated.

Are we winning yet?

Dan Dunham, Frisco