This is what it looks like inside the fleet management facility at the Southeast Service Center in Dallas.
Robert Wilonsky/Staff writer
City’s lack of action
Re: “Waiting for 2006 bond money — in 2026 — Dallas took 20 years to spend $1M on its ‘worst building,’” by Robert Wilonsky, July 1 Opinion.
Thank you, Mr. Wilonsky, for your very informative opinion piece regarding the city of Dallas’ incompetence in addressing the city’s Southeast Service Center building maintenance and the city’s lack of action in using the 2006 bond authorization to facilitate repair/upgrade of that facility.
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It is truly amazing the city can retain service center employees and ask them to work under your described dire conditions. Citizens should just say no to any further bond authorization requests until the city can demonstrate competence in using its existing authorizations.
A big NO, for example, should go to the upcoming request of approximately $40 million in bond authorization for an unnecessary move of 311/911 away from City Hall. A complete waste of the city’s ability to issue debt and taxpayer money.
Bill Morrow, Dallas/Lake Highlands
Good times at rec centers
Re: “Audit says parks lag on revenue goals — City staff face pressure to cut $14M from the department’s budget, slash dozens of jobs,” July 3 Metro & Business story.
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Dallas Park and Recreation provide so many services to such a diverse community. If you have never been to a recreation center in Dallas, go find out what good times you can have there. Go for your health, both physical and mental, your exercise, your friends and field trips such as to Ham Orchards or the Frontiers of Flight Museum.
Tai Chi? Got it. Line dancing? Got that, too. Chair yoga. Yep. Mahjong? Yes. All of these are offered through the Active Senior and Adult Program — free to those over 60 through a grant from the WellMed Charitable Foundation.
There are currently 190 seniors enrolled in the A.S.A. Program at Samuell Grand Recreation Center. There are innumerable children coming for the summer programs offered as well as programs over school holidays.
If hiring is frozen, the loss will be to the citizens of Dallas as positions won’t be filled to support these vital programs. Other employees may be called upon to take the extra work, taking attention away from their own responsibilities.
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Among the seven pillars stated within the budget alignment are to thrive, be safe, be vibrant and be livable. It would be tragic if budget cuts interfered with the very goals set by the city.
Cynthia Hawkins-Bowland, Dallas/Old Lake Highlands
The good, the bad and the ugly
Re: “Keep America Great,” by Les Gregory, July 4 Letters.
This letter from Gregory decries the implication that the MAGA crowd is responsible for the negativity toward our country. Instead, he blames the “left-leaning educators,” who are teaching our children that America has a mostly shameful past.
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Educators, with whom I have spoken, who teach history and social studies do actually teach the great things our country has done, but also the bad and the ugly to give students the opportunity to learn all aspects of this great nation and form their own thoughts and beliefs.
This is the primary purpose of education. It’s not just teaching what one side or the other deems proper. Unfortunately, so many people do not actually think and analyze all sides before becoming mired in just one way of thinking.
Yes, the MAGA crowd is overwhelmingly patriotic, but generally to the point where they do not listen to other points of view. This can have very negative impacts on our educational system.
As the song “The Boxer” says, “Still a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest.”
Roger Howe, Whitewright
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Are you a true Texan?
Re: “Schatzline to lead Abbott election policy — Fort Worth Republican was among those who believed ’20 vote stolen from Trump,” July 4 Metro & Business story.
Anyone who reads this story and truly cares more about Texas than they do the Republican Party, should be “pants on fire” alarmed. Our governor has handpicked former state GOP Rep. Nate Schatzline to develop policy and strategy related to election integrity.
This is a man who, against all evidence to the contrary, astonishingly still believes the 2020 election was stolen. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what is going on here. If James Talarico wins the Senate race, you can bet there will be plenty of resistance about the outcome from our governor and president (see Fulton County, Ga., today still having to deal with pushback two years later).
I am writing this letter not as a Republican nor a Democrat, but as a native Texan. At this critical juncture in our state’s history, we must fight back against these attempts to replace the will of the people with the will of demagogues whose goal is to stay in power at the cost of our democracy.
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Before you cast a vote for Greg Abbott, ask yourself this question: Am I willing to keep my party in power at the expense of a democratic Texas? The answer to that question will tell you if you are a true Texan.
Jean Kutner Huddleston, Dallas
Fingers crossed!
What a hassle it is to pay a water bill. The new, much ballyhooed city of Dallas water utility system is obviously another miss for the city administration in showing its citizens how well it plans and implements change.
I mailed my June payment stub and check to the address as instructed on June 10. It has yet to clear my bank account. I was on hold for over 15 minutes to seek help regarding the past due June billing. Giving up, I mailed my July payment (stub and check) for the additional July amount on Tuesday.
I’m betting on snail mail to deliver both checks to bring our account current. What do you think my chances are for success? When are the furloughs? I hope some staff get back to work and process my stubs and checks! Fingers crossed!
Wanda Hooten, Dallas/Bird Streets