<\/p>\n
A reader disagrees with a column written by U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Willow Park, that said Texas leads America\u2019s manufacturing comeback.<\/p>\n
Vernon Bryant\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
All hat, no cattle\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: \u201cThanks to Trump, Texas leads America\u2019s manufacturing comeback \u2014 President is flipping the script on building at home instead of overseas,\u201d by Roger Williams, Wednesday Opinion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As of August 2026, the net U.S. manufacturing employment change since President Donald Trump took office for his second term is approximately 35,000 jobs lost. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
For Texas using the same Bureau of Labor Statistics manufacturing employment measure and the same period (January 2025 thru August 2026), the net change is 4,300 manufacturing jobs lost.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Conclusion: Roger Williams is all hat, no cattle. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Jerrold Sklar, Grapevine\u00a0<\/p>\n
A lawless situation?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: \u201cThe Pentagon shouldn\u2019t finance itself \u2014 Venezuela deal threatens civilian control of the military,\u201d by Matthew J. DeSarno, Sept. 20 Opinion. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
I\u2019m pretty sure if you read The Dallas Morning News every day cover to cover you will be a well-informed person about world events. I am astonished at a transaction I learned from DeSarno\u2019s Sept. 20 column. \u00a0<\/p>\n
He describes a company named North American Blue Energy Partners, which is a privately held Venezuelan company with rights to operate in the oil fields. Our Defense Department has gained a 35% stake in the company at no cost. All proceeds will go directly to them, bypassing the Treasury.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Through an easy Google search, I have learned more about NABEP. This company recently removed the previous owner. They have a total of 17 contracts, five of which were previously operated by China, one by Russia. The U.S. has preferential access to 20% of the production at cost, and first right of refusal for the remaining 80%. The U.S. has veto power over the board of directors and required that half must be U.S. citizens.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s fair to ask whether President Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio also have a personal share in this company. Personal profit is everything with these guys. So is lawlessness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
Blatant bigotry\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was interested to see so many opinions lamenting the loss of traditional Republican values. Who would have thought that long-time Republican strategist Karl Rove would be the person vocally standing up for those values? \u00a0<\/p>\n
He recently stated, \u201cMy party is being infiltrated by these people [bigots] and we need to get rid of them.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
I thought about this as I listened to Jace Yarbrough\u2019s video posted on his campaign website. He is the candidate for District 32, one of the five redrawn Republican shoo-in districts requested by President Donald Trump. \u00a0<\/p>\n
I was shocked to hear him openly say, \u201cOur country is being taken over from within by those who do not share our values, speak our language or have any desire to be a part of our history, our heritage or the values we are dedicated to.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
In a talk show online, he said, \u201cI believe we\u2019re in a cold civil war with the left. They want to destroy us and our way of life. And if you\u2019re not behaving with that understanding in mind, then you don\u2019t know what time it is.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
For those who look, the bigotry has become blatant. We need traditional Republicans to continue to speak out against this poison that has infected their party. The question is\u00a0\u2014 will they?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Robin Smith, North Dallas\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cut working hours\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: \u201cLegislation would lower overtime threshold to 32 hours,\u201d Tuesday news story.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
Congratulations to you and to reporter Maria Salette Ontiveros for revealing the simple solution to all the fuss about artificial intelligence and automation. When productivity rises, the bosses’ solution is often excruciating layoffs. The real solution, right here in this story, is to cut the working hours. Another approach that would also solve the problem is making earlier retirement possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gene Lantz, downtown Dallas\u00a0<\/p>\n
ERCOT CEO\u2019s salary\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: \u201cERCOT CEO\u2019s $6.5M contract paused \u2014 Board\u2019s move comes after\u00a0Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick objected to the compensation,\u201d Sept. 17 Metro & Business story. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reading the story about the potential new contract of $6.5 million for the ERCOT CEO felt like a sucker-punch instead of a news story. Having just that day paid the biggest power bill I have ever paid all the years of living in Texas pushed the astonishment over into disbelief. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
Surely some of that money could be redirected into utility infrastructure or reductions in rates for the consumers instead of the huge executive salary.\u00a0<\/p>\n
V. C. Patterson, Carrollton\u00a0<\/p>\n
Compassionate enforcement\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: \u201cCity\u2019s AI cameras identify violations\u00a0\u2014 Garbage trucks capture still images; council reviewing privacy, cost and impact,\u201d Sept. 17 news story.\u00a0<\/p>\n
AI-powered cameras on garbage trucks identifying property code violations raised questions from Dallas council member Chad West on possible disproportionate actions in the southern sector. As a former Urban Rehabilitation Standards Board member, I (and other members), personally visited code violations and made binding judgments on actions needed, timeline and potential penalties.\u00a0<\/p>\n
None that I recall were for minor issues such as peeling paint. We stepped over used drug needles and filthy mattresses in abandoned houses, peeked into half-boarded up burned buildings, skirted mounds of discarded personal property and more. We judged on condition, not location.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Responding to a northern Dallas resident\u2019s complaint about a neighbor\u2019s convertible left in the driveway with dead tree limbs on the torn roof, four flat tires and a layer of dirt, I notified Code Enforcement. The less-than-diligent inspector couldn\u2019t find anything wrong. AI garbage trucks would have remedied that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
True social justice weighs justice and compassion. We took into account problems, budgets, time needed and owner history (slumlords.) Enforcing laws with compassion where appropriate is the essence of social justice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Concerns about extreme heat\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Dallas Morning News recently reported that climate change is likely a major driver of rising heat-related ER visits across North Texas. It\u2019s a trend backed by research from Dallas area hospitals showing sharp increases in heat illness over the past decade. This isn\u2019t an abstract statistic to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a North Texas resident, I\u2019ve watched my morning walks become harder each year, not because of the midday heat, but because our overnight lows and humidity keep rising. Mornings that used to offer relief now feel almost as oppressive as afternoons. I\u2019ve genuinely started considering whether I can keep living in the South long term.\u00a0<\/p>\n