John Cornyn

Cornyn loses respect

Any respect I had for Sen. John Cornyn has just vanished due to his decision to approve of Todd Blanche for attorney general after the worthless agreement of Blanche regarding the slush fund. Blanche gave them nothing.

What about the release from tax liability? Doesn’t Cornyn believe this to be suspect? If not, is he really acting as a lawyer and former Texas Supreme Court justice? I am a retired lawyer and nothing more, but I believe this stinks.

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If this does not show Blanche to be Trump’s lawyer and not the lawyer for the country, I have a bridge I would like to sell you.

What happened to Cornyn representing the people of Texas instead of the interests of the president?

Trump stabbed Cornyn in the back, and yet he bends the knee to him. Stand up, senator!

Robert M. Warner, Frisco

Stop the madness

To Dallas City Council member Kathy Stewart: I started out thinking the building on Stemmons Freeway that couldn’t get a certificate of occupancy for its own department was as bad as it could get. Instead, it was just another in a line of debacles.

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While you ignore the advice and expertise of people I have come to respect and admire from working with them over the past 40 years of my involvement in preservation in Dallas, you follow the leaders who demolished the convention center without a workable plan for replacement and already projecting a huge cost overrun.

Then there is the wild spending that has cannibalized the library and parks to pay consultants, when the city can’t make payroll without staff furloughs.

Now I hear there may be a billion-dollar bond proposal on the November ballot. I have never voted against any bond proposal before, but there is a first time for almost everything.

Stop the madness. Save Dallas City Hall.

Virginia Ann Piper, Dallas

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Let’s be rational

It’s time we moved on from the Dallas City Hall issue. Never in a million years will that building be renovated. The people who want to spend astronomical amounts on the building are more emotional than rational.

Let’s move on to important issues such as the mess we have created with the convention center and over staffing. Instead of furloughs, we need to upgrade the workforce by getting rid of dead weight.

While we continue this nonsense about City Hall, another I.M. Pei building is not being properly maintained — the Meyerson Symphony Center. And a Frank Lloyd Wright building, the Kalita Humphreys Theater, has been deteriorating for decades.

In conclusion, I am damn tired of uninformed and irrational people, some of whom don’t even live in Dallas, throwing a monkey wrench in what has been and can continue to be a great city, a world-class city.

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Billy Wilson, Far North Dallas

No name calling

During the discussion in a specially called finance committee meeting Monday, the term “toxic activists” was used by one of the Dallas City Council members in reference to those who have actively opposed the sale and demolition of our I. M. Pei City Hall. Calling people involved in citizen participation names is clear evidence that the practice of democracy is having a significant effect.

A Facebook post that same day recognized the work of the men and organization that brought Dallas single-member districts. This is just one of the many ways Dallas has improved as a result of the advocacy and activism of hard-working citizens.

Many of those sitting on the Dallas City Council would not be there if Roy Williams and Marvin Crenshaw hadn’t persisted in making our city government more democratic. Would we now call their efforts toxic activism? What’s next? Outside agitators?

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Calling people and movements names demonstrates a lack of facts and truth by the opposition and reveals the impact we are having with the fight for what is right.

Dallas should be proud of the many citizens working to make this a better city for all residents.

Karen Roberts, Old East Dallas

Respond to facts, not fears

A recent CNBC report places Texas as the second‑worst state in the nation for overall quality of life, citing deficiencies in health outcomes, environmental conditions and access to social services. These findings should alarm all Texans.

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Despite this data, several of our top elected officials — Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Reps. Chip Roy, Keith Self and Beth Van Duyne — continue to frame Texas’ greatest threat as the presence of Muslim residents. This narrative is not supported by evidence, and it diverts public attention away from issues that directly affect millions of Texans.

The public deserves leadership that offers real solutions. Improving quality of life in Texas requires investment in public health, access to mental health and social services, environmental protections and policies that support safe communities. These are practical, achievable steps that demand focus, seriousness and a willingness to prioritize data.

Texas' challenges will not be solved by scapegoating our neighbors. They will be solved by addressing the conditions documented in the report and by insisting that our leaders respond to facts rather than fear.

Syed Hadi Jawad, Irving

President, Human Rights Dallas

Make cars with just the basics

I have read several business articles about falling vehicle sales in our country. Most often, high prices of all vehicles seem to be the main culprit.

Perhaps manufacturers and dealers should stop adding so much equipment and capability that potential buyers have to accept, but never really use.

How about a return to making cars with the basics of standard engine, automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows and a basic sound system.

Let the customer then choose what else they want. I suspect sales and revenues would increase as more people would be willing to buy just what they need.