Handing developers the keys
Re: “A mission for growth, not destruction — We can plan responsibly or watch as more incompatible housing is built,” by Diane Ragsdale and Billy Lane, July 11 Opinion.
While I disagree with Ragsdale’s opinion about the ForwardDallas plan, I was happy to finally see it mentioned. I believe this newspaper could do a better job of covering an issue that will affect the entire city.
I’ve reviewed the map on the city of Dallas website and in my opinion, this plan could be disastrous to our neighborhoods through zoning changes to allow multiplexes (their word, not mine) on lots currently zoned single family.
This map doesn’t appear to offer protections for any neighborhood, including conservation and historic districts. I’ve also noticed that commercial areas, including Lowest Greenville and Bishop Arts, could be in danger of being torn down and replaced with apartments as long as they have retail on the first floor.
It’s the character of the buildings and the mix of businesses, mostly local, that make these areas a destination. Why do they want to risk what’s taken neighborhood groups decades to build? It sounds to me like much of the ForwardDallas narrative is being controlled by developers and once again the powers that be are willing to hand them the keys to the kingdom.
Anne Stone, Dallas
Gatekeepers, protect our city
Densification of Old East Dallas single-family lots won’t bring affordability and inclusiveness. But it sure will make developers happy. The mayor and City Council are elected to be the gatekeepers, to represent the taxpayers, not the taxes. Too often it seems they yield to developers who don’t care what they wreck or leave behind.
Dallas has a history of ignoring and destroying its history. But that history is part of what makes the soul of a city — the personality that attracts and keeps its taxpayers devoted to and loving their city.
There’s not much talk about building in the grand open spaces with Dallas Area Rapid Transit routes already in place that are just begging for development in South Dallas. It seems the push is to get access to the high-value established neighborhoods and make zoning easier “by right” to plunder and densify the single-family lots and squeeze maximum profits out of them. That will continue to push prices up for all.
The ForwardDallas logos with all suggesting an equity issue seem disingenuous, too. There is a pending impact on single-family neighborhoods by ForwardDallas 2.0 and it has brought a battle cry.
Gatekeepers, protect the fabric of our city!
Mike Sundin, Old East Dallas
McCaa nails it: Just facts
Re: “Unbiased news is up to writer and reader — National press shake-ups point to challenges for us all,” by John McCaa, June 30 Opinion.
As a former owner/chief operating officer of a nine station broadcast television group, I want to applaud John McCaa’s recent commentary on the state of broadcast news in Dallas and across the country. Whatever happened to the news that once stood for the commitment, “We deliver the facts, you decide!”
After 35 years in the business, I barely recognize that fabric of trust in today’s news presentation, especially with national broadcasts biased. Even on a less severe note, local stations should return to that same strategy and avoid what seems to be the flavor of the month for drama and reaction instead of “just the facts, please.”
Thank you, John. We still miss you!
Philip H. Hurley, Plano
Dallas mayor’s con job
Mayor Eric Johnson, who was a Democrat when he ran and won the nonpartisan mayoral office again in May 2023, had nary a peep of how his woke party had abandoned him then. Now, he says to the Republican convention that apparently in the short span from his reelection as mayor to September 2023, the Democrats left him, not the other way around.
Excuse us, Mayor Johnson, if the Dallas Democrats who elected you don’t see it quite the same way. They see it as a con job on your way to higher state political ambitions.
Scott Parr, Red Oak
Johnson misdirects blame
Shame on you, Mayor Johnson. Blaming the Democrats for the guns and not caring for people of color. Really? Most of the lack of gun control and lack of education money for schools and food in neighborhoods of color is the decision of leadership in Austin.
You are aware that the lack of caring for all Texans has been a problem. And allowing anyone to carry a gun without training and a license is the decision of Austin leadership.
Anne Binns, Far North Dallas
Did Jan. 6 teach lesson?
I found it amazing that there were no riots, no looting and no American cities in flames following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. What does that say about his followers?
It says that, like Trump, they love America and they appreciate the hard-working business owners of our country and don’t want to harm them or their families.
People will say, well, what about Jan. 6? That was a group of angry citizens who thought they could take a stand and make a difference and got too emotionally caught up in the moment. They’ve paid for it and became an example to all of us of how not to act when things don’t go our way.
Maybe a valuable lesson was learned, which is why this past weekend remained peaceful when many thought things would go horribly wrong.
Rene Wimmer, McKinney
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