July 28, 2006
WRR
Re: Dallas Observer WRR Story from July 27, 2006

It's not the role of government to run a radio station, and Dallas is the only city in the U.S. to do such. Sell WRR and use the money for the neglected city services.

July 18, 2004
Fair and Balanced?
Re: Dallas Morning News articals from July 18, 2004

You wonder about the popularity of the Fox News Channel? One reason is your "cold, hard facts" reporting in the Fahrenheit 9/11 story of July 18th.

Your single web resource is the rotund, factually-challenged director himself. Your sources are other Bush haters. Do you know how to Google? There are plenty of real facts on the other side of all issues of this film.

For example, Richard Clark, not exactly a right wing wacko, disagrees with the movie (both in his book and in interviews) regarding Osama bin Ladens relatives leaving the U.S. Christopher Hitchens (slate.com) and others have shot holes in virtually all points of the film.

You article was not "fair and balanced." It was shoddy and biased.

September 21, 2003
Homeowner Associations
Re: Dallas Morning News Developer's Exit Costly (cover story) from August 20, 2003

Isn't there a conflict of interest for State Sen. John Corona, whose business is mandatory home owners associations, to write law regulating the same industry? There have been reported abuses and Texans have lost property to overzealous homeowner associations. Associations probably need more regulation, but not by an insider.

August 15, 2003
E-taxes
Re: Dallas Morning News Editorial from August 10, 2003

Of course the News editorial staff is for e-Taxes, taxing Internet sales. You never met a tax you didn't like! Problem is, the pesky Constitution keeps getting in the way of liberal ideas. The Supreme Court has made it very clear that states could not impose taxes on interstate commerce (Quill Corp. vs. North Dakota). An internet sale is no different than a mail or phone order. An internet tax is not going to happen. Perhaps states should try cutting spending.

June 15, 2003
WRR

It's not fair that WRR listeners can only hear the orchestra -- they can not view it. I propose we increase the hotel/motel tax to 40% and use that money to buy a city owned television station.

Why be the only city in the U.S. to own a radio station? Why not TV too? It makes as much sense as any other recent Dallas City policy.

September 30, 2002
Dallas Taxes and Cuts

I don't know which William L. Smith was advocating "Raise my taxes!" in the Sept. 29, 2002 Sunday Letters (Dallas Morning News) column. But according to Dallas Central Appraisal District records, 4 of the 5 listed with that name have capped homestead values. I'm willing to bet Mr. Smith is one of them.

At a recent townhall city budget meeting the few people that thought taxes were too low appeared to be over 65 years of age. And they also have a capped value and rate on their home. Increasing property values have raised taxes over 10% per year, without a tax rate increase, for the rest of us for several years in a row.

It takes no courage to raise taxes. It takes courage to do what the city council will not do, make cuts.

We can't afford to be the only city in the nation that owns a radio station. Sell it. We can't afford to subsidize large developments for billionaires. Stop it. We can't afford a curbside recycling program few people use. Let them do like I do, simply take items to a nearby collection point (all schools have bins for paper). Dallas is involved in dental programs, home subsidies and many other things that are not a cities business. The city must return to what a city should do - safety and infrastructure.

No, Mr. Smith, Ms. Miller and Mr. Walne, don't raise my taxes. I pay too much as it is. And in case you have not noticed, the market is way down and unemployment is way up.

July 21, 2002
Perry and the Auto Dealers

So, the Texas car dealers are not supporting Rick Perry for Governor because he vetoed their pork legislation. This includes raising the already too expensive $50 paper handling fee and allowing car dealers to sell unregulated, overpriced gap insurance.

The concept that Republicans are for big business and Democrats are for the little people is not true anymore, if it ever was. Democrats want to choose business winners and losers through taxes and legislation. The libertarian Republicans want to protect the people while allowing business to compete in a free and open marketplace.

I'm not voting for Sanchez. I can't afford him.

January 15, 2002
Dallas Vote

Before you vote this Saturday, compare your current property tax bill with last years. On mine, the combined Dallas entities increased 11% and RISD increased 20%. The total was an increase of $500, or 16%. Far higher than the rate of inflation and a huge increase for an economically down year. Did you get more city services?

If you rent you still pay property tax, just via the property owner who collects it. Rent will increase if property rates are increased!

DISD has proven in the past they can't manage their present billion dollar annual budget. And they want a billion dollar plus bond package?

And it's time to stop city money and energy going for special interest projects, often to benefit Park Cities residents. The city must focus on services Dallas residents actually use, streets, computer controlled traffic lights, fire and police, libraries and parks. There is only one candidate that will do that.

Vote NO on the DISD bond package and YES for Laura Miller.

Published April 8, 2001 in the Dallas Morning News
25 More Reasons

There are many reasons not to buy goods made in China. Now we have 25 more reasons -- 24 American Service airmen and women and an airplane. Read the labels and packages for the country of origin. Do not support a country that holds the U.S. hostage and has nuclear missiles targeted for our Western states.