Comerica Tower memories
Re: “Comerica Tower Garage Isn’t a Good Fit — Off-site parking would be better for downtown,” Thursday editorial.
In September 1987, I was a newly minted MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and moved to Dallas to work for MBank, the main tenant in the brand new MBank Building, now Comerica Tower. I loved your line, “Comerica Bank Tower is a monument to the city’s mood in the 1980s, a prosperous chapter in Dallas history characterized by grandeur and ambition.”
That’s how I felt when I started work in that beautiful skyscraper with its busy trading floor in complete view from the lobby ground floor. 1987 was also the year of Tom Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities and the film Wall Street, both painting a dark but exciting and lucrative look at financial traders and the world they lived in.
Opinion
Fast forward six months and we had the stock market crash (a 23% single-day decline equal to 10,000 points today), a worsening effect of massive Dallas overbuilding and antiquated Texas banking law that severely limited Texas banks in diversifying their balance sheets.
With strong leadership at the local, state and federal levels, we got past all that and the Texas miracle of strong pro-business growth took root.
I believe our current leaders are way too focused on their personal agendas and I hope for the days when serious and competent leaders can enact policies that actually benefit our nation, improve our economic stability and keep our standing as the unquestioned leaders of the free world.
In my opinion, our current elected officials are failing to meet that basic criteria.
However, you did put a smile on this young retiree’s face with your reminder of what Comerica Tower meant to our city, and me, personally. Thank you!
Jim Chassen, Dallas
A visa reform idea
Re: “Reform Visa Program for Crime Victims — Legal protections should benefit vulnerable immigrants, not fraud schemes,” Friday editorial.
Here’s an idea for visa reform. Since Congress has no interest in visa reform, since the president has essentially identified all migrants as criminals, and since the Supreme Court says it must be true because the president says so, let us do the only reasonable thing we can do: eliminate all visas.
Instead, visitors to these United States are welcome to visit, to vacation, to study and to stay as long as they choose to do so. All laws that apply to citizens of this country apply to all visitors. All businesses created by or for these visitors may prosper as long as they obey the business laws of the United States and the local city and state laws wherein they reside.
After a brief period of acclimation to these United States, any visitor can apply to be a permanent resident and vote in our elections when they reach the voting age established by their state of residency.
As current citizens of these United States, we promise not to discriminate against you because of your race, religion, political persuasion or prior association with another country, to listen to your issues and concerns, and to include you in our associations.
May you live long, and prosper.
Ray Johnston, Heath
Try redistricting by AI
If you want a fair redistricting plan, just ask AI. I did and it worked. I am sure some politicians will not like it.
Craig Berry II, Highland Park
GOP confidence questioned
Are the Republicans not confident enough in their policies to win elections without redrawing the districts? It appears they feel that they can only win if they redraw the districts rather than convince the voters that their proposals are the best.
Also, the president should not be telling the Texas Republicans what is best for Texas.
Don DePuy, Richardson
What’s best for Texans?
On Jan. 2, 2021, President Donald Trump famously urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “… find 11,780 votes.” Raffensperger, to his credit, stood firm and upheld the integrity of Georgia’s election.
Fast forward to July 2025. Trump is now urging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to redraw the state’s congressional map with the goal of gaining five additional Republican seats. And wouldn’t you know it, the special session calendar just happens to have time to accommodate a redistricting push.
What are we to make of this?
To me, the contrast is striking. Raffensperger demonstrated backbone, choosing principle over pressure. As for Abbott, is redrawing the map for partisan gain really what’s best for Texans?
Draw your own conclusions.
Gary Lee Parten, Richardson
2 senators for Texadelphia
Similar to the newly proposed Texas congressional map, the U.S. senatorial map will be changed to reduce the influence of those pesky blue cities. Chicago will be neutralized by including it in a new state that stretches all the way to Idaho. New York City will be lumped into West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
To counter Philadelphia, all Texadelphia restaurants will receive two senators and one representative each.
Tommy Bean, Trophy Club
Baseball used to be simple
First, the Texas Rangers decide to stream their games. Next, I stop being able to get last night’s score in The Dallas Morning News.
I miss the days of simply turning on my TV rather than having to jump through hoops to stream. And I miss not getting an overnight score, which used to just be a West Coast road trip issue.
It sure does make it hard to be a fan these days.
Geoff Bratton, Dallas