Unite to improve downtown
Re: “City Hall Helped Drive Off AT&T — Efforts at improving safety downtown were too late,” Tuesday editorial.
Monday, I was the first speaker at the Landmark Commission meeting. I then took time to walk my daily five miles, but downtown. It was very disappointing!
But this editorial responded accurately to what I saw downtown. Maybe there is hope.
Dallas must better manage downtown so it becomes a much more pleasant place to walk, live and do business.
Opinion
Dallas is now opening a 300-bed mental health facility that will help with the most severely ill homeless clients.
Also, all our Dallas public schools are dramatically improving. South Oak Cliff High School has improved more than any other Dallas ISD high school since 2023. In 2025, it scored the highest School Effectiveness Indices over all 37 DISD high schools. SOC scored higher in 2025 than any magnet or choice school!
These improvements, and other evolving resources mentioned in your editorial, can help all of Dallas to unite to achieve the downtown Dallas transformation we need. We have a lot of work to do!
Voters and the city council can finally see a very real light at the end of the Dallas urban excellence tunnel.
Bill Betzen, Dallas
Listen to downtown residents
If you are someone who thinks “Safe in the City” has notably changed life for the better in downtown Dallas, you are one of the data prognosticators who does not live downtown or refuses to listen to those of us who do.
Things are marginally better in terms of homelessness and perceived lawlessness, but during the holiday season, it was back to business as usual, indicating that systemic support has not substantially changed at all.
The parks filled up again. There was no observable police presence. The motorcyclists and screaming vehicles, which would never be allowed in other neighborhoods, give the impression that traffic and noise ordinance laws are not enforced downtown, precisely because they are not.
I guarantee if you sincerely address quality of life issues for your current downtown residents, meaning listen to us, businesses will be attracted to the results. I have been to far too many meetings where our voices are dismissed.
Vibrant change, a vital urban core are possible if you listen to those of us who are here!
The Rev. Christopher Thomas, Downtown Dallas
Move City Hall to AT&T
After reading about the AT&T move, my suggestion for the property is to have Dallas City Hall relocate there. It is well-suited for technology, has an abundance of offices (possibly consolidating other departments in the area) and is centrally located. It would save Dallas a lot of money — funds that could be used to refurbish our lovely, historic Fair Park grounds.
Just a thought.
Sydney Brainard, Downtown Dallas
Hold hearings on Venezuela
Re: “Operation leaves Texas candidates split over wartime powers,” Monday news story.
The fact that the responses to the operations in Venezuela have fallen along party lines is concerning. As an independent voter who thinks history should inform our actions, this operation raises concern.
I am not sure what to think, due to the lack of information, unclear plans or clear strategic objectives. All of this would seem to justify some congressional hearings so the people of our country can have confidence in the actions that our government is taking.
Obviously Nicolás Maduro is a despotic, illegitimate ruler, however, if that is the justification, then where does it stop, since there are many?
If we think regime change and country renewal are easy, then we have forgotten our most recent efforts in this regard. Our history has shown that when things are opaque and objectives are muddled, we don’t make the best decisions, and usually everyone involved experiences some negative consequences.
A full accounting is what everyone should want in order to ensure the best choices are pursued. These operations put Americans in harm’s way, while costing us money and global stature. Transparent oversight via Congress seems like the patriotic thing to do.
Erik Simonsen, McKinney
Why not invade other countries?
Re: “Maduro Had to Be Removed — But the U.S. cannot ‘run’ Venezuela,” Monday editorial.
I agree with everything the editorial board said about Nicolás Maduro. What bothers me and what I have not seen rationalized is our right to invade a sovereign country. If we are justifying the right to do so because of all the things you said about Maduro, why don’t we invade other countries who are abusing their citizens and causing problems around the world? Starting with China, Russia and Iran. After we clean them up, we can add more to the list.
Hal Daugherty, Plano
Match military standards to job
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is insisting that all combat-ready military people must pass the same high physical standards. He even acknowledges that this could result in barring women from combat duty.
Standards should be flexible and commensurate to a particular duty: helicopter pilot, motor pool, sniper, cook, military police, computer specialist, drone pilot, etc. — all should focus on specific skill level standards.
There are plenty of military duties that don’t require height, weight or bench press standards.
Hegseth is acting like a boy assembling a toy army with a dash of misogyny. What’s next? Non-Caucasians are a detriment to unit cohesion?
Dwight Bartholomew, Northeast Dallas
Not earning trust so far
Tony Dokoupil of CBS said in promos, “Don’t just trust me. Make me earn it.” Then did the opposite in his CBS Evening News debut Saturday. Correspondents in the field summarized events in Venezuela, followed by 20 minutes of Dokoupil hosting the equivalent of “The Pete Hegseth Show,” as the secretary of defense presented unchallenged views of the Trump administration. No time for opposing views.
It’s obvious who wears the handcuffs in Dokoupil’s relationship with his new boss and owner.
Jack Bowen, North Fort Worth