Letters — Dallas City Council, Shariah, college

Re: “Fix the horseshoe – The 14-1 system boosted racial equity. Now it’s holding us back,” by Dallas Cothrum, Sunday Opinion. 

As a longtime resident and observer of Dallas politics and local government, I found Cothrum’s analysis both insightful and refreshingly candid. The description of the 14-1 council system as creating “14 mayors and one person who runs the meeting” perfectly captures a concern that many Dallas residents have felt for years but have struggled to articulate. 
 
The acknowledgement of the historical importance of the 14-1 system and the role it played in improving minority representation, while also raising the legitimate question of whether the current structure is still serving the city’s long-term interests, is spot on. Too often, discussions about governance reform are framed as an attack on past progress rather than an effort to address present-day challenges. 
 
The point that no one is truly incentivized to think about the city as a whole resonated with me. It often seems that council members focus on protecting their individual districts while broader issues affecting Dallas receive inadequate attention. The result is a city that frequently appears unable to make difficult decisions or pursue a coherent vision for the future. 
 
Whether one agrees with every aspect of the proposed solution or not, I believe Cothrum has performed a valuable public service by encouraging a serious conversation about how Dallas is governed. Given the city’s fiscal challenges, slow growth relative to surrounding communities and ongoing concerns about accountability at City Hall, this is a discussion that is long overdue. 

Bill Rogge, Dallas 

Re: “Shariah threat is based on fear, not fact – Statesmen should discourage division and uphold Constitution,” by Alan W. Steelman, Saturday Opinion. 

Former Congressman Alan Steelman’s op-ed on Shariah was on target. Fear is what is driving all the angst about the Muslim religion and Shariah. Are there some bad actors who are Muslim? Yes. Are there some bad actors who are Jewish, Baptist, Catholic, non-believers? Yes.  

Where Steelman is correct is that government at all levels and some individuals derive benefit from trying to keep uninformed citizens in a state of fear – and they’re doing a good job of it.  

Given the recent Republican primary results, perhaps many Republicans now live in a state of fear that Ken Paxton will be elected – or that he won’t. 

Either way, many Texans of both parties might be less fearful if Steelman were on the ballot instead of James Talarico or Paxton. 

Dennis McCuistion, Argagnon, France 

Thanks for the column on the new Shariah bogeyman by Steelman. It helps educate our neighbors and friends in Texas. 

Zulfi Ahmed, Plano 

Evidence from the Holy Land Foundation trial — the largest terrorist financing prosecution in U.S. history — confirms Shariah concern is grounded in fact, not fear. 

Muslim Brotherhood (MB, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization) documents entered into evidence included its goal as “destroying Western civilization from within” making “God’s religion victorious over all other religions,” targeting media, schools and government.  

I believe your column is Islamic propaganda. 

The Muslim Students Association, an MB offshoot, has fueled campus unrest and division across the country — a visible example of that strategy in action. 

Muslim-majority nations demonstrate what Shariah governance produces: Christians and non-Muslims are Dhimmis — inferior to Muslims — often facing severe persecution and punishment. 

If enough Muslim sympathizers reach Congress, it is horrifying to think our country could be transformed into a hate-filled theocracy intolerant of other faiths. 

Gov. Greg Abbott stated the MB and CAIR openly declared their goals: imposing Shariah and establishing Islamic supremacy.   

The Holy Land Foundation evidence is public record. Only someone intentionally ignoring the facts would say the Shariah threat is based on fear. 

Maura Schreier-Fleming, Dallas    

Our hearts go out to the families affected by the West Dallas tragedy. But as the city weighs its response, one distinction must be made: This was an isolated criminal act, not a short-term rental problem. 

Over 99% of Dallas short-term rentals generate zero nuisance-related 911 calls annually. A nuisance property requires a pattern of repeated, documented violations — not a single violent incident that could have occurred at any address in the city. 

Dallas already has the enforcement tools to address genuine repeat-offender properties: nuisance-abatement authority, chronic-offender designations and escalating penalties. We urge the city to use them aggressively — on any property type showing a documented pattern of harm. 

Targeting repeat offenders makes Dallas safer. Broad restrictions on thousands of responsible operators do not. 

Linda Young, Dallas/East Kessler Park 

Re: “A Smart Way to Cut Dorm Waste – North Texas colleges divert furniture, other items from the dumpster to donation programs,” Saturday editorial. 

Thank you for printing this editorial regarding colleges minimizing dorm waste. It not only was informative but brought me a smile and a good chuckle remembering when I left University of North Texas’ Oak Street Hall (now UNT parking lot number 59) to begin my career.  

Most of us left with nothing except for what we brought: the usual necessities and books and perhaps a popcorn popper and a Styrofoam cooler.  

But we left with the best things that took no space – a good education (both social and academic), fabulous memories and lifelong friends. 

Cynthia Hawkins-Bowland, Dallas 

Re: “The roots of John Cornyn’s loss – This is a cautionary tale for the GOP,” by Pete P. Gallego, Friday Opinion. 

I realize the MAGA momentum has really taken over but with Gallego’s opinion column, I can at least understand it better. Well-written. 

Jimmy Bedard, Gilmer 

Regarding President Donald Trump thinking his image should be on a new $250 paper U.S. currency, I think more appropriately it should be a $3 bill. 

Dennis L. Van Fossen, Garland