National academy for Oak Cliff
Re: “Move A&M job growth to Oak Cliff,” by Robert L. Prejean, Nov. 20 Letters.
Prejean’s letter struck a chord with me regarding his suggestion for a Texas A&M University System site in Oak Cliff. I would like to contribute to the conversation with a suggestion drawn from one of The Dallas Morning News editorial board positions — that position being the call for a National Academy for Law Enforcement.
I suggest that local officials partner with the Texas A&M System to establish an institution dedicated to meeting the educational and certification needs of our first responders in North Texas: law enforcement, fire and rescue, and EMTs. This would also support related studies in forensics, IT and cybersecurity. The best ultimate location for such an institution would be in the East Kiest/Cedar Crest Boulevard area of Oak Cliff where there is sufficient land available for the types of field training required. This location is easily accessible to Dallas Police headquarters and downtown Dallas, as well as the Southern Gateway areas Prejean mentioned. The positive effects of such an institution can reach beyond Oak Cliff, even beyond North Texas.
Michael Connally, Dallas/Oak Cliff
Election ‘emergency’ is chilling
Re: “Citing ‘emergency,’ Abbott, GOP shift $4M to fund audits,” and “ERCOT report forecasts steep energy shortfalls — But data does not account for global climate change or February’s deadly storm,” Nov. 20 Metro & Business stories.
In these articles, we learned that ERCOT forecasts a 1-in-10 chance that we will have another power outage this winter due to an insufficient supply of electricity. We also learned that ERCOT’s worst case scenario for this calculation is the freeze of 2011, not the freeze of 2021. Our governor has had nine months to improve the reliability of our electrical grid, and this is the best he can do?
What else did we learn Saturday? That Gov. Greg Abbot is diverting $4 million to fund his audit of elections in our state, citing an honest elections “emergency.” Unlike the near total collapse of our electrical grid, there has been no evidence of widespread failings or fraud in our elections in Texas.
If you were to hire our Texas Republican leadership to fix a leaky roof at your house, they would probably instead replace your perfectly good mailbox and send you the bill for it. It is time for new leadership in Texas that will solve the real problems in our state.
Brian Smith, Colleyville
Make vaccines for world
Re: “Plan seeks more shots for sharing — Biden initiative aims to raise production for poorer countries,” Nov. 18 news story.
This story reports on an initiative under the government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority soliciting pharmaceutical companies with proven ability to manufacture the mRNA vaccine to bid for a government investment to scale up their manufacturing, hoping to achieve an additional 1 billion shots per year. So far, Moderna, which was created by U.S. government investment, and Pfizer, which developed its vaccine independently, have not responded, even though billions of dollars are being offered.
Moderna’s lack of response is remarkably brazen having been given such a huge U.S. government investment to produce an effective, safe vaccine. Further neither of these companies seem willing to consider sharing their manufacturing process with other capable manufacturers’ such as those in South Africa or South Korea.
Vaccine inequity is especially prominent in low-income countries. It seems profit motives outweigh the humanitarian crisis the world is confronted with, that is, only 4.7% of people in low-income countries have received a first dose. This pandemic will only come under control when the entire world population has been properly vaccinated. apnews.com/3175319bac5a5058ffcfc63baa9c1400
Martin G. White, Dallas/Turtle Creek
Constitutional carry’s toll
To our state leaders, I hope you’ll appreciate what’s happened in my area since you passed and signed “constitutional carry.” I moved to North Fort Worth in 2010. Not a single fatal shooting within a five-mile radius of my neighborhood since then. Until, the Legislature passed constitutional carry last spring, sending a clear message that packing heat with zero training is cool.
Right after the bill was passed, a road rage killing occurred three miles from me. The bill took effect Sept. 1. On Nov. 15, an apparent road rage killing in my neighborhood left a young man’s bullet-riddled corpse lying on a traumatized neighbor’s driveway for four hours.
Thanks for making me feel so much safer. But I know I can count on you for thoughts and prayers ... and more guns. A combination with proven results.
Jack Bowen, North Fort Worth
Moonstruck
Re: “Late-night showing,” Nov. 20 photograph.
Kudos to staff photographer Rebecca Slezak for her creative capturing of the partial lunar eclipse in that day’s early morning hours. The illuminated clock, with moon at left, records a “once in my lifetime event” in a very unique way.
Patti Shore, Highland Village
Medicare pitchmen on repeat
With due respect to J.J. “Dy-no-mite” Walker, Captain Kirk William Shatner, Broadway Joe Namath and other celebrities who grace the screen of my television again and again, day after day, I think we should all lobby Congress to make the day after the last day of Medicare enrollment a national holiday. We can call it “No more ‘it’s free’ day.”
Kenneth Mathias, Grand Prairie
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