Letters to the Editor - Ken Paxton, gun control, Preston Center, H-E-B, Richardson ISD

Paxton deal shameful

Re: Paxton strikes a deal — AG’s agreement to end charges includes no admission of guilt,” Wednesday news story

This decision is just another embarrassment for our great state. Our attorney general was dealt a “stay out of court” card by the MAGA-stacked Texas judicial system. The slate has been wiped clean.

And get this: Part of the deal was for him to attend remedial legal ethics training. You read that correctly. Remedial ethics 101 training for the attorney general of our state. Everything is bigger in Texas, including the shame.

Kurt Wolfenbarger, East Dallas

Corruption of power at work

Let me get this straight. Ken Paxton, accused of securities fraud, a felony, gets off basically scot-free if he performs “community service” (whatever token acts that might be) and repays part of the “investment” scam that he allegedly oversaw? Seriously?

I guess power and rank really do have their privileges. If that were me, or anyone I knew who had been accused of fraud and had caused a minimum of a $270,000 loss to another family that could be proved, what do you think the odds are that I would be offered this sweet deal?

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and boy, is this an example of the corruption of power at work. As I have said often, our state politicians are the very best that money can buy.

Olan Knight, Murphy

Some ideas on guns

Re: “Gun-trafficking efforts escalating in N. Texas — Trio accused of buying rifles to supply Mexican drug cartels,” Sunday news story.

After reading the stories about guns from Texas going to drug cartels south of our border, I have some suggestions that could help stop the problem. 1. Raise the age to buy a long gun to 21. 2. Implement red-flag laws nationwide. 3. Have all gun owners, including the law-abiding, register their firearms with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 4. Outlaw all guns the government considers assault weapons.

I could go on and on but why not give the Biden administration what they really want — repeal the Second Amendment. But what I would really like to see would probably shock our sitting president but here goes. Secure our southern border! It’s a very simple cure and could be done with an executive order. Mr. President, are you listening?

Jimmie George, Farmersville

Reject rezoning request

Re: “Preston Center plans expanded — Owner seeks zoning to put multifamily, office towers on busy block,” Friday Metro & Business story.

Why? Other than increasing the coffers of the owner with more rents? Do we really need more office space and housing? This shopping area has historically been a low-profile local resource for neighboring residents as a go-to option for staying out of high-density spaces all over the inner city of Dallas — a peaceful, accessible, nearby location for a quiet little community.

And now Ramrock Real Estate LLC wants to ram into this sector more traffic and crowds for its own profit. Originally it wanted to rezone the southern portion and now is asking to rezone the northern portion as well. Is this a plan the surrounding neighbors want? I could be wrong, but I think not. Please, City Plan Commission, reject this request.

Ellen Wesbrooks, University Park

Are grocers paying attention?

Re: “H-E-B in Alliance to ‘poke the beast’ — Chain’s expansion in N. Texas taking Kroger, Walmart, others ‘head-on’,” Saturday Metro & Business story.

I read with amusement the fact that the grocery stores, not just H-E-B, would rather build their new stores in areas that already have grocery stores instead of expanding to areas in a grocery drought. Seventeen miles south of Dallas on Interstate 45 there are two cities that meet this criteria: Wilmer and Hutchins.

The cities have a combined population of about 11,000 residents and there are 40,000 cars a day traveling on I-45. In Wilmer alone, we have a Procter & Gamble distribution center, Amazon Fulfillment Sort Center, Unilever Shippers Warehouse, Whirlpool distribution center, Smucker’s distribution center, Ace Hardware distribution center, Sprouts Farmers Market distribution center, Medline Industries, Makita USA Inc., Portacool LLC distribution center, Crete Carrier and Schneider Carrier, a new solar panel manufacturing plant (about 1,500 employees) and a new data center.

That doesn’t include customers who would come from Ferris, east Lancaster, Seagoville and Ennis. Just what does it take to get these guys’ attention?

John Eggen, Wilmer

Be angry at the right people

Re: “Parent: ‘We feel very, very unheard’ — Richardson votes to close 4 campuses,” Saturday news story.

Kudos to the members of the Richardson ISD board for making the hard and unpopular, but necessary, decision to close campuses in light of financial difficulties. Understandably, parents are not happy with the decisions. However, perhaps they need to aim their anger in another direction.

The Legislature has two main constitutional duties: pass a budget and fund public education. They have not adequately done the second one in decades.

Instead, lawmakers are taking away taxes by providing “property tax relief,” withholding funds until the voucher bills are passed and holding the per-pupil spending stagnant.

Does it cost you more to operate your household today than it did three years ago? I predict you will see more districts facing the same decisions within the next two years.

So, before you pillory local leaders for making hard financial decisions, you need to go to the source and blame the legislators. And if you don’t vote, then you are also to blame.

Pat Hill, Allen

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