Reconsider Roberson evidence
Re: “Judge to review dad’s death penalty — Man would be first executed for ‘shaken baby’ in U.S. if the sentence is left standing,” Thursday Metro & Business story.
On behalf of Robert Roberson, an innocent man with autism facing execution on Oct. 17, the Autism Society of America and the Autism Society of Texas urge Texas officials to grant him clemency. Roberson’s case highlights a miscarriage of justice, rooted in a misunderstanding of autism and its impact on behavior.
The legal system failed to recognize how autism affects social and emotional responses, leading to a flawed trial. Throughout his life, Roberson faced significant challenges related to his autism, which were not properly considered in court. Autistic individuals often express emotions in ways that can be misinterpreted, as occurred in Roberson’s case.
Alarmingly, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals recently granted relief in a strikingly similar case, yet Roberson’s death sentence still stands, threatening irreversible injustice. Executing an innocent, autistic man would leave a permanent stain on Texas’s justice system.
We urge Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and responsible officials to reconsider the new evidence, acknowledge flaws in the trial and prevent a grave injustice.
Jacquie Benestante, Austin
Law seems to allow bullying
Re: “New poll watcher rules face big test — As GOP adds to its monitors, Democrats fear vote disruptions,” Thursday news story.
The Trump campaign has set up “165,000 poll watchers, election workers and legal experts,” according to this story. The new rule in Texas, Senate Bill 1 [passed by the Texas Legislature along party lines in 2021 and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott] makes it difficult for partisan poll watchers to be removed from polling places, as they will have “free movement.” This may make for unintended consequences, such as “overzealous” and “unruly” poll watchers, trying to watch as you are checking in, or even look over your shoulder.
This story reports about this incident: “During early voting in 2022, Reynolds-Grogan said a poll watcher stood in front of a voting machine for about four hours, forcing voters submitting their ballots to maneuver around her. After some voters complained, she asked the poll watcher to move. But the poll watcher did not move and was not required to.”
Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Kardal Coleman also worries that heightened rhetoric surrounding elections may embolden poll watchers to cross the line.
As a past election judge and clerk, I am very concerned about SB 1. I have heard snide remarks from Republican poll watchers. I have seen huge trucks with Trump flags all over them driving through parking lots of polling places, music blaring. I hope they never run over anyone. It does seem like bullying to me.
Sandy Elkins, Plano
Not the best solution
Re: “Keller ISD introduces ‘alternative’ meals for students with $25 or more of lunch debt,” online story.
I read this story about the Keller ISD decision to “proactively but discreetly” notify students that they are close to the $25 negative balance for their school lunches. The district’s solution is to serve these students a breakfast and lunch that will clearly single them out from other students and potentially create a lunchroom atmosphere of ridicule.
Keller ISD has stated that “cafeteria and school employees “will be trained to handle these situations as discreetly as possible.” I believe this solution is both irrational and unbelievable. How long will it take other students to realize that a fellow student is eating this alternative breakfast and lunch every single day?
It may cause some students to not take advantage of this generous offer by the school district. Students should not be punished for various circumstances that may lead to a delinquent meal balance. It is beyond their control. Does Keller ISD know if these students may be from broken homes or low-income families, and school meals are all they get to eat on a given day? It seems to me that a Go Fund Me page is essential.
Cathy Bius, McKinney
Remember what led to this
Re: “Report sheds light on ‘Oklahoma!’ dispute ― ‘Same-sex kissing’ concern launched play’s controversy,” Thursday Metro & Business story.
Thank you, Dallas Morning News, for publishing the denouement to the sorry incidents surrounding the musical Oklahoma! at Sherman High School. A parent’s issue was blown out of proportion by the superintendent.
What should have been a relatively simple situation turned into a long affair involving concerned community members. But in the end, community support for the drama department prevailed and Superintendent Tyson Bennett was relieved of his duties. Unfortunately he profited financially from his poor judgment.
Hopefully this is a cautionary tale that will be remembered in the future.
Phyllis Vaughn, Sherman
Thanks for Social Security story
Re: “Some say benefit increase won’t be enough — Predicted 2.5% boost set for January would add about $48 a month,” Thursday news story.
Thanks for printing an analysis of the 2.5% bump for us Social Security recipients. The Texas Alliance for Retired Americans has long advocated for using the Consumer Price Index-E instead of the CPI-W to calculate our annual cost-of-living increase.
CPI-E (for elderly) includes our heavy dependence on medicines, whereas the CPI-W (for workers) ignores our special costs. As for the oft-repeated panic over the size of the Social Security trust fund, candidate Kamala Harris agrees with our simple solution of allowing the wealthy to pay a fair share of Social Security taxes, instead of skating on it the way they do now.
Gene Lantz, Dallas/Oak Cliff
president, Texas Alliance for Retired Americans
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