YOU SAY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
No talk of taking legally owned guns
Re: Oct. 9 commentary, “Disarming legal gun owners is not the answer.”
Where has Matt Mackowiak found a statement by any recent government official advocating confiscating guns from law-abiding citizens? It makes it more difficult to have a productive discussion of possible actions to reduce gun violence when Mackowiak and others keep repeating the same scare tactic: “They’re coming for our guns.”
CHARLES AKEY, AUSTIN
Time is right to take on climate change
Re: Oct. 21 article, “More Americans than ever think climate is changing, says UT poll.”
Thanks to Asher Price for the very informative and clear piece on the results of UT’s Energy Poll. I hope this data is a wakeup call to politicians that the days of climate denial are on the wane. With 69 percent of Texans and 59 percent of Republicans saying that climate change is occurring, politicians need to represent their constituents. It’s time to start implementing the myriad solutions that already exist.
JULI BERWALD, AUSTIN
Muslims respect places of worship
Re: Oct. 11 article, “Protesters gather to hold anti-Islam rally at Phoenix mosque.”
Islam teaches us to respect and protect all places of worship, including churches, mosques and synagogues. American Muslims are equally as disgusted when Islamic State blows up a church or when Islamophobes organize gun-wielding rallies in front of mosques. Both are products of ignorance. Our response as Muslims should be to interact and educate.
AZIZA FARUQI, AUSTIN
Prop 3 would aid corrupt politicians
Re: Oct. 17 article, “7 key changes to the Texas Constitution on early voting ballots Monday.”
I am urging a vote against Proposition 3, which, if approved, will repeal the constitutional requirement that certain elected executive officials — such as the lieutenant governor and attorney general — live in the state capital of Austin. The requirement that these officials reside in Austin has been a part of the state constitution since 1876. Should they be indicted for a crime, they would be brought to trial in Travis County. Proposition 3 will change this by allowing the officials to be tried in their home counties. This is a loophole for corrupt politicians and a means by which an official can escape prosecution and punishment. The home county of officials may be friendlier to them. Their colleagues may even oversee the case. MARIE SMITH, GEORGETOWN
Time for ACL to find a new venue
Re: Oct. 21 commentary, “Austin should expect more from C3 Presents for hosting ACL Fest.”
Many Austinites appreciate C3 Presents for bringing an eclectic music fest to our town. But many of us oppose surrendering public use of Zilker Park for a month while suffering the many disruptions the festival imposes. It’s time for ACL to find a new venue that is less disruptive to Austin residents.
JEANNE LAWSON, AUSTIN
No justification for attacks on civilians
Re: Oct. 21 letter to the editor, “Reporting ignores Palestinian views.”
Most of the recent attacks in Israel have involved innocent civilians being targeted by knife-wielding assailants. On Thursday, two men armed with knives boarded a bus full of schoolchildren. Fortunately they were stopped.
The Jewish people have maintained a continuous presence in, and a connection to, the land of Israel for thousands of years and returned in large numbers after the world made it clear that they were largely unwelcome or unsafe elsewhere. Letters like Mia Joyce Ortman’s remind us of these traumas.
There is plenty of suffering to go around in the Middle East right now. Justifying attacks on civilians will not help alleviate pain or injustice.
BARAK EPSTEIN, AUSTIN
Put courthouse on Airport Boulevard
Re: Oct. 23 article, “Austin real estate group opposes $287 million courthouse bonds.”
I plan to vote against the bond issue for a new Travis County courthouse. I know the old courthouse is worn out and dangerous for some of the folks who need to go there, but taking one of the most valuable downtown blocks permanently off the property tax roll is not the answer.
As best I can tell, the main reason for building downtown is because that’s the way we’ve always done it. This is simply not good enough to justify writing off millions of dollars in much needed revenue.
A better solution is to replace the old home improvement store on Airport Boulevard where the county clerk offices now reside. A new building on that site could house all the county’s offices. There is plenty of land to work with that would be easy to reach by rail, bus or car.
ROSS A. SMITH, AUSTIN