Immigrant Baltimore bridge collapse victims were working hard jobs Americans won’t do | Opinion
Immigrants keep the US working
For the people and politicians who are creating and perpetuating a scare about a migrant invasion, please consider this:
The six men presumed dead at the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster in Maryland were Latino migrants, some having lived here for many years. They were filling potholes at 1 a.m. because many Americans won’t take these back-breaking and dangerous jobs.
These men who risked their lives coming to this country died while working a very tough job.
- Gabrielle Gordon, Unincorporated Tarrant County
What Fort Worth should treasure
It was jarring to discover that a story with the online headline “Crown jewel of Fort Worth’s Cultural District announces it is expanding” was not about one of our world-class museums — the true jewels — but rather about the expansion of a hotel and office building. (March 29, 5A, “Crescent to erect new office building in Cultural District”)
Fort Worth has a reputation for being business-forward. That’s good. But it should not eclipse art and architecture as something we are most proud of. It is the Cultural District, not the Hotel District.
- Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin, Fort Worth
Get to work, Tarrant County
Why have some Tarrant County courts worked just 10 hours a week, as County Judge Tim O’Hare said? (April 3, 1A, “Tarrant County to study plans for reorganizing courts”) It would not be surprising if some who oppose streamlining the courts staff are among those who work only a few hours.
Government offices and courts need to approach business just as companies do. They economize and make improvements, and don’t have to ask workers’ permission. The public wants to see government run efficiently.
Of course, we don’t know all the details yet, but It sounds like a change is needed.
- Suzie Cate, Southlake
Criminal justice needs top-down fix
There have been numerous planning guides published and advisory groups established through the years on how to improve the criminal justice system. However, the literature suggests that most systems continue to be disorganized, poorly administered entities.
The Tarrant County Jail’s overcrowding issue is the evidence. The Tarrant County Administrator’s Office has it right. The criminal justice system should be run as if it were one interdependent administrative agency. Separation of powers should be discussed, but it should not hinder this new approach. This new strategy should also incorporate the social determinants of health and criminal behavior, along with reintegration of offenders as a goal of the criminal justice system.
- Leslie J. Smith, Retired Tarrant County criminal justice coordinator, Grapevine
Seminary lawsuit is unfortunate
It is unfortunate to see that former Southwestern Seminary president Adam Greenway is suing that institution for defamation. (March 30, 1A, “Ex-leader accuses Southwestern Baptist seminary of defamation”) Without taking sides on who is right, I don’t think the apostle Paul would have approved of this method of handling the dispute. As Paul said: “If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?”
- Don Owens, Fort Worth
RFK Jr. the real face of populism
Populists will always sound a cautionary note about “progress,” especially today, when “progress” means globalization, financialization of our economy and government by a credentialed elite.
A broad-based populism once was the beating heart of the Democratic Party. The tribune of this brand of populism is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the one presidential candidate in this election who can heal our dangerously divided country. For these reasons, I’m voting for him, and I hope others will, too.
- Randolph Severson, Ennis
