LETTERS

STOPPING CRIME

I WANT TO publicly applaud Jo Brans’ excellent article, “The Scene of a Crime” (May), and to appeal to Dallas citizens and government to address this horrendous problem she so succinctly describes. I agree, the most valuable thing the criminals have stolen from us is our sense of security, our peace of mind, our desire to remain in Dallas. We are among the “lucky” minority who have not yet been physically victimized. (Statistics show this should change within a year.)

Jo Brans has succeeded in verbalizing the plight of the law-abiding, non-political, angry Dallas citizen who feels helpless and furious in the face of crime: Now, what do we do next? We mustn’t sit on our hands and stew -there are bound to be solutions, ways to reduce the crime spree if not erase it. We need more men and women on the police force, which means good pay and benefits to attract good people, we need more neighborhood security co-ops, more willingness to get involved. It’s great to go yell out the windows Network style, “We’re mad as hell and we aren’t going to take it anymore,” but yelling isn’t going to stop thieves. We should look to city government and demand immediate action in prevention of crime, apprehension and punishment of criminals.

L.B. Miller

Dallas



ANOTHER LOOK AT OAK CLIFF

I’M YOUNG, white, educated, I own my own company, I even subscribe to D. I could be one of demographic thousands living in North Dallas. But I’m not -I live in Oak Cliff. If I just said that I thoroughly enjoyed Emily Freeman’s “Hidden Treasure: A Closer Look at Oak Cliff Real Estate” (May), you might think me predictably biased.

I will say, however, that I truly appreciate your determination in publishing an article that, worse than being controversial, might be lightly thumbed over by many after having just read the title. I love Oak Cliff, but I have always considered myself fully a Dallasite. Olla Podrida, the Theater Center and Chili’s Restaurant are very much a part of my Dallas, just as the Creative Arts Center, The Peach Basket Restaurant, Kidd Springs, and yes, even the Dallas Zoo could be for many residents north of the Trinity River, if only they would allow themselves the luxury to explore.

Many people in this city need to be educated about Oak Cliff, and you have provided a well-researched first lesson. Don’t stop here.

David Shanks

Dallas



THE ARTS DISTRICT

I THOUGHT your article on the Arts District (“The Arts District,” May) was very well done. Congratulations.

P.O.B. Montgomery Jr., M.D.

Coordinator

Dallas Arts District



AHHH, MR. RODRIGUE, what a pleasant thought. An Arts District of Dallas, by Dallas and for Dallas. But will this Arts Mecca truly be of Dallas when no Dallas architects are being asked to help design it? Will it really be by Dallas if no Dallas contractors are asked to help build it? And financially, will it be good for Dallas when all this design/construction money is put in out-of-city, out-of-state pockets?

Karen J. Raskopf

Communications Director

Associated General Contractors

Dallas



WIPED OUT

I HAVE JUST completed reading your article “Wiped Out” (May). I too have been involved with insurance companies recently. Not to the extent that Mrs. Kor-sak was, but I have been without a car for 17 days and counting.

The red tape involved in filing a claim has both amazed and confused me. You pay premiums for 10 or 12 years without filing a claim. When you finally need to make a claim, nobody wants to pay. Not your insurance company and certainly not the other guy’s company. It took State Farm’s adjustor six working days to even look at my car. I’ve been “thumbing” it to work for two weeks now. Naturally, the guy who hit me continues to drive his car and has not been inconvenienced in the least.

To say I’m infuriated cannot begin to express my feelings and disappointment in the way insurance is handled. You must have insurance whether you understand it or not -it’s a law. Understanding your policy can be helpful, but all things considered, few of us have the time or the resources to fight the insurance system and come out with any satisfaction in the end. At this point, I’d do anything to get my car back. My $200 deductible is gone, in addition to $25 needed to replace a tire. To top it all off, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to learn next week that my insurance has been canceled.

Cynthia Ballew

The Colony



MASS TRANSIT

I HAVE JUST read the article regarding mass transit (“Inside Dallas,” May) with the thoughts of Mr. Erik Jonsson regarding same. It seems that Mr. Jonsson is correct that using existing rail systems for mass transit from Fair Park to D/FW airport on in Fort Worth is a good idea. We have long delayed facing up to this problem of transportation, and I do hope Crow, Stemmons and Carpenter will move on this idea without further delay.

R.R. Newsom

Dallas



THE OTHER SIDE OF 40

WHAT A MOVING, life-enhancing article Jo Brans produced in “The Other Side of 40” (April)! I am a counseling psychologist in Houston working extensively with widows. (I’m also a professional consultant to “Lifelines,” a self-help group for widows.) Although I’m this side of 40, most widows I work with are indeed on the “other side.” Most of my work is aimed at getting them to live again, to reach out, to take chances. Again -thanks for an excellent article.

Dr. Sybil E. Francis

Houston