LET’R RIP

Those “Fabulous” Cotten Boys



The economic bust of the Eighties is surely over when we begin reading cover stories like that of your February issue (“Now That They Can Dance”) about the fabulous Cot-ten boys. I lived through the boom years and I remember scads of stories just like this one, detailing the intrigue and excitement of the life of the latest financier-banker or socialite-developer. We now get to hear about billboard barons! This story recalls the publicity releases surrounding the developer of the multimillion-dollar Turtle Creek Health Club. His rise to fame was detailed in The Dallas Morning News and several other sources; he subsequently went bankrupt, leaving the city and its taxpayers to fill in an expensive and deep hole on Lemmon Avenue.

Through luck, ingenuity, and hard work, the Cotten brothers have achieved some deserved business and social success. Please don’t ask me to fawn over them simply because of their $700 loafers, gold watches, or their ability to clear the dance floor at the Mansion. I’ve got nothing against a little glitz; this town is known for it. It’s just that I’ve seen it all before, and what I would like to see now is how we can all get out of this slump without having to know the right people or go to the right partie

DAVID E. SAMARA, M.

DALLAS



To Tax Or Not To Tax



With reference to Dennis Holder’s article, “Their Fair Share” (February), it is an idea long overdue.

I was not aware that our former class leader of the African-American community, George Allen, came up with the idea [of taxing suburbanites] 30 years ago. It is interesting to me, though, that some of my office colleagues and I have discussed such an idea for years. It just makes sense. We think Highland Park and University Park should lead the list.

It makes no sense that the massive influx of people from the “burbs” descends on Dallas to earn their livelihood and then does an exodus to their bedroom community, not having contributed one cent to street repair, police protection, etc.

We think toll booths would be a good start.

CONSTANTINE M. XEROS

RICHARDSON

As an Arlington resident and an owner of a business in Dallas, I’d like to respond to Dennis Holder’s misguided call for a commuter tax.

Holder makes the erroneous assumption that just because a person doesn’t dwell within the Dallas city limits, he doesn’t contribute to Dallas’s tax base. Residents of outlying communities add to the city coffers (and help pay for DART) every time they purchase a product or service in Dallas. Add to those millions of dollars the indirect benefits commuters’ labor adds to the vitality of Dallas-based businesses, and commuters more than make up [for] their “drain” on city services. Business owners in Dallas also pay taxes on personal property used in those enterprises, including DISD taxes that non-residents derive no benefit from at all.

Enacting a suburban commuter tax would be an exceptionally shortsighted move for the city council to make. This non-resident pays enough Dallas taxes as it is. A commuter tax would be just the push I’d need to move my business two miles north to Addison and never spend another dime in Dalla

STEPHEN HAL

ARLINGTON



Underworld Reflections

I was thrilled to read “In the Undersea Kaleidoscope” (February) by Diana Cobb. I was enlightened to learn more about the underworld environment and how we each have a responsibility to protect it.

I applaud D for running such an educational article and I would like to see more on environmental topics in future issues.

Keep up the good wor

MATILDA ROBINS

DALLAS



Alien Rights “An Insult”

I am writing this letter regarding “Do Aliens Have Rights” (December) by Dennis Holder.

I am a Dallas Hispanic citizen who was born in the United States of America, and who holds all his rights as an American very near and dear to his heart. I have never felt that money should entitle anyone to anything that is not rightfully his. This idea is completely shattered by this article.

The helpless victim, as portrayed by Mrs. May, is an alien, born not in this great country, but in Mexico. The fact is that Mrs. May is a citizen of Mexico, and she cannot vote, but she can live here and raise her children in this country, where they may obtain any and all of their desires unlike any place else in the world. This in itself would seem like gratification enough, to know that your children were fortunate enough to be born in the United States of America instead of Mexico, and that they will and do have all the rights of a citizen, not a resident of this country.

This article argues that if Mrs. May and other aliens pay taxes, she and they are entitled to vote. This thinking is very disturbing to me as an American citizen, in that Mrs. May seems to think that she and others can buy something that is very special to all persons born in this country, the right to vote.

I feel this issue is an insult to the natural born rights of all Americans, and do challenge Joe May and other Hispanic activists to devote themselves to issues that will represent Hispanics as a whole, not just Mexican citizen.

OSCAR G. ESPINOSA JR

DALLAS



Credit Where Credit Is Due

Your recent Best & Worst (January) included a category titled “Creative Chutzpah. ” It stated that Kerry Freeman had “just called David Lynch and asked” if Freeman could show his work at N NO. 0 Gallery.

Your award should have been in the “Worst” category and been titled “Creative Plagiarism. ” Kerry Freeman had very little to do with arranging the David Lynch show. Janet Miller, who graciously allowed Freeman to be listed as co-curator on the literature announcing the show, is the person who just called Mr. Lynch’s agent who put her in touch with the gallery in California that handles Mr. Lynch’s art work. Janet Miller is the one who negotiated with the gallery to arrange the show. Janet Miller is the one who went to California, at her own expense, to select the paintings that were shown in Dallas. Janet Miller is the one who directed placement of the art work at N NO. 0. All Freeman did was mail out invitations, talk to the press, and show up at the opening.

Janet Miller deserved your “Best Creative Chutzpah” award because she did just call, and David Lynch did just say “yes. “

JEANlC O’BRIEN

DALLAS