Feedback “He has no concern for veracity in journalism.”

Missed the Mark

Your statement about New Times Inc.’s modus operandi [Pulse of the City. October] of shutting down papers in “existing markets” is puzzling because a) it’s not true, and b) we don’t consider Fort Worth to be part of the Dallas market.

New Times has no intention of closing down FW Weekly. In feet, we plan to make a sizeable investment in expanding and improving the paper. We have already begun installing a raft of new equipment, and we are now hiring staff.

David Pasztor

executive associate editor

New Times

Stand-up Job

I JUST FINISHED READING MR. ALLISON’S editorial in the October issue [’’Stop the Presses”]. I admire the decision to pull the September issue. I believe it’s time we all take a stand against the “sex sells” environment we find ourselves in.

Larry D. Cline

Richardson

Revisiting Fair Park

AS A LONGTIME D MAGAZINE SUBSCRIBER, AS a past president of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board, and as a big fan of Fair Park. I was disgusted by much of Tom Pauken’s article on Fair Park [“Rays of Hope,” September!. His acrid comments concerning the Friends of Fair Park and the organization’s director, Craig Holcomb, demonstrated to me that Mr. Pauken either lethargically conducted his research on his topic or he has no concern for veracity in journalism.

Had Mr. Pauken devoted a miniscule amount of time in researching the numerous contributions of Holcomb and Friends of Fair Park to the current resurgence of Fair Park, he would have found that a majority of the $98 million acquired for permanent restoration ai Fair Park since 1992 was due in no small part to the efforts of Mr. Holcomb and the Friends,

James P. Graham

Dallas

TOM PAUKEN’S ARTICLE ABOUT FAIR PARK was grossly unfair in its depiction of Craig Holcomb. executive director of Friends of Fair Park. A majority of the $98 million acquired for permanent restoration at Fair Park since 1992 is due directly or indirectly to Mr, Holcomb.

Success of the three Slate of Texas grants, the federal 1STEA grant, the plan for two DART stations, and the last two municipal bond issue allocations for Fair Park is the direct result of planning and lobbying efforts by Mr. Holcomb and Friends of Fair Park

His ability over the last 10 years to work in a positive manner with the directors of the Fair Park institutions and the leaders of city government has brought a heightened level of cooperation previously unknown.

While there were other inaccuracies in Mr. Pauken’s story, the reflection on the importance of Craig Holcomb and the Friends of Fair Park was at best erroneously understated, and at worst mean spirited and false.

EDDIE C. HUESTON

EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER

Fair Park

AS THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHOSE District includes Fair Park, and as the immediate past president of Friends of Fair Park, I was pleased to see your article expressing optimism about the park’s future. But I am concerned about the misunderstanding of the role that Friends of Fair Park has played in the progress that has been made at Fair Park.

The State Fair and the City of Dallas funded the recreation and restoration of the 16 murals along the esplanade only because Friends of Fair Park secured a S3.8 million grant that helped restore the Automobile and Centennial buildings. Without that grant, all available funds would have been spent to repair cracked foundations. leaking roofs, and mechanical systems in those two buildings.

Thanks to Friends of Fair Park. Representative Steve Wolens, and members of the Dallas Legislative Delegation, the restoration of the Food and Fiber building was accomplished in large part because of the $5.7 million appropriated by the legislature through three successive legislative sessions.

DART’s light rail service to Fair Park will probably be the biggest boost to the Park since the 1936 Texas Centennial. Friends led that effort, and what could have been a contentious issue was, in fact, an exercise in communication and understanding.

Fair Park is enjoying a comeback. A large part of that comeback is due to Friends’ understanding that real progress can only be achieved by creating a team that includes all Fair Park entities and the neighborhoods surrounding the park. Such consensus is usually achieved quietly, not loudly, Perhaps thai is why Mr. Pauken did not notice.

Terri Hodge

state representative

District 100