Mental health action needed
May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a time for action, not just awareness. As Texas celebrates the rise of its film industry, let’s not overlook the power of documentaries to spark change and save lives.
A Reason to Live, airing on KERA-TV, features young people and families sharing personal stories of depression and survival. One mother told us the film helped her recognize warning signs in her son and get him help before it was too late.
We also filmed inside the Dallas County jail, where incarcerated women shared their stories of trauma and resilience through art. These powerful voices are at the heart of In Her Shoes, which was recently honored by Mental Health America with a national media award, and by the Dallas County Commissioners with a public proclamation recognizing the film’s impact in raising awareness about the need for programs that help women.
Mental health crises affect people across every community. This month should inspire all of us — educators, health professionals, nonprofits and policymakers — to support accessible care, reduce the stigma and invest in programs that truly make a difference.
Film can spark change, but only if we listen and act.
Cynthia Salzman Mondell, East Dallas
Favorable fossil-fuel treatment
Let’s have a conversation about favorable tax treatments in the U.S. for energy industries. Do the wind and solar industries have access to these advantageous tax treatments: intangible drilling costs deduction, percentage depletion allowance, master limited partnerships, foreign tax credit and last in, first out (LIFO) accounting?
If the current Congress, including my representative, Pat Fallon, and my senators, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, are convinced that eliminating favorable tax treatments for clean energy is needed, shouldn’t they first consider eliminating industry specific favorable tax treatments for the 100-plus-year-old fossil-fuel industries that some analyses have indicated a cost to taxpayers between $700 billion to $1 trillion over the last 50 years.
Richard Howe, Plano
Is there a problem?
As our Texas Legislature passes a bill aiming to prohibit homeless shelters from operating near schools, the bill’s author, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, says it will “protect students.”
I hope Creighton will share with us the statistics on how many homeless people have attacked, harmed or even bothered students before we pass along another impediment to these people leading normal lives. Is this another “solution” to a nonexistent problem?
Hans F. Voorn, Frisco
Supporting Roth
After attending a meet-and-greet for Bill Roth and later having a sit-down with him, I am committed to supporting him for the District 11 City Council position. His commitment is first to the basics, such as roads and safety, etc., and the feasibility of then prioritizing them under the constraints of a “current revenue shortage of $6.5 million.”
He was the only candidate who supported the Pepper Square Neighborhood Coalition in its 92% support to oppose the Pepper Square rezoning proposal.
Now is not the time for vainglorious projects that are not in compliance with Dallas Forward 2.0 and its reasonable approach to any rezoning.
And Roth is endorsed by the Dallas Police and Fire Association. This is a substantial endorsement, to say the least.
John Dale, North Dallas
A one-issue candidate
During the campaign for District 11, Bill Roth came to Democratic groups asking for endorsements. Now in a runoff, Roth has come out of the closet as a staunch Republican. His run for City Council was begun on his single promise to keep Pepper Square from being developed.
He is without government service credentials and hopes to be a one-issue councilman. Is this the kind of opportunistic leadership we can expect from Roth?
Have Republicans truly come to employ masquerade to be elected? I think I answered my own questions.
Budd Mahan, Far North Dallas
My vote is for Pfaff
I have lived in Irving almost 60 years, been involved in many areas of the community and voted in every election. This is my first letter to the editor.
The June 7 Irving City Council runoff election provides residents with a choice between two options. The first is David Pfaff, a lifelong resident and family man who is active in civic affairs, has voted regularly in our elections, supports local charities and gives freely of his time, talent and treasures. He ran a successful Irving-based business.
The other choice is Sergio Porres, who is backed by a Families for Irving PAC that has stated in public it wants to take over the Irving City Council with a majority voting bloc to bring its “family values agenda” into the community.
According to this candidate’s website, he is an IT consultant and has coached youth teams. He has not served on an Irving board or commission, and has listed no prior government experience.
My vote is for Pfaff. I want a trusted, qualified public servant and one who has the time and commitment to serving all of Irving.
Judy Pierson, Irving