Category: Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Tell Lawmakers to Approve Child Safety Zones

Letter to the Editor logoDear Editor:

Allowing registered sex offenders to live close to schools or daycare centers is an open invitation for disaster. A child’s innocence is precious, and once lost, cannot be regained. As you read this, the Texas Legislature is meeting in Austin, and we have the opportunity to pass a law which would allow small towns the freedom to create safety zones for children. Right now, general law cities (meaning towns of population less than 5,000) don’t have that freedom; a registered offender can live right across the street from your schools or daycare centers, and we cannot stop it. However, if HB 384 passes, each city can determine how it wants to protect its children.

Austin is far away, but what you can do is close at hand because Rep. Stuart Spitzer has filed this bill to help us. If you email or mail a note of support to his office, you will go a long way to showing the legislature that the safety of children in small towns is just as important as the safety of kids in large ones. I am asking, begging really, for any Texan who sees this to send a letter to Rep. Spitzer expressing support for his bill, HB 384. Continue reading “Letter to the Editor: Tell Lawmakers to Approve Child Safety Zones”

Letter to the Editor: Voices of the Citizens

Dear Editor:

Many times local government officials forget that “the people” voted them into office. When “the people” vote (with the best intention on their candidate of choice), they vote with the confidence that their candidate when elected will continue to represent them on a continual basis.

What traditionally happens is that elected local government officials secure positions and lose sight of those who placed trust in them during the election process. In short, “the peoples” voices are either not heard or city officials tend to only listen to a select number of voices. All voices should be heard.

With the upcoming May general election for City Council in Gun Barrel City, there will be several choices for the three open positions on City Council. The choice that the citizens make is critical to the long term growth potential of the city, but more importantly, the choice that is made should be representative of how “the people” want to be represented during the next two year term. Continue reading “Letter to the Editor: Voices of the Citizens”