American Airlines, Trinity River Vision, Chesapeake Energy

AA's Chapter 11

A house divided soon fails. For years I have watched the same old infighting at this airline. The final result -- bankruptcy -- was sure to happen. It did.

-- Bill Hodges, Fort Worth

Charter equality

While I agree with the majority of the Nov. 21 editorial "More educational choice," I do not agree with the sentiment that the charter school system will "divert attention and essential funding from local school districts."

Charter schools receive far less in per-student funding from the state than traditional school districts. All schools get a weighted average daily attendance allotment, but charter schools do not receive any sort of funding from the property taxation funding stream.

If anything, the charter system should be the recipient of philanthropic funds over traditional districts for that reason -- with the caveat that the charter schools are academically high-performing.

I am not advocating that traditional schools be abandoned by civic leaders.

I am advocating that charter schools be embraced by civic leaders and treated equally in all possible funding streams.

Please don't penalize the charter school system any more than it already has been, by suggesting civic leaders and the subsequent financial support should be withheld/withdrawn just because there might be healthy competition for those finite donation dollars.

-- Debbie Sterba, Arlington

TRV lease

"I'm shocked, shocked!" that anyone is shocked that J.D. Granger granted a no-bid lease on the might-as-well-be-a-million-dollar Woodshed Smokehouse restaurant that his "fiefdom," the Trinity River Vision, has built. (See: "Eatery deal is debated," Sunday) Remember that's how "Mama's Boy" Granger got his own "no-bid" job? Granger, the Trinity River Vision's executive director, is nepotism's biggest beneficiary since the Borgias.

What does the Tarrant Regional Water District get in this $970,000 sweetheart deal? A mention of the proposed restaurant on a television cooking demonstration. Plus -- in lieu of paying rent -- the Woodshed will "ensure ... a specified number of beers ... on tap" and a promise that cyclists and joggers can use the restroom. Plus, if the Woodshed closes before the end of its lease, "the district would get some $400,000 of restaurant equipment."

Used restaurant equipment should come in handy; water board members can become short-order cooks when our 50-year drought dries up the river. Meanwhile, who's minding the store? It took a Star-Telegram Texas Public Information Act request to find out anything about this boondoggle. There's more going around in the dark than Santa Claus.

-- Guelma B. Hopkins, Fort Worth

Untapped revenue

When I was a green-card alien working in Houston, I paid my taxes. Whenever I was sent abroad by my company, I had to present my passport and a current tax statement from my employer. My passport was stamped to allow me to travel. I am now a U.S. citizen.

All holders of U.S. passports should be made to prove they have paid their taxes and are current. This way, the upper-dollar class would pay their way without accusing Congress of raising taxes.

Now, why couldn't the supercommittee suggest such a huge source of untapped tax-free wealth?

Oh, did the supercommittee get paid for doing nothing? There goes more of our tax money!

-- Derek Sidwell, Fort Worth

Lighting the night

Again, Chesapeake Energy has gone all out in lighting the building's grounds for Christmas. It is a truly beautiful and wonderful sight.

Friday night, hundreds were walking the Chesapeake grounds and stopping by in cars to see this grand sight.

Thanks, Chesapeake.

-- Tom Stamey, Fort Worth

Looking for comments?