Letters: Flooded streets, deadly drunks and Schieffer’s class act

Flooded streets

After the downpour Monday morning, Hulen Street near Interstate 30 flooded — as usual. I watched cars, trucks and 18-wheelers detour both directions on Ashland Street in an effort to avoid impassable intersections.

Since this situation is ongoing every time we experience downpours, you would think our city fathers and mothers would find the funds to work on the streets with these ongoing issues.

Instead, they design bike lanes and contemplate where to put the next roundabout. Some funds would be better spent fixing infrastructure.

Ask those drivers who were detoured from their route on the busy west side of Fort Worth where they would like to see their tax money spent.

Our council person should invite the mayor to visit the west side more often. It’s really nice, easy to get to and is a vital part of the community. It shouldn’t be ignored.

— Linda V. Bartles,

Fort Worth

Sarah Brady

I was saddened to read about the death of gun-safety advocate Sarah Brady, who after her husband Jim Brady (President Reagan’s press secretary) was shot and paralyzed, worked tirelessly to pass the Brady Bill that required background checks before gun purchases.

Knowing that guns kill 85 Americans every day, it must have been particularly wrenching for Sarah to know that the NRA had circumvented the Brady Bill by creating loopholes that allowed the mentally ill, juveniles, gun traffickers, suspected terrorists and felons to buy unlimited quantities of firearms online and at gun shows.

How sad that after caring for her severely injured husband for 24 years until his death eight months ago, that she had to watch as Republican lawmakers repealed existing gun laws, while proposing laws that would arm college kids and the blind, eliminate gun training, prohibit doctors from discussing gun safety and permit the open carry of guns loaded with armor-piercing bullets.

Instead of pneumonia, I think Sarah Brady probably died of a broken heart.

— Sharon Austry,

Fort Worth

Deadly drunks

Sarah Longwell, writing April 10 for the American Beverage Institute (“Save ignition interlocks for deadly drunks”), makes very good points opposing increased use of installed Breathalyzers when she points out scarce resources and minimal application of the existing laws.

She should have stuck to those points. She attempts to establish that a 120-pound woman who became intoxicated after two 6-ounce glasses of wine is at “very different levels of risk” than a “hardcore” offender.

Well, maybe if she walked into you on the sidewalk. Small women can drive just as fast and drive the same size vehicles as anyone on the road, and drunk driving kills people regardless of who is at the wheel. Any helpful intervention should be explored.

— Dr. Steve Brotherton,

Fort Worth

Blame for all

In a recent letter, I noted with interest that George W. Bush is responsible for the current nuclear problems in Iran.

So that we do not miss anything, I would also like to point out that George W. is most likely responsible for global warming, the Islamic State and probably polio.

— Tom Eschberger,

Keller

Schieffer’s class act

Bob Schieffer is indeed “always a class act” (April 10 editorial).

I met him before one of his annual TCU symposia. I told him I sneaked into the reception just so I could meet him.

Shaking my hand warmly, he said, “I’m glad you did,” and we talked about experiences in Vietnam (he was there four years before I was) and he thanked me for my service.

He also introduced me to one of his panelists, Maureen Dowd of The New York Times, and even took a photo of us.

I was wearing a veterans’ jacket (not a suit and tie like the other men) and had my white cane, having lost my eyesight in the war.

Bob Schieffer is the most gracious man I have ever met, and I wish him well in his retirement.

— Bruce W. Rider, Grapevine

This story was originally published April 14, 2015 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Letters: Flooded streets, deadly drunks and Schieffer’s class act."