Texas doesn’t need to be California with the death penalty

Neighborhoods are for residents

State Rep. Angie Chen Button and state Sen. Pat Fallon are authors of three bills — HBs 3773 and 3778 and SB 1888 — that would prevent cities from regulating the locations of short-term rentals, or STRs, in residential neighborhoods. The intent is to make zoning restrictions for STRs by cities illegal.

Unless you belong to a homeowners association that can ban STRs, you could have a mini-motel as a neighbor, with problems of noise, trash, parking or people you don’t want nearby.

Please call or write these and your legislators and let them know that city zoning laws are unique to cities and are to be honored, not made illegal. Neighborhoods are for neighbors, not transients.

Do you want the state to control what may happen to your neighborhood? Don’t cities and their residents know what’s best for their local areas?

Hey you — listen to the Grandview band

I am the secretary for the Grandview Band Boosters. Grandview High School has had an amazing year with sports and academics, but often the band goes overlooked.

We just learned we received straight 1s at our contest to advance to state for the third consecutive year — a record in Grandview. We rank sixth in the state with the University Interscholastic League for next year and have made five trips to state in the past seven years.

While changing our music completely for our trip to state in a month and a half, we are also trying out for Honor Band, which would be the first time for Grandview.

I am attempting to spread the word of this amazing accomplishment. Our small band has awe-inspiring talent and generous hearts.

The death sentence is justice

The author of a May 24 letter to the editor cited California Gov. Gavin Newsom for what the headline called his “good sense” in eliminating the death sentence in California, while ignoring equitable justice for all murderers. (4B)

Texas certainly doesn’t need any advice from California regarding the law and its justice. Although our justice system may not be perfect, with the advent of DNA and latent fingerprint systems, plus increased scrutiny and evidence requirements for capital murder, errors in convictions by mistake or prejudice have been drastically reduced.

Only if the murdered victim could be brought back could any sentence other than death be fitting and equitable for the murderer. A life sentence is far short of justice for the murdered.

Don’t blame the justice system for untoward effects of the death penalty. Blame the murderer and correct the system.

Last among a field of firsts

At the U.S. Military Academy, tradition dictates that all graduates put a dollar in a cap. At the graduation ceremony, in front of thousands of dignitaries, cadets, parents and guests, that hat with more than $800 is presented to the graduating cadet who was last in the class.

What an honor to make it all the way to graduation. That young cadet raced to the stage to collect that cap when his name was announced as being last in his class. The crowd gave him a standing ovation. There’s nothing embarrassing about being last at a military academy, where physical stamina and character are as important as grades.

Being a cadet at any U.S. military academy is not for the weak.

The late Sen. John McCain graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. Bravo to our American hero. That will always be your honor.