There is no Catholic Charities of Fort Worth without disrespected Bishop Michael Olson

Bishop is key part of the family

In her April 24 column, “In personnel clash, Fort Worth bishop is trying to keep the ‘Catholic’ in Catholic charities” (4C) Cynthia M. Allen tries, in a roundabout way, to “wordsmith” or silence an important matter.

The chief executive of Catholic Charities of Fort Worth set up a women-only event and ignored the teachings of the Catholic Church that, in Allen’s own words, “the family is at the center of and the fundamental unit of society.” He also disrespected Bishop Michael Olson, the one person who allows the Catholic Charities of Fort Worth to exist, with his reluctance to allow the bishop to speak at the event. Cleaning house is truly appropriate.

- Gary F. Rockers, Burleson

Rein in property tax hikes

In property appraisals, homesteads are protected by a maximum 10% increase in value each year. Other property, such as rentals, are taxed at 100% market value. Increases are based on Tarrant Appraisal District algorithms and mass appraisal analysis. The condition of the property carries little weight unless the owner appeals.

Many landlords fight yearly, costing many hours in time and hundreds of dollars filing appeals and getting appraisals and evidence. There is still a good chance they lose. So landlords raise rents, and tenants have to move farther away from their workplaces.

Individual landlords give up and sell to flippers or large real estate companies, which dress up the properties and sell or rent them for even more. Everyone loses, except governments, corporate landlords and the well-to-do.

Local governments should limit property tax increases to 3% or 4% per year and base budgets on that.

- David Claire, Fort Worth

Cost-effective way to fight pollution

The story “Explainer: Can climate change be solved by pricing carbon?” (April 23, star-telegram.com) explains the “social cost of carbon” program and Pennsylvania’s cap-and-trade system. These are all steps in the right direction, but we need stronger action at the national level.

One of the simplest moves would be to put a fee on carbon emissions at the source, discouraging the use of fossil fuels, then return the revenue collected to the American people to help average citizens cover the increased cost. If it’s structured well, average Americans could come out ahead. I encourage Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to support such a program.

- Vivian Hunt, Arlington

He runs our elections right

As a resident of Tarrant County, I have had the privilege of working with the county elections staff as a poll worker, ballot board member, training assistant for poll workers and volunteer deputy voter registrar. These experiences gave me a close-up view of the leadership, knowledge and skill that Heider Garcia brings to the job of elections administrator.

He brings transparency, allows public access and constantly strives for improvement in the process. He is well respected by other election administrators in Texas as well as the League of Women Voters and other civic organizations.

The hybrid system for in-person voting is safe and secure with a paper backup. We still must continue to move forward in the election process.

- Marilyn Joyce Kepner, Fort Worth