Short-term rentals, long-term headaches. Fort Worth got it right on regulating Airbnb

Short-term rentals’ problems

The Star-Telegram’s Sunday editorial supporting short-term rentals in residential areas shows a failure to understand the issues and negative implications for neighborhoods. (4C, “Face it, Fort Worth: Airbnb is here to stay. Here’s a better approach to city’s rental rules”) It read like a thinly disguised Airbnb advertisement.

Short-term rental regulations are notoriously difficult to enforce and do not address security and many other concerns for residents. Studies have shown that these rentals lead to increased crime and exacerbate the housing crisis.

Rather than offer up other neighborhoods to become Airbnb havens, the editors should offer up homes next to and behind their own homes as short-term rentals and welcome 10 to 20 strangers changing out every two to three nights for extended family events, cookouts and bachelor parties.

Fort Worth has a well-written ordinance that is the envy of many other cities. Promote healthy neighborhoods and enforce the ordinance.

- Andrew Muras, Grapevine

Fight the bad apples from inside

Kudos to the Fort Worth police officer who had the courage to step forward and report the excessive use of force by a colleague. (May 21, 1A, “Fort Worth police officer fired for excessive use of force”) Law enforcement is a tight-knit community in which cops rely upon one another for support and physical protection. So, for some, the decision to speak up can be difficult.

We can all be thankful that this officer exhibited the moral fortitude to do the right thing and set a solid example for others in that fine organization.

- Daniel Carlson, Fort Worth

The Democrats do it, too

Leonard Pitts Jr. is correct in his assessment of Rep. Madison Cawthorn. (May 22, 5C, “Republican Party stands for the Republican Party”) Cawthorn is an embarrassment not only to the Republican Party but to society and should be denounced.

But Pitts’ criticism of the Republican Party is extremely hypocritical in light of Democrats’ failure to denounce the likes of Rep. Eric Swalwell’s alleged connections to a Chinese spy; Rep. Maxine Waters publicly advocating confrontation with Trump administration officials; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and others ignoring their own COVID-19 mandates; and former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam allegedly appearing in blackface with a hooded “klansman” in a 1984 medical school yearbook.

Political parties overlooking their members’ indiscretions is not by any stretch the sole domain of Republicans.

- Steve Holmes, Bedford

Why not make your own formula?

Many of my friends and I, who are of an older generation, were fed formula made at home and fed it to our children. It was an easy recipe but time-consuming because you had to sterilize the bottles and contents. We are puzzled by all the cautions about making formula at home.

We understand this does not apply to babies with health issues, but have mothers today been sold a bill of goods?

- Rosemary M Freeman, Fort Worth

Editor’s note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises parents and caregivers not to make or feed homemade formula to infants.