ELECTION LETTERS
The Denton Record-Chronicle welcomes letters to the editor pertaining to the Nov. 4 general election. All regular submission rules apply. Letters concerning statewide races and local propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot must be received in this office by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. None will be published after Friday, Oct. 31.
Fracking bad news
There is a fracking ban proposal on the November ballot, not a drilling ban proposal. The folks that are touting a drilling ban are lying and misleading you in hopes that they can convince you that drilling will cease within the Denton City limits if the fracking ban is passed.
Drilling a hole in the ground is one thing. Fracking the hundreds of existing wells in Denton is quite another. It will not provide jobs nor revenue and those cute little kids on their posters and ads might just die from being exposed to the pollution that fracking causes. Don’t let these people deceive you.
There is not a drilling ban on the November ballot. It’s a fracking ban and if it isn’t passed, Denton and its residents will be very sorry about the results. Check out Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota and the eastern states and see for yourself the damage and devastation fracking has caused their communities.
Open your eyes, folks — fracking Denton is bad news for us.
J. Aaron Cundall,
Denton
Vote for bond propositions
On Nov. 4, residents of Denton will have an opportunity to vote on a truly historic and important bond package to strengthen our city. This combined $98 million package will allow us to rebuild our crumbling roads, rework our outdated fire stations, improve drainage to help encourage development and infrastructure near our floodplains, and (most near and dear to my heart), better our parks, which are arguably one of our most vital assets in our city.
Denton’s parks foster a sense of community — through open trails, playgrounds, tennis courts, recreation centers and soccer fields — our parks are where we gather together. Our parks provide opportunities for our children to exercise and learn social skills.
Our parks are essentially where a community is born — in the public spaces of our parks, we begin to create a better city, where face-to-face interactions turn into lasting friendships, big ideas and neighborhood pride.
I agree that our roads need fixing, and that our fire department and police deserve better amenities. But what is the point of building new and better infrastructure for a community, if there is no real community to begin with? Parks create communities, and they are absolutely vital to the health of any city.
I will be voting in favor of all four bond items on the November ballot. I will be voting in favor of Denton.
Amber Briggle,
Denton
Scare tactic
As have most Denton residents, I have been receiving mailers from the natural gas industry’s front group, Denton Taxpayers for a Strong Economy (DTSE). Ample letters to the editors have aptly disputed the specious claims lined out in their mailers. But the most recent is perhaps the most egregious and insulting to Denton voters.
It quotes the co-chairman of DTSE, Bobby Jones, asking, “What of kind of city would Denton be if the kids didn’t have a place to swing?”
This hokum is followed by claims that if the ban on fracking within city limits near homes, parks and schools was enacted, then we would lose tax revenue to fund these parks. That seems more than a stretch since long before the drilling within Denton began a few years back, the city has provided aptly for parks all around the city.
I suspect Mr. Jones is using this scare tactic to conceal what his real concern is. The personal loss of thousands of dollars in the annual revenue he gains by poking holes in his property up and down Bonnie Brae Street.
I would challenge Bobby Jones to back up his claim that sufficient loss would result from a fracking ban impacting the parks and recreation budget, using real data from real sources. Not those imagined by the small group of people who are profiting from this enterprise while their neighbors’ property values decline as they endure air and noise pollution.
Larry Beck,
Denton
Fair-minded proposal
You’ve seen the signs: “Support Responsible Drilling. Vote No on the Ban.” The Orwellian doublespeak of “responsible drilling” might be funny, if it weren’t for the fact that its proponents expect Denton residents to take it seriously.
Despite the earthquake last November, the building of gas wells near neighborhoods, Denton having the worst air quality in the state, and the lack of oversight that led to April’s gas well blowout that released toxins into the air, the folks behind the “no” campaign actually believe “responsible drilling” is a slogan people will buy.
In the face of the aforementioned mishaps, pro-drillers appear to be going with a “just trust us” approach, when it comes to their claim of “responsibility,” despite all evidence suggesting they are acting to the contrary. I say no dice. However, what if I am wrong? I have been wrong before.
For the sake of fair-mindedness then, I have a proposal. If drilling is so responsible, I ask that those who are drilling in Denton show us how responsible it is. Set aside times that Dentonites can tour your work sites, where you can show us all the responsible measures you’re taking, and how all of the unfortunate situations I’ve mentioned above are the exception and not the rule.
It would also help if you fully disclosed all of the chemicals you’re putting into the ground.
You want us to “Support Responsible Drilling”? Then show us what that is. With reports of nosebleeds and coughing fits, you can’t afford not to.
Race Hochdorf,
Denton
One correction
First, I want to thank Republican Dianne Edmondson and Democrat Phyllis Wolper, Denton chairwomen of their respective political parties, for explaining and reminding us of the basis for and advantages of voting by mail [DRC, Oct. 11].
One correction: We do not sign ballots either at the polls or voting by mail.
Voting by mail does call for signing our names when requesting the mail-in ballot and then when signing the mailing envelope in which the ballot is sent — these signatures are compared. We old and disabled persons will not be worn out or confused or irritated by this procedure unless someone misleads us.
Elinor Johansen,
Denton
