Dog owners should

respect boundaries

Re: Aug. 14 article, "Scoop the poop: Dog waste on greenbelts affecting more than the bottom of your shoes."

I regularly use and support several green spaces in Austin. Dogs are increasingly being brought everywhere. Leash laws are routinely ignored. Many dogs and owners are clearly immature, emotionally needy and self-absorbed. They're easily excitable, constantly yapping, frequently wanting to hold/be held, oblivious of other people's presence and personal spaces, and treat private/public property as their personal toilets. Some owners pick up their dog's poop but the urine stays. Dog aromatics were allowed to enhance our experience even at the 2018 Cap10K.



I'm told dogs are like family members. First, corporations became people, now pets. Rights without responsibilities. Human family members would be fined, possibly prosecuted for indecency if they did what pet dogs get away with. "Oh, the dog is friendly" doesn't cut it. I'm not friendly.



To be civilized is to respect boundaries. And leave no trace. If you or your family members can't recognize that, y'all stay home.



Veena Gondhalekar, Austin

Dog waste stench is

spreading far and wide

Re: Aug. 14 article, "Scoop the poop: Dog waste on greenbelts affecting more than the bottom of your shoes."

It is disheartening to read about the bacteria caused by dog fecal waste in various Austin area water bodies which we use for recreation.

Complaints about homeless people leaving trash, urinating in public places, etc., are understandable. Yet, people take their dogs outdoors and watch while the dogs answer nature's call in other people's yards, near water bodies and other open spaces.

The stench and evidence is everywhere — in our yards, on our neighborhood sidewalks, in parks, in parking lots. Even popular, iconic places like Mount Bonnell and the boardwalk are not spared — pee and poop gets stepped on and spread by the high foot traffic.

Given the percentage of households choosing to own a dog versus the percentage of populace that is homeless , which is a bigger source of biohazard for our environment, not to mention the repugnancy?

Lisa Denson, Austin

New code could help

resolve permit delays

The public should understand that many of the issues involving delayed permits could be resolved in the new land development code that’s being drafted now. Eliminating the contradictory language in the code, and replacing it with language that’s more predictable and flexible, would help all city residents get projects permitted faster and provide more affordable housing throughout the community.



The Real Estate Council of Austin values our partners at the city, and we’ve seen great progress made in improving the permitting process. Empowering the Development Services Department and permitting staff with more authority to oversee and move permits forward with fewer slowdowns from other city departments — such as Austin Energy, Water and Transportation — would alleviate many of the delays the department experiences now. It’s crucial our elected officials provide the tools and resources necessary to address these issues, and RECA’s subject-matter experts are here to help.

Dianne Bangle, CEO of Real Estate Council of Austin, Austin

Roy asks for respect, but

tries to have it both ways

Re: Aug. 22 article, "U.S. Rep. Chip Roy conducts a town hall in two acts — one civil, one not."

Thank you Rep. Chip Roy for holding — and the Statesman for covering — a town hall meeting.

Rep. Roy stated, “we can’t get anything done in Washington. ... you’re not even willing to listen,” referring to Democratic leadership and audience members. He also said, “be respectful or you’re going to be asked to leave.” He called four female Congressional colleagues, all Democrats, “the four speakers of the apocalypse.”

I ask Rep. Roy to foster the communication he says he wants by not describing colleagues as evil. Listen to members of Congress and his constituents who don't agree with him, especially since he won by only about 2%.

He can’t have it both ways — he asks for respect and then name calls. He needs to play his part in “binding together as a community .”



Shannon Stewart, Austin

O'Rourke could be a hero

or two-time loser, instead

Re: Aug. 18 article, "Texas GOP walks tightrope."

An open letter to Beto O’Rourke:

You could be the hero who turns Texas blue in 2020 by defeating John Cornyn for U.S. Senate and, in the process, increasing Texas Democratic turnout substantially. Instead, by continuing a hopeless presidential campaign, you will become a two-time loser without a platform.

If you serve in the U.S. Senate, you will be even more qualified to run for and win a race for president in a later year.

Please see Jonathan Tilove’s Aug. 18 article in the Austin American-Statesman.

Shudde Bess Bryson Fath, Austin