As the proud owner of a cat, I was deeply upset to read of Dr. Lucas' abusive and unethical violations of health, safety, and trust ["Dr. Lucas' little shop of horrors," October 9]. My heart goes out to everybody whose beloved pets were injured by this monster. Dr. Lucas may be ignorant enough to believe that she is legally untouchable; however, it takes a certain type of stupidity to claim that a massive post-operative infection occurs because of a pet's self-grooming. May Dr. Lucas experience the exact same treatment as the animals under her "care."
Anonymous
Via e-mail
He believed in me
I don't know how many clients Doug Mulder ["Best criminal lawyer," Best of Dallas, September 25] has dumped, but do not count me as one of his victims. I had only one lawyer for the entire time during the criminal investigation and trial. His name is Tom Mills, and he wins his cases. He took my case on a small retainer and a hand-shake promise from me that I would pay him in full somewhere down the line. I did just that.
He later hired Jay Ethington for our team, but these were the only two attorneys who ever represented Dan Peavy--period. By the way, I didn't walk on the charges--I was found not guilty by a 12-member jury. I would think that the real value of a lawyer is more accurately measured by his clients and not his peers. I submit that Mr. Mills believed in me when times were hard and stuck with me when dollars were tough to find. He walked the full mile with me, and I personally think he represents the best Dallas has to offer in the area of criminal lawyers.
You mentioned in your article that Mulder would have added to his reputation considerably if he had kept me as his client. You must jest. You jump to the conclusion that he would have won; I submit that one thing is for sure--he would have gotten his money up front. Mills probably gained some recognition, but the real reason he did so was that he won a case many of his peers and many of my friends gave up on.
The real problem here is that Mills was tied up with the Peavy case and unable to "walk" Darlie Routier. As for me in the Mulder vs. Mills game, the score is Mills 1, Mulder 0. The true test of a good lawyer is finding one who cares about you and believes in you. Mulder represents the system that says "you get just as much justice as you can pay for." He must have been too rich for my pocketbook, and how glad I am. My choice is Tom Mills, a man dedicated to his life's work, but first to his client.
Carver D. Peavy
Plano
Constitution be damned
One should remember, when considering the matter of Buchmeyer v. McBryde ["Temper, Temper," October 2], that Jerry Buchmeyer is the man who, in ruling against the 10-4-1 Dallas City Council plan, effectively said that the U.S. Congress was unconstitutional, since 10-4-1 closely resembles the structure of the legislative and executive branches (representatives, senators, and the president). One should consider that this pitiful fellow Buchmeyer thinks that he, and he alone, has the power, authority, and even the divine right to determine just who collective North Dallas should have for its neighbors. Contrary to popular liberal opinion, Jerry Buchmeyer doesn't give a shit about the Constitution. Small wonder, therefore, that he opposes Judge McBryde.
Steve Crager
Via e-mail
Travesty of justice
Your article on McBryde was timely--having recently appeared in his court, I witnessed a complete travesty of justice. Ten minutes to pick a jury of your peers? This case will be tried in a day and a half or I'll put an end to it? Judge McBryde is not what a judge is supposed to be--fair. But like him, we will spend our life savings fighting what is right.
Afraid to use my name--appeal is coming.
Name withheld
Via e-mail
Gonzalez's goose
Thanks to your excellent investigative reporting, Yvonne Gonzalez's goose is cooked, well done and crispy! We, the citizens of Dallas, knew that Gonzalez was a fake from the time she set foot here. Why isn't Robby Collins bragging now? After all, prior to her being exposed for who she is, [Collins] was touting the fact that he was the one who went to Santa Fe and brought her here. Where is Robert Hinkle? Wasn't he a master at propaganda facades? He should receive...what was that he gave Gonzalez at the rally? Oh yes, a golden boot. He should reserve the award for himself. Yes, the rusty boot, mired in total B.S.!
On a more serious note, all the cronies that Gonzalez placed in top positions because they could be trusted--by her--should be booted out immediately with Hinkle's rusty B.S. boot! The district is now in a shambles, and I am afraid that the real losers are the citizens of Dallas and the children of the schools.
We all are very much aware that Leos should also receive the boot for allowing Gonzalez to run loose without sound board leadership.
Anonymous
Via e-mail
Meddlers, go home
Here is yet another comment about the DISD fiasco.
I am amazed that the citizens of Dallas have tolerated these so-called "leaders" to use the DISD as a platform to further their political agendas. What amazes me further is that some of the hell-raisers apparently don't even live in Dallas. I know if I were a resident/parent of Dallas, I'd wonder why some of these out-of-town leaders find it their business to disrupt my school board. Each and every parent of a child who attends a DISD school should be outraged and demand that these idiots take their business elsewhere. The school board isn't the place to house a political arena.
The kids are our future. Dallasites should dedicate their full attention and tax dollars to the needs of these kids and their teachers. Tax dollars shouldn't be spent on spy scams, private investigators, tasteful office furnishings, or having cops at board meetings because of the presence of extremists. If we don't properly educate and prepare these kids for the real world, then who is going to take care of us when we become old and gray?
It's time to set aside "political correctness" and do what's right and best for these kids. Address the "real" issues and get on with educating these kids. And finally...tell the outsiders to butt out!
Anonymous
Via e-mail
LULAC scholarships
As a mother of a daughter who is a senior in high school, I read with much interest Rebeca Rodriguez's article ["Brawl in the family," October 2] shedding light on what appears to be LULAC's scholarship scam.
I urge the Observer to follow up with another article on LULAC as soon as they receive the requested annual filing reports of the Hispanic Institute for Progress (HIP) from the IRS. According to your article, the IRS indicated it would take several months to locate and retrieve this information. HIP is a nonprofit organization set up under the federal tax code; therefore, their financial records must be made available for examination upon request. That's the law. As a lawyer, Ms. Adelfa Callejo should know that.
Frankly, the public has a right to know the identity of individuals listed as members of the board of directors of HIP, along with total disclosure of their expenditures. I applaud Mr. [Gehrig] Saldana's efforts to assist families who are in need of financial assistance in order to provide higher education funding for truly needy children. I cannot imagine how LULAC District III director Greg Vaquera could not know how much money his district has in its bank account. Even more astonishing is that he does not know the name of the bank where they have their bank account. In light of LULAC District III treasurer Perry Vecchio's comments, I ask the Observer to stay the course and enlighten our citizenry once they receive the information requested from the IRS.
As for Southland Corp., I would advise them to put a hold on their proposed building donation project until LULAC District III gets its house in order. From what I can tell, something smells bad in LULAC today. Last, I ask the Observer's assistance in obtaining LULAC scholarship applications so all senior students can apply.
Rosemary Hernandez
Dallas
I am writing this letter concerning the LULAC controversy. I have been a member of LULAC youth for three years now. During my last year in high school, I received a scholarship of $500 during the LULAC district convention that took place last April. This money has helped me pay for my first semester in college. I feel sad when I hear problems about our own LULAC family. I feel that they need to solve their problems and differences soon. I feel that the adult LULAC is not setting an example for growing LULAC youth. The way they are acting is just going to drive us away from LULAC. The people or "members" that are so-called in LULAC are using LULAC in a bad way--these people know who they are. Instead of getting Hispanics together, they are just setting the wrong example for us, the youth.
Conrado Mendoza
Via e-mail
Correction
Contrary to what the Dallas Observer stated in a Best of Dallas item (September 25) and in two editor's notes published in our letters column, Channel 4 news anchor Ashleigh Banfield has never sung "A Different Drum" during her nightclub appearances and, in fact, says she has never heard of the song. We sincerely regret the errors.
