Audio By Carbonatix
Baby Brokers
Adoption racket: Jennifer what’s-her-name’s story is so warped, one can hardly believe it could be true (“Ringing Up Baby,” by Craig Malisow, June 7).
And as if it were not sick and twisted enough on its own…she is just one of many adoption facilitators and baby brokers who operate in the netherworld of human trafficking we call adoption in the United States!
Among some of the more notable adoption practitioners are a used car or car parts salesman (depending on which newspaper got its facts straight); a former flight attendant and beauty pageant winner who now calls herself an “adoption educator”; and a former hairdresser.
Some work in conjunction with attorneys who help them navigate the differing state laws so they know where to house expectant mothers, where to set up their office and where to have the adoption take place.
Many private adoption agencies have their license suspended multiple times and continue to operate. When finally shut down, they simply change the business name and/or move to another state.
But I have been called non-objective and worse for exposing these charlatans in whose hands the lives of children are in the balance.
And our government, rather than regulate or totally stop this human trafficking, promotes adoption and gives tax credits to those who deal with these unscrupulous gray- and black-market baby peddlers.
Mirah Riben
Via e-mail
I Heart the Mexican
Festive guy: I’m not sure how long you have been writing Ask a Mexican, but I read it yesterday for the first time. It was absolutely hilarious! Thank you for clarifying the stereotypes of Mexicans and using such “festive” words to explain yourself. Can’t wait to read the next one. Good luck!
Tricia Robles
Dallas
A Jones for Jones
Everybody wins: The amount of exposure that the area will receive around the world while hosting the Super Bowl is incalculable (“Mayor Buzzkill,” by Richie Whitt, May 31). And, to think the stadium is being built for eight Cowboys home games a year is just plain stupid. There are already multiple events planned for the facility, and it is still several years away from completion.
And, the AAC a failure or bad deal? Anyone who would say that has either not seen the development around the arena, doesn’t remember the site before the AAC or has the last name of Boyd.
Fraggy
Ain’t worth it: Another yahoo who can’t see that this is a one-time event. Had you done your homework, you’d know that the only person in Arlington who will really profit is Jerry Jones. By the way, he’s smart enough to stay out of Arlington for 350 days a year.
The immense drain on taxpayers to get a bad deal is the real story. That the Cowflops weren’t pursued by Irving after they had 30 or so years to reap the dubious benefits of having the team there doesn’t register with Mr. Whitt.
I haven’t missed the thrust of the article—that Laura Miller will be blamed for everything—but the real story is that Jerry had a deal already set with Arlington all along as a fallback. Would Jerry have chosen Dallas as a home if all the demands were met? Who knows? It’s likely it would have opened another round of bidding.
Dallas will benefit from the stadium whether it’s in Fort Worth, Arlington or Irving. That will also apply to the Super Bowl. The main difference is that the money won’t be given to Jones. That they gave away too much to the Stars and Mavs is beyond dispute, but I don’t see that as Laura’s fault either.
That the Dallas pols will find another way to squander the money seems to be beyond doubt; see the latest proposal for our lovely river expressway, for one example.
Face it, Richie: It’s shit no matter what. Eight games a year ain’t worth the expense. Neither is the Trinity Xway or whatever they’re calling it.
Kevin F.
Only off by $325M: While I agree with a number of points Mr. Whitt made, once again I find it disconcerting that a writer repeats a widely inaccurate figure on the economic impact of hosting a Super Bowl. Rather than the $400 million-plus economic impact boasted by supporters of a Super Bowl (who offer no concrete proof of how this number is arrived at), peer-reviewed research by economists who have studied the issue peg it between $50 million and $75 million, depending on factors particular to the host city. Certainly, this amount is nothing to sneeze at, but it’s a far cry from $400 million and, really, nothing to write home about for a one-time event that may come around every decade or so (and will never come around again if Dallas suffers an ice storm like Atlanta did earlier this decade). I would encourage Mr. Whitt to do a little research before quoting economic impact numbers, because they can be terribly misleading. If he doesn’t care to question the validity of numbers bandied about from those with an interest in hosting such an event, then he should apply for a job with the News or Dallas Cowboys Star-Telegram.
George
Correction
In the article “Raggio’s Reality” (Night & Day, June 7), Robyn Raggio was described as a native Texan. She was actually born in California.