It’s time to stop lying about Herrera

As a lifelong Texas resident, I’m so tired of all the fighting and the lies. I’ve met Brandon Herrera in person, and he’s such a great and genuine guy. His opponents trying to smear him as a Nazi and a Confederate is just sad and desperate. Herrera has a strong appreciation for the preservation of all sides of history, and they act like that’s somehow a bad thing.

For that, I’m doubling down. I’m getting all of my friends and neighbors to vote in November just so that we can give him a little more boost against these lies. I’ve never met someone willing to give so much of himself just to help our country, and we as Texans should at least give a little time to make sure he gets to Congress.

John Fuentes
San Antonio

The feds are coming to take it

Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park are, without question, the most rugged and the most wild places in Texas. And arguably the most beautiful. I know it’s easy to say this or that is the most beautiful place, but if you haven’t been there I urge you to ask someone who has or Google some photos.

The Big Bend geology is some of the most complex, convoluted and fascinating in the entire world. Unique and dramatic canyons that rise an astonishing 1,200 feet virtually straight up. Because of the sky island effect creating numerous different habitats, combined with a major migrating flyway, the Big Bend boasts an astonishing 480 different bird species. Combine that with over 80 species of mammals and hundreds of reptiles, and you have some of the most diverse wildlife in all of North America. It seems like everything about this special place is fabulous. More dinosaur fossils are found here than anywhere in the country.

The Big Bend also has a claim to be one of the oldest continuous settlements in the country and the extremely rich archaeology along the river to go with it. Another feature of this place is the extremely rare dark skies here are unmatched in the entire U.S. The Big Bend is indeed one of the treasures of Texas.

But now, the federal government has come here claiming there is an emergency and waved all 28 regulations where the public could have a chance to weigh in. So, with virtually no input from the local politicians, law enforcement or the people of the region, they decree they will build a wall. This 150-mile stretch has, by orders of magnitude, the least illegal crossings of the entire border with Mexico. The cost of this 18-to-30-foot-high wall, with roads on both sides, and lights will be stunningly expensive, for a problem that doesn’t even exist.

So the question that people in the Big Bend Region and across Texas are asking is: “Where is the Texas Pride that we hear so much about?” Wherever I travel in Texas I see “Don’t Tread on Me” flags and “Come and Take It” flags with the cannon emblem. Well guess what? The Feds are coming and they are taking. And they are taking one of the best places in Texas.

All the local judges and sheriffs in the region have spoken out against the wall. But we have heard nothing from other elected Texas politicians like Senators Cornyn and Cruz and Congressman Gonzales and Governor Abbott.

If they want to save this phenomenal place, they better take some action soon because construction is set to begin in June.

Sean McGuire
Terlingua