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Letters for November 21, 2009
Bad Figurework In Housing Proposals
In regard to “Housing authority’s policies don’t match reality” (The Daily News, Oct 28): It’s disconcerting that, even before Hurricane Ike, the executive director of the Galveston Housing Authority could have told our city government we have three times more low-income housing than Houston, which has 500 vouchers for 2.2 million population versus Galveston’s voucher total of 2,203.
After Hurricane Ike, why didn’t Harish Krishnarao retabulate and tell Galvestonians we had 6.96 times more housing assistance residences than Houston and needed to scale down our projects? Instead, he wanted to rebuild in the same flood-prone locations and add more low-income housing to boot!
Shrub Kempner has suggested that low-income families could become homeowners. Poverty-level citizens have difficulty enough making ends meet, let alone worry about mortgage payments.
Housing vouchers are helpful, but home ownership may be a long way off for single-income families, or seniors living on Social Security checks.
Maybe neighboring towns will house the 6.96 times more people on housing assistance than this town can incorporate.
Let’s hope Galveston’s future is well thought out before GHA decides to over-build its housing projects.
Lucia Mock
Galveston
Longwinded Council Shortchanging Public
It’s ironic that Galveston City Council members are talking of invoking Robert’s Rules so they can have two 10-minute discussions on each agenda item while the pesky public can speak for three minutes only.
True, anyone can spit out, even eloquently support, an opinion in three minutes, but you can’t do it effectively for complex issues. So why doesn’t the council try three minutes, instead of 20?
Because they can’t. A good example is the Aug. 6 city council-redevelopment authority workshop. There was not one minute of public comment, not one vote taken, and yet that meeting lasted almost seven hours and the taxpayers were billed almost $17,000 for the consultants present.
I still haven’t figured out what two attorneys and three consultants did for all that time.
The council didn’t object to that meeting, its length or expenses, but the mayor and council members Weber, Colbert and Woods objected to the length of time the public can speak at a meeting.
I said it was ironic, but it is also sad.
Jackie Cole
Galveston
Tea Baggers Should Hit League City
Despite having a Kemah address, unfortunately my house is subject to the League City taxing district.
As reflected in the latest property tax bill, this city’s bloated bureaucracy continues to require far too much money from its r4esidents.
The tea-bagger crowd needs to be protesting on Walker Street with a call for drastic budget and tax cuts beginning next year.
Edward Szymanski
Kemah
Questions That COM Needs To Answer
What is happening to cause the solicited and unsolicited resignations of some College of the Mainland employees?
Why are tenures now being denied at the college? Why are long-term employees being asked to take early retirement?
Why has the governing structure been changed so the balance of power leans almost horizontally towards the administration and drastically away from the employees?
What justifies this 180-degree transformation without even a hint of compromise?
Why the desire, spoken and silent, of so many employees, to leave a place of employment during the worst economic times in recent history? Why are so many employees so unhappy?
Why would a board of trustees purposefully weaken workers’ employment security?
Why are so many things being changed at COM and divisions being created when these trying times are calling for unity among all of us?
I understand the new president wants a “world-class” and “global” community college. Even if this weren’t an oxymoron, how can he develop a world-class college with a third-world governing structure for employees?
James Taylor
Hitchcock
Kick Anti-Americans Out Of The Country
Nadal Malik Hasan’s attack at Fort Hood should be a wake-up call to the people of this country that there will never be an end to the war in the Middle East.
It’s obvious there is an endless supply of radical Muslim terrorists who are willing and happy to die. Why do we waste human lives and money on a war that could have been resolved with just one or two bomb drops?
Do folks really think there will ever be peace in the Middle East? What would have happened if Hasan had pulled his “jihad” overseas? I am sure he would be in a nice pine box now.
There are too many radical terrorists infiltrating this country. After 9-11, didn’t we learn a lesson? Have we all forgotten the death and destruction these people caused?
Now we relive 9-11 at Fort Hood. Let’s get tougher on anti-Americans in this country. The biggest threat to our security comes from within. America — love it or leave it!
Faye Leonhardt
Texas City
Good Lucky Managers Unfairly Targeted
Why was Lucky Mini Mart targeted in the raid on this illegal “gambling place?”
The Daily News failed to mention in “Officers seize 8-liners in raid” (Nov. 11) that the “managers” of the convenience store are brother and sister and that the store is family-owned and operated by these two hardworking people, along with their father.
You failed to mention that money taken from the machines would be used for food and sodas for the customers, as well as for gifts such as candy, food and household products. You failed to mention that, out of the money seized, the mini mart also stocked its store and restaurant and donated to charity regularly.
Tom and Kim (the managers’ American names) are two of the kindest, most caring people. Kim always has a smile and kind word, while Tom always makes sure no one goes hungry as he strives always to do the right thing in life.
It’s a shame. They’ve been in this community their whole lives and never caused any trouble.
With all the drug dealers, prostitutes and illegal vehicles that I see everyday driving along FM 1765, why are we wasting our tax dollars on this?
Wendy Kressley
La Marque
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