GALVESTON — Landry’s employees and their families put Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier workers to the test Sunday as they prepare for the official opening.
Do you favor GHA's plan to rebuild 569 public housing units, which includes the mixed-income developments and scattered-site public housing units throughout Galveston?
Do you favor GHA's plan to rebuild 569 public housing units, which includes the mixed-income developments and scattered-site public housing units throughout Galveston?
Votes: 1340
Yes
41.5%
No
58.5%
Voting in this poll is closed.
This is a non-scientific user poll. Results are not statistically valid and cannot be assumed to reflect the views of Daily News users as a group or the general population.
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By Gary Miller (IHOG)
on Jan. 20, 2012 at 2:45 PM
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I'm dumfounded that Heber would take this poll. He can't possibly be so out of touch as to think there's significant popular support for GHA, could he? Assuming he does know it'll will go down to flaming defeat, why is he conducting it, given that he favors the tripling of public housing (under the guise of "mixed income")?
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By Steve Austin (jivemutha)
on Jan. 20, 2012 at 4:05 PM
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Children benefit from living in mixed income neighborhoods. The GHA plan for working with a private sector partner to build mixed income rental housing includes a human capital plan for helping the public housing residents to rise out of poverty. We're for it!
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By Phil Newton (Newbert1)
on Jan. 20, 2012 at 5:29 PM
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Mr Newton: What makes you think middle class people will be willing to move into units identical to those of the poor? And if they did, simply living next to middle class people changes very little. If only this money were to be put into education, reduced college tuition, day-care for mothers going back to school or into training programs or to a job, then maybe the cycle of poverty could be broken. That's how East Lake Foundation in Atlanta did it. But the Mayor, who talks East Lake, cares only about building and giving huge amounts of money to rich white contractors. He doesn't care about the poor. If he did, he would be trying to make it easier for them to move out of poverty instead of easier to stay in it.
When David Collins' blog pointed out that GHA could buy up beach condos currently on the market that cost less than the proposed units and were already integrated both racially and economically, there was silence from the mayor.
Setting up a system in which we make sure the grandchildren of the poor are also poor may cost us tax payers money but the biggest injustice by far in doing this is to the poor themselves. Please try to see through this cynical illusion being propagated by the mayor.
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By Steve Austin (jivemutha)
on Jan. 20, 2012 at 5:42 PM
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This is a non-scientific user poll. Results are not statistically valid and cannot be assumed to reflect the views of Daily News users as a group or the general population.
Wow, Herbert, Did you expect anything else? Oh, this might been one of those Jedi mind tricks Herbert was playing.
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By Army Ranger (frivera0916)
on Jan. 20, 2012 at 5:43 PM
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I am not supportive of building ANY public housing units on an outer barrier island, that has few opportunities for jobs, mediocre school system GISD, no economical transportation to the mainland or Houston where jobs do exist, where it is necessary to evacuate the occupants every 1-3 years for hurricanes, where the crime rate has gone down since the housing was destroied by IKE. Now doesn't that tell them ( the powers that BE) something ? Another hurricane will come and destroy any new units, and the building codes and insurance codes are so strict now that building units on Galveston Island is about 30% more costly than building them on the mainland , where there are jobs, and better schools and transportation , and better opportunities for these occupants. If we HAVE to build anything , no more than the 500 units and I'd like to say that those should be for elderly , but the elderly are at high risk living on an island that has to be evacuated. I am for the vouchers being able to be used for rental housing that is readily available in GAlveston. WE do not need to build new housing for these people when so many nice rental units are available now and the vouchers will pay for it .
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By Pat Hazelwood (ph1tx)
on Jan. 20, 2012 at 6:36 PM
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If someone is up and coming economically they would not want to live in an area known as a charity /project area. Anyone who says they would should be willing to buy and home and live there there. Children do not benefit from living in a mixed income neighborhood. That statement has no basis of fact.
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By Pat Hazelwood (ph1tx)
on Jan. 20, 2012 at 6:42 PM
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Phil,
You said: "Children benefit from living in mixed income neighborhoods."
I agree with you wholeheartedly! That is why I support fully integrated scattered sites instead of the mixed-income developments. Scattered sites are a much more truly integrated way to disperse low-income housing.
The mixed-income developments proposed by GHA, according to McCormick, Barron, Salazar's own internal statistics, show that the low-income ratio of their developments routinely, over time, increases far beyond the original intended ratio, turning them into poverty dense developments once again.
The best way to prevent this is to assure a true integration for low-income families by building their homes throughout the islands neighborhoods, NOT in 2 or 3 dense developments that won't maintain their "mixed-income" ratios.
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By Holly Fortenberry (hollyfortenberry)
on Jan. 20, 2012 at 8:02 PM
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We will only reforce the notion that the same housing development is provided (mixed-income) for those with an income vs those without an income. The kids could be easily swayed to accept "why achieve" when I can have the same as achievers by being an unemployable dropout. No manner how amazing the government housing is, it will still be nothing more than government housing and eventually detrimental to the spirit. Don't even try to make me belived that there are not enough real homes available in the Galveston County rental market to house PH families with children. Elderly and disabled do not need to incentive to set the world on fire by living among mixed-income residents, in fact some cases, just the ability of living alone is the greatest achivement they can strive for. This not-so-mobile group have totally different needs.
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By Sally Forth (wakeupmaggie)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 12:09 AM
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BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME AND IT WILL BECOME A GHETTO. USE THE FUNDS FOR VOUCHERS FILLED THE VACANT PROPERTIES ON GALVESTON AND THERE WILL BE A CHANCE TO GET THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT OUT OF POVERTY AND CRIME RIDDEN AREAS.
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By GW Cornelius (GW_Cornelius)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 6:25 AM
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The important thing about mixed income housing with supportive services is that it has a proven record of providing a pathway out of poverty and to sucessful living for its residents. This is shown by research and by the support of such notable figures as Warren Buffet. Before you make assumptions that often appear to be very slightly disguised racism please do some research.
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By Laura Murrell (lmurrell740 )
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 7:55 AM
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Ms Murrell: Behind closed doors and in whites-only company, even with mostly Republicans present, I've been delighted to note that there has been remarkably little evidence of racism in discussions about this subject.
Partly, I'm guessing you're picking up that some of the resisistance to GHA is not wanting to "live next to poor black people." What you don't take in is that there would be 100% the same resistance to living next to what is derisively called "poor white trash."
Denying that poverty whether purple, green, black or white, brings with it higher crime, drug dealing, and beer cans in the street is simply denying reality.
These issues are, however, not nearly the whole story. There are many other valid totoally non-racist reasons to oppose designing a system that will keep the poor poor as 60 years of public housing has proven.
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By Steve Austin (jivemutha)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 9:18 AM
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The 'racist' cries have little place in this discussion. It is not about race; it's about money. I happen to believe that people should earn whatever they have and that city government should represent ALL of the citizens, not just those who think they deserve free housing, whatever color they may be.
Before you accuse me of being heartless, I also believe in helping the disabled and elderly. They are not the problem. The woman who cried when they tore down the old public housing here because "five generations of my family lived here" is the problem.
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By Lynn Burke (Lynn152)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 10:31 AM
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all you have to do is change the word rascism to profiling and you hit the nail on the heAD laura....
the pole is how many support this, not what would be the best thing to do. our problem is that we are under this spell of the conciliation agreement and we must build back what we lost, one for one. now the feds see that as building back on the the exsisting footprints, otherwise the vision of mixed income that holly promotes is the ideal solution. i personaly support mixed income in any form we can get, because it supplies a chance that a more positive role model is visable to the children. community is the most important element after parents that form a childs future. imagine one child that might come out of such a enviorment, now imagine that that child becomes a doctor, a sienctist, an artist, and has a profound and positive effect on mankind, because of some role model that child became exposed to, in the community. if we build back on the orginal footprints only public housing even at 50% density the best we could hope for is 50% of the problems that we have had in the past.
ROLE MODELS: we like to think we are smart and some of us are. any professtion or talent that man excells at is man imataing what has gone before. given that, we can see how important it is to have positive role models.
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By Neil Wilson (eastendblogger)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 10:47 AM
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In stead of building new units, HELP the people already there whose businesses are FAILING because they need some financial help to keep their businesses going.
I am personally watching a business that has been on the island for over 25 years go down with the "bath water" because they need those funds to keep their business going.
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By Anne Lacy (Anne_Lacy)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 10:51 AM
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Laura,
I agree with you about supportive services. Ideally, we would have scattered sites AND supportive servies. This is what I am pushing for.
I would think GHA has the money to do both if they really want to do it right. If they are worried about the cost of providing support services to dispersed scattered sites, then let's discuss that. It would be a wonderful discussion!
Please do not bring in racism. Most of us against mixed-income developments actually probably have more faith in the potential of low-income families than the bleeding heart liberals. For most of us, race is not a factor, it is about helping people in the very best way.
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By Holly Fortenberry (hollyfortenberry)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 11:07 AM
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Lynn Burke,
You said: "The woman who cried when they tore down the old public housing here because "five generations of my family lived here" is the problem."
This is where you have to have some humanity and compassion for the woman who cried this. Reality is relative. No matter where you live, if you have grown up somewhere and raised your children and grandchildren in a place, it will feel like home and it will be a loss if it disappears. THAT is human. Any of us would feel that way.
The real sad part is not that she is grieving for the loss of her home in the projects. It is the fact that society allowed the situation to exist so long that a women in her position would even be in a position to feel and say that. It is a failure of society to have allowed 5 generations to stay in public housing. We created this problem.
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By Holly Fortenberry (hollyfortenberry)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 11:14 AM
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Mr Wilson says "social exclusion is the problem." I think it's complex and culturally linked. When you look at poor culture in America--white, black, brown, or whatever--you must admit there is often less commitment to education than one finds in Japanese culture or Israeli culture or Hong Kong Chinese culture, etc. You can deny this but it's simply putting your head in the sand.
We may argue that at least with poor African Americans, the root of this lack of cultural emphasis in higher education comes from centuries of abusive treatment on the part of whites. For many years, it was even illegal to teach a slave to read or write. OK. True. But this admission doesn't dig us out of the problem.
Simply putting poor people next to middle class people changes remarkably little, though it may help some. Mostly, if done to the exclusion of other attempts to seriously change things, it simply makes the poor person want that fancy car, etc. It doesn't automatically make the the poor want the education that will get them to be able to afford middle class stuff.
We have a very complicated problem. At East Lake in Atlanta, they found a complex bunch of successful solutions. The mayor claims he's heading us in East Lake's direction. I absolutely do not see it when I look at his actions, which are almost all geared to physical construction of massive projects. That was NOT East Lake's sole focus. They attacked the problem from half a dozen directions simultaneously.
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By Steve Austin (jivemutha)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 11:21 AM
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thank you steve, "you must admit there is often less commitment to education" this is the face of social exclusion, it is not a councious act but a subcouncious act, carried out here and in many other areas. initiated by jim crowe laws and othwer forms of social exclution. ingrained in the subcouncious of americans as staus quo! those of us stuck here in the councious world are not even aware of it, and condemed to promote it!
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By Neil Wilson (eastendblogger)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 12:13 PM
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I agree, it is a failure of society that 5 generations of a family lived in pubic housing...it is also a failure of that family to take advantage of the free public education we are all given to make something of their lives themselves. It is also a failure of our current society to think that giving people a free home will "end poverty" (in jjs' words).
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By Lynn Burke (Lynn152)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 12:13 PM
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holly i see that we are not on the same side of center, but i comend you for your insite, and willingness to communicate something possitive of this issue.
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By Neil Wilson (eastendblogger)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 12:16 PM
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Support is contingent on GHA having and exercising the fortitude to maintain the housing at equal or better repair and maintenance than at original construction. Exercising management with fortitude aligned to perpetual monitoring and enforcing of tenant's guidelines and responsibilities will cause public housing to never transition back to the past of crime infested, low income, dilapidated sites.
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By Frank Benavidez (Frank_Benavidez)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 12:25 PM
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Thanks Neil. Although I think we are closer than you might realize. I too realize that the legacy of slavery is partly the slave mentality, the perspective that you are NOT to think for yourself, just let the "master" provide. Slavery created the dependent class. We have all seen that evolve into an ingrained sense of entitlement. Remember at the lectern at one city council meeting "just give me my money" by GHA Vice Chair? In that statement was no understanding that this was not his money.
That ingrained sense of entitlement is poison to the soul because it robs the person of the ability to feel gratitude. Entitlement and gratitude are mutually exclusive.
So, the dilemma we face as a society is that we have created a class of people who do not know the joy of earning their own way. So, through the ignorance that is no fault of their own, they perpetuate their own internalized racism.
And, then you have those who realize the value in "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" but yet have no compassion for the very real circumstance that many of the low-income people barely have a bootstrap on which to pull. They are impatient and insensitive, which further inhibits a dependant class from growing out of their invisible bonds.
Those of us who see both sides usually get lumped in with one side or the other. But I wish we would all stop with the hateful talk and name-calling (e.g. "racist", "bleeding heart liberal", "white trash", etc.). Instead let's find ways to replace that sense of entitlement with a desire to make it on their own. Education and accountability are vital. And so is compassion.
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By Holly Fortenberry (hollyfortenberry)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 3:34 PM
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almost anywhere you live in galveston is a mixed income neighborhood. you cant buy a house anywhere in Galveston that does not have some crappy crack house next to or across from it.
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By Jenni Marino (jenmar)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 4:46 PM
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Steve East Lake Meadows was not a success like the GHA says it is. East lake meadows was all about a Golf Course. A bunch of rich guys put a lot of their money in and built a upscale community and moved the former residents out and would not let them return because they did not want them next to their Golf Course. There is no comparison to what the GHA wants to do. http://www.cityparknola.org
Cousins' recommendation for a 30 percent mix of public housing residents has become fact in mixed income communities now. Here we have a glaring example of real estate developors setting housing policy, not based on need, because certainly, the need for low-income housing is greater than ever, but based on manageability, profitability, and the need to reduce the "risks" of developers choosing to participate in a Hope Vl, mixed income community. This is what you get when you privatize public housing: drastically reduced numbers for returning residents, and increased "manageability" and "profitability".
In his testimony, Cousins never mentions the fate of the those public residents who lived in the East Lake Meadows before its redevelopment. He doesn't mention replacement housing for them, their status, how they have fared...not unlike those residents left out of negotiations and plans for the redevelopment of St. Bernard. It is as though they cease to exist once plans are finalized.
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By Billie Hoskins (Billie_Hoskins)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 6:28 PM
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THE FALSE PROMISE OF THE MIXED-INCOME HOUSING PROJECT
By Robert C. Ellickson Walter E. Meyer Professor of Property and Urban Law, Yale Law School.
Since 1970, mixed-income (inclusionary) housing projects have proliferated in the United States. In a community of this sort, only some of the dwelling units, perhaps as few as 10 to 25 percent, are targeted for delivery of housing assistance. Eligible households that successively occupy these particular units pay below-market rents, while the occupants of the other units do not. This Article situates this innovation within the broader history of U.S. housing policy and evaluates its merits.
GOGP NOTE: 60% of the units (40% public housing + 20% tax-credit) in the mixed-income projects proposed for Galveston will be targeted for delivery of housing assistance, far more than the ideal 10-25% cited above!
I contend that the mixed-income project approach, while superior to the traditional public housing model, is in almost all contexts distinctly inferior to the provision of portable housing vouchers to needy tenants. Although prior commentators also have touted the voucher approach, I enrich their analyses by addressing more fully the social consequences of various housing policies that might be used to economically integrate neighborhoods and buildings. It has traditionally been thought that enhancing socioeconomic diversity within a neighborhood has unalloyed social benefits. Many recent social-scientific studies present a more complex picture and weaken the case for government support of mixed-income projects.
GOGP NOTE: We are often asked WHY certain people support the GHA rebuilding plan. The author offers some possibilities below:
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By David Stanowski (dstanowski)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 6:40 PM
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WHY SUPPORT FOR PROJECT-BASED SUBSIDIES PERSISTS
Financial interests and anti-market ideologies spur much of the support for the production of subsidized housing projects, mixed-income or otherwise. A government program that annually dispenses billions of dollarswhether for the production of ethanol, submarines, or affordable housingbrings into existence constituencies whose members then provide continuing political support for the program. Many housing advocates are connected to organizations whose revenues depend on the continued development of affordable projects.
Federal, state, and local politicians all have learned that having the power to influence project approvals can provide leverage to raise campaign contributions. It is hardly news that HUDs project programs have frequently been rocked by scandal.
An infusion of portable vouchers into a city boosts both the quality and quantity of housing supply because the rise in demand helps induce landlords to upgrade their buildings to attract tenants. Conversely, an infusion of subsidized projects adds less than might be expected to the total housing stock because it tends to displace private production that would otherwise occur. Those who rank project subsidies above vouchers tend to ignore these secondary effects.
The staunchest supporters of project-based subsidies, while not numerous, are sophisticated and well organized. The millions of poor households who would be the primary beneficiaries of an expanded voucher program are diffuse and not mobilized. Enough said.
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By David Stanowski (dstanowski)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 6:41 PM
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CONCLUSION: THE MEDIOCRITY OF THE MIXED-INCOME HOUSING PROJECT
Mixed-income affordable housing projects are unquestionably superior to the large ghettoized public housing structures that until recently blighted the most populous American cities. While the process of developing a mixed income project is likely to give rise to more red tape per subsidized unit, a private mixed-income project is likely to endure longer than a public housing project and to be better managed and less socially troubled.
Nonetheless, building mixed-income subsidized projects is a mediocre policy approach. In most contexts, using tax revenues to enhance spending on housing vouchers would be far more efficient and fairer than devoting those same revenues to providing inclusionary units. Although hardly problem-free, vouchers confer greater benefits on recipients and avoid many of the pitfalls of project-based aid. Experience indicates that the mixed-income project approach is far more flawed. It has blossomed primarily on account of the political influence of those who gain from supplying these developments. That a return to the traditional public housing model would be worse yet hardly establishes an affirmative case for the mixed-income model.
Some specific indictments are in order. One mediocre federal program is HOPE VI, a vehicle for razing a failed public housing project (a good idea) and replacing it, commonly at extraordinarily high cost, with a new mixed-income development (a bad idea). Another is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the program of federal aid that now encompasses a greater number of dwelling units than the entire stock of public housing.
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By David Stanowski (dstanowski)
on Jan. 21, 2012 at 6:41 PM
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Joe Has in the Past has shown he is Helping us those near & Far & for no Personal Gain, This is one Person I will go & stand By anytime to say He is far our Interest not the Few.
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By Carroll Benoit (Carroll_Benoit)
on Jan. 22, 2012 at 9:56 PM
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A question for all of those so opposed to the concept of public housing in whatever form it is presented: Have you ever known someone who lived in public housing? Personally known, not read some quote in the newspaper by one person, not made assumptions based on what you saw if you drove through a particular neighborhood, but actually known, had a relationship with someone in public housing? No assumptions on my part - I'm truly interested in knowing.
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By Allota Phun (havinphun)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 4:00 AM
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yes I have and was told by this person how scared they were for their children, how many times cops were there, fights, and drugs right outside their door. This person wanted a voucher but was told there were none to be had so they had to live in the projects. I really felt for this person, they were in school making good grades. The type of person we should be helping. This person was determined that with hard work and a little luck from above they would be ok for another year while they finished school.
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By Lynn Burke (Lynn152)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 8:53 AM
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>>>>>Thank you David Stanowski.<<<<<<
Very informative and well delivered. Unfortunately those expecting to profit from the project are better informed on how to grab the most. The only thing they all agree with is they need a growing and continuing supply of those to "help" with OPM. I believe PH should cover all people who are so handicapped they can't earn a living. Drug addiction or sloth would not qualify. Help all the others by not helping them at all. My Granddad told me hunger was the most powerful motive for getting a job. I suspect it still is.
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By Gary Miller (IHOG)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 9:50 AM
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The number of people getting "assistance" from poverty projects and illegal migrants working in the U.S. are about the same. The deadbeats should be offered jobs held by illegal migrants. Instead of their last benefit check, give them a list of jobs they can have.
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By Gary Miller (IHOG)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 10:07 AM
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Almost all of us have compassion for those less fortunate than we are. From this basic human capacity springs an urge to "do something," for the less fortunate, and this is good and decent. However, if the "something" we aim to do will make matters worse for those whom we seek to help, it should not be done. And so it is with the woefully ill-conceived idea to build public housing for the poor in Galveston. While I am optimistic about our Island's future, I cannot deny that this is arguably one of the worst places in which to "imprison" the poor and disadvantaged by putting them into government-subsidized housing here. Consider the statistically-typical resident, a young mother with no job, little education, one or more illegitimate children, and no husband/father living art home. She needs (1) great schools within walking distance (2) safe neighborhoods through which to walk, (3) great jobs (with career ladders) within easy walking distance or easy public transportation access (4) a pool of potential husband/step fathers (without whom her children will be statistically handicapped) (5) possibly educational/career training access for herself (6) a home safe from hurricanes and floods. Galveston fills essentially none of those needs.
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By Chris Frederickson (cjfrederickson)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 11:21 AM
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i think people need to remember everyone should have a nice place to live and not just people who have money there are going to have poor people all over the world and in order for everyone to have a good chance to live decent we have to give everyone a chance to have a nice place to live and raise there children everyone should have that right and not just those who can afford it God love use all
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By Donna Gaines (donnagaines)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 12:02 PM
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I have known, currently know, and have myself lived in federally subsidized housing. The Island currently has plenty of opportunity for the less-fortunate, or elderly population of Galveston in the form of Section 8 vouchers. Not once have I heard any supporter of Public Housing in Galveston explain how they will financially add to the budget of GISD obvious additional funding it takes to educate students from impoverished areas. Yet GISD as always will shoulder the burden if we produce unacceptably rated schools. We in Galveston have always been at a complete disadvantage to all adjacent communities when you compare the percentage of students we educate from federally subsidized housing against those who are not. Balance is not being offered with PH. Galveston with its population of 47,000, is offering as much public housing as many nationwide suburbs with populations of close to a million. With the deep cuts from the State in education funding and how much GISD is responsible for being the driving economic force on the Island through their accountability ratings, where is the morsel of fairness in Galveston offering 99% of PH for the entire County. GISD will simply continue the uphill battle and not even have a leaning stick to sit on at the table that decides that our Island gets not one other choice. More PH will help the sale of plywood to board up more houses in our neighborhoods. Decades of inequality is enough. Think what is best for Galveston, not MBS.
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By Herb Broussard Jr. (10secdrummer)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 2:12 PM
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create job that will sustain a good life and the poor will rise out of poverty. bring businesses here that will pay enough to sustain life and a livelyhood. gALVESTON NEEDS BUSSINESSES TO BOOST OUR POOR ECONOMY. MORE JOBS WITH BETTER PAY WILL HELP WITH POVERTY. gALVESTON USE TO BE A POWER IN BUSSINESS NOW WE ARE JUST BENCH WARMERS SATTING ON THE SIDELINE BLAMES THEIR MISFORTUNE ON THE POOR.
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By Joey Quiroga (joeyquiroga)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 2:38 PM
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The people that NEED assistance will NEVER GET ASSISTANCE in this way, because the criminals and multi-generational welfare abusers will take everything. Why should Joe Schmoe III work when he can move into GHA's condos, sling dope, shack up with his baby mama, park his car that's 'more expensive (he has a $10,000 stereo and $3000 rims) than Judy's, who works as a nurse at UTMB and makes good money' outside his project apt, etc etc etc. It's BS.
Entitlement without an excuse. Sure, more housing! Hell, just donate the island as one giant Housing Project. Everyone else can just move on the mainland.
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By Herb Broussard Jr. (10secdrummer)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 2:57 PM
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Up until 1965 when LBJ got his "Great Society" rolling, this was the greatest country on earth. Since then, look at us, a nation of beggers, con-artists, baby mills, uneducated, lazy useless eaters! Sure, bring more near-do-wells to Galveston, and we sone will have Detroit by the sea!!
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By Ralph A. Lapaugh (Ralph_A. LaPaugh )
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 3:58 PM
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people always talking about the bad that came out the projects but they never talk about the good....I stayed in the projects when i was young and i finish school...and me and my two kids stayed in the projects at the time ike hit....and both of my kids are on the A&B honor roll and my daughter was given a computer for that from housing....they also were helping the kids after school, taking them on feild trips and they also had the boys club coming out there.....yes your going to deal with drugs where ever you go its global....but don't get mad and take it out on housing where some of us need a home and a place to stay......housing was not your home so its easy for you to bad talk it but it was mine and my two kids....and all of you try to take that away ......instead trying to do away with it all together then try fixing the problem......
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By Olivia Payton (libbylou)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 9:54 PM
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stop complaining about it i never seen none of you people who is always complaining about the drug and the cars and everything else you wanna complain about trying to help or make a differents in what you seen it going wrong you just want to take homes aways from everybody that how you solve the problem but guess what no housing and you still got a big drug problem....so if you dont have nothing good to say or want to help solve the problem then shut-up because your hurting the ones who really need it...until you have live there then you know nothing....yes things have to change and they have and still are..... I say PLEASE put our housing BACK.... we need our homes.....
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By Olivia Payton (libbylou)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 10:04 PM
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Rumors have it that dishonarable Mayar Joe J. has people wondering why they call him Joe Jaw, since supposedly he's moved out an down the island. But it s Galveston who doesn't want to be by the beech. Rite ? No we don't want no more public housing. We all has now a better hause than we used at the projects . Mymom gets sexton 8. EXcuze me I have Downnn's . But still thinks good.
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By Lizzie Tish (LizzieTish)
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 10:46 PM
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>>>Olivia Payton<<<<
Mrs Payton? Would you have been better off or worse off with a voucher that let you chose where you and your successful children lived? How did you qualify? By getting pregnant and dropping out of school? Getting hooked on drugs? Spending time in jail? Whatever it was it was a choice you made and you now want taxpayers to reward you for making bad choices.
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By Gary Miller (IHOG)
on Jan. 25, 2012 at 3:17 PM
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Let's begin by addressing Heber Taylor as either Heber or Mr. Taylor. Herbert isn't his name.
Tha major problem, in my view, centers around the alleged rules, laws, and what have you, that prevent Galveston registered voters from being able to dictate what they want to have in the place where they live and where many of them have financial investments in businesses and real estate.
According to The 101 Meeting's Dallas guest speaker, the GHA is autonomous, needs no voter approval, needs no approval of city council, no county or state approval....no nothing. And that HUD can force whatever bee is in its bonnet.
Unless the federal courts are biased, which they aren't suppose to be, I can't picture any court or final appeals court agreeing with this position.
Unless someone could convince me otherwise, if it were up to me to make the decision, I'd tell HUD and GHA the city is filing suit against them to determine once and for all what their authority actually is.
Heber Taylor, a native of Abilene, is editor of The Daily News.
He got his first job on a newspaper at age 14, collecting scores from high school games for a regional newspaper. He's been working for newspapers ever since.
As a reporter, he visited Cuba and Eastern Europe before the fall of the Iron Curtain. He joined The Daily News in 1991 and enjoys reading.
