|
Letters for July 2, 2009
Parking Could Well Alienate All In Town
In response to the report “City mulls parking limit” (The Daily News, June 29): Which group does the city of Galveston most want to discourage from parking downtown?
Is it the visitors, shoppers, people who work downtown, people who live downtown, the construction workers rebuilding downtown — or all of the above?
Elizabeth Godbehere
Galveston
The issue of a possible ban on smoking in Galveston’s public places has sparked hot debate among readers.
Great Chance To Clean Up Galveston’s Air
In response to the article “No smoking? Council to consider ban in two weeks” (The Daily News, June 27): Galveston City Council does have time for this issue.
People should just think about what Hurricane Ike did to the island and the massive cleanup that has been going on.
This is the city’s opportunity to further clean up Galveston by having smoke-free air in all public places.
We now have restaurants and bars that have fresh, clean walls, floors and furniture; let’s keep it that way.
Secondhand smoke pollutes our airways, and it also pollutes the space around us. Indoor Air 2002 stated: “Residual tobacco contamination from cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products is left behind after smoking occurs and builds up on surfaces and furnishings. The residual can linger in spaces long after smoking has ceased and continue to expose people to tobacco toxins.”
Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas and the city council have a wonderful opportunity to provide Galveston’s employers, residents and visitors with a city that’s concerned with their health and well being.
Pat Trevisani
La Marque
Uneven Smoking Ban Would Be Unfair
Several business leaders are touting a move to ban smoking in their competitors’ businesses and in private clubs (“Discussion on smoking ban lights up again,” The Daily News, June 23).
Throughout the article, the two themes seemed to be, first, that no one will mind the ban, but, second, it must be forced on everyone to be “fair.”
If these business owners believed their own claims that banning smoking won’t hurt business by driving smokers away, they would not be trying to force other bars to ban smoking on the grounds of “fairness.”
The real fear is that, if smoking is not banned everywhere, the smokers will be able to go to a competitor’s bar that allows smoking. Their diminished profit fear is so great that now the city is being urged to intrude its regulations into private clubs.
What if smoking folks start inviting friends and coworkers to their “smoking-allowed” homes for drinks and dinner? Will these business owners cry “unfair” and urge the city to ban smoking in private homes?
Profits will likely diminish in the nonsmoking bars and restaurants; is it “fair” to force those diminished profits on all bars and restaurants?
Susan Powell
Galveston
Grand Way To Shoot Recovery In The Foot
Once again, Galveston shoots itself in the foot.
We often hear: “Let’s all support Galveston and get it up and running again.” Well, I tried June 30.
I wanted tickets to see Smokey Robinson at The Grand 1894 Opera House. I was told the theater is only selling packages, not single-performance tickets. I could not buy single tickets until Aug. 24. If I book now, I can buy a (nonrefundable) room at the Tremont House for $200.
So tickets, dinner, a hotel room and gas to get there and back would cost about $600, which would not be going to the merchants of Galveston.
Maybe The Grand should consider the other businesses it affects by not allowing people to buy single tickets in advance.
I guess we will spend our own money elsewhere.
Isolde Kellock
Houston
America’s Going The Way Of The Romans
Is America going the way of the Roman Empire? Greed has overtaken common sense.
Big-company CEOs’ unlimited salaries, bonuses, stock options, etc.; lawyers encouraging people to file lawsuits and juries awarding unconscionable amounts of money; people living beyond their means; unscrupulous banks lending to people without the means to pay mortgages; big brokerage companies’ scandals — all contributed to our present dilemma.
American manufacturers outsource their products, instead of building here with American labor, so their profit could be greater and their bonuses larger. I rarely find American-produced goods any more.
People who would rather draw handouts from the government than work, young women having babies out of wedlock — nearly all are supported by welfare. What happened to the able-bodied people taking responsibility for themselves?
The present leadership is the nearest thing to a socialist dictatorship that I have seen in this country in my lifetime, taking charge of the banking industry, automobile industry, giving $3.6 million to build a tunnel under a highway for turtles to cross, and on and on. Now it’s going to control the health industry.
Where are the senators and representatives we elected to represent us?
Earlis Hines
Texas City
Beach Freeloaders Are Wrong To Claim Rights
Mainland people keep proclaiming their rights to the beach and condemning the people building on the beach.
I talk to a lot of people and hear about 14 or so getting in a van, buying their gas in Conroe, bringing sandwiches and going to the free beach. They throw their trash on the beach, cut a few “doughnuts” with their van and go home.
Then they write to the editor claiming their rights and wondering why the city allows houses along the island.
I have a report from the tax office. The homeowners to the west of the seawall and south of highway FM 3005 pay more than $15 million per year in property taxes, plus sales tax on the items they buy and other taxes.
What do people think about that?
James Clark
Galveston
|
|
 |
|
Write a letter
Submit your letter online for The Daily News opinion page.
Recent Letters
July 2
July 1
June 30
June 29
June 28
June 27
June 26
June 25
June 24
June 23
Find More
Letters in
Archive
Services
Letters: Send your thoughts to The Daily News.
Extra: Get weekday updates of The Daily News headlines and breaking news.
Subscribe: Get The Daily News delivered to your door or mailbox.
|
