The Daily News was approached by the organizers of Mardi Gras to sponsor additional discounted tickets for the public and agreed to do so as a service to our readers and the community.
Show Us Records On Mardi Gras
As a taxpaying citizen, I am writing my first letter to the editor about what I find to be a slap in residents’ and visitors’ faces: This gate at Mardi Gras.
I feel this to be a burden on all islanders, visitors and vendors. The closing of our public streets — what or whom decided the amount to charge on our public streets? Someone needs to be held accountable for the money collected on the public streets. For this, I am ashamed we let this happen. So, I would like to request that all records — both last year’s and this year’s — be made public and in detail.
I want to know what were the administrative fees — what, when, where and to whom — a total accounting of this promoter and all businesses listed that profited by this action. I want to know where I can acquire a copy of both years.
A story on Feb. 13 (“First weekend of Mardi Gras winding down,” The Daily News) said paid attendance was 30 percent less than last year. Apparently, this action of turning the downtown area over to this promoter has been a loss to all the downtown merchants and vendors, with the exception being the businesses own by this promoter. This has hurt the local merchants and the vendors. It can’t be something allowed to continue.
Why is Mike Dean allowed to charge a cover on public streets during Mardi Gras? All we have been asking for is free access to our favorite restaurants, clubs and merchants during Mardi Gras. And why did the newspaper have 1,000 discounted tickets when the local islanders were told they were no longer available?
Debra Weaver
Galveston
Let’s Donate Some Beads
I read an article in your newspaper a few days ago about the beads being given out at Mardi Gras (“Donate those Mardi Gras beads,” The Daily News, Feb. 12), how it would be nice if people would donate some of them to the Shriners Hospitals for Children-Galveston.
The hospital would appreciate it, and I think it would be very nice. I don’t have a lot of them from previous years, but I go to Libbie’s Place at Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church. Members said they would collect beads, and the bus driver would take them to the hospital, if we could get enough of them. We’ll see what happens.
Louise Martin
Galveston
The city of League City put out a call for companies capable of moving the Ghirardi oak, which is in the way of a project to widen Louisiana Avenue. The tree is on property owned by Ajay Jain. The owner wants $80,000 to $90,000 for the tree itself, Mayor Tim Paulissen said. Jain declined to discuss his negotiations with the city.
Land Owner Should Be A Good Resident
We still are worrying about the Ghirardi Compton oak in League City, and many of us still are looking for answers. That beautiful tree is such an important symbol to the history of our community, and we still are trying to figure out how to save it.
One major factor is the owner of the land, Ajay Jain. Mr. Jain is now not only asking a fortune for his land, but he wants the city to pay for the Compton oak he was planning to cut down anyway for a convenience store (“City to use eminent domain to get land,” The Daily News, Feb. 16). He seems to only care about how much money he can make off the city and the residents.
I do hope he realizes good public relations is an important component to having a successful business in League City. I think he should realize just how much money he might be losing if he does not want to be a good resident of the county and support its history.
Please Mr. Jain, do the right thing here. Donate the tree to the city and accept a fair price for the land. It is the right thing to do.
Leslye Mize
League City
