Heber Taylor

People who live by the sea read poetry

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:45:00 CDT

One of our regular readers sent a link to an Erica Jong poem about People who live by the sea. He thought a lot of our readers might like it.

I did, and it reminded me that we used to do a poetry project a couple of times a year. A very good English teacher volunteered to take submissions from area poets and to be the judge. Shed pick five poems short ones, no epics and wed publish them, along with her comments.

It was a good way to get acquainted with the work of Galveston County writers. But the English teacher went on to other things, and the poetry project has lapsed.

Im just wondering whether we could revive it. If youre an English teacher who loves poetry, please contact me at heber.taylor@galvnews.com.

How many mistakes were missed?

Sat, 12 May 2012 19:15:00 CDT

I cast my ballot in Galveston City Council District 5 on Saturday. I was given a District 4 ballot by the electronic voting machine. Having written about the problems with the voting rolls, I knew to stop and ask for help.

The good news was the workers at my polling place were wonderful. They knew what to do and were helpful. The election judge tirelessly went back and forth to the lobby, telling people who were in line to vote to check the maps and sample ballots.

But I was not alone in getting a bad ballot from the electronic polling book. The poll had five voting machines, and, at one point, there were five of us District 5 voters with District 4 ballots on our screens.

All of us got our problems resolved, but it made us wonder how many people went through the polls without catching mistakes. If I were a candidate, Id be wondering too.

Letter questions GLO on housing plans

Fri, 11 May 2012 21:00:00 CDT

Remember the housing advocates who were party to the conciliation agreement involving plans to rebuild public housing in Galveston? They sent a letter to the Texas General Land Office asking detailed questions about the Galveston Housing Authoritys plans.

Copies of the letter were ricocheting around Galveston on the eve of Saturday's city elections. Many people have theories about what the letter means. A copy appears below so you can draw your own conclusions.

Some time ago, I suggested that the Galveston Housing Authority, under a new leader, had concluded it was likely to get sued no matter which way it moved and had decided to set its own course. Some readers thought the notion that the housing advocates would sue over the housing authoritys plans was preposterous.

You can interpret the intent of the letter a number of different ways. If I had to guess, the letter means the housing advocates are preparing to sue.

Questions concerning proposed GHA plan

A bad message to send?

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:00:00 CDT

Courtesy Photo

Some folks called about signs that have appeared next to Judge Wayne Mallias campaign signs.

Mallias opponent in the GOP primary, Michelle Slaughter, has made an issue of the fact that Mallia was elected three times as a Democrat but is now representing himself as an incumbent Republican.

Ive heard two things since the signs appeared:

Position 1: This is just effective campaigning. Its true, and it tells voters something that some of them really set a lot of store by.

Position 2: Its a bad message for any Republican to send. It suggests Republicans consider party affiliation to be on the same level as qualifications to do the job. It also suggests Republicans punish Democrats who decide to switch parties. Is it a good long-term strategy for growth to discourage Democrats from switching parties?

Do you have a view?

Poll: Was Mike Loftin the right choice?

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:30:00 CDT

Michael W. Loftin, who was named city manager of League City on Tuesday, struck me as a good choice to lead the staff of Galveston Countys largest city.

Loftin, who served as acting manager since February, has been with the city for two years as the assistant city manager for management services.

Im interested in your views. Did the city council choose the right guy?

Poll: Should debt remain under tax cap?

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:15:00 CDT

A charter amendment that would remove debt from under Galvestons tax cap is on the ballot May 12.

People who support the proposal are citing Moodys decision last year to assign an Ae3 rating and negative outlook to some of Galvestons municipal debt as just one more indication that its bad policy to include debt within the tax cap. Opponents say keeping the cap intact is the only way to control the citys spending.

Do you have a view? Should debt remain under the tax cap?

The end of the Conciliation Agreement?

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:30:00 CDT

The Galveston Housing Authoritys vote Wednesday was described as a change. Its a big one. Perhaps its a revolution. For those interested in the official documents, here they are.

Critics of the housing authority have said the city ought to challenge the Conciliation Agreement, which required the rebuilding of 569 public housing units destroyed by Hurricane Ike, in court. No one dreamed that the housing authority might be the first to take the steps to force a legal showdown.

But thats what this looks like from here. What do you make of it?

REVISED Resolution 4-4-12