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Letters to the Editor
September 21, 2005
Readers sound off on the storm that devastated the Gulf Coast region.
Editor Showed No Compassion
The Galveston County Daily News has no compassion or human respect.
It was a horrifying sight to open the front page (The Daily News, Sept. 14) to view such a shocking inhumane displayed photo of an innocent, nude African-American man being brought to safety.
No person would have permitted such action for a family member to be publicly exposed to the world for such offensive news coverage in any newspaper.
Heber Taylor, you as editor of The Galveston County Daily News are accountable for a more moral decision to have screened and protected the privacy of this near-death human being.
How shameful — no compassion or human respect.
Think about it. With published photos such as this, The Galveston County Daily News’ subscriptions will surely diminish.
Joyce Ann Daniel
Galveston
It’s Not Fair To Blame President For Everything
Hurray for Ralph LaPaugh (The Daily News, Sept. 14). He hit the nail right on the head.
President Bush may have cut funding for the Army Corps of Engineers. But that’s not what caused the levees to fail.
They weren’t built during his administration or during several past administrations. The levees have been there for years.
The Corps of Engineers, along with countless other experts, predicted what the outcome would be years ago, and no action was taken.
All the people who criticize and blame everything that happens in this country on the president — they need to get on a plane, go to Washington and walk in his shoes just one day.
I have no doubt that they couldn’t or wouldn’t do any better than what was done or is being done.
And speaking of all the countries we have helped over the years with rebuilding, giving aid and money to: It’s time for their leaders to get off their butts and lend a helping hand. They don’t seem to have a problem holding theirs out when it’s needed.
Carla Parker
Hitchcock
Is It Really Wise To Rebuild?
While Hurricane Katrina is a monumental disaster, I can’t help but note that superlatives are constantly thrown about.
I have heard each network describe it as “America’s greatest natural disaster.” I can’t help but wonder exactly how it stacks up against “lesser events” as the 1900 Storm, the Chicago fire and the San Francisco earthquake. I honestly don’t know.
No doubt, it’s the worst in our lifetime, but “America’s greatest natural disaster?”
What are their criteria?
I am interested in the urgency to rebuild New Orleans, especially within the area surrounded by levees.
Would rebuilding not be setting up again for disaster? Since this area lies on a flood plain, would it be wise?
Were it not New Orleans (and politics), should they be allowed to rebuild?
I live on a bluff above a golf course built on a flood plain. No structural development on the flood plain is permitted for obvious reasons. I am certain any request here would be denied.
Would anyone in New Orleans be so brave and stupid to suggest such a logical move for the flooded levee area?
Time will tell.
Dave Helwick
Carrollton
We Have Time To Get This One Right
Here is our chance, folks. Hurricane Rita is coming — obviously, with the computer generated models.
At this writing, we have five full days before it hits below us.
Are we to (a) wait on FEMA to dish out $2,000 checks in the aftermath, (b) start our Rita parties and hope for the best or (c) pack the five cases of bottled water, food and clothes for the next week or so and get out of Dodge or Texas City?
At least adhere to the warnings and plan by being prepared, not waiting to the last minute to evacuate.
Don’t forget pets, insurance papers and funding.
Five days, folks, to prepare. Five days to be ready — don’t sit idle.
David Shinn
Texas City
On Sept. 12, the La Marque City Council voted in favor of a proposal to raise the tax rate 4 cents to 55.33 cents per $100 valuation.
Homeowners Shouldn’t Catch The Brunt Of It
Here we go again.
La Marque is raising taxes on the homeowners. Just like every taxing entity in Galveston County does on a fairly regular basis.
Where are our tax dollars going to, from our new businesses and old businesses?
It would seem that they would somehow be able to take up some of the slack in our city taxes.
Unlike Texas City, the more business we have the more we pay — or maybe they’re all tax exempt for the next 10 to 20 years.
M.D. Ward
La Marque
The Galveston City Council authorized the city manager to open negotiations with Tilman Fertitta to lease and operate the municipal golf course. The city requested proposals for the course, and Fertitta’s was the only one that offered an infusion of cash. He proposed spending $3.5 million to $4 million to improve the course.
How Can You Complain About Higher Golf Fees?
Realizing that this letter may “tee-off” the Galveston Golf Association, I will cry “fore” and continue down the fairway.
The public is aware that the Galveston Golf Association opposed the Tilman Fertitta plan to operate and manage the city golf course based mainly on proposed increases in green fees for locals.
It should be noted that the Galveston Golf Association recently held its annual city golf tournament with an entry fee of $100. Crocodile tears.
Gene Moore
Galveston
It’s Just Too Much To Spend On A New City Hall
Dickinson’s present city hall, library and old police station are in need of refurbishing to correct fundamental problems.
In my opinion, these improvements can be easily justified, provided the cost does not exceed $2 million. Prior estimates suggest that the needed work can be performed for this figure.
I attended the Aug. 23 meeting of the city council and witnessed the 3-to-2 vote to discontinue plans to refurbish the existing city hall and hire a new architectural firm to design a new city hall complex to be built on or near the existing site.
A “seat of the pants” estimate of $3.75 million was presented as the cost.
This estimate does not include moving expenses, land acquisition, utility movement, possible integration of the water district administrative offices and rapidly escalating concrete and steel costs.
These additional expenses could easily increase the cost of this complex to $5 million to $6 million. Also, the type of construction, style and design will greatly affect the base cost.
The decision to build a new city hall complex comes at the same time the mayor proposed to raise property taxes by two cents. That is needed to pay for the hiring of a contract ambulance service for citizens to hire.
In my opinion, a new, expensive city hall building would not benefit the average citizen — only the few who are employed by the city.
The citizens will also not have the opportunity to approve or reject the project by vote.
The difference between my estimate of $5 million and the $2 million for refurbishing the existing facilities could do wonders if it were properly spent on our cash-starved city streets and the other items mentioned.
P.S. Gupton
Dickinson
Iraqi Constitution Is Not A ‘Beacon Of Democracy’
The recently drafted Iraqi constitution includes a concession to the Shias that would make Islam a primary source of legislation in the new Iraq.
Furthermore, it would permit no legislation that conflicts with “universal principles” of that religion.
This deal was brokered by American ambassador Zalmay Khalidzad and represents a serious threat to women’s rights insofar as domestic issues such as divorce and inheritance could be decided by clergy.
In other words, the Bush administration has caved in to fundamentalists, paving the way for the creation an Islamic state aligned with Iran.
Is this the brand of “democracy” that our brave troops are dying for? Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction, nor did it have ties to al-Qaida prior to the United States’ invasion of that country.
Now George Bush’s latest rationale for invading Iraq, namely to establish a “beacon of democracy,” has fallen by the wayside, and the reasons for all of the bloodshed there are murkier than ever.
One thing that is clear, however, is that certain corporations and individuals, such as Halliburton and the Carlyle Group, are raking in tons of cash as a result of the carnage in Iraq.
Bill Cowan
Galveston
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