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Letters to the Editor
November 25, 2009
Beware Mexico’s Costa Lora Resort
Beware of the “Costa Lora.” Mexico is planning another Cancun-like massive resort in Soto La Marina, just 100 miles south of Brownsville, along the Gulf of Mexico.
Costa Lora is expected to result in the building of 20,000 hotel rooms and create 115,000 jobs. The number of jobs created is almost three times the number of today’s Galveston residents.
Mexico intends to draw tourists from all over the United States, especially from Louisiana and Texas.
Our state already exports money and tourism to Las Vegas and Biloxi, while times are getting much tougher now in Galveston. Some local businessmen’s revenues have dropped up to 40 percent from pre-Hurricane Ike levels.
The solution is casinos along the seawall. The Daily News editorials, local advocates and my letters to the editor, over the years, have promoted this “reinvention” of Galveston.
The “anti-gambling” Galvestonians simply don’t have a viable and multi-decade sustainable solution to get the island back to its pre-Ike population or business robustness.
Casinos in Galveston will create more hotel rooms, more jobs, higher tax revenues, etc. I’d be optimistic for Galveston’s long-term future with casinos along the seawall.
A laissez-faire attitude just encourages the people in Biloxi and now Mexico to continue to erode our city’s tourism and economic development.
Byron Barksdale
Galveston
Readers have reacted on both sides of an argument regarding the community value of Hitchcock’s game rooms.
A City Commissioner Not Playing The Game
Along with many other game-room employees, owners and patrons, I would like to thank Mayor Anthony Matranga for his efforts to see the reality of game rooms as being a beneficial concept to Hitchcock. He rules only with factual information and with the views of tax-paying citizens in mind.
However, one commissioner refuses to notice the large percentage of revenue brought into the city “he supports,” or the clean, healthy source of entertainment they provide for seniors, all while landlords are getting buildings leased and increased traffic flow benefits other businesses, with virtually no crime, in the midst of a recession no less.
Still, this commissioner feels it necessary to smother the rights of these businesses that are operating within full compliance of the city, state and county regulations. Game rooms have rights to operate as any tax-paying business should.
I’m proud of all the businesses that didn’t allow the commissioner into their establishment to “scrutinize” their livelihoods. Employees weren’t intimidated or ashamed, but stood up against it for the principle of the matter.
Nobody tells Mr. Commissioner where to spend his money or how to do his job. He shouldn’t be allowed to do that with us. That’s one game we don’t like to play.
Jessica Tagle
Hitchcock
Gambling’s Fine But Not When It’s Illegal
I have read all of the comments, pro and con, on the city of Hitchcock’s attempt to control game rooms.
No one enjoys playing a slot machine more than I do. I have been to Louisiana and Las Vegas many times.
However, gambling is legal in those places. As a commissioner of the city of Hitchcock, I take the oath of office seriously to uphold the laws — federal, state and city.
A letter dated April 3, 2003 was received at city hall from Kurt Sistrunk stating that, under Chapter 47 of the Texas penal code, these game rooms were operating illegally and were subject to forfeiture and seizure.
I was not made aware of this letter until recently. Others knew about it, but I didn’t.
When gambling appears on the ballot, I will support it. I voted for it the last time.
Henry Coger
Hitchcock
Dictionary Definition Of Liberalism No. 2
In response to Gem Bordages’ guest column “Neocons filling GOP with fear, hate“ (The Daily News, Nov. 18), my dictionary defines “liberalism” as a mental disorder.
I suggest she immediately submit her name to Nancy Pelosi’s death panel and inform it that she has terminal “Liberalism” disease.
She should be the first to volunteer to remove herself as burden to our new Obama health care system. What notoriety she would achieve.
Louis Ciaccio
Galveston
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