The Galveston County Daily News

As mayor of Galveston, I feel a tremendous responsibility to see our city through these difficult days of recovery from the ravages of Hurricane Ike in a time of national economic downturn. Americans from all walks of life have seen parts of their American dream shatter before their eyes. We in Galveston are showing a remarkable will and capacity to rebuild our lives.

Yet, there are still many of our citizens who have not been so fortunate, having lost everything — their homes, businesses, possessions, memorabilia, legal documents, jobs and educational opportunities and lacking the wherewithal to surmount these devastating blows. These citizens, young and old, were our neighbors before the storm and they deserve to be treated as neighbors after the storm.

My pledge to the citizens of Galveston has always been to bring our citizens home; and if their homes were destroyed, to do whatever was in my power to help them secure safe, decent housing on this island they, as Galvestonians, call home.

I urge that all Galvestonians take time away from our busy lives to reflect on what this city means to each of us. We are unique. Yes, even quirky. We are noted for our good times and for our ability to disagree on just about anything under the sun and yet to come together to face a common foe.

We are now facing a common foe. It goes by many names, among them extremism and the unwillingness to compromise, whatever the cost. It can come at us from left or right, top or bottom, in or out. When expressed in quiet tones and in nonviolent acts, it can live peaceably among us in our diverse community. But when it begins name-calling and threatening in shrill, deafening diatribes and language that defiles character and elicits hysteria — then the community must act.

I ask our citizens to renew their citizenship, to join with those hundreds who make up the Long-Term Community Recovery Plan Committee and the thousands who are rebuilding their lives and futures here and to answer the call of your mayor to calmly consider your vision for Galveston’s future and seek a middle ground, a common ground upon which we all can continue the tasks of recovery.

Remember the mantra of the Recovery Committee: One Galveston, one recovery.

With the challenges of recovery have come opportunities for our city and its citizens. Galveston has the opportunity to provide safe, decent housing for its working, low to middle-income citizens upon whom we depend for our tourist service industry, our medical support staff, our civil servants as well as teachers, firefighters, police and others.

Now we have the opportunity to rebuild our economy on a sounder base, by diversifying our housing, providing mixed income rentals and opportunities for homeownership. Citizens are called upon to consider the possibilities of rebuilding whole neighborhoods replete with parks and places to work and play.

Several of the grants that the Department of Housing and Urban Development awards are called Hope grants. That is what our citizens are being offered now: hope. We dare not deprive ourselves of this chance. It is a life-altering, community-building opportunity from which all Galvestonians will benefit.

This is a time to move forward positively and together, to enrich the lives of our children and provide the kinds of sustainable jobs and neighborhoods that promote good schools, recreational and cultural enrichment and encourage homeownership for people from all walks of life. Now is the time to build bridges toward consensus.

+++

Editor’s note: The Daily News asked Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas which plan for public housing she favored.

‘It is premature for me to advocate a particular plan’

As mayor, it is incumbent upon me to seek consensus and peaceful resolution of all our housing needs.

At this point in the public comment period, I feel that it is premature for me to advocate a particular plan.

I favor a return to this island of our public housing residents who want to come home, and paying particular attention to the needs of our senior citizens and the disabled.

I want the housing to be attractive, safe and less dense, with more green space.

I support mixed income and scattered housing as well as some retail, job and educational opportunities within easy walking distance.

I support the opportunity to rebuild neighborhoods that should serve to stimulate further growth opportunities in parts of our city.