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Letters to the Editor
November 2, 2009
GHA Leading Island Along Wrong Path
I agree with Michael Head’s guest column “Rebuilding isle’s public housing not reasonable” (The Daily News, Oct. 24). The Galveston Housing Authority isn’t leading our island in the right direction.
Galveston already is struggling by trying to mix a costal resort community with a medical community. Even though they are both service-oriented businesses, they’re on the opposite ends of the spectrum, requiring entirely different service approaches.
Why intentionally draw in a third aspect that will add to the struggle for success of our island?
I thought housing assistance was to aid people for a short term while they were working toward self-sufficiency, not a permanent, long-term living arrangement for young and able people.
Where will people work in order to move out of public housing? Will we also have to provide inexpensive places to shop, so people on housing assistance can afford to live here? Or do we encourage high-end shopping, dining and spas for the resort customer?
Why can’t we make a plan for the success of our island and its people and then just do it?
We need a direction. Why not a costal resort community with just enough temporary public housing to aid those who want to get ahead and who want to add to the community rather than take from it.
Jane Presswood
Galveston
Keep Public Housing Away From Isle
Public housing is a part of every mature city, and Galveston certainly has its share.
But in the case of Galveston, I’m curious why the issue has not been brought up about “safety and evacuation.”
Why would we put people, who are the least able to evacuate, in a location that is subject to devastating hurricanes? And why spend tax dollars, whether federal or local, on a facility that’s sure to be damaged in the future by a storm. The housing project would be better placed in an area that is less likely to be hit by a storm and a place that would not add to the evacuation problems of the coast.
John Manlove
Galveston
Editor Got It Right On West End Buyout
The editor of The Daily News stamped the West End buyout (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program) with the label “Entitlement.” He hit the bull’s-eye. It smells of an odd form of socialism. From the lean public pot to the bellies of the rich.
Some of the homeowners out on the sand spit whine that their investments are in such bad shape that they can’t get any rental income. One guy said, “Waves come to the edge of the house. It’s so unsafe it could fall at any moment.” No kidding, Sherlock. An actuary would advise this man to pay the premium for complete coverage in case of a disaster. He had a choice.
There are hundreds of homeowners behind the seawall who are thinking “What the ... ?” Then they read the articles about paying hard-earned taxpayer dollars to cover people who may or may not have rolled the insurance dice. These could be Izod-wearing citizens who have the wherewithal to buy a house on the beach, where the waves lap at their Sperry Top-Siders as they sit on the steps enjoying their Sunday morning latte.
Brandon Wade, Galveston’s deputy city manager, said he is going to ask for $2 million to repair roads in Bermuda Beach and Spanish Grant. Which streets? How many linear miles? How many houses are on these streets? Do Galveston citizens live in these houses or are they beach rentals?
I have a vision of a brightly colored golf cart whizzing along, the driver holding a bloody mary up in morning salute to Buster and Bebe. No potholes to avoid. The street is brand new.
There is plenty of work to be done behind the seawall. Why are they looking to the west when there is so much need where the people actually live?
Jim Plagakis
Galveston
Atkins’ Socialism Pitch So Oppressive
In response to the guest column “Americans don’t know meaning of socialism” (The Daily News, Oct 17.): Ivana Atkins is right — Americans are terrified of becoming a socialist country.
What do we know about socialism? We don’t want it.
To quote Atkins: “There’s one store in each neighborhood, not enough bread and milk for everyone, one TV and radio station run by the greatest party — the only political party.” Was this her pitch for socialism?
And, children going to bed hungry at night, etc. But hey, all that starvation got them a “free” university education, right?
Where does the government get the money? From the citizens. Nothing is free.
Atkins spouted the virtues of not having to pay to go to the hospital. Has she ever gone for a life-threatening condition?
Look at the United Kingdom’s national health care system — it’s “free” too. Of course, the taxes are through the roof — 20 percent for those making $0 to $20,000, and 40 percent for those making $45,000 and above. And still, more than a million people are on waiting lists.
I hate it when people come from oppressed countries and try to shame us for being a “country of convenience.”
Let me tell Atkins it wasn’t given to us — we fought for it.
Richard Morgan
Clear Lake
FEMA Ignoring People In Need
In regard to the story, “Charities recruit officials to find Ike victims” (The Daily News, Oct. 27):
Perhaps I’m suffering from Hurricane Victim Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. After all, on the day my son was to return from a shelter in San Antonio, I received a call that he was in the critical care unit because he was found unconscious at a shelter.
With use of a borrowed car with five young children in tow, my daughter and I arrived in time to give permission to disconnect life support. With Galveston still torn up from the devastation of Ike, I contacted my family in Louisiana and arranged to have my son Sean transported to my hometown for funeral and burial. I must use his name here because he is not just a statistic or a number — he is my son.
A Federal Emergency Management Agency case worker insisted that I apply for assistance with funeral expenses only to deny me later stating “that he didn’t drown.” One thing is certain — I have fallen and continue to fall through the cracks.
Now at the risk of sounding like an Aggie joke “How many applications do you have to fill out in order to fall between the cracks?”
It makes no sense to me to continue providing copies of the deed to my house, property tax receipts, proof of insurance, bank statements, income tax returns, utility bills, Social Security number, birth certificate, Texas driver’s license, proof of income or rather no income, and never receive at least a letter telling me that I don’t qualify for assistance.
I called the number provided and left two contact numbers, so let’s see if anyone returns my call. How can so many people be hidden in plain sight?
Dianne Druilhet-Lundy
Galveston
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