News

December 8, 2009

Alabama, Austin and the Governor’s Mansion

Solve the problem

Re: Dec. 31 commentary "Prepare Texans for climate change."

Basically, if you believe you have a problem, you find solutions. You do not spend years continuing to define the problem without action.

No matter what you think, water resources need to be expanded to meet future Texas needs. Therefore, it is better to spend the time, energy and money developing additional cost-effective water resources rather than paying for research that is not designed to solve the problem.

Science is indispensable, but after you scare everyone into reacting irrationally, you must develop real, beneficial and obvious solutions. A similar approach to energy would be healthy.

Although dreams are important, it is not wise to abandon reality on the basis of unproven technologies or poorly conceived philosophies.

Mark Pearce

Pflugerville

Crass humor at Alabama's expense

Re: Jan. 3 John Kelso column "Now what rhymes with double-wide? Uh, Crimson Tide"

As an avid reader of Kelso's column, born and reared in Alabama and a 'Bama graduate, I was disappointed as well as insulted by his crass humor characterizing Alabama residents as rednecks who live in double-wides and don't know who their mama and daddy are.

In addition, his ridiculing the team's mascot was certainly in poor taste and unsportsmanlike.

Perhaps Mr. Kelso?has never heard of such well-known Alabamians as Hank Aaron, Tallulah Bankhead, Justice Hugo Black, Kate Jackson, Hank Williams, Helen Keller and Nat "King" Cole to name a few.

Bob Woodson

bobtop@suddenlink.net

Georgetown

City's soul

Re: Jan. 5 Out & About column "Anxious times for city's soul? Nothing new."

When newcomers to Austin, like American-Statesman columnist Michael Barnes (who arrived in the early 1980s), can raise the question "Is Austin losing its soul?" it signifies that it is time for an official Austin city historian.

There has been a Texas state historian for only a few years, yet many Eastern states have had the same and municipal historians for over a century. Those who come to Austin should be able to claim as their inheritance all of Austin's history, not just that from when they came here. We need to have reminders of events and individuals who are the soul of Austin.

Danny Camacho

dan22austin@yahoo.com

Austin

Larry's noble cause

Re: Jan. 5 article "She's a Miss on a mission: to save babies."

People's Community Clinic commends Zakiya Larry for using her platform as Miss Black Texas USA to promote the issue of premature births. The article correctly points out the potential health consequences of prematurity; however, there is a huge cost to prematurity. One premature infant in the neonatal intensive care unit can cost the system $500,000 or more.

The national goal for premature births established by Healthy People 2010 is 7.6 percent. According to a recently released report card issued by the March of Dimes, Texas' 13.7 percent prematurity rate earns a grade of D. With a 12.7 percent prematurity rate nationally, the United States does slightly better and gets a C.

In contrast, low-income women receiving prenatal care at People's Community Clinic experienced only a 7.6 percent rate of premature delivery — actually meeting the Healthy People 2010 goal. People's is especially proud of the prenatal care we provide.

Regina Rogoff

Chief executive officer

People's Community Clinic

reginar@austinpcc.org

Austin

Prostitutes and politics

Re: Jan. 6 article "A choice for prostitutes: rehab instead of jail time."

It is great that Dallas is taking a proactive stance in treating woman who sell their bodies for money and favors.?

Let's hope that the United States also takes a proactive stance against politicians who sell their state for money and favors.

Larry Domzalski

Round Rock

Selling out historical preservation

Re: Jan. 5 article "Mansion proposal irks historians."

After a serious fire, $26 million has been approved for rebuilding the Governor's Mansion.

The majority of this huge budget, including millions for architects and consultants fees, is because of the "historical preservation" aspect of the job. Without this historical preservation aspect, I guarantee that you could bulldoze the site and build an exact replica from scratch with all the modern amenities for less than $5 million.

No one would know the difference except a couple of historical preservationists. So if historical accuracy is worth more than $20 million, how can anyone even consider tacking on a 3,000-square-foot, two-story addition?

Blake Betts

Austin

Dig deeper for the governor

If Gov. Rick Perry really needs more living space in the mansion, do the same thing that happened over at the Capitol. Put an addition underground, and he can get even closer to his business partners.

Jerry Whiteaker

Austin

Getting us out of our vehicles

Re: Jan. 5 editorial "Incentive to kick driving habit."

We already have one agency that can't come close to generating sufficient revenue to cover costs running full-sized buses, and now we want to provide custom shuttles with first-class amenities to public employees at a cost to the employee of $6 and $12 a day using tax-free money.

There is no free money. There are before-tax dollars and after-tax dollars, but normally something has been provided in exchange for all dollars. For most of us, it's gainful employment.

Collective Strength and Veolia have come up with another plan that will require more subsidies — all just to get some of us out of our vehicles. It's not convenience that keeps us in our cars and trucks; it's the fact, that after considering all the options, they work the best for the majority of us.

Bruce Evans

Austin

Getting them off of our interstate

Why not let 18-wheelers use the toll road east of Austin free for one year? Then the second year, make it half-price? Then the third year full price?