Thumbs up, down
Harvey’s long shadow, traffic jams add insult to injury, and a new era for Rockets.
Two weeks ago this morning, we didn’t know whether we’d dodge a bullet. We didn’t. Now our friends in Florida are in Mother Nature’s sights. Our thoughts are with today. Remember, Mother Nature bats last. Hey, Mama, what’d we ever do to you?
On top of all that, she deals Mexico an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.2 while many Mexican Red Cross workers are in Houston to volunteer at shelters.
A standing “O” to rescue workers and public servants who were hanging in there this week while others returned to normalcy. Note to those responsible for their well-being: We’ve done a good job getting them fed, showered and the correct type of vaccinations. Now our city and county leaders need to provide something just as important: mental health services and the therapy that keeps us strong.
Congress swiftly approved $15.25 billion in Harvey relief funds. The action was quick and the amount doubled the original proposal. The bulk of the money will go to housing programs and rebuilding efforts.
If you thought Texans had one another’s backs, think again. Four Lone Star State congressmen voted against the Harvey relief: Joe Barton of Arlington, Jeb Hensarling of Dallas, Sam Johnson of Plano and Mac Thornberry of Clarendon were “no” votes. May the Arkema chemical plant open a branch by their homes.
The insult to Harvey’s injury is the traffic. Will you people please ride a bus, the train, your bike, a horse? Idea for the mayor: This is the time to suspend all street construction; it’s the time to use cadets, retired cops and constables to manage major intersections, and please get the downtown traffic lights timed.
Who was the knucklehead who designed downtown’s underground central jury assembly space without submarine doors to prevent flooding from above? It was probably the same campaign donor to county commissioners who built the neighboring Harris County Criminal Justice Center. That building, wrecked by Harvey and now closed for months, has been a design flaw since its ribboncutting.
Who was the knucklehead who designed Beltway 8 without a sump system?
The floodwaters weren’t down before the crazies came out. State Rep. Sarah Davis worked to ensure that first responders, volunteers and anyone else caught in the microbe-filled waters had access to tetanus booster shots. What did she get for her efforts? Anti-vax trolls on Facebook tried to turn her into a public enemy.
Speaking of anti-vaxxers, they’re holding a summit in Houston in two weeks. We’re all for free speech, but these cultists — philosophical brethren with a certain Houston city councilman — are spreading a deadly virus of their own. Their propaganda undermines the greatest accomplishment of modern medicine — the vaccination — and should be less welcome here than another 50-inch rain storm or any measles and mumps outbreaks, for which they should be held responsible.
U.S. Rep. Mike McCaul is the leading candidate to replace John Kelly as the Department of Homeland Security secretary, reports Politico.com. A onetime federal prosecutor, McCaul married into the Clear Channel Communications family and is one of the richest members of Congress. In frequent visits with the editorial board, McCaul has proven himself to be whip smart. He’s an expert on cybersecurity and has long viewed Vladimir Putin as a threat to the United States. We support his choice and look to what will then be an interesting race in one of the most cockamamie congressional districts in Texas. It stretches from Katy to Austin.
The Billion-Dollar Buyer is now the Two-Billion-Dollar Buyer. Tilman Fertitta bought the Rockets for a reported $2.2 billion. We pity the poor wholesale peanut peddlers. They’ve never bargained with a guy like this. Our prediction is, after a burn-in period, Toyota Center will host a show like no other. Will the Rockets dancers be replaced by showgirls? Will Penn and Teller make the Golden State Warriors disappear? Sequined athletic supporters, anyone?