End dangerous police stops
Sandra Bland Act
Regarding “Do not wait,” (A17, July 13): Thank you for the excellent editorial advocating for an end to pretextual police stops. Officers observing these minor violations of traffic regulations can record a license plate number and send the offender a warning. These stops are dangerous for the officers in addition to the person being stopped who sometimes panics and ends up dead. While they are instituting police reforms, they should stop the ridiculous high-speed freeway chases that endanger the public. I would rather see the person escape than to see innocent others get killed, which happens all too often. In the process of making changes, I hope we don’t lose the best police chief in my memory. Chief Art Acevedo has worked hard to work with minority communities to promote better relations — we don’t want to lose him in the rush for needed reforms. He showed up and engaged the protesters rather than escalate the conflict as we witnessed in other cities. That may be one reason Houston avoided the rioting we saw elsewhere.
Sarah Frates, Houston
Voter turnout
Regarding “A record runoff,” (A1, July 14): I would like to thank the Houston Chronicle for today’s article about the record turnout for early voting. It is amazing that with record heat and quarantine measures in place for COVID-19 that people have turned out in mass to exercise their right to vote. With these amazing results, l believe you have proven that we really don’t need the risk for mail-in voting. Thanks for a factual article.
Mark Jenkins, Cypress
My America
In my America, a president does not exonerate a convicted felon like Roger Stone.
In my America, a career officer like Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman sees no option but to retire after giving truthful testimony at the impeachment hearings.
In my America, a president does not discredit Dr. Anthony Fauci’s valid warnings by misrepresenting his comments.
In my America, science is not denied and the CDC sidelined.
In my America, schools are not ordered to reopen without a plan, without consideration for students and teachers and without funding.
In my America, lies do not replace truth.
I do not recognize my America today, and it saddens me more than I can say.
Gerry Aitken, Stafford
Bird is the word
Regarding “Venturing out into the wild,” (D1, July 11): Molly Glentzer, thank you for a wondrous look, or should I say peek, of two cardinal parents and the hatching of their eggs. The whole account of the nest, the beautiful eggs, and the little birds learning to fly was the Balm of Gilead in the whole paper. I love feeding these birds outside my windows but have yet to witness the saga you told that unfolded in your yard. In a week of bad news about our city and state, thank you for an uplifting, personal story that warmed my heart.
Julia Purtill, Richmond
Free-standing ERs
Regarding “Letters,” (A17, July 13): Seema Verma apparently was smoking something that made her write, “The Trump administration’s early and decisive intervention deserve significant credit,” or she is simply trying to save her job as a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Just because our state has created hospital capacity does not mean our state has control of the contagion. God knows that if Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and other intelligent mayors and county judges had been allowed to take control months ago rather than wait until our governor decided it was time, we would not be talking about having “increased hospital capacity” now. We would be enjoying the success that some countries are enjoying.
Toy Halsey, Houston