America’s STEM workforce

Suspend H-1B visas

Regarding “Immigrants key to economic recovery,” (A14, July 16): As a retired STEM worker, I have to take issue with the recent opinion column concerning H-1B visas. At the company I once worked for, I saw many very qualified and knowledgeable workers fired and replaced by workers wtih H-1B visas. This happened in 2002 and it continued. For example, in 2016 the Walt Disney Corporation fired many of its information technology workers and forced them to train their foreign replacements. The reason this happens is that greedy corporations want to save money. Also, H-1B visa holders cannot change jobs so they can be treated badly — low pay, long hours, etc. Because many American workers have been fired and replaced, young people may be reluctant to attend college and major in STEM fields like engineering or computer science. That may explain why companies like Dell Technologies claim they cannot find people. But with unemployment claims at the high end — about 1 in 4 working-age Americans filed for unemployment since the start of the pandemic — this is the perfect opportunity to support our American workers and suspend guest worker visas, like H-1B. Susan Bowers, Houston

Halloween at home

Regarding “No Halloween? No worries, this year is spooky enough,” ( July 17, chron.com): Shelby Stewart’s article touched on some of the challenges associated with Halloween this year. Of course, there will be changes in the ways in which people in Texas and across the country celebrate Halloween in 2020. Every community will have a different approach to celebrating this Halloween season — but that doesn’t mean you need to sit this year out. With so many of our celebrations and traditions being changed or canceled, it’s more important than ever to find new ways to safely celebrate together. There are plenty of fun and unique approaches to enjoying the season — whether it’s fun from a distance, Halloween at home, or something in between. Treats like chocolate and candy have kept us connected this year, even when we couldn’t be together. And we expect that these treats will play an important role in connecting us at Halloween as well, even if those celebrations look a little different. The Halloween season has always been about people, traditions and celebrations, and we know the spirit of the holiday will remain strong among families as they seek to bring some fun to the fall. Falling on a Saturday, under a second full moon in the month of October, and with an extra hour because of daylight saving time, Halloween 2020 will truly be a “once in a blue moon” moment no matter how you celebrate! John Downs, president and CEO National Confectioners Association

The new DMV

Kudos to a new and improved DMV! I renewed my license at the Houston Dacoma DPS Office a week ago and was delightfully impressed. Everyone there was incredibly efficient, they had thorough COVID-19 protocols in place, and all staff were friendly and helpful, even hospitable and welcoming, I would say. I don’t think any of those adjectives were ever ones I have used before to describe a DMV experience. Whoever has redesigned the experience deserves a huge thank you! Marty Webb, Houston

BIBLE VERSE

And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered — to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” Revelation 5:12