Politics and endorsements
Deserves another term
Regarding “For the 10th Congressional District: Mike Siegel” (HoustonChronicle.com, Oct. 16): As we approach Election Day, I am compelled to write you in support of U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul and the exceptional work he has done in response to Hurricane Harvey. I serve my area in the Cinco Ranch, Canyon Gate, Kelliwood, Grand Lakes area of Katy as a director at Willow Fork Drainage District and as cofounder of Barker Flood Prevention, an advocacy group purposed to obtain immediate and substantial flood control solutions for Barker Reservoir as well as the greater Houston area.
McCaul has worked tirelessly to secure funding for flood control solutions that will repair the damage from Harvey and provide additional infrastructure to create a stronger, more resilient metropolis. His goal of promoting and securing infrastructure (typically cited as the “third reservoir”) to manage the Cypress Creek is a critical component in the regional flood control plan for Houston. In flood events such as the Tax Day Flood and Hurricane Harvey, Cypress Creek overflows into the Addicks Reservoir and takes up much needed capacity. Since Addicks and Barker work in tandem and feed into Buffalo Bayou, many watersheds in the Houston area are affected by the Cypress Creek located in the northwest quadrant of our region and within the boundaries that McCaul represents.
McCaul has not only helped to secure $17.4 billionin funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete needed flood mitigation projects, but he also initiated and helped to pass the amendment to Water Resources and Development Act 2018 to expedite USACE studies — such as the Cypress Creek study — on flood and disaster recovery in the Houston region.
Wendy Duncan, Katy Unfair attacks
Regarding “For Attorney General: Justin Nelson” (HoustonChronicle.com, Oct. 15): Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton should be ashamed of himself. He is running TV ads lying about Houston-born law professor Justin Nelson, his Democratic opponent. Those ads claim that Nelson “supports a dangerous open borders policy.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. Justin’s own website makes it clear that he will “aggressively investigate, apprehend, and prosecute dangerous criminals who would pass through our border.”
Paxton is taking a page from President Donald Trump’s playbook. He is spreading misinformation about illegal immigrants in an attempt to scare voters, and he also is trying to distract Texans from the fact that he is indicted for felony fraud and facing time behind bars.
Beatrice Mladenka-Fowler, Houston Dial down the rhetoric
As a Jewish Houstonian, I was relieved to see Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart remove prominent and incendiary references to George Soros from his campaign website. Anti-Semitism is a weird and scary animal that comes out in insidious ways on both sides of the political spectrum.
One of the most powerful and age-old anti-Semitic tropes is that of “elite financier globalists” who are running the world. Stanart should know better than to imply Soros is evil and is trying to take over Harris County. He did the right thing by removing it.
Norri Leder, Bellaire In Trump’s shadow
Regarding “For the 8th Congressional District: Steven David (HoustonChronicle.com, Oct. 16): Good for the Chronicle editorial board for choosing not to endorse the re-election of long-serving U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady. And in your critique of his performance you didn’t even mention that low moment at the recent Trump rally at the Toyota Center in Houston, when Brady smiled and gave a big thumbs up when Trump falsely told the crowd that a 10 percent middle-class tax cut was just days away.
Texas deserves much better.
David Bradley, Spring Undeserved backing
I was so disappointed in the editorial board’s endorsements of Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, state Sen. Joan Huffman and state Rep. Sarah Davis. I know you want to have readers believe that you are fair and non-partisan. But sadly, in your attempt to be even-handed, you fail to evaluate appropriate priorities. All three Republican candidates are supportive of unfair policies and poor allocation of tax funds.
Emmett’s opposition to bail reform is clearly an indication of his failure to recognize the true injustices in our system of mass incarceration of minorities.
Davis’ co-signing of SB4, the “show-meyour-papers” measure, was a strike against honest, hardworking immigrants and Hispanics as well as Houston and other Texas cities.
Huffman’s support of the discriminatory bathroom bill and voter suppression bills should automatically disqualify her from your endorsement. Just because Emmett, Davis and Huffman are Republicans who are less evil than Trump doesn’t mean they deserve support.
Michael Nichols, Houston In defense of science
A recent television ad attacked U.S. Rep. John Culberson for supporting a NASA robotic mission to Europa, a very large moon of Jupiter that has what many scientists think could be an ocean of water under its ice-encrusted surface.
The implication is that he should not support the Europa mission because it does not directly benefit his district.
It is true that a Europa mission would not bring taxpayer dollars to the congressman’s district. It is also true that this mission will comprise a relatively small percentage of NASA’s budget (itself about 0.5 percent of federal spending). However, NASA’s missions do not launch dollar bills out into space.
That money is spent right here, in America, down on earth. Across many congressional districts, Democratic and Republican, bolstering our nation’s economy, inspiring students, and improving our standing in the world. All things we badly need today.
I’m writing this not to take sides in a partisan fray, but to try to bring sanity to issues like science that should be apolitical.
Terry Virts, former astronaut and author of “View From Above” Focus on Trump policies
Regarding “Border bamboozle” (Editorial, Friday): The editorial board is spot on with its assertion that President Trump’s bombastic belligerence regarding the caravan of Central-American refugees is all about showmanship, fear-mongering and falsehoods.
But in the penultimate paragraph, the writer points out the administration’s plans to eliminate protections for preexisting conditions, tax cuts to billionaires, and the elimination of the minimum wage. Now the editorial board is certainly within its prerogative to have an opinion on these issues. However, you are using these disagreements to reinforce your negative personal feelings about the president.
If indeed you disagree with him on health care, taxes, or wage controls then write a separate editorial stating your reasons, and leave out the character attacks.
David M. Woods, Houston