A gift for storytelling

RIP Pete Hamill

Regarding “Writer had a gift for N.Y. storytelling,” (B7, Aug. 6): Brooklyn’s

Pete Hamill was a journalist, author and editor for the New York Daily News and New York Post as well as a columnist for both newspapers and respected for his political observations as well as sports commentary. He was the author of some 20 books covering a wide range of topics, but for me his best work was 1999’s “Why Sinatra Matters.” It was as if I was sitting in a booth next to them in a restaurant listening to Pete and Frank discussing important issues of the day. Hamill had the gift of making this reader read on, page after page. As a huge Sinatra fan, I am compelled to say this is among the best compact and concise pieces of literature ever written about the world-renowned entertainer. Thank you Pete Hamill and after a long distinguished career in journalism, may you rest in piece.

Herb Stark, Mooresville, N.C.

Beirut explosion

Regarding “Lebanese explosion echoes tragedy in West 7 years ago,” (A6, Aug. 6): Paul J. Weber and Ellen Knickmeyer put very clearly into perspective the damage caused by neglecting materials that can explode with the passage of time. They explained how this recent disaster in Beirut that killed and injured many people reminded us of the 2013 disaster at the West Fertilizer Company, even if it was a fraction of the Lebanese explosion. They write, “President Donald Trump scaled back industrial safety and disaster regulations enacted in direct response to the tragedy in Texas.” They further explained “The Obama-era Chemical Disaster Rule is one of several rules or proposals meant to lessen the risks of major, possibly high-casualty industrial disasters that have been weakened by Trump.” Of course, we had a disaster closer to us in Galena Park at a plastics plant that killed 23 people, but once the news fades away people not directly connected to those families forget about it. The president of our country shouldn’t forget about it or even worse, enact the opposite action to what is required.

Toy Halsey, Houston