Hope for a brighter future

Restaurants need to reopen

Regarding “Letters: Elite draw fire for dining out,” (A12, May 7): Criticism is being directed to those choosing to dine out while there are so many unemployed or having a hard time. They apparently don’t understand that restaurants and other businesses must have customers in order to generate the income that allows them to pay their employees. If restaurants don’t have customers their staff will continue to be unemployed. The stupidity is amazing. David McMillin, Houston

Blue Angels

Regarding “Saluting Houston’s health care workers,” (A1, May 7): The front page of the Houston Chronicle had only one spark of hope for readers — the Blue Angels flying over our city and saluting our health care workers. The rest was the horrible state of affairs our country and state is in. The paper is becoming a leftwing cheerleader. Why not give all our government leaders a pat on the back every once in a while for their tireless efforts trying to quell this horrible pandemic? After all, this great USA has proven to be in better shape in all aspects than all its foreign counterparts. Let’s show that we have hope for a brighter future! Vivian Mason, Houston

Hidalgo’s leadership

Regarding “Hildalgo is right to make evidence-based decisions,” (A15, May 6): I have to agree with Liz Hanks and her opinion piece.

As a former NASA employee working on life-critical applications. listening to the experts and making decisions based upon science and data was a life or death decision. We tend to be over cautious and more expensive, but what is the alternative? Gamble with someone’s life?

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has made very tough decisions and has not stooped to political infighting, grandstanding or acting in defiance of executive orders. It’s what we expect from an elected official during a crisis.

After listening to her experts, the county spent millions on a COVID-19 field hospital that was luckily not needed. In contrast, the president ignored his experts and has cost us trillions.

I think I will stick with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. John R. Cobarruvias, Houston

Houston neighborhoods

Regarding “Report says Houston’s poorest areas worse,” (May 5, B1): The article points out the United States just had a decade of record setting national growth. But, it delivered very little growth for people who needed it most.

Economic growth does not seek anyone out. If you simply hang out and wait for economic growth to find you and benefit you, then the failure is yours. A period of economic growth only provides opportunities for you to improve your situation. It is up to the individual to take advantage of the situation and create your own success. It is the only way to escape poverty.

Too many people think government is the solution. It is not, and the sooner people put that kind of thinking behind them, the better chance they to have to make improvements to their lives. Jon Plautz, Katy