The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 110, Ed. 1 Saturday, March 16, 2002 Page: 4 of 16
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Saturday, March 16,2002
4A The Baytown Sun
Opinion
Wanda Gamer Cash, Editor and Publisher
David Bloom, Managing Editor
r
I
tactics or conflicting answers, a
'f
r:
In that film, a brief disparagement
.1
As with the patients' rights issue, if
uninsured, it ought to resolve to sim-
Sun’s reporting on Torres
ficiilt to restrain.
i.
I
I
I
ers expressed concern that the
United States does not contribute
enough to help poor nations.
If so, Bush and the U.S. delega-
About u$
The gri'al of some European
nations, such as France and
tion may receive a chilly recep-
tion, even if Fox and all of
Monterrey roll out the red carpet.
The House bill favored by the Bush
administration calls for a $1.5 million
Morton
Kondracke
too violent, inflammatory
I want to emphasize to the people
Fred S. Aguilar
Baytown
Fred Hartman, Publisher Emeritus
1950-1974
Bartoton S>un
Founded 1922
columns should include a photograph of the
writer. We publish only original material
addressed to The Baytown Sun bearing the
writer’s signature. An address and phone num-
ber not for publication should be included. We
ask that submissions be limited to one per
month. All letters and guest columns subject
to editing. .■
The Sun reserves the right to refuse to pub
lish any submission.-
Letters endorsing or opposing political can-
or issues will not be published within
two days of an election, except In direct rebut-
tal to a letter previously published in The
Baytown Sun. Please send signed letters to:
Wanda Gamer Cash or David Bloom, The
Baytown Sun. P.O. Box 90, Baytown, TX
77522.--
—-Or, fax them to; (281) 427-1880. Or, email
us at: sunnews@baytownsun.com.
Our editorial board
The Baytown Sun's editorial board meets
weekly at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Individuals are
encouraged to visit the editorial board to dis-
cuss issues affecting the community. To
make an appointment, contact Managing
Editor David Bloom, (281) 422-8302.
Members of the editorial board include:
Wanda Gamer Cash, editor and publisher;
Darnell, news editor; Eric Bauer, marketing
director and Dee Anne Navarre, business
manager.. ;
Movie critics panned "John Q." as
and nv#>r1v cimnl
T
ter rejecting Minister Quanell X’s
call for a town meeting. Alfaro’s
decision and letter lets him take a
stand on the moral high ground.
He called inflammatory and
accusatory harangues by their prop-
er names. He exonerated no one.
He pushed a complete and fair
investigation into the death of Mr.
Torres. He promised immunity to
-no one. But he did insist that jus-
tice and fairness must be actions,
not harangues loaded with emotion-
al catch phrases and cultural posing, inflammatory remarks made by
Quannell X.
We will await the results of the
district attorney’s investigation and
hope to be kept abreast of it as it con-
tinues.
Commentary __________,
Movies make case for patients’ rights
The critics hated "John Q.," but it's
still a gripping movie, and one that
should have more influence on a
Congress that may pass little or no
significant health legislation this year.
Academy Award winner Denzel
Washington plays a father driven to
take over a hospital emergency room
at gunpoint to secure his son a heart
transplant that's been denied because
he lacks adequate health insurance
on Financing for Development.
The weeklong forum in northern
Mexico will offer Bush the oppor-
tunity to meet again with his
Mexican counterpart, Vicente Fox.
They will address global economic
issues before some 400 heads of
state and international business
leaders. At this kind of gathering,
it is important that the president
represent the United States. But
the Bush administration must be
concerned about whether the event economy, should contribute $50
will replicate the recently conclud- billion.
by Quanell X and our local racial
baiting councilwoman. Excuse the
sarcasm, but replying in kind is dif-
argument both for patients' rights leg-
islation and for better insurance pro-
tection for low-income workers.
Patients' rights legislation has a
coverage for the uninsured has virtu-
a fatality rate of 20 percent to 25 pet
cent.
L
Let us hear from you
The Baytown Sun welcomes letters ofjjip to
300 wdrdsaridluestcolumnsof upto 500
words on any item of public interest Guest
vent a racial division within our
community. But if Alfaro con-
venes a met
because the city wants to reassure
Baytown residents and not in
response to someone like Quanell not the kind of community that
X who's always looking for a
stage and a microphone.
We might fairly criticize the
city's slow response and apparent
contradictions in the Torres case.
At the same time, we also should
realize that controversial situa-
tions often produce communica-
tion delays or hasty, inaccurate
If the two sides can't or wont come
to terms on the liability issue, at the
end of the day they ought to agree to
pass a bill that includes agreed-upon
items, such as mandates for clinical
trial coverage and emergency ser-
vices.
It's a shame that "John Q." hasnt
created more buzz this year to put
pressure on Congress to pass a
company will have to make expensive patients' rights bill, the way die movie
ontlavs for intensive care at the end of "Ac Good Ac It Gets" G9971 did to
her life. boost the patients' rights cause to the
will tolerate that label or that
reality.
We believe in due process and
we encourage patience and calm
as this investigation evolves.
Today's editorial was written by
Wanda Gamer Cash, editor and
publisher of The Bay town Sun, on
behalf of the newspaper's editorial
information. board.
Bush’s upcoming Mexico trip
JTW resident Bush will travel to
Monterrey, Mexico, on
JL Thursday to participate in
the U.N. International Conference Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill
strongly opposes more foreign aid,
which remains at $10 billion a
year. The amount half of which
goes to Israel and Egypt has not
increased in more than a decade.
It is far less than several
European nations, international
relief agencies and prominent phil-
anthropists say this nation should
provide to the world’s neediest.
They estimate that the United
States, based on the size of its
™ WTOMING
tion. And that's what is happen-
ing here.
The mayor has pledged to con-
cers last Sunday during a rally on tinue his tradition of openness
with Baytown residents and we
hope he will, even when the
questions are tough and the
answers potentially unpleasant.
In this case and in every situa-
tion involving public employees
or elected officials, residents
have the right to ask questions
and we are entitled to the answers
in a timely, factual manner.
We should remember, however,
that in all criminal investigations
and threatened lawsuits, city offi-
cials are unlikely to reveal any
further information that is not
already on the record. The record
on Luis Torres now lies within
the Harris County district attor-
ney's office and the FBI, which
divide a community which is sue- are investigating the in-custody
If the investigation reveals
wrongdoing, justice will take its
course. If the police department
is found lacking adequate poll-
ed \$brld Economic Forum in New
York.
At that forum, some world lead- Germany, is to raise a minimum of
-----„------j------xi—x xii- $100 billion annually to combat
hunger and disease in the poorest
Third World nations.
— San Antonio Express-News
ing as concerned citizens on our I
own. On Saturday, we ended our 1
candlelight vigil with a prayer for 1
everyone involved in this sensitive 1
issue. !
We did not invite the Black |
Panther Party to Baytown — they ,
chose to come on their own. Nor do
we condone violence or support the ]
Baytown’s response
aytown does not need Regardless of the reality, when-
Quanell X telling us when ever the public perceives stalling
U to call a town meeting. tactics or conflicting answers, a
And we certainly do not accept city's credibility comes into ques-
the inflammatory challenges of
"Change or die" that the dubious
Mr. X leveled at our police offi-
the steps of the police station.
Mayor Pete Alfaro was correct
to turn down the town meeting
demand when the spokesman of
the New Black Panther Party
telephoned the mayor last week,
seeking a forum to discuss the
death of Luis Torres, a Baytown
resident.
Torres suffocated Jan. 20 as
three Baytown police officers
attempted to arrest and handcuff
him.
Criticism came swiftly after an
autopsy report labeled Torres'
death a homicide and the city
released the police videotape of
the incident. Cries of racism
escalated and now threaten to
ploys insurance companies use to patients' rights advocates a chance to
J _____ ft.. X _1__X_ u>. «„i.t rally support
them all the time." , , When "John Q." came out this year,
"propagandistic'^ and overly simplis- pefling argument for patients' rights pi^“the bKurance-HMO lobby, pre-
also a compelling argument for House- or Senate-passed version of
patients' rights. the bill were law, insurance compa-
The central character in this drama nies would be required to pay for can-
is a 61-year-old woman I'll call Amy cer clinical trials, including the less-
S., who was diagnosed two years ago toxic marrow transplant recommend-
■■ -x*-----r---rl---L-------- ed for her.
Negotiations are under way
f
jj the NcAA Tournament selection process; the real sm
OOl rw
low. it can't do everything. Lives can be
“ Democrats will also be tempted to saved in the process.
jmpany to decide what form of block a less-than-ideal bill to make Morton Kondracke is executive
therapy she may have — shortsighted patients' rights an issue in the fall editor of Roll Call, the newspaper of
because if the transplant fails, the Congressional campaigns. Capitol Hill.
Utters ____
Mayor takes brave stance in letter to Quanell X
Mayor Pete C. Alfaro issues a let- Quanell X remarks me a break. Both sides have had
•' their share of space in The Sun to
defend their case. When Luis Torres’
. r r—r- death was ™led a homicide by the
of Baytown that we are not members Hams County Medical Examiners
of any particular group, but are act- Hnal autopsy report, a lot ofnewspa-
;-----------j .:x:----— — pers and television media outlets in
the Houston area picked up the story,
not just The Baytown Sun. And when
the video of the incident was
released and pictures of Mr. Luis
Torres’ badly bruised and marked
body were shown, they were shown
by television stations in the Houston
area. The Baytown Sun had nothing
to do with that. I personally believe
He is going to make friends by his’ ‘ ' The Baytown Sun is doing an out-
actions, but he is also going to be We will await the results of the th^incident reP°rtin® concem‘
vilified and attacked as some kind district attorney’s investigation and j a[SQ ],e|jeve jf
of Uncle Tomas. And after taking hope to be kept abreast of it as it con- in ® u°d
this brave stand and doing what is tinues. guilty of wrongdoing by higher
right, where does The Baytown Sun Fred 5. Aguilar authorities, they should be fired and
put the story? You folks bury it Baytown be prosecuted according to the law
away on page 6A. just like any law abiding citizen
Perhaps that is where you will Silll’S reporting OH TofTBS would be. Also, in life, one mistake
place the next tirade publicity stunt rasp outstanding C0U^ ver? costfy’ 6V01 if your
VMWU111UM15 past was all good. Remember Adam
To ail the people who are crying and Eve? ■ '■
about the reporting of Luis Torres I don’t subscribe to The Baytown
(homicide) from The Baytown Sun Sun but I buy it almost every day.
— saying it’s more biased toward the Very good reporting by Mr. Cook
CyrusB-Hetcher Baytown Police Department — I _____ Rod Hawton Ju______
Baytown have one thing to say. Please, give Baytown
with a rare form of lymphoma, a can-
cer of the blood and immune system.
Her insurance company has paid between the White House and Sen.
for seven rounds of heavy chemoflier- Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) to
apy, but the cancer has returned, and resolve differences between the bills
now she needs a bone marrow trans- on what cap to place on damages
plant or she'll die. plaintiffs could win if they sued their
Basically, there are two kinds of HMDs or insurance companies for
transplants available, both costing in denying coverage.
the range of $300,000 to $400,000. r-----ji—xL-n—t.
For persons her age, one procedure,
i- '
has a fatality rate of 40 percent to 50
percent.
The insurance company will pay
for that but not for the less-toxic pro-
coverage. "John Q." is a cinematic outlays for intensive care at the end of "As Gpod As It Gets" (1997) did to
her life. boost the patients'rights cause to the
One of the doctors, who practices at top of the political agenda.
the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in in that film, a brief disparagement
„ „ Houston, said declaring procedures of HMOs by star Helen Hunt caused
chance of passing this year; insurance "experimental" is "one of the many audiences to erupt with cheers, giving
coverage for the uninsured has virtu- ploys insurance companies use to patients' rights advocates a chance to
ally none, despite the fact that about avoid paying for transplants. We fight ra]|y SUpport.
40 million people lack coverage. ’ " ' " , ,
x .... -------a ,,.xu_ n „ .. Amy.s case a^particularly com- American Association of Health
tic, but I know of a real-life case that's legislation because if either the emptivelytook^out ads adopting^flie
_i_x . ii.„„ * as an argument in favor of
expanding health coverage for unin-
sured workers.
That cause also is being champi-
oned with an expensive advertising
campaign conducted by the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation and a con-
sortium of groups ranging from the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the
AFL-CIO.
It's a worthy effort, considering that
39 million people lacked health insur-
ance in 2000 and 2 million more may
have lost it amid the 2001 economic
downturn.
rui pciauiih iici age, uuc piuucuiuc, amiuiiiauauvii vans ivi a iiumun .
involving more toxic chemotherapy, cap. The Senate bill originally spon- However, Congress is nowhere near
“ sored by Kennedy and Sen. John even considering a plan to cover the
McCain (R-Ariz.) allows for damage uninsured, and groups helping
awards of up to $5 million. finance the ad campaign likely would
The two sides ought to be able to disagree violently on how to doit.
cedure that the company considers come together and produce a bill that As with the patients' rights issue, if
"experimental" even though it's been Bush can sign — unless Republicans Congress can't agree on a comprehen-
in use since 1994. This procedure has and thefr allies in the insurance indus- sive approach to the problem of the
try balk at too-high caps, or uninsured, it ought to resolve to sim-
Democrats and their allies in the trial ply expand coverage to more people
Two cancer doctors I consulted lawyers'lobby reject caps that are too each year — to do something even if
about Amy's case believe it's inappro-
priate and shortsighted for the insur-
ance coi
cessfully working with law
enforcement to combat crime and
with the city administration to
improve neighborhoods and our
overall quality of life.
It may be that Alfaro eventually cies and training for police offi-
will call a town meeting to dis- cers who encounter mentally or
cuss the Torres case. It may physically unstable citizens, those
become a necessary move to pre- changes will be made because it
. x-----j.-..—------lx.,:----. will be the right thing to do. Not
. Z_. If because some headline-grabbing
:eting, it should occur provocateur threatened violence.
- -------"---------- We are loathe to believe this
was a racial crime. Baytown is
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Cash, Wanda Garner. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 110, Ed. 1 Saturday, March 16, 2002, newspaper, March 16, 2002; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1185117/m1/4/?q=wichita+falls: accessed June 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.