The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 158, Ed. 1 Friday, May 3, 2002 Page: 4 of 20
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4A
IlieBaytown Sun
Opinion
David Bloom, Managing Editor
Officers no-billed
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Letters
have done just that. I am a 19 year
administrative leave pending an
Don’t vote in response
er’s salaries ahead of every other
one that comes to mind is when the
was necessary in order to make sure
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employees would not follow a state
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About Us
compliance with the rule. Second
See LETTERS on Page 5A
I
hiring or firing, salary or promo-
tions,
The proposal does carve out
exemptions for religious organi-
zations, small businesses, the
military and nonprofit voluntary
groups such as the Boy Scouts.
Granted, the measure is likely
to get a friendlier hearing in the
Democrat-controlled Senate than
it will in the House. It’s a shame,
however, that a question that is
fundamentally about right breaks
down along party lines.
Every American citizen has the
right ter the same treatment — in
housing, in employment and in
access to public accommodations.
It would be great if a law ban-
ning anti-gay job bias wasn’t
needed. Unfortunately, this nation
still has a way to go before such'
laws are unnecessary.
— Fort Worth Star-Telegram
ITS THE
BAD SEED.
to have this special interest provision
in the charter? The city is already in
compliance with state law. If this
amendment is passed, it will require
Mr. Anderson, Task that if you had
an emergency at your house, would
you want three firefighters on that
apparatus when it pulled up to your
house or four.
Evans an excellent choice
for Lee College regent
David Havel
Baytown
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Let us hear from you
77 x? Baytown Sun welcomes letters of up to
300. words and guest columns of up to 500
words on any item of public interest. Guest
Can’t put a price on a
firefighters or citizens life
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Friday, May 3,2002
day. No connection I’m sure.
Many times when 1 was
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ber not for publication should be included.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-
didates 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, IX
77522.
Or, fax them to: (281) 427-1880. Or, email
us at: sunnews@baytownsun.com.
School for the past 20 years, I have
come to know thousands of students
who attended our school. This letter
is directed to my former students and Mr. Anderson used a lot of space up
= r or a citizen because of such
Margaret (Peggy) Loggins short-sighted thinkers such as Mr.
b
c
Steve Dean
Baytown
Our editorial board
T/ie. 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 ah appointment, contact Managing
Cditor David Bloom, (281) 422-8302.
. Membets ol tile editorial board include:
. Warjda Garner Cash, editor and publisher;
David Bloom, managing editor; Meredith
Darnell, news editor; Eric Bauer, marketing
director: and .Dee Anne Navarre, business
manager. .
w
Anti-homosexual job bias
he would think that a
H Bnalionbuiltonafounda-
V-^lion of equality for all
pcop'le would find the notion of a
law to prohibit discrimination
__i__ ’mhiiidmit ....._____ '
Sadly; that is not the case, not
even in The United States of
Ameiica .
Some people are still discrimi-
nated against, in ways that are
. perhaps,not as overt as they were
belbie the civil rights movement
of the 1960s. but real neverthe- .
. less:
That’s .why legislation that
would prohibit employment dis-’
crimination based on sexual ori-
’ entation is needed.
Last week, the Senate Health,'
Education. Labor and Pension
: C'ominittee approved a bill that
would keep employers from con-
sidering a worker’s sexual orien-
tation when deciding issues of
5ttA®wSM" Wfr worth -----
iWAm
or a citizens life.
’ ’ Q
. Wanda Garner Cash, Editor and Publisher ■ I
Fred Hartman, Publisher Emeritus „
1950-1974 ’
is made up for the blinking light.” make a speech at the Little League Initially, the firefighter’s union
(paraphrased of course) Why both- park shortly after making that state- claimed that a charter amendment
er? Now the city is jumping through ment to the newspaper. was necessary in order to make sure
hoops to put the stop light out there It is evident that the current the city followed the law on the
a week and a half before election administration needs to be replaced, recently adopted “two in/two out”
McNeill is an outstanding
regent candidate
Because the Lee College Board of
Regents will have at least two new
regents, it is important that those
new regents support and build upon
On May 4,2002, Baytown and the Lee College s excellence and invalu- for the city t0 .
surrounding area will have a chance able contribution to our community,
to elect three Lee College regents. I I am convinced that Dr. Jeanette
have known Calvin Evans all my life McNeill is an outstanding candidate
and believe he will be an excellent to provide that support. Dr. McNeill,
choice. He understands well the with a master’s and doctorate from
importance of making sound educa- UT-Houston, Health Science Center
tional and financial decisions affect- and 30 years as a nursing educator,
ing the students and taxpayers. will indeed bring to the Lee College
On May 4th, 1 will vote for Calvin Board the kind of experience and
Evans and invite you to do the same, vision that the college needs to con-
S. Mac Hodman t™0610 provide quality education.
Bu town Mary Turner
Baytown
tinning .1131 investigation could
(jivil lawsuit by Torres’f’amily is also
pending. Today's editorial was written by
Indeed, Thursday’s grand jury rul- Wanda Garner Cash, editor and
ing brings only partial closure to publisher of The Bayton Sun, on
months of uncertainty and it under- behalf of the newspaper’s editorial
scores the need for board.
in/two out” rule in a manner that
benefits the union, and wants to
deprive city council and city man-
agement of the ability to consider
other ways to comply.
The firefighter’s union has subse-
quently admitted that their decision
to seek a charter amendment is a
result of the union’s disappointment
over not being able to get four man
staffing through the budgetary
process of the city, “ ..we never seem
Di >4 M kl 'll to get extra men, They are elirninat-
rlease support McNeill « a -j-- nn , ec* through the budget process.” John
for Lee College regent a Pnc® on a Carr in the Baytown Sunt April 14,
As a librarian at Highlands Junior firefi8hterS Or CltuenS life 2002. Mr. Carr wants you to
This is in response to the letter of believe that only four man crews
Mr. Ronnie Anderson regarding the w*" comply with the “two in, two
four firefighters on an apparatus. ou^ ru'e> which is not factually or
.o ... *-L. 2 p legally correct. As it has been stat-
friends. I hope each of you is a reg- in this newspaper to say that you just et* others, the city has been in
istered voter and will vote on May 4. do not want to pay for it. Mr. compliance with the rule. Second
Please support Dr. Jeanette McNeill Anderson, you can’t put a price on a
for the Lee College/ Board of firefighters
not permit the stop lights.” Mr.
Alfaro has not been truthfill to the
citizens of Baytown. This writer per- to emotional appeal
help the local Little Leagues on their sonally wrote letters and spoke to the
light bills. This is great, they need mayor and city manager regarding
the help. OK, let,s look at reality, the state’s approval of traffic signals
The cityjs going to pay the light bills for Pinehurst. City Councilman
from March to September. This is Ronnie Anderson told this writer
wonderful. You don’t think this was that there was not enough money to
a ploy to help the Mayor do you? put up lights at the subdivision.
Nah, it only was done a few weeks What is the truth?
after the city manager said that they I
Current administration
needs to be replaced
I am writing this to re-emphasize
what is the status of the city bond Mr. Haarmayer’s letter to the editor |jveg on every jay for y0U
on? Why does it take 10 years to elected officials.
complete a city bond? ■ Our current mayor, Pete Alfaro,
Financial responsibility - The city told The Baytown Sun that “ ... the.
administrative budget has been “over city planned to install stop lights at
budget” 10 to 18 peijcent every year the intersection but settled for yellow
for the last five years. While in the beacon lights because the Texas
same time frame, the police depart- Department of Transportation would
ment budget has come in “below”
budget.
City Council has just agreed to
A few weeks ago we urged the thoughtful reflection
community to be patient and Since the incident came to public
X jLallow justice to take its awareness, it has created a controver-
. course during the investigation into sy that has threatened to divide our
the death of Luis Torres. >■ community along racial lines. Many
Today, it is more important than Baytown residents believe the judi-
ever that Baytown remain calm in cial system of police and courts do
4he-wake of a Harris County grand not provide equal justice for racial
jury’s decision not to indict the four minorities, a perception that is
Baytown police officers who were shared by almost 50 percent of
involved in Lorres’ arrest and subse- Americans, according to an
quent death. The lack of charges American Bar Association poll.
indicate that grand jurors saw no evi- But if people believe our system of
deuce of unnecessary force on the justice is defective, they also should
•_. videotape and that additional testi- remember they have the power to
mouv did not convince them other- change it.’
wise. We can demand that our leaders
And although the state investiga- will enforce policies of fairness and
lion lias ended, we must continue our equal treatment and we can make
vigilance because the Luis Torres individual decisions to avoid being
- slorv is not over. The officers remaih caught up in a racial showdown.
on administrative leave pending an We must insist that disagreements
internal police review board. A con- remain peaceful.
tinning I Bl investigation could We must not answer Torres’death
result in federal indictments and a with violence.
have found a way to lower taxes and
the city hasn’t? Last year’s increase
amounted to about 7 cents per 100, if
my goesintas are right.
The school districts bond work
$90 million will be substantially
complete in the next 12 months,
and what is the money being spent regarding accountability of our
The voters of Baytown need to
carefully consider whether they want
to mandate minimum staffing of the
fire department through a charter
amendment, and not vote merely in
response to the emotional appeal of
the firefighter’s union. Why is it so
l7wasn’t“until the mayor had important to the firefighter’s union
' . a i j -J J a ii tn navA thic cnprial intorpet nrnvicinn
were going to have to cut youth pro- opponents that he decided to allow
grams if the charter amendment (flashing) lights to be put up. The
passed and a week and a half before mayor and council simply drug their
the election. feet for so long that they forgot, or
Many times the citizens come to hoped the constituents would forget, money to be spent on fire fight-
speak to council and are cut off. The what had been approved. e-- -.U 1
one that comes to mind is when the The mayor told the Sun that he did budget item, because this will be the
residents of Pinehurst came to speak not want to politicize the issue of only mandated expenditure in the
for a stop light. They were told point political signs at Little League parks, city’s charter. Why do they believe
blank-“You can speak but our mind It-didn’t, however, bother him to this is necessary?
is made up for the blinking light.” make a speech at the Little League Initially, the firefighter’s union
ploy to help the Mayor do you? put up lights
_ 1- _____-1 — —. - — 1 VX7l*wn4- •r' ll-in H*n
Let’s look at some realities in Baytown
Perception is reality they say. Regents. Dr. McNeill is a sincere, Whether you believe it or not you
Many times this is true. However intelligent, well educated profession- j--- j—-—
let’s look at some realities: al who has taught in the nursing pro- veteran of the Houston Fire
Mr. Alfaro has said that taxes have gram at the UT Health Science Department and we have just recent-
not been increased since 1993. OK, Center for the past 30 years. She will ly lost Capt. Jay Jahnke in a tragic
with the property value increases bring depth to the board with a high rise fire. 1 certainly hope the
over the last several years, how come unique perspective. Dr. McNeill will city of Baytown does not lose a fire-
the school district and Lee College make an excellent board member. fighter
Highlands Anderson. What is really alarming is
that he is a city council member. His
first concern should be the safety of
the citizens that he serves. Mr.
Anderson, the firefighters of this
city, and of this country put their
er? Now the city is jumping through ment to the newspaper.
a week and a half before election administration needs to be replaced.
I encourage those who desire honest, rule. This claim was an insult to all
on the trustworthy representation to voice other city employees, the city admin-
school board we were charged with our concerns against the mayor and istration and the city council, as it
“micro managing.” Maybe we need council by voting on Saturday, implied that their fellow city
some of that in the city. If your tired May 4. employees would not follow a state
of smoke and mirror city govern- Gary Jones law. As a voter, I was insulted that
ment, please vote on May 4. And Baytown they accused the council member for
please support Charles Shaffer for whom I voted as not willing to fol-
mayor. McNeill is an outstanding low state law. As a former city
employee whose job involved mak-
ing sure the city was aware of vari-
ous legal requirements, to my
knowledge Baytown City Council
has always followed the law. What
the firefighter’s union really wants is
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Cash, Wanda Garner. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 158, Ed. 1 Friday, May 3, 2002, newspaper, May 3, 2002; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1185129/m1/4/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.