From the perspective of an architect with 40 years of experience restoring iconic buildings, when I look at photos of broken glass downtown I think: “Let’s have some fun!” Some may be worth restoring, but most are bland backgrounds. To get an exact match for the old, weathered glass would require waiting months, and even then it would be difficult and very expensive. In modernist architecture, a perfect match is worse than no match at all.
The current view is as festive as confetti, and who knows when the next one will be. Derecho Or maybe a hurricane? Get artists involved, get creative, and make Houston a festival destination people want to visit. Get insurers and sponsors to help reimagine Houston.
Charles Phillips, Nacogdoches
Regarding “TPC agrees to $30 million fine in Port Neches explosion” (May 21): When will regulated companies be subject to the agree Penalties? The purpose of penalties is to punish misconduct. My mother never allowed me to consent to disciplinary action, and neither did the police.
I think this is why polluters don’t take laws and regulations seriously: if regulators are willing to negotiate, why should they?
Joyce Levin, Sugarland
But Abbott is going to go out of his way to pardon a shooter who took the life of an armed protester with the strong implication that he killed him intentionally. Incidentally, the shooter was convicted by a jury in a court of law. If the shooter really stood his ground, wouldn’t that be revealed in court? In the end, it doesn’t matter, because Abbott will do whatever his politics demand.
And Mr. Abbott attended a convention for the National Rifle Association, an organization that helps put guns in the hands of both murderers and their victims. Some might call it a vicious cycle. Mr. Abbott would probably call it business as usual.
When will this state rid itself of this shameful partisan politician who appears to condone state sanctioned murder but has no interest in the educational advancement of all of our state’s youth?
Both of my children attended Houston public schools in the 60s and 70s and went on to study for advanced degrees. Now parents are very frustrated that some of their children’s favorite teachers and librarians are losing their jobs with little to no understanding of why. Thankfully, the ever-vigilant U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia has called for a federal audit of pandemic funds sent to the state of Texas as the Houston Independent School District struggles with an estimated $450 million funding shortfall. She also called for the Department of Education to audit the Ector Independent School District following a Spectrum News report suggesting the district sent state funds to Colorado’s Third Future Schools, a charter school operator founded by state-appointed Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles.
This gives me hope that things will turn around for our public education.
