Community Forum: Perry's handlers missed veterans' nursing home

Editor:
In reference to articles written about Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez, some people seem to miss the forest for the trees. What about mentioning the Alfredo Gonzalez State Nursing Home, which is located in McAllen?

Even Gov. Rick Perry's handlers missed this one when they brought him down to Edinburg for a bid dedication and showing of Freddy's mother and friends, no offense intended. This nursing home is also somewhat famous because it is one of the few in the Valley that houses our veterans and has an Alzheimer's unit.

They keep talking about giving our veterans some recognition but they forget about our veterans who also paid a price and are still paying with mental anguish in a nursing home named after a famous veteran.

A sad part about politicians is that they rely on the handlers and some-times they need to wake up, smell the coffee and think for themselves.

Do they think this article will ever reach the governor of this state? Not if his handlers have anything to do with it. They never make errors or commit oversights. Right!

After all, look at the fine mess our president and his handlers got us into. By the way, how come Dick Cheney is hiding? Wouldn't he be considered a handler of sorts?
R.F. Van Nurden
Rio Hondo
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Election by districts would be a nice change
Editor:
I think we have a great opportunity to move our community forward. During the last election, I wrote suggesting that our city commissioners be elected by district. I still think it is a good idea.

I have the good fortune to know a number of the members of our current City Commission. We are fortunate to be served by honorable men who have the best interest of the community at heart.

Election by district is in the city's best interest. We'd have representation from every part of the city. The objec-tion that those who belong to certain racial or ethnic groups are excluded from the political process would be eliminated. There would be greater accountability to the citizens.

This kind of change might produce some anxiety and challenges. There might be new people elected to office. Some of those currently serving might not be re-elected. New agendas would come before the commission. Points of view that challenge some of our current assumptions might be heard.

Human beings, by our nature, like things to remain the same. We feel comfortable with what we know. We may be fearful or anxious about what we don't know.

Moving from at-large representa-tion to district representation certainly would cause some anxiety, but would be worth it. Every other level of our government works on the basis of district representation. Ameri-ca's great experiment in democracy is messy, but it works. Would you want to live anywhere else?

Prosperity and growth happen because we change. Let's make the changes necessary so that Harlingen will be the only place we'd ever want to live.
Bill Reagan
Harlingen
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Prisoner appreciates freedom we ignore
Editor:
A former student writes often from a Texas prison out on the High Plains. He tells me "to enjoy the free air," and that if he could have voted, he would have. In fact, he notes that "free air" and election news in each letter.

As for the free air, I savor it for hours, on foot or bike.

As for voting, I vote in every election.

So why do so many refuse to walk children three blocks to school, or walk to nearby stores or ride bikes?

And why, back in March, even with the primary excitement, did barely 30 percent of Cameron County's registered voters vote? And why did more than 50,000 or so who are eligible to register pass on that freedom?

I bet that prisoner would love a "free air" walk or cycle, and also a chance to vote. Soon, he'll have all those we-take-for-granted actions. And he won't forget when he didn't have them!
Eugene "Gene" Novogrodsky
Brownsville
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