I finally feel safe crossing 11th street

Regarding “Mayor Whitmire is not leaving Vision Zero. He takes ownership of safety on the street. | Opinion,” (April 7): After living north of 11th Street and crossing it several times a day since 2001, I Finally feel safe doing so. Pedestrian crossings, a left turn lane and protected bike lanes are a big improvement. I no longer feel like I’m risking my life – and the lives of my children and pets – when I cross 11th Street.

The setup mimics the improvements made to Studewood, which have been extremely beneficial. Overall, traffic in this area is better managed and now accommodates pedestrians and cyclists more efficiently. Neighborhood streets are not highways. Traffic management in this new configuration ensures everyone’s safety and my daily driving experience on these roads has overall improved.

I applaud the Mayor for paying attention to these improvements and hope he replicates this example in Houston neighborhoods for the benefit of all.

On “Reverend Lawson’s gentle demeanor in a world of strife embodied the peaceful promise of humanity” (May 14): There I was, in my usual pointless eagerness to read the newspaper, and I almost jumped, as I did. so many times in the past, when the Chronicle featured a person from the community on the front page.

And then, that smile in the photo. So authentic. So welcoming. Reluctantly, I began reading about the Rev. William “Bill” Lawson, a black pastor whose story had never broken down the walls that protected my white suburban world. Another example of my head buried in the sand while urban heroes do what they do to bring our city closer to its best self. Just reading about him made me a better person. Sparks of hope!

A rabbi, a priest and a black Baptist minister walk into an office…and change Houston for the better. Thanks for the article about Reverend Lawson and his legacy.

Peggy Fisher Price, Houston

Regarding “Black businesses making progress, but still plagued by intolerance, study finds” (May 10): Chris Tomlinson’s column on obstacles to black businesses resonated with me. As economic refugees from the depressed industrial North dependent on the auto industry, my wife and I moved to Houston in the early 1980s to start a new life in booming Houston. What we then discovered was that apartments were difficult to rent and it was difficult to borrow money because we didn’t have any. It doesn’t matter that my three previous loans in the North have been repaid.

As an aspiring commercial pilot, I discovered that I was not qualified to be hired by the major airlines. The Future Airline Pilots Association released hiring demographics at that time. The data reveals that the vast majority of pilots hired were former military pilots and the remaining fraction appeared to be “minority hires.” I suppose these facts reflect the fact that I experienced some sort of employment discrimination at that time. However, my wife and I quickly moved on to other opportunities.

Here’s what I take away from Mr. Tomlinson’s comment. Despite various obstacles, perseverance, perseverance and the pursuit of happiness play an important role in all of our lives, regardless of skin pigmentation. So I will be the first to acknowledge my advance, which I believe applies to Mr Tomlinson, Mr Jeremy Peaches, Ms Ivy Lawrence-Walls and many other successful people: we were all born in the land of flaws and opportunities. known as the United States of America.

Edward A. Vesely, Houston

This column minimizes a statistic. Tomlinson writes: “Blacks make up 14 percent of the U.S. population but own only 2.5 percent of U.S. businesses, according to Census Bureau data. Although this represents an increase from 2% in 2018, this figure remains remarkably low.

The difference between 2% and 2.5% is actually a 25% increase. And I think that such an increase is in itself a great story to continue. How did this happen and what were the reasons? Reading Tomlinson’s articles and checking the headlines shows me very simply that his memes are almost always geared towards a political agenda.

Regarding “In Sunday Sermon, Dan Patrick Says If Christians Don’t Fight, ‘We Lose'” (May 13): I couldn’t help but notice the height of hypocrisy displayed by the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick in his sermon delivered at Second Baptist Church of Houston. Patrick says it’s a “dangerous time” in the United States and explains why it’s important for Christians to vote in the 2024 presidential election.

His sermon seemed to be a rhetorical speech, superficial and devoid of any substantial facts. Furthermore, he ignored other religions, their contributions and their unique customs and beliefs.

He, who is asking people to vote for a former president whose supporters attacked our nation’s Capitol, must remember that January 6, 2021 was a dangerous time. Additionally, he must be reminded that he supports someone who consistently mocked war hero Senator John McCain and denigrated fallen American soldiers as “losers” and “suckers.” .

I learned many years ago in civics class that one of the functions of being president and occupier is to create a moral tone for the country that all can recognize and observe. Sorry Mr. Patrick, choose to abandon your moral values ​​at your convenience, but politics aside, I will vote for civility and character over anger and hatred.

Chris Brown, Houston