Issues arise in Houston

To the editor:

At its last meeting, the Houston’s City Council totally overrode the wishes of four audience members who brought a petition with 37 signatures opposing the city’s funding of the Houston Chamber of Commerce to run the Little Su Campground and Visitor Center, year round — $550 a month over and above expenditures for telephone, electricity, heat and porta-potty. The mayor argued that Palmer funds their chamber to run the visitor center, and he threatened to eject audience members when they offered information that the Palmer Visitor center received 40,000 visitors and has multiple sites to direct tourists to. $1,100 has already been paid for November and December. This seems like a lot of money considering that there was probably not a single visitor stopping there. The mayor advised two council members, one the secretary of the chamber and the other who is on the board, that they did not need to recuse themselves from the matter since there was no personal gain for them. Without these two, the matter would have failed. Instead, it passed five to two.

In addition, the council brought forward an ordinance change that would effectively remove all oversight on vendors at the Houston Founders Day event. Currently the code requires a background check, but this proposed ordinance would remove this requirement and open the Founders Day to vendors who may be sexual predators, felons, or child molesters. In addition to all this, Mayor Purcell is dressing in a wannabe cop uniform and making traffic stops using his private vehicle that is equipped with flashing lights in the grill. This may also cost the city legal fees if the mayor is taken to court. So, if you are anywhere near Houston keep an eye out for a silver BMW driven by the mayor.

Julia Normand

Houston