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Brownsville earthquake
On Nov. 18 for the first time I experienced an earthquake. Not in California, but in Brownsville. It was a little scary, but more importantly it caused damage to my 26-year-old law office.
With our clay-heavy soil, which expands and contracts from moisture, our concrete and bricks crack. Consequently, the vibration from Elon Musk’s Starship, the heaviest, tallest and most powerful space vehicle ever, from 24 miles away caused chunks of brick to blow out of my building’s facade.
Starship is reportedly 1,100% more powerful than the next-biggest rocket.
And we have to pay for the damage, so that the richest person in the world can make more money. I’ve been told by my insurance agent that most likely my insurance company won’t pay for the damage either.
This is another instance where our elected representatives have sold us out. In 2011 then-Republican Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill into law that grants rich space exploration companies like SpaceX immunity from valid property damage claims caused by their rockets. The bill’s sponsors were a Republican and two Democrats. Our then-Democrat senator, Eddie Lucio Jr., reportedly co-sponsored the bill, all while conservatives bloviate about personal responsibility in areas like welfare and lawsuits.
This is classic corporate welfare. Before the Clean Water Act and the EPA, companies routinely discharge chemicals into our water supply, thereby making the public pay for what should properly be a business expense, disposal of waste. That’s what granting SpaceX immunity from righteous property claims is: an expense of doing business that is foisted on the public under the slogan jobs, jobs, jobs. It must be great to have friends in high places. Next time you hear a politician says he or she is looking out for “you,” figure out who “you” is. It’s probably the politician’s major campaign donors.
Barry Benton
Brownsville
The states should control migration
Texas finds itself in a Catch-22 scenario. On one hand it is being flooded by illegal migration and finds itself unable to control or stop it because it is up the federal government to enforce immigration laws and not the states. The government’s refusal forces Texas to control illegal entry and our federal government refuses to enforce the laws and control immigration migration.
In this case I see incompetence in our federal government; it’s become an Achilles’ heel, the weakest link in a chain that can bring a nation down.
Gov. Greg Abbott comes up with ways to control the illegal entry and is blocked by the federal government. It is not their problem, it’s a Texas problem, and the rest of the nation can live their lives without this problem.
Gov. Abbott takes a more daring approach and flies and buses migrants to northern cities that support their coming to America (they really mean at any Texas border town or city, but not in their America.)
Today New York City wants to fine buses and airplanes that transport immigrants in some situations. We know where this is going. Now they are not allowing migrants to leave the airport. Texas does not get a notice from China, Mexico, Iran, North Korea, etc., about illegal immigrants reporting at our border, never. Now New York City is using fines to control immigration.
We all agree illegal entry is not good for any nation, so let’s fix it in our Congress, which has sat on this issue for decades. All our border states have every right to control immigration and not our government. They are in place and need to be used to protect America’s center.
Our Congress lives in La-La Land and doesn’t have a clue of the threat America is under.
Rafael Madrigal
Pharr
Border fence spurs comment
I can remember when President Ronald Reagan solved all the problems at the border. It lasted as long as it took to pick up his pen. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 altered U.S. immigration law by making it illegal to hire illegal immigrants knowingly and establishing financial and other penalties for companies that employed illegal immigrants. The act also legalized most undocumented immigrants who had arrived in the country before Jan. 1, 1982.
In 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Secure Fence Act. This would require building a 1,951-mile fence. During the Donald Trump administration, 80 miles of new fencing was put up. Under duress, Joe Biden has put up 20 new miles of fencing. The Secure Fence Act of 2006 should be law and completed before the GOP wastes another dollar on trips to the border.
Congress should put the money on the table to finish the fence project and set a reasonable completion deadline. Trump should pay for it out of his campaign money, not Mexico. He has already raised enough money from the fence ads to build it out of reinforced steel.
I guess that the current Congress will do nothing to solve the immigration problem. It is too good of a campaign issue to solve it. Osama bin Laden raised more money for the GOP to fight terrorism than anyone could imagine. Why kill the goose that laid golden eggs?
Which undocumented immigrant has committed a mass shooting in a school? More lives can be saved and money for terrorism can be used elsewhere. Congress, do your job.
Hank Shiver
Mission
Tennis group draws attack
I am writing to express significant concerns about the leadership of the Harlingen Area Tennis Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to growing tennis in our community. While the mission is commendable, recent observations have raised serious questions about transparency, effectiveness and behavior.
One primary concern is the leader’s limited experience in the sport, holding the lowest certification and displaying an apparent lack of proficiency in tennis. This has resulted in challenges during group classes, with reports of excessively large class sizes impacting the quality of instruction and individual attention participants receive.
Compounding this issue is the confusion created for newcomers attempting to enter the sport. Searches for “Harlingen Tennis” lead to HATA, contributing to a misunderstanding that it is affiliated with the H-E-B Tennis Center, the actual hub of tennis in the area. This misrepresentation not only confuses newcomers but also potentially harms the reputation of tennis in our community.
Furthermore, the leader’s actions in hosting events and tournaments on the grounds of the H-E-B Tennis Center without clear distinction between HATA and the center’s staff contribute to this confusion and a lack of transparency. This situation raises concerns, particularly when newcomers assume that she represents tennis in Harlingen. and
Another issue of significant concern is the frequent hosting of expensive tennis tournaments almost every weekend. These tournaments seem to cater primarily to participants from outside the area, which contradicts HATA’s stated purpose of serving all in our economically challenged community.
This letter aims to bring attention to these pressing concerns for a meaningful community discussion about HATA’s leadership and practices. Our community deserves clear communication, professional conduct and leadership aligned with our shared goals for tennis.
Alejandro Pimenta
Harlingen
Israeli justice spurs concern
After reading about the release recent of Palestinian prisoners, I am concerned about the unjust way the Israeli government is acting when it comes to the imprisonment of Palestinian prisoners. After a deal was made between Hamas and Israel, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners. The release is shedding light on a practice that forces Palestinians to be detained with unfair terms and bad conditions by Israel.
Israel claims the prisoners were convicted for serious crimes, such as “attempted murder” and labeled as terrorists. Recent information has revealed that many of the prisoners haven’t been charged or convicted. Various prisoners were detained for presumed crimes without evidence for years.
The Israeli government must make sure the person they’re convicting is guilty, and not innocent. The public must demand the Israeli government to improve access to the courts, provide interactions between court and staff and the public, and help the public understand court proceedings. They must also ensure individual voice in courtroom.
Incarcerating people who have not been convicted of anything for long periods of time, sometimes years, based on secret evidence that the Israeli government won’t show is an extreme form of power. Perhaps the decrease in this power could stop Israel from treating prisoners unfairly.
The U.S., one of the most powerful countries and provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel. A way we could diminish the funds given to Israel is to boycott companies that support Israel, such as Starbucks and McDonald’s. Taking power away from an authority figure who takes advantage of it, and demanding a fair justice system, makes it possible to eventually reach a solution.
Still, many critics argue that the reason these prisoners were imprisoned in the first place is because they’re criminals who committed crimes. This point strengthens the argument that the Israeli justice system must convict prisoners as soon as possible and provide evidence that finds them guilty.
The Israeli government must find every single individual guilty and provide evidence to convict and imprison them fairly.
Angela Sanchez
Mission
WIC needs more funds
Across Texas, nearly 227,000 parents, infants and young children could be turned away from WIC, a federal nutrition program designed specifically to help pregnant women and new moms afford essentials like formula, milk and fresh produce.
That’s because higher-than-expected participation and the rising cost of food have left WIC facing a $1 billion funding shortfall — which could force millions across the nation to be waitlisted or have their benefits cut for the first time in three decades.
That would be devastating for families across our state. WIC not only helps parents make ends meet, but also supports the health and development of infants and young children. Data show WIC dramatically improves maternal, infant and child health and development, while also helping participants improve their diets by purchasing healthier foods.
Lawmakers have an opportunity to make this right, but time is running out. With the Jan. 19 deadline to avert a partial government shutdown looming, we’re calling on Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and Rep. Monica De La Cruz to act quickly to fully fund WIC, ensuring that all Texas children get the nutrition they need to thrive — starting from day one.
Cruselva Peña
Program manager
No Kid Hungry Texas
Harlingen
Melania’s legal status
Let’s take a look at who is an “illegal” alien. Entering or staying in the U.S. without legally obtained documents or having documents obtained by fraud makes an alien an illegal and is subject to removal with future immigration consequences.
Melania Trump first entered and worked in the U.S. in 1995 with a B1/B2 visa, not a work visa. She claims to have remained and worked in the U.S. with an H visa. To obtain an H visa a person must have unique skills with regard to U.S. worker shortage (model or escort?).
Melania married Donald Trump as a green card alien and in 2006 became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Melania’s immigration record has been purposefully kept in an uncertain, cloudy, muddled state and documentation has been kept secret. We can know for sure simply by looking at the entry stamps in Melania’s passports. She must have them. Every entry into the U.S. or change of immigrant status is stamped on the passport.
Melania owes the American people as former first lady clarification of her past immigration record. She is from Slovania. How did she first enter the U.S. to an It is important because she was First Lady of the United States and she could be First Lady again. She can easily clear things up by showing us her passport entry stamps. If an alien lies to an immigration officer it is a federal offense and makes the alien immediately deportable. That is the law and it applies no matter how far back the event happened. To reenter the U.S. after deportation an alien must petition, which requires a 10-to-20-year wait.
Donald Trump is so strict and opposed to illegal aliens and demanded to see Obama’s birth certificate. We want to know Melania’s record in becoming a U.S. citizen. Is Melania really an illegal alien married to Donald Trump? We really don’t know.
Arnoldo Gonzalez
Brownsville
Editor’s note: Reports indicate that Melania entered the United States in 1996 under a B-1/B-2 tourist visa and soon obtained the first of a series of H-1B work visas, sponsored by Metropolitan Models agency. In 2001 she received an EB-1 visa, sponsored by Donald Trump and became a U.S. citizen in 2006.
Needing abortions
I read that several women were joining the lawsuit challenging Texas abortion laws and noticed what Kimberly Manzano went through, finding out that her baby was not going to be able to survive outside the womb and making a hard choice with her husband to terminate the pregnancy, but to little or no avail, because her doctor refused to perform the procedure due to the state of Texas banning abortions.
Ever since Texas banned abortions, I never realized how strict they are about enforcing it to the point that, in some cases such as Kimberly Manzano’s where they noticed some irregularities with her pregnancy that over time worsened and led them to believe the baby wouldn’t survive outside the womb, it was surprising to know is that while she wanted to get an abortion because they believed it was the best choice for her baby, they still refused to treat and give her abortion care.
Furthermore, it led to a lawsuit against the state, because women were claiming that this took away their reproductive rights. A protester named Danielle Mathisen, who studies medicine, experienced a similar issue. She decided she had to leave the state to New Mexico to find a doctor willing to help with this matter. She claimed, “I felt let down by Texas.” Upon her return, she submitted residency applications due to her wanting to keep studying medicine somewhere, hoping she can help others and give them the option she didn’t have. As the lawsuit against Texas carries on, putting The Texas Medical Board at fault for not giving clear guidance to doctors about when they can terminate pregnancies, the Center for Reproductive Rights mentioned that under the law’s medical exemption, “A woman carrying nonviable pregnancies should be able to access abortions” in the state of Texas, so that way women won’t have to leave their homes to receive the treatment for these occasions.
I believe there should be some ability to get an abortion, whether it be for the baby’s sake or the parent’s health. I don’t believe parents should be denied that right.
Kenn Hernandez
Pharr
Editor’s note: We welcome your letters and commentary. Submissions must include the writer’s full name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters of 200 words or fewer will be given preference. Submissions may be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Letters may be mailed to P.O Box 3267, McAllen, Texas 78502-3267, or emailed to [email protected].
