The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 342, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 2, 2000 Page: 4 of 12
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4A The Baytown Sun
Thursday, November 2,20tft!
Opinion
®fje $£aptoton S>un
Founded 1922
Wanda Qarner Cash, Editor and Publisher ' 4
Whitney Jones, Managing Editor Richard Nelson, Asst. Managing Editor-Sports
Fred Hartman, Publisher Emeritus-
1950-1974
Emergency Beacon
next step in safety
T\ ecently, Baytown Crime
1^ Stoppers Inc. and Baytown
A V. Citizens Police Academy
Alumni began selling the
Emergency Beacon. This strobe
light is crafted from a 60-watt
light bulb that transforms itself
into a life-saving devices with the
flip of a switch. What a wonderful
idea! And it seems many other.
Baytown citizens agree judging by
the brisk sales reported.
. If you have ever been in an
emergency situation^ you know
that seconds count. This small
device can and will shave precious
seconds off of medical personnel
searching for the home of the per-
son in need.
It’s heart warming to know
Baytown has the Emergency
Beacon and a superb program, the
Pilot Club of Baytown Lifeline
Response System.
The Lifeline Response System is
an organization which provides
emergency assistance to elderly or
disabled people who live,alone.
The joint project of San Jacinto
Methodist Hospital and the Pilot
Club has been in Baytown since
August. 1983.
After an inquiry call to the
Social Services Department of San
Jacinto Hospital, the prospective
client is interviewed and assessed
by the Pilot Club volunteers based
on necessity and availability of the
unit.
When approved, the person’s
information, including phone
number, medical history and per-
sonal physician, is placed on file
at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital.
Volunteers install and maintain
the Lifeline units which are con-
nected through the telephone sys-
tem. Each member also receives a
portable Personal Hflp Button,
which is worn as a necklace and
can summon help from anywhere.
Help also can be summoned by
pushing the “help” button on the.
Lifeline communicator or by inac-
tivity of the client for more than a
set period of time. '
The next step needed is The City
of Baytown to mandate reflective
street numbers on all homes and
buildings. You can never be too
careful...
Today’s editorial was written by
Dee Anne Robbins, business man-
ager for The Baytown Sun, on
behalf of the newspaper's editorial
board.
Bush may have turned Social
Security issue in his favor
ri 1 hat the dynamics of presiden-
I tial politics has changed dra-
-L matically since 1996 is evi-
■ dent from the current debate on
Social Security. Most observers
expected this‘hot button’issue
would work to A1 Gore’s decided
advantage, as it had for other
Democratic candidates before him.
However, by daring to propose a
plan to reform Social^ Security, rather
than merely maintain the status quo,
. George W. Bush has largely man-
aged to neutralize the issue, if not
trim it in his favor.
Under the Bush plan, Workers
would be given die option of volun-
tarily investing up to one-sixth of
their Social Security taxes in person-
al retirement accounts. Such
accounts would earn higher rates of
return for future retirees, generating
wealth that they would own and, be
able to pass along to their children.
As it is now, workers see a return
of less than 2 percent on their Social
Security payroll taxes. By compari-
son, if a portion of these funds were
invested in stocks and bonds, future
retirees would see a yield of roughly
6 percent after inflation, based on the
historic performance of the financial
markets.
Vice President Gore previously
, supported the idea of investing a por-
tion of Social Security funds on Wall
Street. But now he suggests that
About Us
Our editorial board
The Baytown Sun’s editorial board meets
weekly at 2 p.m, Wednesday. Individuals are
encouraged to visit the editorial board to dis-
cuss issues affecting the community. To
make an appointment, contact Managing
Editor Whitney Jones, (281) 422-8302.
Members of the editorial board include:
Wanda Garner Cash, editor and publisher;
Whitney Jones, managing editor; Eric Bauer,
marketing director; Dee Anne Robbins, busk'
ness manager; and Richard Nelson, assistant
managing editor-sports.
Let us hear from you
The Baytown Sun welcomes letters of up to
• 300 words and guest columns of up to 500
words on any item of public interest. Guest.
doing so will hasten the entitlement’s
' insolvency, while also requiring ben-
efit cuts.
So, Gore’s Social Security plan
calls for leaving the program, as cur-
rently structured, intact. Meanwhile,
he proposes an entirely new entitle-
ment program, above and beyond
Social Security, that would, like the
Bush plan he derides, allow
Americans to invest retirement funds
in the private securities market.
And that’s the problem with the ,
vice president’s plan. He would do
nothing to forestall fee entitlement’s
eventual insolvency. Indeed, by 2016,
when baby,boomers start to retire,
die Social Security surplus will start ■
to diminish.
Gore’s proposal for supplemental
retiremept accounts — which he
calls “retirement savings plus” -
are not a bad idea, in theory. But it
would take $200 billion out of the
federal budget surplus (as opposed
to Social Security) over the next 10
years, and $35 billion a year there-
after.
If he simply proposed to invest a ..
portion of Social Security funds in
the private markets — much as his
supplemental accounts would do —
there would be no need for an expen-
sive new entitlement above and
beyond Social Security.
This editorial was first published
in the Victoria Advocate on Oct. 31.
. columns should .include a photograph of the
writer. We publish only original material
addressed to The Baytown Sun bearing the
writer’s signature. An address and phone num-
ber not for publication should be included. We
ask that submissions be limited to one per
month. All letters and guest columns subject
to editing.
The Sun reserves the right to refuse to pub- -
lish any submission.
Letters endorsing or opposing political can-
didates or issues will not be published within ),
two days of an election, except in direct rebut-
tal to a letter previously published in The
Baytown Sun.-Please send signed letters to:
Wanda Gamer Cash or Whitney Jones, The
■ Baytown Sun, P.O. Box 90, Baytown, TX
77522.
Or, fax them to: (281).427-1880. Or, email
us at: sunnews@baytownsun.com.
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Commentary
Safety, schools part of growth pattern
Former Houston Mayor Bob
Lanier was in town Wednesday,
checking on his sister Reba and
his childhood stompin’ grounds.
During a speech to the Rotary
Club, Lanier.encouraged folks to
devote their energy to public ser-
vice. He said it was-the most *
rewarding undertaking in his own
life and he wished the same satis-
faction for others.
“Working with people and for
people was the best thing I ever
did,” Lanier said, “You get back so
much when you contribute to your
community.”
Lanier talked also about the
future of suburban cities surround-
ing metropolitan areas.
Specifically, he outlined'what he
believes Baytown should be focus-
ing on as it attempts to thrive in
Houston’s shadow.
“Maintain your identity and
remain independent,” Lanier said.
Baytown’s future will be bright
as a growth area for business and
residential expansion if the com-
munity emphasizes good schools,
safe neighborhoods, a welcoming
business climate and a visionary
political allianee in state polities.
“Your top priority "should be
public schools and Lee College,”
he said. “People won’t want to live
in Baytown unless the school sys-
tem is sound.”
Lanier touched briefly on the
Officials
Random
Thoughts
Wanda
Gamer Cash
Goose Creek school board’s chal-
lenge to keep Superintendent Jerry
Roy. “If he’s doing a good job, you
ought to do what you can to keep
him.
“I notice he’s riot poorly paid,”
the former mayor quipped.
Lanier said he’d recommend
Baytown stay out of the Houston
Metro system, The city would do
better to invest in its own trans-
portation system than to send
money to Houston with little
return.
He also, noted that with Harris
County Commissioner Jim
Fonteno’s imminent retirement,
Baytown has an opportunity to .
speak up for greater representation
in county government and county
spending.
“At the state level, Baytown
should be forging alliances with
Pete Laney and Rick Perry,”
Lanier said.
Laney will continue as speaker
of the Texas House and Perry will
either continue as lieutenant gov-
ernor or ascend to governor
depending on whether George W.
Bush is elected president next
Tuesday.
Both Laney and Perry could be
important allies for the Baytown
area, Lanier said.
Baytown should fend for itself
outside of Houston's dominance .
but at the same time Baytown
must use that proximity to its ; ,,~
advantage. For example, Baytown
is poised for growth because of
Interstate 10 and highways 146
and 225.
“People will come to Baytown h
there are good, safe neighborhood:
and good schools,” Lanier said.
“A CEO wdl also look for a nnv
place to live when he’s looking at
your business park.”
Lanier also ericouraged the city
to be business friendly. He said
when he was mayor of Houston lfo~>;
worked to turn around business ~
permits within 24 hours. 7
“You’ve got to be a city where
businesses can make money and
the city can make money.”
Lanier said he always enjoyed
coming back to his hometown to
watch the progress.
Lanier believes in Baytown.
So should we all.
Wanda Garner Cash is editor
and publisher of The Baytown Sun.
Her e-mail address is. wg'cash(a:
baytdwnsun.com.
Citizens keep cool, lend hand during accident
On October 29, 2000 a major
accident occurred at the intersec-
tion of Highway 146 at 1-10 East.
There were four vehicles involved
and four members of one family
seriously injured.
Needless to say the scene .should
have been chaotic. But upon my
arrival I found citizens tending the
injured persons and another guard-
ing the driver of the striking vehicle.
Witnesses stayed at the scene
until their names could be
obtained for the report.
Their calm, helpful demeanor
made a bad situation manageable
for emergency responders, Police
and Emergency Medical
Technicians.
I would like to thank all the citi-
zens who stopped and contributed
their time and hearts to this cause,
lit accordance with the citizens
desires to know what became of
their charges, I would also like to
notify them that three family
members were treated and released
Officials
Lee College
511S, Whiting
Baytown, Texas 77520
281427-5611
President
Jackson Sasser, PhD
Board of Regents
Bill Blake (2006)
281427-9321
Keith Coburn (2006)
281422-9451 •
Susan Fontenot (2006)
from BayCoast Hospital. The
fourth, a JO-year-old boy, was
treated at Herman Hospital and is
expected to recover with no lasting
effects. 4-j
Acting Sgt. P. Erikson
Baytown
Barbers Hill’s historical
series was memorable
On behalf of the Barbers Hill
Sports Hall of Honor Coiftmittee,
please accept my sincere thanks to
The Baytown Sun and reporter
Jonathan Cooper for the compre-
hensive coverage given to our
team and individual inductees to
the Barbers Hill Sports Hall of
Honor for the year 2000.
The “Barbers Hill Historical
Week Series,” highlighting past
decades of Barbers Hill sports
achievement and individual out-
standing athletes, generated a
great deal of interest and excite-
ment in our community and con-
tributed to a very successful event.
The articles assisted us in local 4
ing two athletes who played on the”
earliest Barbers Hill teams in
1931-32 and 1933-34 and we were
also, able to honor them.
Jonathan deserves special thanks,,,
for attending several of our com- Z
mittee meetings where he gathered
information for the series and was
able to interview former athletes.
In addition, at the social prior to
the Friday football game, he dis-
tributed Xerox copies of the entire
series to honorees and guests who
had not had access to them. It was
a very thoughtful gesture and great
advertisement for The Baytown
Sun!
Again, thanks for your assis-
tance in making the Barbers Hill ;•
Sports Hall of Honor Induction --
2000 weekend events memorable -7
for all who attended. Your contri-
bution is greatly appreciated.
Dennis “Jabo” Leonard,
Chairman Barbers Hill
Sports Hall of Honor Committee
281421- 1296
Don Coffey (2002)
281422- 3232
Charles Huggins (2002)
281-5468779
Peter Straub (2002)
281422-6881
Wayne Gray (2004)
281422-8221
Rpnald Haddox (2004)
281422-0555
Jess D. Navarre (2004)
281422-7052
Baytown Chamber of Commerce
281422-8359
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
281422-6908
Chambers County Chamber of
Commerce
281-576-5440
League of Women Voters of Baytown
281427-1947
Steriing Municipal Library
281427-7331
.Secretary of State
■800-2528683
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Cash, Wanda Garner. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 342, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 2, 2000, newspaper, November 2, 2000; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1020957/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.