Comments for Fort Bend Southwest Star Newspaper http://www.fortbendstar.com Local News, Classifieds, Real Estate for Sugar Land, Richmond, Stafford, Missouri City, Katy Thu, 09 May 2013 22:48:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 Comment on Humane Society Adoption is May 12 at First Colony Mall by No Kill Houston http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/05/09/humane-society-adoption-is-may-12-at-first-colony-mall/#comment-3425 No Kill Houston Thu, 09 May 2013 22:48:55 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=30680#comment-3425 We are glad to see that the Houston Humane Society is doing an offsite adoption event, however since the Kill Rate at Houston Humane is over 85%, one would think that they would do much, much more to get more animals adopted instead of killing the vast majority of them. Taking 8 dogs to a 4 hour adoption event, once in awhile is clearly not enough---and does nothing at all to help the thousands of cats that they kill each year. Even though this facility does not have to be an Open Admission facility, they continue to take in animals instead of saying no when kennels are full. They continue taking in animals even though it means that they kill animals already in their possession. Since they continue to do this, this facility absolutely should be doing offsite adoptions, EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK, all over the city. Since they do not, we think it is pretty clear that saving all healthy and treatable pets is not their top priority. We are glad to see that the Houston Humane Society is doing an offsite adoption event, however since the Kill Rate at Houston Humane is over 85%, one would think that they would do much, much more to get more animals adopted instead of killing the vast majority of them.

Taking 8 dogs to a 4 hour adoption event, once in awhile is clearly not enough—and does nothing at all to help the thousands of cats that they kill each year.

Even though this facility does not have to be an Open Admission facility, they continue to take in animals instead of saying no when kennels are full. They continue taking in animals even though it means that they kill animals already in their possession. Since they continue to do this, this facility absolutely should be doing offsite adoptions, EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK, all over the city.

Since they do not, we think it is pretty clear that saving all healthy and treatable pets is not their top priority.

]]> Comment on Two subdivisions hit by car burglars by otocantu http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/05/01/two-subdivisions-hit-by-car-burglars/#comment-3424 otocantu Sat, 04 May 2013 06:15:54 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=30426#comment-3424 By the way, I offered the community association I would purchase and donate three surveillance cameras, one for each of the two entrances and one for the club house, FOR FREE with no strings attached. When other homeowners demanded the cameras, the Association Board refused and told the community they did not have a budget for the surveillance cameras. There may be up to three separate groups some doing vandalizing, some breaking in and burglarizing garages and vehicles. I was told some of the vandals who painted graffiti and damaged community property may be living here so they do not want their kids in jail. Even after giving them cameras for free and telling some homeowners to keep their garages closed and car alarms on they do not do it. The sheriff's office might get lucky if they discover video from stores where they might have used credit cars or tried to sell the stolen items, but it would have been easier if a car alarm would go off and they would have called 911 preventing other dozens of burglaries. I find it totally unfair that some homeowners decided to post in Facebook the police is not "paying attention" when they are irresponsible and refuse to do their part. That is why I say it is easier for them to blame the police than to press their car alarm button. A great deal of homeowner education in being defensive must be done so we act like a team against vandals. Blaming others for their lack of responsibility will certainly NOT solve the problem. Safety starts with personal responsibility to do our part and be on the defensive. Dr. Oto Cantu By the way, I offered the community association I would purchase and donate three surveillance cameras, one for each of the two entrances and one for the club house, FOR FREE with no strings attached. When other homeowners demanded the cameras, the Association Board refused and told the community they did not have a budget for the surveillance cameras. There may be up to three separate groups some doing vandalizing, some breaking in and burglarizing garages and vehicles.

I was told some of the vandals who painted graffiti and damaged community property may be living here so they do not want their kids in jail.

Even after giving them cameras for free and telling some homeowners to keep their garages closed and car alarms on they do not do it.

The sheriff’s office might get lucky if they discover video from stores where they might have used credit cars or tried to sell the stolen items, but it would have been easier if a car alarm would go off and they would have called 911 preventing other dozens of burglaries.

I find it totally unfair that some homeowners decided to post in Facebook the police is not “paying attention” when they are irresponsible and refuse to do their part. That is why I say it is easier for them to blame the police than to press their car alarm button.

A great deal of homeowner education in being defensive must be done so we act like a team against vandals. Blaming others for their lack of responsibility will certainly NOT solve the problem. Safety starts with personal responsibility to do our part and be on the defensive.

Dr. Oto Cantu

]]> Comment on Two subdivisions hit by car burglars by otocantu http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/05/01/two-subdivisions-hit-by-car-burglars/#comment-3423 otocantu Sat, 04 May 2013 06:13:21 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=30426#comment-3423 I will be very candid, so if you are easily offended do not continue reading this comment. They broke in and stole items from over 24 cars in our neighborhood last week. All cars were unlocked so the alarms did not sound. Many blame the cops stating on Facebook the sheriff is not doing anything and "not paying attention." WELLLLLL!!! I guess it is too hard to press the lock button on your car's remote and keep the garage doors closed. Let's be honest, stupid things happen to stupid people and stupid people do not take personal responsibility to be safe so they will keep attracting thieves since they know they are so easy. One guy has been hit three to four times always leaving valuables visible including cash! It is not a crime to leave a car unlocked with visible valuables like cash, BUT DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO BE THERE WHEN YOU RETURN... Being safe starts with the homeowner, not with the Sheriff's Office Deputies. If they lock their doors, activate the home and car alarms and close the garage door when not in use minimize the risk of theft or worse. I guess the safety of their families does not mean anything, but it is too easy to blame the sheriff deputies for supposedly not doing their work when they are doing their work and trying to get the bad guys and keep us safe. However, PREVENTION a better deterrent of crime but it starts with personal responsibility, and for some it is easier to blame others for their lack thereof... I guess for some it is easy to blame others than to press the lock/alarm button on your car's remote... Dr. Oto Cantu I will be very candid, so if you are easily offended do not continue reading this comment.

They broke in and stole items from over 24 cars in our neighborhood last week. All cars were unlocked so the alarms did not sound. Many blame the cops stating on Facebook the sheriff is not doing anything and “not paying attention.” WELLLLLL!!! I guess it is too hard to press the lock button on your car’s remote and keep the garage doors closed.

Let’s be honest, stupid things happen to stupid people and stupid people do not take personal responsibility to be safe so they will keep attracting thieves since they know they are so easy. One guy has been hit three to four times always leaving valuables visible including cash! It is not a crime to leave a car unlocked with visible valuables like cash, BUT DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO BE THERE WHEN YOU RETURN…

Being safe starts with the homeowner, not with the Sheriff’s Office Deputies. If they lock their doors, activate the home and car alarms and close the garage door when not in use minimize the risk of theft or worse.

I guess the safety of their families does not mean anything, but it is too easy to blame the sheriff deputies for supposedly not doing their work when they are doing their work and trying to get the bad guys and keep us safe.

However, PREVENTION a better deterrent of crime but it starts with personal responsibility, and for some it is easier to blame others for their lack thereof… I guess for some it is easy to blame others than to press the lock/alarm button on your car’s remote…

Dr. Oto Cantu

]]> Comment on Leased vehicles are listed on CAD website by rmetz http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/04/24/leased-vehicles-are-listed-on-cad-website/#comment-3421 rmetz Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:51:14 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=30229#comment-3421 If the property is not subject to taxation then there is no sensible reason for it to be on the tax-roll. Even when property is subject to tax, there is no reason why such level of detail and specifics need have public disclosure. When the local government's sole argument is a claim that it's following the state law you can almost bet they are interpreting the state law with the broadest stroke brush they can find...totaly void of common sense and likely flexibility that the state law allowed. If the property is not subject to taxation then there is no sensible reason for it to be on the tax-roll. Even when property is subject to tax, there is no reason why such level of detail and specifics need have public disclosure. When the local government’s sole argument is a claim that it’s following the state law you can almost bet they are interpreting the state law with the broadest stroke brush they can find…totaly void of common sense and likely flexibility that the state law allowed.

]]> Comment on Fort Bend ISD trustee candidates square off at community forum by rmetz http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/04/24/fort-bend-isd-trustee-candidates-square-off-at-community-forum/#comment-3420 rmetz Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:34:40 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=30233#comment-3420 I'm a bit disturbed by any candidate's concern with Congress' inability to act on school safety. Our schools should be little to none of the business of Congress. Our schools are to be regulated and directed by our state legistalature and the local school districts. The decline of our schools and quality of education will continue as the states and schools continue to kneel to the federal government and seek federal guidance. I’m a bit disturbed by any candidate’s concern with Congress’ inability to act on school safety. Our schools should be little to none of the business of Congress. Our schools are to be regulated and directed by our state legistalature and the local school districts. The decline of our schools and quality of education will continue as the states and schools continue to kneel to the federal government and seek federal guidance.

]]> Comment on Petition submitted to put Sugar Land’s red light camera issue to a vote by rmetz http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/04/24/petition-submitted-to-put-sugar-lands-red-light-camera-issue-to-a-vote/#comment-3419 rmetz Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:24:25 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=30243#comment-3419 I have mixed feelings about the red light cameras. To some degree I don't have a problem with them. But, it is a slippery slope with regard to governments intrusion on our private lives and potential for expanded use of cameras and abuse. I do question the safety improvement claims, at least the significance of the number. A blanket percentage improvement statement doesn't really mean that much. If the accident rate was relatively low to begin with, then a relatively insignificant reduction in actual number could result in a seemingly large percentage. Statistics can often be easily manipulated to tell the story that benefits your agenda. On the otherhand, Captain Van's blanket statement of not believeing the City's stats is not supported by anything, other than his opinion. He needs to support his position also. I do agree that strictly enforced traffic rules tend to be more about revenue generation than public safety. We need traffic laws, but we also need common sense in the enforcement. Blowing through a red light or stop sign with no regard for the intersecting traffic is serious and should be handled as a serious violation. But, obviously cautious rolling stops, especially when no obvious safety concern is present, is a ridiculous enforcement. I do agree that many of the yellow light timings are too short. Could slightly longer yellow light time improve safety as well? But, more importantly we are supposed to be governed by the will of the people. Items such as this should be brought to vote, and if the people don't want it, then we shouldn't have it. But, the voting public needs honest and accurate information on the benefits, or lack thereof, for such a measure. I have mixed feelings about the red light cameras. To some degree I don’t have a problem with them. But, it is a slippery slope with regard to governments intrusion on our private lives and potential for expanded use of cameras and abuse. I do question the safety improvement claims, at least the significance of the number. A blanket percentage improvement statement doesn’t really mean that much. If the accident rate was relatively low to begin with, then a relatively insignificant reduction in actual number could result in a seemingly large percentage. Statistics can often be easily manipulated to tell the story that benefits your agenda. On the otherhand, Captain Van’s blanket statement of not believeing the City’s stats is not supported by anything, other than his opinion. He needs to support his position also. I do agree that strictly enforced traffic rules tend to be more about revenue generation than public safety. We need traffic laws, but we also need common sense in the enforcement. Blowing through a red light or stop sign with no regard for the intersecting traffic is serious and should be handled as a serious violation. But, obviously cautious rolling stops, especially when no obvious safety concern is present, is a ridiculous enforcement. I do agree that many of the yellow light timings are too short. Could slightly longer yellow light time improve safety as well? But, more importantly we are supposed to be governed by the will of the people. Items such as this should be brought to vote, and if the people don’t want it, then we shouldn’t have it. But, the voting public needs honest and accurate information on the benefits, or lack thereof, for such a measure.

]]> Comment on 2013 International Festival of Fort Bend by sally Fitzgerald http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/03/27/2013-international-festival-of-fort-bend/#comment-3413 sally Fitzgerald Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:55:27 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=29333#comment-3413 It was a great festival ! we enjoyed the shows, parade, food and booths. Hanan Ghebllawi did an amazing job representing Libya.Congratulations to all those who worked hard and made this event a success. It was a great festival ! we enjoyed the shows, parade, food and booths. Hanan Ghebllawi did an amazing job representing Libya.Congratulations to all those who worked hard and made this event a success.

]]> Comment on Kitty Hollow Bark Park Ribbon Cutting held by Alexi Holford http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/03/27/kitty-hollow-bark-park-ribbon-cutting-held/#comment-3412 Alexi Holford Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:46:33 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=29390#comment-3412 I don't believe this is the county's first dog park. What about Pawm Springs dog park in Sugar Land? I don’t believe this is the county’s first dog park. What about Pawm Springs dog park in Sugar Land?

]]> Comment on Residents says … Obey the law and you won’t have to worry about the cameras by H. F. Van Der Grinten http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/02/22/residents-says-obey-the-law-and-you-wont-have-to-worry-about-the-cameras/#comment-3410 H. F. Van Der Grinten Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:11:30 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=28197#comment-3410 Robert Proffitt apparently did not encounter the short yellow that existed for many months on westbound W Airport at Eldridge. This period was a half second too short until I exposed it. The city promptly corrected this “inadvertent error”, but refused to refund the fines paid by those who were unfairly ticketed. The violation rate dropped by 20% after the correction. Red light cameras unfairly punish drivers for making a bad guess at the moment a green light turns yellow. Drivers do not have enough information to make a 100% correct stop or go decision every time. The only way to be 100% correct is to be already stopped when the light turns yellow e.g. because of heavy stop and go traffic. In this situation you could decide to not proceed and then slowly approach the intersection, stop again and wait for the next green light. Every other situation requires guess work and a wrong guess should not cost $75. If the city wants to turn a traffic light into a $75 guessing game, how about paying drivers every time they guess right? Please read my reply to Rochelle Hite below. Robert Proffitt apparently did not encounter the short yellow that existed for many months on westbound W Airport at Eldridge. This period was a half second too short until I exposed it. The city promptly corrected this “inadvertent error”, but refused to refund the fines paid by those who were unfairly ticketed. The violation rate dropped by 20% after the correction.

Red light cameras unfairly punish drivers for making a bad guess at the moment a green light turns yellow. Drivers do not have enough information to make a 100% correct stop or go decision every time. The only way to be 100% correct is to be already stopped when the light turns yellow e.g. because of heavy stop and go traffic. In this situation you could decide to not proceed and then slowly approach the intersection, stop again and wait for the next green light. Every other situation requires guess work and a wrong guess should not cost $75. If the city wants to turn a traffic light into a $75 guessing game, how about paying drivers every time they guess right?

Please read my reply to Rochelle Hite below.

]]> Comment on Reader says the law is the law any way you slice it by H. F. Van Der Grinten http://www.fortbendstar.com/2013/02/22/reader-says-the-law-is-the-law-any-way-you-slice-it/#comment-3409 H. F. Van Der Grinten Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:14:32 +0000 http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=28195#comment-3409 Rochelle Hite strongly supports red light cameras and will actively campaign in favor of them. But, where is she coming from? Her residence is not disclosed and she is not a registered voter in Fort Bend County. Revenue inspired law enforcement is an abuse of authority that needs to be exposed and opposed because it is not only unfair but it is plainly unjust. This is unfortunately true about red light cameras in Sugar Land. I have never gotten a red light camera ticket. If I did get one, and felt that I was caught fair-and- square, I would pay the $75 fine. But, there are three reasons I would refuse to pay. 1. The ticket is sent to the vehicle owner, not the driver. The owner is automatically assumed to be guilty and must prove his or her innocence to avoid the fine. That is not how it’s supposed to be in this country. The ticket arrives many days after the violation so if there was any doubt in my mind as to who was driving at the time of the violation, I would refuse to pay. 2. If I violated the red light by less than one second, and the ticket indicates how long the red light was illuminated when the violation occurred, I would refuse to pay. The city knows full well that increasing the yellow time by just one second dramatically reduces the number of violations and my request that this measure be implemented has been denied. 3. Rolling stop violations on a right turn during a red light account for 60% of the tickets issued by these red light cameras. If I got caught for this I would offer to pay $7.50 because this violation is only one tenth as likely to be the cause of an accident as a straight-through or left turn violation and the fine should reflect the seriousness of the violation. Since that offer would not be accepted I would pay nothing. The fact that paying red light camera fines is virtually voluntary is a secret well-kept by the city. There are no consequences for refusal to pay. Vehicle registrations are not denied, credit bureaus are not notified, and no notations are entered into the police criminal data bases for driver or license plate numbers. The claims of reducing accidents and saving lives made by red light camera advocates are false. This is proven by nineteen independent studies which are available here: http://www.motorists.org/red-light-cameras/studies As a ship captain I have never enforced my lawful commands without compassion and a willingness to consider extenuating circumstances. Not so for Ms. Hite who strikes me as being someone who would be quite happy in a world that is ruled by those with the mindset of the Taliban. Rochelle Hite strongly supports red light cameras and will actively campaign in favor of them. But, where is she coming from? Her residence is not disclosed and she is not a registered voter in Fort Bend County.

Revenue inspired law enforcement is an abuse of authority that needs to be exposed and opposed because it is not only unfair but it is plainly unjust. This is unfortunately true about red light cameras in Sugar Land.

I have never gotten a red light camera ticket. If I did get one, and felt that I was caught fair-and- square, I would pay the $75 fine. But, there are three reasons I would refuse to pay.
1. The ticket is sent to the vehicle owner, not the driver. The owner is automatically assumed to be guilty and must prove his or her innocence to avoid the fine. That is not how it’s supposed to be in this country. The ticket arrives many days after the violation so if there was any doubt in my mind as to who was driving at the time of the violation, I would refuse to pay.
2. If I violated the red light by less than one second, and the ticket indicates how long the red light was illuminated when the violation occurred, I would refuse to pay. The city knows full well that increasing the yellow time by just one second dramatically reduces the number of violations and my request that this measure be implemented has been denied.
3. Rolling stop violations on a right turn during a red light account for 60% of the tickets issued by these red light cameras. If I got caught for this I would offer to pay $7.50 because this violation is only one tenth as likely to be the cause of an accident as a straight-through or left turn violation and the fine should reflect the seriousness of the violation. Since that offer would not be accepted I would pay nothing.

The fact that paying red light camera fines is virtually voluntary is a secret well-kept by the city. There are no consequences for refusal to pay. Vehicle registrations are not denied, credit bureaus are not notified, and no notations are entered into the police criminal data bases for driver or license plate numbers.

The claims of reducing accidents and saving lives made by red light camera advocates are false. This is proven by nineteen independent studies which are available here:

http://www.motorists.org/red-light-cameras/studies

As a ship captain I have never enforced my lawful commands without compassion and a willingness to consider extenuating circumstances. Not so for Ms. Hite who strikes me as being someone who would be quite happy in a world that is ruled by those with the mindset of the Taliban.

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