By Paul Hill

HOUSTON – The Houston Chronicle and Channel 13 (ABC) news have posted an article and video documenting the destruction of priceless art works at TSU last week. The scene of the crime was the main administration building where many beautiful murals adorn the walls. Two of these world class art works were unceremoniously destroyed last week.

You can find the Houston Chronicle article at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7189008.html
Please take time to view this video from Channel 13 (ABC) news. It takes about five minutes or less and will fill you in on what is currently happening at TSU. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7646677

You may be aware that TSU has a world class art museum (The University Museum) which is the showcase for some of the art of Dr. John Biggers. Dr. Biggers’ work is well known throughout the world. Some of his students embarked on a project in which they painted beautiful murals on the halls of Hannah Hall at TSU. This project started in the 1960s and depicts the struggles of the times as seen through the eyes of Houstonians. The murals are historical and are a Houston treasure. I have viewed the murals myself and they are indeed stunning.

If you are so moved, please contact the Texas Governor’s office to express your displeasure with what has happened. The opinion line is (800)252-9600. The phone number is (512)463-2000 and the fax number is (512)463-1849. You can also ask that the murals be designated as an historical site.

You can also contact the TSU Board of Regents to express your displeasure by calling (713)313-7900 or send an e-mail to Griffin_ka@TSU.EDU . You can fax a letter to (713)313-7901 or mail it to:

Karen Griffin
Executive Director/Office of Board Relations
Texas Southern University
3100 Cleburne St., Hannah Hall 104
Houston, TX 77004

Thanks for your support. Your voice counts!

By James Thompson

HOUSTON – The Houston Chronicle posted an editorial today advocating the passage of HR 4645 which would lift the travel ban and would facilitate the sales of agricultural products to Cuba http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/7188965.html . The article correctly points out that this legislation would create agricultural jobs in Texas. For very rational reasons, the article notes that Texas agricultural leaders are supporting the passage of this landmark legislation.
The article states with regard to lifting the travel ban and ban on agricultural sales to Cuba “That sounds like a win-win to us. Without getting bogged down in the endless argument over whether to continue economic sanctions against Castro to the bitter end, this much seems apparent. There’s an opportunity here to do two things: to offer Americans expanded access to a country of great interest to so many for cultural and historic reasons; and a chance to help American farmers open up a new market.”
The article concludes, “…polls show that more than two-thirds of Americans support ending the travel ban to Cuba. The added benefit of expanding markets for Texas rice and beef producers only strengthens the case for doing so. We urge approval of HR 4645 to achieve this worthwhile objective.”
Contact your Congressperson to express your opinion on the matter. Your voice is important.
PHill1917@comcast.net

BP hit with new lawsuit filed in Texas City

By James Thompson

HOUSTON – According to the Houston Chronicle a lawsuit was filed against BP for negligence resulting in a benzene release from its refinery in Texas City between April and May. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Galveston on behalf of 10 people. Over 6000 people allege they have suffered health related problems and reductions in their property values as a result of the toxic release.

I went to Texas City in 2005 after the explosion that killed 15 workers at the BP refinery and at that time the air made my eyes water and I had trouble breathing.

According to the Chronicle “The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, follows an investigation last month by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which determined that BP Products North America allowed 538,000 pounds of substances to escape into the air between April 6 and May 16, including 17,000 pounds of potentially cancer-causing benzene. the emissions release followed the shutdown of a hydrogen processor after a fire compromised a seal and gases had to be flared off…The lawsuit claims…that BP should have shut the equipment down until the hydrogen processor was repaired. Instead, it flared the gases, knowing pollutants have made people ill and may have jeopardized their long-term health and reduced the value of their homes…”

It is time for the residents of the Gulf Coast to be fully compensated for their injuries and loss of income as well as the destruction of the environment. It is time for the U.S. government to nationalize BP so that the Gulf Coast can be cleaned up and rebuilt. The damage done by BP can never be repaid, but every effort should be made to recover the losses.

When I heard Republican Congressman Joe Barton of Dallas apologizing to BP and calling for the taxpayers to clean up the Gulf oil spill, I nearly threw up. It is time for people to hold such craven politicians accountable and they should be tried for their treasonous statements.

We should all be declaring, “I’m mad as Hell and I’m not going to take it any more.”

By James Thompson

HOUSTON – According to an article in the Texas Tribune on 4/28/10, the Port of Houston has gained permission for its container vessels to sail to Cuba. This development could strengthen Texas’ position as a trading partner with the island nation.

The trade potential is significant. In 2009, the U.S. total trade with Cuba was $521 million. In 2008 it was $710 million. $85 million worth of goods was sent to Cuba from Texas in 2009.

Restrictive trade laws implemented by the Bush administration made trade with Cuba extremely difficult. The policy change was approved by the U.S. Commerce Department, the Bureau of Industry and Security and Cuba’s Alimport agency. It will ease the flow of cargo through the port.

Current legislation is pending before the U.S. House of Representatives which would ease the draconian trade restrictions imposed by the Bush administration as well as previous administrations. H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act would allow U.S. citizens the freedom to travel to Cuba which has been denied them for many years. It would also loosen punitive financial restrictions imposed by the Bush administration in a retaliatory move in 2005. The Bush policy mandates that Cuba pre-pay for its goods through a third country’s banking system. This leaves the Cubans vulnerable, because the U.S. government could seize the pre-payment before the goods were delivered and then stop the delivery of the goods. No other nation in the world has to deal with this punitive trade policy.

Jeff Moseley, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, states, “The potential economic impact on our nation and region is really too great not to proactively explore restoration of trade with Cuba.” He calls for achieving “peace through commerce.”

Many Texans recognize the potential for increasing jobs as a result of easing travel and trade restrictions with Cuba. In light of the current economic and jobs crisis, it only makes sense to trade with one of our closest neighbors. It is clearly a win-win proposition.

By Paul Hill, via People’s World

HOUSTON – Amidst the nationwide battle over the right of Americans to health care, the Hospital Corporation of America announced March 16 that Spring Branch Medical Center here will close by May 1.

For more than 50 years the medical center has served the health care needs of residents of the Spring Branch community in Northwest Houston. The hospital is an affiliate of the HCA Gulf Coast Division. HCA is the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain.

HCA officials attributed the closure of the hospital to “significant operational losses over the last five years.”

The hospital has been considered by the Harris County Hospital District for purchase in order to expand its bed capacity. The Hospital District, which provides indigent care, has not added any beds since 1991. Officials continue to study the merits of adding hospital beds for the district. Some see this as needless dithering while poor people are dying from lack of care.

The Houston Chronicle quoted Dr. Ali Azimpoor, a staff neurological surgeon at Spring Branch Medical Center, as saying the announcement of the closing had left the staff “very depressed, with much crying.”

‘It’s a tragedy for the community,” said Dr. Azimpoor. “This was the crown jewel hospital in the area.”

Doctors have complained about mismanagement, according to the Chronicle article.

The hospital’s medical staff received a memorandum from Spring Branch Medical Center CEO Jay Woodall detailing HCA’s justification for closing the hospital’s in-patient programs. In it he said, “A combination of factors has been building over several years that have led us to this difficult decision. Health care systems everywhere have been strained by reimbursement pressures. One of the most problematic issues is the increasing number of uninsured patients hospitals treat and for which they are not compensated. Texas has the nation’s highest rate of individuals without health insurance. In particular, Houston has the highest rate in Texas at 27.8% … In addition to the issue of uninsured, which all hospitals face, Spring Branch Medical Center has seen an increasing number of patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid. More than 67% of the hospital’s in-patient care is provided to Medicare and Medicaid recipients. The level of reimbursement provided by these programs has historically not kept pace with the cost of providing the care.”

It is interesting to note that although the population of Houston has grown over the last few years, this corporation has decided to close a major hospital in the interest of increasing its profits. Many see it as a cold-hearted, profit-driven decision that ignores the health care needs of Texans. It provides a powerful argument in favor of universal healthcare coverage. Many people are saying that corporations have no business controlling our health care resources.