Alvarado Op-Ed
Commentary thinks Cong. Jasmine Crockett calling Gov. Greg Abbott, “Gov. Hot Wheels” was insensitive and stupid. She needs to walk it back and apologize. I get why MAGA leaders in Congress are calling her out. I also get why the same MAGA leaders in Congress don’t call out Donald Trump when he calls folks names. Afterall, Trump started the political name calling business back in 2015. There is a ton of hypocrisy over in MAGA land when it comes to name calling. Don’t argue with me about this.
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State Sen. Carol Alvarado penned today’s lead Op-Ed in the editorial column of today’s Chron hard copy. See the featured photo. Here is how the Sen. Alvarado Op-Ed starts:
From winter storms to hurricanes, Texans have been tested by natural disasters during the last several years. Each event has exposed critical gaps in our disaster preparedness and resilience. Nowhere have those gaps been more apparent than in the protection of our most vulnerable: senior citizens in long-term care facilities.
I’ve noticed a disturbing pattern with these recent disasters. Seniors are left adrift, abandoned in the oppressive heat or dangerous cold without power. We all remember the tragic images of elderly residents in a Dickinson assisted living facility, waist-deep in Hurricane Harvey floodwaters. That same year, Hurricane Irma brought the heartbreaking news of seniors perishing in sweltering facilities in South Florida.
This is unacceptable. Safe living conditions during disasters should not be a privilege. We have an obligation to ensure every senior, regardless of income, is protected. That’s why I filed Senate Bill 481. This legislation will require emergency backup power in nursing facilities and assisted living facilities statewide.
Here is the entire Sen. Alvarado Op-Ed: Don’t abandon Texas seniors in heat or cold without backup power.
Sen. Alvarado is spot-on. H-Town is ground zero when it comes to dangerous power outages. Time and time again we have seen the problems related to seniors in long-term care facilities. Let’s hope her bill gets passed.
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A bit of good news from Daikin Park yesterday. See this from the Chron:
The Houston Astros will carry prospect Cam Smith on their opening day roster, team officials said Tuesday, culminating a rapid ascent by the 22-year-old to the majors.
Smith, acquired by the Astros in their trade of Kyle Tucker to the Cubs, has played in just 32 minor-league games and taken 20 plate appearances above Double-A. But he won the Astros over with an eye-opening spring training and will make his major-league debut less than a year removed from his last college game at Florida State.
“I always thought it was possible,” Smith said. “And we’re here today talking about it now, so I’m very blessed.”
The Cubs drafted Smith with the 14th overall pick last July. He will start in right field for Houston on opening day Thursday against the Mets at Daikin Park, manager Joe Espada said.
Few players have traced a similar ascent. According to MLB researcher Sarah Langs, only two drafted position players have made an MLB opening day roster with fewer combined games in the minors and majors: Pete Incaviglia with the Rangers in 1986 and John Olerud with the Blue Jays in 1990.
“We were not expecting him to do things this quickly,” Espada said. “I think he will make an impact in our lineup. I think he’s mature enough. There’s some challenges that come for first-year players, second-year players, third-year players. And I think this guy has checked all the boxes and we are confident that he is ready to make an impact in our lineup.”
I am glad to see Cam Smith in the starting line-up and I will certainly be rooting him on. Smith will be wearing the number 11. Ken Caminiti and Brad Ausmus also wore the number 11. New Astros first baseman Christian Walker will be wearing the number 8. Hall of Fame great Yogi Berra wore the number 8 when he was a coach for the Astros back in the 1980s.
We got Cam Smith via the trade with the Cubbies involving Kyle Tucker. Cam was informed that he made the team in the locker room yesterday. The Astros invited Cam’s family to Daikin Park to witness the announcement. Cam’s girlfriend was also on hand. She is a beach volleyball player for Florida State.
Opening Day is tomorrow.
