Leave it to Wally

Commentary grew up watching “Leave it to Beaver.” It is sad to hear Tony Dow, who played Wally Cleaver, the Beaver’s brother, died yesterday.  Hugh Beaumont, who played Ward Cleaver and Barbara Billingsley, who played June Cleaver, are gone. Same for Ken Osmond, who was Eddie Haskell, and Frank Bank, who was Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford. 

Jerry Mathers, who was Beaver, err Theodore and Rusty Stevens, who was Larry Mondello, are still with us. 

It was good TV. It was also the early years of sit coms.

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From the Chron today:

Despite limited funding, Harris County has performed surprisingly well in its outreach to vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to undocumented immigrants, according to a new report by the bipartisan think tank the Migration Policy Institute.

The organization took a deep dive into the county’s success in serving its 1.2 million foreign born residents, including more than 400,000 undocumented immigrants.

Here is the entire read: Report: Harris County’s COVID efforts successful with vulnerable groups (houstonchronicle.com).

Nice job to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. I am betting Greg Groogan won’t bring this up on the next “What’s Your Point.”

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It looks like an H-Town City Council member talked to the Chron E-Board about the city’s answer to the federal investigation on the slow response to illegal dumping in African American and Latino neighborhoods.

Here is from today’s E-Board take:

“I don’t actually think this is a discrimination problem,” (Council Member Martha) Castex-Tatum, who is Black, told the editorial board. “I think that there are certain segments of the community that participate in the illegal dumping and that there just has not been enough enforcement in the city of Houston to really combat the problem.”

She says the agency largely responsible for responding, the Solid Waste Management Department, is one of Houston’s most underfunded.

Here is the entire E-Board take: The Justice Department is investigating whether Houston violated residents’ civil rights in slow response to illegal dumping complaints in areas with majority-Black and Latino populations. (houstonchronicle.com).

Well, if that is the problem, fund it, then. Sigh.

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Since I pointed out Norman Lear’s birthday yesterday, I should mention that one of his “All in the Family” stars today 75 today. Happy Birthday, Sally Struthers!

Cong. Liz Cheney is 56 today.  She is doing great work on the January 6 Committee. When she voted to impeach Donald Trump last year, she knew she was putting her holding office in jeopardy. Happy Birthday, Cong. Liz Cheney.  Hope you enjoy your birthday.

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We got swept by the AL team with the lousiest record.  Sigh.

We start a seven game homestand this evening. The first four are with the Mariners followed by three with the Red Sox.