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Letters are posted as we receive them during the week, and before they are printed in the paper, so check back frequently to see new letters. If you'd like to send a letter to the editor, follow this link, or email your letter directly to mail@austinchronicle.com. Thanks for your patience.

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Why Pensions for Ex-Lawmakers?

RECEIVED Wed., Feb. 6, 2013

Dear Editor,
    Re: pensions for ex-lawmakers. The public is not permitted to view the pension packages of ex-lawmakers. It's always “open government” on their terms.
    Why the heck are (part-time) legislators, who meet only several weeks every two years, getting a retirement package at all? That's been one of my questions for years, and no one has answered it.
    And why let Rick Perry get a salary and his retirement package at the same time for being a part-time governor?
    Some things are just plain idiotic! It’s time for some big changes in our state government.
    
    
Peter Stern
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Why More Roads?

RECEIVED Wed., Feb. 6, 2013

Dear Editor,
    Auto use statewide is declining and is near stagnant in Austin, yet the number of people using public transit rose 4.7% last year [“Headlines,” News, Feb. 1]. However, the vast majority of transport spending goes to building yet more roads. Why? Our elected officials – local, state, and federal – have been bought by the highway lobby (real estate, construction, oil, and autos). Maybe Cap Metro fares should include a political surcharge to raise money to buy some politicians who would provide the funding that public transit deserves.
Philip Russell
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Victim Blaming Never Okay

RECEIVED Tue., Feb. 5, 2013

Dear Editor,
    Isn't anyone else concerned with the victim-blaming advertisement by the Austin Police Department? Will you guys please cover this? For goodness sakes! Their ad says, "If you don't protect your car, you're asking for it!" I don't care what the premise is, victim blaming is never okay. Especially coming from law enforcement!
Crystal Carr
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Lacking Health Insurance

RECEIVED Mon., Feb. 4, 2013

Dear Editor,
    Twenty-six percent of Texans lack health insurance. I am one of them. I have been without coverage since last July. Health care is often focused on family planning issues, but health care is more than emergency care and family planning. I am a heart patient who is without access to testing and/or blood pressure medicine. I had a double bypass in 2010, and I was covered then. The bill was $120,000. With the need for basic follow-up care we are looking at a bigger bill. Please accept all available health care dollars there are so all types and kinds of health care needs are met.
Thank you,
Kit Smith
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Where's Savlov?!

RECEIVED Sat., Feb. 2, 2013

Dear Editor,
    I have waited many weeks to write this, hoping I wouldn’t have to. But now I’m really fretting. Austin is truly fortunate to have first-rate, superior movie critics in Ms. Jones, Ms. Baumgarten, and Mr. Savlov. This is why the esteemed Variety includes the Chronicle in their weekly reviews grid, along with the other top, luminary newspapers.
    My (serious) question: Where is Marc Savlov? I’m sorry to say, but the other critics who are “filling in” write their reviews like they’re school assignments. (Mr. Black, please revive "Page Two"!). It would be a tragedy for the Chronicle to be without Marc Savlov. Please, Marc, don’t leave us – your reviews are often more pleasurable to read than the movies are to watch!
Best regards,
Barb Kuplicki
   [Editor's note: Marc Savlov is currently on a year sabbatical, but we'll certainly pass along to him how much he's been missed. (We miss him, too.) See "Everything Went Black: Hello, I Must Be Going …" [Picture in Picture Screens blog, Nov. 7, 2012], for his farewell note.]
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