Several days ago, the Chronicle ran this letter:
As the Chronicle’s March 28 editorial “Greenbacks for greenery” stated, our park system provides a refuge for Houstonians and all Texans. Yet, Texas ranks 49th in per-capita spending on it [sic] parks, 63 percent below the national average. In 1999, we spent $2.71 per person on parks and recreation, while sister states spent $14.12 on average.
Current local park funding recommended by the Texas Legislature is approximately $5.7 million, which would benefit both Houston and Harris County. The preservation of our green space, expanded opportunities for recreation, and stewardship of the existing park system need the support of all of us.
JOE TURNER
director, city of Houston, Parks and Recreation Department
Not long after, the newspaper posted the following on its corrections page:
A letter on Page B10 of Thursday’s City & State section about local park funding from Joe Turner, head of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, failed to say that he supports HB1292, which would restore adequate funding to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and to the Texas local park grant fund.
Sometimes, that newspaper is just priceless. One can’t help but suspect that the letter “failed to say” what was in the correction because the letters editor chopped it. Yet the letters editor did not correct the glaring error in the letter, which I marked with a [sic]. And the correction itself, far from being a neutral correction of fact, editorializes about “adequate” levels of funding for parks.
Perhaps my political scientist’s mind wouldn’t be so boggled if only I had more experience in the banking industry.
