The new Recovery Galveston website is now functioning. This is a joint effort of Lee Roane’s Galveston.com and Dolph Tillotson’s Galveston County Daily News. Potentially this is an excellent resource for the LTCRC, yet I am concerned about the signficant gaps in the information required in order for the LTCRC (and the community) to make informed decisions about our future. I realize that this is early in the process, but given the tight schedule there is little time to waste.
Let me give two examples. Two of the reports posted on the website are as much pitch pieces as information resources. The tourism analysis, by AngelouEconomics (a firm that apparently specializes in helping communities attract high-tech industries), argues in favor of beach renourishment, continued support of events such as the Lone Star Rally, and the need for more state funds to support the traditional tourism industry (in other words, the Parks Board agenda). Interestingly, the report admits that ecotourism represents 7.9% of our visitors (double those that come for conventions and cultural activities), and that the revenues from ecotourism (which the firm seems to have a poor grasp of) amounts to 7.5% of direct spending (triple that from cultural events). However, there is not a single recommendation or mention of existing nature tourism venues (such as the need to quickly restore GISP) or the organizations such as GINTC that are already working in this field. Featherfest is nowhere mentioned in the report (although Dickens, Lonestar Rally, etc. are dealt with in detail). In truth, little that they have assessed or addressed remotely reflects a sustainable tourism sensitivity.
The second report, Texas Rebounds, is a report from the Governor’s office that details the damage to various aspects of the Galveston economy and society. Interestingly, the report says little about environmental impacts other than those on the commercial fishery and forestry.
The LTCRC needs to have input from a wide variety of information sources, not only those filtered by city staff. Therefore I am requesting that there be a link to One Galveston so that the the committee can take advantage of the information provided here (such as the links to the various sources of information about sea-level rise).
The new LTCRC website is now available for the public to review. My advice is to keep a very close eye on what is being posted there. Everyone is contributing with the best of intentions, but I also believe that it is better safe than sorry.
Ted Eubanks