Houston Chronicle – February 18, 2018
by Lisa Falkenberg
Tone deaf. That’s the term Paul Bettencourt – Republican state senator and self-appointed fiscal hawk over all things government – used to describe Harris County’s decision last week to pour $105 million into refurbishing the Astrodome.
I do see his overall point. On its face, the announcement doesn’t sound right to many people expecting the county government to prioritize flooding prevention and mitigation over the resurrection of a 53-year-old sports stadium that hasn’t been fit for occupancy in a decade.
To some, investing in the dome seems a nostalgic indulgence in the face of urgent needs.