THE SPECTATOR: HYPOCRISY IN DECISION MAKING

  

There appears to be some hypocrisy afoot in Brenham and Washington County.  If you happened to drive past Hohlt or Henderson Parks this past weekend, you saw the parking lots overflowing with cars and trucks, with many parked in the grassy areas.  41 girls’ softball teams from all across this region of the state, along with their coaches, parents and siblings, spent three days on the fields, in the stands, and beneath pop-up tents.  By my conservative estimate, at least 1500 people attended the tournament.  They were in Brenham because the original host city wouldn’t allow them to play there due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Good for Brenham.  Our hotels certainly needed the business, as well as our restaurants and shops who have been suffering since early March.  And anyone who knows me, knows I’m a big fan of girls’ softball…having watched my daughter play for 13 years.

What I don’t understand is how it’s okay for people to gather in Brenham and Washington County in the hundreds to watch and play softball, after local officials have cancelled every local event planned for July and August.  How is the Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s annual barbecue cook-off more of a danger than all of those folks crowded around softball fields?  How is Downtown Brenham’s “Summer Sip and Art Walk”, with a maximum of 288 people spread out over 25 stores, more dangerous?  Why is listening to live music outdoors considered more dangerous than watching softball?  If your answer is “because there’s alcohol involved”, well I would just say that you’ve never been to a girls’ softball tournament.

My point is that our local officials are not being consistent with their decisions…like giving the okay for a recent wedding reception with hundreds of guests.  Please don’t think that I’m against any of these events I’ve mentioned.  I know very well that our community needs the economic help, and the emotional uplifting they bring.  I would just like to see our local officials be more consistent with their decisions on whose event is okay, and whose event must be cancelled.

And that’s the way it looks to this Spectator.