You're Doing it Wrong

Yes, we are sharing a 'ST editorial'. Probably has a lot to do with fact, they didn't write it, therefore it makes sense.

Left, right...whatever side you're on, if you continue allow your lawmakers to allow the theft of citizen property by tollway companies, water districts, industries and whoever else these 'quasi' appointed government bodies see fit...well, tell us again the definition of insanity.

If the Editorial isn't enough to get your attention, is John McCaa?

But it seems every day somebody's taking something from people in the middle class and calling it "progress."

WFAA article----
Uncut: The problem with private eminent domain

Star-Telegram Editorial----
It’s time for Texas to pass eminent domain reform

Another private tollway & the COG pisses off 1,500

Monday night the meeting for the Blacklands Tollway that had been shut down previously for too many attendees, probably broke a record.  The accounts were anywhere from 1,200 to 1,500 people showed up.  The meeting lasted till after midnight and not one voiced support for the project.

People are finally catching on to the COG and their cronies.  They asked about the feasibility study and (this sounds familiar) WHY it wasn't done yet?  HOW are they supposed to comment on it and it be voted on in a couple of weeks if it's not complete?

Oh and if you weren't aware the COG are Federal employees...funny how that works, isn't it?

There were many discrepancies in the whole scheme and the citizens out there are on it.  You can read about them all here - Private tollway near east Dallas draws ire from record crowd

Water Board buying more radio ads with YOUR money

Oh no, wait, this time it's the Tollway folks.  Sounds original, doesn't it?

Even the contracts sound the same.

Wake up people, it is YOUR money.

You’ve probably heard the radio ads with Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) Chairman John Clamp touting the benefits of the US 281 toll project. If you’re like me, you got steaming mad that a toll authority is using our tax money to convince the public that tolling our existing freeways is a great idea.

I wanted to find out just how much money they’re sinking into this public relations campaign. An open records request revealed that they’ll spend up to $371,294 for radio and television ads, extensive newspaper ads, billboards, and a massive public ‘outreach’ campaign selling their toll road to your homeowners associations, civic groups, churches, chambers of commerce, and anyone that will let them in the door.

The primary contractor, HNTB, hired Trish DeBerry for the task, whose firm previously bid on the 281 toll project as part of a design-build team before her run for Mayor. Ultimately, the RMA has retained her PR services at a cost of $25,000 a month.

RMA targets toll opposition in taxpayer-funded PR campaign

Politicians for Sale

They are a dime a dozen in Texas.  Cheap!  Unless you're the taxpayer footing the bill.

Munoz' ties to 281 toll road create trail of corruption

Royalty Rip Off?

So far cities have sued Chesapeake.  The airport sued Chesapeake.  School Districts have sued them.  The Tarrant Regional Water District (of all people!) has sued Chesapeake.  Even the Bass family.

Now, it's YOUR turn. If you feel you were screwed, show up.

• 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 16 at Brewer High School, 1025 West Loop 820 North
• 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 17 at River Oaks Community Center, 5300 Blackstone Drive

You can read the entire article @ WFAA.com
Tension grows between driller and royalty owners.

Join them

You could be next.

NO TOLL ROAD

Blackland Tollway meeting on 9/11

Is that a sign?

We hear there is another meeting on the Blackland Tollway, though many out that way haven't heard about it yet.

Ask WHY.

Thursday, September 11, 2014
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Garland Central Library (Downtown)
North Program Room
625 Austin St
Garland, TX 75040

Blackland Tollway meeting - Take 2

The new date, time and place has been set for the Blackland Tollway meeting.

Maybe the public will get to speak at this one.

The COG and those other groups may want to pack their lunch.

Monday, September 22nd - 6:30
Rockwall Performing Arts Center
1201 T.L. Townsend Drive
Rockwall, Texas 75087

YOU are invited!

The Trinity River Vision will be appointing people to the Economic Development Board (read - Slush Fund) on Wednesday at 2:00 at the Tarrant Regional Water District.

Come one, come all!  Learn WHO spends YOUR money on WHAT!!

Come early, we know how they pack the room with their supporters & staff (read - Contractors/Donors) before the scheduled "door opens" time.

We'll see you there!  Fun times!

Calling Collin County

Fire marshal shuts down Blacklands toll road hearing

500 people showed up & just as it was getting hot, they shut it down!

The Northeast Gateway Turnpike would run on the east side of Lake Lavon.

Wow! There's just something about these private toll road scams that get under the skin of Texans.

Last night was the public hearing on this mysterious private Blacklands toll road through Greenville to Rockwall in Dallas and Collin counties. It's been re-routed and re-named the Northeast Gateway Turnpike. The tollway is being done through a completely for-profit private corporation, the Texas Turnpike Corporation, whose parent company is named Public Werks, although the environmental study is being conducted by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG).

The statute that allowed this company to build private toll roads using EMINENT DOMAIN has since been repealed. Texans changed the Texas Constitution to protect them from eminent domain for private gain, and yet this company was grandfathered in (this is why we opposed the bill, SB 18, because it was chalk full of LOOPHOLES like this!).

The meeting facility only held 250 people and 500 people showed up! But no one said a thing about the capacity crowd until the meeting started to get hot. Conveniently, BEFORE the public comment began, the Fire Marshal shut it down and said they'd have to get another venue that can hold more people and reschedule the meeting in 10-14 days. This is a classic method by bureaucrats and planners to quell public opposition.

Of course, they put it off in hopes of demoralizing the opposition and to thin out the crowd. Remember, the MOST important way to oppose a toll project is to get your opposition ON THE OFFICIAL RECORD through oral or written public comment. You can submit comment orally at the microphone during the hearing or sometimes to a stenographer/court reporter off to the side at the hearings or in writing via email (usually within 10-30 days AFTER the hearing).

ACTION ITEM FOR NEXT MEETING

We need folks to turnout in even BIGGER numbers when this meeting gets rescheduled. We plan to have volunteers staff tables with clipboards to collect contact information of those opposed to the toll road so we can stay in touch and organize.

If you can help, please contact Terri Hall at terri@texasturf.org

Residents say NO WAY to Tollway

Well, they would have, if they weren't kicked out before getting an opportunity to speak.  The meeting was shut down by the Fire Marshall due to too many people showing up.  Did you hear that?  TOO MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP!  Collin County, we are very impressed.  It's estimated 500-700 people were in attendance.

We've talked to some of those organizing the fight against the plunder for the Blackland Tollway and we've put them in touch with some others that can help.

Good luck to all!  We have a feeling the elected officials & the COG are going to need it.

If you haven't heard - Don't mess with Texas.  Texans don't like it.

You can get the scoop on WFAA.com.  And stay tuned, we'll have more to come.

Fire marshal shuts down overcrowded toll road meeting

Too many people showed up. Police told News 8 that they counted 360 inside NeSmith's cafeteria, which only holds 200. The fire marshal said it was unsafe and the meeting had to end.

"In my 35 years, we've never had a shutdown meeting because of an overflow crowd. But that's good. They're interested," Morris told News 8.

NCTCOG immediately began looking for new larger venues that could accommodate all the interested residents.

Morris said this public meeting would be rescheduled in the next 10-to-14 days.

Story remains the same, only the names have changed

According to the preliminary maps for the Blackland Tollway /Northeast Gateway Corridor Project, this project will run very close if not through my family’s home and property. While we are not huge acreage holders, we do have a home on two acres and have paid taxes to Rockwall County for over 25 years. Therefore I believe we should have a voice in the approval or dismissal of this project. My wife and I have worked too hard to make our home a beautiful place filled with memories to be cherished for years to come, for it to be torn down and turned into a profit center for a private corporation. I implore you all to fight against this project as there is no need for another “for profit tollway” to be built in this area.  The only private tollway in Texas failed and went bankrupt. The new tollway outside of Tyler is now being subsidized by millions of tax dollars because of low usage and to lower the cost to truck traffic.  All this is doing is allowing TxDot off the hook to use the tax dollars you and I already pay to the State of Texas for improving the infrastructure already in place.  Please help those of us in the direct path of this abomination. It is time to say No More Tollways!