I finally took a pic because hubby and I have noticed this sign at various locations, in different towns. I thought it was kinda weird. (but of course, not as weird as stopping to take a pic of it)
Anybody know what this is about?
Huh, haven't seen any of those yet in my travels across texas. Have you checked out that website on the bottom of the sign?
It has to do with the thing they want to build from SA to Dallas or something like that. it will have paid lanes, rail and stuff from what I can understand.
I know what it means and why its there, but its a political/emotional hot button with a lot of people. If you want to know dmail me and I'll give you my email address.
OK, dmj and I were posting at the same time, and I'm removing my message. It probably is too much of a political hot potato to be described in a DG forum.
This message was edited Aug 12, 2006 7:19 PM
It's the this part "Mexico to Oklahoma" that has many more than just landowner's upset. Read between what we are not saying here.
checked the website. hot potato indeed. I was not aware of the huge debate involved, I must have been hiding under a rock, lol.
Yep, going back to gardening issues is best.
IF this thing comes to pass we are in jepardy of losing some of the best farm and ranch land in Texas. It will affect our family tremendously. It will seriously destroy or way of life as the way we make our living. Some of our land that could be effected has been in our family for 7 generations. The only thing I love and am passionate about besides my loved ones is our dirt. It is hard for me to think about having to give it up to folks that don't have any feelings for it other than to make money off of it. True we make our living here but, not at anyone elses expense.
Farming and ranching has been a disaster this year but hey what can we do about Mother Nature. It will cool off and rain again. We can make it with these elements but not with all the concrete and what have you that goes with a road of this magnatude.
The powers that be say that the population of Texas will justify this land for the road but hey if we keep covering up the dirt how are we going to feed Texas?
The whole situation make me very sad. None of us really want to relocate and where could we go anyway? On a lighter note.. I have just about figured out how to juggle these elments here to garden in and I am getting a little set in my ways to learn a whole new area. Besides moving all of my things is not an easy thought.....
Good night all
Kim
This message was edited Aug 13, 2006 9:33 AM
It is also nice to know that it will be controled by someone other than the USA.
Sounds very scary indeed!
Patsy, alot of the tollroads are going that same route. The company I work for, works with Municipals (cities, counties, states, districts, etc). I have heard heard my bosses and the clients talk of the multiple countries that are bidding to run various municipally funded districts. It's definitely a hot button issue!
I also must have been hiding under a rock, lol. No more said here.
That one has a lot of people around here disgusted. And then there's the local toll road the city wants to put in. I guess the old way that governments used to do things is changing, and people are going to have to either just accept it or get out there and fight against these things.
I agree w/ bloomlover, though not a multi-generation Texan, I love my dirt. I don't want someone to come take away what I have worked so hard on.
Why do you think so many haven't heard of it? They are keeping it hush hush, b/c despite what they say they think Texans will support, they KNOW differently - at least for the moment. If they can get the project going w/o anyone knowing, perhaps they can finish amongst all the naysayers?
There is a highway in IL that has a bridge across another highway. After it crosses the highway it ends in mid-air. It has been there for *many* years that way. Either some civil engineers were really, really stupid, or some people spoke up and said "NOT HERE"
The government only has power if we give it to them.
Had a friend (another state) that had the city come and ask if they could run-off water into his pond. He said "ok, but only if you do it this way" They said, "we will do it our way and you have no say so." He wrote letters to the Federal and state governments - particularly to the fish and wildlife dept. and they wrote to his city people to tell them they couldn't touch his pond - couldn't go anywhere near it with their run-off.
This message was edited Aug 14, 2006 6:30 PM
indirt is right -- they'll keep it quiet until it's too late. NOISE needs to be made.
It certainly reminds me to pay more attention to what is going on and to vote!
Yes, it is very scary indeed. There have been many meetings put on by TXDOT and there have been many people attend. The one that I went to seemed to be a political rally. All of the candidates that were there were of course against it at the time. It is going to be intresting to see what they do if they get elected.
Also at the meeting we went to there were several DPS and sherrif deputies attending and I don't think they were there because they were intrested in the issue at hand,
We are watching and listening with great intrest.
OK - I took out one message, but the part I can't shut up about is allowing a foreign company to build and then manage a road that literally cuts Texas into halves. This outside entity would collect the tolls and remit "some portion" of the money to the state. The idea gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Folks--it's not just roads we are talking about here.
And if you are a resident of this state--you probably did vote for the main person spearheading this campaign...
This message was edited Aug 14, 2006 9:12 PM
this is an eminent domain issue...very similar to the issues that I am fighting with HomeOwnerAssociations and foreclosures
Its not just an eminant domain issue.
Indirt: LOVE the story about the unfinished bridge in IL. To funny!
This message was edited Aug 17, 2006 9:46 PM
Can you picture it? Have you seen one like it? I've always wondered if it was one-of-a-kind or common oddity.
Haven't seen it but can picture it. Seems to fit how things "work out" in government doesn't it? Half-done. LOL!
KIm...just checked out that site and hope your property isn't in danger...This Imminent Domain crap is the ruination of "THE AMERICAN DREAM" of owning your own property and not having to worry about someone taking it from you!!...Jeanne (from Buggys too..LOL)
Hi Jeanne.
Yep, we are right down the middle of it. There is a huge petroleum tank farm that is not but about a mile as the crow flies from us and I hope that will have some bearing on where the things goes. But who knows. There are so many maps floating around that you never know. Hillsboro is wanting to come closer to I35 and the is fine by me. I hate to see those folks lose their farms that they work so hard for too.
We would want to fight for our neighbor as if fighting for ourselves. It means something to all of us.
We are all hoping that this things comes to pass as the bullet train did. Down the drain. There has got to be another solution. I know that there has to be we just need to find it. We just need to keep the faith and pray on both bended knees.
I did see something in the paper this week that said that this part of the TTC was just one aspect of many more miles to come. Maybe we just need to make more noise.
Making Texas Legislature...law ..is the only answer..that way..all people's of Texas are protected...Ever think of all of yall contacting Hannity and Colmns on Fox?...Jeanne
This is a federal thing--the hwy is planned all the way to Canada--not a state thing.
I think a State can block something federal!!..It happens all the time with States making laws...many states are making laws to block Imminent Domain so shopping centers can't come in and take somebodys land and the county like it because it means more tax revenue
I have friends here in Houston who lost their home and business to imminent domain laws when the new Westpark tollway was put in. They had a ton of petition signatures, protested through correct channels and still lost out. What's worse, when they couldn't agree on a price, the government got to set the price they paid for their property. After all that, the tollway didn't actually go through their property, but the road planners said they needed it anyway. Hard to believe that in Texas where we have some of the strongest "owners rights" in the U.S. that this could happen.
Not to sound bitter or ugly and I know that I won't see the day but I sure would like to see some of the folks that want this TTC so badly go hungry. In my dreams I see them starving for some eggs, milk, steak and maybe in need of some of their heart meds. I just wonder if they realize how much of their daily lives depend on the land that they want to destroy? I bet some of them think that milk comes from behind the doors at HEB.
Time will tell......
For an idea of the total plan, go to http://www.corridorwatch.org/ttc/index.htm and in the upper right area, click TTC Map. Makes Texas look like a spider web.
bloomlover: I second your statements! I used to worry about there not being enough land for me to own someday but with my job I travel Texas a lot and my gosh I am pleased to see there are still open spaces! (Wouldn't want to farm in all of them...lol....west texas....) but I'm just saying...makes me happy. Makes me sad that other people don't recognize the importance of our farms though....and would take ANY farm claiming the land it rests on would be MORE CONVENIENT or suited for the general public. Hello....FOOD is well suited for the general public. =)
There are so many people that want to move out to the country and live on a few acres. Then they want city paved roads, water,sewer, and all the good things they left in town. All the while they say all they want is the country life. Go figure. We are lucky where we live none of the land will ever be for sale unless it is to something as useless as this proposed road.
We all just pray that it won't happen at least in our life time.
I rented a house in the country once, no trash pick-up provided but you could hire it picked up, etc. Missing the "perks" of the city more than makes up for the quiet (and cheaper taxes) of the country for me. =) But you are right Bloom...it's not right for everyone.
I can't remember the economist who said it -- Hobbes, maybe -- but he declared that whoever had the most productive use of the land deserved to have the land. That is to say, a factory that would produce $1million a year was more productive than a farm that would produce $10,000 a year, so the factory should win out over the farm. Unfortunately, those that were already rich liked that idea and it's been a major influence in law and politics for centuries. What a shame.
bloomlover, are you trying to say milk doesn't come from HEB? WHAT? ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE CRAZIES WHO THINKS IT COMES FROM COWS?!?!?!?! Next you'll be saying someone has to grow those beans that come out of the cans.
need I say ;P
If he did indeed say that, another reason not to like Hobbes' theories.
Yes, but we can always get those beans or milk from another, less developed country. (their thought process)
And it's cheaper, because they don't know how desperately we need it.