HACKED BY CYBER-ATTACK - ALPERENBTN

[Johnny French]

I'd like to add my thanks to all those thousands who signed the petition asking for a vote on the beach closing ordinance, and especially to those who collected the signatures, displayed the petition in their places of business, and wrote great LTTEs like those in today's paper. What you did was timely and effective.

The City's website for the Council Meeting Agendas, http://www.cctexas.com/?fuseaction=main.view&page=39 , reveals nothing about a new beach closing ordinance yet, but it does allow you to read the December 20, 2005 meeting minutes, which are attached for Council approval on January 10. Take the time to read the circumstances surrounding the repeal of the closure ordinance in those minutes, especially what happened just before and after the Council went into executive (closed) session. I noticed elsewhere in today's Caller-Times that Beth Wilson wrote an article about an investigation into whether the Aransas Pass City Council violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when it took an action after an executive session, so I'm hoping to read a similar story soon about an investigation into what occurred at the Corpus Christi Council meeting.

Heard a rumor the CC City Council may take up a new, broader beach closure ordinance later this month after the developer has had time to promote his newest resort. Since he hasn't given it a name, and to avoid confusion with the Great Texas Resort, the $677 million project he was touting five years ago at the same location, let's call the latest one Great Texas Resort II. Wonder if that name will make any faces on the Council blush, or, more likely, turn a whiter shade of pale.
----------------------------------------------
Caller.com

To print this page, select File then Print from your browser
URL: http://www.caller.com/ccct/letters_to_the_editor/article/0,1641,CCCT_841_4371231,00.html
Letters to the Editor: 01.07.06
January 7, 2006


People and cars

What right does anyone have to give our beaches away to a rich developer? Just what makes the City Council and the developer think they have the right to demand that we citizens of Texas be removed from driving on any portion of our public beaches? Is the connection money?

This plan they have will not only have a negative effect on local people, it will affect many people from across this nation who come here because they love to drive, camp and picnic on our public beach.

I drive on the beach two times a day, every day. I see cars parked on the beach and families with children playing. I see happy people with bonfires, picnics and games like horseshoes and volleyball. I see surfers, swimmers and fishermen, but I have never seen a child run over by a car in eight years.

Things I also see are license plates from almost every state in the union. These people drive on our beaches, eat at local restaurants, shop in our stores and stay at our hotels and motels. In these ways the people spend money with our businesses.

Furthermore, they often decide to buy a home here from our local Realtors.

Noneita West

Broad support

This letter is to thank the many people who participated in the petition drive on beach access.

There were some 58 small business owners who offered the petitions in their places of business, 20 people who worked the tables at the Nueces County Courthouse, doctors, lawyers, ministers and just plain citizens who signed the petition and then decided to circulate one or more sheets themselves.

These people all expected to have their day to vote on the future of the beach. The City Council members decided that they did not want the people to vote and so revoked the ordinance to close the 4,200 feet of beach to vehicular traffic. And now the City Council has said that it will ask for more beach than the amount they promised would be all they would restrict from the usual public use.

A column appeared in the San Antonio Express written by Dave Beck. He discussed the Word of the Year, which was the most looked-up word in the Merriam Webster dictionary in 2005. That word was "integrity." To me, this word means keeping one's promise. Unfortunately, both the Caller-Times and the City Council define this word differently.

Any new ordinance restricting the beach on North Padre Island to pedestrians only will probably be petitioned. Again, the City Council could keep the public from voting. What a mess!

Pat Suter

No subsidies

I believe most citizens welcome economic development in Corpus Christi.

Who can argue against the benefit we have reaped from smart investments like Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Performing Arts Center, and the Harte Research Institute?

The new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Ingleside (Cheniere Energy) will enhance our energy industry.

I also believe most citizens are opposed to subsidizing any more tourist-related ventures, like the proposed Intrawest Packery Channel resort, at the expense of Joe Sixpack.

Do we need safer beaches? Certainly. How do we achieve that goal? Create more parks like Mustang Island State Park, where beach driving and car-free beaches are intelligently integrated side-by-side and are accessible and affordable by Joe Sixpack and kids.

We want economic development that makes sense for the locals and visitors alike.

What we oppose are Landry marina-like arrangements made behind closed doors that benefit the few at the expense of the many.

Phillip Davis

[rabbit]

Thanks Johnny French for the hard work you did for us. And the work you are still doing. And thanks to all the businesses and people who volunteered their time and establishments to help get signatures.
_________________
Fishing and Kayaking its a rough life but somebody has to do it.

[Hardhead]

You have given myself and others a great deal of your time to keep us on top of all the happenings... Much Thanks to your outstanding and continuing efforts.
Garry Bujak...50 years of beach pleasure
_________________
"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence?
I think not."
Hardhead / aka Garry Bujak

[tyler]

Johnny,
You really have worked harder than anybody on this. Regardless of the outcome, we owe you plenty for what you have done on behalf of those who enjoy easy, safe vehicle access to our wonderful beaches.
Thank You!

Tyler

[jerry]

I'm with Tyler and the others thanks goes to Johnny. He has written more on this than I have written in my entire life. All well said and outstanding research. Good job Johnny.
_________________
Broken or not fix it!
NRA Life member
CCCTKF

[Big John]

yep, all praise Mr. French for his fine work! We all appreciate it as will our children and their children and so on!
_________________
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke and hungry the rest of his life!

John Sullivan
Native Corpus Christian
Currently Displaced in San Antonio

[Bluffer]

I say JF for dist 4 city council rep (or whatever dist that serves the Island & z18) just took a guess.
_________________
Fish hard, fish the Bluff. Surrounded by water!
-A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem-

[SurfRanger95]

Johhny: I just wanted to say thanks for your hard work and keeping us informed through your efforts. In addition to your tireless efforts to keep this thing from happening, you have also, on more than one occasion, taken time to answer the questions put forth by newbies such as myself to make us better surf anglers. I appreciate that as well. Keep it up!! If you ever see the little silver Nissan with the 101st sticker in the back window and a rodrack on the metal air gate, stop by -- gotta beverage with you name on it
_________________
"I don't wanna live on that kind of island, no I don't wanna swim in a roped off sea. It's too much for me, too much for me; I gotta be where the wind and the water are free." -- Jimmy Buffet

"GUINESS IS GOOD FOR YOU!"