HACKED BY CYBER-ATTACK - ALPERENBTN

[Johnny French]

The petition drive got major boosts from Senator Babe Schwartz and another LTTE in the November 12, 2005 Caller-Times:

Caller.com

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URL: http://www.caller.com/ccct/local_news/article/0,1641,CCCT_811_4233922,00.html
Ex-senator supports vehicle use on beach
Schwartz speaks at A&M-CC meeting

By Brandi Dean Caller-Times
November 12, 2005




More than 2,000 registered Corpus Christi voters have signed a petition to put the restriction of vehicles on 4,200 feet of Padre Island beach on a May election ballot, but the signature those behind the petition were most excited about Friday won't even count.

Former Texas Sen. A.R. "Babe" Schwartz is not a Corpus Christi voter, but he readily offered his support and his signature to the petitioners while in town speaking on open beach laws as part of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Stewardship of Public Lands series. Although it wasn't his designated topic, Schwartz didn't mind giving his opinion on why closing part of a Corpus Christi beach to traffic is a bad idea.

"The first and foremost question that I always ask in regard to that question is, 'Why is it a good idea?' " Schwartz said. "If you're on a beach, do you want to walk from here to there, or do you want to drive?"

He said he believes people would rather drive, even if that's not what's best for development.

"To me the issue is pretty simple," he said. "The rights of the public are far more important than the rights of the developer."

As the author of more than 10 pieces of legislation included in the Open Beaches Act, Schwartz is considered an expert on the rights of the public where beaches are concerned. That's why the university invited him to speak for the series, which is part of the American Democracy Project, said Grady Price Blount, chair of the school's Department of Physical and Life Sciences.

Though the speech primarily dealt with law that didn't directly pertain to vehicle access - Schwartz focused on public versus private land and the question of what "free" access means - Blount said he hoped both sides of the argument would get a good general idea of the law for use in their debate.

"The idea is to enlighten people to what the law is," Blount said. "That's the whole point of the American Democracy Project: Here's what the law is. What you do about it is up to you."

However, few, if any, proponents of vehicular restriction were in the crowd of about 30 people. Corpus Christi City Councilman Mark Scott said he didn't think any of the council - which voted last month to close the beach to traffic along Padre Island's seawall - even was aware Schwartz was in town. If he had known, he said, he might have been interested in hearing what the former senator had to say, though he didn't know whether it would change his opinion.

"I don't know that it has much relevance to our situation," he said. "I don't think our situation has much in common with the situation in Galveston."

Schwartz is from Galveston, which is one of the places opponents to the restrictions have pointed to as an example of what they don't want Corpus Christi to be like because most of that city's beaches prohibit vehicular traffic.

The opponents must get about 8,000 signatures before Jan. 23 to get the issue brought before voters.

Contact Brandi Dean at 886-3778 or deanb@ caller.com.

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Caller.com

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URL: http://www.caller.com/ccct/letters_to_the_editor/article/0,1641,CCCT_841_4233906,00.html
Letters to the Editor: 11.12.05

November 12, 2005

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The Caller-Times (see Oct. 30th editorial) doesn't think that we voters should question the decisions and motives of our council by petitioning to exercise our right to vote on issues when we think the council does not have our good at heart. The paper says we elected the council to make these decisions for us.

When I voted for this council, I expected them to vote the way that their constituents want them to. When they don't, then we need to tell them how we want it decided and that is by exercising our right to vote on the issue. It is my vote, my council and my city.

The Caller-Times is not a part of the process, but they think they ought be able to tell us and the council how to vote. I say that my opinion and my vote is more important than the opinion of an outsider like a local newspaper.

This council has a history of trying to give away our waterfront and now our beaches to developers. Sign the petition to get the issue on the ballot and then go exercise your right to express your wishes by voting.

Gart Bowling

[maxwell]

Once again Mark scott wasn't aware of or was not familiar with or doesn't see relevence to any opinion other than beach closure. Either the man is dense or more likely thinks we are. IMO he is deep into the developers pocket and has visions of watching us peons walk the beach from his condo balcony. Is it too much to ask him to study the Galveston / SPI situations BEFORE he casts a vote on beach closure here? More likely he only sees the benefits his title company will receive from beach development. He should have enough character to abstain from voting due to his conflict of interest.

[Danglefoot]

You see it doesn't matter who you are voting for. Senator, Congressman, Mayor, state rep., any of them. They all say the same thing to get your vote. Quote " I will be your voice, I will represent you, I don't know much about politics but I will speak for you" unquote. Then when they get into office it's a different story. They say things like " I know whats best for you, and I'll vote the way I think it should be, and a lot of other things. They forget all about the promises they made to get your vote. The vote that put them in office. We put them in office to be out voice, to vote the way we want them to, right or wrong. I don't care what they think about an issue, I don't care what their opinon is. I want them to shut up, vote the way we want them to or get out of office. We are their boss, they answer to us. They are not supposed to tell us what to do or think. But when they get to Washington, Austin, city council, county commissioner, county Judge they have all the answers. They know what is best for us. Ya know there is a paper in this country that is the number ONE anti-government paper in the U.S. Does anyone know what it is ? I'll tell you, it is United States Constitution. It stops our government from taking over this country. And it begins WE THE PEOPLE, not WE the Government. We have a dictator in this country, did you know that ? It is not a dictator like you would normally think, one person, NO. The dictator is called the Congress of the United States. The Senate and the House of Representatives. All the elected officials. They tell us what to do, how to live, how much money we are going to pay them. They make the laws that tie us up.

Well I am off my soap box now but just think about what I have said and see if you don't agree.
_________________
Where are you fishin, how deep are you fishin, and what are you using for bait ?

[mastergunner]

9 years and 5 months until all Texas beaches are closed to traffic, 7 months ago I said 10 years
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Hardheads should be the state fish of Texas

[galvbay]

What you guys are fighting for....
and what we lost at Galveston.

http://www.pointewestgalveston.com/community/

click on the site plan....I can no longer get to that area of the beach.
galvbay