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[Johnny French]

Someone needs to explain to Riley that the TIF means the taxes from the island development zone would not be shared with the rest of the city to bolster its police force and repair its existing crumbling infrastructure, but would instead put more strain on those features. And why is it considered selfish to protect the rights of every Texan to drive on the beach from those few who would gladly forfeit those rights for money?

Having let the cat out of the bag already on KEYS Monday morning, I'm going ahead to email DA Carlos Valdez's office to ask him to investigate what occurred at the December 20 Corpus Christi City Council Meeting for violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, and that he acknowledge my request in an email response.
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URL: http://www.caller.com/ccct/letters_to_the_editor/article/0,1641,CCCT_841_4349016,00.html
Letters to the Editor: 12.29.05
December 29, 2005

Selfish opposition

There are many of us who would find our enjoyment of the beauty, solitude and wildlife at the beach, greatly enhanced by an absence of vehicles. Of much greater significance is the potential income to be derived from this priceless endowment.

Consider what we can do with tens of millions of dollars in annual taxes and revenue. This income means a living wage for city and county employees, more police and massive repairs to a crumbling infrastructure.

How could anyone be so selfish as to suggest that we sacrifice all of this so that a few people can cruise up and down the beach? Say it isn't so.

Steve Riley

Beach furor

Wow! Judging from all of the harsh letters that have been printed regarding Editor Libby Averyt's Dec. 18 column, I have to wonder if they even read the same column as I. First, Ms. Averyt reminded us that this region is known as the "Redneck Riviera." I have heard it called that many times. Second, she wrote that she researched the word "redneck" and listed the definitions that she found. Third, she opined that perhaps having a major developer come to the region and make an investment in our city would be a good thing for Corpus Christi. I have to agree with her.

I haven't exactly heard of any aerospace firms or manufacturing plants showing any interest in our area. What we do have, though, is an investor willing to build something in our area that would mean more jobs. Sure, some may be low-paying, minimum-wage jobs, but guess what? These are the kinds of jobs a lot of kids take while in college. Guess what else? The beach isn't too far from the A&M campus.

I've never seen what's is so fascinating about driving on a beach. It seems to me that far more could be done with the beaches than has ever been done in the 18 years I have lived here. I certainly hope the developer doesn't see all the negativity displayed here and back out.

Corpus Christi needs more to draw tourists than a downtown area of night clubs and a beach with nothing discernible to offer other than the fact that you can drive on it.

Kay Sasara

A wild island

I moved to Corpus Christi in 1974. At that time, there were only a few resorts on the beach and these were near Port Aransas. My family, with our children, and our friends and their children met almost every weekend at the beach. It was a wonderful time. There were cars with other families and fishermen driving on the beach but everyone watched out for the children. I do not remember one incident of a child being injured on the beach by traffic.

There are now many more resorts built on the beach. Instead of trying to attract a big resort costing $500 million, I would much rather see an end to any additional building on the barrier island. Let's stop. The island still has a wild flavor. We can still drive along, find a spot, unpack our car and open our chairs and enjoy the barrier island. The last thing I would like to see is an area like South Padre Island.

If the developer and his secret partner own the land, let them build a resort, but do not let him dictate our use of our public beach. If he cannot build the resort without restricting beach driving, let him build somewhere else.

Let us leave a wild barrier island for our children to enjoy. To think of the beach between the National Seashore and Port Aransas being like South Padre Island makes me sick. Let us stop it now, whatever it takes.

Bill Shipman