Folks, this is about as bad as it gets when you have an official, Lisa Hines, a member of the city of Bastrop’s Ethics Commission, trying to influence an election along with some local politicians who don’t give a hoot about ethics. That would be Councilman Gary Schiff, who recently tried to access $100,000+ for his private development venture. He pulled it back when there was so much outcry he was having dreams of the tar and feather treatment.
Have you seen this letter circulating around Bastrop? (Click on Jefferson
& Madison to read it.) This curious letter’s first complaint is that Props 1 thru 5 are the work of “a few individuals, led by a political operative” who doesn’t live in the city of Bastrop. It never mentions that hundreds of registered city of Bastrop voters signed petitions to place these measures on the ballot because they want the petition tools to rein in their city officials. Moreover, many of those who supposedly signed this letter against Props 1-5 petition rights don’t live in the city of Bastrop! (City Councilman Gary Schiff also signed this letter weeks after a clear attempt to violate the city’s ethics law by trying to access over $100K for his private development — More here!)
We have repeatedly warned that what is underlying all of this is the goose that laid the golden egg — the priceless water underlying Bastrop, Lee, Milam and Burleson counties — shared by hundreds of thousands throughout the region east of Austin. Over 100,000 acre-feet of groundwater has been permitted as the area’s water districts bowed to the demands of San Antonio (Vista Ridge), Forestar Real Estate Group and End Op, L.P.. Unless landowners get lucky in the courts and our communities gets behind them (including our elected officials), we all in central Texas face a bleak economic and ecological future. This is entirely brought to us by the IH-35 developer-lobby and the ‘good ol’ boys’ of Bastrop.
The goose that laid the golden egg — the Simsboro aquifer formation underlying Bastrop, Lee, Milam and Burleson counties.
Remember this. When the “water grabs” were underway, Bastrop city elected officials put a water marketer on the Bastrop Economic Development Board – Joe Beal, a paid consultant for End Op, L.P.. That’s one and the same Joe Beal who had the audacity to sign on to this letter.
Help us reach voters in the city of Bastrop (to vote FOR Props 1 thru 5), in Hays County (to vote NO on Props 1&2), and in the City of Austin (to vote NO on Prop 1).
Learn lots more about Prop1-5 here and all endorsements here with links to other websites.
We have every faith in the voters to get this right — once they have the information.
Step up and help us stop Jefferson and Madison from turning any further in their graves, y’all.
Got time to volunteer? Reply or call us right away at 512-535-0989.
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