Posted on 09/13/2006 12:52:31 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Gov. Rick Perry's campaign opponents are hoping his Trans-Texas Corridor becomes a central campaign issue, and it is now the focus of a new online campaign attack.
It's an animation, like the JibJab cartoons that took aim at President Bush during the last election. But the creators say their message is anything but funny.
It's the latest shot in the Texas governor's race, and it takes aim at Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor.
An online animated video calls Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor a land grab that will use eminent domain to kick Texans out of their homes, farms and ranches.
"Eminent domain is something that has to used very cautiously, very judiciously, and if you're going to have to build roads in the state of Texas, remember, every road in the state of Texas was once somebody's land," said Robert Black with Perry for Governor.
The creator of the video is Sal Costello. He is the founder of the political action committee People For Efficient Transportation.
"I thought it was best to tell the story with a little bit of humor, but sadly, it's all true," Costello said.
Costello says eminent domain is one issue. Contracting with a foreign company to run the corridor is another.
The following is in the online ad:
"Governor Perry signed a secret deal with a Spanish Corporation to control the infrastructure for the next 50 years.
Perry's plan will take over a half-million acres of private land and foreign companies will profit.
Texas will always own the road, Texans will always control the roads."
Perry's campaign says if you look closely, you'll see the truth. This online video is a cleverly disguised ad for Perry's opponent, Carole Keeton Strayhorn.
"This particular group is funded by Carole Strayhorn," Black said. "Thousands of dollars are flowing to them from Carole Strayhorn's campaign."
One Tough Grandma's camp says they welcome the help.
"Sal Costello is standing with the people of Texas," said Brad McClellan with Strayhorn for Governor. "We're standing with the people of Texas. We're happy Sal Costello is on our side."
Democrat Chris Bell and Independent Kinky Friedman are also opposed to Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor.
David M. Bresnahan
September 12, 2006
Austin, Texas -- The Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) project championed by Gov. Rick Perry will bring about mass evictions of Texans from their homes, farms, and ranches, according to an online video released by a citizen group.
An official web site promoting the TTC project confirms plans for use of eminent domain to evict families from their homes in record numbers.
"This is the largest land-grab in Texas history. Perry plans to force Texas families from their homes, kicking and screaming, so a foreign company can profit for the next 50 years. And, the details of the land grab are still being withheld from the public, for more than a year." said Sal Costello, founder of People for Efficient Transportation PAC.
A new video has been created by the group to help inform more Texans of the more than half a million acre Perry TTC plan, and it is easily available for viewing online at StopPerryLandGrab.com. The video was also created to shine a light on the secret deal made between Gov. Perry and Cintra behind closed doors that will result in the start of the massive evictions in order to begin construction the TTC, according to Costello.
In an effort to help the public visualize the impact of the TTC, the video shows a cartoon of Perry literally kicking families out of their homes and off their farms and ranches all across Texas.
"Texas families getting kicked out of their homes to benefit foreign construction companies is a horrific lottery with scary odds," said Costello. "They are forcing the TTC on Texans, and depending where they draw the line on the map will determine who gets booted from their homes."
The Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT) has confirmed the plans in the "Myth vs. Reality" section of a web site created to promote the TTC plans (see www.StopPerryLandGrab.com ).
"The video also focuses on the TTC contract that has been kept a secret for over a year. A lawsuit was filed in June of 2005 to keep the details from being made public. The attorney general ruled the contract must be made public over a year ago. Why is the deal still a secret after a whole year?" asked Costello.
(Cintra Zachry, LP and the TxDOT vs Greg Abbott, District Court of Travis County, GN502207.)
The site does not deny the concerns expressed by the opposition of thousands of angry Texans who have appeared at recent hearings. Instead it provides excuses and justifications for the actions that are planned, and actually confirms those plans.
"Their own web site clearly states that property will be taken through eminent domain, and that they plan to use ‘Quick Take' authorized by HB 3588 to force homeowners out in just 91 days. They even state that they plan to do this just as soon as the environmental process and public hearings are completed," explained Costello.
"They admit that large amounts of farm land will be divided by the TTC, but they excuse it away by saying they will build cross over roads and places for livestock to cross under. They also admit that hundreds of thousands of acres of properties will be taken off the tax roles, costing local governments in lost taxes," he added.
The TTC site responds to concerns that the right of "quick-take" will be used to take private property for the TTC project by explaining how quick-take works. It does not, however, deny that quick-take will be used.
"The state has attempted to create an illusion that there is nothing to worry about and the fears that have been expressed at hearings all over the state are unfounded. In reality a careful reading of their own web site reveals that the state has confirmed all those fears," said Costello.
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
I suspect that the second article is basically a press release from Sal Costello because I saw it or something similar on another website with Sal's personals (name, an organization, and other info) at the end.
I like it.
BTTT
A misleading and gross exaggeration. Because I-35 runs through so much urbanized areas, expanding it instead of building the TTC will result in far more owners being affected by eminent domain than building the rural TTC.
Carole Keaton
"lawyer-loving,
teacher union-ogling,
nebulous number crunching,
flip-flopping,
party-hopping,
husband-shopping,
quite-demanding,
grand[ma]standing"
Strayhorn
After all, Hitler built the Autobahn, and must have surely kicked out some farmer or homeowner here and there.
You cannot deny that evictions will take place.
The TTC will assure that they take place in non-urbanized
farm and pasture lands far from urbanization and access
rather than along the I35 corridor where the traffic is
now.
The trucks you think will use the TTC will still be on I35
because they are mostly local traffic and TTC won't
help that (who wants to pay a toll?). Long hauls won't
want to pay it either. Maybe the few trucks that are company owned won't mind but the owner operators are
going to dodge tollbooths as they do now.
So I'll still be stuck behind them even after Perry's folly is built. Except that my ranch will be under it. Guess I'll
be gone from Texas if that happens..
"Except that my ranch will be under it. Guess I'll
be gone from Texas if that happens.."
Yes, you must sacrifice for the greater good - you know, like under Stalin, Mao, Castro, Mugabe, etc. You are a little person, who must get out of the way of progress - because the governor for life demands it. Please leave now, so that it does not get ugly.
(/sarcasm)
bump.
I never said I did want you to support her.
For me its not so much about the Mexican trucks
(haven't seen one yet) as it is about the waste
of land and unfairness of it. I35 is too narrow
at 4 lanes. It needs to be fixed. TTC will help
contractors and materials suppliers and thats about
it.
BTW the American trucks are plenty dangerous.
Their turn signals don't work and their tires
tend to shred.
I'm sure they're like the cartoons put out by the toll authority in Austin, telling us how great the tollroads will be. (for the braindead amongest us) Perry had better think about bringing this plan out of the shadows and putting it to a public vote or bad things are going to happen. Texans don't like being messed with!
Can I Hear a YEEEEHAWWWWWWW?
Is Scott McClellan Strayhorn's son as well, or is he from a different marriage (or no marriage at all)?
I definitely don't like the shredding tires. I had a large truck shed a tire right in front of me in Michigan on I-75 back in 2004. I swerved into the other lane instead of onto the shoulder like I should have done. Imagine if someone had been next to me.
Forbes magazine from the first week in June, did a good, though unintended, job of exposing this rats nest. It is a huge boost to Mexico and communist china.
When 700 people show up in Floresville at a TTC meeting, it ain't because they're all for it. This thing has got people riled up like nothing else for years.
If TTC happens, expect some standoffs and unfortunately some bloodshed. People are that pissed.
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