Posted by
DumpPerry on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 5:12:15 PM
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
http://www.keeptexasmoving.org/faqs/myth_vs_reality.aspx).
"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.
Contact:
Sal Costello
People for Efficient Transportation PAC
Sal@TexasTollParty.com