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The Chronicle is asking what you think of the Trans Texas Corridor/I-69 project and whether you'll be attending the rally. Join the blog discussion (here)...let 'em know what you think of the misinformation campaign by elected officials who are trying to fool the public by saying the TTC is scrapped so "don't go to the rally."
Rally against Trans Texas Corridor to be staged
By Zen Zheng
Houston Chronicle
April 03, 2008
Opponents fighting the Trans Texas Corridor plan will march to Austin Saturday and rally on the steps of the Capitol to urge the government to stop the project.
Opponents say that the project, which includes the proposed Interstate 69 that would come through the Houston area including Fort Bend County, would destroy their land, life, communities, heritage and environment.
Expecting to draw thousands of farmers, ranchers and residents, organizers say representatives of numerous opposition groups across the nation will speak on the issue.
They have also invited Oklahoma Republican Sen. Randy Brogdon, who championed the fight in his state against the project, as well as other lawmakers and local leaders to join in the pep talk.
The Texicans, a music group that wrote Trans Texas Corridor Blues, an anti-TTC anthem, and singer Jack Motley are also expected to build a crescendo to the rally, according to the organizers.
Terri Hall, founder of Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, a.k.a. TURF, sent out a press release yesterday to cry foul over a statement that Sen. Steven Ogden, R-Bryan, made to Walker County Commissioner B.J. Gaines.
Ogden, who chairs the Senate Finance committee, reportedly told Gaines that the TTC/I-69 project was scrapped. Ogden later said his statement was misinterpreted.
In her press release, Hall called Ogden's remark ``an effort to suppress grassroots turnout.'' She wrote:
The word is spreading like wildfire among elected officials in the path of TTC-69, including the mayor of Kendleton, just in time to tell constituents: ``There's no need to attend that rally in Austin this weekend since the TTC-69 project is over.''
Hall said her organization has been receiving calls from supporters about residents believing that the project had stopped and that the rally was cancelled.
Hank Gilbert, TURF board member, had this to say:
The claim the TTC-69 project is over is an underhanded eleventh hour dirty trick to sabotage the people's right to protest this project, and we're asking for every state law, every Transportation Commission Minute Order, every local Metropolitan Planning Organization and tolling authority plan authorizing the Trans Texas Corridor be immediately revoked in writing. Until that's done, we're pressing ahead. It's clear we can't trust a word that comes out of the mouths of TxDOT or politicians.
So, the show will go on. The march starts at 12:15 p.m. at the parking lots at the corner of Cesar Chavez Street and Red River Street. The rally will run 1-4 p.m. on the South Capitol steps.
For more information, call 210-275-0640 or visit the organizer's Web site.
Do you plan to go to Austin Saturday? What do you think about the TTC/I-69 project?