Linda Curtis, Independent Texans reaches out on The Corridor Toll moratorium

Dear Friends & Members:
The Corridor/Toll moratorium has passed the Senate. We are waiting and watching to see the next steps before it hits the Governor's desk. Sit tight, and follow CorridorWatch.org's instructions. If you're not on their list, please join at CorridorWatch.org.
Meanwhile, read the press release below about the Battle for North Texas. We can use your help, no matter where you live, in making a few phone calls, or by coming to Dallas on election day, Saturday, May 12 (or the Saturday prior, 5th), where we will be pulling votes for our candidates and gathering signatures for a referendum on the ridiculous 6 lane high speed developer special interest driven toll road planned (after the fact), through the planned Trinity River Park! Call me or send me a note a ljcurtis@indytexans.org to join the reform army to take back Texas. Please forward this message! Linda Curtis, Independent Texans (contact info below).
For Immediate Release April 20, 2007
Independents Endorse in Key Metroplex Mayoral and City Council Races
Independent Texans, the only organization in Texas representing approximately 4 million voters who identify as independent, announced endorsements in several key metroplex races, including the hotly contested Dallas Mayor’s race. The Dallas endorsements hinged on candidate’s support for a referendum giving voters the right to vote on the Trinity River Park toll road. All candidates agreed that a two year moratorium on the privatized toll road and Trans-Texas Corridor plans of Gov. Rick Perry. Independent Texans is supporting Sam Coats for Dallas Mayor, Justin Rosales for Dallas City Council, Place 2, Joe Tave for Dallas City Council, Place 3, Jerry Pikulinski for Arlington Mayor, and “Landslide” Clyde Picth, for Ft. Worth City Council, Place 6.
Linda Curtis, founder of Independent Texans said, “These candidates demonstrated, not simply in words but in their actions, their willingness to stand up for the voters and to stand up to special interests who are trying to pull bait and switch deals like putting a 6 lane, high speed toll road through the middle of a park. What’s more, all those we’ve endorsed support the moratorium on Rick Perry’s privatized toll roads and the massive Trans-Texas Corridor, without exception. We are now mobilizing citizens across the state to get involved in the Battle for North Texas."
Julia Soto Cabrera, a member of Independent Texans who ran the DFW Hispanic outreach effort for the Tony Sanchez campaign said, “The time for a Democratic and independent alliance against the special interests is now here! That gives us the power we need for the people stop the excessive taking of our land and public dollars.”
Jeff Harper, a founder of Independent Texans in Tarrant County, and small businessman in Ft. Worth, said, "We are independents with a small 'i'. Therefore, we can endorse iconoclasts like Clyde Picth for Ft. Worth City Council (Dist. 6) and independent-minded Republicans like Jerry Pikulinski for Arlington Mayor. They both are watching out for the little guys and gals -- not to mention our pocketbooks."
#
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Linda Curtis
Independent Texans
http://indytexans.org
P. O. Box 14294
Austin, TX 78761
512-535-0989 AUSTIN
817-921-2417 DFW
512-657-2089 cell

Trans-Texas Corridor opposition growing

What are Texans doing about the Trans-Texas Corridor project? They're getting organized:

Victoria group plans to fight Trans-Texas Corridor; TxDOT official says there's 'just so much emotion' about the project (VICTORIA ADVOCATE BY DAVID TEWES)
A Victoria-based watchdog group called Citizens for Responsible Government is organizing local opposition to the Trans-Texas Corridor, a futuristic highway network that state officials say is needed to keep traffic moving.
"We feel we need to do something to try to block this effort," said Russell Pruitt, one of the leaders of Citizens for Responsible Government.


'HOWL FROM THE HIGHWAY': Edna man thinks Trans-Texas Corridor would ruin his home,and he wrote a song, 'That New Road,' to say exactly that BY APRILL BRANDON - VICTORIA ADVOCATE

Carlos Guerra writes in the San Antonio Express: Stopping toll roads not so simple when the Legislature is involved-- ... Perhaps for varying reasons, thousands of TTC opponents packed TxDOT hearings throughout Texas. Shortly after the Legislature convened, the anti-tollers were encouraged when several anti-TTC bills were filed, especially Senate Bill 1267, which was filed by Sen. Robert Nichols, a former member of the Transportation Commission....


During the 2006 gov race in Texas, independent candidates Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman won almost 30% of the vote between them. Many independents are opposed to the Texas toll road:
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the Texas Senate, has been at odds with Craddick off and on. But he and the solid Republican majority in the Senate, in the post-9/11 years, with a Texan in the White House, have kept a closed season on the governor.
But now, it seems the Perry-hunting season is perpetually open. The 39 percent governor, as the Democrats love to call him - referring to his re-election plurality last year - finds things backing up on him.... (LubbockOnline)


This article has many links and lots and lots of info on the Trans-Texas Corridor: Farm Bureau Describes TTC Project As A Disaster For Farms And Ranches (KWTX)

Urgent Message from Texas independent leader Linda Curtis

Dear Friends and Members:
Just yesterday our "champion", Sen. John Carona, told a newspaper reporter that he would not move SB 1267, to put a 2-year moratorium on the Corridor/Tolls, out of the Senate Transportation Committee. Since then, he's been catching hell from citizens across the state.
Here's what we need from you for the next few days. Email, and then, call your friends -- those with and without emails -- and make sure they do this tomorrow and Monday.
Call Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's office 512.463.0001. Let the Lt. Gov. know that we're counting on him to get the Corridor/Toll Moratorium bill, SB 1267, out of the Senate Transportation Committee and passed through the State Senate, right away. He should have no problem with this, since we already have 81% of the Senate signed on. With that amount of support, if he can't get it passed, it's clear he's not up to being Governor of this state in 2010. Be polite, but tell the Lt. Gov. we know what the hell's going on.
Our supporters in the House and Senate are holding strong -- including former Transportation Commission Member, State Senator, Robert Nichols. Why? Because they know that Texans -- from across the socio-economic, racial, political and geographic spectrum, are sick and tired of political corruption.
We will not sit by while this administration (from Perry on down), prepares to bleed this state dry for the profit of a private corporation -- Spanish, Australian, or otherwise. We will not sit by, while they ignore the vast majority of citizens, and even now, our own elected representatives,
What the hell's going on is that I'm fired up and I'm not gonna take it anymore. How 'bout you?
Make those calls and let me hear from you.
AND I hope to SEE you at one of these meetings. If one is not close enough to you, organize one and I'll come! (For details check our calendar by clicking here: Calendar): Mon, Mar 26, Dallas, Tues, Mar 27, Sat, Mar 31, Channelview, and Wed, April 18, Austin.
Linda Curtis
Independent Texans
http://indytexans.org
P. O. Box 14294
Austin, TX 78761
512-535-0989
512-657-2089 cell

Texas Toll Road Plan Stirs Grassroots Protest

by Gary Hoitsma, Human Events: The conventional wisdom among conservatives about the benefits of privatizing government programs is being severely tested in a heretofore largely obscure controversy that is now blossoming in America’s heartland. ...

Anti-Trans-Texas Corridor forces on the march

The controversial Trans-Texas Corridor is not sitting well with many Texans. And independents are right smack in the middle of this fight. Read more on Sal Costello's blog the muckraker...

Texas independent leader Linda Curtis slams Trans-Texas Corridor

Trans-Texas Corridor comes under fire
Bastrop-based activist terms political process in Austin 'corrupt'
By PHILLIP WILLIAMS 2/12/07 ..."TTC is “an unbelievable land grabbing, monopoly building, autocratic scheme developed without public input and devoid of collaboration with regional or metropolitan transportation organizations.”... (Gilmer Mirror)