By this time, you should all know that the Rowlett Planning and Zoning Commission turned down the Chiesa Road project. It was a "hot potato" discussion. In fact, it was so "hot" that two commissioners and two alternates didn't even show up. That is highly suspicious. Everyone knew how important this debate was. The housing future of Rowlett seniors and workforce populations were at stake.
A considerable campaign was waged by a particular neighborhood group that was opposed to the Chiesa Road project in particular, but more importantly, against ALL apartments in general. I didn't count the people showing up at the P&Z meeting, but the Council room was full and people were standing at the back of the room and along the walls. I don't know what the room holds, but I would estimate the crowd at 100 persons, or so.
I will write about the behavior of the P&Z Commission later. However, now I want to write about a mayoral candidate.
This mayoral candidate admitted to me, and witnessed by others, that he was totally for the Chiesa Road project. He knew the persons it was intended to help, the size of the project, how the financing worked to create lower rents, and the benefits that would accrue to the people it was intended to help.
The size and the decibel level of the "anti-apartment" crowd "spooked" the mayoral candidate. The candidate has now posted on Facebook, "No more apartments." See what a loud 100 people can do? But, lets assume that not all the "anti-apartment" people showed up. Let's suppose another equally energized 400 people didn't bother to show up. It is a little bit of a pain in the butt to go to City Hall. That same pain in the butt surfaces again when it's time to vote. Many, perhaps most, of the "anti" crowd won't vote.
However, there was enough noise that the mayoral candidate threw approximately 5,000 seniors and at least the same amount of workforce citizens under the bus to get the votes of the 500, or so, estimated "anti-apartment" crowd.
Folks, that is called "pandering." That may be the kind of "strength of character" you wish of the leaders you feel is needed in Rowlett...........not me. I want a leader who IS SENSITIVE TO ALL OF ROWLETT'S NEEDS, not a noisy few for some of their votes.
A considerable campaign was waged by a particular neighborhood group that was opposed to the Chiesa Road project in particular, but more importantly, against ALL apartments in general. I didn't count the people showing up at the P&Z meeting, but the Council room was full and people were standing at the back of the room and along the walls. I don't know what the room holds, but I would estimate the crowd at 100 persons, or so.
I will write about the behavior of the P&Z Commission later. However, now I want to write about a mayoral candidate.
This mayoral candidate admitted to me, and witnessed by others, that he was totally for the Chiesa Road project. He knew the persons it was intended to help, the size of the project, how the financing worked to create lower rents, and the benefits that would accrue to the people it was intended to help.
The size and the decibel level of the "anti-apartment" crowd "spooked" the mayoral candidate. The candidate has now posted on Facebook, "No more apartments." See what a loud 100 people can do? But, lets assume that not all the "anti-apartment" people showed up. Let's suppose another equally energized 400 people didn't bother to show up. It is a little bit of a pain in the butt to go to City Hall. That same pain in the butt surfaces again when it's time to vote. Many, perhaps most, of the "anti" crowd won't vote.
However, there was enough noise that the mayoral candidate threw approximately 5,000 seniors and at least the same amount of workforce citizens under the bus to get the votes of the 500, or so, estimated "anti-apartment" crowd.
Folks, that is called "pandering." That may be the kind of "strength of character" you wish of the leaders you feel is needed in Rowlett...........not me. I want a leader who IS SENSITIVE TO ALL OF ROWLETT'S NEEDS, not a noisy few for some of their votes.
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