Comments on the Johnson Development SLAPP Case (from the webbie.com)

(this in from http://www.thewebbie.com):

My Side

When we decided to move to Texas so my wife can take an opportunity in the Medical Center we choose Sienna Plantation for various reasons. These include the highly rated schools, open spaces with trees everywhere with limited commercial development in the community and no apartments. Where we lived before there were apartments everywhere and more being added. The schools became overcrowded and poorly rated. We had to pay for our children’s school work books and they got photo copies of chapters from a text book because of the lack of funding and resources. First and Third grade classes has as many as 35 students per class. It was a poor situation getting worse.

No.. I admit that I did not go to City Hall and investigate every plan on file. That is not realistic and like many people I trusted the builders to provide and disclose information to me freely. I took the maps, brochures and the word of the receptionist that no apartments are planned for this community.

After living here for around 6 months I decided to start a website as a community service to get to know people and learn more about the area. I thought that new people moving in the community would benefit from having a community bulletin board. I wanted a place where people could freely discuss topics like shopping or car washes and community issues.

When I found out that a few people had multiple identities I was devastated. I thought more people were visiting. However that does not mean that no one visited. There were 272 registered visitors; maybe 30 of them were aliases from two or three people. There were many 100’s more visitors per month that were not registered. Interestingly enough one of the individuals that had 12 or more identities was not brought into court and forced into a deposition. If SJD simply asked me about the identities of those specific users I would have told them. They wanted to know the identities of ALL the users and to me that was unacceptable. This is why I fought so hard and why the ACLU decided to help me.

I have this to say the following before I agree to not speak out about this issue any more:

I believe it is irresponsible to add apartments to this community with no plans on expanding the schools. Both elementary schools here are over capacity or will be by the beginning of the next school year. The district should step in and work with the developers to make sure the schools can handle the load.

I believe that poor ethics are involved when public officials take political contributions from builders and then vote in favor in everything the builder wants. Council members should abstain from any vote that there may be a conflict of interest.

I believe that everyone has a right to free and anonymous speech, even if that speech hurts someone’s feelings. You don’t have to like or agree with what I say but you do have to allow me to say it. That is the American way.

I believe that it is our civic duty as tax paying citizens to question not only our government but the actions of corporations that involve the community. Yes, you have to answer to me. The balance between corporate greed and responsibility lies with the public conscience.

I believe that Missouri City is abusing the ETJ and that the laws do not protect the large number of citizens living in these zones. The constitutionality of the ETJs should be challenged. Based on projections more than 60,000 people will be living in Sienna before Missouri City will annex the lands. How many non-voting citizens can live in an area?

I believe it is evil to use the courts to silence the community when they are obviously speaking out against an issue facing the community. The Civil Code needs to be changed or laws need to be introduced to stop this insanity.


Thats that about that. I will speak no more about this case.