OP/ED: MissouriCityChatter & CRD celebrate coming 3rd year with a look back!

OP/ED: MissouriCityChatter & CRD celebrate coming 3rd year with a look back!

MCC ©2007

Over two years ago a developer run HOA denied access to the membership supported newsletter to paying members for notifying fellow homeowners of a land-use project that may threaten their property/home values and negatively impact the tax base of the community (usually what HOAs are intended for). The threatening statement, which would lead to the founding of this free, non-advertisement supported resident run blog-site, and others (now shut down), that caused consternation and an eventual SLAPP-suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) by a Houston corporation in an attempt to muzzle/chill the local community, lead to a reform movement that now has an extended multi-partisan family network throughout the local area well beyond Sienna Plantation and growing into other nearby communities.

When Matthew Feinberg founded SiennaTalk.com in 2004 he opened it without opposition and grew his online community without interference for 6-7 months. A committee of Sienna and Sienna area homeowners began to share information and meet on development issues that may impact school over-crowding and home & property values as well as daily activities on that site, after their developer run HOA refused them access to simply post an e-mail contact address in the member supported newsletter. Once the apartment/land-use battle reached the site a fairly large network had been established with 7-8 local neighborhoods involved in opposing this project. In Feb. ’05 many residents of this community marched on city council only to be told that the project was a done deal and the voting reflected it (5-2) to the dismay of hundreds in attendance. Later, after it was found that the mayor and several on council had been receiving campaign contributions from this company and voting on their projects (an apparent violation of the city ethics code of conduct), a petition of over 1100+ homeowners against this project was submitted to city council along with ethics complaints against the mayor for failure to recuse himself in the voting (it was following this action that the mayor’s top developer supporter initiated the SLAPP-suit). You can get much of this story and background at:


http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/?c=Sienna-Plantation

&

http://missouricitychatter.blogspot.com/search?q=SLAPP-suit

http://www.exposingnewhomebuilders.com/2007/02/johnson_develop.html

http://www.ahrc.com/new/index.php/src/tools/sub/comments/action/view/mediaid/2101/mediadb/directory (unconstitutional dissemination of information CCR)

(search either site for more or google SLAPP-suit, Johnson Development Co., Houston or view the entire session via the Missouri City streaming video minutes at: http://www.ci.mocity.tx.us/streamfiles/2005_video/050221/050221.htm )


Not to beleaguer the story, but much has been learned since then and a subsequent investigation of several judges and a county commissioner, possibly involved in the SLAPP-suit case, by the State Commission On Judicial Conduct is on-going. This, thanks to the efforts of pressure by taxpayers/voters & homeowners from this community.

During this time a family lost their home, life savings, college fund, but not each other and found a great deal of friends and support in their community. After much pressure from one corporation, SiennaTalk.com and later its sister site MissouriCityTalk.com were shut down. MissouriCityChatter.blogspot.com was founded about 1-2 months prior as a support blog-site so that alternative communications would still remain in this isolated community. We have remained open through 3 SLAPP-cases and numerous other tactical attempts to stop these broadcasts/postings. We announce that we are proud that we are still here and have expanded our scope of coverage to most of the South area of Missouri City, TX and have networked with numerous community and political organizations, which lead to the replacement of two of the council members who voted on the original land-use project while accepting campaign contributions from the development company involved (we have always believed that these council members should have recused themselves in this voting along with the mayor). Another full slate of candidates is scheduled to run in ’08 against the mayor and his backers. --Enough abbreviated history.

The cornerstone of MCC is the stories people e-mail to us and the follow-up provided. Please keep them coming no matter where in Missouri City you live!

We look forward to year 3 and more to come! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MCC/CRD!!!


Chris Calvin, Ph.D.
Co-chair
Committee for Responsible Development
Responsible_dvlpmnt@yahoo.com
MissouriCityChatter.blogspot.com
Missouri City, TX



Additional useful homeowner/taxpayer/consumer links:

http://www.ahrc.com (National homeowners resource center)

http://pages.prodigy.net/hoadata/ (the real Harvard study on HOA abuse, get the list of leading HOA forclosure attorneys in the Houston area and ask yourself is your home at risk in this racket?)

http://www.texashoareform.org/ (Homeowner advocacy group here in the Houston area)

http://www.texaswatch.org/TW/ (track legislation that helps/hurts homeowners and taxpayers)

http://www.hobb.org/

http://www.stoptexashoaforeclosures.com -- Texas Homeowners Advocacy Group (NHAG affiliate)


“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead
US anthropologist & popularizer of anthropology