Liberty's Blog

A Tale of Three Cities.

On the other side of the world.

A riot in China. Villagers upset over over a government takeover of villagers property to build a power plant. When the villagers staged a protest of the property grab and their lack of input into the process. The Chinese authorities fired into the crowd killing perhaps 20 people. Currently tanks have sealed off the city apparently in an effort to silence or starve the villagers out.

The villagers in Dongzhou said their dispute with the authorities had begun with a conflict over plans by a power company to build a coal-fired generator in their area, which they feared would cause heavy pollution. Farmers said they had not been compensated for the use of the land for the plant. Others said plans to reclaim land by filling in a local bay as part of the power plant project were unacceptable because people have made their livelihoods there as fishermen for generations. Already, villagers complained, work crews have been blasting a nearby mountainside for rubble for the landfill.

A small group of villagers was delegated to complain to the authorities about the plant in July, but they were arrested, infuriating other residents and encouraging others to join the protest movement. On Dec. 6, while villagers were mounting a sit-in demonstration, police made a number of arrests, bringing lots of people out into the streets, where they managed to detain several officers. In response, hundreds of law enforcement agents were rushed to the scene. Everybody, young and old, "went out to watch," said one man who claimed his cousin had been killed by a police officer's bullet in the forehead. "We didn't expect they were so evil. The farmers had no means to resist them."

Early reports from the village said the police opened fire only after villagers began throwing homemade bombs and other missiles, but villagers reached by telephone today denied this, saying that a few farmers had launched ordinary fireworks at the police as part of their protest. "Those were not bombs, they were fireworks, the kind that fly up into the sky," said one witness reached by telephone. "The organizers didn't have any money, so someone bought fireworks and placed them there. At the moment the trouble started many of the demonstrators were holding them, and of those who held fireworks, almost everyone was killed."

I suppose we might expect the Communist ChiComs to hold such disregard for the people affected and the usage and respect of private property. The power plant will provide power for the increasing industrial growth. The few must pay the price for the many.

Half a continent away.
Riviera, Florida wants to upgrade itself with new yacht clubs high priced waterfront homes. The one only thing standing in their way are 6000 blue collar residents who call this area home.

In what has been called the largest eminent domain case in the nation, the mayor and other elected leaders want to move about 6,000 residents, tear down their homes, and use the emptied 400-acre site to build a waterfront yachting and residential complex for the well-to-do.

The goal, Mayor Michael D. Brown said during a public meeting in September, is to ''forever change the landscape" in this municipality of about 32,500. The $1 billion plan, local leaders have said, should generate jobs and haul Riviera Beach's economy out of the doldrums.

Opponents, however, call the plan a government-sanctioned land grab that benefits private developers and the wealthy.

''What they mean is that the view I have is too good for me and should go to some millionaire," said Martha Babson, 60, a house painter who lives near the Intracoastal Waterway.

''This is a reverse Robin Hood," said state Representative Ronald L. Greenstein, meaning the poor in Riviera Beach would be robbed to benefit the rich. Greenstein, a Coconut Creek Democrat, serves on a state legislative committee making recommendations on how to strengthen safeguards on private property.

They want to take property away for a lucrative construction project. Everyone makes money except the citizens who live there. Apparently they aren't allowed a say in their destiny, and are being given the privelege of getting paid pennies on the dollar for their property values. It will help reduce taxes for the 30,000 others left in the city though. The selected few must pay the price for the many.

Down the street, the other side of Houston.
The Woodlands is a middle class community, on the Northern outskirts of Houston. Upscale middle class home all built outside city limits. The City of Conroe sees a cash cow and is planning on annexing a chunk of the development to help feed its growing budget.

Mayor Tommy Metcalf said now is the right time to consider annexation because the MUD is experiencing strong economic growth.

Metcalf said that if the annexation occurs, the city would see a 16 percent increase in its $2 billion tax base and Harper's Landing residents would gain lower taxes and better services.

But many residents do not think annexation is in their best interest and do not want to be a part of Conroe.

Several residents who spoke at Thursday's council meeting said they're concerned about possible double taxation and the destruction of The Woodlands' sense of community.

They also said they were angry about how city officials handled the issue. Many residents, even those who serve on associations representing Harper's Landing, said city officials never told them of their plans.

''They told us they weren't interested in Harper's Landing, then all of a sudden it shows up as an agenda item," said Ted Stanley, a Harper's Landing resident and director of The Woodlands Association.

The residents said they would like to have a chance to discuss the issue with city officials to see if it's a good idea.

Metcalf assured them there will be plenty of time to negotiate and talk. He reiterated that the council's action only initiates the planning process. He said there will be two public hearings and that the city will prepare a plan to show how the city will provide services.

''We're going to be here with open ears and open eyes if you can show us a plan that would be beneficial to the city," he said.

The MUD provides water and sewer services to about 1,400 homes and 25 business. Harper's Landing residents pay 58 cents per $100 assessed value in MUD taxes and 49 cents per $100 assessed value in assessments to The Woodlands for services such as police, fire and parks and recreation.

The affected residents in the Woodlands won't have a say in the matter, its all about increasing the Conroe tax base. and the decision is entirely in the hands of the City of Conroe. The taxrate of the many in Conroe mean more than the few in the Woodlands. Taxation without represtation is alive and well in Texas. Just ask those of Clear lake and Kingwood, These folks were taken under the protective wing of Houston. Without a vote, without a shot being fired.

Update: 18:50
Chuck Kuffner has something to say about the Woodlands takeover.

posted by Liberty @ 12:25 PM