TxDOT Forgets How Our Country Was Founded

Linda Curtis
People for Efficient Transportation PAC

Today is the 231st anniversary of the Boston Tea Party when American patriots threw tea into the Boston Harbor to protest taxation without representation.

This morning, Austin Toll Party patriot and a retired nurse, Kathleen Green, was asked to leave a public meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission by TxDOT honcho Randall Dillard.  Green was peacefully handing out a 15 page report written by Sal Costello of AustinTollParty.com.  Green said that Dillard explained that they didn't want anything going on that could "disrupt" the TTC's meeting.  What was potentially "disruptive" about Costello's report?  Among other things, the report exposes TxDOT's false claim that gas tax revenue has declined and that TxDOT is "out of money", one of the many justifications for tolling Austin's daily commute highways that have already been paid for by taxpayer dollars.  The report quotes Rep. Joe Picket of El Paso, who hails from a region which declined to toll their daily commute highways.  Picket said, "TxDOT is sitting on $800 million right now."  The Costello Report entitled, "15 Developments Deliver Reason to Rescind the CAMPO 7/12/04 Toll Vote" further exposes that no congestion relief studies, no economic impact studies, and no cost benefit analysis have been done on the toll plan.

Sal Costello, the leader of the effort to stop the Central Texas Toll Plan, upon hearing of Green's removal from the meeting said, "What are they so afraid of?  I'll bet you it's that we were fully informing potential bond investors who are in the dark about TxDOT's subterfuge."

In the spirit of the Boston Tea Party the AustinTollParty's efforts continue to mount a recall campaign to oust Austin Mayor Will Wynn and Councilmembers McCracken and Thomas for voting for the toll plan, and to build an army of ordinary citizens to defeat the other 13 toll plan proponent Central Texas politicians in the next two years. It's going to be an interesting new year.

What You Can Do
M.J. Taylor - 12/18/04

As has recently been noted by Sal Costello, this is a violation of the Open Meetings Act.  To make your voice heard, please copy Sal's edited letter below, paste it into your favorite word processor, print it, and mail or fax it to Ronnie Earle, Travis County District Attorney.

[Date]

Ronnie Earle
Travis County District Attorney
Phone: (512) 854-9400
Fax: (512) 854-9695
509 W.11th St
Austin, TX 78701

Subject:  Texas Transportation Commission violation of the Open Meetings Act

On 12/16/04, People for Efficient Transportation PAC volunteer, retired nurse, Kathleen Green, was told to leave a public meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission by TxDOT's Randall Dillard.  Dillard is director of the Public Information Office for TxDOT.

Kathleen Green was peacefully handing out a 15 page report written by Sal Costello of People for Efficient Transportation PAC.  When Dillard told Green to leave, Green asked Dillard "isn't this a public meeting?", Dillard did not respond to that question, but, said they didn't want anything going on that could "disrupt" the Texas Transportation Commission meeting.  We believe this is a blatant violation of the Open Meetings Act.  We ask the DA's office investigate this violation.

Sincerely,



[Your Name]
[Address]

Best Regards,

M.J. Taylor