CAFA Updates

2007 Annual Meeting

2006-12-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

2007 Annual Meeting
January 23, 2007 - Tuesday Night at 7 PM
Willow Park Church of Christ
721 Ranch House Road, WIllow Park, TX

7/19 after lake park meeting

2006-08-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

After the Eagle Mountain Lake Park meeting.
Click here for NW Tarrant County Times Record article. Great Photo, pick up the printed back copy. Thanks Art!

help em tpwd park July 06

2006-07-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

important meeting last paragraph 7/13
TO ALL TARRANT COUNTY RESIDENTS:

NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Did you know... ...

A 400-acre parcel of land on Eagle Mountain Lake intended to be a State Park for the enjoyment of YOU, YOUR FAMILY, and all area citizens is about to taken away -- inclusive of which is TWO (2) BEAUTIFUL MILES of unspoiled, pristine lake frontage!!

AS A TAX-PAYING RESIDENT OF TARRANT COUNTY, THIS PARK BELONGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND THE FAMILIES YET TO COME!!

Here are the facts:

+ There is a 400-acre parcel of land on Eagle Mountain Lake (located on the west side of the intersection of Peden and Morris-Dido Roads) that was purchased by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission (TPWC) some 25 years ago which is/was supposed to have been developed into a State Park for the enjoyment of the citizens of Tarrant County. (A portion of this same property was DONATED by a wealthy ranch family with the understanding that it would used for the same purpose). To date, nothing has been done to develop this property as it was intended.

+ The Tarrant Regional Water Board has offered to purchase the property from the TPWC for $10.5 million for the purpose of developing it into the park for which it was intended - an offer more than its current appraised value.

+This amount is $4.5 million more than what the state was previously going to sell it for - with mineral rights -- over two years ago when the sale was stopped by protest of the people and delayed.

* Why does the state want to be greedy now?
* Why has the state been used as a "land bank?"
* Why don't our state leaders want to do the right thing for all the citizens of Texas?
* Is their own personal greed hiding behind the face of morality they wish to project?

+ A top elected government official was recently quoted at the Petroleum Club in Fort Worth as stating, "I'm for selling any underutilized property in the state of Texas." To date, all offers from the Water Board have been rejected!

The fact that this property is underutilized now simply because we have not been able or allowed to use it does not mean that it will be underutilized in the future!

This is priceless and irreplaceable public land! To sell it to real estate developers would be a crime!

Even as the fastest growing area in Texas, Northwest Tarrant County would never be able to purchase land of this size, quality, and beauty! There is nothing comparable to it in the entire DFW Metroplex!
+ A public hearing was held in Plano (NOT a Tarrant County location) in an effort to sell the property, along with all mineral rights, to real estate developers. Had it not been for a few Tarrant County residents who heard about the hearing and appeared to vote AGAINST the sale, this property would, in all likelihood, be bulldozed as you read this!

DON'T BE USED!

DON'T BE FOOLED!

DON'T LET THEM SELL THIS LAND OUT FROM UNDER YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL!

Do everything you can to save OUR public land! At the end of this letter are contact names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and fax numbers of the "Powers that Be" who can and will ultimately determine what is done with this land!

CONTACT THEM TODAY!!

Why does this concern you and your family?

1. FAMILY SAFETY.
The Northwest quadrant of Tarrant County is experiencing the highest growth of any other area of the county. As new residents continue to flood the area, the number of boaters will increase. With a limited amount of space available for public boat access, where will those additional boaters dock?

As public access to boat ramps becomes unavailable, and drinking while boating continues, the lake becomes increasingly unsafe – for both boaters and swimmers. We certainly don’t want Eagle Mountain Lake to replicate the incidents and reputation of Lake Lewisville, considered one of the most unsafe lakes in the state!

Additionally, public swimming and picnicking access to the lake has already become extremely limited. Now that Roeser Park is closed, Shady Grove Park is the only park on the lake which allows public access to families without having to pay the price of "admission." The cleanest, largest naturally sandy beach, Twin Points (worth the admission for lifeguards, picnic tables, trees, volleyball, BBQ pits and all) on the South end of the lake, had one family of four generations in charge for 39 years and is scheduled to lose the lease back to TRWD.com for undisclosed reasons - even after the lease agreement says "lease will be negotiated for" another __20__ years. Unless you are a resident of lake property, your free or pay access to the lake is almost non-existent!

2. CIVIL LIABILITY.
Because a portion of the land was donated by a wealthy ranch family at the same time the 400-acre tract was purchased from the State, there is a possibility of civil liability in not utilizing the property as it was originally intended.

3. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS.
As the name implies, Eagle Mountain Lake has been home to the bald eagle, in addition to some rare species of eagles being sited. Selling this property could open up a whole new can of worms with the legal implications of destroying the home to our country’s national symbol of freedom.

What can I do to help?

NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Write, call, fax, {SHOW UP AT TOWNHALL MEETING 7/13} or e-mail the powers that be to let them know that, as tax paying citizens of this county AND its public parks, we do not want this property sold to real estate developers to become more faceless acres of rooftops and asphalt!

WE WANT OUR PARK!!

As a citizen of Tarrant County, do your part to ensure that we can keep what has already been deemed "OURS!"

PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE IN YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS BOOK!

PRINT THIS MESSAGE AND CALL, FAX, WRITE, OR E-MAIL AS MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS AS POSSIBLE!

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD TO PROTECT OUR LAKE AND LAND FOR MANY FUTURE YEARS OF ENJOYMENT TO COME!! DO IT NOW BEFORE WE LOSE IT!!

YOUR VOICE COULD BE THE FINAL, DETERMINING FACTOR!

TAKE THE TIME TO FOLLOW THROUGH!

YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND THE ENTIRE TARRANT COUNTY COMMUNITY WILL BE REWARDED FOR YEARS TO COME!

CALL NOW!!

* Office of the Governor, Rick Perry http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact (200 word limit)
P. O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428
(512) 463-2000 Phone
(512) 463-1849 Fax

* Office of the Lieutenant Governor, President of the Senate,
David Dewhurst
http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact
P. O. Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711-2068
(800) 441-0373 Phone
(512) 463-0001 Phone
(512) 936-6700 Fax

*Office of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/agency/contacts.shtml
P. O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
(512) 463-2191 Phone
(512) 463-2063 Fax

*Office of the Commissioner of the General Land Office,
Jerry Patterson
jerry.patterson@glo.state.ts.us
http://wwwdb.glo.state.tx.us/agency/comments/index.cfm
1700 North Congress Ave., Ste. 940
Austin, TX 78711-2428
(800) 998-4456 Phone
(512) 463-5256 Phone
(512) 475-1558 Fax

*BUDGET ADVISOR TO THE GOVERNOR AND TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE,
ZAK COVAR
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
P. O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428
(512) 463-1778 Phone

*TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/webcomment
4200 Smith School Rd.
Austin, TX 78749

*EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ROBERT L. COOK
(800) 792-1112 Phone
(512) 389-4802 Phone
(512) 389-4814 Fax

*DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, SCOTT BORUFF
(512) 389-8575 Phone

*DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, GENE MCCARTY
(512) 389-4651 Phone

*CHAIRMAN EMERITUS, LEE M. BASS
Lee M. Bass Inc.
201 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 390-8400

Forwarded: from: brendadsilcox@aol.com
Darlia and Bobby Hobbs knew you would like to know, and ACT!
questions for Darlia, rahobbsj@charter.net we use aol to send
because the cut and paste charter didn't have all the great font
and color. Thanks ALL!
NOW NW TARRANT Please attend a townhall meeting
regarding this 400 acre park THIS THURS 7/13/06
AT 6PM check papers for confirmation
AT BOSWELL HIGH SCHOOL on Bailey-Boswell Rd.,
Saginaw, Texas 76179 in the Fine Arts Building

Good Meet Cand

2006-04-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

Short version of the EMANO
Eagle Mountain Alliance of Neighborhood Organizations
"Meet the Candidates for
Tarrant Regional Water District
Board of Directors."
EMANO is a non-profit, non-partisan organization
to help Eagle Mountain Lake developments' owners
and residents become more informed and educated
about neighborhood concerns.
EMANO does NOT endorse any one candidate,
but provides a forum for candidates
to speak for themselves
and let the concerned voter decide.

There are two seats in this hotly-contested,
13-candidate race. Many candidates learned
as much about the voters concerns
as the voting public learned
about the 11 candidates who attended.
Look in the NW Tarrant Co. Times-Record
or Azle News for more information on these candidates.

J.R. Kimball
Clyde Picht (retired FW City Council, against Forced Annexation)
Gary R. Alexander
Marty Martinez
Tom Waltz (NE Eagle Mt. Lake)
Mike Utt
Howard Stone
Timothy Nold (AZLE resident)
Tracey Smith
Gina Puente-Brancato (sent Husband appointed to TRWD, but not elected after running for seat 2004)
Ben Boothe
Jim Lane NOT at Meet the Cand. (retired FW City Council)
Ms. Marty Leonard NOT at Meet the Cand. (of FW downtown store)

We appreciate Nick's Restaurant. Nick's, on Boat Club Road, will donate all proceeeds of Thurs. 4/13/06 to an EM/S ISD school.

For questions, Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972 EMANO Vice-President

VOTE for CPicht WB

2006-04-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

Letter to the Editor: April 10,2006

KAY GRANGER'S PUDDLE LEAVES BITTER TASTE
It's a shame, but what the city of Fort Worth, the Water Board
Tarrant Regional Water District), and the County officials are not
explaining is that extra tax dollars generated by the Trinity Uptown
project will NOT go to the city's general fund to help the neighborhoods
in all of the other districts. They created a TIF there, so those
dollars go right back into that ONE little area.
It WILL NOT benefit our northwest side at all. Nor will it benefit
Azle, River Oaks, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Richland Hills, Arlington,
Haltom City, etc. But it WILL use OUR federal dollars, our Water Board
tax dollars, and Fort Worth city tax dollars to literally make the
developers filthy rich.
Clyde Picht is a conservative, honorable, intelligent man, blessed
with common sense. He is one of the 13 candidates running for the
Water Board in the May 13th election. In his eight years on the
Fort Worth City Council, he fought FOR citizens' rights,
AGAINST forced annexation,
AGAINST the city hotel, and
AGAINST excessive tax abatements for large corporations
that overburden the individual taxpayers in the long run, just to name a few.
In his own words, he "tells it like it is." Following taken from
HIS letter to AZLE News editor March 2006:
"Trinity Uptown doesn't meet the test of vital flood protection
even though that has been one of its selling points. As a city
council member, I alone opposed the bond program that contained funds
for Uptown.
My objections to Uptown are that it is being falsely promoted as a
flood control project; that it will cause dislocation of more than
80 businesses, some by eminent domain; it will cause loss of jobs in
the near term; funding is insufficient for what has been proposed; and
that it continues to focus resources downtown while suburban needs are ignored.
As council member for an entirely suburban district, I frankly became
very tired of continued tax breaks and economic development in select
areas of town while the city as a whole experienced over $1.5 B in unfunded
infrastructure repair.
As a member of the TRWD board I would like to help the district re-focus
on taking even better care of the lakes and rivers in its 10-county jurisdiction,
enhancing recreation, and most importantly, reevaluating future water sources
to assure ample supplies to satisfy the unanticipated growth of our area.
Thank you for letting me set the record straight." Clyde Picht

Please vote for Integrity and Accountability in the Water Board
- VOTE for Clyde Picht.
Bobby & Darlia Hobbs, Northwest Tarrant County
817-237-7972

EMANO meet cand 4-12

2006-03-27T18:52:00.000-08:00

Meet the Candidates
Wednesday, April 12th
7P.M. at Nick's Restaurant
7255 Boat Club Road
EMANO
( Eagle Mountain Alliance of Neighborhood Organizations )
invites the Community to :

1) Meet the Waterboard Candidates
*There are 13 candidates for May 13th election.
Click Here for TRWD web page
Find out if you are eligible to vote.
Then,
2) Meet the School Board Candidates
for Place 1 in EM-S ISD.

For INFO - Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972
"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don't vote."
Both Elections are May 13, 2006
Early Voting Begins May 1st

opening 2006 letter

2006-03-15T16:02:00.000-08:00

CAFA * Successful Meeting of Officers, Member & Guest
It was March 07, 2006 Tuesday 7:00 PM

Held at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store @ Benbrook
8010 SW Loop 820 Fort Worth, TX 817-249-3360

I would like to formally introduce myself. I am Kathleen D. Wood and have been a member of CAFA for several legislature sessions and came on board with the Fort Worth 55 square mile land grab. I was recently elected president and would like to establish a rapport with Officers and members who would like to be involved on a more formal level. We held an establishing a meeting on Tuesday, March 07, 2006.

My main objective in this next year is to encourage membership in CAFA. Forced annexation is a statewide problem not a Fort Worth problem. With this said,
a direction I would like to strive for is to have each County in Texas be represented with a County Chairperson. This should also assist with the amount of time each person puts in. Discussed this more at the meeting. Your thoughts are welcomed and appreciated.

My intentions for this meeting were to set an agenda for the next year so that we all are heading in the same direction with our mutual cause. Please email me with subjects that you would like to cover. snitches@msn.com - please put your subject heading as CAFA Meeting: This is so I can tell the difference between junk mail and y'all.

Another area to address is getting a formal packet together to handout to persons being annexed to give them some direction. The cost of this could be covered with various law firms that deal with land issues or businesses advertising or providing the information for the packets. Possibly politicians that support the right to vote on land issues may want to take or place information in the packet for a cost. Will discussed this more at the meeting. Your thoughts are welcomed and appreciated.

We are interested in any strategies y'all may have to make CAFA stronger so that we may address the next legislation with some numbers and representation from their areas.

I look forward to meeting with you all and hearing your ideas. If you know of someone that can not attend but has ideas/stategies , please have them submit them in writing. Please forward this to interested persons.

Sincerely,
Kathleen D. Wood
President CAFA

March 7, 2006 Meeting @ 7pm

2006-03-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

CAFA Meeting of Officers, Member & Guest

CAFA
Citizens Against Forced Annexation
Members Meeting March 07, 2006

Officers for 2005-2006

Kathleen Wood CAFA President 2006
Darlia Hobbs Vice President Legislative Affairs
Larry Osborne Vice-President Treasurer

Wayne Myrick Vice-President Treasurer
Ilene Pope Vice-President Membership

Clyde Melton Vice-President Events
Greg Kauffman Secretary

County Chairpersons

Proactive vs Reactive

Number of Counties in Texas

Political Influence
Formal Information Packet
Annexation Information
Dis-annexation Information
Legislative Information
Legal Information
Political Information

Cost
Informative Advertising
Committee
Membership

Increase Membership – Increase Clout

Open for Discussion

Mission Statement

The mission of Citizens Against Forced Annexation (CAFA) is to seek remedies to the unfair, un-American practice of involuntary, forced annexation in the State of Texas. CAFA will oppose such actions at the local level and will support development of state legislation that eliminates or severely limits the practice of involuntary, forced annexation.

Your thoughts will be welcomed and appreciated.

Sincerely,

Kathleen D. Wood
President CAFA

join now

2006-02-26T19:25:00.000-08:00

Join Now!
click here
link on your computer, print and mail
to PO BOX on bottom of printed page, donation accepted $5.
CAFA
Meeting of Officers,
Members & Guest
March 07, 2006
Tuesday 7:00 PM

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store @ Benbrook
8010 SW Loop 820 for info 817-249-3360

Take the Winscott exit # 429B
South West Fort Worth
Thank You, Kathleen Wood, President
Make a difference in your neighborhood!
Kathleen Wood CAFA President 2006
Darlia Hobbs Vice President Legislative Affairs
Larry Osborne Vice-President Treasurer
Ilene Pope Vice-President Membership

Early voting NOW 2/21 to 3/3 for Republican & Democrat Primaries
choose and be heard this week, March 7 general Primary and CAFA meeting.

Mar 7 meeting

2006-02-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

CAFA
Meeting of Officers,
Members & Guest
March 07, 2006
Tuesday 7:00 PM

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store @ Benbrook
8010 SW Loop 820 for info 817-249-3360

Take the Winscott exit # 429B
South West Fort Worth
Thank You, Kathleen Wood, President

2006-02-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

Help re-elect Rep. Anna Mowery work 2-10-06

2006-02-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

Representative Anna Mowery needs our help!
Time is the best gift YOU can give - right now!
Representative Anna Mowery of Fort Worth, District 97, has helped the citizens of Texas over a decade by trying to get legislation enacted to
STOP FORCED ANNEXATION.
We NEED Anna Mowery!
Please join us for a mailing party
at Anna's home this Friday, Feb. 10 from 10am - 4pm.
Come and go. Call 817-237-7972
for directions. Darlia Hobbs CAFA Vice-Pres.
2006 CAFA President Kathleen Wood 817-239-3494
All volunteer army for Anna Mowery for State Rep.
One to 3 hours would be greatly appreciated! THANKS!

Public Forum Candidates 2-9-06

2006-02-06T18:54:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all CAFA Members who attended to learn more about your candidates.
Please continue going to Public Forums and let us know your thoughts.
Come one - Come all! Hear from your Cadidates
for Public Office.The new (2/8) complete list of who have RSVP'd to attend the EMANO Public Forum
on Thur. 2/9/06 at Boswell High School on Baily-Boswell Road, Saginaw, TX 76179,
in the Lecture Hall is as follows:
Brad McClellen representing Carole Strayhorn for Governor
Rashad Jafer for Governor
Larry Kilgore for Governor

Chris Hatley for Dist 99 Texas Rep (R)
Colby Brown for Dist 99 Texas Rep (R)
Sheila Ford for Dist 99 Texas Rep (D)

Paul Enlow for 324 Family Court (R)
Jerry Hennigan for 324 Family Court (R)
John White for 324 Family Court (R)

Kirk Claunch for District Attorney ( )
Tim Curry incumbent District Attorney (R)
Terri Moore for District Attorney (D)

Joyce Stevens for County Judge (R)
Glen Whitley for County Judge (R)

Suzanne Henderson incumbent County Clerk (R)

J.D. Johnson incumbent Pct. 4 County Commissioner (R)
Steve Lerma for Pct. 4 County Commissioner (D)

Robert Petrie for Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace (R)
Jacqueline Wright incumbent Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace

Clyde Picht for TRWD Waterboard (election on 5/13/06)
J.R. Kimball for TRWD Waterboard (election on 5/13/06)
The top two candidates for Waterboard who win the most votes take the two available seats. No requirement 5/13/06 on how many votes to cast, 0, 1, or 2.
Vote for only the one you want takes a vote away the other two.

Invitations in mail and e-mail have been extended to every known (some independent or liberatarian we may not have had information) candidate for races above. Unsure or no reply:
Chris Bell for Governor, Bob Gammage for Governor, Star Locke for governor, Rhett Smith for Governor, Brian Salvant for County Judge, (and Felix Alvarado out of race due to improper filing for candidacy.)
NO from Governor Rick Perry Campaign - unavailable as of 2/6/06, Charlie Geren Dist. 99 Texas Rep., Mary DeSantiago for County Clerk, Danny Anderson for Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace, Gina Puente-Brancato for TRWD Waterboard -currently appointed (election on 5/13/06) - prior obligation

Directions: 817-237-7972 Darlia Hobbs, CAFA Vice-President,
EMANO Vice-President - Public Forum
2006 CAFA President Kathleen Wood

2006 Meeting

2005-12-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

* * Jan. 20, 2006 - CAFA Meeting -
BE THERE - all of Texas is invited. * *

7 PM at 721 Ranch House Rd. Willow Park, TX
Willow Park Church of Christ
off I-20 E of Weatherford

West of Fort Worth where I-20 and I-30 merge

after 10/11/05 meeting

2005-10-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

The Star Telegram report this morning was not very positive. It did not include many of the comments which were made from last nights meeting by our citizens group. It seems the Mayor asked the planning department if we would have proper services and was told after the meeting that adequate services will be provided. He stated that he planned to proceed with the full annexation on November 8th. As we suspected, they did not hear anything that was stated in our presentations and are refusing to negotiate reasonably or in good faith.
Additionally, Burdette, our future representative, refused to listen to our concerns. His remarks are an indication of the representation we can expect in the future. The message from 100+ citizens did not make it loud enough for these folks ears and hearts. The City Council appears to be bent on taking us into their city at the November meeting. It appears that nothing we do seems to make any difference.

Burdette has been extremely ugly with his remarks. He wasn't on the City Council at that time so his statements appear to be nothing less than arrogant noise.

Keep writing to these people, call them everyday, and possibly they might change their minds.

If anyone can find their home phone numbers, addresses, cell phone numbers, or pager, please publish them to the web site. I will call them everyday and leave a message for them everyday. It might not make any difference in their decision to annex us but it will bother them to know were are going to be the "watch dog group" for their current and future terms in office.

People with these characteristics of ethical and moral behaviors usually have much to hide. Hopefully, we can find something of interest for the Attorney General.

God Bless,
Stephen Ruten

Nature of the case

2005-10-09T19:15:00.001-07:00

Nature of the Case Hughes V. City of Rockwall, Texas
This case involves the application of a statute that expressly provides for arbitration between a landowner and a city when the city, upon the petition of a landowner, fails to act to include the landowner's property in a three year annexation plan.

fight 287 let to council

2005-10-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2005 12:58 AM
Subject: Involuntary Annexation of Willow Springs Ranch Area

Dear Mayor and City Council,

As elected officials serving the public's interest it is extremely important for you all to listen to our concerns. The planning department management, Bob Riley, appears to not be telling you everything that happened nor even the correct timeline that occurred for notification. He apparently has a skewed agenda and has not listened to us on any level of reason nor has he reported our concerns to the City Council as promised during any of our previous meetings. I am personally upset that Mr. Riley made NO effort to report to Council as promised from our previous meeting last month. However, I am even more upset that the City Council appears unwilling to listen to the property owners concerns from the Willow Springs Ranch area.

The current peace officer availability effort is 7 officers from the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office patrol this area on a 7x24 basis and are on site within 5 to 7 minutes from any call. The city has proposed only one officer and a much larger geographical territory to patrol leaving us in an unsafe condition and a minimal waiting time of 45 minutes or longer even in a life threatening situation. The wait time could be much longer for normal police call incident reports ! If this was your family waiting for a policeman to arrive how would you vote ?

Our current fire department services arrive within 5 to 7 minutes after a call from both Saginaw and Haslet and have proven to contain any fire within a few minutes from their arrival. The City of Fort Worth has proposed one small fire truck with less than 5 minutes of on-board water ! The truck is to be located in a rented building approximately 45 minutes from our location (if no trains are blocking the crossings). Please understand, two homes have already been destroyed in Sandera Ranch because of the inadequate response time from the nearest Fort Worth Fire department. How many additional homes and lives must be ruined before the City of Fort Worth provides adequate protection services ? Why is this area not being allowed adequate fire protection services and a city owned property with the usual three trucks as in most fire stations ? It seems reasonable in my opinion that renting a temporary building will cost taxpayers much more than building now to service this area. What studies and proof have been completed to indicate paying rent for temporary building is a responsible fiscal decision that will save taxpayers money and protect their assets from destruction by fire ? How long does it take for any wood framed house to be totally engulfed in flames ? Do you think that 45 minutes waiting time is adequate response time for the safety of families ? What if this was your home ?

Additionally, in Sandera Ranch one man has already died from a heart attack while waiting over 45 minutes for ambulance service from the City of Fort Worth. Please understand the current ambulance services from both Saginaw and Haslet arrive in our neighborhood within 5 to 7 minutes when called. Saginaw and Haslet have no formal or informal agreement with the City of Fort Worth. Your City has previously tried to use brute force to control everything instead of using essential ethical management practices of courtesy and providing customer services with its neighbors from both of these communities.

If you mistakenly vote to annex our Willow Springs Ranch neighborhood our lives will be ruined from the criminals which will steal our property while waiting for your already overburdened police department to show up, your fire department to respond before our homes are completely destroyed, or even an ambulance to respond to our aged population with heart problems or stroke. You should have the ethics and morals to ensure this doesn't happen by delaying the annexation decision or vote to remove it from consideration for a few more years.

Please help me understand your personal reasoning in this process and I hope you are willing to listen to ours. Why would you ever consider full annexation of our homes at this time instead of taking a more reasonable approach and waiting a few years until the health and welfare infrastructure is available to justify the annexation ? Why the unreasonable timeline of NOW instead of simply waiting a few years ? We simply want to protect our families from harm's way. Allowing us some additional time would make us feel like we need to belong to the Fort Worth community instead of hating the thought of it because we are left in an unsafe condition. If you make the decision to force full annexation on us based upon the skewed misinformation, bad judgment, and false budget projections from your planning staff then you must be ignorant of our concerns and the financial facts. Mr. Riley must have intentionally kept our conversations and information from the City Council even though he has promised to convey our anxiety and concerns about full annexation in such a short time frame. His reported dates are incorrect as the first any of us property owners heard about the Limited Purpose Annexation was after our homes were already built in 2004 and in the spring of 2005 ! MR. Riley claims the limited purpose annexation took place five days after the Plat was made ! This should raise someone's eyebrows on the potential ethical behavior of such an individual. Additionally, the planning department and members of the City Council signed that Plat ! Why sign it if your intentions were to not live up to the agreement ?

Please understand that if you plan to vote for our neighborhood to be fully annexed in November then we have nothing else to lose. It will be a life threatening situation for us homeowners and I just do not understand how you can ignore our voices and sleep at night. We cannot afford to become part of the City of Fort Worth right now but will gladly welcome them as friends and neighbors in a few more years. Why would you want us as an enemy for your future instead of a friend ? Why is this the only home sub-division that is being attacked by Fort Worth at this time ? Is this a retribution response to losing a law suit from this developer in 2002 ? Why will you not listen to reason and is their anything we can do or provide you which will allow you to hear our combined voices ? Our voices have not changed since we first heard about the Limited Propose Annexation last spring (not as Bob Riley stated as 2003). When the Plat was made and when our Title policies were issued it stated "Unincorporated Tarrant County" not "Limited purpose annexed by the City of Fort Worth."

I sincerely hope you are not unreasonable and are willing to discuss this further with our home owners before considering or making such a unfavorable vote. I will be at your City Council meeting to help you better understand our position and our concerns. None of us want to feel unsafe or forced into a life threatening situation and I am sure you can understand how strongly we feel about this issue.

Sincerely,
Stephen Ruten
Haslet, Texas

Hughes v. contact ATTY GENL 10-05

2005-10-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

CAFA Members, Concerned Public

Contact Attorney General Greg Abbott (TEXAS)

remind him of how important this case
Hughes v. Rockwall
is to the rights of property owners, and request he
file a brief in support of Hughes' position.
By U.S. Mail:

Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548

Physical Address:

Office of the Attorney General
300 W. 15th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Consumer Protection Regional Offices
Child Support Field Offices.
By e-mail:

For Public Information & Assistance, E-mail your questions and comments to: cac@oag.state.tx.us click here
Write to Attorney General Greg Abbott

-----Original Message-----
Ventura, Misty
To: rahobbsj@aol.com *NEW* RAHobbsJ@charter.net Darlia Hobbs- Cafa President e-mail RAHobbsJ@charter.net;
TexasPetron@aol.com Sent: Mon, 3 Oct 2005

Please encourage Citizens Against Forced Annexation members to contact the Attorney General, remind him of how important this case is to the rights of property owners, and request he file a brief in support of Hughes' position. Any help you can provide would be appreciated. Contact me with questions or concerns. Misty

-----Original Message-----
Ventura, Misty Monday, October 03, 2005
excerpted from letter to Matt.Stowe@oag.state.tx.us
Subject: Hughes v. Rockwall

Matt is working in the Attorney General Office of Texas oag.state.tx.us -
Hughes v. Rockwall
is an important case affecting property owners rights with respect to municipal annexation now pending before the Texas Supreme Court. Given the impact this case will have on the rights of property owners, we request the Attorney General prepare an amicus brief in support of Hughes' position in this matter. We anticipate oral arguments will be scheduled for November 2005. An amicus brief, to have the most value, would need to be filed before the end of October. If it would increase our chances of gaining AG support for this amicus brief, I am available to answer questions and discuss concerns.

Contact me with questions or concerns or if additional information is required before a decision can be made. Misty

Misty M. Ventura
Hughes & Luce, LLP
Dallas, Texas
214.939.5462 telephone

On the attack

2005-09-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

PLEASE ATTEND THE NO ANNEXATION MEETING ON
WED. SEPT 14. at 6:30 PM at BOSWELL High School
5805 W. Bailey Boswell Rd. Saginaw, TX 76179

Do something or be taxed

2005-09-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

During our annexation fight of 2002,I became convinced Ft. Worth would come back to annex but in a more intelligent manner. One thing they learned in 2002 is:do not try to annex 10000 people all at one time. I felt confident when they returned they would annex small areas or neighborhoods as quietly as possible. The natural selfish nature of us humans is such that if it does not affect us most of the time we really will not care. THEY WILL COUNT ON THIS!
When your neighbor is threatened with involuntary annexation and you look the other way,who will be there for you when they come for your property?The lack of support for the hicks field industrial area could only be described as despicable. You will survive as a group or fail as selfish individuals-your choice.
If CAFA ,as a group,does not react properly to the upcoming challenges,it may cease to exist as a force. My personal advice:it is time to become a PAC,align with other property rights groups and become a voting block that will make the guilty pay. There has been enough begging, pleading, and crying. Organize into a voting block and vote the bastards out! john

Hughes-Luce Law Office - Land Use Seminar
8am - 11am The Fort Worth Club
306 West 7th Street, Fort Worth *click for map*
call NOW : RSVP to Tracee Cole at 214.939.6266

Sept 14 05 6:30 NO annex meeting

2005-09-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you Jack and Mary Ann !

I sent the Star-Telegram reporters a complete history about the involuntary annexation by the city of Fort Worth and nothing was published that would be of help to our cause. I've asked each of you to respond to the news media by sending your own version about the potential annexation. Darlia Hobbs has explained that if we want to remain free of the city's taxes then we must take action both individually and as a group. Her area in nearby Eagle Mountain Lake was supposed to be fully annexed three years ago. However, only after the neighborhood property owners pulled together and started making noise at the city hall with picket lines, signs, and attendance at the council's meetings, and voicing their opinions against involuntary annexation did the city council officials vote to grant them freedom for a few more years. Darlia reported that she has saved that money for at least three years (it is in excess of $10,000). We need to take the same actions as a group. If you want to hear suggestions Darlia and her husband they would be willing to talk with us as a group. Their website address if you do not know already is http://www.noannexation.com. Their biggest statement is to not give up the fight against the city planning department. Keep them in the eyes of the media and especially the television media.
As you know by now I will do everything I can to get their attention and keep from paying their taxes for as long as possible. It is not just the taxes they will bite you with. They will try everything they can short of outwardly stealing your property. IF you want to remain free then show up, raise the noise level, and keep it up until the city council votes. The more noise you make the less likely they will decide to annex our property. If you make no noise they will vote to include you just like sheep going to slaughter. Please take ownership and action and possibly with enough of our loud voices to hear the city just might leave us alone.
We need to become the new worthy event of the month and we need to do it quickly.
God Bless,
Stephen Ruten
Willow Ranch Way
Haslet, TX. 76052
- - - - - - - - - - - -
From: Jack Gibson
Subject: annexation
Hello, Neighbors,

I'm assuming all of you received the wonderful letter from the City of Ft. Worth advising us of our upcoming "full annexation" into the city of Ft. Worth. We have talked with them until we were blue in the face & they seem to have their minds made up. We are the only residential area in the 287 Zone that is affected by the annexation & we need to speak up or be ready to pay FW taxes! On Monday, Jack talked with Jessamy Brown from the Star-Telegram after she & another reporter wrote an article that was published in the paper late week. She said that no more articles would be written about the annexation & that we should write letters to the Editor to make our concerns known. If all of us would write to the Editor to explain the situation & the timeline of Danny's concerning Willow Springs Ranch, we might get somebody's attention! Everyone's Title Policy reads "unincorporated Tarrant County", but according to them we were already annexed for limited purposes. Things just don't "balance out" the way they report it.

Please tell your new neighbors who are not on this list & ask all your neighbors if they received this letter. Fill in the new neighbors of our ordeal last spring & also have them send me their email address (or if someone doesn't get this because they have a new address, tell them to send me their new one.)

PLEASE ATTEND THE NO ANNEXATION MEETING ON
WED. SEPT 14. at 6:30 PM at BOSWELL High School
5805 W. Bailey Boswell Rd. Saginaw, TX 76179

Have a wonderful week-end out here in "God's Country!!"

God bless you & your family!
Mary Ann & Jack Gibson

HB-2639 bad bill letter

2005-08-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

We wrote to EVERY State Representative and State Senator:
State Representative Charlie Geren's HB-2639 is written as though a con-man was gearing up to rip-off the public for millions of dollars - and it would be legal!
We should all be kicking and screaming to our (and all) state legislators who voted for this corruption - promoting document.
HB-2639 states that the district (TRWD or Waterboard) may make loans or grants of money for economic development purposes. No wonder greedy developers are so happy about the 5-person elected Waterboard being able to forcibly take away private businesses and private property for the Trinity Vision project.
With the help of Geren's bill - they don't even have to get competitive bids for any of the massive work they plan to have done. How fair is that?
"An economic development program may involve the granting or lending of money, services, or property to a person engaged in an economic development activity."
Well, they don't have to spend your exact tax dollars on that, because after they "steal" property by abusing Eminent Domain, there will be millions of excess cash when they resell the land for huge profits to other private businesses and residents of their choice.
"The board of directors of the district (Waterboard) may by resolution create one or more nonprofit corporations to act of behalf of the district as the district's authority and instrumentality."
"A corporation created under this section may exercise any power of the district, but the corporation may exercise the power of eminent domain and the power to acquire, lease, purchase, or sell real property only on the approval of the board of directors of the district. When exercising a power under this section, a corporation and the corporation's board of directors (appointed by the Waterboard) have the same powers as the district and the district's board of directors, including the power to issue bonds or other obligations or otherwise borrow money on behalf of the district to accomplish any purpose of the corporation."
This terrible bill also states that, "A corporation created under this section
and the district may:
1) share officers, directors, employees, equipment, and facilities; and
2) provide goods and services to each other at cost without the requirement of competitive bidding."
"The district's board of directors (Waterboard) may sell, lease, loan, or otherwise transfer property of the district to a corporation created under this section." So - they can just about make themselves and their friends and relatives
"kings" with no limits.

After seeing and hearing from their victims they are trampling over for the Trinity Vision, I don't think this elected Waterboard should have that much power.
Nobody's property will be safe!

Do nothing and let it happen, or fight and call the following:

Contact: 1) Your State Senator Jane Nelson at 512-463-0109 in Austin
or 9721-724-0066 in Flower Mound,
2) Representative Charlie Geren at 512-463-0610 in Austin
or 817-738-8333 in River Oaks,
3) U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison at 202-224-5922 in Washington D.C.
or 214-361-3500 in Dallas,
4) Congresswoman Kay Granger at 202-225-5071 in Washington D.C.
or 817-338-0909 in Fort Worth,
5) County Commissioner J.D. Johnson at 817-238-4400 in Lake Worth,
6) U.S. Senator John Cornyn at 202-224-2934 in Washington D.C.
or 512-469-6034 in Austin.

Do you want to be stripped of your property rights in Texas with this abuse of eminent domain? There are many alternative ways to develop around the Trinity River without destroying the lives and livelihood of those 89 businesses and their hundreds of employees and their families. Reality is that the San Antonio River Walk is only a 3' deep concrete waterway that is only 3 -4 blocks long. The proposed Trinity Vision is over 10 times that size with an escalating cost that will be close to a billion dollars before it's done,
IF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T SPEAK UP!

All Tarrant County citizens including Fort Worth Residents should demand a VOTE on whether or not we spend $10 million to beef up the levee system, or 1/2 to a BILLION dollars worth of "improvements" when Fort Worth has a BILLION dollars worth of other flooding and drainage repairs needed, bad bridges and street repairs they have barely touched and haven't been able to afford for years. This money will come from our City tax dollars, County tax dollars, Waterboard District tax dollars, and Federal tax dollars.

A Waterboard is NOT a bank, realtor, or mortgage company and should NOT
be CLONED. The Waterboard's only concern should be clean water supply.

Darlia Hobbs
817-237-7972
President CAFA
Citizens Against Forced Annexation
www.noannexation.com
It's really hard to fight something this bad when no one helps keep you informed.
Any ONE of the Texas Representatives you elected (either by your vote, or by staying out of the voting booth) could have called for a "recorded vote" - none did - no record is available which of the Representatives were included in the majority that voted for this garbage legislation. Why should any bill NOT be a recorded vote?

Public Army Corp info meeting

2005-07-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Requesting Public Comments
The Army Corps of Engineers are giving an informational meeting on the Upper Trinity River Central City Fort Worth project. "Environmental Impact"
Tuesday 7/26 and Wednesday 7/27
Fort Worth YWCA, 512 W 4th St.
4 - 8 p.m. questions at 7
come before 6pm to ask questions
for directions call 817-332-6191

This project Impacts some our friends and fellow Texans who have been in business in the area they are "condemming" for over 100 years. Four and more generations of a family who have maintained a land, business, or other property should have as many rights as an historic house or tree. Let not the banks overflow into the nearby cemetaries of ancient Fort Worth families, not to mention the garbage dumps.

Early Voting, June 25 Texas Tea Party III

2005-06-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Everyone Welcome to
3rd Annual
Texas Tea Party
Sat. June 25, 2005went well, missed you

at Fort Worth Trinity Park, off I-30 W and North on University Dr.
BBQ (prepared - no fires)
and bring your favorite side to share.

You're a member of CAFA, right. If not, join now.
Please RSVP so we can know how much BBQ to supply.

Kathleen Wood Vice President Programs & Activities
or Darlia Hobbs CAFA President 817-237-7972

Not done fighting yet

2005-06-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

To all of our members and supporters;

By now you may know State Representative Anna Mowery's HB323 did NOT get out of Callendar Committee and to the House floor.
In reality - that's not uncommon for a bill to be brought back more than once before it makes it to the House floor for debate and vote. We may be discouraged, but we will NOT GIVE UP until it does make it, and IT WILL!
We will continue to fight the injustice of FORCED ANNEXATION for many reasons - especially because it's the RIGHT THING TO DO!
Please come to the Texas Tea Party
Reunion Picnic on Sat. June 25 - 11amat Trinity Park in Fort Worth
on University Drive just North of I-30. Bring your family. There are many new areas joining our team efforts!
Keene (again), Kauffman, Waxahachie, Celina, our Copperas Cove friends, Austin, Dirpping Springs, Athens, Lubock, Flower Mound, etc.
Like most of us, once they've been "attacked" by a city - they'll never forget.
So, let's channel this frustration into determination as our numbers continue to increase across the state.
Our friend and supporter - Dr. Byron Sousa - lost his runoff election for Fort Worth City Council by only 60 votes. Like us - he's a strong man with a strong heart and mind, and will winn in 2 short years. as will our friends and supporters Louis McBee and Joe Waller. They will help change city policy.
Be proud of what we've accomplished as a group and encourage those that may not have had time before, to find a little time to help fight forced annexation.
THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS, and many more city citizens are joining us from Tarrant County and all around Texas.
God Bless Y'all! We know God's on our side.

Darlia Hobbs
President

P.S. See you Sat. June 25, 2005 11am Trinity Park
*Be in our Group Photo! **817-237-7972 for more info

Results May 7 FW

2005-05-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

4/19/2005 11:48:32 AM From: A2ZStorage@aol.com
The Fort Worth City Council Race did not go as hoped.
YOU CAN HELP STOP FORCED ANNEXATION by supporting candidates that are against forced annexation. Runoff election tba
for Dist 6 Dr. Byron Sousa 370-8667
www.byronsousa.org
Dr. Byron Sousa Campaign
7733 BLOSSOM DR
FORT WORTH TX 76133
WON Dist 8 Kathleen Hicks 810-0007 we hope is on our side
www.kathleenhicks.com
Kathleen Hicks Campaign
PO BOX 15921
FORT WORTH TX 76119
______
Thank you for all the help you put in to get council on our side, whether you are in ETJ or know someone who is, get friendly citizens to support the candidates on our side. I can help put other cities' letters - of candidates on CAFA 's side - up on our blog: CAFA Updates. Please e-mail A2ZStorage@aol.com and webmaster@noannexation.com .

Section B S-T 5/6/05

2005-05-06T07:19:00.000-07:00

Star-Telegram
Airport - Top L, Sect. B Metro FW
"Dallas Mayor Laura Miller
finds her joke that
Dallas is set to annex Fort Worth
funnier than Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief does
at a news conference Thursday at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport."

Yes, we pick opposite the Star-Telegram Opinions page Elections / Recommendations, except Dist. 8 (Friday May 6 page 8B), but we still quote what comes out on our side.
Copy of Thank You letter to Mayor Miller of Dallas:
and copies sent to Mayor and Fort Worth City Council
Mayor Miller,
Thank you for bringing light to our cause. We appreciate your quip. FIGHTING FORCED ANNEXATION with Fort Worth has been ongoing over 3 years and fighting to overturn (or disannex) unhappy citizens across TEXAS has been a struggle.
Your joke repeated the Forced Annexation plight in the peoples everyday vocabulary. I had previously used the same analogy with Mayor Barr and the Fort Worth City Council about two years ago.
On behalf of over 10,000 county citizens, I asked the Fort Worth Mayor and City Council, "How would you like Dallas to Annex Fort Worth, knowing that their fire, police, and ambulance would take much longer to respond than our current great emergency services?"
These are the issues we bring up when testifying for the Texas House of Representatives, Land and Resource Management Committee - recently on Mar. 17, 2005. All residents should want to live where they have purchased land - in or outside of city limits - AND we should have a voice if the urban - rural line is moved to include us.
Thanks,
Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972
CAFA President

The following post has blank space at top for your personal message to invite your friends to write the Calendars Committee members of the Texas House.

Write More Thanks

2005-04-19T20:53:00.000-07:00

Committee Clerk: Amy Ehlert (512) 463-0758 EXT E2.1010 P.O. Box 2910 Austin TX 78768-2910	Chair Representative Beverly Woolley (512) 463-0696 Room EXT E1.404 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768	Vice Chair Representative Gene Seaman (512) 463-0672 Room EXT E2.406 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768
Representative Gary Elkins (512) 463-0722 Room EXT E1.408 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768	Representative Lois Kolkhorst (512) 463-0600 Room EXT E1.510 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768	Representative Vilma Luna (512) 463-0484 Room CAP 4S.03 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768
Representative Brian McCall (512) 463-0594 Room CAP 4N.08 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768	Representative Sid Miller (512) 463-0628 Room EXT E2.904 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768	Representative Patrick Rose (512) 463-0647 Room EXT E2.420 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768
Representative Sylvester Turner (512) 463-0554 Room CAP 1W.05 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768	Representative Corbin Van Arsdale (512) 463-0661 Room EXT E1.412 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768	Representative William "Bill" Callegari (512) 463-0528 Room EXT E2.608 P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768

Calendars Committee Addresses
79th House of Representatives
Hmmm.. Houston area has 5 Representatives of 11 members on Calendars.
The Woodlands can really help us here.
Thanks to James Manuel V-Pres of Legislative affairs for e-mailing updates from Texas Legislature Online
Keep reminding friends in low places and high places, relatives, inlaws, and even outlaws to write, call, e-mail, mail and fax these Representatives and ones near you to support HB 323.
Bill: HB 323 - Legislative Session: 79(R)Council Document: 79R 01485

Introduced 02/02/2005 H Referred to Land & Resource Management
Relating to a revision of the procedures for municipal annexation.
H 04-19-05 Committee report sent to Calendars
H 04-18-05 Committee report printed and distributed 08:34 PM
H 04-18-05 Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator

HB 323 text: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/data/docmodel/79r/billtext/pdf/HB00323H.PDF

A copy of the House Land and Resources Committee report printing of HB323 (which includes bill text, the committee's recommendation and vote on the bill, the bill analysis, the fiscal note, and other necessary impact statements and attachments) was placed in the post office box of each member of the house on April 18, 2005. The chief clerk then delivered a certified copy of the committee report on HB323 to the calendars committee for placement of the bill on the calendar for consideration by the full house.

Calendars committees are given wide discretion in scheduling bills for floor action.
We need to write all Calendars Committee Members to support and schedule this HB323.
The end of this legislative session is in May and last year the similar bill was "not given a date" on the calendar for consideration by the full house - during a late meeting Mother's Day Weekend. Please don't let this happen again.
Your letters to the Calendars Committee will show them they have the support to make the right choice to schedule a date for the Full House to consider HB 323. Calendars has 11 members and Committee clerk. Write a personal letter as an individual, and copy it for each member and Clerk. Each member address with Austin phone, fax, Dist. number, and counties represented: click here.
__________________________
Thank you letters to these co-Authors! click to e-mail
Author: Mowery | Eissler
Coauthor: Crabb | Hardcastle | Howard | Hupp | Orr | Zedler

Thank you for all your time. Thank you for fighting for your neighbors who don't have all the information.
Darlia Hobbs CAFA President 817-237-7972 RAHobbsJ@aol.com

EMANO Forum Dist. 7 City Council Candidates

2005-04-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

Public Invited to
Eagle Mountain Alliance of Neighborhood Organizations Forum
District 7 Fort Worth City Council Candidates Forum
Wed. April 13, 2005 at 7 p.m.

at Boswell High School 5805 W BAILEY BOSWELL RD SAGINAW TX 76179
in the Lecture Hall.
The 6 Candidates for Fort Worth City Council District 7 are:
Hugh Carter Burdette * * * * Leon Reed, Jr.,
Joyce Grant * * * and * * * Bradley Sigley,
Donald Ray May, Jr. * * * * Joseph Waller

We encourage you to attend and arrive 20 minutes early to
meet the candidates. This should be an informative Forum
for this highly contested City Council seat.
_______________________
The results: Unavailable after positive RSVP - Joyce Grant, Don May, Jr.
These four gentlemen did a great service to each of their campaigns as they all put a very good foot forward. Very positive campaign so far, building on their own strengths. Burdette and Reed are Lawyers and great with words. Brad Sigley is a Lochheed engineer and troubleshooter (answer finder / bargain maker) from all across the U.S. Joe Waller is a businessman and helps his neighborhood group - he's been on our side of the podium in Council. They all, of course, answered that they did not like forced annexation "when it takes away from current city citizens' services," but Burdette suggested sometimes that might not be the case and Reed would have to see all sides of each case to determine what is best for the city, as did Sigley. Waller alone said NO forced annexation is my position and I'm sticking to it.
Read Art Jones' story next week 4/21 as he is much more verbose and articulate than I. Thank you to everyone who made tonight a success. Cindy Owings made a great moderator and question asker.

Please meet these candidates and encourage them to mail or e-mail their position on annexation to us to post: Candidate Positions for all Fort Worth Council Districts.

What a great trip!

2005-03-17T10:56:00.000-08:00

I really feel the Representatives on the Land and Resource Management committee listened to the citizens who traveled from 7 regions of Texas to voice our concern about involuntary annexation.

Write us your opinion of the trip or news coverage of Forced Annexation and support of HB 323 to be published on

Austin Trip Web Page.

Even the Mayor of Denton, who maintains Denton only annexes voluntarily - AND STILL GROWS - testified that adding a vote to a scheduled ballot costs nothing. Hear that other municipalities 100% VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION and Denton is still growing, not stagnating.

I wonder if her city was a member of the TML who sent a paid lawyer representative who quoted a "paid for by TML" research paper to explain how inner cities die so reaching out is the ONLY way to grow, requiring "forced annexation".

Good Star Telegram article buried on page 5 Sect. B in Friday, March 18th paper.

Thanks everyone for making this trip such a great success!
Darlia Hobbs
President CAFA
817-237-7972

Austin Trip 3-17-05

2005-03-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

Trip to Austin
to testify and/or support State Representative Anna Mowery's HB323. Thurs. March 17
We'll take a bus from the south side of Fort Worth on Thursday morning.

(Departure location around Burleson, S of Ft. Worth t.b.a. If we fill the bus, the cost each will be $25, CAFA can pay $15 and you pay $10 - or you can volunteer to pay the whole amount. *Anyone not able to travel may make a donation to sponsor a seat for someone able to travel.)

We'll board the bus at 7:30 am, and leave at 8 am. Please be on time! We'll meet those driving to Austin, or from other areas, at Anna Mowery's office at noon. After we meet, and pass out info, we'll have lunch in cafeteria - or you can bring a sack lunch. We'll each take a few State Representatives offices and pass out info on HB 323 to all 150 State Representatives in groups of 2 or 3.
When Anna Mowery's office calls us, we'll go into their hearing room and testify and / or be there to support her bill! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
We want to hear how many cities across the state have made many errors and get away with it. They need to hear why it's wrong to annex you against your will.
Remember - they don't know if you don't tell them! The city employees will be telling them that the present law SB89 is just fine and there are no problems or complaints. It's up to us to "tell it like it is."
Our input made the difference last session in getting the bill out of Anna's Land and Resource Management Committee and on to the Calendar Committee.

We need your help! It will help me to know exactly who is going - from our areas AND ALL OTHER AREAS.

PLEASE CALL ME 817-237-7972 Darlia Hobbs CAFA President
We'll probably leave Austin between 5 - 6:30 pm and head back to departure location.
It is a very rewarding and educational trip. Please try to make it. Whether you drive, or ride the bus with us - call me.
Other GOOD NEWS - Kathy Coffman of Lubbock area recommends law firm Hughes-Luce.
Misty Ventura was attorney that did great job for them. They have a Dallas office.
GREAT JOB *UNITE FORCES *SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD
This is the moment we have been waiting for!
Thank you everyone!
Darlia Hobbs CAFA President 817-237-7972

CAFA Member Form

2005-03-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Citizens Against Forced Annexation (CAFA) is to seek remedies to the unfair, un-American practice of involuntary, forced annexation in the State of Texas. CAFA will oppose such actions at the local level and will support development of state legislation that eliminates or severely limits the practice of involuntary, forced annexation.

JOIN CAFA!
If you would like to join the CAFA, please mail form below with $5 payable to CAFA: include your name, mailing address, phone number and email address to:
Treasurer Larry Osborne
PO BOX 230, CROWLEY, TX 76036-0230

PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAFA Updates BLOG:
Highlight the information you would like to print. Go to File tab and select print. Under page range, be sure and choose "Selection" button. Click "Print" button at the bottom of the box.

Submissions
CAFA Information & Submissions - RAHobbsJ@aol.com - "please Post" will be put on CAFA Updates upon inspection : President Darlia Hobbs
info@noannexation.com (please use this address to submit items to the webmaster for posting to the site or for more information about CAFA.)
__________________________________________

Approved, CAFA, 8/26/02
-Resolution-

Two elections before annexation
Whereas, Texas law allows municipalities to annex new territory over the objections of the affected landowners and even of citizens within those cities;

Whereas, An amendment to state law can remedy this injustice by requiring two simultaneous (city funded) elections be held so that municipal annexations can happen only by a majority vote of the people being annexed and of the voters in the cities doing the annexation,

Whereas, Citizens of annexed territory may be unhappy with service delivery or loss of independence, and wish to be de-annexed; be it

RESOLVED, That this organization supports the proposal to amendment of Texas annexation law to require two elections before a city can annex more territory; and

RESOLVED, that citizens in annexed areas should be able to petition for a mandated (city funded) election to be de-annexed, and

RESOLVED, That such elections must be spaced at least three years apart for each annexed area.

Please sign me up as a member:

Print Name: ___________________________________________

Mailing address _______________________________________

City _____________________ State _____ Zip ____________

Date ______________________

Phone ______________________ Fax ______________________

e-mail ________________________________________________

Volunteer on Committee: _______________________________

Title _____________________ Organization ______________

Submit $5.00 voluntary donation made payable to CAFA to:
Larry Osborne, Treasurer - LDO@integrity.com - PO BOX 230, CROWLEY, TX 76036-0230
CAFA President Darlia Hobbs - 8113 Anchorage Pl, Ft. Worth, TX 76135
RAHobbsJ@aol.com - 817-237-7972 - fax 817-237-7015

file deadline 3/7 City Council Seats

2005-03-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

Ft. Worth City Council Election 5/7
Date: 3/4/2005 10:47:24 AM CST From: RAHOBBSJ
To: james.d.manuel@lmco.com
___________________________
2/24/2005 12:43:42 PM CST From: james.d.manuel@lmco.com

Is any one working on getting the Ft Worth city counsel race candidates positions on forced annexation? Enquiring minds want to know.
__________________
James,
Our reporter/editor friend on North West Tarrant County Times-Record is putting together an article. To make sure interviews are complete including any March 7 filing candidates, Art will publish these results on Thur. 3/17. also web: http://www.timesrecordonline.com/
Don't Forget Meeting: Sat. March 12, 2005 4308 E HWY 67 east of Keene 76033 6:30 PM
___________________________
Re: resources
Date: 3/2/2005 6:55:54 PM CST From: Arttimesrecord To: RAHOBBSJ

Thanks, Tammy - I usually listen to WBAP, but not this morning. I'll check out the website. I'm also going to interview FW City Council candidates to see where they stand on "city-initiated" annexation.

Thanks for the heads-up! Art

Taxes : Vice-Pres. Legislative Affairs CAFA

2005-03-02T08:54:00.000-08:00

Taxes 3/6/2005 6:46 AM CST james.d.manuel@lmco.com
http://www.texaspolicy.com/
Please check out this site.
Thank You CAFA Vice-President Legislative Affairs
James D. Manuel F/A-22 Raptor QA Analyst
Ft Worth, Texas Ph# 817-763-2923

Austin Trip - March dates soon

2005-03-01T09:36:00.000-08:00

Subj: Thank you HB323 Date: 3/1/2005 9:35:57 AM CST
From: RAHOBBSJ To: Anna.Mowery@house.state.tx.us, snitches@msn.com

The Honorable Anna Mowery,

Thank you for your time, and Trey's time, with this bill
and keeping our group Citizens Against Forced Annexation
up to date with the progress on HB 323.
We appreciate you standing up for Texans rights to their land
remembering it is not the city's property.
Thank you for remembering that we live in the county and did
not vote on these City Council people and they should not be
in control of what we choose to do with our property until
WE GET TO VOTE - FIRST!

We look forward to meeting you. Can't wait to hear the date
to schedule a trip - soon. The more advance notice I get,
the sooner we can rally our troops to your support.

Thanks,
Tammy Maas
Member Citizens Against Forced Annexation
Citizens Against Forced Annexation - www.noannexation.com
click on : CAFA Updates - the most current info

contact:
Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972 CAFA President
8109 Anchorage Pl
Fort Worth TX 76135

CAFA Meeting, What TML tells legislators.

2005-02-28T23:11:00.000-08:00

- * EVERYONE WELCOME * -
Informal CAFA Meeting Sat. March 12 at 6:30 PM
LOCATION: 4308 E HWY 67 East of Keene 76033
Hosts: Clyde Melton and Raymond Lee
Call Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972 for info RAHobbsJ@aol.com

PURPOSE - Letter Campaign to State Representatives in Austin
- Plan Trip to Austin to speak to Land and Resource Management Committee

There is STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!! If you haven't given us your e-mail address in the last week, or received an e-mail from Darlia RAHobbsJ@aol.com - please E-mail me soon, so that we can be in touch with new info and the date for Austin FOR ALL CITIES AND COUNTIES. I have sent 150 letters to the Legislature, some of them respond, "Please write your own Representative." I want to hear from ALL TEXANS in ALL AREAS! Thanks, Darlia Hobbs CAFA President

12/26/2004 F: RAHOBBSJ To: james.d.manuel@lmco.com
Visit the web site to know who is fighting AGAINST your right to vote.

They think forced annexation should continue, even though 60% or more of annexation is voluntary AND current county residents will have DECREASED services due to annexation by their nearest city. Are your County Commissioners listening? They will not have jobs if you are in a city and they no longer control the streets (usually better than city service), county Sheriff Dept., voluntary or county funds for fire and ambulance.

http://www.tml.org/pdfsurveys/2004taxndebt.pdf
what your nearby city will add to your tax, you are not paying yet

http://www.tml.org/tml_directories/online_directories.asp
your nearby city officials - look them up

http://www.tml.org/graphics/tocAboutlt.png
"About TML" to help cities - not potential citizens

Represent the interests of member cities before state and federal legislative, administrative, and judicial bodies at the state and federal levels. THE VERY DEFINITION OF LOBBIEST.

We need to stand up for our individual rights, the cities have a well PAID group looking out for them.

Put the Citizens Against Forced Annexation Meeting on your schedule for Sat. Mar. 12, 2005. E HWY 67, East of Keene. See you there!
Darlia Hobbs CAFA President 817-237-7972

FW City Council Discussion 2/17

2005-02-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

Re: TH Feb. 17 at 10 A.M. - City Council
Date: 2/14/2005 4:33:26 PM CST
From: RAHOBBSJ To: james.d.manuel@lmco.com
2/14/2005 9:11:29 AM CST, james.d.manuel@lmco.com writes:

Please advise me on what is said at this meeting if you are going to it.
TH Feb. 17 at 10 A.M. - City Council discusses PUBLIC HEARING comments with staff.

James,
The staff will likely discuss the public hearing comments with council in pre-council 8am which is not open to the public. We were unable to attend the Fort Worth City Council Meeting on this odd rescheduled day, and anyone who did attend may e-mail RAHobbsJ@aol.comto report what took place. We will be happy to publish it on this blog.
Thanks for all the Legislative updates. Remind everyone NOT to use the Forum part of our web page.
Thanks. Happy Valentine's Day.

Darlia Hobbs President - CAFA 817-237-7972

Snail Mail more likely to be read by Representatives

2005-02-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

Subj: RE: FORCED ANNEXATION AND HB323 2/8/2005 6:53:05 AM CST
From: james.d.manuel@lmco.com To: kennethsumg-s2@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: FORCED ANNEXATION AND HB323
When you write Legislators or write to friends to help our letter writing campaign, more fax and snail mail gets read by Representatives than e-mail
Pass it on. Keep the letters rolling in. .
Thanks, Darlia Hobbs CAFA President
"Manuel, James D" wrote:
Please support HB 323 and put this bill on the floor for a vote. We need help in fighting forced annexation by money hungry cities. Texas law allows municipalities to annex new territory over the objections of the affected landowners and even of citizens within those cities. An amendment to state law can remedy this injustice by requiring two simultaneous (city funded) elections be held so that municipal annexations can happen only by a majority vote of the people being annexed and of the voters in the cities doing the annexation.

All we ask for is the right to vote on being forced into a city. We should have the right to vote on which city we would like to be become citizens in. My area borders another city which we would rather be members of if we have the choice. We need this choice, "The right to vote on Annexation". If we can help give the citizens of Iraq the right to vote, why can't we have the same right to vote on "Forced Annexation". For the past several weeks news stations and newspapers in North Texas (WFAA channel 8 and the Ft Worth Star-Telegram) have told stories of flooding problems, streets that are crumbling, streets that cannot handle the terrific and etc. Forced Annexation is not the answer for solving a cities problems, cities need smart growth policies.

Thank You, James D. Manuel, CAFA VP of Legislative Affairs
F/A-22 Raptor QA Analyst
Ft Worth, Texas 817-439-0780 Hm#

James,
Thanks for the info about forced annexation. Another organization that I support stated that Email was usually not read by Congress or their staffs. Email is easy to ignore. In the Texas state legislature, the majority of members may have their staff read and compile Email statements.

In addition to Email, we need to send regular mail to certain members of the state
legislature. It is more trouble for us, but legislators pay much more attention to
regular mail than Email. I think that our own state senator and representative should be contacted by regular mail.
Kenneth Sumerford

You are correct, I try to do both just in case. To all of our HOA and CAFA members try and do both if you can (E-mail and paper mail).
Thank You
James D. Manuel

Land, Calendar Committee Members 2005

2005-02-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

Members of Land & Resource Management 79th House
Date: 2/4/2005 3:04:58 PM CST From: RAHOBBSJ click title or cut and paste -http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/360.htm
The members of the Land & Resource Management Committee are:
Chair Representative Anna Mowery * Dist. 97 fax(512) 463-8342
Vice Chair Representative Linda Harper-Brown 105 fax 512-463-0044
Members: * * * * * ** * * District * * e-mail by clicking name
Representative Joseph "Joe" Pickett * * 79
Representative Roy Blake * * * * * * * * * 9
Representative Robby Cook * * * * * * * 17
Representative Juan Escobar * * * * * * 43
Representative David Leibowitz * * * 117
Representative Sid Miller * * * * * * * * * 59
Representative Rob Orr * * * * * * * * * * 58

Committee Clerk Trey Burke (512)463-1623
EXT E2.136
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910

Members of Calendars Committee 79th House
click title or cut and paste - http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/050.htm
* * * * N A M E * * * * Dist. * click name to e-mail
Chair Representative Beverly Woolley * * 136
Vice Chair Representative Gene Seaman * 32
Members:
Representative William "Bill" Callegari * 132
Representative Gary Elkins * * * * * * * * 135
Representative Lois Kolkhorst * * * * * * * 13
Representative Vilma Luna * * * * * * * * * 33
Representative Brian McCall * * * * * * * * 66
Representative Sid Miller * * * * * * * * * * 59
Representative Patrick Rose * * * * * * * * 45
Representative Sylvester Turner * * * * * 139
Representative Corbin Van Arsdale * * * 130
Committee Clerk Amy Ehlert (512) 463-0758
EXT E2.1010
P.O. Box 2910
Austin TX 78768-2910

Robert Hobbs * RAHobbsJ@aol.com
Citizens Against Forced Annexation CAFA
co- Vice-Pres. Legislative Affairs

10 min. for Texans property rights

2005-01-28T17:15:00.000-08:00

To our friends and relatives across Texas:
We'd like to ask for 10 minutes of your valuable time to help protect property rights for all Texans. Texas city governments are reaching out and forcibly annexing people into cities against their will! When these greedy cities' governments annex, expecially FORCED annexation, it dilutes and diminishes current city citizens' fire, police ambulance, street and bridge repairs, etc.
State Representative Anna Mowery has filed House Bill #323, which will give Texans the right to vote on whether or not they want to live in a city.
WE CAN CHANGE THE LAW - but not alone.
Please - take a few minutes to call your State Representative, and 2 other near-by State Reps., and simply tell them you're against forced annexation AND ask them to support and/or co-sponsor State Representative Anna Mowery's
House Bill #323 that gives Texans the right to vote on annexation.
------* This is a non-partisan issue! *------
Like Governor Perry told us - "If you're going to annex me, let me vote on it."
www.noannexation.com Look up your TX Rep. www.house.state.tx.us/welcome.php

Thanks. Keep up the Great Work. Darlia Hobbs Pres. CAFA
Officers Nominated at Jan. 15 CAFA Meeting
Date: 1/17/2005 12:24:05 PM From: RAHOBBSJ To: webmaster@noannexation.com, Thetimesrecord, RKeck@community-news.com

CAFA Members and interested Texans,

The 2005 CAFA Meeting was a great success.
Nearly 100 Texas Citizens Against Forced Annexation braved freezing temperatures and attended on Saturday Night to nominate officers, make plans to continue a 2005 petition (updating on site, check again Jan. 25) and letter writing campaign.
These documents collected from our members will be distributed to Texas Representatives when hearings are held in Feb, Mar 2005 for
HB 323 with Representative Anna Mowery.

2003's trip to Austin was a great success when we broke into small groups to cover every one of the 158 Representatives offices. That bill by Anna Mowery was effectively stopped in Calendar Committee. The Calendar Chairperson is Representative Beverly Wooley of Houston, but the vice chair that fought against CAFA will be not be in charge this year, and we should focus on the Calendar Members to get this piece of legislation to the House floor.

Please contact our Vice-Presidents to Join A Committee and contribute your expertise to our fight. We need YOU!

CAFA Mission Statement:
The mission of Citizens Against Forced Annexation (CAFA)is to seek rebedies to the unfair, un-American practice of involuntary, forced annexation in the State of Texas. CAFA will oppose such actions at the local level and will support development of state legislation that eliminates or severely limits the practice of involuntary, forced annexation.

AND OUR ELECTED OFFICERS ARE:
Treasurers - Larry Osborne
and Wayne Myrick
Secretary - Howard Eisenberg
President - Darlia Hobbs (yes, correct spelling)
V-Pres Municipal Affairs: Greg Kaufman
Committee Members: Jim Measures, Kenneth Chadwill
V-Pres Public Relations: Jack Jefferson
Committee: John Bullard, Howard Eisenberg
V-Pres Membership: Ileen Pope
Co- V-Pres Legislative Affairs: James Manual
and Bobby Hobbs
Committee: Clyde Melton, Larry Osborne, Greg Kaufman
V-Pres Programs & Activities: Kathleen Wood
Committee: Ora Wyron Haney

Posts To this web blog: noannexation.blogger.com
may be made by e-mailing Darlia Hobbs
RAHOBBSJ@aol.com
also webmaster@noannexation.com

Thank you to everyone who made it to the meeting.
Thank You Steve Hollern - for the good fight against
Ft. Worth Hotel, time, attending meetings, and expertise.
Thank You Dr. Byron DeSousa attending CAFA meetings
to personally get citizens comments and opinions to
take back to Citizens Advisory for Annexation Plan
(last meeting Jan. 19 at 4p.m. room 103A Ft. Worth
Convention Center - park large west side parking and
say you are going to city meeting to park free.)
and our newly elected 2005 CAFA Officers.
We know each of you will fulfill your duties
above and beyond expectations.

Thank you to Texans who care, but couldn't attend.
Many interested parties, including State Representative
Anna Mowery, State Representative Charlie Geren and
County Commissioner J.D. Johnson, and many valued
citizens called ahead of time to lend their support although
they had a conflict of plans.

LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE IN 2005.
NO VOTE. NO VOICE. NO JUSTICE.

Thanks, Again. Darlia Hobbs President CAFA
817-237-7972 RAHobbsJ@aol.com

Representatives Look Up

2005-01-27T14:41:00.000-08:00

"Manuel, James D" wrote:
FYI. State Rep Rob Eissler, who represents Montgomery County has also signed on to Anna Mowery's Annexation Bill HB323. Send him a e-mail thanking him for his support.

James, What is Eissler's EMail address? Please post his address and other relevant
addresses (regular and Email to our list at Lonesome Dove.)

Maybe we can meet next week and plan some strategy for working with our HOA and
neighbors in this very important HB323 bill. Kenneth Sumerford

From: Manuel, James D Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 3:21 PM
Subject: RE: Annexation Bill HB 323 Go to the below web site and pick the applicable rep that you would like to write or talk to.

Thank You James D. Manuel F/A-22 Raptor QA Analyst
Ft Worth, Texas Fax# 817-777-0998

http://www.house.state.tx.us/welcome.php

Thank You James and Kenneth for helping update CAFA blog
Darlia Hobbs, Pres. CAFA 817-237-7972, fax 817-237-7015

Officers Nominated at Jan. 15 CAFA Meeting

2005-01-17T11:25:00.000-08:00

Officers Nominated at Jan. 15 CAFA Meeting
Date: 1/17/2005 12:24:05 PM From: RAHOBBSJ To: webmaster@noannexation.com, Thetimesrecord, RKeck@community-news.com

CAFA Members and interested Texans,

The 2005 CAFA Meeting was a great success.
Nearly 100 Texas Citizens Against Forced Annexation braved freezing temperatures and attended on Saturday Night to nominate officers, make plans to continue a 2005 petition (updating on site, check again Jan. 25) and letter writing campaign.
These documents collected from our members will be distributed to Texas Representatives when hearings are held in Feb, Mar 2005 for
HB 323 with Representative Anna Mowery.

2003's trip to Austin was a great success when we broke into small groups to cover every one of the 158 Representatives offices. That bill by Anna Mowery was effectively stopped in Calendar Committee. The Calendar Chairperson is Representative Beverly Wooley of Houston, but the vice chair that fought against CAFA will be not be in charge this year, and we should focus on the Calendar Members to get this piece of legislation to the House floor.

ETJ Citizens Show Up in Force

2005-01-14T10:45:00.000-08:00

Annexation Plan Presentation Date: 1/14/2005 10:44:28 AM
From: RAHOBBSJ To: james.d.manuel@lmco.com, webmaster@noannexation.com

Howdy from Darlia on this first day of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo,
Fort Worth is a great place to visit, let's keep it that way.

There have great turnouts to the Fort Worth Planning Presentations this week. We hope even more participation from around the state at the

CAFA Meeting
Sat. Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
721 Ranch House Rd., Willow Park
West of Ft. Worth on I-30
Right at Ranch House exit,
go 1 mi., on the Left
Willow Park Church of Christ
Thank You Jack Jefferson
TexasPetron@aol.com

We will be voting on CAFA officers. Planning a Feb. trip to the Texas Legislature to inform the House of Representatives and Senators how important HB323 is and that we and Texas county citizens want a vote if we are to be annexed. The more CAFA members that can go gives us more time in EACH Representative's or Senator's office. THIS IS NOT JUST A FORT WORTH, HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO PROBLEM. You can help yourself and other towns by joining the trip to Austin to explain our side. Letters from your neighbors will help, too. Anyone who cannot travel - PLEASE write your side - send a letter of how annexation will effect you.

Fort Worth will be giving their Annexation Plan Presentation at 7:30 P.M.
See it online, downloads available. CLICK HERE.
They are accepting questions - what they can't answer, they will take your name and question and find the answer and get back to you. HOLD THEM TO IT!
See you Saturday!
Darlia Hobbs CAFA Representative 817-237-7972

Anna Mowery's Bill Name: HB 323

2005-01-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

HB 323
Date: 1/11/2005 9:08:31 AM Central Standard Time
From: james.d.manuel@lmco.com To: RAHOBBSJ@aol.com
House Bill HB 323 has been filed by Anna Mowery.
It concerns Annexation. Please go to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ to check out the bill. We all need to get e-mail and etc sent to our State Reps to support this bill and get it passed this time.
Thank You James D. Manuel Haslet, Texas 287 Area

CAFA Meeting Sat. Jan. 15, 2005 6:30pm

2005-01-04T11:30:00.000-08:00

CAFA Meeting
Sat. Jan. 15 6:30 P.M.
Willow Park Church of Christ
721 Ranch House Rd, Willow Park TX 76087

What CAFA is all about Q & A

2005-01-04T09:46:00.000-08:00

What CAFA is all about Q & A
Date: 1/4/2005 9:38:14 AM Central Standard Time From: RAHOBBSJ
To: webmaster@noannexation.com, RAHOBBSJ

All CAFA Members: Each of us have our own story about why we should not be annexed.
Here is a good Question and Answer format to help you explain it to others.
This is why we fight local and state level. Thank you:
James D. Manuel
287 Area Lonesome Dove Estates701 Lonesome Prairie Trl
Haslet, Texas 76052
817-439-0780 Ph# 817-763-2923
F/A-22 Raptor QA Analyst Ft Worth, Texas

My voice concerning forced annexation (e-mailed to state legislators and city council).

For the part several years I have been witness to many city council annexation policy meetings which usually last over 2 hours. I have listened as well as others, to people who have poured out their hearts against forced annexation. Some spoke of land that had been in the family for many, many years. Some spoke of putting their life savings into retiring in the country; and some spoke on behalf of many others who could not attend. All questioned why the City needed to annex their property and burden them with a 30% or more increase in taxes and service fees while not providing any service that they didn't already have. The City Council and their representatives listened (some not paying attention) which in-turn leads me to believe these meetings are just being held because of state law. Since this large scale annexation is still taking place obviously the city of Ft Worth plans to proceed undaunted by any emotional outpouring or by rural/county citizen's objections. These meetings are just a formality on their march to increase the size of Ft Worth by the maximum allowed by law at this time (more annexations are to come in the future). Seems we cannot ever escape the long arm of Ft Worth's reach. Sure seems to be good policy if you are running for re-election, alienate hundreds or thousands of new voters. With the way voting is these days, low turn out and elections being won by a few votes, makes since to me "NOT", (good change you will not be re-elected). Maybe that is what it will take to end Forced Annexation, vote in new elected officials. Thousands of affected citizens have joined others around the state who were willing to work against this egregious indifference to our rights and have been speaking out now for several years. Just yesterday (1/2/04) there was a TV report (Channel 8) that reported, there are at least 60 sites around the city of Ft Worth that have flooding problems (which is a safety hazard). The cost to fix the problems was reported to be over 1 billion dollars. This cost is not financially obtainable by the city. So why does the City of Ft Worth still need to annex more areas, when they cannot fix their current problems. Seems to be a morally, financially misguided city government. Being bigger is not always better.
Q: Why does the city of Ft Worth want to annex so much land?
A: At the present time forced annexation has been reduced by Ft Worth but I have yet to hear a good reason for even annexation of this much acreage. From the City's side, the most straight forward response to that question was, "The law lets us do it. If you don't like it, change the law." It's an Arrogant, Un-American and Un-Texan answer but honest. Another set of words used by cities is "These areas use our services and do not pay for them". Hey elected officials, we all use each others services. How many of your dollars are from the State and Federal Government? If any of it is, then I have paid for them. With that logic, we must all pay when we travel to another city so to use its services. Such as traveling to Dallas, Arlington, North Richland Hills, Grapevine and etc for Sporting games, Shopping, Dinner, Nightlife, Motels, Water parks, parks and even just driving on their streets. My sub-division adjoins next to the City of Haslets city limits. Most residents use Haslet's services such as parks, roads and the volunteer fire department (which is doing a great job and is only 1 mile or so from my home). We also are a part of the community of Haslet and not Ft Worth and wish not to be. At least give us the right to vote which city, if any, we want to live in.
Q: Why are we (CAFA members and some others) opposed to Ft Worth's proposed annexation?
A: We object to areas of this annexation where rural residents are being forced against their will inside the city. Their taxes will go up 30% and their quality of life will go down. Some will be forced to sell. If the City of Ft Worth raised the taxes of the current residents by 30% I can guarantee that it would put an end to voter apathy. We have no voice or vote on the City Council. City Council members (several in favor of forced annexation) and an ink pen is all that is required to drastically change our lives. Ft Worth does not have the resources to take care of the current city. Many Ft Worth residents oppose this sprawling growth because their quality of life will also go down. The City's service plan for the annexed area calls for additional police, firemen, road crews, and etc, but at what cost to the current residence. They plan to dilute what they have for an area that will now stretch from the far north, south and west of Tarrant County. They think forced annexations should continue, even though current county residents will have DECREASED services due to annexation by their nearest city. Hey County Commissioners are you listening? You and many other county employees may not have jobs if you are in the city and the county no longer controls the streets in rural areas. Thus, less county roads and rural areas to be serviced, and patrolled by the Sheriff Dept. Voluntary or County funded fire and ambulance services will be decreased or not needed.
Q: Are you and members of your group in general opposed to all annexation for Ft Worth?
A: Their are some areas currently being developed that would benefit the City and the land owners. When both sides benefit, annexation makes economic and moral sense. Not all areas need to be annexed and these areas will not benefit or need city services.
Q: A city is required by law to have open meetings to obtain citizen's input prior to annexation. At several meetings people have asked why the city was not letting people vote on the annexation. I wonder about that too. What reasons have city officials given?
A: To my knowledge, the City has never responded to that question. That would be a tough one to "spin." The meetings are always stacked on the cities side and not forced annexed citizens, (they really do not listen). I have not heard of any county/rural citizens input that is being used by the city counsel concerning forced annexations.

--"Darlia Hobbs and Stephanie Pivec have been involved in Citizen Input Meetings with the City Planning Department Representatives and are almost always outvoted or met with objection to any input they have."--

Q: Texas legislation (Senate Bill 89) 1999 would allow residents in a proposed annexation area certain negotiating rights and would place some additional requirements on what cities must do to annex. However, it would not stop them from annexing. What's in this legislation? How will it affect the proposed Ft Worth annexation plans?
A: For the most part the changes are cosmetic; cities have to give 3 years notice of their intent to annex and they have to bring full services by 3 years instead of the current 4 1/2 years. It doesn't mean much to us. There is still no right to vote. The power remains with the city councils and not residents. We need a better Bill to give the power back to Texas residences that are being forced into cities, and not by their free will.
Q: What can people do to help or get involved if they are concerned about Forced annexation plans?
A: First join others in your community and state in fighting forced annexation and get in touch with your elected officials and voice your concerns. In my opinion this issue is no longer about annexation any more than the Boston Tea Party was about tea. Annexation is now the venue that speaks to the heart of the democratic process. If you tax us, force us to live in "your" city, force us to comply with your ordnances then we must have to right to vote where we wish to live.

link to scanned image of letter from Governor's office reply

To see how North Carolina and other states are handling forced annexation, go to
StopNCAnnexation.com and click forum, scroll to bottom, click annexation laws then
"state to state". Current April 2004 info, majority of states have laws for non-city residents to vote BEFORE becoming city residents.

Feb 15 Ft.Worth City Council change to Feb. 17

2005-01-03T13:26:00.000-08:00

I don't know why. The previous blog spots on Fort Worth City Council Meetings have been updated to show TU Feb. 15 at 10 A.M. Meeting postphoned to TH Feb. 17 at 10 A.M. Maybe some more can make it that morning.

PUBLIC HEARING

Thanks, Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972

Mark your Calendars!

2004-12-30T21:57:00.000-08:00

Date: 12/30/2004 9:54:44 PM To: RAHOBBSJ, texaspetron@ev1.net, webmaster@noannexation.com
What are you doing to prevent your land from being annexed withour your permission?
Below is a list of upcoming meetings that the City of Fort Worth Planning Dept. - Fernando Costa - will be giving presentations of the "proposed" five year and 15 year annexation plans. He will gather the input from the audience at each of these meetings, and report back to the city council. It will be to your advantage to be at several fo these meetings - wearing your "no annex" badges, and telling them how wrong forced annexation is. It's also not fair for the people in their so-called "enclaves" who don't have the same rights as the rest of the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).
The 3 MOST IMPORTANT may be the Boswell High School on Jan. 13, the CAFA Meeting on Jan. 15, and the last "Committee" meeting on Jan. 19th.
After those - the PUBLIC HEARINGS will be IMPORTANT to speak out and / or come and wear your badges and hats!!

Contact your Fort Worth Council Member (or all of them) before these meetings AND show up to the meetings to express your side:
- Jan 5, 6pm Dist. 4 & 5 Draft Annexation Program Briefing, E Regional Library, 6301 Bridge St. e-mail: Honorable Donavan Wheatfall at District5@fortworthgov.org or call 817-392-8805 and
Honorable Becky Haskin District4@fortworthgov.org 817-392-8804

Show up and thank these two for doing their best for change, more needed
- Jan 10, 6pm Dist. 3 & 6 Draft Annexation Program Briefing, SW Rec. Center, 6300 Welch Ave. e-mail 3: Honorable Chuck Silcox crsilcox@aol.com on our side, or call 817-392-8803
6: Honorable Clyde Picht District6@fortworthgov.org on our side, or call 817-392-8806 cpicht@landslideclyde.com

- Jan 12, 6pm Dist. 2 Draft Annexation Program Briefing, Hillwood Offices, 13600 Heritage Parkway e-mail Honorable Jim Lane District2@fortworthgov.org or call 817-392-8802
- Jan 13, 6pm Dist. 7 Draft Annexation Program Briefing, Boswell High School, Lecture Hall, 5805 W Bailey Boswell Rd e-mail Honorable John Stevenson District7@fortworthgov.org or call 817-392-8807

also call Honorable Ralph McCloud District8@fortworthgov.org 817-392-8808
and Honorable Wendy Davis District9@fortworthgov.org 817-392-8809
and Mayor Mike Moncrief (Dist. 1) Mayor@fortworthgov.org 817-392-6118
to ask these when their districts will hold their Draft Annexation Program Briefing

* * Jan. 15 - CAFA Meeting - BE THERE - all of Texas is invited. * * *
6:30 PM 721 Ranch House Rd. Willow Park Church of Christ off I-20 E of Weatherford
We will hold an election and talk about going to Austin in Feb. or March to testify for State Rep. Anna Mowery's bill that gives Texans a vote on annexation.

- Jan. 18 at 10am - County Commissioners Court is briefed on annexation plan (100 E Weatherford, Ft. Worth) Please come! ** Tarrant County Commissioners Court **
disclaimer: This web page is NOT current as of the Nov. 2004 newly elected officials
If you cannot come to this - each of you - Please call your County Commissioner and tell them to fight for you against forced annexation! They want to hear from you!
Elected officials: Tom Vandergriff County Judge 817-884-1441
Precinct #1 Commissioner Roy Brooks 817-370-4500 New 2005
Precinct #2 Commissioner Marty VanRavenswaay 817-548-3900
Precinct #3 Commissioner Glen Whitley 817-581-3600
Precinct #4 Commissioner J.D. Johnson 817-238-4400

- Wed. Jan. 19th, 4pm Final Mayor's Committee on Annexation Plan, Convention Center room 103A
Park in lot on West side of Convention Center and tell parking attendant you are going to city meeting.

- Jan. 26- 1:30pm City Planning Commission holds PUBLIC HEARING on Annexation Plan (1000 Throckmorton, Fort Worth)

The pre-council and city council agendas for Tuesday, January 4 are now available on the city's Web site.
Pre-Council Agenda:
http://www.fortworthgov.org/council_packet/create_precouncil_agenda.asp
Council Agenda:
http://www.fortworthgov.org/council_packet/create_council_agenda.asp
City Web site: http://www.fortworthgov.org Thank you, City of Fort Worth
During City Council Meetings, held in Council Chambers (1000 Throckmorton, Fort Worth)
- TU Feb. 8 at 7 P.M. - City Council holds PUBLIC HEARING Please come!
- TH Feb. 17 at 10 A.M. - City Council discusses PUBLIC HEARING comments with staff
- TU Feb. 22 at 10 A.M. - City Council adopts 2005 Comprehensive Plan,
which contains Annexation Plan. Please come!
links:
Times listed for Council Meetings on Tuesdays (most am, some pm)
Fort Worth City Council Map (pdf) http://www.fortworthgov.org/citycouncil/2003Council_Webmap.pdf
(I had trouble getting on myself - good luck.)

Call me for info: DARLIA HOBBS 817-237-7972 Thanks, See you there!

Successful Press Conference Copperas Cove

2004-12-21T11:09:00.000-08:00

Subj: Re: Annexations Date: 12/21/2004 11:08:26 AM Central Standard Time
From: RAHOBBSJ To: james.d.manuel@lmco.com, Arttimesrecord, anna.mowery@house.state.tx.us, webmaster@noannexation.com, RAHOBBSJ

In a message dated 12/20/2004 11:09:46 AM Central Standard Time, james.d.manuel@lmco.com writes: How did the Annexation meeting go Saturday?

Dec. 18, 2004
Praise to Les Ledger and his ETJ of Copperas Cove - and many city citizens for the great turnout Saturday afternoon at their press conference with State Representative Anna Mowery of Fort Worth! There was standing room only with over 50 people in the courtroom. We all learned a lot, and it was very informative! State Representative Anna Mowery spoke to update us on the progress of her bill on annexation reform. The bill has been filed and a new House Bill number will be assigned when the legislative session opens in January 2005.

This was a good example for ALL areas to follow:
1) Have a good meeting to gather strength - 20 heads are better than 10.
There is strength in numbers!
2) Each person call the three closest State Representatives to your area and tell them how wrong forced annexation is. Ask them to support State Representative Anna Mowery's bill on annexation reform. The more calls the better. Your representative should represent you.
THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU !!!
3) Talk to the city citizens and help them understand that Texans deserve the right to vote on annexation. You need them on your side for the next council and mayor elections. Look for and support some candidates with integrity that are on your side. Les Ledger of ETJ around Copperas Cove spoke about how the county residents tried to be good neighbors and cooperate with the city only to be forcibly annexed. Years of checking with city guidelines before building and allowing city easements for utilities did not improve Mr. Ledger's chances of REMAINING A NEIGHBOR and being left outside the city limit.
4) Join CAFA - Start now - gather support for our Austin trip in Feb. or Mar. to support and / or speak to State Representative Anna Mowery's committee against forced annexation. They want to hear your story! (The TML - Texas Municipal League - will have city employees there to tell them the current bill in effect is just fine and doesn't need to be changed.) Darlia Hobbs of CAFA helped explain why it's up to each of us to help set the record straight. The cities are getting away with many injustices. Some injustices include, trying to annex outside a city's ETJ, not telling "New" citizens they have been annexed, or not following procedures outlined in SB-89 including not holding public hearings. Keep an eye on the cities you are closest to. It's up to us to tell it like it is.
GIVE THEM GOOD REASONS TO WANT TO CHANGE THE LAW!!!
5) There is no area too small - We ALL count! We can do it if we work together!
6) We want a delegation from each area of Texas to come to our
CAFA meeting
JAN. 15, 2005 at 6:30 P.M.
Willow Park Church of Christ
721 Ranch House Road, W of Fort Worth, 76087 click for map
We don't get to meet very often - so take advantage of this.
It's on a Sat. so you could come from all around the State.

Keep up the good fight.
Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972 CAFA Sr. Representative Fort Worth ETJ
Call Willow Park Church of Christ for directions 817-441-9056 E of Weatherford

Support the Right of TEXANS to Vote!

2004-12-15T13:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's up here twice for all types of computers to read. It's that important!

Let's see how many can show up.

Meet Anna Mowery, Show our Support!

click on CAFA Updates .. BlogPress

Conference Against Forced Annexation

With Anna Mowery

Sat. Dec.18, 2004

2 P.M. Coryell County Annex, Courtroom,

located at 201 S 2nd St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522

start at mapquest and enter street above or click here

Click here: Map of 201 S 2nd St Copperas Cove, TX by MapQuest

at the bottom of mapquest link above, you can put in your address to get driving directions.Take I-35 S from DFW, go W on SH 190, SW corner of FT. HOOD neer Kileen

Citizens Against Forced Annexation - wwww.noannexation.com

Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972

Thank you for your attention and your support! Pass it on!

Anna Mowery Press Conf. at Copperas Cove 12/18

2004-12-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

Anna Mowery Press Conference
Date: 12/14/2004 11:01:56 AM Central Standard Time
From: RAHOBBSJ To: james.d.manuel@lmco.com, RAHOBBSJ
See Details Let's see how many can show up.
Meet Anna Mowery, Show our Support!
Press Conference Against Forced Annexation
With Anna Mowery
Sat. Dec.18, 2004 2 P.M.
Coryell County Annex, Courtroom,
located at 201 S 2nd St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522
start at mapquest and enter street above or click here
Click here: Map of 201 S 2nd St Copperas Cove, TX by MapQuest
at the bottom of mapquest link above, you can put in your address to get driving directions.

Take I-35 S from DFW, go W on SH 190, SW corner of FT. HOOD neer Kileen

Citizens Against Forced Annexation - noannexation.com click on CAFA Updates..Blog

Darlia Hobbs
817-237-7972

State Representative Anna Mowery is a Fort Worth Treasure!

2004-12-08T11:39:00.000-08:00

State Representative Anna Mowery is a Fort Worth Treasure!
Date: 12/8/2004 1:37:35 PM Central Standard Time
From: RAHOBBSJ To: letters@star-telegram.com

Unfortunately, the Star Telegram did not support State Representative Anna Mowery in this last election - stating falsely, in so many words, that Mowery was not being friendly to the city.
Nothing is farther from the truth. Obviously, as most of us know.
She has consistently fought for the Fort Worth citizens in many ways, and sometimes been against some bad policies that the city government made, because she knew they were not in the best interest of the citizens. One major " bad policy " is Fort Worth's forced annexation policy - since most of the council and mayor candidates campaigned "against" forced annexation.
Mowery knows how terrible "forced annexation" is, because she talks to county Texans across the state who have been devastated by greedy city governments, and city citizens who suffer from diluted city services, including fire, police, and ambulance response times.
We also applaud Phillippe Lalonde's Nov. 12th letter to the editor telling the county of Arlene Wohlgemuth's defeat after her betrayal on the forced annexation issue to the Burleson, Keene, Cleburne, etc. areas. Many of them have said they "would not even want her for a dog catcher."
Like Governor Perry told us personally, "If you're going to annex me, let me vote on it."
Bobby Hobbs Letter to the editor of Star-Telegram.com

Alert - Fort Worth ETJ

2004-12-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

Alert - Fort Worth ETJ
Date: 12/8/2004 12:20:25 PM Central Standard Time From: RAHOBBSJ

Please be advised that the Mayor's Annexation Program Advisory Committee met on Dec. 1, 2004. They don't advertise that these 3 meetings will be open to the public to attend and comment on annexation, what is discussed, etc.

IMPORTANT! Please try to attend and give them your opinions. The next meetings are:
Thur. Dec. 9th at 4pm at Fort Worth Convention Center - Room 103A
Wed. Jan. 19th, 2005
Park in lot on West side of Convention Center and tell parking attendant you are going to city meeting.
- Dec. 13 City Council receives briefing
- Dec. 17 City Planning Commission is briefed

* * * Jan. 15 - CAFA Meeting - BE THERE - all of Texas is invited. * * *
We will hold an election and talk about going to Austin in Feb. or March to testify for State Rep. Anna Mowery's bill that gives Texans a vote on annexation.

- Jan. 18 at 10am - County Commissioners Court is briefed on annexation plan (100 E Weatherford, Ft. Worth) Please come!

- Jan. 26- City Planning Commission holds PUBLIC HEARING on Annexation Plan
- Feb. 8 - City Council holds PUBLIC HEARING Please come!
- Feb. 15 - City Council discusses PUBLIC HEARING comments with staff
- Feb. 22 - City Council adopts 2005 Comprehensive Plan, which contains Annexation Plan. Please come!

I will add to this and give times and locations. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Meet with neighbors and come to as many of these public meetings as possible! There is strength in numbers - so do your part and encourage your neighbors, too! I'm on the Advisory Committee, but I can't do it alone.

Thank You!
Darlia Hobbs CAFA www.noannexation.com CAFAUpdates 817-237-7972

Get out and be seen Dec. 18

2004-12-08T07:39:00.000-08:00

We need your help to get state attention.

Copperas Cove ETJ Date: 12/8/2004 9:11:28 AM Central Standard Time
From: RAHOBBSJ To: Ledger Family

Hi - Les, Copperas Cove ETJ Press Conference

I've spoken to State Rep Anna Mowery, and she will be in Austin for a meeting on the 17th of Dec., and can be there for you in Copperas Cove on Dec. 18th.
Please choose a location and time - perhaps city hall to drive home the point. I suggest not too early in day ( 2-4 pm?) - That way we could try to get other areas to send a few supporters and give them time to get there - like Pflugerville, San Antonio, Austin, etc.
Call when you have a positive time and location (817-237-7972) so we can get other areas to participate, they'll need to know soon, especially this time of the year. Post it on the website, and I'll try for some other State Rep.s like Crab Zedler, etc. Let's go for it!
NOTIFY ALL AREA PAPERS in addition to the press release. If you're not familier with making a press release, email Art Jones at TheTimesRecord@aol.com and tell him "Darlia asked you to call." Hurry!
I'm anxious to hear from you. Build our blog: e-mail RAHobbsJ@aol.com
Darlia Hobbs CAFA 817-237-7972

What is this?

2004-12-06T08:18:00.000-08:00

We decided to add this BLOG to the site to make it easier to have more regular updates to the site and for the ease of being able to have more than one person posting updated CAFA information to the site. Please check here often, as this is where all updated messages will be posted.

Darlia will be posting and I will be posting items that I receive in email.

Thank You,
Susan Godfrey
CAFA Webmaster