You're gonna want to read ALL of this one - so grab a cup o joe!
OK, seriously, I’ve been fighting these politicians/toll crooks for over 3 years now, and I still can’t believe how the people we hired to represent us - actually ignore us.
You might be surprised to find, that the basis for my 3 years of frustration and anger has little to do with double tax tolls. It’s the fact that those who purport to represent the people - ignore the people. That makes my blood boil.
We elect them to represent us, they ask for our feedback about tolling our public highways, overwhelming numbers say no for the past 3 years, they side with the special interests, take contributions and tell us to piss off.
Then I was wondering about that vertically challenged Senator of ours, the one who is the chair of our local transportation authority (CAMPO) pushing to shift our freeways to tollways - you know Sen. Kirk Watson.
I know he’s short - because the day we all packed the last CAMPO hearing earlier this year, Watson came up to the urinal next to me and started small talk about the weather or something. I looked down on him, literally, with a “Hey, dumb ass, I’m your nemesis, please don’t try to dialog with me about the weather while I’ve got my johnson in my hand - it ain’t cool.” I’m 5’ 9” - average height, and I’d guess he was about 5’ 4” and maybe even had elevator shoes on as he stood next to me. And the filthy fool didn't even wash his little mits.
Ok, so what does him being short have to do with anything? I agree, he can't control his height, but he could listen to the public - right?
He could stop the toll plan he’s pushing that diverts $700 Million of our freeway dollars - for Austin toll roads.
Seriously, I’ve heard from inside sources that lil’ dirty Kirk (and his minion former Statesman writer Steve Scheibal) check this blog regularly and Kirk throws a big ol’ fashion napoleon style fit.
So, on with the show. : )
WHERE DOES SEN. DOUBLE TAX WATSON LIVE?
Public information says that multimillionaire Kirk lives 'high on the hog' in a $2 million dollar home at 2301 Woodlawn Blvd near downtown Austin, just a minute away from the Windsor exit off Mopac. Kirk's neighbors homes look like $2 million mansions, but I think he’s spending too much time with his toller pals as his, comparitavely, looks like a high rent flop house shack. The landscape is overgrown and everything else just looks shabby. Really, drive by and look for yourself.
From the side street you can see the pool in the back and dirty bird Kirk has a bunch of junk that is easily seen in the corner of the lot. Kirk’s neighbors probably can’t believe that a State Senator lives in that unkempt house that needs to be flipped.
The honorable double taxing Senator’s web site gives some personal information about his family:
"Senator Watson has been married to his wife, Liz, for more than 27 years. They have two sons, Preston and Cooper. Preston attends Austin High School and Cooper is at Kealing Middle School, one of AISD’s magnet schools."Wouldn’t it be great if he cared just a little about OUR families? Like for him to just represent us - and not steal $700 million of our tax dollars for a plan that shifts our freeways to tollways.
Is your blood also boiling about this crooked double taxing politico? I want to hear from you in the comments portion of this article.
9 comments:
You have to watch those little fellas with the Napoleonic complexes!!!
Your reasons are exactly why I've been writing politically here in Texas for the past 8 years.
Most people don't want to hear about politics, let alone do something active about all the issues.
It's only idiots like us, who give a damn, who stand up and demand accountability to the people.
It's state officials from the governor to TxDOT-type runaway agencies on down-the-line into local government, e.g., see my current blog at:
www.pstern.statesmanblogs.com
Here's to all you do, Sal, for the people of Texas. We need a few more million like you and me and we could make a big change in how things are run.
Your bud,
PS
Back at your Peter - you've done some great work on your Statesman blog against these freeway tolls. Everyone needs to check out his blog!
I never liked Kirk 'the clown' Watson, even when he was mayor. This guy just 'looks' dishonest. And what's up with that silly grin always plastered on his face? Looks like he's up to no good.
I'm following the next CAMPO meeting intensely, and I will do everything I can to make sure I try and get as many people to show up there as possible. MOST of the public DOES NOT want more toll roads!!! Who wants to live in a city where well over 50% of all the expressways are tolled?!?
And Austin is not even a "big" city, yet they want it to have more tollway miles than Houston or Dallas. SICK!!
Dear Big Fat Stupid Idiot Voters,
So. I don't wash my hands after I pee, big deal.
Mike Krusee can vouch that my special purpose is clean at all times.
As for the $700 million I'm stealing of your freeway funds, yes, we need it to toll your freeways. You folks are just not smart enough to understand that we need that $700 million to make the toll roads more profitable for our contributers.
Just go to the mall and buy something to take your mind off it. Hell you didn't think I vote on your behalf for anything anyways - did you? Suckers.
I got to jet, I've got a play date with cry baby Commish Daugherty at Gymboree.
With no respect,
Sen. Kirk T. Watson
PS Keep fast asleep you peons, while me and my CAMPO pals steal everything that's not nailed down on 9/10/07. Tootles!
Sal check out this effort by Bob Hebert, our local toll road crony, and his puppet posters on this news article and thread near Houston:
http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/3323/fha-txdot-to-hold-hearing-on-making-grand-parkway-segment-a-tollway#c017179
People,
There are alternatives to funding roads with private money and the public is no longer buying the notion of either doing it this way or not getting roads.
I live in Cedar Park and rarely use the toll roads because they're
so expensive. Don't tell me that someone isn't making a huge profit far beyond the cost of maintenance and a reasonable margin. (I also don't like the notion of some public money assisting a private enterprise - making public the risk but privatizing the profits rarely produces good results for the consumer; and the 'all or nothing rhetoric' makes me rather suspicious.)
I realize that money doesn't come from thin air and that new roads or
infrastructure improvements cost money - and lots of it. Instead, consider increasing the gasoline tax. Not only will this fund the needed roadways, but the higher prices will help to encourage gasoline conversation. Simply putting tolls on the roads won't work as many people will avoid these roads because of the cost and then clog the non-toll roadways; a problem that will only worsen as the population grows.
Although taxes aren't popular, they are necessary to construct and maintain the infrastructure for a society to operate.
Shannon
I live at McNeil & IH35 in Round Rock. My exit is a MESS!
I used to be able to exit North 35 and be home in 30 seconds on the McNeil exit. Now I have to take the Wal-Mart exit, get into Dell traffic, Home Depot traffic and all other exiting traffic, wait in a stop light, watch out for people entering the access road from the Whataburger parking lot (of course they'll need in the far left lane to get on 35), and then avoid the traffic slowing down to turn at Academy before I can get home. To go south on the interstate, I used to have to take the u-turn before McNeil and zip - right onto the freeway.
NOW I have to wait at the stop light with 500 other cars and gradually get to the onramp for south 35. Now, add to that - to get 1/2 mile on Mopac, which has always been free, I have to pay a toll! And aren't you the guys with the big ideas about light rail?
I'll be watching, because we all know that one's a stinker that got through after being voted down numerous times. PLEASE, NO MORE TOLLS! Use the tax money you already have.
Stacia
I laughed out loud (ok, I really just snickered) at the very personal (and deserved) attacks on our Napoleonic freeway tolling state senator.
Accountability needs to be emphasized to and among incumbent officials. Some TxDOT personnel warrant being fired now! Arrogant self-interests believe they are untouchable as evident in Texas' 39% King Dick Perry issuing edicts the past congressional session. Greedy self-interests are messing with Texas/U.S. infra-structure to the detriment of not only current citizen constituents but also our children/descendants. Businesses pass on toll expenses to consumers so, therefore, toll roads are not a users' fee but are locally infationary and discriminatory. Incumbent officials need to be "advised" and recognize that "highway robbery" will not be tolerated by the vast majority of voting constituents!
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