The residents of Glen Cove will be hosting a forum for the candidates in the upcoming city council elections to introduce themselves and meet the residents of our neighborhood. This will be an informal gathering in our neighborhood park starting at 6:00 PM on Monday, March 9th. All currently announced council candidates have agreed to participate and hopefully all other candidates who may yet come forward will also do so. Each candidate will be given an equal opportunity to speak and to take questions from the residents and other candidates. We will also attempt to make a recording of the event available on the internet for all interested voters.
We held a similar forum last year which helped to considerably increase the voter participation from our neighborhood. Hopefully other neighborhoods will also have similar opportunities, but we would like to invited any interested residents from across the city to join us for this event and share in the opportunity to get to know more about the candidates before going to the polls. (It would help to have some idea of the level of participation to expect, so an indication of your intention to attend would be beneficial.)
The park is located at:
Glen Cove park
Jeff Hagen
31 comments:
One Councilman saw one project as a good economic development issue. The developer took one tract of ordinary land, which was destined for very ordinary homes or apartments. Removing one bridge, owned and acquired by the developer, this land was transformed by allowing this land to have a navigable canal this land became extraordinary. Now this property will have homes 400k and up instead of 150k homes. This price range is desirable from the city perspective because at that value, the city does not lose money supplying services. While those who live in Glen Cove disagree, I don't see the bridge removal as quite the travesty they see it as. The bigger issue I see is that many home owners on the canal built expensive boat houses on land they did not own. When they were damaged, they can not rebuild without reconciling with the developer. The bridge is gone and not coming back, if you think it was wrong so be it, but this bridge has become the equivalent of "remember the Alamo" to a hand full of people who describe its demise as corrupt(which it was not, just laden with mistakes by the city staff). I see it as they were not paying close enough attention. I knew about the bridge removal by attending council meetings, where were they? Demonizing a council person for working to bring an economically good project to our tax rolls is not logical. If the developer built apartments, everyone would be upset about that too.
Have fun at the forum.
Mark, I've tried to give you the benefit of the doubt on what you present as fact, but you are just flat-ass wrong that the Scotto property would have been developed with 150K homes if the canal had not been built. Name one subdivision in League City where new homes are $150K. The TRUTH of the matter is that the exceedingly high cost of the dirt work and canal dredging in Cypress Bay is what buyers will be paying for - NOT a better built house.
Dear Morgan,
Certainly you know that on West Drive, almost adjacent to this property, built by Byway Homes there are about 30 Pole homes that were built so the dirt work you described as expensive is unnecessary. These homes were built sold for $145k 2-3 years ago. Now selling for the $120s. Sorry Morgan, you are flat ass wrong. :)
Best regards,
Marc
Also as a side note, what ever the home owners are paying for, quality or a canal, they are going to be on the tax rolls at 400k or more.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a GREAT fall,
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men,
Couldn’t put humpty dumpty back together again.
It shouldn't always be about the money, Marc. Glen Cove is one of the last great OLD neighborhoods in this city. They had their choice of a hundred other build sites in this town, but they wanted the waterfront and they took it. I believe that they used the system to their advantage. They chose $$$$ over the will of the people that were directly affected by the development.....
I really believe that my points are lost in the emotion and the support of the perceived under dogs in Glen Cove. My points are that none of this was done in malice. I believe from the developers view point he did everything asked of him by the city to complete his vision. From the Council who voted for it, it looked like a good economic deal. Those that don't like the results, I am sorry for. This was not done in the cloak of darkness, just handled badly by the city and the former mayor. That does not make the developer bad or the council that voted for it corrupt. One of my main points is that it can not be undone at this point and the hate needs to stop and we need to move on. Those that disagree with me, I hold no hatred for you and I agree to disagree. I ask the same from you.
Marc,
When given the facts about Glen Cove issues you go away or redirect your arguments.
You need understand only ONE fact.
The bridge deed held by the developer is unauthorized and invalid.
This is undisputed and has been stated by THREE city hired attorneys and is part of the lawsuit court record.
After knowledge of this unauthorized and invalid deed the city COULD have taken possible actions to remedy the situation. However, the city continued to push the development project forward as if there was no problem.
Councilman Cones sponsored an agenda item to lease adjacent Glen Cove property in to the developer and allow him to create a private park within the boundary of Glen Cove.
CC Cones again and again acted for the benefit of the developer and determent of ALL Glen Cove residents.
These actions go way beyond impacting a single neighborhood.
Open and transparent government should not be a condition one must negotiate.
ME: if TC had NOT accepted the $ from scotto, we would not be discussing this today? Its the APPEARANCE of what transpired that makes his deal look corrupt, do you not agree?
Looking forward to asking TC why he accepted $ from developer after stating he would NOT do so during his campaign. Eventually, he will have to answer the question.
Is it coincidence that the contribution was done a year after he won re-election? Was TC hoping that no one would discover the contribution? Again, ME, it's the APPEARANCE.
ME: you and PH have a lot of work to do to get tc re-elected.
Marc - double posting? Shame. I guess you've picked up another one of PH's bad habits.
"These homes were built sold for $145k 2-3 years ago. Now selling for the $120s. "
Yes the decline in housing demand is resulting in unsold houses being sold at a fraction of the original costs. Yet you keep pontificating that Scotto's homes will sell for 400K+.
My real estate broker aunt says otherwise.
"Demonizing a council person for working to bring an economically good project to our tax rolls is not logical."
It may not be logical, but neither is the righteousness of God which is foolish to the World that thinks it's self wise. If there are selfish motives and the conduct is not transparent, then the "good" work is meaningless and should be judged accordingly, for we are saved by faith and not through works. The ends can never be used justify the means. Don't they teach that at St. Mary's?
Marc,dear, for most of a decade, the argument over how residential development is done, and to what degree,has held center stage.
Tommy has always been the developers champion, in spite of the opposition warning that we would end up where we are today.
Your talk about developer vision has become bad karaoke.
The relationship between profit and ethical responsibility has become a topic for global discussion.
The "right" to make a dollar should never trump the ethical responsibility to protect the citizens.
Dear BHL,
I think you have Tommy confused with Chris Mallios.
Dear Chelsea,
You are correct; our capitalist system is being converted to socialism. I hope you enjoy your change.
Although, I am not sure who needs protection, the wild citizens are outside peoples businesses with pitch forks and torches because they are hungry for money, not food. This bridge issue is rooted in the possession of the canal by an owner who wants to enforce his ownership rights as opposed to the previous owner who almost lost his property to adverse possession. Maybe the new President will redistribute the wealth of the developers to the poor victims along the canal, oh wait that would be communism.
Marc Said:
“I know when I say this, it makes the hair stand up on Paul Smith’s neck, but it was a rickety old bridge.” (posted yesterday under old heading of Setting the Record Straight)
No Marc, your comments no longer make the hair stand on my neck. On the contrary, your opinions and comments bring a smile to my face.
You have become only a bit player in the saga of the Glen Cove Bridge Fiasco. Your statements and opinions are without support and are incorrect.
This is an abbreviated response to your ridiculous post.
More to come. Much More.
Marc,
You are slinging wild and baseless accusations like a villain who has been cornered.
There has never been a claim of or attempt at adverse possession on Glen Cove. The documentation does not support the ownership claims and accusations of adverse possession that you speak of. You should be careful speaking so authoritatively and conclusively about things which you are quite ignorant of and about which you do not have the facts.
But that isn't really the issue here. The issue is the bridge. And all of the other recent scandals that have so disturbed the citizens of this community, such as the gun range scandal, the trash company scandal, the city attorney scandal, etc.
Since you raised the specter of The Alamo and are so eager to talk about the bridge in that context;
Remember The Bridge!
Jeff Hagen
right or wrong, they are my opinions and I am entitled to them, yes or no Paul and Jeff?
Marc:
I've read and taken into careful consideration your economic argument on Cypress Bay vs Glen Cove. No, your points are not lost at all. I see it so clearly now.
So I'm going to come steal your $9,000 (or whatever it is) car. I know you'll see what a greater contribution I've made to the community as a whole, for such little cost to only one sour person, after I've taken your car to Orange County Choppers and had it detailed and tricked out. It will be a lot heavier, raising the DMV and other fees, and worth a lot more money, bringing a much higher sales tax when I unload it to the next guy. And that might even be you, after you see what OCC can do to a rickety old beater like yours.
ME, you went from a council candidate a few years back to a jerk, it's amazing what a difference a few years makes. "right or wrong, they are my opinions and I am entitled to them"
Dear LCPD,
Sorry you feel that way. I harbor no resentment to you for your opinion.
Marc
Dear Paul,
Your argument does not hold water for the following reasons.
1. Nothing was stolen.
2. Some owners have told me directly the improvements of Cypress Bay have more than likely made value increases for homeowners, but they have steadfastly said they still want the bridge.
3. You can's steal what you already own, or what you legally purchased.
Peace Out.
Marc
3.
xoxoxoxo, Marc
Sorry, but you missed your target:)
What you are seeing today is a response to rampant corruption. You do read, don't you?
Conservatism relies on the integrity of the business community to be such that it can self regulate. Jefferson's world and the world we live in today are not the same.Responsibility and accountability are nearly non-existent.
The reason I said "bad karaoke" earlier is because you keep repeating the mantra of a doctrine that has failed. It failed because of greed and the absence of ethics.
What's your solution? It was Bush that originally opted to pay the criminals when this thing headed south, and it was Tommy that opted to take the money locally, even though he knew it would look bad. In both cases, I think the actions happened because they could.
By the way, your red-scare routine is a bit dated too.
Adieu
Marc,
You did more than just offer opinions. You made specific allegations against the residents of Glen Cove. It so happens that your accusations are factually incorrect and that you have failed to bring forward proof of your claims because it doesn't exist. You claimed that we did things that we in fact did not do. That is not an expression of opinion, that is a false statement.
Paul Morrato's analogy actually is accurate because evidence supporting the claims of ownership and acquisition that you state has not been forthcoming and claims to the contrary are well known to exist.
That being said, this thread was started to invite everyone to the Glen Cove candidates' forum. I think discussion of the bridge issue is an important element of the upcoming elections, but I expect that many persons are not particularly interested in that topic. Accordingly, I am going to ask that we move discussion of the bridge to a new thread that will be started solely to discuss that topic. All interested parties are welcome to continue the conversation and I will have the new thread up in a few minutes.
Remember The Bridge!
Jeff Hagen
Link to dedicated bridge thread.
Jeff
FYI Marc - those "pole" houses you made reference to in Lakeside that you claim were $145K 2-3 years ago and can now be purchased for $120K? NOT. 302 Valmar is listed for $249,777. Your credibility is sadly lacking.
"There is a way that seems right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death."
Proverbs 16:25
The wrong friends may lead a person to destruction.
I respectfully disagree. I was not referring to homes on Valmar. I am referencing homes recently built on West Dr. built by Bayway Homes. As to my credibility, Call HUD yourself and ask them what they want for the houses they own on that street. Search Galveston cad and look at the appraisals yourself
THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
PROP DISPOSITION BRANCH C/O SOUTHWEST ALLIANCE OF ASSET MANAGERS 5040 ADDISON CIR, STE #300
ADDISON,TX 75001
Property Address: 513 WEST DR
LEAGUE CITY, TX 77573
Marc,
Property values are dropping all over, that is a fact. For you to selectively pick on an area of low-middle class homes while ignoring such facts is another example of the elitist self justifying mentality that led to our economic troubles in the first place.
Marc, you should have stopped completely when you shut down your blog. By defending your friends to the political "death", you are only following them down the path they carved for themselves.
Dear BHL,
I am not "selectively picking on an area of low-middle class homes" I merely used that neighborhood as an example of what could have been built on the Cypress Bay location. I used it because it was new, it was nearby. I was not passing judgment on these homes, I was not making any comment on these homes. I did not intend for this comment to be twisted into a derogatory or "elitist" statement. My point was that, at a previous council meeting, Mike Barber said, (sorry Mike) "homes under 200k the city loses money providing services to them". (this is the number I recollect he said, it may have been $180k) So I assume the homes over 200k subsidize the lower priced homes. Therefore, the homes that are higher priced are more desirable to keep the rest of our taxes lower.
However, I think your advice to me is sound. I think I will take it.
Many thanks,
Marc
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