Annexation

TO THE EDITOR:

I live in the city limits of Texarkana, Texas, and therefore not affected by the current annexation controversy. However, no one should remain silent when he or she believes something is egregiously wrong.

Governor Greg Abbott stated my position succinctly when he said that forced annexation by cities —without a vote by the impacted property owners— piracy by government, a tyranny of taxation without representation that would have made old King George proud. He went on to say that while we rightly rail against overreach by the federal government, local municipalities are increasingly infringing on private property rights. Involuntary annexation forces property owners just outside of the city limits to become residents whether they like it or not.

I would therefore urge the city council to table any vote on this annexation. If it is to be pursued in the future, let it be voted on by the people affected by that annexation. I am contacting the councilperson in my ward and will be watching to see how she acts on this issue.

Mary Tidwell Texarkana, Texas

TO THE EDITOR:

To the Texarkana City Council and mayor. You have heard from all of us and others. I’m not going to rehash all of that. I’ll be brief and to the point. Monday night, you will be read a proposal which roughly states the intent of Texarkana to annex our area, our neighborhood. I want to take a minute and tell you, that is not what you’re voting on.

Please do not let what is read in the meeting to mislead you. You will be voting whether to change our lives, whether to change our neighborhoods, really change our families. Because our neighborhoods are just big extended families. We may lose our homes, our land, our neighbors. Rest assured you will be affecting each and everyone one of us.

I would ask you Ms. Matlock, you Ms. Hart, you Ms. Williams, you Ms. Alcorn, you Mr. Harp, and you Mr. Davis to look out in the audience when you vote Monday night. Look at each one of us. Matthew 7:12 —“Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets”. Vote NO and let us keep our way of life, our neighborhoods, our families.

NO to forced Annexation!

Jason Spivey Texarkana, Texas