Saturday, October 25, 2008

Where's Joe Crabb?

A town hall meeting was held at the Humble ISD administration building to discuss the 13 cent tax increase to be voted on by Humble ISD voters. HISD includes voters in Humble, Kingwood, and Atascocita.

Facing a $26 million shortfall, Humble ISD leaders had to make various cuts to the budget, as well as place a 13 cent property tax increase up for a vote. Without the 13 cent tax rate increase, Humble ISDs superintendent will have to go back to the cutting room for some more drastic cuts to the budget.

Much of this is occuring as the Republican-heavy Texas Legislature continues to starve public schools.

The main question during the evening was, "Where's Joe Crabb?"

No one could answer, but several people mentioned that the person who was there was Joe Montemayor, who is challenging Crabb for his Texas House District 127 seat.

When speaking to members of the press and spectators, Montemayor stated, "This election is not about Republican or Democrat, it's about the kids," adding, "When you go to the polls, be independent and support my campaign for change."

Of course, let's answer the question about just where Crabb is.

Lately, it seems he's been hanging around in Gonzales, TX at his ranch. According to an October 18 news story in the Gonzales Inquirer, Joe Crabb had attempted to pressure the Gonzales County Commissioner's Court to not place a small stretch of county road by a piece of land adjacent to his.

At issue is whether the county is responsible for maintaining roughly 610 feet of the road which would then give access to land which is for sale and owned by a woman in Nevada.

This issue arose a couple of months ago when county commissioner Donnie Brzozowski asked and received approval from the commission to post a notice in the area saying the county planned to maintain that portion of the road. Apparently, the road has not been maintained for many years although Brzozowski points out the road bed is there and fences are in place.

The sign was indeed posted and Brzozowski thought it was simply a matter of getting formal approval from the commission.

However, that all changed during a commission meeting last month.

An adjacent landowner came to the meeting and said he felt the county should not maintain the road. That landowner was Joe Crabb of Humble, who is also a state representative from District 127, which is in the Houston area.

Crabb did not say he was a state representative when he spoke to commissioners last month.

After Crabb's plea, the commission decided not to allow Brzozowski to maintain the road, voting it down 3-1.

"They voted to go ahead and post it," said Brzozowski in an interview several weeks ago. "If the did not want it, why go ahead and post it?"

"It was a county road at one time," said Judge David Bird in an interview also several weeks ago.
Crabb's neighbor had requested that the road be repaired and maintained so that she could sell the land. Crabb, apparently, only wanted to block the road so that he could lower the property values for his own benefit and purchase. Blocking the road would leave neighbor landlocked.

Ultimately, the road was maintained and repaired, and the landowner is happy.

First of all, let us question the fact that Joe Crabb would attempt to do this to a neighbor. As a property rights advocate, one would think Joe Crabb wouldn't support a government's involvement in a land issue. But it just goes to show that he'll use government for his own benefit.

The next question is: Is he even living in District 127? Rumor has it that his home in Atascocita Shores is all but abandoned; some say in dire need of maintenance and repairs. So much so, during Hurricane Ike, a tree from his yard fell into his neighbor's yard and he has not been around to fix the situation.

Yes, this election is about how Joe Crabb has neglected over 40,000 students in the District 127. But it is also about Joe Crabb's corrupt side.

Really, is it no surprise that most of his contributions are from big business interests?

Joe Montemayor offers change, and he offers much needed leadership for House District 127. It is time for a state representative that is responsive to constituents and that will lead to enhance PK-12 resources; fight to make colleges and universities affordable for middle class families; and protect and grow small businesses in the area.