Don't forget to vote Nov. 3rd. It is a state-wide election. Polls are open from 7:00am to 7:00pm across the state.

Here is a message to Governor Perry from the Surfrider Foundation Texas Upper Coast Chapter -

The Governor Takes a Pass on Principle – And the Common Good of Texas

Surfrider Upper Texas Coast Chapter  For Immediate Release  June 20, 2009

The Upper Texas Coast Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation – representing hundreds of members, as well as thousands of other coastal enthusiasts and beach-goers – are extremely disappointed that Governor Rick Perry failed to veto House Bill 770.

Instead, Perry will neither sign nor veto the bill – which means it will become law. Way to take a stand, Governor. No wonder you’re likely to face a primary challenge in November.

The bill will allow front row homeowners to rebuild on Bolivar Peninsula and circumvent the Open Beaches Act, an exceptional piece of legislation that has stood the test of time and promoted public access to, and the proper use of, Texas beaches for five decades.

While the original legislation was well-intentioned, the objectionable part of the bill – the part that guts the Open Beaches Act -- was the 11th-hour dead-of-night handiwork of Republican Representative Wayne Christian of Center. He tacked on the wording and got the bill passed so that he can rebuild his own beach house on Bolivar.

Christian was recently named one of the 10 worst legislators of the session in the July issue of Texas Monthly. We can’t imagine why.

As the Houston Chronicle wrote in a recent editorial:

“A law allowing homeowners to rebuild at the water’s edge, even if it is restricted to Bolivar, is laying the groundwork for future destruction of property while undermining the principle of open beaches.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

In fact, the issue at the heart of House Bill 770 has been fairly simple all along: it’s the desires of a few versus the common good of all Texans.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, the statewide elected official charged with the stewardship of Texas beaches, understood this and condemned House Bill 770 in the strongest terms, but Governor Perry chose to ignore Patterson and the interests of all Texans.

Indeed, at a time when most Texans and Americans are turning their backs on personal greed, self-interest and shady politics, Governor Perry decided to take a pass.

A constitutional amendment will be on the ballot in November that, if passed, will give all Texans a constitutional right to beach access. House Bill 770 and the slime-ball way it made its way through the system makes it clear why the amendment is so important to the future of Texas. The Upper Texas Coast Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation wholeheartedly supports the amendment -- and hope the citizens of Texas will too.

Oh, and one last thing Governor Perry:

We surf. We vote. Deal with it.

You could have done the right thing. But you just couldn’t bring yourself to do it.

Jax Claiborn
Chairman
Surfrider Foundation Texas Upper Coast Chapter

Check me out on Facebook. Myspace loads waaaayyyyy tooooo sloooooowww.

Last week state Rep. Wayne Christian pulled a sly move in the legislature and created an exception to the Texas Open Beaches Act that allows him and his neighbors on Bolivar Peninsula to build houses on the PUBLIC BEACH.

Surfrider Foundation is celebrating 10 years in Texas.

St. Arnold Brewery

win a surfboard

www.surfrider.org/texas

The Texas legislature is in session until June 1st - which means every Texan is at risk of having something taken away from them.

If you don't get involved in the process the odds are very good that won't be happy when it's over.

So far there has been only one bill submitted concerning the coast. It doesn't look too bad, but we do have some concerns. I'll update as the bill progresses.

Don't know who represents you?
Go here to find out - http://www.house.state.tx.us/resources/faq.htm#who_rep

We have found in recent legislative sessions that if enough voters send an email to their representatives we can actually win.

Get ready. The next few months will be fun for those who take a little time to make a difference.

These guys are supposed to work for you. If you don't tell them what you want they will only have the lobbyists to listen to.

Two-thirds of the Texas coast is eroding at 2 to 10 or more feet per year. An undisputed fact - sea level has been rising since the end of the last "ice age" and will continue to do so until the next "ice age".

Fifty percent of the population lives within fifty miles of the coast. More people move to the coast every day, and because of sea level rise and erosion there is less land for them to use.

Most people who go to the beach think the sand "came from the beach", but in fact it flowed down the rivers from millions of years. But today, dams trap sand miles inland. Lake Travis, Lake Houston, Lake Livingston, the dams block the sand that would have naturally flowed to nourish the beaches. Most of the little sand that reaches the coast is dredged by the Corps of Engineers out of the ship channels and hauled miles offshore so that pesky sand won't hinder shipping.

Erosion coupled with developmental pressure is destroying the coastal habitat that is important to everyone.

Do you eat fish? Shrimp? Oysters? Everytime someone builds a bulkhead or canal along our bay systems we are losing the nurseries that are necessary to the life cycle of most of the seafood you enjoy.

Surfrider Foundation has over 60 chapters with over 50,000 members who care about your coast. Please help us preserve your beaches, coast, and habitat.

For more info and to join, go to www.surfrider.org/texas

You'll feel better about yourself and your planet.

Well, you can. How would you like to help preserve the Texas coast?

It's quick and easy. Any YOUR email can change the way developers on the beach do business. REALLY, you can.

One simple email.

Here's how.

Texas has proposed new coastal development regulations that help preserve the coast and public beach. It is now time for "public comment" - a short time when anyone can state their opinion about government. YOUR COMMENTS will help politicians decide what the final rules should be.

The point of the issue is stricter rules for developers. Currently developers have a number of loopholes they can exploit to build houses as close to the beach as possible. This is BAD. Everyone knows coastal development is risky. Building more houses 25 feet from the fragile dunes is a bad idea. We need a "buffer zone" between the eroding coast that will protect houses, but developers don't want it. They want to sell as many lots as possible. They don't care about the damage it does to the coast and public beach. They get their $$ and get out of town.

Here's where you can make a difference.

Go to http://www.glo.state.tx.us/coastal.html

You can read the rules if you have time, but the key issue is "construction setbacks"

Send a quick email to walter.talley@glo.state.tx.us

Respectfully tell him you "support the new regulations under HB2819" and you "want the Texas coast preserved"

You can add more, if you like.
Public comment period ends September 15, 2008

YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
DO THIS TODAY.
Thanks
Ellis Pickett
Chairman
Surfrider Foundation Texas Upper Coast Chapter
www. surfrider. org/texas


p.s. The internet makes you powerful.

Surfrider Foundation Texas Chapter, Rusty Surfboards, and the Houston Astros will give away a Brad Ausmus signed, Rusty surfboard after the ball game Aug 10th at Minute Maid Park.

For info on raffle tickets, go to www.surfrider.org/texas

The Coastal Bend Chapter of Surfrider Foundation has a myspace site.

Check it out


http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=107564796&MyToken=b372ee7a-13bb-4ed3-adb6-d52cec96deb3