Circle C Neighbors

1/3/04
Ken Rigsbee,

At a televised City Council hearing for the Escarpment to Hwy 45 extension on March 20th, 2003, you made promises to the mayor and city council. A group of Homeowners had 350 signatures from a petition drive that had lasted only a few days. The petition asked the city to stop the Escarpment extension and move the EMS/Fire station to a better location. To counter the 350 signatures against Escarpment, Mr. Rigsbee, YOU promised to deliver ''hundreds of Escarpment Extension support e-mails'' to the Mayor and City Council.

This promise, was never delivered from you to the city council or to the Mayor.

****Now, the truth is exposed. During the legal fight against the BOD, Bill Gammon demanded that he see these the ''hundreds of Escarpment Extension support e-mails'' that you promised to the Mayor. What he received was less than 50 emails, about half were for the extension, and half were against the extension.

Mr. Rigsbee, how can you continue to lie to the Mayor, City Council and the members of the CCHOA? Have your years of lobbing for the oil industry caused you to not differentiate between truth and lies?

Also, why did you start the CCHOA political action committee, when having such PAC means the nonprofit CCHOA must pay taxes? Isn't the PAC just a tool to stroke your own ego? To make you feel important, as if you can deliver votes to those that give you favors? How can you support this financially flawed decision that costs the CCHOA members tens of thousands of dollars a year, while at the same time, raise members dues almost every year?

Sal Costello
CCHOA member paid in full

Other neighborhood PACs???

It would interesting to know whether other local HOAs (such as Travis Country) have PACs. They'll use the argument that Circle C has had a ''unique'' history with the city - requiring the use of a PAC to give residents a ''political'' voice. Now that CC is part of the city and the ''Master Plan'' is approved - why still have a PAC?
Since we are now zoned into the most republican of congressional and legislative districts - I have a hard time believing the HOA PAC donations or its endorsements make much of a difference. Why not use that money to go toward a ''pocket park'' or some other amenity the board says we can't afford?
As a matter of principal - I also have a problem with part of my dues going to candidates I usually don't support. What's the difference between this and a labor union donating to canddiates without a vote of the rank and file?? Perhaps there was a time when everyone out here looked alike, talked alike and thought alike - but we all know those days are gone forwever!

Beautifully said...

thank you Sandyowner, I agree. THANK GOD things are changing around here and someone besides the ultra conservative live in CCR.

I agree, lets get rid of the Pac but more so, lets get rid of the Board

Mayor and City Council

Jan 8, 2004
1/8/04
Mayor and City Council,

At a televised City Council hearing for the ''Escarpment to Hwy 45 extension'' on March 20th, 2003, Circle C HOA Board Member Ken Rigsbee made promises to the mayor and city council.

A group of Homeowners had 350 signatures from a petition drive that had lasted only a few days before the BOD claimed people were being harassed at our mail centers. This lie shut the petition drive down as it was just gaining momentum. Neighbors became afraid of other neighbors thinking they were harassing people. The petition asked the city to stop the Escarpment extension and move the EMS/Fire station to a better location.

IMPORTANT: To counter the 350 signatures against Escarpment, Mr. Rigsbee promised to deliver ''hundreds of Escarpment Extension support e-mails'' that the Board received, to the Mayor and City Council. This promise, was never delivered to the City Council or to the Mayor. Now, through months of legal action, the truth is out. There were two dozen emails to support the extension. TWO DOZEN DOES NOT EQUAL THE HUNDREDS KEN RIGSBEE PROMISED.

The fact is, Ken Rigsbee lied to the Mayor, City Council and continues to lie to the 7,000 homeowners of Circle C.

Do not trust Ken Rigsbee. He's a retired oil lobbyist who is easily bought. We now find out there's a new development of 3,000 homes planned just south of 45, with a continued extension planned for Escarpment. The residents of Circle C were promised by our BOD, that the extension of Escarpment would not cause more traffic through the heart of our neighborhood. The City, Austin taxpayers, my neighbors and myself paid over $2,000,000.00 for that extension. 2 million dollars for a lie. Didn't the City have better plans for this 2 million dollars for a road we didn't even want?

Circle C residents are in the process of relieving him and his other cohorts from their board positions. We hope that the CCHOA special meeting that will take place within weeks, will provide us with 9 board members that are willing to sign a ''no conflicts of interest clause'', so the residents of Circle C will finally have true representation.

Thank You,
Sal Costello
CCHOA member paid in full