It would be a pleasure and an honor to have you and Ray along side as we continue our fight to protect the beloved Hill Country
Willie,Most folks think of you as an American country singer-songwriter, author, poet, actor and music icon. While I enjoy your wide range of music and appreciate your special talent, I think of you more as someone who cares about people and the world around you, and who uses your talents to benefit both...such as Farm Aid, UNICEF and your many other efforts.
I grew up on a farm not far from Abbott (Lancaster), where I played a guitar, sort of, and sang to the cows. It really is a small world.
I believe the only mistake you made was supporting Kinky Friedman's campaign in the 2006 Texas gubernatorial election. It helped get Rick Perry reelected governor.
You are three years older than me, but I have quietly thought of you as a compadre who represents the best of mankind.
I know you can't help everyone, but I also know how much you love the Hill Country, so I'm bringing a special local tragedy in the making to your attention.
The Belterra 2,000 home subdivision along US 290 out toward Dripping Springs has managed to obtain a precedent setting permit to discharge treated sewage effluent directly into a Hill Country stream, Bear Creek, instead of using subsurface drip irrigation as originally permitted.
For more than three years, many who cherish our Hill Country have petitioned the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (including a contested case hearing) not to issue such a precedent setting permit, but Perry's developer friends got their way. This permit was challenged by downstream property owners, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, the cities of Austin and Dripping Springs, Hays County and numerous non-profit organizations like ours and many individuals. We made a strong and expensive scientific case but politics prevailed.
We are now taking the TCEQ decision to district court (see attached petition) on behalf of all Hill Country residents, and expect to incur additional legal fees of about $15,000.
Can you help us? What a public statement it would be to have Willie Nelson and your buddy Ray Benson perform a benefit concert at the Nutty Brown Cafe, or in an open field adjoining Bear Creek to help cover legal costs and draw wider public attention to this precedent setting permit. First Bear Creek, then our other Hill Country streams will be polluted. What a new dimension you and Ray would bring to this grassroots effort of saying, "Welcome to Hill Country, but don't spoil it."
It would be a pleasure and an honor to have you and Ray along side us as we continue our fight to protect the beloved Hill Country. It's about saving our Hill Country. Please consider helping in any way that you can.
Charles O'Dell, Ph.D.
President
Hays Community Action Network (HaysCAN)
codell@austin.rr.com
4 comments:
Charles,
As much as I may disagree with you at times, this is a good letter. Respectful. Is this a new tone that we can expect from you? I appreciate sarcasm as much as the next guy, but there are times that you are over the top. Keep up the new tone.
Charles,
Here's 1 vote for the old tone.
mega dittoes to Mr. Burros
Hey Anonymous #1, "Respectful", you say? What's so respectful about all the dirty tricks some of those politicians on the commissioners court, namely Will "The Shill" Conley and his mentor Jeff "Bullcorn" Barton are constantly trying to pull on the taxpayers of Hays County? ODell, I say keep kicking arse first with total irreverence, then say thanks. I hope Uncle Willie will join you in your good and worthy cause. I like your letter.
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