Wednesday, April 25, 2012

What Would Jesus Do?

This is a copy of a Letter to the Editor of the Burleson Star that I know won't be published as they refuse to take political letters after April 24, 2012. However, this is important information that is not available to everyone. While some may feel that "Not in my backyard" is a good defense for homeowners, if elected officials bow to that pressure due to discriminatory reason (which NIMBYis) then they can be sued as well as the city. The officials are put in a terrible position by those who would quote Bible verses on one hand and claim the poor and disabled are the curse of the devil. Do not let yourself be a part of this movement. P.S. After you finish reading, don't forget to read the two previous posts, "Larry Pool and Silver Star" and "The Truth is Free".

To the Editor:

Below is a copy of aletter being sent to members of the Wakefield Home Owner Association in Burleson, and probably others, by Shelly Grant, a Burleson Community member who it is rumored to go by a Face book alias of "Praise Jesus". Unfortunately, the rhetoric used in her letter has nothing to do with "Jesus"; the words he taught or the behavior he championed. In fact, He had a lot to say about our relationship to the poor. I guess Ms. Grant missed those red lettered words. There is even a quote of John 3:16 at the end of the letter. (It kinda sounds like someone thinks that low income people don't know Jesus).

BTW, she was assisted in distributing this letter by the HOM’s management group, DentonCMG. (Who won't return phone calls).

The basis of the letter is that according to her, some elected city officials (the mayor and two city council members) have committed themselves publically to supporting the import of additional HUD housing, mainly in the form of Section 8 apartment housing for low income. She makes no distinction as to whether the purpose of the housing is for the elderly, families, or disabled.

It is important to note that her statement is NOT TRUE. Officials have gone on record saying that no commitment of any kind has been nor can be made as decisions such as, setting housing development policy, accepting zoning requests, giving abatements, and providing letters of support, cannot be made prior to the presentation of facts and due consideration. While there may be reasons to deny requests for zoning changes, letters of support for this and other types of development, it can only to be based on non-discriminatory factors.

Ms. Grant may write letters make inflammatory statements and unfounded assumptions about her beliefs regarding low income housing as it is her First Amendment right. Elected official are not free to act on threats made by people such as Ms. Grant and her organization. They must adhere to the Fair Housing law and do nothing to illegally impede the provision of low income housing of protected classes. By the way, this month is "Fair Housing Month" as declared by Governor Perry. What a coincident that Ms. Grant would decide to begin her crusade on this topic.

If you would like to read a brief synopsis of a public official’s duty to give equal access to HUD housing applications, you can do so by going to:

Should Ms. Grant succeed in her efforts and a future official that she endorsed has embraced her rhetoric in writing or in public; they will have left the city unable to ever deny housing applications that were designated low income without putting the city in a vulnerable legal position.

Is that where you want your tax money to go? Is that what Jesus would do?

 Just sayin'

Ann

This is Mayor Shetters most recent answer to these accusations:
Text of letter below: I received this copy on 4-25-2012
From: "Carter Low" <Carter.Low@DentonCMG.com>
To: " Carter.Low@DentonCMG.com" <Carter.Low@DentonCMG.com>
Subject: FW: Section 8 (low income housing) Location Listings on TDHCA Applications Near Wakefield Estates/Burleson/TX
This email is being sent to all members of the Wakefield HOA who have provided their email address:

The following information is provided by Shelley Grant from the Burleson Citizens Against Section 8 Housing. If you have any questions, please contact Shelley directly at

shelley@burlesonstars.com<mailto:shelley@burlesonstars.com > (817) 919-4982

Also, according to Ken Davis (Pastor, Calvary Chapel Southwest Metro), there is a City Council Candidate Forum this Thursday, at Hill College (130 E. Renfro) starting at 6:45PM. Please plan to attend the forum and find out where each candidate stands on section 8 housing near Wakefield HOA and other issues.



Dear Wakefield Home Owner Association Member:

The purpose of this letter is to send you the TDHCA log information which illustrates the Section 8 applications for the state of Texas which include Burleson locations located on Hwy 731, John Jones Road, Hwy 174, Summercrest and Alsbury Blvd.

In regard specifically to Wakefield Estates, located in Burleson, TX, 76028 the TDHCA log illustrates there are five locations listed for Section 8 application. The five Section 8 locations near Wakefield Estates are:

The 1701 Wilshire (Hwy 174) location application includes 175 Section 8 units.

The John Jones Road (FM 731) location application includes 160 Section 8 units

1300 Alsbury location application includes 120 Section 8 units

1300 Summercrest location application includes 120 Section 8 units

Alsbury at Ridgehill location application includes 84 Section 8 units

In 2007, our current Mayor, Ken Shetter, and the 2007 city council enticed a Section 8 apartment complex to Burleson by offereing the developer a $400,000.00 tax abatement. This Section 8 unit, the Alsbury Villas, is located at 755 Alsbury. As a result of the tax abatement, our city has been qualified for federal grant money from hud.gov< http://hud.gov> that stimulated the five applications currently filed with TDHCA for Burleson, TX.

The mayor and council have gone on record endorsing the Section 8 Multi-Family additions to our city. As a result, the citizens of Burleson have formed a political group seeking to seat a new mayor and 3 new council members in the May 12, 2012 municipal election. A new mayor and council will give the citizens of Burleson a window of opportunity to protect their home values from being jeopardized.

It is our hope that you will notify the members of the Wakefield Home Owners Association in order that they will have the opportunity to examine the city and TDHCA documentation, create their own opinion and have the opportunity to vote, if they so choose to, in the municipal election for the candidate of their choice.


Respectfully,

Shelley Grant
Burleson Citizens Against Section 8 Housing


Regards,

Carter Low, CMCA, AMS
Community Management Group
P.O. Box 104
Argyle, Texas 76226
(940) 464-1107 Phone
(940) 464-4502 Fax
Carter.Low@DentonCMG.com
The views expressed below are that of Community Management Group and do not necessarily reflect those of the HOA Board of Directors or the Homeowners' Association.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~John 3:16

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