Dear C. Weed, 

I am questioning your take on the election process. Lets say that two candidates are running for a specific seat and they tie. Now you have a run-off election which requires another vote, and more $$. Tell me how this is better than running at large. Wouldn't a specific seat election also promote negative campaigning? Why don't we promote unity rather than division. Why can't we all pull in the same direction. 

The structures attached to the buildings are a tremendous attraction for our tourists. Yet under our current ordinance they are categorized or classified as signs and this interpretation is what is leading to all the ruckus. I agree, a common architectural firm would alleviate the problem. Your argument does have a whole in it as Disneyland is a theme park and not a resident island. The difference is that it is a "THEME" park. Since we are a city of residence, why is it so wrong to allow our Z&P committee members have the right to review future plans. That should be their job as Z&P. What I would like to see is the adoption of a theme for this island,, just as Santa Fe or San Antonio have adopted. We as the residents of the Island should have a say as to what is being built and how it should look. After all it is our Island. Our residents sit in the power positions, pay local taxes and represent our values. We should have a say and I disagree with you when you think that we should just sit back and let growth happen. What is happening to our Island simply put is this, "Someone else is coming here and place their things in my living room and you are saying that I don't have the right to protest, or to even review what they are doing." Disneyland does have a planning and Zoning committee and they review all that is going on in their park. Why shouldn't we do the same? We are a community and al communities do have and use their P&Z committees for their benefit, not for the benefit of the all mighty dollar. 

Post this letter in your next column, as it is, and see what type of response you get. Check the waters by taking this stance. Present both sides. 

Thanks and keep on typing. 

Shane Wilson

Editor's Note:

1). In our current at large election, you could have a tie and negative campaigning. Our town is too small for negative campaigning. Who you perceive as your enemy today may be needed as your friend 6 months from now.
2). If we are a residential Island, Houston is a small bedroom community. We budget nothing to recruit new residents, it is all for tourism. And, that's a shame! There's been almost as many people leave in the past two years as those who have moved here. We should establish a Resident Recruitment Committee. How about a billboard at the foot of the bridge that says, "South Padre Island, a great place to visit and a wonderful place to make your home!" Unless you and others demand an RRC there will never be one. Historically, the Island belongs to us for about 3 months out of the year while the remainder of time it is for our tourist guests. 
3). An entryway, such as the one at the Jaws store, should be considered a canopy not a sign. In the past, there was nothing to prohibit such construction and that is the ruckus.
4). My comment mentioned nothing about sitting back and allowing uncontrolled growth and said nothing about you or any other resident not having a right to protest. Read it again 3rd Edition. Right of review is necessary. However, the review process should never go so far as to tell you what you can and can't put  in your living room, what kind of grass you must plant, what color to paint your house, the type of car that you must drive, and etc.; unless, you elected to buy into a development with these rules known up front, not on the tail end!

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