Let Them Vote
Do you believe in democracy? Yeah! Thought6 so! Us too! That’s why we’ve been calling out the dangerous and dictatorial behavior of the mayor of Texas City – Dedrick Johnson. It’s gotten so bad Johnson won’t even allow elected city commissioners the fundamental right to debate a huge economic opportunity for the Galveston County Town. And when they tried – guess what… they were threatened! We say LET THEM VOTE!
This is the 1300 acres off the Lowry Expressway and 146, where Minto Communities wants to build 4,000 homes.
A Jimmy Buffett-themed 55 and older community.
They have built successful communities in South Carolina and in Florida.
And they had chosen Texas City, an economic windfall in a town that desperately needs housing.
It was going to be called Latitude Margaritaville Galveston Bay.
‘It’s not just a state of mind, now it’s a place to live’
But last year, the mayor proclaimed the deal was dead.
He was willing to sacrifice up to two thousand new jobs, 281 million dollars for the local economy… but why?
Look mayor, only cows hang out on the land now, it has exponential value though.
The mayor has denied repeated requests by elected city commissioners to even put the Margaritaville project on the agenda of a city council meeting.
“If the City of Texas City can work hand in hand with the Chamber of Commerce, work with the workforce, and work with any entity whose desire it is to continue economic development and growth, then that is going to be my priority,” Mayor Dedrick Johnson said.
That was Dedrick Johnson when he first sought the vote five years ago.
Only five percent of Texas City residents voted to re-elect Mayor Johnson, they are now seeing the results.
“Thank you for all the work you do for the city,” Mayor Johnson said.
The Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce accepted a small business proclamation at a recent city council meeting. But behind the scenes, Johnson is killing the potential for new business they want.
“I love this deal. We love this deal,” said Tim Culp, President of Texas City – La Marque Chamber of Commerce.
The business leaders at the Chamber are all in agreement, supporting the Margaritaville development for folks 55 and older.
And they likely know a lot more about what’s good for the city’s economic future than a part-time mayor who works at a chemical plant and now rules Texas City with an iron fist.
“It’s 4,000 new homes. That’s roughly 8,000 new people that are going to be spending money in our local economy, and my 30-member board—they get it,” Culp said.
“Plain and simple, when you have a residential development, you’re gonna have retail development that’s going to follow it,” Culp added.
A majority of city commissioners wanted to put Margaritaville on the agenda for a public hearing.
The result:
The mayor accused city council members of violating the law just because four of them signed a letter requesting Margaritaville on the agenda.
He has refused to sit down and iron out the final details, claiming the developer wants too many changes to city ordinances.
That kind of stuff most cities would simply figure out because of the potential tax windfall.
But Johnson is single handedly blocking debate, and a possible vote.
That’s wrong.
But it’s just one of the many reasons we call him Dedrick the Dicktator.
The Margaritaville developers are even offering to build a brand-new fire station. They cost millions.
Money for new ambulances, as if the tax benefits aren’t good enough.
I normally disagree with the Galveston Daily News, but their editorial the other day is spot on. Elected Texas City leaders do have a right to a voice.
Instead, the mayor may have set the stage for yet another lawsuit.
After accusing Minto Communities of having some unnamed legal problems. We can’t find that evidence and we looked.
Lawyers for the company demanded an apology, threatened a lawsuit. The Galveston Daily News reported the mayor wasn’t backing down.
But it’s the kind of headlines that makes other developers look away from potential investment in Texas City.
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