The Lie of the Museum District

So this spring our council approved a 'Museum District" for a section of downtown and up through the museums and log cabin.  There were articles about it in both papers I believe.

Now before these came to a vote by our council I asked Mr. Bob Burchard about this district.  He very specifically told me that this was a name only designation, and would carry absolutely NO regulatory connotations to it.  I told him I was concerned that this would be used to try to take away property owners rights in that district.  "Absolutely not" was Mr. Burchards' response to me. 

Later that night at that city council meeting Mrs Glenda Gordon told the council that this was purely a designation that would hold no regulatory connotations.  There were several of the council members that weren't exactly for this designation, but felt that since it was purely in name only it would be ok.  This then would go to our state legislators so that we would be designated the first  "museum district" in Texas.  What a great marketing campaign. That's ALL it was suppose to be, a marketing ploy! 

So I'm going to just put it as clear as I can, we were lied to!  Mrs. Gordon, the same person who brought this designation to the council, has since used the museum district designation to try to close down a new business in that district, the recycling center on St. Louis.

Per the Gonzales Cannon - "Eddie Escobar, an attorney representing Gonzales citizen Glenda Gordon" then followed by "“I also represent the museum district,” Escobar said. “We’re seeking a temporary injunction while this case is pending. That is the first step in this process.” - the case is the one Mrs Gordon has brought against the City of Gonzales, Mr. Lorenzo Hernandez (land owner), and the Recycle Center.  Now why would Mr. Escobar represent a district that was in name only?  No regulatory connotations what-so-ever?  Why was it even mentioned in the lawsuit and the newspaper?

Out of curiosity this morning I decided to drive by for myself. The recycle center is a nice, clean business.  Compared to the green giant that stands less than 2 blocks away, and right across from the park, this business looks like a surgical unit in it's cleanliness.  Both recycling, one looks like the scrap yard, one looks like a welcome business in our community.

Then around backside of the recycling center on Darst is a house with "No Trespassing" signs, a garage that is falling down and cram packed with crap, fences down between the house and garage and their fence between them and the recycle center is falling down (I know this is their fence because I use to own that house and fence).  The house has been vacant for years, and yet the ONLY person other than Mrs. Gordon that isn't paid to complain is the current owner of this house (note owner, not occupant, as they live in Smiley).  Not the business that operates every day as a day care, not the apartment building across the street where people live, and the city has receive absolutely ZERO complaints on this property for any violations what so ever, nor Mr. Sam Lewis from compliance control.

So first of all I want to know what the city council plans to do about this now regulatory designation of "Museum District".  Personally I believe we were lied to as to the reason for it and it should be immediately removed from our books.  I'm sick and tired of being lied to and anterior motives for things coming before our council.  Remove the designation and forbid it from coming back to the council.  We don't like liars and we were lied to about it.

In the past we've had a lot of complaints about Gonzales and the need to recycle.  We've got it, it's on St. Louis and working well.  I've read recently where people are complaining that we need more work for our kids.  Where do you think those come from?  They come from new businesses!

We should be happy to see Mr. Peralez and his business come to town.  We should be welcoming as many businesses like his, good community citizens, that are wanting to come to town.

Mrs Gordon can keep her museum district, we don't need it especially when it start infringing on property rights. 

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser