Property rights came face to face with the effort to preserve the state's military bases, and the bases won out on the final day of the Legislative session, effectively killing a bill that would have required people who live in a wide stretch of northwest Bexar County first be allowed to vote before their homes are annexed by the City of San Antonio, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The measure was opposed by the City of San Antonio as a way to protect Camp Bullis from development along the fast growing I-10 corridor that threatened to damage the Army's ability to train medics at the post, which, until recently, was in undeveloped land.
A filibuster by State Sen. Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) went past midnight Monday, the deadline for conference committee reports to win a vote in the full chamber.. That means unless the annexation measure is attached to a 'must pass' bill before tonight's Sine Die adjournment, or if Gov Abbott agrees to place the measure on the agenda for a special session, the attempt to block the annexation is likely dead.
The development is a major victory for the City of San Antonio, which had placed the measure, which was sponsored by State Sen Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) at the top of its 'must kill' list for the 2017 session.
City officials said, in addition to the base protection aspect, annexation of new, generally wealthy area like Leon Springs allows Texas cities to avoid the fate of 'rust belt' communities like Cleveland, which have seen tax revenue slip away to suburbs.. The City of San Antonio also pointed out the most of the people who live in outlying areas work, shop, and attend recreational events in San Antonio, where they use City services like streets on a regular basis.. Indeed, the development in the areas to be annexed would not exist were it not for the existence of the economic engine of San Antonio.
Campbell blasted the legislative maneuver. saying in a statement that Menendez' filibuster 'ran out the clock on the will of the people.'
Supporters of the bill say it is a property rights issue, as well as an issue of basic democracy, that people should have the right to decide who governs them.. At least one neighborhood set to be annexed is contemplating legal action to halt the annexation, claiming an area along US 281 in far north Bexar county was offered a 'non annexation agreement' which was not offered to Leon Springs.