THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Fall 2018 39 TheCoastalBend.com tion was whether Mr. Blackard would in some way coerce the Nueces County Ap- praisal District into freezing property taxes that were sure to increase, as the value of her property increased. Ms. Jordan did not offer an answer, but committed to directing her question to Mr. Blackard, who called Gilson personally soon thereafter. In their conversation, Blackard offered to pay Gilson’s increased taxes as her prop- erty appreciated in value due to the construction of Barisi Village—if—he could keep the increase in value if she ever sold. She declined his offer. So, the simplest and most obvious question to attorney Gilson and her three plaintiffs, one of whom is her father and none of whom is a Scanio, is, “Does prop- erty value matter to you?” To answer yes, having acknowledged that Barisi Village will increase the value of adjacent homes, says that despite an increase in value, the trouble and inconve- nience that would come with the village would create a worse way of life than Wild Kingdom does now. In other words, their personal (selfish?) preferences are more important than the home values of hundreds of their neighbors. This would lead to the most honest answer: No. Property value is of no conse- quence to the plaintiffs still opposing Barisi Village. It has fallen. It will continue to fall. And they are perfectly happy with property values for everyone who owns there continuing to fall. Too bad. That is the honest answer that they will not say. How do we know? We asked Gay Gilson that precise question. She changed the subject and acted like she did not hear the question. Tells you everything you need to know, whether the real motive is uncovered or not. More revealing than avoiding tough questions, that if answered honestly would expose their self-serving motives, is the opposition’s use of disinformation and dishonest propaganda. In May 2014, concern over the specifics of the Barisi Village pro- posal were conveyed by Frank Scanio III and his attorney, hired to outline worries over building covenants, antennae, student hous- ing, public facilities and every possible pitfall that could be imag- ined as attached to the development. During this period, Blackard was delivering design and building specifics for Barisi Village to neighbors, the City of Corpus Christi, and all concerned parties, while at the same time ushering a bill through the Texas Legisla- ture that would give homeowners the right to vote to change deed restrictions, allowing the redevelopment of closed golf courses anywhere in the state. Democracy—what a concept. In 2015, Chapter 213 of the Texas Property Code passed unan- imously—yes, by all elected Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature—and signed into law by Gov. Abbott. The Scanio/ Gilson opposition group hired their own lobbyist in Austin to fight the bill and achieved zero support. As the controversy over Barisi Village evolved into a political campaign to win the votes of adjacent homeowners, the newly orga- nized opposition group, dubbed Concerned Pharaoh Valley Homeowners, formulated and deploying a campaign of innuendo and implied personal attacks against fellow homeowners, the owner of the golf course, and Blackard Development. They also developed legal strategies that have proven as dubious and ineffective as their lob- bying effort in the legislature. Twenty-six homeowners attached their names to the statement of opposition to Barisi Village posted in 2015 on the group’s now-defunct website. Only one plaintiff, however, Mr. Francis Garrigues, was named in the federal lawsuit that argued that Chapter 213, which allowed the vote on changing deed restrictions, was unconsti- tutional. It was summarily dismissed. Three plaintiffs, Claude Gilson (attorney Gay Gilson’s father), Garrigues, and Ms. Barbara Smith were named in the state lawsuit that was dismissed in May. The defendants were awarded more than $100,000 in at- torneys’ fees by the court, a large expense tacked on to an amount certain to exceed an additional $100,000 for attorneys hired to that point, plus more to come. The group—someone in the group—someone with very deep pockets, proud to champion the cause of obstructing the will of middle-class homeowners in an effort to depress their home values and their generally modest wealth—has been writing I Homes at Adriatica, the sister property of BarisiVillage, range from $2 million estates of over 6,500 sq. ft., to one bed/one bath apartments of 777 sq. ft. for $950 per month.