April 19, 1775 - Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith of the British Army secretly ordered his troops to take Lexington and Concord, and seize colonist supplies and property.  There are many similarities to what had happened to American Colonists in the early days of the Revolutionary war to recent events which have transpired here in our community over the past several years. 

As colonists then attempted to come to terms with British rule and find common ground that they could all agree and work with, residents here in Cross Oak Ranch have begged it's developer run assocaition, builders, and managers to work together with them as well.  As happened then, happens now, those requests fall on deaf ears or are met with contempt by those who hold the powers.

Ed Griffen of RTI/CMA, the HOA Association manager, came to our community on Friday, May 29th, and immediately evicted residents from one of only two remaining amenities in our community.  For many who were told to leave, there was no explination.  For others, the explination was given as though the community had, at some point, met and discussed the matter and the result was his closing, padlocking, and placing a sign notifying anyone who tresspassed immediate arrest and prosecution.

The association claiming that more than 400 homeowners were in arrears.  Lists of the debtors handed to local armed authorities, and told to stand guard in front of the remaining amenity allowing no-one on the list entry.

This was the straw, in many eyes, that has broken the back of residents here in this small, very close community in North Texas.

The principles in this fight, including Ed Griffen of RTI/CMA, Susan Rogers, president of the Cross Oak Ranch Homeowners Association and employee of Marlin Atlantis, priciple developer of the Cross Oak Ranch subdivision, Bowen Family Homes, Declarant, and Ryland Homes, Declarant, have all deceptively made residents to believe that it is of no fault of their own lack of fiscal responsibility that the community remains divided, and slowly being stripped of all that was promised.

Previous emails promising close work between residents and community leaders are denied to have ever been written.  Promises made denied ever being made.  Residents ridiculed in public forum when expressing support of state legislation in support of homeowners rights.

Today, a new dawn has risen in Cross Oak Ranch.  Homeowners are no longer going to sit quietly and let the powers of those who wield it walk and trample upon their rights.

From the inability for a homeowners association to live up to its contractual and fiscal duties, to local nearby goverments infringing on the rights of those who have no power to elect their representation, to corporations and politicians working closely together to ensure the most profitable outcome for their own needs...  This community will no longer remain silent.

The hard working men and women of this community will no longer be beaten down in silence.  The children of this community will no longer be told this will be the best they can look forward to.

The residents of Cross Oak Ranch are now united and we will no longer allow ourselves to be divided.  We will stand up for what is right, we will stand up for our community, we will stand up for our right to live prosperous in a community of friends and family.

The first shots in this long uphill battle have been fired.  The residents were the first casulties in this fight, but we will not go quietly into the night.  We will stand firm for what is right, and we will demand only what is rigthful in a country where freedom, is our greatest reward.

Written by :

rhantson