Editor --

Perhaps you are aware of this, but now you have a face to the cause. Below is the text I’ve been sending to friends. A letter of protest from my husband and I was read to the Shoreline Task Force in September and I have forwarded that letter to the Texas General Land Office (other residents have done the same). Thank you to Island Matters for keeping all of this (and other important SPI news) in the spot light.

Below there is a petition that you can choose to sign or not. I’m writing it to you because you know my love for South Padre and its role in my and my family’s life.

The Island has been slowly but surely putting parking lots (and more) on the beach to make the Island more “welcoming” to visitors. In order to do this, natural dunes that act as barriers during storms and are the homes to a bounty of natural wildlife have been destroyed.

As a family, we have protested this in the past, my Dad being the line leader to that protest. Well, now it’s my turn. The Island is proposing to destroy the natural dune scape in front of our home to put in a parking lot and restrooms. There are many other solutions, so we are expressing our disappointment. This petition is one of our final efforts. If you feel so moved, please follow the link to sign. Thank you for your consideration. ?

Andrea Sears Andrews, island property owner

[Island Matters is following this story]