Patterson Gets More Criticism In Christmas Mountains Saga

If you are one of those out there wondering when the saga over the Christmas Mountains in West Texas will ever end, (never?) here is yet another story on the ongoing ordeal. This time, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is making headlines for–what else–getting criticized more about the deal:

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson continues to block a proposal that could put the Christmas Mountains into the hands of the National Park Service, conservationists complained this week.

Patterson, who is chairman of the School Land Board, which has authority over the Christmas Mountains, has so far declined to bring up for board consideration a park service proposal to add the mountains to Big Bend National Park.

Patterson, who drew criticism for his recent attempts to sell the property to private interests, raised eyebrows last week when he told an audience in Fort Worth that “Big Bend National Park doesn’t want” the Christmas Mountains.

Conservationist Luke Metzger likened Patterson’s stance to “blocking democracy.”

“To prevent the proposal from at least being considered — I think that’s outrageous,” said Metzger, director of Environment Texas. “It’s a failure of government for him to not to even allow the case from being made to the full land board.”

Oh, my. The School Land Board meets again on March 18, and it is my understanding that the National Park Service’s proposal isn’t on their agenda.

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