Residents in rural Texas are expressing concerns that a Muslim community is being established near them, accusing local officials of keeping the situation under wraps.
In Kaufman, Texas, locals were mostly indifferent when Kaufman Solar LLC acquired extensive land. However, they are now hearing about a buyer from the Middle East interested in purchasing around 2,000 adjacent acres. This land would possibly host solar power plants aimed at creating a sustainable city, but many are apprehensive about the potential impacts.
The community first caught wind of this project through a social media post on January 30, where a concerned citizen shared alarming news. The post asked, “Is it true that a geocity financed by Saudi investors is being constructed in Kaufman?” It suggested that over 20,000 people might relocate to the area, raising questions about the reliability of such claims while expressing a hunger for more information.
Shortly after this post, an anonymous source confirmed to the original poster that plans were indeed in the works to buy land in unincorporated sections of Kaufman County for the purpose of building this sustainable community.
The source relayed: “The Arab City is real. The school board and administrators know because the commissioners discussed it with them. It seems like the Kaufman city and county want to keep this quiet.” This was later authenticated by reports.
At a commissioners’ meeting on January 20, it was confirmed that the buyer is a group based in Dallas. A law firm is facilitating the acquisition of land contingent on the county’s approval of three new municipal water districts for this sustainable city idea. They plan to lead a project committed to achieving net-zero emissions.
Republican U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden voiced his concerns regarding the Dubai-based buyer, stating that the community needs to be educated about the proposal before any city approval is granted. He firmly expressed that he wouldn’t support a community plan that included mosques or religious institutions, expressing skepticism about the prospect of 20,000 new residents.
While acknowledging that development in Kaufman County is often lacking, he emphasized the necessity for community engagement and dialogue before proceeding with such significant changes. He noted, “If this were a group from New York, we probably wouldn’t have the same concerns,” hinting at regional unease towards external buyers.
When contacted regarding the plan, Kaufman County Commissioner Terry Crowe initially claimed he had no knowledge of it, although sources later claimed he was aware much earlier than residents.
The agenda for the February 10 vote on the new water districts was unexpectedly removed, with officials stating they would return later with a complete proposal for public discussion. In subsequent discussions, Crowe noted that the developers assured him no mosque would be built, easing some fears within the community.
However, critics argue that delays in public hearings seem to indicate that officials might be using time to strategize on how to ease community fears regarding the project’s nature. As one insider noted, “It feels like they’re just buying time to make it seem less alarming.”
Residents have also raised concerns about whether local water sources can handle the anticipated demand from these new developments, especially during times of drought. Additionally, there are worries about social implications tied to an influx of Arab residents, a sentiment echoed by recent controversies related to community interactions with Islamic organizations in nearby areas.
Amidst evolving narratives, it’s clear that many locals feel unheard, frustrated with how officials have managed communication surrounding these potential changes in their communities.
