What do the people say?

Good letters in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

More pressing issues

I was sorry to hear that Rep. Kay Granger and her U.S. House colleagues put a moratorium on earmarks, affecting the "flood control" project headed by her son J.D. Granger.

I sure hope all those people standing on the roofs of their businesses will be rescued from the floods after our most recent thunderstorms. More importantly, I pray that the private developers and eminent domain enthusiasts will be able to feed their families after the latest attempt by Granger's "conservative" colleagues to feign disdain over the rising deficits they helped to create.

This taxpayer's "Trinity River Vision" involves three more pressing priorities: 1) Expand Interstate 35W north of Fort Worth, home of the worst gridlock in the Metroplex; 2) fix Tower 55, a bottleneck slowing interstate commerce; and 3) fund the Southwest Parkway, a thoroughfare necessary to reduce the headache of traveling in southwest Fort Worth and to its southern neighbors.

Solutions to these three issues will undoubtedly benefit more taxpayers in Fort Worth than a lake north of downtown that only serves to enrich a select few.

-- William W. Thorburn, Benbrook

Questionable priorities

In reference to the March 13 article, "Trinity officials say project will go on," let me get this straight: The Fort Worth City Council can't balance the budget and must cut essential services or increase taxes and/or fees to fix our streets and complete our road projects. Yet, it managed to find "68 million local dollars" for the Trinity River "Vision." Benefiting whom? Private enterprise? The son of a politician?

I did not see Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks fighting to keep the recreation centers open. I think it's time to elect a new City Council (and let's throw in a new mayor).

-- Irene Kjornes, Fort Worth