Being responsible
Downtown Fort Worth Inc. was characterized in Mitch Schnurmann's Sunday column as throwing "roadblocks" in front of the streetcar initiative. (See: "City should trust its vision on streetcars.")
If the definition of "roadblock" is asking questions, bothering to actually look at the numbers behind the conclusions, pointing out shortcomings and sharing with advocates and policymakers that not everyone is ready to jump on board and roll down the tracks just yet, then that characterization was correct. DFWI representatives and members shared concerns with advocates clearly and openly. We supported moving to study phase three.
But we also were representing downtown property owners who had the streetcar plan in hand for all of two weeks and only last week received the recently minted update. The facts were still wet on the printed page.
If asking questions and speaking out are defined as raising roadblocks, then we need another definition for the word "responsible."
-- Andy Taft, president,
Downtown Fort Worth Inc.
We have a question for Mr. Taft...how does it feel when you ask valid questions and then are painted by the bought and paid for media to look like the bad guy? Welcome to the dark side.
ReplyDeleteIn applying for the Federal Grant, Mr. Taft made the following statement:
ReplyDelete“Fort Worth’s streetcar network will be a strong catalyst for the types of walkable, high-density, mixed-use neighborhoods needed to attain the goal of a more sustainable future for our country.”
What exactly in HDRs expert analysis of the streetcar for Fort Worth made you change your stance that it "will be a strong catalyst" to something that not everyone is "ready to jump on board" with?
Well, I was going to comment something completely different until I read the above comment by Anon. I'll just say, well put, Anonymous, I'll second that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here Star-Telegraph. Good work!