Got Water?

The Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to approve a revised Drought Contingency Plan Tuesday night, April 1, at the 7:00 PM City Council Meeting.  The plan will make the current inflexible designated watering day restrictions year-round, in addition to making other immediate and future changes to your interior and exterior water use.  Some friends stopped by my office Saturday with a document they had to sign just to add a bathroom in their California home.  In California, you must get a permit from the local water agency to add any water fixture, even a toilet, and to get the permit you must modify the deed on your house to bind yourself and any future purchasers to the water agency’s water ordinances.  It’s extreme government control.  I think that is where Fort Worth is heading and will be in 20 years.

Government does not have to be this heavy-handed to promote water conservation.  There is a better way.  I will speak against the part of the Drought Contingency Plan that makes the current restrictions year-round and recommend the Council postpone the vote to consider the Woodard Plan, which is attached.  I only get three minutes unless 9 others agree to show up and actually do show up. They must arrive before the meeting starts at 7:00 and stay until after the issue is decided.  To be safe, they should plan on being at the meeting until 10PM.

Please let me know if you or family members will definitely commit to attending Tuesday night’s meeting.  If they will come, please give me their names and e-mail address.  I must enter their name in my registration on the city’s website, and I would like to do that by 7PM Monday night.  Even if you decide to show up at the last minute, I will appreciate your attendance and support.

Regards,
Blake Woodard

Don't be a Dud!

Come to the event tonight and hear from local candidates!  Ask questions!  Get educated!  Hear what "the media" doesn't want you to hear!

Disposal wells in Texas

WHERE are they?  Is there one near YOU?

Check it out here.

No "news"

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and WFAA are teaming up to "share" news.  More pack reporting, we can hardly wait.

Good thing those in DFW don't expect much in the way of "news".

One of the comments on ST sums it up pretty well:

Not good for the news consumer. Sharing eats into the overall product. There was a time when no self-respecting newspaper would do this. But, yeah, times have changed. I question the use of the adjective "heavyweights" as referenced in this story. The S-T is an okay paper, at best, and WFAA, itself, is not what it used to be. JMHO...

Hey, Star-Telegram, your bias is hanging out...

Again.

We've given them a few days to get caught up on the "news" but somehow they just don't.  We're betting that's why they don't get more customers.

The Fort Worth Weekly and The Fort Worth Business Press both reported on the ongoing Tarrant Regional Water District lawsuits, at the Texas Supreme Court and Federal Appellate levels.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram?  They reported on permanent water restrictions and an eminent domain pipeline that will take water to...Dallas.

Seriously?  WHO runs the paper?  HOW long will it last?

Read the news in the FW Biz Press here -

After suffering recent setbacks in state and federal district courts in Fort Worth, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Texas Supreme Court have both ordered expedited document filings in the two separate lawsuits seeking elections.

“This is very unusual,” said Christopher Kratovil, who is representing the Rev. Kyev Tatum and his relatives in the federal appeal and John Basham and other activists in the state lawsuit. “It’s unusual to get an expedited briefing in one appeals court but I’ve never seen it happen in two courts in essentially the same case.

“I think it shows there are some questions about how the TRWD has been operating,” he said.

“We believe that the federal court erred and that the seats should be filled by election rather than selection,” Kratovil said.

YOU are invited

Bring YOUR friends.
And YOUR kids.
They will thank you.

Trinity Failure

Trinity Boulevard has been shut down in Fort Worth due to 'road failure'.

What's going to happen when they try to move the river?

Free. Today!

Come on out!

What's the difference? Part 2

What's the difference in Fort Worth and Denton?

Fracking everything.

Kudos, Denton!

Thanks for the Memories

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your many years of support. As many of you already know, after 17 years in the Texas Legislature, my campaign for re-election for a 10th term as your State Representative came up short by just 111 votes. The last minute influx of pro-charter school money into my opponent’s campaign through the front group Education Reform Now—run by Wall Street hedge fund managers—was the silver bullet that ended my tenure of staunch support for our public schools and quality education for our children.

Every Session I spent as your Representative we made great strides towards equality and justice for the people of District 90 and Texas. Now more than ever, it is important that we keep a watchful eye on the Texas Legislature. Education Reform Now has a specific agenda—to help private companies make profit by redirecting public education dollars to charter schools. With so many billions of dollars at stake here…what they put into elections in Texas is chump change.

Because of the over $35,000 Education Reform Now poured into the campaign against me, my opponent will receive significant pressure to vote to undermine our public schools by redirecting the money towards charters.

But I am not finished and I will be spending the coming months holding Romero, Education Reform Now and other special economic interests accountable.

Please help me do this by making a contribution to my severely depleted political account so I can bird-dog and raise the alarm about those who see this time as an opportunity to dismantle our public education system.

Beyond that, rest assured that I do not intend to "go quietly into the night". I have ten months left as a state representative and I intend to use every bit of it. Even after I leave office, I will continue to fight for public education, healthcare for all, civil rights and environmental justice as a public citizen.

It has been my distinct honor to serve in the Texas House, even when the Texas House wasn't always honorable. Thanks for the memories, you'll be hearing from me again soon. You can count on it.

What's the difference?

In Texas and Ohio?

In Texas they have dozens of earthquakes in a short span.  People become concerned and call for help.  They ban together and travel to the state capital.  Texas tells them, we'll look at it.

In Ohio they have earthquakes and they shut down drilling until they figure it out.

WHAT is the difference?  Is it companies or politicians?

The epicenter of these quakes was located in close proximity to several shale gas wells being drilled by Hilcorp Energy, an oil and gas producer based in Houston, TX-based in the Carbon Limestone Landfill in Poland, Ohio.

Hilcorp Energy, which is drilling seven wells at the site, immediately suspended all activity at its wells on Monday.

Only in Texas...

Can the Governor of his own state get booed on national TV in his state's capital city.

Texas Supreme Court Agrees to Hear TRWD Voting Rights Abuse Case

For Immediate Release 
Texas Supreme Court Agrees to Hear TRWD Voting Rights Abuse Case

Tarrant County (March 13, 2014) – Yesterday, the Texas Supreme Court commanded the TRWD to file a response to Plaintiffs’ Writ of Injunction by 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 14, 2014.

The TRWD Board is attempting to extend the terms of its elected Directors beyond the maximum four-year term allowed by the Texas Constitution by refusing to hold elections in 2014. Individual Defendants named in the suit are current board members Victor W. Henderson, Jack Stevens, Marty Leonard, Jim Lane and Mary Kelleher. Ms. Kelleher has publically stated that TRWD is required to hold an election in 2014. Plaintiffs John Basham and Texans for Government Transparency filed an appeal with the Texas Supreme Court on March 7, 2014.

"The fact that the Court only gave the TRWD two days to file shows that they have some questions about how the TRWD has been operating," said Attorney Christopher Kratovil. "We now have the attention of the Texas Supreme Court," he continued.

TRWD Board candidates Craig Bickley and Melissa McDougall have continued to follow the suits against the TRWD intently. "The TRWD’s exploitation of legal loopholes is finally getting some attention. I’m grateful to those who are fighting for the taxpayers of Tarrant County. Voting is a fundamental right, and I’m confident that the people will be heard," said Craig Bickley.

"The TRWD has failed its mission, and they must be held accountable. It’s time for the people to decide, not a few crony politicians," said Melissa McDougall. "I will fight to protect the water supply, improve its quality and safeguard the community."

About Melissa McDougall 
Melissa has served her community for many years. She works for a retirement fund, is the River Trails Home Owner’s Association president and citizen on patrol captain. She was appointed by Forth Worth City Council to serve as District 5’s zoning commissioner and also helped found The Historic Randol Mill Valley Alliance, a multi-neighborhood alliance that champions the interests of neighborhood associations, schools, businesses and churches in the Randol Mill Valley portion of the Trinity Valley. Melissa and her husband John have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of two sons.

About Craig Bickley 
Craig holds a degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University and has spent 14 years in Tarrant County working in engineering, personnel and project management. A family man at heart, Craig has been married to his wife Nicole for 14 years and is the father to three daughters. He is active in the community and teaches Sunday school to young children.

UPDATE:  After posting the above press release, we then received an email from someone at the Texas Supreme Court.  Yeah, we were surprised too.  We didn't realize those employed by the Supreme Court read local blogs.  Must be due to the fact they can't find it in the 'news'paper. The employee stated that the Court hasn't agreed to "hear" the case.  Apparently they have only agreed to "look" at it.  We have a feeling they won't be the only ones looking.  Thanks for clearing that up.  In true Fort Worth style.

Going to the Big Show

Not only is the Tarrant Regional Water District going to the 5th Circuit appeals court in New Orleans, they are also going to the Texas Supreme Court!

Both courts have asked for the case to be expedited.  Seems there are some that still believe in actually holding elections instead of letting current board members "appoint" current board members.

Is the Fort Worth Way about to be put in the hot seat for all the world to see?

We can only hope.

Brought to you courtesy of Texans for Government Transparency.

Wanna Vote?

Tarrant County Election News - TRWD going back to court.

In New Orleans of all places, the capitol of floods...

Read all about it @ Durango.

Stay tuned. It's about to get good.

We've had it up to here...

If you can't see where that is, hold your hand a foot over your head.  That's where we are at.  While we were thrilled with some of the election results, we were completely disgusted by others.  And sincerely question either those who voted (what a lame turnout, where are you people?!) or the legality of the election process.

We were going to let it slide, you win some, you lose some, but after reading an article about a vote held in Congress today, and then looking up "How they voted", we decided against it.  We even decided we might run for Congress.  WHO is with us?

Apparently a female Democrat championed this bill (we only point this out as some male Republicans even supported it - this means you have a bill for THE PEOPLE, not a party).  While we don't pretend to know all the in's and out's of it (you can read the bill here and see the vote) seems the main goal is to protect from sexual assault in the military.

From CNN.com -
The measure would have removed military commanders from deciding whether most serious allegations of wrongdoing by their subordinates should be prosecuted.

Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, said the change was needed because bias can creep into the decisions of commanders and that has led to many sex assaults not being prosecuted.

So essentially by blocking this bill, we're telling those who protect us, we're not going to protect you.  And your commander gets to decide if anyone gets prosecuted.

WHAT?!?

Makes you want to run right out and enlist, no??

In our humble opinion, this is a no brainer, so one has to ask, WHY would Senator Cornyn be one of those "nays"?  And WHY would anyone have voted for him on Tuesday?  The numbers don't add up.

Anyone want to guess how our other Texas Senator voted?

DINO in District 90 Election

Dear District 90 Voter----

My race is incredibly close and increasingly nasty.

People in District 90 are getting robocalls and flyers accusing me of enabling pedophiles, stealing from the state and even - I kid you not - a robocall from a fake police officer saying I was literally caught with my pants down in a local park. Then there's the ad from a school-privatization group praising my opponent for being the pro-public education candidate.

We are hitting back hard with mail, block-walking and phone calls, but our stepped-up effort is quickly draining the bank account.

I need your help, and it's now or never.

Three ways you can help:

1. Make an online contribution to fund our get-out-the-vote operation.
2. Come volunteer in Fort Worth Monday or Election Day Tuesday.
We'll be phone-banking and block-walking. RSVP Lon@LonBurnam.com
3. Join our Austin phone-bank Monday from 5PM-8PM:
Texas State Teacher's Association (TSTA)
316 W. 12th Street, Austin, Texas 78701
(Corner of 12th & Lavaca- parking lot entrance on 12th)
Remember to bring your cell phone!
RSVP so we can get enough refreshments at jaclyn.jo@gmail.com

Thank you for your support and beware of DINOs (Democrats-in-name-only) in this race and others!