Welcome to Fort Worth....

Froze over…

We usually don’t give props to the propaganda spouting “news”paper in Fort Worth but we are today.  Of course it could be because an actual person (not an employee) wrote the article

If you think your property isn’t in danger, think again.  This is happening all over the metroplex and getting worse.

When those tasked with controlling flood waters say, “we don’t consider downstream”.  Maybe it’s time to give someone that job who does.

Don’t miss this one.  YOU can’t afford to.

Remember way back in the day when we told you “nothing was being done”.  Well, these people remember.

Oh, and one more thing, Dallas – YOU ARE STILL DOWNSTREAM!

Thanksgiving floods took a toll downstream in east Fort Worth

The release of water from area lakes with no warning, combined with the unmonitored impact and lack of oversight for upstream construction and land use, all led to disaster for my operation.

We need to adopt a “no adverse impact” approach to land development and have a flood warning and monitoring system that takes all areas of the city and its residents equally into account.

But between 6 and 7 a.m., we were flooded after only about three inches of rain over a 15-hour period.

The Fort Worth Fire Department and volunteers helped us evacuate our smaller animals. The horses were easily moved to higher ground.

Sadly, many of our dwarf Nigerian goats and their babies drowned.

Evaluation of the damage showed that the water came in an unprecedented tidal wave.

Property owners on the east side of Fort Worth have expressed their concerns to the city and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The river on the east side cannot handle the volume created by the changes that have been made upstream.

Flood control measures have been made from downtown to the Handley-Ederville area, but nothing has been done to the east to manage the river flow.

The Tarrant Regional Water District and the Corps of Engineers control water discharge from the lakes. They take care to protect the houses on the lakes, but apparently without concern for those downstream.

Downstream property owners should receive notification of planned upstream water releases that might cause flooding.

Construction development in the area should be monitored and land use regulations should be enforced so as not to cause an adverse impact on residents downstream.

I urge our elected officials and the various leadership teams of the Tarrant Regional Water District, the city and the Corps of Engineers to help all of us protect our properties and our very livelihoods.

What's that noise?

It's several hundred pissed off people who keep showing up to the Colleyville Council meetings to voice their displeasure about the High Density plan for Colleyville.

So, anyone want to take a guess what the council did? They voted 5-2 to approve it anyway. So WHO is the council representing? The citizens or the developers? (It was rhetorical).

The vote did not go over well, the masses loudly voiced their displeasure and wanted to know who is up for reelection in May. It sounds like you might want to stop by and say Bye to the Mayor.

Colleyville residents angry over housing in city’s future plan

Mary says-

Please read and share!

You Have Milk On Your Face Fort Worth

The disparity between now average citizens and people with money and power are treated by our local government has to stop!!!

'A blog like this' - By Durango

Bertha Will Be Done Digging Before Fort Worth's Boondoggle Bridge Ditch Is Dug.

What does Clyde say?

We recently shared what the Fort Worth Charter Amendments could end up being.  We were curious what a former council member would have to say about it.  We didn't have to go far. This is what Clyde Picht had to say....

Increasing number of council districts to 11 is good. The city is too large area wise for council members to be familiar with their territory.

Increasing terms to three years has advantages for the incumbents more than the residents.

Increasing salaries essentially removes public service from the motivation for running for council. We'll have council members so dependent on salaries that they will go to extra measures to get re-elected.

Incumbents already have the advantage of garnering larger campaign contributions than those attempting a first run for council. Some organizations will only support incumbents as long as they have been treated well. With higher salaries we can expect very little turnover in council members. With that we get the same deadwood as we have in congress. There are plenty of perks for council members that if they can't afford to be there they don't need to run for re-election. Higher salaries are only good for council members, but bad for the public at large.

The above comment I posted to an article in the Business Press. The council will follow the recommendations of the charter review committee especially concerning salaries. Our city council is a policy making body. They hire a city manager and staff at very nice salaries and benefits to carry out their policy. There is no justification for salary increases just because Dallas or Austin pays high salaries. When I served on the council there was enough motivation for public service that many qualified candidates ran in spite of the meager $75/meeting stipend. Lest we turn our city council into a national congress look alike, voters should reject the salary proposal. Even with term limits the responsibility doesn't warrant high pay.

Hey Dallas - You're still downstream (Part 2)

In the past few months (years, but who's counting?) we've tried to let Dallas in on the secret.  But since we're from Fort Worth, they didn't want to hear it.

The Dallas Observer wrote (writes) about that embarrassing Dallas Trinity River Tollway boondoggle repeatedly. Don't worry, we can call it that, we have one of our own, which is sort of the point. 

And this summer, we tried to warn you again - Psst Hey Dallas, You're still Downstream.

Alas, it took a Dallas Morning News article to highlight part of the issue Dallas is facing and in doing so, they lit up Facebook.  People actually read it and are questioning the stupidity of letting a dam in a major metropolitan area fail. 

You know Durango had something to say about it.  And you know you want to know what is was.  

Here's the deal, look at a map of the metroplex, starting at the confluence of the Clear Fork and the West Fork of the Trinity River in downtown Fort Worth.  Follow that through all the twists and turns, past Mary's Kelleher's farm, (that floods) through Arlington (that floods) all the way to Dallas.  Now what's this river that joins it right before downtown? The Elm Fork of the Trinity River.  Now follow that back up the map and tell us where it comes from. 

Lake Lewisville? You get an A+. 

Now imagine what happens when to doesn't stop raining?  After the Trinity River Vision, Panther Island Boondoggle takes place in Fort Worth.  The one that removes the levees and reroutes the river.  (Right now we're just building millions of dollars worth of bridges over dry land and spending a million dollars on art from outside of Texas, but hey, anything can happen, right?) The water comes barreling toward Dallas and Heaven forbid, the Lewisville Dam bursts, sending a deluge down to the same low point.  What happens then?

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers are directed by Congress on which projects to work on.  Who is "Congress"?  Look up "Who Represents Me?" and you'll find out who is making these decisions for you.  Maybe you should give them a call. 

What happens when politicians know many lives are in danger and they do nothing? 

A Dallas Observer article from earlier this year sums it up -

In other words, no matter how you read the news article and whether you agree with it or disagree, it should at least convince you that major urban floods have a lot more to do with decisions made by people than acts of God.

What happens when it's your hood?

New Infrared Video Shows Possible Gas Cloud Lingering Above Porter Ranch

What's going on in Fort Worth?

Durango knows.  Why don't YOU? After all, it's YOUR money.

Another Fort Worth Development Bites The Dust

Should City Council get an 80% salary increase?

Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods General Membership Meeting

Please join us THIS Thursday, December 10

6:30 p.m.

University Christian Church

Speakers include:

Fernando Costa, Assistant City Manager

City of Fort Worth

Mr. Costa will speak about the work of the recent citizens Charter Review Committee. 

The committee has made recommendations on various city charter revisions including:

1.  increasing the number of City Council districts from 8 to 10;

2.  increasing City Council member salaries by 80% ($25,000. to $45,000. annually);

3.  increasing the Mayor's salary from $29,000. to $60,000. annually;

4.  increasing City Council terms from 2 years to 3 years. 

The City Council will hold public hearings on the proposed changes on January 12 and January 26, 2016.  Council members will decide which issues will go on the May 7 ballot.

Citizens will vote on proposed city charter changes on May 7, 2016.

You can read the Sunday, December 6, 2015 Fort Worth Star-Telegram opinion piece about the committee's work here.

You are invited

1985 - 2015

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF FORT WORTH NEIGHBORHOOD
                             
Please join us THIS Thursday, December 10
6:30 p.m.
University Christian Church
Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods General Membership Meeting

Speakers include:
Fernando Costa, Assistant City Manager
City of Fort Worth

Mr. Costa will speak about the work of the recent citizens Charter Review Committee.  They have made recommendations on various city charter revisions including increasing the number of City Council districts, increasing City Council member salaries, and increasing City Council terms from 2 years to 3 years.  Citizens will vote on proposed city charter changes in early May 2016.

You can read the Sunday, December 6, 2015 Fort Worth Star-Telegram opinion piece about the committee's work here.

Mary Goodman, Chair of the Fort Worth Sierra Club, will also speak about the Sierra Club Plastic Bag Campaign.

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FWLNA Officers and directors for 2016 will also be elected.
The Christmas Social will follow the meeting.  Please plan to stay and visit with your fellow neighborhood leaders!

Earthquakes in North Texas

Erin Brockovich wants to hear from YOU!