The RINO's are coming

This past Saturday, the Republican Precinct chairs voted for the Interim Party Chair for Tarrant County.  The vote was somewhat of a cluster.  It came down to Bob McGrath, Jen Hall and Adrian Murray.

McGrath insulted Mr. Murray while he still had the floor, so Mr. Murray asked his supporters to vote for Jen Hall. 

They did.  Jen Hall won.  Congratulations to a local grassroots community activist!  And to THE PEOPLE for being people, not sheep. (Well, there were sheep there but they were outnumbered).

Word on the street is that McGrath has Charlie Geren and Byran Eppstien on speed dial.  Watch out, you know what the old guard gets you in Cowtown.

How much Love?

People just keep asking about the Woodshed.  In a recent Fort Worth, Texas Magazine article Tim Love says he's going to write an open letter to the state about the bureaucracy of opening restaurants.  He says it's more difficult now and "To open a restaurant now is a minimum half-million dollars, probably $1.5 million. In my opinion, that isn't fair."

Probably?  He's not sure?  Isn't he opening the Woodshed?  People keep asking about the price tag of it, since it sits on Tarrant Regional Water District property.

And if you were wondering, yes, he plugged the Trinity River Vision.

He notes Angelo's Bar-B-Que gets it right and isn't going anywhere.  Too bad all their neighbors are being acquired by eminent domain.  He also mentions Railhead, which happens to be Charlie Geren's restaurant.

In Texas, we keep it in the "family".

Guess WHO?

The same Representative that passed House Bill 2639 when no one was looking tried to pull a fast one on Fort Worth hotels. 

WHY?

The Fort Worth Weekly knows why.  So do some others downtown, but they ain't talking.

Is it a rodeo arena or the Trinity River Vision?  We can't tell.

And then there is the issue of who will pay for it. Proponents want the city to be on the hook an unspecified amount of the cost, which could be half or more of a price tag that some observers predict will come in at more than $200 million.

But even though no plans have been approved or made public, that hasn’t prevented the arena proponents from seeking public tax money for the project.

What’s more, when the convoluted description of what cities the bill would cover is deciphered, it turns out that only one city would be affected: Fort Worth.

The bill was filed by Fort Worth State Rep. Charlie Geren in March. No one in the hotel industry — from the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau to local hotel operators to city staff and council members — was consulted prior to the filing. When an Austin hotel lobbyist discovered the bill, local hoteliers were alerted, and most were livid. Geren then pulled the bill, in mid-April.

To Kill a Boondoogle

Click for enlarged view...

Excellent flier.  In 2009, four Fort Worth Mayors let YOU know they "can't" be wrong.  Funny, the voters said otherwise. 

The top line of the "Friends of Betsy Price" is a perfect example of what we blogged earlier.

Kay Granger, the lead of the Trinity River Vision boondoggle, Charlie Geren, the House Bill 2636 pusher, and Judy Needham the FWISD trustee that backpeddled on her gas drilling letter. (The same trustee that was in the news concerning gas drilling about a month ago.) 

So, what do YOU think?  And again, WHO will make up Betsy's $100,000 a year pay cut to be Mayor?

WHO should control WHO YOUR Mayor is?

Elected officials?  Or YOU?

Law of Domain

See Sal Espino's response to a Northeast Tarrant Tea Party questionnaire concerning eminent domain.

Bet those 90 businesses and property owners in the path of Trinity River Vision are glad to hear about the law...too bad the Tarrant Regional Water District is above the law.  WHY is that? 

ASK your "leaders".

Heck, even ask Sal.

Which of the following items are acceptable uses of the power of eminent domain by the city?

___Economic development
___Transportation projects
___Blight
___Community projects
___Other

I strongly support private property rights. Eminent domain is dictated by state and federal law. Our U.S. Constitution in the 5th Amendment has the following language: “…nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation…” Eminent domain under state and federal law can be used to address infrastructure whether it be road, water, sewer, etc. It does include right of way acquisition through eminent domain for transportation projects. Under state law, one CANNOT use eminent domain for economic development. It is allowed for urban blight and parks. Obviously, if a property is substandard and there is a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare of the public, the governmental entity after due process to the property owner , can demolish the structure. In conclusion, I favor following federal and state law on eminent domain.

What's the catch?

We wondered this very thing as we read the Fort Worth Star-Telegram article concerning SB 18 touting Rick Perry and Charlie Geren as supporters fast-tracking the bill.  Aren't Rick Perry and Charlie Geren the ones who helped create the eminent domain capital of the United States? 

Charlie Geren got House Bill 2639 passed without many knowing what it was. In an article we came across recently, he stated Kay Granger had asked for it.  In the same article, her people promptly denied that. Remember what Kelo did...it does the same thing-eminent domain for economic development.  Think Trinity River Vision.

Rick Perry tried to force the biggest land grab in history (things are bigger in Texas), for the Trans Texas Corridor.

We received a couple of emails this afternoon explaining the catch...One simply said, Perry is trying to look more conservative for 2012.  (Again, Lord help us).

The other is asking for your help.  So, please help!  Property owners in Texas thank you in advance.

YOU could be next.

Texas Senate to Vote on Eminent Domain bill 

SB 18 TOMORROW!

Calls Needed

The Texas Senate will vote on the fast-tracked eminent domain bill, SB 18, tomorrow. It's a railroad job. This bill does NOTHING to fix Kelo. This bill still allows eminent domain for "blight" and "economic development." Your Texas Senators need to hear from YOU! Texans need to say ANY eminent domain bill that fails to provide protection from Kelo is UNACCEPTABLE and a ruse!

In the meantime, ask your members of the House to put some language in the House version that will give landowners genuine protection from Kelo abuses as well as protection from stealing Texans' land in the name of a road project and handing it to a private, for-profit, foreign toll operator for 50 years using...

Full article here: http://GrassrootsTexans.net/4011/