WHERE'S the money?

Ask TXDot. Or your elected officials.

Then ask your local news WHY they aren't asking.

Remember Fort Worth's Streetcar named Conspire? 

This ranks right up there...

Cato scholar slams street car as obsolete 'fantasy'.

"Boneheads"

A letter writer in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram makes some interesting points. 

What it all really boils down to is, they can't add.  Well, they can, they are just betting on YOU not doing the math.  WHAT would happen if YOU started adding it up?  WHO would the city councils and "news" answer to then?

Ask where YOUR money is going.  Then ask, WHY?

In addition to the letter, here are more examples of questionable math -  having to be pointed out by THE PEOPLE.    Isn't that what a newspaper should do?

From Durango and a letter writer concerning streetcars -

The TRV Boondoggle Drive-In propaganda promoters are saying they anticipate around 300,000 TRVBDIT (Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Drive-In Theater) movie goers a year.

That works out to about 822 paying customers a day.

That sounds believable. Sort of like how the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and its propaganda co-horts claimed 7 to 8 million visitors a year to the Fort Worth Cabela's sporting goods store would make Cabela's the top tourist attraction in Texas. With apparently no one doing the math to see how unlikely was a daily average of around 22,000 visitors to a sporting goods store.

_____________________________

Granger could have said 10 developers; it would sound better. He also said they expect 15,000 to 25,000 residents. Why not say 250,000? That's a number pulled out of the air, too.

Another Monday article said 40 units were sold in the past year within blocks of the Trinity Project. (See: "Rising to the challenge," Monday) How do you get from 75 people to 15,000? Oops; it's "streetcars."

_____________________________

Z Boaz costs

The Wednesday story by Bill Hanna had some frightening money facts. (See: "Council votes 6-1 to close Z Boaz")

The bonehead move by the Fort Worth City Council will cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

How? Follow the money. The current annual loss for Z Boaz is $250,000 per year. The capital cost to convert Z Boaz to some kind of park is at least $6 million.

The cost to run the park will be $150,000 annually. Amortize all that over 30 years, and here is what they have done to you: The 30-year cost for a park will be $10.5 million. The 30-year cost for Z Boaz as a golf course would be $7.5 million. The increase is $3 million.

Spread that cost increase over the same 30 years and note that your City Council just saddled you with $100,000 per year in extra costs.

Well done, politicians. And they wonder why we voters say, "Throw the bums out!"

Maybe the Fort Worth voters should let their council member hear their voices.

-- Ken DuBoise, North Richland Hills

With Friends like these...

WHO needs enemies?

Friday, our Congresswoman Kay Granger, sent a message to her "friends".  Not those on 7th Street or American Airlines, but all you little people. 

We're not sure if it's in response to TRIP, or the Up a Creek documentary, or citizens attending the TCC/TRV meeting Wednesday and asking questions.  They say timing is everything.

All we know is "The Truths about TRV" leave a lot to be desired.  We're reminded that the Fort Worth portion of the Trinity River Vision is $26 million.  That's a lot of money for a city that's broke.  And again, WHO's money is it?  WHERE will the rest of the money come from when the federal portion never comes through?  If not Fort Worth, will it be Tarrant County or the Tarrant Regional Water District?  Ah, yes, that's YOUR money too.

It's good to have friends...

And don't worry, they say the trolley car money isn't coming out of Fort Worth, we can't wait to see WHERE it's coming from.  Yes, the council voted down the streetcars, we've now heard JD Granger and his mom basically say, that doesn't matter.  Maybe that's WHY they want to pick YOUR new mayor.  Ms. Granger also says it will create a billion dollars of economic impact, so if we spend a billion for it, does that make it a wash?  WHO is it impacting exactly?

You can read more about it on Landslide Clyde.  YOU can't afford to miss it.

Double take

Check out the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle and the Fort Worth Mayor Boondoggle on Durango.

The picture alone is worth it.

Streetcars and alligators...

Read all about it.  Where else?  Durango.

And the difference is...

Watching the Fort Worth City Council video from 12/7/2010, we started playing a game.  Start watching the video at 1:49:00.  Listen to the citizens speak and then the Mayor and council.  Insert the words Trinity River Vision for each time the word streetcar is used.  Then, tell us the difference.

Fort Worth Visionary Needed

See Durango to apply.

Top qualification, be ready to spend your own money on boondoggle's...not OURS.

Well said

Great letter in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram today.  We agree.

Fort Worth face-off

Mitchell Schnurman's Wednesday column describes some streetcar advocates as acting like big babies -- since I didn't get my way, I'm going to move out of town. (See: "Streetcar lines now looking like fault lines")

Perhaps that is best because folks like that will not help the city grow. Many of the people I know were against streetcars right now because of finances. The city cannot afford to incur more debt without the ability to pay unless taxes are raised. Continual growth will come with a strong financial base, and that is what Fort Worth has to have.

It is most discouraging that Schnurman's column reads like an attempt to pit one part of the city against another.

-- Carol Graves, Fort Worth

What do Fort Worth and Seattle have in common?

No, not expensive, fancy streetcars.

Flooding issues.

Yahoo News is reporting record rainfall and mudslides.

Still, the National Weather Service says flooding was reported on more than 20 Washington rivers at times on Sunday.

WHO thinks it's a good idea to take the levees down?

Good vs. Bad

In a Letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram today, a writer states the following...

I'm for streetcars, but finally someone had the courage to state financial stability and responsibility. Mayor Mike Moncrief said, "Try as I might, I cannot in good conscience support a project when I am uncertain of the future cost to our taxpayers."

So, is it in bad conscience that he supports the Trinity River Vision?  ASK.

Downtown Fort Worth Inc. Speaks out

Read their Letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  While we don't always agree with them, we enjoyed their letter to Mitch.

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.

No streetcar for Trinity River Vision

Read about last night's council meeting in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Seems there is one item that can't be shoved down ALL the taxpayers throats for the benefit of a few. 

Kathleen Hicks was not at the meeting, she was in Europe on city business.  WHAT city?  WHO paid?

Fort Worth City Council Meeting TONIGHT

YOU are invited.  Be there.

Word on the street is there will be some very interesting speakers. 
We can't wait!  See you tonight!

Fort Worth and the Almighty Dollar

A couple of great letters to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

Not enough viewing spots

Attending the Parade of Lights has to be one of the most delightful traditions our family looks forward to each year. Every year, we have been taken aback by the decreasing number of spaces where a family can throw down a blanket and some lawn chairs to enjoy the festivities.

The organizer, out of its desire to make a buck, has covered the entire downtown parade watching area with fold-up chairs that can be had at a price to view the parade. It's almost come to the point that if the powers-that-be see an open spot where a family has its blanket set up, there will be a row of fold-up chairs in its place the following year.

Fort Worth parade officials, please keep the rented folding chairs to a minimum. We were able to find a spot to throw down our blankets and set up our lawn chairs, but I'm disturbed that next year, it, too, will be invaded with those white folding chairs.

-- Aaron Lopez Sr., Fort Worth

No streetcars

Although Fort Worth has a $30 million shortfall as we start our next budget year, it seems the city needs a shiny streetcar to attract tourists. Our world-class museums and cowboy culture are not sufficient.

With the three-mile starter route costing only $86 million and the entire system $700 million, what is the concern? We can always close our libraries and swimming pools. The council never saw a TIF or a tax it didn't like. The latter can easily be included in the water bill.

In this economy especially, a project of this magnitude is out of the question. Let's tell our City Council members it's time to be Scrooge.

-- Nina Speairs, Fort Worth

Fort Worth Streetcar Continued...

Here is an excellent letter to the Editor's at the newspaper.  Since you won't see it in the "news", you'll see it here. 

Reporters should exercise some intelligence instead of just reporting information.

Today's story on the streetcar meeting said that 2,000 riders per day could be expected on the route from LaGrave Field to Harris Hospital .

Did the reporter ever study math?

2000 riders x 365 days = 730,000 riders a year.

Suppose the fare is $1 a person. That comes to $730,000 a year income from fares. Does that compute as a good business deal?

The reporter should have asked...How will that amount pay for the multi-million dollar investment? If it will not, where will the extra funds come from? The obvious answer is perpetual taxpayer subsidy for the benefit of some "unknown developers" who "may" do developments along the route "IF it is built". Drive the route. There is no room for development except 8 blocks along North Main . Studies have shown that people will walk no more than 2 or 3 blocks to ride public transit (streetcar OR bus). How much development can occur in a 32 block area (both sides of North Main) that makes such a subsidy practical? Will lack of streetcars HALT development? With their greater flexibility, why can't buses serve the area much better? I know the public relations business. Have you asked who is the p.r. agent for this project?It has the signs of being a well-orchestrated PR presentation.

PS. I have a friend who is close to City Hall. He says it is a "done deal" and the rest is just "window dressing". A good investigation would "follow the money."

PPS. I would run a test. For one year run FREE buses along the proposed route. (Free, to offset the inconvenience of not having trolleys) Same schedule and stops as the proposed streetcar route. See if the free buses attract 730,000 riders.  Fair test?

PPPS. Public transit depends on HIGH DENSITY POPULATION.
Fort Worth has NO high density population.

Fort Worth Streetcar Meeting Update

Over 300 people and guess what, they all have an opinion.  Sounds like the majority say no way.  Funny, that's what they say about most of the things that are done the Fort Worth Way. 

Lots of great speakers last night!  Kudos to you all!

There was information in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about the pre-meeting meeting and the meeting as well as on NBCDFW.com.  Too bad we weren't invited to the behind the scenes meeting, sounds like it was a good one.  We'll give you some highlights below.  Consider it your incentive to be informed!  We noticed neither news source said the consulting company HDR is where a lot of the story information came from.  Does the price tag jump from the original plan, remind anyone else of the Trinity River Vision scheme?  We did notice, the majority of Fort Worth is left out of the loop...

Question to you WHO support and want to spend the Trinity River Vision TIF on the streetcar, WHERE do you think that money comes from? 

Fort Worth takes pride in resolving disagreements behind the scenes and presenting a united front. So nobody is talking publicly about the clashes that played out Monday, when about 15 heavy-hitters met in two sessions, for almost six hours, to try to hash out their differences.


Skeptics, including leaders from Downtown Fort Worth Inc. and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, insisted that they were just asking questions and vetting the numbers. Streetcar supporters, including the Trinity River Vision Authority and Fort Worth South, said that they felt ambushed and that the challenges were a pretense for killing the project.

Tempers flared, and some cautioned that the attacks were getting too personal.

We're talking about three miles of track at $85 (million) to $86 million," said Paul Rudisill, a business owner opposed to the project. "When it was first proposed, it was about $53 million. So 22 percent have access to it, while 78 percent will be paying for operational costs of it. That's ridiculous."

"Expensive? Yes. It's an investment for the future. A lot of the things that we do today hopefully will pay for themselves in the future. But we've got to start."

A good number of people Thursday at the Fort Worth Convention Center were skeptical of the $88 million estimate presented for the total cost of the project and the notion of adding expenses during a slow economic period.

One speaker pointed out that the estimates of the Trinity River Vision, which started out at $320 million in 2003, have soared to near $1 billion today. Many others said the project would benefit too few people.

Cleveland Harris said he believed that to be true but objected to the proposal because his neighborhood is not part of the plans.

"If it leaves us out of the loop, we're against it," said Harris, the director of government affairs for the Morningside Neighborhood Association. "They need to promote the whole city, not just a portion of the city."

Be there tonight

Got something to say about the streetcar?  Seems everyone does.

Read the Letter to the Editor in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

Then come tonight and be heard.

Remember as you're reading the letter that not all letters get published in the paper.  Ask WHY?

Ignoring the little guy

Mitch McConnell says the main Republican goal for the next two years is to make sure President Barack Obama isn't re-elected. Isn't that what they've been doing for the last two years?

Now they want to allow tax cuts for the top 2 percent of wage earners while voting against extending unemployment benefits. What is being done about unemployment, Wall Street reform etc.? It is clear the ordinary citizen is a low priority for Republicans and pacifying the rich is a high one. Of course, rich people are the ones who get them elected.

Meanwhile, the Fort Worth City Council is considering spending $88 million on a 3-mile streetcar system. Why isn't that money being spent on roads, infrastructure, paying off debt etc.? Once again, it appears the benefits go to the rich and the ordinary citizens are left in the cold.

-- Maria A. Gibson, Fort Worth

2 Billion and counting

WHO pays?
YOU.

Read the Letters to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The cost of streetcars


"Streetcars crucial to Trinity River Vision" (Nov. 15) -- but for what reason?

Some would insist they are needed for economic development rather than transportation. So why don't the developers pay for them?

The streetcar issue will be discussed in a public hearing at the Convention Center on Thursday. On Dec. 7, the City Council may vote on a starter route costing $93 million.

The piercing question is: How much will this TRV add-on ultimately cost the public?

TRV's proposed cost was $360 million in 2004 and has ballooned to near $1 billion. The purpose of the TRV project is economic development, not flood control.

When the proposed additional streetcar routes are added, that cost will also approach $1 billion. The funding on both projects is a gamble.

Dec. 7 may be "a day that will live in infamy" for the attack on the public treasury as well as the attack on Pearl Harbor.

-- Clyde Picht, Fort Worth

THE PEOPLE are talking...

Read the letters in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Expensive ride

Five years ago, Mayor Moncrief and City Hall threw a party when Radio Shack destroyed the Tandy Subway that moved hundreds of people daily. Now they want streetcars because they are trendy. However, based on $88 million for three miles of tracks and electric lines, these trendy cars will cost $5,555.55 per foot or $462.96 per inch.

At a time when the city is shedding services like so much dandruff, can we afford this? The free buses and trolley downtown cruise around mainly empty while the heaviest public ridership lies on the east side, where the city has no plans at any time for a streetcar. The streetcar would only benefit a limited number of realtors and developers.

-- Catherine Clyde, Fort Worth

Streetcar costs

Seldom do I find myself in agreement with the Star-Telegram Editorial Board, but we seem to agree on streetcars. In fact, I would go one step further. I think the question should be, would having public transportation along the Main Street corridor be worth the cost?

I think the answer is no, but if the answer is yes, you ask the next question: how to best provide that service?

At this point, you evaluate streetcars versus buses. I have seen the figure of $80 million to $90 million for streetcars compared to $5 million for buses. You also have to evaluate how long it would take to get the service started -- years versus months. There also is a big rip-out expense to consider if something goes wrong on streetcars.

The part of this argument that really fries me is people who consider the $25 million of federal grant "free money." There is no tree in D.C. that grows money. That tree is in China, and it will have to be paid back by our grandkids, plus a lot of interest.

I can understand why Fort Worth has a big budget problem if it has spent $800,000 to look at this issue.

-- Dick Deatrick, Fort Worth

What do YOU say?

Good Letters to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram concerning the Streetcar Silliness.  Read them all here.

If Mayor Mike Moncrief and the City Council force the taxpayers to pay for a dream they have -- a streetcar that we taxpayers will not use -- we (the conservatives) will stand up and ensure they will never hold any office again.

Stop spending our money. It is not yours to spend. We put you in office to do our business; to do what we want. If you think this is such a good idea, put it up for a vote by the people.

-- Paul L. Rudisill, Keller