When will 820 be complete?

Better yet, what's it going to cost YOU?

Those lanes in the center of the picture above are what the new "managed lanes" will look like.  What is a "managed lane"?  Read it and weep...

Managed lanes are toll lanes in the middle of an existing freeway, unlike traditional turnpikes that are brand new roads where every lane is tolled. Congestion pricing is where the toll rate varies based on the level of traffic using the road. If the speed of traffic slows below 50 MPH, Cintra can hike the toll rates for the purpose of bumping cars out of the lanes in order to guarantee a speed of 50 MPH. So the price of the toll varies based on the time of day.

Since it costs so much to drive in those lanes, people can't afford it.  So what is the Spanish company that owns them doing?  Partnering with people like the NCTCOG to use taxpayer dollars and make commercials.  Not to worry, they say it's "educational". 

Where does Texas rank in schools again?

Pay attention, people. 

See the article on the Cintra commercials here.  And here's a good take on the Terri Hall meeting from last week. 

Notice the names of the players never change. 

TxDOT and the North Texas Council of Governments (NTCOG) and its Regional Transportation Council have been promoting the contest using taxpayer resources. Amanda Wilson, Communications Supervisor for the Transportation Division of the NTCOG said the contest is also “an educational effort, not just naming the lanes.”

Still don't believe it?  Check out the North Tarrant Express site.  Read between the lines.  You'll see it.

Water is priceless

WHAT will it cost YOU?

A letter from a Fort Worth resident to the City Council.

We're on the edge of our seat, awaiting their response.

For years the Gas Drilling Industry has  assured you and me that drilling is perfectly safe and the aquifers are 100% protected from the industry contaminating them.

What if they are wrong?  

Fort Worth Mayor and City Council

There are very few aquifers in this area and if one or more is contaminated where do we get water to drink?  There is not an answer for that.  We don't have extra water sources and even the ones we have now are depleted to a dangerous low.  If an aquifer is contaminated, will the drilling company supply us with water to drink, bath and wash our cars?  That is not very likely, in fact they will stall and remind everyone that the gas drilling industry is protected by the U.S. Government, because they (the gas drilling industry) are exempt from the clean air and water act.  Right now our political leaders are taking risks with our water supply without a back-up plan with absolutely no alternate plan for the residents.

Back to my original question, what if the Industry is wrong?  It seems they are wrong more and more often and this isn't something that can be fixed.   Of course their response is always the same, well, there isn't any documented proof.  The industry says it wont happen.

The EPA has proof it has already happened. 

Human error occurs, mechanical things wear out and break, earthquakes happen, lightening and tornadoes happen, companies take short-cuts.  Things happen.

Once an aquifer is contaminated with drilling chemicals that contain cancer causing compounds the aquifer is destroyed.  There is no fix, there is no re-do and, I am sorry from politicians will not be acceptable.

There are three things that are absolute needs for humans, one is air, then water along with food, which also requires water and air.

There is only one water and there is no replacement..  We must protect it at all cost, because Water is priceless.

YOU pay

Over and over again.

Teri Hall and TURF spell it out for you, the Dallas Observer lays it out for you.

WHO's involved?  Oh yes, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Army Corp of Engineers, TXDOT and the Trinity River.  No, not Fort Worth, this time in Dallas.  YOU get the drift...and the shaft.

Notice how the cost escalates, as usual.

It's a total OUTRAGE to build this road 100% with federal and state tax money and then charge drivers a toll, a second tax, to use it! This is a tax grab, plain & simple.

But he didn't need to make much of a case; as Michael Morris, the head of transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and TxDOT and city officials explained earlier this week, the Horseshoe Project is a slam-dunk. The $700 million is there, courtesy the state Legislature and myriad other funding sources that will pay for the bridges -- the other two Calatravas the city so desperately wants running over the Trinity River, for which there's $92 million in federal funds. (Pensock did say, at one point, that the project will more than likely cost closer to $800 million when it's wrapped in five years, fingers crossed.)

There are, of course, a few issues to deal with before the traffic jam, including finishing a design and getting a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, since, as Pensock said, the bridges go over the levees, which presents "a particularly sticky issue due to flooding.

"I don't know if we'll ever be able to truly solve congestion in Dallas." 

Dear Texas Attorney General

It seems some in Tarrant County might need to be taken out behind the Woodshed...

The citizens have taken a special interest in the new Tim Love restaurant on the banks of the Trinity River. They seem to have issue with WHERE all this public money for private profit is coming from.  THEM.

Check out the latest on Durango.  Then, sit tight, more to come.

Beale also told me that the Woodshed cost $1.2 million and that currently three entities, (Tim Love, Tarrant Regional Water District and Trinity River Vision Authority) are at odds over something, which is why the Woodshed sits on the bank of the Trinity River, unopened.

Perry Polls

The media is saying Rick Perry dropped 10 points in the polls.

Maybe some folks picked up the Fort Worth Weekly Best of 2011 edition.  While the critics chose another of our local/Washington politicians (Kay Granger) for The Politician most likely to sell grandma to the highest bidder, the readers of Fort Worth chose Rick Perry. 

If the citizens of one of the largest cities in your state think you'll sell them out, WHY would the rest of the country want you for President?

Money Pit

Fort Worth Fire Training Center

Two years ago, Clyde Picht asked WHO was going to pay to move the Fort Worth Police and Fire Training Academy that needs to be moved because of Trinity Uptown and the Trinity River Vision.

Think he knew the answer?

YOU do.

Fracing up the river...

Seems we've mentioned this before...

Gas drillers removing water from OUR rivers and creeks.  Ultimately, WHO pays?  YOU do.

Read about it on FWCANDO.  Then, DO something.

Now, in the middle of a record-breaking drought and with the blessing of the Fort Worth Mayor and City Council, Chesapeake is preparing to frack the well with water from the river. As of last week, they began ramming water-sucking pipes through the park, right next to the duck pond and playgrounds where children play.

Hey Brother, can you spare some outrage?

FBI Warning

Special Agent in Charge Robert Casey told NBC 5 that federal agents are pushing to curb public corruption and that "there should be some nervous people if they're doing something wrong."

This was after they showed up at the Dallas County District Attorney's office this morning. 

Wonder WHO's next? 

Read more about it on NBC.com.

Save OUR water

The gas drillers need it.

The Tarrant Regional Water District (same district that just put on the fireworks display in Fort Worth with Chesapeake, how much did that cost YOU?) says they will have to place restrictions on water soon.

You can read about it in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  And what did Durango have to say?

Yesterday, in the short distance I drove by the Trinity River, I saw 3 instances of multiple pipelines sucking water out of the Trinity River by Barnett Shale Natural Gas Drillers.

In June Fort Worth broke its water use record, using an all-time high of 8 billion gallons.

How many of those gallons were injected into natural gas wells, I could not help but wonder?

No mention was made, in the article, about the drought, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, regarding the fact that a new heavy user of water has moved into town in recent years. One would think mention of this would be made in an article about the local water woes.

Here's a thought, tell the drillers to bring their own water. And take their flow back, back with them. 

Remember in the good ol' days when our slogan was "don't mess with Texas".  Unfortunately these days, that cowboy is all hat.

Up on the Hill

For days now Durango has been scoping out the pre-drilling activities taking place near what's known as Broadcast Hill on the Tandy Hills of Fort Worth.

Now the council has voted unanimously to give an existing Fort Worth business a tax abatement to move to another location in Fort Worth.  Read about it in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  You have to read it to believe it.

So Channel 5 moves their station, Fort Worth keeps the land and mineral rights, and gives NBC 5 a tax abatement.  Yet we can't find the money to help companies who have spent decades creating business, jobs and revenue in Fort Worth?  Or to keep Arlington Heights from flooding?  Or to fix any roads?  Or to have adequate emergency services north of the loop?

Scarth and other council members pledged that the neighborhood will fully vet the land use.

Didn't they pledge Riverside Park wouldn't be flooded if the neighbors didn't want to as well?  What happened to that pledge?  Wasn't Scarth the councilman with some conflict of interest issues?  See why YOU should vote?

Something smells fishy.  It ain't just the Trinity River.

If your friends jumped off a bridge...

Would you?

With the Trinity River Vision Authority tube the Trinity Happy Hour float kicking off today, we thought it was appropriate to remind you WHY you don't want in the Trinity River.
Next time the Tarrant Regional Water District or the Trinity River Vision Authority tells you to "jump on in" or Tube the Trinity River, remember this...and this...and this.

Don't buy the BS.  YOU can't afford it.

We like the new Tarrant Regional Water District logo.  (Wonder what that rebranding cost YOU?)  Looks a lot like the Trinity River Improvement Partnership logo.  We're sure it's just a coiencidence.

Fort Worth Ethics

Don't worry, we still don't have any.  And they are looking to change what we do have...

Don't forget there are still questions on the legality of HOW the new ethics committee was formed in the first place.

Attend the meeting.  Be heard, or continue to be sheep.

Some interesting comments from THE PEOPLE in Fort Worth.  You know, the ones the Ethics Committee is supposed to look out for.

What are the proposed amendments? Is it a rehash of the same ones proposed before, that violated State Law?

Has anyone received any information on the meeting regarding the Fort Worth Code of Ethics changes? Despite Ethics Committee member Jim Lanes request for interested individuals to be informed on these matters, it seems the City of Fort Worth leadership chooses to keep people in the dark as usual. It would also seem this matter should be postponed until after the Election.

ETHICS REVIEW COMMITTEE
AGENDA
Thursday, June 9, 2011
2:00 P.M.

City Hall, City Manager’s Large Conference Room (Room 380), City Hall,
1000 Throckmorton, Fort Worth, Texas 76102
___________________________________________________

1. Call to Order/Welcome - Robert Aldrich, Chair
2. Approve Minutes of April 29, 2011 Meeting - Robert Aldrich, Chair
3. Discussion and Review of Proposed Amendments to the City’s Ethics Code - Sarah Fullenwider, City Attorney, Peter Vaky, Deputy City Attorney
4. Citizen Comments (5 minute limit per speaker) - Robert Aldrich, Chair
5. Future Agenda Items - Committee
6. Next Meeting – To be Discussed
7. Adjournment

Good ol' boys...

The women are coming for you.  It ain't just Wendy Davis.  Last night a Dallas County Commissioner stormed out of a meeting in which the redistricting map was changed at the last minute.

While we don't usually agree with storming out of a meeting, or the politics involved in redistricting, we salute Maurine Dickey for standing up and saying what THE PEOPLE needed to hear.  If more politicians did so, they wouldn't need to worry as much about being reelected.

Check it out on NBCDFW.com.

No wonder

Argyle needed a website.  Seems they need some council members that aren't in Junior High as well.  You wouldn't believe it unless you see it, check it out on TXSharon. 

Think it's not going on in your town?  Attend a city council meeting...you'll see.

Trinity River Vision Eminent Domain and Stability

Seems they are just now testing the stability of the Trinity River bottom for flood gates.  Shouldn't that have been done early on in the game?  Shouldn't that have been done before displacing 90 long time property owners?  Or committing the taxpayers to a billion dollars without a say?  WHO is managing this project?

What will the cost be when it's determined unstable? 

What will the cost be when the "leaders" of the project are?

Unlike the Trinity River Vision Wakeboard article in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram, this one did have the standard line of Trinity River Vision "flood control"...guess it's only a flood control project when they're taking someones property or taking money from the Federal Government.  What happens when they say no? WHO PAYS?

Say it ain't so...

Rick Perry has said repeatedly he wasn't running for President.  Like Kay Bailey Hutchison, seems he is changing his tune.  He says, he "is going to think about it.  He thinks about a lot of things". 

It's the Fort Worth, uh, Texas way.  We need a new way in a bad way. 

Read about it on CBSDFW.

Life in the Fast Lane

Kathleen Hicks, Fort Worth City Council woman sporting a JUDGE license plate on her Porsche.  Yes, we said Porsche.  And no, we don't know how a council woman in Fort Worth affords one.

Her supporters talk about what she has done in the district, like getting fancy lights.  What about the dark neighborhoods?  The ones that there are no money for lights? 

WHO has the story?  CBS 11.  YOU don't want to miss it.

ANY Truths about Trinity River Vision?

Interesting article on Durango about the Trinity River Vision Citizen's Committee.  How many are average citizens with no political or financial stake?  We couldn't find one, can YOU?

Friends with Money...

YOUR money.

Durango has something to say about that.  Don't miss it.  Obviously, you already missed the vote.

So. These were not actually votes on the TRV Boondoggle. And, a vote in 2004, on a bond program worth only $4.5 million, is the vote that TRVB proponents cite as indicating the Fort Worth public's support for the almost $1 billion Trinity River Vision Boondoggle?

Apparently I missed the connection between these two bond votes and the TRVB. I suspect I was not the only one who missed the connection, even if I am more dense than most.

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.