Way to go, Texas, you can kiss YOUR air goodbye

Just like they did to Josh Fox for making Gasland (by the way, the gas industry will be putting out a film the day Gasland 2 opens) and the same way they did Calvin Tillman for speaking out, the gas industry has attacked Al Armendariz from the EPA.  We wondered why all the searches for Al last week.  Read about his resignation here. We wonder WHO his replacement is, in reality, we already know...

Trinity River Ruins

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram article says it all.  Foreclosed on before it's even built.  Are they trend setters?  What happens if you foreclose on something the taxpayers are buying?

Bank forecloses on never-built luxury condo tower

The Ruins was a planned downtown luxury condo tower with a heliport that never materialized.

Schaumburg was behind several proposed condo projects at that time.

The Ruins was going to be a $48 million, 23-story tower overlooking the Trinity River on downtown's western edge. Planned were 49 units, averaging about 3,500 square feet. Prices were going to run about $250 a square foot.

The Ruins was based on postmodern architecture influenced by ancient Roman ruins and was a sister project to the Summit Ruins, a project Schaumburg had planned at Seventh Street and Summit Avenue years before.

Two way road...

TXDot has done it again.  They found more money.  YOUR money.  Due to correcting their budget.  Wouldn't you like to see their books?

Isn't TXDot the same group that "found" $15 million dollars for the Trinity River Vision bridges to nowhere?  Or was that the NCTCOG? 

Read about the "debt tsunami" being created.  Can you afford to drive on tollroads?  WHERE do you think that money is coming from? 

YOU guessed it.

Two words

Why was the power out at Fort Worth City Hall today?

Per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram article, the answer is - Storm water.  (Did it rain??)

HOW much does that cost YOU in the long run?

Spokesman Bill Begley said the outage was caused by storm water flooding a storm drain and tripping circuit breakers. The flooding required that the water be drained before power could be turned back on.

Begley said the storm drainage pump at Texas and Monroe southwest of City Hall malfunctioned, causing the water buildup.

See you at Prairie Fest x3 this Saturday April 28

Will we be seeing you at Fort Worth's best little outdoor festival this Saturday at Part 2 of Prairie Fest x3?

The music starts on the solar powered stage in the Tandy Hills Park off View Street, at 4 PM on Saturday April 28.

There will also be kites flying and painters painting.

For more details visit the Friends of Tandy Hills website.

Arlington Water

Talking about Tarrant County water restrictions has raised some comments and push back. 

Read the comment here and read what happened at the Arlington Council meeting on the FW Weekly.

Again, we are about conserving water, but still take issue with the word - permanent.

And the thought that any variation from that schedule (ever) is a $2,000 fine is disturbing. 

Also, should we conserve water to bring new people to the area?  Shouldn't the reason be to provide it for our kids and their kids?

Trinity River Bridge

The best thing about this article, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, is the comments....

Wow. three million for a bridge to downtown that does not really dump into downtown. I guess the bridge at Henderson that connects to the old Tandy parking lot (downtown) was not pretty enough. Oh wait, I forgot, that bridge is being torn down for lake kay

3 million?  Ridiculous.  Where's Mayor what's-her-name who was going to stop all this unnecessary spending and get the budget in line?  That's right, she's busy spending the $3 million the federal government just gave her to strip 200 houses of lead paint.

If someone wants a bridge across the river let them pay for it.  If someone wants lead paint removed from their home let them pay for it.  Whether it's city, state, or fed money it's still taxpayer money.  Quit spending it frivulously.


HOW much is it?  And WHO pays?  You already know the answer.

Federal grants administered by the Texas Department of Transportation provided $2.3 million while the city kicked in $459,000 and Streams and Valleys raised $200,000 from private donors, said David Creek

WHO's reporting?

The Texas Watchdog, that's WHO.

They answer Vicki Truitt's letter in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Answers.  What a novel concept.

WHO will they report on next??

Again with Haltom City

Apparently the Haltom City Police Department was shut down yesterday due to a resident bringing an old grenade for disposal.

And, two candidates for City council face off again.  A local business owner and board member and a longtime, return council/EDC member.  Read about it in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

In Place 5, Councilman Jim Sutton will face off against frequent candidate Bob Watkins, who previously ran against Sutton.

Sutton and Watkins are similar candidates in some respects. Both men are conservatives. Both have committed to public service in the city for years. And they agree that policy matters aren't at the heart of their differences.

The last race was close.  A handful of votes difference.  Let's hope Haltom City shows up to vote this time. 

They say doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

VOTE.

Speaking of parks...

You mention Haltom City around here and let the emails begin.  Comments and more. 

In the post concerning "White's Branch Park" (named after White's Branch creek) the cost was listed in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as $1.25 million.  Though the picture we were sent shows a different amount. 

Something doesn't add up.  WHAT is it?

Ask.

And if you missed the post on things not adding up in Tarrant County, read it.