Spin Doctors

A line about the TRWD altercation in the Fort Worth Business Press article made us LOL.

“Staff members confirmed that Mr. Oliver did not raise his voice during that discussion,” according to the district statement.

So the Water District's take on it (through their paid spokesperson) is- Staff members WHO report TO Mr. Oliver say THEIR BOSS didn't raise his voice.

WHAT else would they say??

They don't want to be yelled at. He's the boss.

Duh.

TONIGHT!

Dear friend of my Dad:

How do you like being told which two days per week you can water? It's about to get worse if you don't get involved. The City of Fort Worth says a survey proves that citizens overwhelmingly support making these restrictions year-round, even if the lakes are overflowing. Their survey was misleading, not even asking specifically about "designated watering days."

Now the city is trying to add fmiher supp01i to their idea of year-round water restrictions by having two public forums that are tightly scripted. The first forum in North Fort Worth on Tuesday night, June 25, attracted only 13 citizens and about 25 to 30 city staffers and paid vendors. The city undoubtedly will use the opinions of those 13 people, filtered through the meeting's controlled small group format, to justify their position.

The second forum is Thursday night, June 27:
Refreshments: 6:00PM
Meeting: 6:30 to 8:30PM
Unity Church of Fort Worth
5051 Trail Lake Drive

I will be at Thursday's forum and am asking you to sacrifice an evening to attend. With light attendance expected, your attendance could play a big part not only in stopping the idea of year-round water restrictions (which would be among the harshest in the nation) in their tracks but also rolling back the current restrictions to make them more flexible and compatible with sound water conservation principles.

Above is part of my analysis of Designated Watering Days and the Woodard Plan for conserving water while making Fort Wotih a friendlier place to live.

I hope to see you Thursday night. If you are unable to attend, please call me about another opportunity on July 9 to bring sanity to our water conservation efforts.

Regards,
Blake Woodard

Here we go again.

While the Fort Worth Weekly, Fort Worth Bloggers and national reporters are covering what's going on at the Water Board (including that pesky little thing about running out of water), what are the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Tarrant Regional Water District up to?

Partying of course.  It's Tarrant County.  Home of the big city in the hole (Fort Worth is still broke, talking layoffs and cutting services, again, as they do every year).  Maybe if they weren't all focused on partying in the contaminated river with their cronies,  they'd be able to focus on little things such as water...Remember back in the day when Cheseapeake owned the 4th of July here?  Their time is up.  As for the Water Board, seems their time is limited.

Notice it's Presented by TRWD, it's Produced by the Trinity River Vision.  And it was emailed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, their downstairs neighbor.  THAT is what they mean when they tell you, we're all in this together.

Don't get us started on where the fireworks are coming from or the Cardboard Levee slide.  That's a whole other post...

Don't mess with Texas Women

Or the Fort Worth Weekly.  They are the only game in town.

What's your other local "news" paper up to?  We'll show you that later.  Right now we're sharing real news.

fwweekly.com/2013/06/27/breaking-news/

Kelleher said Wednesday evening that, following delivery of her letter, she had received an e-mail reply from Oliver indicating that some of the records did not exist, that some of them would be mailed to her, and that on others, the water district staff would seek an opinion from the state attorney general as to whether they had to release the documents. She said Oliver wrote that the water district staff would search for records regarding lobbyists and respond later.

She also asked for e-mails sent to political consultant Bryan Eppstein, documents reflecting contracts with and payments to lobbyists, records of payments to the engineering firm of Freese & Nichols over the last three and a half years, and all of the e-mail correspondence of TRWD board members, Oliver, planning director Wayne Own, and J.D. Granger, executive director of the Trinity River Vision Authority, over approximately the past two months.

Additionally Kelleher asked for numerous documents relating to any real estate transactions between the water district and Oliver or any entity controlled or owned by him.

She said that Oliver’s response, following her letter, indicated that there are no records of any real estate transactions between Oliver and the water district.

Kelleher said that in response to her initial request, King had earlier told her that no minutes or recordings exist of executive sessions or of meetings of the construction committee.

In the letter, she wrote that if Oliver continues to block what she considers to be proper oversight of the water district, “I will be forced to take all necessary actions to fulfill my duties. … I will not be stopped or intimidated in my efforts to fulfill my responsibilities.”

This just keeps getting better.

Tarrant County women have been all over the news for the past 24 hours.  Wendy Davis getting a shout out by Twitter from the President, Dr. Ann Sutherland getting bullied by the Fort Worth School Board and now little Miss Mary Kelleher taking on the water board.  For THE PEOPLE. 

What is it they don't want YOU to see?

WHY do they want to keep HER out?

Both Breitbart and Durango broke the news today on the exchange between Director Kelleher and Manager, Jim Oliver.  Read them both.  They are riveting.  One details the meeting.  The other is a copy of the letter Director Kelleher wrote in response to the altercation. Read it, then call the Water Board.  Or email Breitbart.  Heck, even write some more to the only paper in town not talking about the "news".  Better yet, show up at the next board meeting.  Come early, parking and seats are going fast.

In light of these repeated outbursts, in my view, the District should consider whether it is appropriate for you to continue in your current position and/or whether you should be required to take anger management training.

Kelleher immediately asserted her stance, calling for transparency at her swearing-in on June 18, demanding independent audits of District finances and for strict adherence to the Texas Open Meetings Act (violations of which the District is being sued for). This comes on top of her criticism of the District’s judgment in pursuing an ill-advised attempt to siphon water from Oklahoma, for which it was roundly humiliated by a unanimous Supreme Court ruling earlier this month (following a summary judgment at the state level that was affirmed by the district court). The project cost taxpayers $5 million.

Attorneys familiar with Texas’ Open Records Act believe Kelleher, as a duly elected District official, has the right to access all records and need not do so through the procedures outlined in the Open Records Act. She certainly does not need to do so through Oliver, whether as public official or member of the public. The law clearly states that such requests would go through Information Officer King, and that if Oliver was even appointed as Information Officer, he would be required to complete Open Records Training – which he apparently requires in any event.

Money, narcissism and out of control egos...and not a drop to drink

Since the Supreme Court voted unanimously against the Tarrant Regional Water District, and an "outsider" was elected to the board, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has started acting like they care about YOUR opinion on the subject.  They even asked for YOUR opinion on if WE (one would have to assume they mean TRWD, since the WE, the public weren't given the option to sue) are the bad guys when it comes to water?

Well, if they read anything written about the case, they'd know the answer was yes.  However, we have to give them props for even acting like they wanted your opinion.  It's better than their normal cheer-leading for the stupid TRWD/TRV money wasting stunts.

Some of the responses were spot on, and very well said.

You can read them all here.

Below are a few of our favorites.

Insatiable appetite
I don’t understand. What is it about Fort Worth’s insatiable appetite for growth that entitles it to condemn the land of people hundreds of miles away and take their water?

The Trinity River flows through town, and the limits of its watershed should logically have set the limits for Fort Worth’s population.

There’s no reason why additional thousands of people have to move here, living off the resources of East Texas, other than to satisfy the egos of local politicians.
— Dennis Novak, Fort Worth

We’re big enough
How much is enough? How big does the Chamber of Commerce want Fort Worth to be?

Is the thirst for growth insatiable? Is not 750,000 enough?

When it grows to 1 million, will they want 2 million?

Why do we keep giving tax abatements and other incentives to induce corporations to move here?

Do they want this city to become another London? Another New York? Another Tokyo?

Whatever happened to our love of a friendly western woodland where Nature has her way? Or to the blessed Land of Room Enough where the air is full of sunlight and the flag has a big Lone Star?

Is it not obvious that there is not enough water now? How much more will be needed with another million thirsty straws draining it?

How many more big lakes and miles of eminent-domain pipelines? How many more orange-barrel freeways to be widened?
— Don Woodard, Fort Worth

Poisoned the well
I suggest that the TRWD has proven itself incompetent at best in handling the Oklahoma issue.

The Supreme Court didn’t say that we weren’t entitled to the water, but only that we weren’t allowed to invade Oklahoma to obtain it.

By choosing to go to court rather than negotiate in good faith with our partner in the compact, we wasted millions of taxpayer dollars to no positive effect, and instead poisoned the well of good will that stood to benefit us.

Certainly the TRWD, the body charged with providing adequate long-term water resources to our region, has taken upon itself the mantle of “bad guy” in its actions to date in handling this matter, the Trinity River Vision, and other initiatives.

So it is logical that we will be perceived as the “bad guy” going forward, unless the TRWD changes its approach to doing business, its leadership, or both.
— Mark Greene, Fort Worth

Failing the Civic Health Test

City public meetings to take input on measures for water conservation plan AND drought plan June 25 and 27.

Meetings:  

North Fort Worth: Tuesday, June 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Heritage Trace Church of Christ, 4201 Heritage Trace Pkwy

South Fort Worth: Thursday, June 27, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Unity Church of Fort Worth, 5051 Trail Lake Drive

Due to low water supply source levels, water restrictions kicked in June 3 for residents of Fort Worth.

Read below an invitation to two upcoming meetings on water management from the Fort Worth Water Department.

Meetings are tomorrow night, June 25 and Thursday, June 27.

From the Water Department:  The Fort Worth Water Department needs your input! Join us at public meetings to learn about our city's water supply situation, explore options for water management and offer your views. The Water Department will share your feedback with the City Council in upcoming discussions about Fort Worth's water management plan.

City Manager Tom Higgins told City Council Members in a June 4, 2013 Informal Report, "During these meetings, participants will be provided overview information on water supplies -- current and proposed -- and water efficiency programs already in place. Feedback will be obtained to assess attitudes about what measures should be in a conservation plan -- things that should be done all the time and are long term -- versus what measures should be in a drought plan -- things only in place when water supplies are low and are short-term."

Everyone interested is invited to the meetings. Parking is free, and refreshments will be served.

House of Cards

The Fort Worth House of cards is swaying. From the Water Board to the School Board...it's coming.....

I have sent the below document to numerous people. We need people's help to end all of the shenanigans going on within FWISD. Please advise.

To whom it may concern, 

I am an employee of Fort Worth ISD (FWISD). I am forwarding some links (below) to articles written about a former FWISD employee and friend, Joe Palazzolo, former Assistant Principal and Whistleblower, who has been embattled with the district for the past 3 years over wrongful termination and retaliation. Typically, a type of situation like Mr. Palazzolo's doesn't warrant a special plea to TEA; however, this case involves more than unjust firing. This involves a blatant misuse of power by the FWISD School Board of Trustees and the Superintendent, Walter Dansby. The case thus far, has cost taxpayers almost $500K and counting, to defend the district against their wrongful termination practices. The story links were written by the late Betty Brink, freelance journalist for The Fort Worth Weekly. These articles, especially "Powder Keg", covered attendance fraud, sexual harassment, retaliation, bullying, and embezzlement of Booster club funds at Arlington Heights High School (AHHS). Furthermore, the article influenced the succession of a string of retaliation and bullying toward the complainants (teachers) of AHHS, specifically Mr. Palazzolo, who served as his school's Diversity Representative. I urge you to please read the stories about FWISD and Mr. Palazzolo. 

Additionally, as of last night, a new surprising development was discovered, when the district posted an audio of a special board meeting executive session held on June 17, 2013 on their public district website. Members are heard arrogantly and maliciously belittling Mr. Palazzolo, his character and work ethic. The board members and Superintendent are heard laughing and making light of his impending case against the district and recent mutual agreements made in Decatur, Tex 271st court to resolve the suit. This development found its way to The Weekly, YouTube and other local journalists. Until now, no one has helped to hold FWISD accountable for wasting taxpayer money instead of settling Mr. Palazzolo's case amicably. All Mr. Palazzolo has wanted for the last 3 years is to get his job back and continue serving the students of our district. I don't know how much you can do from your position or if you are even able to help in immediately demanding transparency from FWISD. Our local DA has never helped, even when former AHHS administrators were found guilty of their illegal actions. The Star Telegram and other media outlets have protected the district from reporting anything negative, past and present. 

We can no longer sit idly by and watch our school district implode with constant negative publicity it has received, not only since the Palazzolo case surfaced, but with countless past, as well as other impending lawsuits. Our school district does not have to be this way; we must put our children's education first and foremost. However, it appears our district is putting their unethical and immoral behaviors first! As employees, parents and concerned taxpayers, how can we hold people at FWISD accountable for their questionable practices?  Below are the links I have been speaking of, as well as the link to the board meeting audio. Feel free to contact Mr. Palazzolo at 817-597-0650 or Mr. Eric Griffey, The Weekly journalist covering the Palazzolo case, at 817-319-5554. I ask that my identity remain confidential, since I am still currently employed by FWISD and also feel retaliation could ensue. Thank you for your time. 

Links to FWISD board meeting audio June 17, 2013 made public 6/21/13 and The Weekly Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td-VpoUImdQ

http://www.fwweekly.com/2013/06/21/school-board-executive-session-leaked

Links to stories on FTW Weekly regarding FWISD and Joe Palazzolo, Whistleblower

http://www.fwweekly.com/2010/04/21/upsetting-the-apple-cart/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2010/08/11/powder-keg-at-arlington-heights-high/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2010/12/01/whistle-stopped/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2011/04/06/dangerous-dis-connects/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2011/07/27/school-bullies/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2011/12/21/pinched-by-the-principal/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2012/04/11/school-district-news-that-didnt-make-the-print-edition/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2011/11/02/knocking-on-the-door/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2012/06/06/dying-change/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2013/01/16/turning-off-the-spigot/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2013/02/27/special-treatment/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2012/04/11/school-district-news-that-didnt-make-the-print-edition/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2012/08/15/leaving-heights/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2012/06/13/counseling-controversy/

http://www.fwweekly.com/2012/06/14/whistleblower-settles-135000/

Executive session, not so much

The real newspaper in town blows the whistle.

Again.

Read about the Fort Worth School District tape of the executive session in the FW Weekly.

Stuff is changing in Cowtown, quick.  Keep up, you know what they say about stuff running downstream.

TRWD putting the IF in TIF

Woodard tells you all about it in the Fort Worth Business Press.

The only noise from Fort Worth Star-Telegram this week is crickets chirping.

Not to worry, we're sure they'll have a TRV promoting article soon.  It's been at least a week, right?