Bad "News"

Some letters to the editor today in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from THE PEOPLE point out the "news" got it wrong on their recommendations for the Fort Worth elections.  Again, please tell us WHY a supposedly unbiased news outlet would support anyone for office?  Shouldn't they report facts on the candidates and let THE PEOPLE decide?  What do they have to gain by shilling for incumbents?  ASK.

One letter concerns Sal Espino, funny, seems we mentioned some of this as well.  Did the "news" not know claims were false?  How is that?  ASK.

Another reader has some good points concerning Scarth as well.  Let's not forget about his son.

Remember, if you're not happy with what you've been getting, voting for the same old isn't going to help that.  The "news" writes all year long about the scandals and shortcomings of the city and its leaders, then come May says, reelect them...ASK - What the hell?

Fort Worth council

I'm an 82-year-old Fort Worth native and have spent most of my life living and working in east Fort Worth. I am very concerned and disappointed in the Star-Telegram's recommendation of Danny Scarth for District 4 on the City Council.

Scarth has not done anything for his own neighborhood, and he has done even less for others in the district. He's instead brought us the only toxic waste dump in the city and has never seen a high-impact gas well he didn't support, which has caused real estate values to plummet.

Let's vote for jobs and new businesses in east Fort Worth, not flooding in Riverside and Gateway parks. Let us also begin to move forward with positive improvements in District 4 by electing Lupe Arriola as our next council member.

-- Dean Hatch, Fort Worth

I have to disagree with the Star-Telegram's recommendation of Sal Espino for Fort Worth City Council District 2. In my opinion, Espino has done nothing to endear himself to the community. I find it disturbing that he is trying to take credit for the 2004 bond improvements and development along the Alliance corridor, both of which were in the making prior to his election.

Since he is proud of the improvements in Rockwood Park from the drilling money, why couldn't he have been vocal or used some of the drilling money to keep the Marine Park swimming pool open?

Perhaps he needs to look up the meaning of constituent service. If you call his office at City Hall, you will hear a long message on his voice mail detailing all the reasons why you will not get a return phone call anytime soon, if ever.

-- Lucy Aguilera, Fort Worth

Want to know?

What's going on in Fort Worth?  Durango knows.

Check out the latest on the Trinity River Vision concerning Gateway Park here.  Got questions?  ASK them tomorrow night at Fort Worth City Council meeting.

Want to know about the corrupution in Fort Worth, Durango has that scoop too. 

The local media should hire Detective Durango. 

Fort Worth Corruption

It runs so deep, it's even in the water.

If you haven't been following Detective Durango's posts, he gives you the recap here. Get caught up, you'll need to know this for the rest of the story.

Stay tuned.

Detective Durango

Strikes again. Read about the latest on the Trinity River levee at Gateway Park.

Fort Worth Water Shortage

While the Tarrant Regional Water District sues other states to try and take their water and takes private property by eminent domain for Trinity Uptown (instead of doing their job), the City of Fort Worth and those involved with Gateway Park (ahem, the Tarrant Regional Water District) and TCEQ allows gas drillers to take water from the Trinity River. Soon to be, lots of water.

Thanks to Detective Durango for the great shots and blog. You can't afford to miss it!

Ask some questions of your supposed leaders. Hold them accountable.

The Water Board has an election coming up, maybe it's time for some fresh faces.

UPDATE 11/2/2010: Those of you looking for the latest information on the Fort Worth Water Shortage, go here.

Really?

Seems like the Water District should get back to WATER, instead of land ownership. Check out Detective Durango.

Trick or Treat

Durango went to Gateway Park for Halloween.

More WHO said WHAT

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram daily newspaper seems to be doing a much better job as of late concerning the truth about the Carter Avenue pipeline.

The Trinity River Vision Authority doesn’t want to complicate its ambitious project that includes Gateway Park north of I-30 at Beach.

In fact, Chesapeake already has gotten easements under several dozen properties on the street, including some acquired through eminent domain powers allowed under state law. The main roadblock at this point is that Chesapeake can’t lay pipe under city streets at intersections without council approval.

But modest homeowners shouldn’t have to end up helpless against more influential interests. The benefits of the Barnett Shale won’t look so good if the neighborhoods that make Fort Worth a great place to live lose out when it isn’t necessary.

Keep making noise and asking questions! Due to the resolve of a group of concerned citizens, somebody had to start listening. Remind them WHO this city belongs to.

Remember, if it happens on Carter, YOU could be next.

WHERE

exactly is Carter Avenue?

According to the Yahoo Map service, it's directly across I-30 from Gateway Park

(including "Disposal Rd" what a fitting name).

WHO has control of the park property?

The Tarrant Regional Water District.

It's good to have connections.

Your Thursday Plans have changed...

Thursday's pipeline meeting concerning Carter Avenue has been cancelled. WHY?

That depends on WHO you ask.

Sources say Chesapeake has cancelled the meeting due to "a conflict with the city". Huh? Wasn't the meeting to be held at a college?

Only a few residents on Carter were notified of the "public" meeting.

Other sources tell us Kathleen Hicks claims she didn't know there was a meeting tomorrow. Emails show Chesapeake claims she was scheduled to attend.

WHO do you believe?

Trinity Trash

We like when Durango is out and about. He learns things and gets great pics. Check out all the pics of the water stealing pipeline in the Trinity River and the Gateway Park propaganda signs for the Trinity River boondoggle.

Just don't read them after 10:00 p.m., that might be illegal.

Buffer Zone

Another concerned citizen looking out for his neighbors in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram daily newspaper. Timing is everything, as the Trinity River Vision Authority says the Trinity Trails at University will be under construction starting today.

People of Fort Worth - start looking for an "alternate" route.

Enforce gas ordinance

The city of Fort Worth has a gas drilling ordinance. Unfortunately, the council seems to disregard it, especially when it comes to our city parks and the Trinity Trails.
An unfortunate precedent was set when the council voted unanimously to allow drilling in Greenwood Memorial Park and the use of a park road by drillers. Now pad sites are within a few feet of the trails at Old University Drive, and as of Sept. 1, council is allowing up to eight wells as close as 225 feet from Trinity Park. The ordinance, put in place to protect and enhance our city, designated a 600-foot buffer.

Gateway Park, one of the supposed jewels in the crown of the Trinity River Vision, is ringed by pad sites, including two at or near its main entrance.

Some mitigation is occasionally proposed, as it was on Sept. 1. We all understand, though, that mitigation is a euphemism for damage control.

I call upon the council to adhere to the gas drilling ordinance and not make a mockery of it by granting variances as a matter of course. Most cities consider their parks to be treasures to be protected. I expect elected representatives to do likewise and protect us and our parks by upholding the ordinance.

— Paul John Roach, senior minister, Unity Church of Fort Worth

Amen.

Free Water

Durango has some great info (and pictures) today about the gas drillers taking more water out of the Trinity River. He also asks some tough questions such as:

How does a private business get the permission to do something like this on public land? What would happen if a private citizen, for some random reason, built a road on public land, to put a diesel pump near the river, to run a pipeline so he could get water for free?

This is the third instance we have seen photo documentation of recently.

WHO else is watching?

Gateway to ???

Gateway Park is looking to build an amphitheater on top of the abandoned water treatment plant as part of the Trinity River Vision. There were several comments from the article that stood out to us.

To build the amphitheater as designed would require $11 million to $13 million.

For $11.86 million, the city could build a 6,500-seat venue -- 3,500 permanently covered seats and 3,000 lawn seats. That would require about 2,000 parking spaces, at an additional cost of $4.43 million.

"I'm pretty confident we can raise the dollars," Harwood said. "We talked informally with people prior to our economic collapse. I think there was a big interest from name sponsors, and I think it will be there when the economy turns around."

Of the five venues, two are profitable, two have yearly losses, and the fifth did not provide information, according to the study.

The study said the Gateway amphitheater would turn its first profit, $29,861, in the seventh year. It is projected to host 26 events in the first year and 36 by the 10th year

As part of the ecosystem cleanup of the Riverside Oxbow along the Trinity River, 3 million cubic yards of dirt will be moved, with 1.5 million of those placed on top of the old Riverside Wastewater treatment plant, which is contaminated.

It doesn't seem to be the only thing contaminated around here.