Hey Dallas - You're still downstream (Part 2)

In the past few months (years, but who's counting?) we've tried to let Dallas in on the secret.  But since we're from Fort Worth, they didn't want to hear it.

The Dallas Observer wrote (writes) about that embarrassing Dallas Trinity River Tollway boondoggle repeatedly. Don't worry, we can call it that, we have one of our own, which is sort of the point. 

And this summer, we tried to warn you again - Psst Hey Dallas, You're still Downstream.

Alas, it took a Dallas Morning News article to highlight part of the issue Dallas is facing and in doing so, they lit up Facebook.  People actually read it and are questioning the stupidity of letting a dam in a major metropolitan area fail. 

You know Durango had something to say about it.  And you know you want to know what is was.  

Here's the deal, look at a map of the metroplex, starting at the confluence of the Clear Fork and the West Fork of the Trinity River in downtown Fort Worth.  Follow that through all the twists and turns, past Mary's Kelleher's farm, (that floods) through Arlington (that floods) all the way to Dallas.  Now what's this river that joins it right before downtown? The Elm Fork of the Trinity River.  Now follow that back up the map and tell us where it comes from. 

Lake Lewisville? You get an A+. 

Now imagine what happens when to doesn't stop raining?  After the Trinity River Vision, Panther Island Boondoggle takes place in Fort Worth.  The one that removes the levees and reroutes the river.  (Right now we're just building millions of dollars worth of bridges over dry land and spending a million dollars on art from outside of Texas, but hey, anything can happen, right?) The water comes barreling toward Dallas and Heaven forbid, the Lewisville Dam bursts, sending a deluge down to the same low point.  What happens then?

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers are directed by Congress on which projects to work on.  Who is "Congress"?  Look up "Who Represents Me?" and you'll find out who is making these decisions for you.  Maybe you should give them a call. 

What happens when politicians know many lives are in danger and they do nothing? 

A Dallas Observer article from earlier this year sums it up -

In other words, no matter how you read the news article and whether you agree with it or disagree, it should at least convince you that major urban floods have a lot more to do with decisions made by people than acts of God.

What happens when it's your hood?

New Infrared Video Shows Possible Gas Cloud Lingering Above Porter Ranch

What's going on in Fort Worth?

Durango knows.  Why don't YOU? After all, it's YOUR money.

Another Fort Worth Development Bites The Dust

Should City Council get an 80% salary increase?

Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods General Membership Meeting

Please join us THIS Thursday, December 10

6:30 p.m.

University Christian Church

Speakers include:

Fernando Costa, Assistant City Manager

City of Fort Worth

Mr. Costa will speak about the work of the recent citizens Charter Review Committee. 

The committee has made recommendations on various city charter revisions including:

1.  increasing the number of City Council districts from 8 to 10;

2.  increasing City Council member salaries by 80% ($25,000. to $45,000. annually);

3.  increasing the Mayor's salary from $29,000. to $60,000. annually;

4.  increasing City Council terms from 2 years to 3 years. 

The City Council will hold public hearings on the proposed changes on January 12 and January 26, 2016.  Council members will decide which issues will go on the May 7 ballot.

Citizens will vote on proposed city charter changes on May 7, 2016.

You can read the Sunday, December 6, 2015 Fort Worth Star-Telegram opinion piece about the committee's work here.

You are invited

1985 - 2015

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF FORT WORTH NEIGHBORHOOD
                             
Please join us THIS Thursday, December 10
6:30 p.m.
University Christian Church
Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods General Membership Meeting

Speakers include:
Fernando Costa, Assistant City Manager
City of Fort Worth

Mr. Costa will speak about the work of the recent citizens Charter Review Committee.  They have made recommendations on various city charter revisions including increasing the number of City Council districts, increasing City Council member salaries, and increasing City Council terms from 2 years to 3 years.  Citizens will vote on proposed city charter changes in early May 2016.

You can read the Sunday, December 6, 2015 Fort Worth Star-Telegram opinion piece about the committee's work here.

Mary Goodman, Chair of the Fort Worth Sierra Club, will also speak about the Sierra Club Plastic Bag Campaign.

-------------------------------------

FWLNA Officers and directors for 2016 will also be elected.
The Christmas Social will follow the meeting.  Please plan to stay and visit with your fellow neighborhood leaders!

Earthquakes in North Texas

Erin Brockovich wants to hear from YOU!

Bring Sandy Back!

An update on the latest in the Fort Worth Animal Services saga...

We were sent the following.  We can't help but wonder, where is Mayor Price??

"Doing the best we can with the resources we have?"  Really? So, this city sees it as ok to have a department run by Good Ol Boys that can practice gender discrimination at the management level on a daily basis and send them packing when they hit a nerve with their smarts, straight talk, caring, concern, ethics and observations?  Like as been allowed with the two female Cruelty Investigators and now the female Superintendent?  

Furthermore, out of all the licensed Veterinarians, they are ok with the Good Ol Boys choosing the one Vet with a criminal history a mile long, one that has more dings than any Veterinarian in Texas on his Vet record and one that has stapled a dog's nipples to her stomach which left the dog unable to walk after surgery?  

Also, we've got how many animal control officers driving around "talking" to people and not doing a darn thing in regards to holding Irresponsible Pet Owners accountable? 

No, we disagree -- We are not doing the best we can in this city regarding anything concerning animals, and that percentage of live releases is a bunch of bull! 

Bring Sandy Back.  Why did you allow the Good ol Boys to send her packing?  If we are doing the best we can, then the sweeping changes need to go much further up in city government than just Code Compliance Department.  

Bring Sandy Back!

Getting old...

Citizen's are getting tired of getting the shaft from developers who are buying their representatives.  Are YOU?

Food and water contamination. Flooding. Eminent domain.

Same ol' story.

Angry residents give developer earful about sewage dump, land grab

However, one resident of Comal County who owns a vineyard and a winery nearby testified that the state won’t allow such treated sewage to be used to water her grapes. So it’s clearly not safe to be consumed. Anyone near a golf course who waters their greens with treated sewage water will also be greeted with signs that say, ‘non-potable, do not drink.’ Yet a TCEQ ‘expert’ claimed the developers dumping of treated sewage into the dry Lewis Creek will actually ‘improve’ drinking water. The crowd erupted in laughter and disbelief. Local residents knew they were being lied to. Toilet to tap is not their idea of safe drinking water.

Many neighboring residents are also cattle ranchers whose cattle would be consuming the waste water and hence will enter the food supply. Since Lewis Creek is a dry creek bed that only flows during heavy rains, many residents expressed concern about the wastewater dumping creating continuously wet or boggy conditions on their property, which could attract mosquitoes, feral hogs, and other undesirable pests or wildlife.

Flood worries

With the reality of recent flooding in Bulverde on October 30, that overwhelmed the new Singing Hills drainage system as well as a breach in the Johnson Ranch sewage system that dumped raw sewage into the creeks contaminating drinking water and wells fresh in their minds, residents asked who would be held responsible for such breaches, how would residents be notified in time to not consume contaminated water, and who would pay to clean-up private wells affected by these high density subdivisions?

Sadly

Only a few people showed up to support the Animal Control lady who is being run over by the Fort Worth Way.

Surprisingly, one of those people was Sal Espino.

We were shocked too.

Maybe there should be an online petition so the online warriors will actually participate.

Bring Sandy back.

The animals and Fort Worth needs her.

Flower Mound?!

The drama playing out in Flower Mound sounds more like some other North Texas cities we know.

Good luck to the boys and girls out there.  After clicking through this timeline and reading the article, sounds like you are going to need it.

Flower Mound council divisions have town on edge