EPA and Texas Politicians

Read about the BS in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  
We know folks that don't want the EPA involved, however they still want air and water.  Someone has to step up to the plate.  We don't care WHO, as long as they can help.

Both sides and conservation groups agree the battle has put the health of Texas residents and the environment at risk.

"Emissions are too high, the emissions are too toxic and Texas water is being harmed," said EPA regional director, Al Armendariz.

The EPA is "putting politics ahead of the environmental issues," said Bryan Shaw, chairman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

All are taking steps in the meantime to comply. Except Texas.

And someone please explain to us why the EPA's focus should be job creation?  That's like calling an economic development project flood control...

"The administration's focus should be job creation and economic recovery, not unnecessary and burdensome regulations that will threaten jobs and create a drag on business efforts to invest, expand and put people back to work," Howard Felman, API's director of regulatory and scientific affairs, said in a statement.

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WHO's watching Fort Worth?

The presents just keep rolling in.

This piece from Fort Worth Watchdog, Don Young is inspiring.  And funny.  Hats off to DY and all the Shale Heroes big and small.  We salute you, each and every one.

We can't wait to add some of our favorites to the list.  Send us yours.  Then, send them all to everyone you know in Fort Worth, and beyond. 

It's going to be a great New Year!

When you get the billboard sign near the bottom, hold your right hand over the right side of the image.
Tell us what YOU see.

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Calling Fort Worth

A Christmas present from Durango.

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Trinity Trails Unsafe

Read about it on TXSharon.

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What trees?

Read about the Kimball Museum trees (past tense) in the FW Weekly.

“I don’t think [the Kimbell] will be able to replace those trees in a way that replicates the originals,” Birnbaum said. “It will take out the character of a defining feature. I think it was a mistake to build this expansion on the lawn in the first place, but it is very surprising for me to learn that they have taken all of them out, especially when they originally stated they were going to preserve those trees.”

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrel

And this time we aren't talking about a politician.  We are talking about the local "veteran" that needed help to save his dog, Mimi.  Turns out he isn't a veteran at all.  The group that helped raise money, will give it back.

We think Mimi's owner should be put in a room with real veterans.  Or maybe the pound.

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City Business

Forest Hill, just keeps getting deeper.  Now the Mayor is suing.  Read about it in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

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Ride off in to the Sunset

Letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Sunset RR Commission

At last, someone finally woke up to the fact that our state has been paying the Railroad Commission to work for the oil and gas industry.

I would like a job like that: lots of power, lots of money and not a lot of work.

This commission is outdated. Texas is looking for a way to save money. We've found a good one.

Let them find real jobs.

-- Bonnie J. Ghio, Fort Worth

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"Someone is going to drown"

Have you ever not been able to be in your home for the holidays?  Our thoughts are with the Arlington flood victims during this holiday season. 

Read about their struggle in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  This is happening in many areas, remember what happens when nothing is ever done, it just gets worse.

More than 200 homes and condominium units citywide were damaged during the Sept. 8 storm. More than half the affected properties were along Rush Creek, where flooding has worsened over the years because of development upstream.

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Fort Worth Councilman won't seek reelection

Carter Burdette feels three terms is enough.  Too bad other politicians don't feel that way.  Luckily the people do.

Read about it in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Burdette has become an outspoken critic of the council's approach to fixing the system.

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Texas Senators all about giving...

A letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram makes some interesting points about our Texas Senators.  Let us not forget when Kay Granger said she'd not ask for earmarks, our senators hands shot up in her place for the Trinity River Vision.  WHAT do you think is more important?

Shameful vote

On Sept. 11, 2003, on the floor of the Senate, Sen. John Cornyn said, "I know that many of my friends and colleagues who were here on that horrific day feel a very deep and personal debt to the heroes of Sept. 11."

And yet he voted against the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which calls for providing $3.2 billion over the next eight years to monitor and treat injuries stemming from exposure to toxic dust and debris at ground zero. In other words, he voted against helping the heroes of Sept. 11.

On Sept. 11, 2002, also on the floor of the Senate, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said, "We marveled at heroism and bravery of the first responders."

And yet she too voted against helping the heroes of Sept. 11.

This is incredibly shameful. But they don't care; they would rather give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans than help the heroes of 9-11.

-- Richard LaChance, Fort Worth

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Another day, another eminent domain case.

The Trinity River Vision and the Tarrant Regional Water District are taking more land by eminent domain.  Read about it in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

WHO gave the Tarrant Regional Water District authority to eminent domain YOUR land?  You newbies, stay tuned, we'll fill you in soon.

The property is owned by the estate of J.L. Daniel. The estate's Fort Worth attorney, Jim Bradbury, said Tuesday that his client is frustrated by the water district's low-ball tactics.

Bradbury, who wouldn't reveal the amount his client is seeking, said the estate wants a price comparable to what the water district has paid for adjacent parcels.

It's the fifth time that the water district has voted to use eminent domain powers for Trinity River Vision, the $909 million flood control and economic development project that will stretch from the near-north side to Gateway Park.

Once the water district files a case, a county court at law judge appoints three special commissioners to hear the matter. In two previous eminent domain cases, the water district settled with the property owners after hearings in which the commissioners determined the property's market value.

This month, a hearing was held for a third eminent domain case, in which 2.6 acres in the 800 block of North Henderson Street is being condemned for the Henderson Street bridge. The property is the site of Allied Fence of Fort Worth, owned by the Arvin William Turner Jr. Testamentary Trust.

In that hearing, the commissioners put the fair market value of the property at $1.4 million. The Turner trust has until Monday to appeal that finding to a county court at law for trial.

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Houston, we have a problem

With OUR Water.

Read about it on TXSharon.  Think it couldn't happen here?  It is.

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And the difference is...

Watching the Fort Worth City Council video from 12/7/2010, we started playing a game.  Start watching the video at 1:49:00.  Listen to the citizens speak and then the Mayor and council.  Insert the words Trinity River Vision for each time the word streetcar is used.  Then, tell us the difference.

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