District 2 LOL

We told you the local paper would start shilling for the incumbents, imagine that.  First up, District 2.  Which is funny if you know the real story behind the claims the incumbent is making. 

Clyde knows.  Read his picks. Like him or not, you'll get the truth.  Makes you wonder WHY the "news" doesn't know (or report) the whole story.

And all you Fort Worth District 2 voters - Check out Paul Rudisill. 

YOU can't afford not to.

There's some land in District 2 that they are trying to eminent domain.  Remember that when you vote.  YOURS could be next.

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WHO owns the road?

Incoming news from our friends at TexasTURF.org.  If YOU don't know WHO they are, YOU need to.  YOU can't afford not to.  Hurry, before there's no Texas Turf left.

Sell-out: Committees pass bills to allow foreign-owned toll roads & the sale of other infrastructure to private corporations-- including WATER supply facilities, ports, public buildings, & hospitals, using public private partnerships (PPPs)

House passes eminent domain bill, SB 18, with few changes
-- Doesn't prevent eminent domain for private gain in the name of a "public use," like foreign-owned toll roads.

HB 2255 & HB 2432 UNLEASH public private partnerships (PPPs) across Texas

PPPs are kept SECRET from the public, eliminate competitive bidding, put the taxpayers on the hook for losses, grant monopolies over public infrastructure & charge user fees for public access. In the case of roads, they contain non-competes that prohibit or penalize the expansion of free roads & the published toll rates are 75-80 cents per mile, like adding $15 to EVERY gallon of gas you buy!

HB 2255 (Phillips) - Passed out of Committee Wednesday, despite substantial public opposition and objections by Rep. Yvonne Davis about the lack of competitive bidding, read about the drama here. This bill would sell-off portions of SEVEN Texas highways (Grand Pkwy around Houston, I-35E in DFW, two segments of 183 in DFW, I-35W & I-820 in DFW, and SH 249 in Harris and Montgomery counties) to foreign corporations in SWEETHEART DEALS.

HB 2432 (J. Davis) - Passed out of Committee, also in spite of public opposition by 7 different groups. This bill is being pushed by Balfour Beatty, a British infrastructure firm, and it applies to virtually EVERY other kind of infrastructure aside from roads like: WATER supply facilities, hospitals, mass transit, ports, public bldgs for up to 100 YEARS! Who does this bill benefit? Lobbyists from foreign countries seeking to takeover our infrastructure, not Texans!

Go here to learn more and to help!

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To Kill a Boondoogle

Click for enlarged view...

Excellent flier.  In 2009, four Fort Worth Mayors let YOU know they "can't" be wrong.  Funny, the voters said otherwise. 

The top line of the "Friends of Betsy Price" is a perfect example of what we blogged earlier.

Kay Granger, the lead of the Trinity River Vision boondoggle, Charlie Geren, the House Bill 2636 pusher, and Judy Needham the FWISD trustee that backpeddled on her gas drilling letter. (The same trustee that was in the news concerning gas drilling about a month ago.) 

So, what do YOU think?  And again, WHO will make up Betsy's $100,000 a year pay cut to be Mayor?

WHO should control WHO YOUR Mayor is?

Elected officials?  Or YOU?

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Write On - Write In

We can only think of a few reasons someone would wait to file as a write-in candidate.  This could be a good one why it happened in Haltom City.

Read the letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about voting for Bob Watkins in Haltom City.  If we were you, we'd vote for the new.  The old guard seems to be wearing on the citizens and their checkbooks. 

WHO is the letter writer?  Sources say the head of the Planning and Zoning board.  What does that tell YOU? 

Write-in candidate

It is time to vote for a new mayor in Haltom City. Our council has done a decent job over the last few years, and, as can be expected, one of the council members is running for the office of mayor.

I encourage all of my fellow residents to get out and vote for Bob Watkins as a write-in candidate. Watkins has been an active part of our city's politics for years. I feel he has the best qualifications and interest for Haltom City.

All early voting will be at the old library. Please join me in voting for Bob Watkins as mayor as a write-in candidate.

-- Juanita Adam, Haltom City

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The wind's blowing in Texas...

The wind in Texas is kinda like the water...
NOBODY controls it.

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Toal Roads...

We found an amusing letter to the editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram today. 

James Toal, a long time leader of Gideon Toal, had something to say.  Seems he wants more of YOUR money.  For those of you who don't know Gideon Toal, here are some tidbits found online at Gideon Toal and various sites. 

Gideon Toal has been retained by Tarrant Regional Water District, in conjunction with Streams and Valleys, City of Fort Worth, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Tarrant County to guide the planning and implementation of “Trinity Uptown™”. Our firm is hired to do phasing, implementation and funding strategies, including establishing a TIF District.

The plan aims to revitalize an 800-acre area north of downtown Fort Worth with a combination of public improvements and private development. Its goal is to provide a vibrant, stimulating environment in which families can live, work, shop, play and learn.
 
Some other Gideon Toal projects:
Trinity River Master Plan
Trinity River Vision Authority Office
Tarrant Regional Water District Annex
Tarrant County College complex
Tarrant County Jail 

 See a pattern yet?

In today's paper James Toal says he'll spend the money if YOU will for transit...he wants to do justice for the next generation.  Does he mean that generation that will be broke since they will be paying for the Trinity River Vision for the next 40 years?  The project and its projects that he has made a fortune from?  Talk about throwing our pennies away.   If we're paying for all the "private development" maybe Toal should  foot the bill for the transportation.  Or better yet, hit the road.

Funding transit

Good transportation includes buses, commuter rail, light rail, highways and regional systems.


People try to compare Tarrant County and Fort Worth with the Dallas region, Denver, Portland, etc. Why do Denver and these other regions have light rail, commuter rail and buses?


Answer: The Dallas Area Rapid Transit system receives one penny in sales tax revenue.


Fort Worth's T is mostly a city system that has a half-cent in sales tax. That is the difference between regional systems vs. a mostly local bus system.


If Fort Worth, Tarrant County and adjoining counties to the west, north and south desire better transportation, I suggest that instead of throwing those pennies away, they bond together on a regional system and spend them on transit and transportation.


We do not have a lack of good regional planning; we have some of the best planners and government administrators in the world. We do have a lack of financing.


So spend the extra half-cent. I will if you will. If you don't, we will not do justice to the next generation.


-- James Toal, Fort Worth

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No #$@%

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has an article titled, Lane, Price lead in fundraising for Fort Worth mayoral election. 

Duh.  Of course they do.  The career politicians of Tarrant County are all trying to outspend each other.  Their campaign and donation rosters read like the WHO's WHO of the Fort Worth Way (that's not a good thing).  Congresswoman Kay Granger asking Besty Price to run. (Again, WHO is going to make up her $100,000 a year pay cut?).  Former Mayor, current Chesapeake employee, Ken Barr on Jim Lane's campaign staff. We noticed Marty Leonard, a fellow Tarrant Regional Water District Board with Lane, donated to Price.  What does that tell you?  

Do YOU want a mayor who is bought and is beholden to those WHO paid?  Or do YOU want a real person WHO cares about THE PEOPLE, not the players?

If you want someone not bought and paid for by special interests, wise up.  We've noticed a pattern, those running with less money are running for a reason - YOU.

While city council races are supposed to be nonpartisan, many people keep ending up on the blog searching for Jim Lane's political party, you can learn that here.

Unless they say something new, we won't post the Fort Worth Star-Telegram editorial board picks here, as they usually always say "Vote for the incumbent".  It will be interesting to see what they say since there isn't one for Mayor.

We've been asked WHO gets our vote for Mayor?  While we usually don't agree on things, we all agree on this one.  Cathy Hirt.  Hands down. If you were at the forum last night, you know why.  Do yourself a favor, get someone in office that cares about saving you money, not about status with the players.  The cost of the "status" is too expensive.  Fort Worth can't afford it.

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