Did YOUR rep pass?

Or did they just pass bills that screw you?

Seems our freshman group from Tarrant County scored pretty high.

That should send a message.

We're coming for the old guard.  We're coming, for THE PEOPLE.

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They're here...

Remember all those times when you wished there was an entity that would stand up for the people?

Your wish is granted.

Texans for Government Transparency are on it.  And by it, we mean the Water Board.  Wonder what they'll be on next...

Texans for Government Transparency

TRWD Loses Key Court Decision on Case about Violating Texas Open Meetings Law

(Fort Worth, Texas) This past week, a key decision was handed down in a lawsuit against the Tarrant Regional Water District for violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act allowing the suit to move forward in court. The judge struck down a motion from the TRWD where they asserted they were not only exempt from being sued due to jurisdictional issues, but did not have to comply with the Texas Open Meetings Act in any matters before the court. Judge Susan McCoy of the 153rd judicial district denied the TRWD’s motion on August 26, 2013 clearing way for the case to be heard.

The suit filed by East Texas ranch owner and businessman, Monty Bennett, alleges the TRWD violated the Texas Open Meetings Act over 600 times in making key decisions. This suit also alleges these decisions were made behind closed doors and away from public oversight. In these meetings millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money was awarded to contractors and individuals. Perhaps the lawsuits most damaging allegation contends in these same secret meetings people’s land and properties were marked to be taken by eminent domain without owners ever having been told of any meeting of the TRWD. Mr. Bennett’s family ranch in East Texas, where they raise exotic wildlife and endangered species, is one of the properties the TRWD has marked for the taking and prompting him to action. 

“The Texas Open Meetings Act is there to ensure oversight of government agencies by the citizens of Texas.” says John Austin Basham, President of Texans For Government Transparency, “The idea of our government meeting in secret and planning to take someone’s family ranch, home, or property is outrageous!” Basham adds, “The argument the TRWD puts forth that they are exempt from any oversight under the Texas Open Meeting Act speaks to how little regard they have for both the law and the people they purport to serve. We are Texans, the government saying ‘trust us, we know what’s best for you’ is not something that sits well with our nature or our spirit.” 

Mr. Basham did however express his doubts with any rapid resolution in this case, “The TRWD has a track record of spending Millions in taxpayer’s dollars to defend legally troubling arguments. But worse, they lose every single time! So, in fact they spend all this money on lawyers and court costs as a delay and harassment tactic. This misuse of money and trust allows them more time to continue violating the law, ignore the public’s will, oversight, and input.” 

Texans For Government Transparency has also filed suit against the TRWD for violating the Texas Constitution by skipping elections and allowing board members to serve an extra year without a vote of the people. TFGT expects to be victorious in this case forcing the TRWD to allow the people to vote for those who represent them, rather than having career bureaucrats dictate who serves and for how long. 

Texans for Government Transparency is a non-profit human rights organization focused on bringing transparency and accountability to government, while protecting the privacy and civil rights of the citizens of Texas. 

Contact: John Spivey
Telephone: 817-706-2947 September 2, 2013
Email: johnhspivey@hotmail.com
8551 Boat Club Road Suite 121
Fort Worth, Texas 76179-3674
www.TFGT.org

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What they didn't say...

If you saw the news on WFAA about the Texas earthquake on Labor Day weekend, you didn't see the whole story.  We know, you aren't surprised.

While WFAA made quick mention of there being a fault in the area of the quakes, they left out the part that there are 27 injection wells in the area.  And that Timpson hadn't had earthquakes until they had wells.

You can read about it here.

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As usual...

The comments are more telling than the article.

Clyde Picht · Fort Worth, Texas

Oh, Rick, you naughty cynic. Of course it's not Trinity River Vision. Even though TRWD doesn't require recycling of fracking water for wells on their property and even though TRWD collects millions for gas drilling, they can't spend it on water resources. And you know, their $2 billion pipeline from Lake Palestine will bring water to Dallas but not Fort Worth so you know we'll need to pay more to help Dallas. It's not the city's fault either. The landscape ordinance that requires trees and shrubs be planted and watered is for the good of us all. Same with all the trees in the medians. Even though the city widened Rosedale to six lanes, it's well worth the cost to tear up one of the new lanes and make parking places and plant trees in the median. The real problem is those pesky suburbanites who keep flushing their toilets and watering their puny brown lawns.

If you want to read the Fort Worth Business Press blurb, you can do so here.

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Denied

The Tarrant Regional Water District fails to get one of their pending lawsuits thrown out of court.

Should play well into getting them thrown out of office.

Judge declines to dismiss lawsuit against TRWD

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Hey, Hey, Hey - Goodbye

Isn't it funny how your opinion changes when they are talking about YOU.

Parsing That Extra Year

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No longer just a "conspiracy"...

Seems the Tea Party just fired off a warning shot to the COG.  They are coming for you, even if they have to take out rep's to do it.

The COG is spending YOUR money and YOU get no say.  They are quoting and enforcing UN policies.  Sound American as apple pie?

Ever heard of Agenda 21?  Ever heard of the Trinity River Vision?  Know the difference?

Want to fix it?  Ask all of YOUR elected officials these same questions.  If they fully support the NCTCOG, they don't fully support YOU.

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Survey says...

Our air sucks and we're out of water.

If you have been personally affected by "the industry", you will want to check this out.

PLEASE CONSIDER PARTICIPATION IN
Natural Gas Production and Community Impacts Survey

I have been contacted by the Damascus Citizens group of Pennsylvania that has crested a survey for citizens to fill out a survey they are collecting to document the Health and Community Impacts of Gas Production in their communities. Although this is being done by a Pennsylvania citizens group their effort is to document not only their local Impacts with testimonial surveys but through other activists groups and communities across the Nation . How can this help our cause ? Get your experiences officially recorded with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a division of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in the Department of Health & Human Services. Petition to get a Public Health Assessment in your area. This Survey has been created to help you and your community, and change public policy. Your information will go towards creating a national database and a national review of drilling (NGE&P) impacts. We are hopeful also that we can start to find help for impacted people.

Natural Gas Production and Community Impacts Survey 

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WHO didn't see that coming?

Concerning the Texans for Government Transparency lawsuit against the Tarrant Regional Water District, the local "news" paper has decided while it may be against the law and unconstitutional, it's okay.  Cause an election would cost money.  Let's see, an election to give the citizens a vote, would cost less than the restaurant the TRWD built for their friend.  ($900,000)  It will also cost less than the $6 million dollar lawsuit against Oklahoma.

Seems if they got some more new blood on the water board, they would spend less on frivolous things.  Sounds like the "news" paper is more worried about keeping "continuity" on the water board.  Now WHY would that be?  Wouldn't they be more concerned about THE PEOPLE having a voice?  And a governmental agency following the law?  Maybe they should be.  Maybe they'll be next...

When they extended the other water board member terms in 2012, Jim Lane voted against it, his thinking was the voters deserved to throw him out after his term if desired.   WHAT changed?  Aside from it's his turn? 

If you want to read a real article about the TRWD lawsuit, check out the Fort Worth Business Press.

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Remember

Way back in 2012 when the Tarrant Regional Water District voted to give themselves another year in office?  Even the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who likes to look the other way when it comes to the Water Board, took note of the usually unanimous voting board being not so unanimous on this particular vote.   Well, to get away with moving their elections this time, they came up with HB3900 and sent it to Perry to extend yet another set of elections.  The first time it was to "save money", this time it's so the elections will be held in odd numbered years.  Either way, it's crap.

So, a newly created group for Texans, along with a former water board candidate and a concerned resident have filed suit. 

You can read about the lawsuit on the Fort Worth Weekly. 

If you want to attend the lawsuit hearing against the TRWD concerning the 'alleged' violations of the TOMA laws, it's Friday at 2:00.  Sounds like it will be a long day on Northside Drive tomorrow.

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Another one bites the dust

Seems Fort Worth demolished yet another home.

WHO do these people report to?

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No, he didn't show...but THEY did

It was standing room only at the Cornyn Town Hall, called by THE PEOPLE WHO elected him.  Sadly the Senator couldn't be bothered to show.  Remember that when he runs for office again.  Matter of fact, call all your representatives from the local level to Washington and ask when their free town halls are held.  After the moment of silence, tell them you are serious.

The Cardboard Cornyn did make an appearance for photo ops.  You know how those veteran politicos love their photo ops.

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Gotta Pay to see Kay

That's what we were told recently when asked about a town hall with Congresswoman Granger.  Apparently she only holds telephone town halls and most all events she attends require a fee to attend. And if you are privileged enough to attend, you are not allowed to ask questions.

We were reminded of this by the meeting invitation for Saturday.  The Senator can't seem to be bothered to attend.  But the people that elected him can.  WHAT do you think they'll do next election?

Sponsored by FreedomWorks and Grassroots Texans since Sen Cornyn has not scheduled any Town Halls...

 People's Town Hall for Senator Cornyn

 Saturday, Aug 17, 2013
 Dallas, Texas
 4:30PM-7:30PM

 Begins : Saturday, August 17 2013 at 4:30 pm
 Location: Embassy Suites - Mesquite Ballroom
 Address: 13131 North Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75243

Local patriots have been putting a lot of time in to organize and promote the People's Town Hall for John Cornyn.

 PLEASE NOTE: This event is 100% FREE--including dinner!

 As you may know, we the people of Texas pay Senator John Cornyn a salary of $174,000.00 per year. Over the course of a six-year term, that's over a million dollars.

 Given that we pay the man much more than most of us make, it's understandable that we would expect that Senator Cornyn would be so kind as to make himself available to us on a periodic basis, to discuss the critical issues facing our Republic and how he plans to address them.

 Apparently, Senator Cornyn disagrees.

 Despite repeated requests from constituents, Senator John Cornyn has not seen fit to host any in-person townhalls during the August Recess to hear from the people of Texas.

 Being Texans, we're not inclined to let that stand. In order to provide every opportunity, WE'RE holding a townhall for him this Saturday.

 We are inviting Senator Cornyn to join us for this conversation. While we have not received a confirmation of attendance we are hopeful he will ultimately decide to participate.

 Following the townhall, we are holding a strategy session for the Come and Take It campaign to stop the Obama Machine's Progressive takeover of Texas.

 Dinner will be provided between the townhall and strategy session.

 4:30 - 5:30 PM Central - John Cornyn Townhall Meeting
 5:30 - 6:00 PM Central - Dinner
 6:00 - 7:30 PM Central - Come and Take It Strategy

 COME ON OUT AND JOIN US!

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Famous quotes...

Okay, they may not be famous, but they made us laugh.  And we have a feeling someday they will be famous.  Just like the Fort Worth Way.

Read Durango's latest Frequently Asked Questions here.

"You reading this in the sane parts of America, I guarantee I am not making this up."

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Seems everywhere you go...

Everyone is talking about the Tarrant Regional Water district. Now WHY is that?

The Weekly and a Texas Watchdog sink their teeth in and tell you why.

The next Water Board meeting is Tuesday morning. The last few were standing room only. Come early.

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Grand Prairie has no water while Fort Worth Pays more for less...

That may sound odd to those of you who aren't from around here, but us locals are unfortunately used to the Fort Worth Way. 

While Fort Worth and the Tarrant Regional Water District fiddle with the rates, again, we're told to water twice a week (by a guy they pay with those rate increases).  Good luck to you, Grand Prairie.  Maybe you guys can come take a bath in the Trinity River on Thursday nights when the Trinity River Vision Authority (under TRWD) holds their weekly Floating with Feces event.  It's probably not what you had in mind, but beggars can't be choosers. 

How old was the water main that broke in GP?  How old is the one to your hood?

WHO's next?

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One step forward and two steps back

That's what the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has done.  Again.  Just when they start to give a glimpse of being a real newspaper, they let their Editorial Board shoot themselves in the foot...again.

Just yesterday the Fort Worth Weekly even gave them props for finally reporting on a story that the Weekly reported on seven years ago...

(News judgment reached an embarrassing low leading up to the May election for board members. The newspaper’s articles sounded as if they’d been written by the incumbents’ mothers.)

And then today, we're back to the same old drivel from the "news" paper. They want people to quit talking about the Tarrant Regional Water District deer lease, deer camp, whatever you want to call it.  However, no one has yet to answer the real question - IS IT LEGAL?  Well, is it?  Public lands for the private use of district employees.  Does it sound legal to you?  Is that why they want you to stop talking about it?

The district says they can't sell the land because it's in a floodplain on Lake Bridgeport.  Is this the same Lake Bridgeport that the "news" paper reported on yesterday as being so dry you can walk across it?  Partly due to the fact the TRWD is sending their lake water down to the other lakes?

But while the water district wants to blame Mother Nature for the lake’s dry condition, some area property owners say a longstanding agency policy favors downstream reservoirs such as Lake Worth and Eagle Mountain Lake.

From mid-April to June 20, the water district released a large amount of water from Lake Bridgeport — about 20,000 acre-feet — to maintain levels at downstream lakes as part of agreements with water customers such as the city of Fort Worth.

Will someone start a real "news" paper in Fort Worth already?  The Weekly can't do it all alone and frankly, we're tired of waiting.

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When the river runs dry

You swipe water from someone else.  That's how the game is played here anyway.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has started writing articles about TRWD that have nothing to do with Trinity River Vision.  Finally.  Because the real question should be, WHAT does that have to do with water?  Or flood control for that matter?  The bonus question is - WHY are people floating in the sewer??

The comments on the articles are sometimes the most telling, here are a few -

One thing that everyone needs to realize - Bridgeport lake was built in the first place primarily for flood control to Tarrant county, and secondly as a water supply. If TRWD maintains the lower lakes to almost full level (by draining from Bridgeport) then Ft Worth and surrounding areas will be at a greater risk for flooding.    

Many short sighted people here.  This is a valuable resource that we should all be concerned about.  If this drought persists, we could all have trouble getting water.  This will impact all of the N. Texas region, impacting the overall economic health of this region.

It's not just the drought drying up our lakes. The City of Granbury is selling acres of water from Lake granbury to the oilfield industry.Residents have banded together to try and stop it. Lake homes with docks now sit on dry land and they are trying to raise petitions to stop it.

It was worse in 1980.  This "lake" was created to be drained.  Everyone who lives on it knows that.  It will rain again.  It always has.

What's really crazy is the water being let out of Benbrook so the drunks can float in their inner tubes downtown. Call it what you want; it's still a sewer.

How many weeks has this rag been running articles on this non-news event?
We're in a drought- no one can use water from Texoma- a certain amount of water from this lake has to be allowed downstream- water utility districts contracted for water from this lake and someone neglected to put a max drawdown in the contract.  Go after the lawyers who wrote the contract.

Climate change?  What climate change?  Whoever could have predicted that the Western United States, including all of West Texas, would have become consistently hotter and drier?  Just move along, nothing to see here. 

OK Sheeple, follow the star-telegram's directions here: It's all the fault of the TRWD board of directors. They should all be out doing rain dances across the dry lake bed.

Cry babies.  Sorry, live on a real lake that isn't manage by the TRWD if you want fair.

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They are gagging YOUR kids...literally

Have you ever told a child not to tell something? WHY?  And how long did their silence last?

The gas industry has been known for paying people in return for their silence, though this takes the cake.

Speak up before they silence YOUR children next.

The Hallowiches, former anti-fracking activists, had been living on a 10-acre farm in Mount Pleasant when they brought a lawsuit against Range Resources, Williams Gas/Laurel Mountain Midstream and MarkWest Energy. They claimed that the adjacent Marcellus Shale operations damaged the health of their family, including their children, then 7 and 10, by causing burning eyes, sore throats, headaches and earaches. 

They also claimed operations contaminated their drinking water and rendered their property worthless. They had purchased it in 2005, unknowingly inheriting a lease with Range Resources. Soon after the Hallowiches built their house in 2007, gas wells, access roads, a gas-processing facility and compressor stations were constructed on bordering properties, bringing with them noise, lights and emissions, according to reports. 

The hearing transcript about the children’s gag order, ordered public by a judge along with the other court records last week, shows the Hallowiches agreed to the restrictive terms of the settlement—which also included the signing of a statement saying that the family’s health was not negatively affected by the drilling—in order to be able to move on from the situation.

“We have agreed to this because we needed to get the children out of there for their health and safety,” Stephanie said, according to the transcript. “My concern is they’re minors, I’m not quite sure I fully understand. I know we’re signing for silence forever, but how is this taking away our children’s rights being minors now?”

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WHERE's Tommy Lee now??

Seems Arlington has jumped on the suing Chesapeake bandwagon. Others suing the company include the DFW Airport, the Fort Worth Bass family, unnamed landowners and folks out in Johnson County.

The list (and someone's nose) keeps growing.

Read about it in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Especially if you've been fracked...

WHO's next?

The city is suing Chesapeake Exploration, saying the company underpaid royalties on natural gas pumped from about 1,908 acres of public land.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in a civil District Court in Tarrant County, alleges that the Oklahoma City-based energy company has deducted post-production costs from the city’s royalty payments that are not only unauthorized under the lease agreements but also appear to be “excessive and unreasonable.”

Arlington said it has not been able to quantify its monetary damages for the contract breach because Chesapeake has withheld lease documents. But the city said in the suit that it expects to seek monetary relief in excess of $1 million.

Arlington said it has not been able to quantify its monetary damages for the contract breach because Chesapeake has withheld lease documents. But the city said in the suit that it expects to seek monetary relief in excess of $1 million.The suit also alleges that these deductions are not apparent from the information that Chesapeake has provided to the city, saying that those statements “misleadingly reflect” that no deductions are being taken. 

The city sent a letter to the company in April raising concerns about underpaid royalties and the improper deduction of costs. The company did not respond, according to the suit.

“Instead, Chesapeake continues to engage in a scheme of affiliated transactions aimed at hiding or embedding impermissible cost deductions and suppressing the royalties it pays to the city,” the suit says.
Arlington’s suit is similar to one filed against Chesapeake in federal court this year by Fort Worth investor Ed Bass and more than a dozen other landowners in far south Tarrant County. That lawsuit claims that Chesapeake has cheated them out of potentially millions of dollars in royalties for leases on 3,952 acres at the Tarrant-Johnson County line, south of Benbrook Lake.

Last year, Chesapeake Energy agreed to pay Dallas/Fort Worth Airport $5.3 million to settle a similar lawsuit after the airport alleged it had been shortchanged on royalty money from wells Chesapeake drilled on its property. The airport used its gas money to help pay for capital projects including the $1.9 billion terminal renovation.

Joining these large entities in suing Chesapeake are individual landowners. In 2012, Charles and Robert Warren, along with another couple in Johnson County, were seeking class action status in a lawsuit filed in federal court, a rarity in a Texas oil and gas royalty dispute. The case was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn in May and is currently on appeal.

The suit against Chesapeake isn’t Arlington’s only legal battle with the natural gas drilling industry. 

Last year, the Texas Oil & Gas Association and the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association sued Arlington over the creation of a gas well fee.

The fee was expected to generate about $800,000 a year so that Arlington, which has 300-plus gas wells, could hire six more firefighters and to train and equip 42 current firefighters for the creation of two gas well emergency response teams. 

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Do they read??

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram finally did an article on the Tarrant Regional Water District deer lease. 

See: Tarrant water district's use of private camp on public land draws questions.

We're impressed they are finally reporting on the water board.  However,  the FWST states, "Few people knew about the camp before the election."  WHY is that?  The Fort Worth Weekly wrote about the deer lease in 2006.

John Basham and Adrian Murray questioned the deer lease in their 2010 campaign.  We're glad the FWST is getting up to speed.  Hopefully they catch up quick.

The Tarrant Regional Water District, the public agency that supplies most of the water in North Central Texas, owns and operates the land. For decades, its employees have been allowed to use the camp, which includes deer stands and a shooting range, for free.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which manages millions of acres of public land, has an ethics policy that prohibits employees from accepting free hunts, a spokesman said.

“The Parks and Wildlife doesn’t have any private hunting resorts for its employees,” spokesman Mike Cox said. “We’re prohibited by our ethics policy from accepting any free hunts from anybody.

If it’s funded by taxpayer funds, we’re providing them a $15,000 to $20,000 retreat,” he said.

Kelleher, the challenger who received more votes than anyone on the ballot, said she will continue to press for the board to be more transparent about its money and its property.

Giving the public a closeup view of the hunting camp, she said, is a start.

“I just want it to be acknowledged that a deer hunting camp does exist,” said Kelleher, who proposed that the land use be reviewed periodically.

For example, Kelleher said she was glad to know that visitors are required to sign in and out of the cabin on a log book, which was placed on the dining table during the Star-Telegram’s visit last week.

On that day, however, the book contained only blank sheets.

Read more here:

The Texas Parks The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which manages millions of acres of public land, has an ethics policy that prohibits employees from accepting free hunts, a spokesman said.“The Parks and Wildlife doesn’t have any private hunting resorts for its employees,” spokesman Mike Cox said. “We’re prohibited by our ethics policy from accepting any free hunts from anybody. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which manages millions of acres of public land, has an ethics policy that prohibits employees from accepting free hunts, a spokesman said.“The Parks and Wildlife doesn’t have any private hunting resorts for its employees,” spokesman Mike Cox said. “We’re prohibited by our ethics policy from accepting any free hunts from anybody.

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Goodbye to a River, and a REAL Texan

RIP, John Graves.  John Graves was best known for writing Goodbye to a River, trying to save the river he so dearly loved.
 
Does anyone else find it odd that some who are writing with such admiration for Mr.Graves and his love for the river are the same who write about and promote destroying ours?

Only in Fort Worth could they say, poor John, then promote this.

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Little late?

Haltom City and the Corp of Engineers is finally getting a move on fixing Little Fossil Creek.  A project that dates WAY back. We're wondering how long it will take for them to fix Big Fossil Creek?  The monster that runs through many cities.

WHY was Haltom City left holding the bag on millions and WHERE did they "find" the money?  Is this the same place their U.S. Congresswoman "found" money for her son's bridge projects?

Read about the creek and the rising cost in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Construction of the $12 million first phase, which began last year, is expected to be completed in December, according to the Corps of Engineers. On the drawing board since 1994, the project will widen the channel to an average of 75 feet; beef up the sides with concrete, rocks, interlocking blocks and grass to prevent erosion; create a pool downstream from the Trinity Railway Express tracks with a small dam; and add a hike-and-bike trail along the entire project.

Little Fossil flooding traditionally was a greater threat to commercial properties than residential, Muir said. In the review plan for Little Fossil Creek Flood Control Project, the Corps of Engineers said a 1981 flood caused about $10 million in damage. 

The project will cost the city an estimated $12 million or more. The federal government is covering only about $7 million of the project’s first-phase cost, leaving Haltom City holding the bag for more than $5 million, and for the entire cost of phase two.

“We’re anticipating another 6 to 7 million dollars,” Muir said.

Haltom City voters approved a $4 million bond election in 2001 for the project. The rest of the funding has come from certificates of obligation, which do not require voter approval, Muir said. “The option was to say forget it, or grin and bear it and find the money,” he said. “So we found the money.”

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WHO is the tool?

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote an editorial concerning the Tarrant Regional Water District (Read: Uncomfortable times ahead for Water District)  and it may be one of their best yet.  However, if they think people will forget that the FWST has been the biggest cheer leading tool of the water district and their shenanigans, they might want to think again. 

Also, if they think Mary Kelleher answers to anyone other than herself and the man upstairs, they don't know Mary.  We do.  And so do many of the thousands (nearly 9,000) who voted for her. 

Mary has worked in the county for over 20 years, she has made many contacts and life long friends while doing so.  She is also a very involved, respected member of her well organized neighborhood group, as well as the farming community of Tarrant County.  Neighbors and farmers have all told us the same thing about Mary.  She is smart, hard working, trustworthy, capable and determined.  We've yet to hear those same words to describe any other member of the water board.  Those boys (and girl) are going to have to grow up, Mary is here to stay.  And THE PEOPLE are with her.

That 61% increase in voter turn out was only the beginning. 

Mary has been flooded, railroaded, threatened and bullied.  She's not going anywhere and neither are the people that elected her.

That's a fact, Jack.

The main thing the four multi-term members of the Tarrant Regional Water District board of directors must remember about recently elected member Mary Kelleher is that she won.

Putting it mildly, they said the TRWD has some explaining to do.

Lane and Kelleher engaged in a brief staredown, after which he apologized. Let’s hope that’s the last of the schoolyard behavior at TRWD. Kelleher was elected to a four-year term, she’s on the board, and other board members might as well accept that she’s going to be asking some questions that will make them uncomfortable.

Read more here: 

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What did YOU vote for?

As usual, Don Woodard has wise words about the Fort Worth Bond Election.  This man could save YOU some money in 2014.  And he comes from a generation that when they say, you can take that to the bank.  He meant YOURS, not theirs....

I hope my City Councilman Zim Zimmerman (who is Mayor Pro Tem) and at least four others on the Council will insist that any item in the proposed $292 million 2014 Bond package earmarked for the Trinity River Uptown Boondoggle (streets, bridges, intersection round-abouts, etc.) be listed separately on the ballot. Viva Transparency!  This would be a distinct departure from the subterfuge of the 2004 and 2008 bond elections where the wool was pulled over our eyes.

For ten long years, step by stealthy step, the Four Horsemen of this looming environmental, historical and financial Apocalypse -- Congress, City Council, Commissioners Court and the Chamber of Commerce have been able to hide the cost of this cataclysmic Boondoggle under the white sheet of Street Improvements.  

In the City's clandestine 2004 Summary of bond items which few ever saw appeared the following:

Proposition No. 1

Project Scope: These funds would supplement other funding sources from other entities for design and construction for several components to support Trinity River Vision; possibe construction of Henderson Street from 3rd Street to Northside Drive, including the White Settlement Road intersection.
 
But look at this:  This is all that appeared on the 2004 ballot and what the average taxpaying voter voted for, knowing little if anything about the Boondoggle behind the white sheet but very much in favor of his own street project.

Proposition No. 1

The issuance of public securities for street and storm sewer improvements in the aggregate sum of $232,000,000.
                           
In the City's clandestine 2008 Summary of bond items which few ever saw appeared the following:

Proposition No. 1
         
The requested funding provides the City's share of funding for three bridges on the existing arterials Henderson, North Main and White Settlement, where those streets cross over the TRV bypass channel.
                                                                                
But look at this:  This is all that appeared on the 2008 ballot and what the average taxpaying voter voted for, knowing little if anything about the  Boondoggle behind the white sheet but very much in favor of his own street project.

Proposition No.1 

The issuance of public securities for street improvements in the aggregate sum of $150,000,000.
                                     
In both elections the bonds passed. The voter got his own street paved, funds continued to flow for the Boondoggle and the Four Horsemen rode off to await the next bond election.

As stated above, in the 2004 and 2008 bond elections, the promoters and developers of this voracious tax eater, backed by the power and prestige of the Four Horsemen, cloaked the  Boondoggle components -- bypass channel, three bridges and a roundabout --in the sacrosanct Holy of Holies cocoon of Street Improvements.  They have steadfastly refused to put Trinity Uptown to a vote of the people.  Who believes the voters knew they were committing millions of dollars to the Boondoggle when they voted for a pig in a poke Street Improvements?  Step by stealthy step the charade has been foisted upon us.  If you attend one of the community 2014 Bond meetings ask that any Trinity Uptown item be listed separately on the ballot.

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Thank goodness for Mary and the FWW!

Both standing up for THE PEOPLE and THEIR water and money.

WHO does the board think they are?

Thanks to the Fort Worth Weekly for reporting the real deal.

Nice try FWST but the semantics of whether it's a "deer lease" or a "deer camp" pale in comparison to what really transpired.

“Given the public perception of the secrecy at the Tarrant Regional Water District, denying a board member access to records does nothing to dispel that perception,” she said.

Water district board meetings have been sparsely attended in recent years. Residents describe them as rubber-stamped dog-and-pony shows with little insight or discussion. That’s changing, thanks to Kelleher’s dogged attempts to shed light on this powerful agency with about $160 million in its general fund. The water district is charged with making sure this region has plenty of water in the future. However, it has become known more for using its eminent domain powers to push the Trinity River Vision project, which seems to be aimed mostly at making money for already-rich people while doing little for flood control or any other truly public purpose.

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WHO is

J. Parker Ragland?

And what happened to the reporter who was covering TRWD for the Fort Worth Business Press?

The latest article about yesterday's meeting leaves a lot of questions to be answered.

Like are those newly voted on "governance policies" legal?

And if Lane wants to get Mary to vote, get her the info she requested.  Simple.  Stop orchestrating roadblocks.

“I requested records from the board members ... a month has gone by now, and most of the records I have requested have still not been made available to me. This is the first time I have served on a board, and while I may lack procedural knowledge, my common sense remains in tact.”

While there was a small group of observers at a board meeting last month, the Monday, July 22 meeting took place in front of a larger crowd.

“Y’all [Kelleher and her supporters] are all here, and this is all orchestrated, and we all know that, and that’s fine. I’m trying to figure out how to get you [Kelleher] to vote on things at this board and to participate,” said Jim Lane, a TRWD board member.

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Just when you think the "news" can't get any worse

They repeat their stories.

Catch the FW Weekly calling out the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Again.  You'd think they'd be tired of it by now and actually strive to be a real news source.

From reading the comments, seems it may never happen----

Another commenter asked the obvious question: Why is the Star-Telegram writing about Lake Granbury and the Brazos River Authority when the paper has a hands-off policy on writing anything remotely critical about the Tarrant Regional Water District? “Typical Star-Telegram; report on this, but ignore the water management problem in our own backyard,” LesleyPezley wrote. “The local water board is totally mismanaging Lake Bridgeport. They’ve been allowing millions of gallons to go downstream during a time of drought, and now that lake is at less than 50 percent capacity. I’ve pointed this out in comments on several drought-related stories, but have yet to see a single question asked by the S-T about this. Pitiful excuse for a ‘news’ paper. More like a propaganda rag.”

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TxDOT WHAT??

Read the latest unconstitutional scam here.  Seriously, read it, YOU are paying for it.

But that certainly doesn’t give TxDOT permission to sidestep the Texas legislature and write its own rules, violate the Constitution, and obligate Texans to a virtually unlimited number of taxpayer bailouts of toll roads, whether public or private. It’s not only double taxation but also fiscally reckless. This arrogant move by TxDOT demonstrates why state agencies don’t get to appropriate themselves money from the state treasury. The Texas legislature appropriates tax money, and it’s directly accountable to the people who elected them. So bypassing lawmakers makes TxDOT its own defacto taxing entity -- like a king making laws in his own fiefdom.

State officials, especially those charged with oversight over the Texas state budget and enforcement of the Constitution, need to step-in to prevent this un-Constitutional loan guarantee by TxDOT that could be the final nail in the coffin sealing the state’s fiscal cliff on road funding.

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Worth a shot...

Sounds like the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is tired of being left out of the Water Board game.  They haven't reported on anything that has taken place since the election.  Sources say it's because newly elected board member and rising star, Mary Kelleher, won't give them an interview.  She recently refused, due to their completely biased and unprofessional reporting on the Tarrant Regional Water District election.  Now they are assigning a new reporter (though he's been entrenched in FW and ST for well over a decade) to cover TRWD.  That should work... 

While his first story may be somewhat of an improvement, the ST has a long way to go to prove they aren't just in business to haul water for their friends on 7th street.

We do have some questions for the fresh, unbiased reporters over at FWST concerning their campaign finance article about the water board.

While it finally admits incumbents, too, received campaign donations, from places like Kay Granger's "campaign fund" (WHAT??), it still never mentions "out of town" money/donors.  Isn't this the very thing the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was harping on the candidates for?

What exactly is the "neighborhood outreach" the incumbents spent money on?  Was this neighborhood in Como?

Have the ST reporters read the IPL pipeline report that the water board produced?

Is HillCo still representing the City of Fort Worth?

If the ST would answer our question, we'd gladly print them. 

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Toxic Environment

No we're not talking about the Trinity River, though that's about as toxic as you can get.  We're talking about yet another board in Tarrant County that operates in the "Fort Worth Way" and is an embarrassment to all who it is supposed to represent.  Some of the quotes in the FW Weekly article about the latest Joe Palazzolo lawsuit speak volumes.  Remember that come election time.  WHO put these people in office in the first place??

The "That's the way things are done around here" excuse doesn't fly anymore...things are about to change.

And we now see yet another link as to WHY a certain trustee would want to censure Ann Sutherland.  The same trustee that according to the FWW article, lied during her deposition.  (Did she also call Betty Brink evil?!)

And could Mayor Price have one of her Police escorts return the Weekly's calls.  Inquiring minds want to know what took place at that meeting...

That sound you hear are the dominoes starting to fall...

His saga has taken more left turns than a NASCAR race. The drama started in 2010 when Palazzolo, acting in his role as the school’s diversity program officer, went to administrators with teacher complaints about attendance fraud, disparate treatment of minority students, misappropriation of funds, and the inappropriate behavior of some faculty members. When the administrators chose to cover up the wrongdoings instead of acting on them, he said, he took his grievances to the Texas Education Agency.

Eventually an internal investigation by the district found the majority of Palazzolo’s complaints to be accurate. Additionally, a TEA auditor found that during a six-week period in 2009 the school had reported numerous students present in their classrooms when in fact they were not and fined the district almost $18,000.

Based on the information Palazzolo produced, three administrators and one coach at Heights were pressured into retiring or resigning. But only one person from Heights was fired: Palazzolo.

For blowing the whistle while doing a job the district created for him specifically to report wrongdoing, Palazzolo was punished. He has been demoted, transferred twice, put on administrative leave, then fired, reinstated, fired again, and since then has yo-yoed in and out of courthouses and hearing rooms. The latest turn in the soap opera involves leaked records, busted agreements, and an inevitable return to court.

They want Palazzolo to get what is due him, but they also want their day in court. For them, this trial represents the best shot at getting out to the public the details of what they see as widespread, deeply entrenched problems at the school district: intimidation, cronyism, and corruption.

One quote from an April deposition of school board president Judy Needham exemplifies the kind of testimony that the district’s critics want to see come out.

Palazzolo attorney Jason Smith had asked Needham about reports that Palazzolo’s former boss at Arlington Heights had recommended him for a promotion to another campus. Why recommend a promotion for someone she disliked?

The boss just wanted Palazzolo out of the building, Needham told Smith. “That’s the way things are done around here.”

Ironically, many of its critics feel it is the district that is lying, covering up, bullying, and discriminating.

“I’ve never worked in a place like this … I am in shock,” she said at the time. “It is truly a toxic environment.”

Palazzolo said he thinks the board is trying to bully her into silence. “It’s…disturbing that the board would censure someone that I listed as a witness, apparently in part because they did not like how she would testify,” he said “It’s an insult to the judicial process and makes me worry about the other witnesses I listed who still work for the district and are reporting retaliation.

Several other teachers wrote that Perry often bragged about her friendship with Needham and threatened that the school board trustee would retaliate against anyone who spoke against Perry.

In her deposition in April, Needham said that she had no knowledge of Palazzolo’s involvement in the story. However, in a July 2010 e-mail to then-Superintendent Melody Johnson, Needham referred to Palazzolo and Brink working together on the story.

“Can you believe that evil woman and Joe,” Needham said in the e-mail.

Palazzolo believes that it was no accident that the district struck a deal with a law firm that collects taxes three weeks before he received a letter from the same firm trying to collect a 30-year-old debt from Oklahoma.

In the deposition, Needham admitted visiting the home of Barbara Williams, a partner of the law firm Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, & Sampson — the firm that collects delinquent taxes for the district, Tarrant County, and Fort Worth.

Needham told Smith she could not remember if her visit was before the board voted to award the firm the contract to collect taxes for the district. She and Williams met again, along with Mayor Betsy Price and trustee Tobi Jackson, at Michael’s Restaurant to discuss the contract.

The board hired the firm in October 2010, and the following month Palazzolo received a letter from Linebarger trying to collect the $435 debt owed to the state of Oklahoma. Linebarger claimed the debt, with late fees and penalties, had ballooned to $26,000. Palazzolo claims he paid off the debt long ago. (Linebarger also collects back taxes for Oklahoma.)

In an e-mail to the Weekly, Needham said that the meeting at Michael’s had nothing to do with Palazzolo.

There was absolutely no discussion of ‘going after Joe’ at the luncheon,” she said. “His name was never mentioned.”

Price could not be reached for comment.

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Tarrant County Karma Catch Up

Seems folks are starting to ask questions about the way things are done in Tarrant County government offices. Keep asking. The lights are coming on, let the dominoes fall where they may.

It is dated 5 weeks after the May 24, 2012 meeting. So if changes were made to the project, why didn't the county put the job back out for bid or why wasn't there a change order to the original contract?

"That sounds like a pretty major change in the scope of the work?" questioned Becky Oliver.

"On a job this size, that is pretty significant," said Howard. "Most times an actual formal document is prepared and issued, yes."

Records show Howard was also paid another $5,775.00 for a slab added to a private driveway. The driveway raises more questions about work on private property and whether the county is following proper procedures.

"I don't have any control over what goes on inside the county," said Howard. "All I know is that I did my job and I did not do anything wrong."

Last month, Fox 4 reported on another questionable project in Precinct 1.

Fox 4 watched county crews working all day to take down a fence on private property. Commissioner Roy Brooks told Fox 4 it was a recommendation from the Tarrant County District Attorney's office.
"Before we undertook the project, we cleared it with the district attorney's office, they cleared it," said Brooks.

Later Brooks admitted the DA's approval was for another project involving trees but not a fence.

"It borders on the absurd," said David Brooks, an expert on county government.

David Brooks told Fox 4 he did not believe the county could use tax dollars to remove a fence on private property.

Emails show the fence job was set up after the ranch manager contacted supervisor T.C. Webster and asked for the county to consider assisting with fence removal.

"Is this just another example of what is going on in that office?" Oliver asked the former employee.

"Most definitely," said the source. "I don't want my job back. I don't hate the people but what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. Knowing how bold they are, never being questioned, never being held responsible for their actions."

When government contracts are involved, there are checks and balances in place to help control fraud and ensure taxpayers are getting their money's worth. The documents from this road project have been turned over to law enforcement outside the county. Tarrant County officials are expected to turn over the results of their investigations to commissioners on Tuesday.

A press release was sent to Fox 4 on Monday. The release came from a firm that says it does strategic political communication consulting. The release says Commissioner Brooks is pleased with the project reviews and adds his office will be implementing the auditor's recommendations immediately. Fox 4 asked the county's spokesman why Commissioner Brooks was responding to a third party about the report. The spokesman said he knew nothing about the news release.

Read more: Investigation - Tarrant County Concrete

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Fort Worth Fail...again

If you've been keeping up with the Weekly you know residents in Fort Worth have been having problems with city workers doing things on their property without permission and apparently without plans or oversight.

First was the tree they chopped down on private property.

Second was the sidewalk they laid (on private property) across residents driveways, making it illegal to even park at your own house.

Now here's the kicker.  The city has demolished the wrong house.  Oops.

Can someone find out what's going on down there?  Maybe one of the policeman that have been assigned to get Mayor Price aspirin, could look into it.

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WHO pays?

That would be YOU.

Read Clyde's editorial in the Fort Worth Business Press.

Between them and the Weekly, FW does have a newspaper after all.

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Rules of Professional Conduct

Someone once said, "You either comply or you don't..." (Following Kelleher’s statement, Jim Lane, another TRWD board director, asked: “What would be total compliance? You either comply or you don’t. You can’t halfway comply.” - FW Biz Press)

Well, do THEY?? Or don't THEY??

The Trinity River Vision Authority meeting agenda asks the same question.  The last item on the agenda for their meeting at the Water District on the 17th @ 2:00 happens in Executive Session.  In addition to "deliberating the purchase or value of real property", "private attorney consultations regarding pending or contemplating litigation", last but not least -

EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER TEXAS GOV’T CODE SECTION 551.071 TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF COUNSEL UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH CHAPTER 551, TEXAS GOV’T CODE 

So they are discussing property they've taken or want, suing people and being sued, and rules of conduct in conflict with Texas Gov't code.  What do any of those things have anything to do with water?

They also list the people they want to thank for the Fort Worth Fourth.  The TRWD being the first on the list.  HOW much of YOUR money did the TRWD and the TRVA spend for that?

We noticed they didn't thank you, nor the Fort Worth Fire Department.  You know, those guys who saved their butt when their firework show set the levee on fire. 

Keep it Classy, guys. 

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Another Slap in the face for the FW Star-Telegram

This time from the Fort Worth Weekly.

Hey, they asked for it.

Read the Weekly's "Out with a Lout" here.

Kelleher wrote a letter to Oliver saying she hopes her future requests for public information “will not be met with raised voice, chest-pounding, disrespect, and other behavior unacceptable for a public servant, let alone the senior executive of the TRWD.”

The grinding of Oliver’s teeth could reportedly be heard as far away as Poughkeepsie. The district issued a statement denying that he had raised his voice.

Still, not even a mouse stirred at the Star-Telegram offices in downtown Fort Worth. The newspaper that practically begged voters to re-elect the incumbents and maintain the status quo has made no mention of Kelleher’s run-in with Oliver and the resulting fallout. But — notwithstanding the occasional excellent investigative piece and the work of some remaining ethical, talented reporters — the paper will gladly sell you a subscription if you want to help them suck up to power.

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Protection from WHAT?

Way back in March, we asked WHY all the cops?

We couldn't figure out why Mayor Price would need 5 policemen and 5 cop cars to meet with local residents in a park.  WHO needs that kind of security?  WHAT does it cost you?  (Supposedly $380,000, so far).

According to the Fort Worth Police Department and the report on CBS 11, a lot.  It's going to cost all of us as they can't afford to pay for cops for both us and her.  WHO would you prefer they protect?

Seems some of the FWPD officers have even traveled outside of the country with Mayor Price.

Again, we have to ask, WHY does the mayor of Fort Worth need to be traveling all over the globe getting people to come to Fort Worth?  How exactly do you sell that?  Come to the land where it's hot, you sit in traffic for hours each day, the air quality sucks and we're running out of water.  Oh and don't forget, we lead the way for eminent domain.

Welcome to Texas.

From the DFW CBS Local article titled Facing Budget Cuts, Police Question Security Costs For Mayor...

“They carry the mayor’s bag. They go get her aspirin when she needs some aspirin. They occasionally have been known to monitor her Facebook page (and) take photos of her,” said Steve Hall, President of the FWPOA.

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Good question, WHERE is the "news" coverage?

Way back when we started this blog, over four years ago, we weren't up and running a week before we received an email from the Fort Worth Weekly.  They were working on their article "Falling Star" about the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and it's rapid decline.  They asked if we thought the "news"paper had become irrelevant.  With each passing day, it's more and more obvious, the answer is yes.

The FW Weekly, Durango, KERA, CBS 11 and the Fort Worth Business Press have all reported on what Durango refers to as Olivergate, concerning the latest fiasco at the Tarrant Regional Water District (Okay, not the latest fiasco, that would be them setting the levee on fire during the fireworks show). 

And YOUR local paper, the one that claims to bring you the "news" has not even made mention of Olivergate.  WHY?

WHY would YOUR local paper devote so much time and energy into getting the same old incumbents elected just two short months ago and then not report on what happens after?  Do they have ulterior motives?  A hidden agenda?  WHO is keeping the sinking paper from being a real "news" paper?  WHY?  WHAT will happen when that question is answered?

Remember when the real newspaper to the east apologized to its readers?  It manned up and admitted it had been lied to by the politicians and therefore misled voters on a boondoggle.  Do you think sales of the S-T would increase if they became a real "news" paper again?

As usual, if you want to know the scoop, check out Durango.  Sometimes the man outdoes himself.

Local TV has covered the Olivergate Scandal. The Fort Worth Business Press has editorialized in an editorial titled "Outrageous. Infuriating. Unacceptable." that Jim Oliver needs to resign or be fired. While the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has not said a word about the Olivergate Scandal.

And now, after well over a decade of the TRV Boondoggle, what has J.D. Granger wrought? The world's premiere urban wakeboard lake. The world's first drive-in movie theater of the 21st Century. Weekly happy hour inner tube floats. An imaginary world class music venue called Panther Island Pavilion. A 4th of July fireworks extravaganza which lit the Trinity River levees on fire. And a restaurant.

Oh. I almost forgot something else the TRV Boondoggle has wrought, as in dozens of businesses and property owners left in stress and financial straits via the abuse of eminent domain to take property for an un-needed flood diversion channel.

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Clyde knows....

The letter to the editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram speaks volumes.  Clyde knows what's up in Fort Worth, he also knows what's coming.  And he's right, FW deserves better.  With these women, we'll get it.

Sutherland and Kelleher are movers and shakers and both are likely to see strong support in their next elections.

Making Waves

Ooooh, Ann Sutherland isn’t a team player! Oh, no — Mary Kelleher isn’t a team player either. 

What’s happening to the “Fort Worth way,” as former Mayor Mike Moncrief liked to describe it?

Well, the dirty little secret is that neither Sutherland nor Kelleher are Fort Worthers, born and bred. They don’t dance to the band of the ruling elite.

A school district that has experienced 20 years of mismanagement and corruption in construction along with marginal student achievement should welcome an outsider with a different set of educational experiences and a personal education that exceeds that of other board members.

Kelleher, too, is making waves on the water district board. Mary is no slouch when it comes to education and intelligence, and that doesn’t fit the board model.

The Tarrant Regional Water District is behind the billion-dollar Trinity River Vision boondoggle and eminent domain abuse that needs intelligent oversight just as much as the school district.

“Team player and consensus supporter” equals mediocrity and a go-along-to-get-along attitude. Fort Worth deserves better.

Sutherland and Kelleher are movers and shakers and both are likely to see strong support in their next elections. 

— Clyde Picht, Fort Worth

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Out with the Old

The Fort Worth Business Press Editorial this week is way better than the last Opinion piece they let a retired Lockheed employee write.  That one sounded like it came straight out of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram playbook.  This one sounds like truth.  It's time for new leadership in Texas. Get on board, or get off it.

We don't see the link to the current editorial online yet, (so pick up a Biz Press at Staples).  But the title is "Outrageous. Infuriating. Unacceptable."

And the last sentence reads - If Oliver cannot accept that reality, if he cannot bring himself to work with Kelleher as a fully vested member of the governing body that represents his employers - the taxpayers - he should resign immediately.  And is he persists in behaving like an unprofessional lout, the board should fire him.

Good to see the Biz Press is back on board.

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