Current drought could become worst ever, state climatologist says

Current drought could become worst ever, state climatologist says

Where is the Fort Worth City Council?

www.fwweekly.com

The only investigative news source left in Fort Worth is the Fort Worth Weekly.  Oh sure, occasionally the Startlegram will pick up on a story and run with it, but usually only after someone like the Fort Worth Weekly leads them to the watering trough and shows them exactly where to drink the "responsibility" water.  And again they have published the "Best of" categories for 2011, allowing for "readers choice" and "Critics Choice" in each category.  I don't mind telling you that I personally find this yearly issue much more informative than listening to the constant diatribe from our daily news sources whenever elections come around.

I could not help but notice that in the categories that usually signal useful involvement in a positive way to protect communities and neighborhoods, such as the best example of "Gumption and Grit," and "Watchdog" group, the Fort Worth City Council nor city staff EVER is in the running for a win in these categories....not to my knowledge anyway.  Time and again elected officials are chosen instead for solid wins in areas such as "Most Likely to Sell Grandma to the Highest Bidder" and "Candidate for Alien Abduction."  Wins that are without question...deserved!

One shining example of community service AND gumption and grit (in my opinion) was the group chosen for the "Watchdog" organization for 2011.  Here is what the Fort Worth Weekly had to say about this wonderful group of dedicated citizens:

Critic’s choice: North Central Texas Communities Alliance

We can’t pick just one of the activists involved in this invaluable group to confer the Top Watchdog title on, so we’re giving it to the whole crew. As does any individual or organization that takes on the 800-pound gorilla of the drilling industry, the NCTCA folks must surely feel sometimes as though they are simply crying into the wind. They go to city council meetings, protest and testify in Austin, do all the myriad other things to try to keep North Texans informed (and, let’s face it, enraged) about the many truly scary aspects of urban gas drilling in these parts — and for what? But the underdogs win one once in a while, and along the way, they are laying the basis for responsible, informed, dogged opposition to an industry that is threatening lives, health, and, frankly, the long-term future of this city. These days, what form of public service could be more valuable?

Congrats also to Layla Caraway for her win as the critics choice for "Free Spirit."  Her tireless work on our behalf with the Trinity River Improvement Partnership will serve not only the citizens of Fort Worth well, but also Haltom City, Richland Hills and North Richland Hills.

Finally, please join with me to encourage our elected officials into putting the effort forward that will enable them to win these yearly categories that truly represent our communities and citizens.

Toxic Chemicals for Fort Worth this Christmas

This cartoon isn't as silly as it might first appear, especially when you consider that the city of Fort Worth has a pilot program that will essentially evaporate toxic waste salt water into the air we breathe in east Fort Worth.  As you contemplate this, consider that many of the toxic chemicals that are present in flow back water from hydraulic fracturing of a gas well evaporate at a much lower temperature than the salt water that contains the chemicals. 

The argument can certainly be made that IF we are going to subject our lungs to this toxic chemical soup we might as well just drink it!  During this horrible drought...if Fort Worth and the Tarrant Regional Water District continue to allow gas drillers to use 3 to 5 MILLION GALLONS of our clean water to fracture each and every gas well....we may very well have to drink flow back water.

What's next?  The foolish city council is on the brink of allowing toxic chemical injection wells all over the city.  That's right, the very same wells that have caused earthquakes in shale drilling states all over this country.  How did we get here?  That will be the subject of the next post, and it is a story of fraud, greed and cronyism....OH, and let's not forget a healthy helping of ignorance on behalf of the Fort Worth City Council.

Charge Him By the Word

Anyone notice the similarity
between Danny and W.C. Fields?
How about the red nose?

The following is a reprint from the Fort Worth Weekly newspaper on September 21st.

Fort Worth City Council member Danny Scarth was downright chatty during this week’s council meeting, proudly describing the 11 months of deliberation that went into establishing Fort Worth’s $1.4 billion budget for fiscal 2012. The budget is balanced, requires no increase in the property tax rate, and includes a 3 percent raise for general employees, who have done without for the past couple of years.

Before voting on the budget, Scarth delivered a long speech with glowing phrases such as “judicious and prudent” and “consistent and stable” to describe the number-crunching the city has done “to use our dollars more wisely.”

But afterward, Scarth wasn’t so eloquent — and not nearly as long-winded — when Weekly muckraker Jeff Prince asked him about the $2,632 in overdue property taxes that the elected official owes. The sum represents about $2,017 in unpaid taxes from 2010, plus $614 in late charges.

The conversation went like this:

Prince: Why do you owe unpaid taxes?

Scarth: Just do.

Prince: Do you plan on paying them?

Scarth: Yes.

Prince: Do you have a plan in mind?

Scarth: Sure do. Thank you.

Scarth then rolled away in his wheelchair before Prince could ask his last question: Should an elected city official be behind on his taxes?

So the reporter instead posed the question to Peter Fletcher, an Eastside resident who lives in Scarth’s district. Fletcher thinks it’s “a shame” that someone who’s  helping balance the city budget can’t or won’t pay taxes (this isn’t the first time Scarth has let his tax bill go overdue).

“He seems to have done this sort of thing a good deal over the years,” Fletcher said. “This raises the question, how he can be expected to be involved in ‘leading the city’ in regard to the city budget and other fiscal matters? In just three months he has added 30.47 percent to the amount he owes. No wonder little gets done for District 4 if he can’t get his taxes paid.”