APPARENTLY MAYOR PRICE IS JUST KIDDING

I was happy to present an overhead slide of this picture and statement by Mayor Price during the discussion [not an accurate description of what happened] on whether or not we should allow the citizens of Fort Worth to VOTE on the issue of increasing the City Council or keeping it at it is now.  Instead what we listened to was a litany of excuses about why members of the council thought we should stay at 8 council districts instead of the citizen mandated 10 plus the mayor.

I would just request that you at least listen to the fact that in order to change the city council, [any Home Rule city council] in any way shape or form....it requires that the City Charter be amended by the citizens of Fort Worth, and ONLY by the citizens of Fort Worth.  That statute can be found in the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 9, Section 9.004 "Charter Amendments" http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.9.htm#9.004

I'm not real sure how Mayor Price can make the statement you read at the left and still say that she was in favor of a non-binding resolution that effectively took the decision making responsibility of altering the city council away from the citizens of this once great city.  How is it possible to tell our neighborhoods that "it's your Fort Worth," and then tell them that their vote and opinion will not count in her view?  How do you, as an elected official, of this city tell the people you are supposed to represent that you want them to "make our great city even better by taking ownership," and then attempt to deny them that ownership...because you think you are smarter than the citizens of Fort Worth?

There will be a petition drive to get the issue of the number of council districts, and most probably term limits as well on the ballot for May of 2012, which is the earliest date possible.  If you want to get involved or to donate funds to help with the petition effort please feel free to contact me, Louis McBee (texasambulance@aol.com) or Fernando Flores (rfflorez@juno.com), and we will be glad to tell you how you can help.  There will be other contacts as we move forward with the petition, but please don't hesitate to put your name in the hat now!

Fort Worth Citizens for Responsible Government

www.fwcrg.org

Coalition for a Better Fort Worth