Fort Worth City Council Arrogance is Boundless

The Fort Worth City Council passed a “non-binding” (although they didn’t make the non-binding part clear to the public) resolution on November 15, 2011, with Council Members Sal Espino and Kathleen Hicks voting against the measure as being unrepresentative of the citizens of our city.

Essentially the resolution states that the Mayor and City Council did not agree with our right to make the decision with regard to possible changes in the city charter (our city constitution) that will affect the number of city council districts.  Preferring instead to make a feeble attempt at forcing their own opinions and personal wishes on the citizens of Fort Worth with a “resolution,” rather than allowing us to make that decision as authorized in the Texas Constitution and state law.

The Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 9, Section 9.1004 clearly states that the power to change our City Charter (our city constitution like the Texas Constitution) rests only with the voters of this city.  The "rules" by which our city council operates (or does not operate) resides in that City Charter and cannot be altered or modified in any way by elected officials.  It's clear that when you consider this latest Fort Worth "resolution" to do nothing, it is very obvious that our founding fathers understood the reasons for NOT allowing elected officials the power to alter our Texas Constitution or the City Charter.

Fort Worth Citizens for Responsible Government has joined the cooperative effort, (Coalition for a Better Fort Worth) that includes concerned citizens, neighborhood leaders, neighborhood associations and public officials.  We are moving forward with a petition drive to put city council charter amendments (propositions) on the ballot for an 11 member council and a second petition for term limits.  The petition effort as being proposed by ordinary citizens wishing to exercise our right to vote on issues that the city council has no authority to modify or amend. 

After talking with many neighborhood leaders that we have known and worked with for years, and conducting my own surveys, I believe that enough support exists (in excess of 75% in favor) to get the petitions completed and get at least these two propositions on the ballot for consideration in May 2012.  For the short term we will be using Fort Worth Citizens for Responsible Government PAC in order to collect donations and expend funds in this collaborative effort.

At no time during the petition drive are we going to engage in debate about whether staying with 8 and 1 is effective or if there is a need for 11 council members.  That debate can and will happen once these issues are on the ballot.  We learned with the successful Tarrant County "Over 65 Tax Freeze" petition drive that discussing the issue BEFORE it is actually on the ballot is at best a waste of time, and at worst just plain stupid.  The discussion has no value to anyone outside of general conversation.

If you believe as I we do and want to volunteer in your neighborhood to help us complete these petitions, please feel free to contact me by email at texasambulance@aol.com

Louis McBee

Fort Worth Citizens for Responsible Government
responsible@youcandecide.org