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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Maybe...

They should stick to WATER.

The Tarrant Regional Water District and the Trinity River Vision were big sponsors of the Fort Worth Fourth fireworks show.  They even had JD Granger promoting it on TV last weekend and had the Fort Worth Star-Telegram sending their few remaining customers email invites.  They partnered with Japan to get fireworks "like you have never seen before".  Well, most people didn't see them at all since there was a glitch and the finale happened about thirty minutes after the firework show.  (Does anyone see any mention of that in the ST?) Seems they set the levee on fire and couldn't get it out.

So let's recap, in recent months, they lost their never fail 5-0 board, they lost a 6 year, $6 million dollar lawsuit to forcibly take water from Oklahoma, and their overly promoted fireworks show was a dud.

Can someone tell these boys to get back to work?  We need a real water board.  Stat.

Oh and while you're at it, a real newspaper would be nice too.

Ka-Bust....

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