Seattle Might Use Eminent Domain To Return A Beach To The Public While In Fort Worth...

Today we have an extremely twisted variant of our popular series of items I read in west coast online news sources, usually the Seattle Times, which would likely not appear in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

What you see here I saw in the Seattle Times and it is something I have seen in the Star-Telegram.

The use of eminent domain to take private property.

Texas, or maybe it is just Tarrant County, uses a unique version of eminent domain.

In Washington, and elsewhere in America, eminent domain is used as a last resort to take private property for the common good, for things like building a highway, hospital, school, park and other things deemed needed for public use.

In Tarrant County I have witnessed eminent domain abused to take private property for a mall parking lot, for a corporate headquarters, for a sports stadium and for a badly executed economic development project which has abused eminent domain to take private property to build an un-needed flood diversion ditch and three little bridges.

The worst eminent domain abuse I have witnessed is that which took place in Arlington to build the Dallas Cowboys a new stadium. Texan's homes were bulldozed to smithereens while the owners had not yet had their case heard in court. This provoked widespread outrage, but no criminal charges. I long ago documented this on a Dallas Cowboy Stadium Scandal webpage.

Now. Contrast how eminent domain is abused in Tarrant County with how and why eminent domain is proposed to be used in Seattle via the Seattle Times Sell or we use eminent domain, Seattle mayor tells owners of beach lot article....

The long battle is continuing over a 60-foot-wide beach lot where Northeast 130th Street dead-ends into the Lake Washington shoreline.

The latest salvo came Thursday from Seattle Mayor Ed Murray.

He has ordered that the city cut a deal with the two owners adjoining the lot on each side. Then it can revert to public use as lake access.

The opening offer will be $400,000, says a spokesman for the mayor.

And if those negotiations fail, Murray plans to ask the City Council for an ordinance to wield that special hammer reserved for government agencies — eminent domain.

To put the $400,000 in perspective, a nearby unbuildable lot on the same street — Riviera Place Northeast — is currently offered for sale at $119,950.

The lot had been publicly used for 82 years as beach access.

Then, due to inept document handling back in 1932, ownership went recently to Holmquist and Kaseburg. The city fought them in court, and lost.

In March, the two put up a chain-link fence and security cameras, recently replaced by a more aesthetic wooden fence.

But a sign still warns, “Private property. No trespassing.” Another sign punctuated, “WARNING. Security Cameras in Use.”

___________________________________________

Now, doesn't that sound like a much more civilized way to use eminent domain to acquire property for public use? Negotiate before bulldozing. What a concept.

In the Seattle case, that property had been used by the public since way back in the 1930s, til legal shenanigans took the property away from the public, which now has the city threatening to use eminent domain to return the property to public use.

But, my favorite part of the article was the part where the two "owners" replaced a chain link fence they had installed to keep the public out, with a "more aesthetic wooden fence."

Meanwhile, in Fort Worth, a park in the town's downtown, built to celebrate Fort Worth's heritage, hence named Heritage Park, had been a boarded up, chain link fence surrounded eyesore for years. With, apparently, no one thinking it might be a good idea to make the eyesore less so by surrounding it with a more aesthetically pleasing wooden fence....

Dallas Cowboy Stadium Eminent Domain Abuse Cases Still In Court

That's the termination anchor point of the northeast end of one of the 2 huge arches that holds up the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington.

That anchor point is right about where Evelyn Wray's house sat. She's is the one most in the news for fighting Arlington over what they wanted to pay her for her property. She ended up with a couple million bucks.

Several of the eminent domain cases are still in court. I have long said it seemed so criminally wrong, to me, to use eminent domain for private gain and then to force people out of their homes and start bulldozing, before they had their say in court.

A new lawsuit regarding Arlington's eminent domain abuse has popped up. The lawsuit is arguing something like the property owners where not paid the proper value for their property. Arguing that proper value is based on highest possible use and value of the property. Or something like that. As I understand it, the lawsuit claims that since a $1.1 Billion building now sits on their property, they were not paid the highest potential value.

Over and over again I've gotten comments telling me I just don't understand how much money this stadium is going to bring to Arlington and how much development is going to take place. These commenters apparently have never been to Texas Stadium and seen the lack of development around that stadium. Or asked themselves, why, if the stadium is so valuable, Irving so easily let it go?

I found interesting info about a previous abuse of eminent domain in Arlington. That time for the Ballpark in Arlington, with someone named George W. Bush steamrolling the eminent domain abuse. As with the Cowboy stadium people fought having their homes stolen. The Ranger ballpark has produced little of the economic boom its backers promised. It all sounds real deja vu.

I'll copy and paste 4 paragraphs about George W.'s foray into abusing eminent domain for private gain....

One of the most famous eminent domain cases involved the Cowboys' future home of Arlington, where baseball's Texas Rangers, at the time owned by George W. Bush, convinced local voters to approve a 1991 tax increase that helped build a new $191 million stadium. The city of Arlington used eminent domain to acquire the property from hundreds of private owners, claiming that the stadium was a "public use," just like highways, schools, or government buildings. Several property owners were lowballed, and court decisions increased their take. (The city, not the team, was responsible for the larger payments. The compensation for one 13-acre plot was increased from $877,000 to $5 million, for example.)

The stadium clearly benefited the Rangers' owners more than anyone else: Bush turned his initial $600,000 investment into $15 million when the team was sold in 1999. But it has produced little of the promised economic benefit to Arlington, and there has never been a real "public use" factor aside from baseball fans' paying their money to see games.

Opponents of stadium deals argue that teams and local governments are getting around the public use issue by placing the stadium or arena in the ownership of a "public sports authority." The property is then tax exempt, and the teams pay nominal rent that is often less than they would have owed in property taxes. The lease arrangements are often lopsided in favor of the teams; many, for instance, allow the franchises to move after a certain time if revenues do not hit projections. This threat to pull stakes and run gives teams strong leverage to renegotiate. If the sports facility were privately owned, there would be no lease to haggle over, and the team would be less willing (and able) to leave.

Without eminent domain, acquiring enough property for a stadium could become expensive. A handful of property owners could hold up an entire complicated deal. "If the court makes the ruling that this is not a valid use of eminent domain, there will be some problems," says Scott Powe, a law professor at the University of Texas. "Huge problems. No doubt, there will be lots of litigating."

A law is winding its way through the Texas Legislature that would greatly restrict the use of eminent domain for private gain in Texas. I'm guessing this law has a very slim chance of passing.

Pondering In Texas About No Condemnation Without Representation No Eminent Domain For Private Gain

I'd been stuck at the computer til 2, or thereabouts. I had need to do some pondering. Pondering works best, for me, while wandering. So, I wandered around Village Creek Natural Historic Area, while I pondered.

What has me pondering is all the eminent domain abuse taking place in Texas. Well, actually an element of the abuse, which only recently was pointed out to me.

I was barely moved to Texas when I was shocked by my first exposure to eminent domain abuse, that being the taking of Hurst citizen's homes so the Northeast Mall could expand its parking lot.

The next abuse of eminent domain happened in Fort Worth when hundreds of low income citizens were booted out of the Ripley Arnold apartments so that Radio Shack could build a new corporate headquarters it could not afford and which is now a branch of Tarrant County Community College.

Next up was the dislocation of over 1,000 people, the taking of dozens of homes, apartment complexes and businesses, so Jerry Jones could build a new football stadium in Arlington. At least out of that worst case of eminent domain abuse in American history the mayor of Arlington, Chuck Cluck, wised up and said there'd be no more use of eminent domain, by the city, in cahoots with Jones.

And then it's back to Fort Worth, where eminent domain is being abused to take homes, businesses and land for something that goes by various names, Trinity River Vision, Trinity Uptown Project, or Fort Worth's Biggest Boondoggle. This use of eminent domain for a project ostensibly for the greater public good, has not been voted on by the public.

And then we stay in Fort Worth for what I think is the worst abuse of eminent domain yet. The scale may be smaller, but the abuse is greater. Courtesy of Chesapeake Energy and the City of Fort Worth.

The Steve Doeung & Carter Avenue versus Chesapeake Energy and Fort Worth case.

This is the one that has me pondering.

Chesapeake Energy has evoked eminent domain to take Steve Doeung's home. Steve decided to fight this in court. As is his right.

So, how is it right that a private company, like Chesapeake Energy, can put a private citizen, like Steve Doeung, in harm's way, via the installation of a non-odorized natural gas pipeline under his land, using the legal system to do so?

A citizen is thus forced into the position of having to defend himself, from this assault on his right to peace in his own home. And this defense is at his expense. How is that right? It is as if you are being metaphorically raped, by the very government that is supposed to protect you, and while you are being metaphorically raped you can not get any legal help to stop the metaphorical rape.

I would think it only common sense that if a private company wants to put a private citizen in harm's way, via the use of eminent domain to take their property, well that private company should have to provide funds so that the victim of their metaphorical rape at least has a fighting chance.

I don't know, for example, Chesapeake Energy files whatever legal documents they file to initiate eminent domain. As part of that filing Chesapeake puts up a bond of some amount sufficient to cover the legal help for the victim they are metaphorically raping.

I can not imagine how violated I would feel, suddenly having my home under assault by a corrupted city and a company the city is in cahoots with. And then to find that there is no mechanism in place to balance the playing field, to make it fair, to make certain the little guy does not get squashed by the big evil guy.

Just a couple days ago, or was it just yesterday, someone added a famous quote to a comment. The famous quote that goes something like "All it takes for Evil to prevail in the world, is for the Good people to do nothing."

I'm getting the sense that there is a rapidly increasing number of good people in the Fort Worth zone who are soon going to be prevailing against the evil in our midst. I'm often very intuitive about matters like this.

Texas Eminent Domain Abuse: Willow Park Sewer Plant Coming To Aledo

In this week's FW Weekly Billy Mitchell has a new Anti Eminent Domain Abuse ad. The new ad is a full page on the inside cover. And on the opposite page is last week's half page ad.

When you attend next Thursday's Downtown Fort Worth Rally, in support of Steve Doeung and Carter Avenue in their battle against Chesapeake Energy's abuse of eminent domain, you will find that Billy Mitchell is one of the featured speakers.

Below is what Billy Mitchell had to say in this week's FW Weekly....

Eminent domain is so easy under Governor Rick Perry, that the City of Willow Park used it to try to put their sewer plant in ANNETTA NORTH's jurisdiction. RIGHT NOW Willow Park has an application filed with TCEQ to put their sewer plant in THE CITY OF ALEDO's jurisdiction (mighty neighborly!) Willow Park also used eminent domain to acquire a private water system that is not even close to their city limits, but is inside THE CITY OF ANNETTA and ANNETTA SOUTH. These selfish deeds were done against the will and without the consent of these cities. (Does Willow Park know where their city limit ends?)

Willow Park filed fee simple eminent domain on my family's farm and mineral rights at $6,500 an acre. FEE SIMPLE TITLE means they are going after everything including mineral rights. They saw a drilling rig preparing to drill a gas well on my property and asked if we own the mineral rights (maybe this is why they wrote FEE SIMPLE TITLE in the eminent domain papers!)

My family has owned this land for over forty years, it is in Aledo ISD, has a stock tank, multiple building sites, 100 year old pecan trees, Trinity River frontage, a coastal hay field, a sudan hay field, and a producing gas well ($6,500 an acre using Texas eminent domain law and a Parker County court.)

Willow Park informed me that they are leaving my family the building sites next to the sewer plant (how generous!) No guarantee of access, but we get to keep the home sites next to the sewer plant. (Just what I have always wanted, a home with no access, next to a sewer plant.)

Willow Park wrote in a certified letter to my family, "We are aware of your need to preserve adequate ingress and egress to the remainder of your property, and we will make every effort to try to meet your needs. The flexibility we have in doing this will be tempered by the City's obligations to maintain the integrity of our sewer site." (Maybe we can use Willow Park's airspace and fly to our home site with our cow suspended from a helicopter!)

Friendly criticism suggests I not use the word CRAP in my ads but use the word BULL instead. Another friend suggests, "Is Rick Perry a True Blue Conservative or Just Another Big Spending Politician?" These two suggestions do not communicate my true feelings toward Willow Park or Governor Rick Perry. I believe Rick Perry is beyond "Another Big Spending Politician." I believe the eminent domain abuse under Rick Perry and his political appointments to his campaign donors is "CRIMINAL."

For more on eminent domain in Parker County visit:

WWW.BILLYMITCHELLSWORLD.COM

Be sure to see the pictures.

The Raw Galling Hypopcritical Hubris Of TRWD Propaganda Is Appalling

Yesterday in a blogging titled More TRWD Election Propaganda Lies From Jim Lane, Marty Leonard, Betsy Price & Mike Moncrief I mentioned an article in the Fort Worth Business Press titled Monty Bennett: Businessman, water district activist about which I said I might have more to say later.

Later would be now, a day later.

Judging from the TRWD incumbent's campaign propaganda the main thrust of their argument for re-election is so as to prevent the takeover of Fort Worth's water by an evil Dallas businessman named Monty Bennett.

Ever since I have been at my Fort Worth location in Texas I have been puzzled by the way some of the Fort Worth locals demonize Dallas. From the start of my puzzlement I have assumed the demonizing comes from Fort Worth's, well, inferiority complex. What with Dallas and Fort Worth being sort of twin sisters, with the one sister, Dallas, sort of being the star of the family, both due to notoriety, due to being the scene of the 20th century's most shocking assassination, and later due to being the setting for what was for several years the world's most popular TV show, which led to Dallas having a skyline recognized world-wide, whilst nothing in Fort Worth is recognized world-wide. But, more than any of that, Dallas is just more of an impressive, world class city than Fort Worth is, or likely will ever be.

Hence the attachment of "Dallas" to "businessman" thus turning a businessman into someone to be feared who is up to no good, when in reality Monty Bennett is simply a successful businessman who does business in Texas, including Dallas, including Fort Worth, where he owns two downtown hotels.

But, it holds no traction for the TRWD propaganda spewers to assert that a Texas businessman is trying to take over Fort Worth's water. Or to assert a Fort Worth businessman is trying to take over Fort Worth's water. Or to assert that an American businessman is trying to take over Fort Worth's water.

No. For the sake of propaganda, the TRWD has to demonize a "Dallas" businessman.

Read the Fort Worth Business Press article and you will learn Monty Bennett is simply a man trying to protect his property from TRWD eminent domain abuse, who in doing so found himself confronted by a corrupt board which did not deal in an above board, transparent, ethical manner.

In all my years prior to moving to Texas I had never witnessed eminent domain being used, let alone abused, to take private property. Since I have been in the Eminent Domain Abuse Capital of the World, Tarrant County, I have lost track of the number of outrageous instances of eminent domain abuse.

Northeast Mall needs more parking space? Abuse eminent domain to take people's homes. Now bankrupt Radio Shack needs land for a new corporate headquarters? Abuse eminent domain to boot people from a public housing project. Jerry Jones wants a new football stadium? Abuse eminent domain to take dozens of houses, businesses and displace well over a thousand people.

Those a just a few examples.

Somehow places in America, like Seattle, for instance, or my old home zone of Mount Vernon, are able to build public works projects where, when land is needed, fairly negotiate with the owners to buy their property. Seattle managed to build a new baseball park, football stadium and exhibition hall without using, let alone abusing, eminent domain. And that is in a densely developed area of downtown Seattle, unlike the area Jerry Jones, and his co-horts in eminent domain abuse, took to build a football stadium.

So, Monty Bennett has used his constitution given rights as an American citizen to defend his property from the TRWD's plans. He tried to work with them, for a solution, to no avail.

One paragraph from the FW Business Press article really irritated me....

“Monty Bennett is a Dallas businessman who is spending millions of dollars falsely attacking the Tarrant Regional Water District in an effort to take control of our local water supply,” said TRWD board President Vic Henderson. “He has filed numerous lawsuits against the district, wasting more than $1 million in TWRD taxpayer and ratepayer dollars.”

First off, Mr. Bennett is not attacking the TRWD. He is defending his property from the TRWD. Second off, it is Mr. Bennett's right to defend himself via the courts. Third off, had the TRWD dealt with Mr. Bennett openly and honestly, the TRWD would not have found itself needing to defend itself in court.

But, more than any of that, this Henderson guy complains that Mr. Bennett has caused the TRWD to waste over $1 million? How many millions did the TRWD board waste on its idiotic attempt to take water from Oklahoma? How many millions has the TRWD board wasted on the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle?

I must leave for a followup blogging what I have to say about the TRWD incumbent's embarrassingly hypocritical accusations about Mr. Bennett financing the campaigns of TRWD candidates, Craig Bickley and Michele Von Luckner.

I tell you, the sheer raw galling hypopcritical hubris of these people is just appalling......

Proposition 11 Wins Slight Victory For Foes Of Eminent Domain Abuse In Texas

There was an election yesterday in Texas, just like there was in most of the rest of America. In Texas we had several Propositions to vote on. All passed.

Including Proposition 11 which alters the Texas state constitution to make it more difficult for local governments to use eminent domain to seize private property to give to a private developer.

The Texas state-wide revulsion to outrageous cases of eminent domain abuse has been fueled by what was done to hundreds of citizens in Arlington so the Dallas Cowboys could have a place to build a football stadium. This is widely believed to be the worst case of eminent domain abuse in American history.

In North Texas we also have had a lot of people annoyed by how the Barnett Shale gas drilling industry has run roughshod over property owners, particularly what has happened in Dish, Texas, with landowners losing large slices of their property to pipelines, effectively destroying the value of their land.

Of yesterday's Proposition 11 approval, Texas Governor Perry said, "The voters of Texas have sent a clear message: Don't mess with private property rights."

Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke said passing the Proposition was an important, but incomplete, victory. Dierschke says the Texas eminent domain laws still favor the condemner of property.

The founder and director of Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (TURF) said, "Texans sent a strong message with their vote that they want eminent domain reform, but Proposition 11 did not get the job done."

Well, Proposition 11 certainly came along 5 years too late to stop Jerry Jones and the City of Arlington from committing the worst case of eminent domain abuse in American history. But I think Proposition 11 would stop Jerry now. That and the fact that the City of Arlington has told Jerry Jones there will be no more abuse of eminent domain in Jones' quest to build more parking lots.

Deep Moat II Concerned CB Team Not Fit For TRWD Board

Apparently it is time for yet one more Tarrant Region Water District board election. I thought such elections had been suspended pending the outcome of the supposed biggest election fraud investigation in Texas state history.

Apparently I was wrong about that, because there will be a TRWD board election this coming May 4.

Last week I received a couple emails from an individual I will refer to as Deep Moat II, due to already having one Deep Moat telling us stuff about the nefarious dealings of the TRWD and its inept step-child, the TRVA, aka Trinity River Vision Authority, more commonly known as America's Biggest Boondoggle.

Deep Moat II informed us that the CB character you see here is intending to run for a seat on the TRWD board. No, this is not Craig Bickley, after an extreme makeover, trying again. The name of this character is Charles Bailey Team IV, known as CB Team.

Deep Moat II feels it needs to be known that CB Team works for the brokerage firm of Ellis & Tinsley.

So what? You are likely thinking to yourself, as it is unlikely CB Team will try and cover up who it is he works for.

Well.

The Tinsley part of Ellis & Tinsley is Vic Tinsley. CB Team's association with Vic Tinsley is the area of concern.

Fort Worth and Tarrant County are widely known as the Eminent Domain Abuse Capital of America.

Examples of such are the properties taken for items such as the Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington or the dozens upon dozens upon dozens of properties taken by the Trinity River Vision, taken under the guise of imaginary flood control, but actually taken as part of a ineptly implemented economic development scheme.

On the Ellis & Tinsley website, in the bio about Vic Tinsley, it is boasted that "Vic has been appointed over 800 times by county and district judges as special commissioner in Eminent Domain cases..."

Over 800 cases of Eminent Domain?

As Deep Moat II said regarding those more than 800 cases of Eminent Domain...

"I didn't realize we had that many properties that needed to be condemned. I am extremely worried about CB Team being on the next TRWD water board and how many other property owners will fall into their eminent domain, property condemnation proceedings in the future?"

Additionally, regarding Vic Tinsley and CB Team, and the TRWD Board, Deep Moat II had this to say...

"It looks to me like this would be a huge conflict of interest and extremely unethical for Vic Tinsley and his commercial investment business to be a part of this in any way."

I assume the "part of this" to which Deep Moat II refers is the "this" being the TRWD Board. As in how can someone associated in any way with so many eminent domain proceedings be part of a Board which regularly uses this means to acquire property, with that acquisition often for dubious ends, such as that associated with what has become America's Biggest Boondoggle?

Like so many of those who have come to oppose much of that which the TRWD and TRVA have done and are doing, Deep Moat II had a personal experience with the roughshod way the TRWD often deals with property owners. And it was that experience with TRWD eminent domain abuse which turned Deep Moat II into an active opponent.

In Deep Moat II's own words, the experience which activated this opponents opposition...

"A retired couple by the name of Patty and Walter Bontke were facing eminent domain proceedings from the Tarrant Regional Water District. Their land in Mansfield had been a dairy farm since the 1960s. They worked hard, they saved and now they were facing a monster that was arrogant, unresponsive and downright mean. They received a ridiculous offer in the mail and the surveyor listed on the letter, Mr Dunn, would never return their phone calls. TRWD was going to cut a swath right through the middle of their property with a pump station which would also landlock the additional property acreage, without paying for it, and block their access to a private road. The story is long but in the end they hired a lawyer and got a fair settlement with access to the private road and access to their additional land.  It was a two-year battle that they were not going to win without help."

_________________

It has long seemed apparent to many who have been paying attention that the TRWD is a corrupt entity, operating without sufficient oversight. It would seem a total flush of the water board is the only thing which might bring this monster under control, but doing such is difficult, what with that election fraud problem remaining un-fixed.

Electing someone like CB Team to the TRWD board would seem to only exacerbate the problem.

Multiple Mary Kelleher types are what is needed....

Another Day In The Freedom For Texas Project

This afternoon one of my sterner taskmasters assigned me the task of figuring out how to blog the scanned version of the Case Closed Court Documents that slapped Steve Doeung in the face, along with a lot of others, who felt slapped, on Monday.

I was not able to figure out how to directly insert the Court Documents into a blog. I was able to make a picture of the start of the Case Closed Document.

And if you go here, you can read the entire Closed Case.

I was Googling for information about the dishonorable Judge Sprinkle this morning and came upon a little blurb in a subterranean part of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram...

"Lawyers in the case said it was only a matter of time before Chesapeake Energy’s pipeline division acquired the right of way for the pipeline, which will run beneath the front yards of more than 30 homes. State law gives energy companies that same right to condemn land through eminent domain as cities or more traditional utility companies.

Chesapeake has been working with local politicians to find an alternate route that won’t affect as many homes.

The Texas Department of Transportation announced last week that it had given preliminary approval to a new route that would run parallel to Interstate 30."

Now, this was in a short article about Judge Sprinkle signing the condemnation order that allows Chesapeake Energy to shove a non-odorized natural pipeline under Steve Doeung's property. With once again, that corrupt newspaper acting like a shill for the Barnett Shale gas drilling industry.

As in the arrogance of the Chesapeake lawyers saying it was only a matter of time before they acquired the right of way.

In other words, there is no recourse in court. It's all pointless. Everything is stacked so heavily in the favor of entities like Chesapeake Energy that no matter how outrageous a plan is, they are totally confident that there is no governing body in Texas that will come to the defense of hapless homeowners.

"State law gives energy companies the same right to condemn land through eminent domain as cities or more traditional utility companies."

Well, that is all well and good. Texas has a law. Here is where that law goes berserko. Maybe moving natural gas is in the public interest. Maybe it's for the greater public good. But the way eminent domain is used in Texas is not the way eminent domain is supposed to be used.

Common sense sort of dictates that you do not run a non-odorized natural gas pipeline under homes. Common sense dictates such a pipeline should not even be considered. No citizen, not even a Texan with fewer rights than other Americans, should have to defend his peace and security against such a threat.

A massive natural gas explosion in Texas, killing 100s of children, is why natural gas had an odor added to it.

The small pittance Chesapeake Energy paid the people of Carter Avenue does not make them whole, as in the same financial state as before Chesapeake legally assaulted them. If that pipeline goes in, the value of their homes go down.

In my opinion, any time eminent domain is used, the victim should be made whole, as in suffer no damage. In DISH, eminent domain was used to cut big swatches from citizen's property, rendering the property unable to be used for its original use.

If Steve Doeung does not feel comfortable with the idea of having a big natural gas pipeline run under his house, that is his right. If Chesapeake Energy needs to use someone's property they should be made to acquire that right only after making the injured party whole.

To do otherwise is nothing but legalized thievery, with the corrupted, co-opted various Texas oversight commissions, like the Railroad Commission and the Texas Environmental Quality Commission, where the foxes have taken over the henhouses, along with the corrupted, co-opted Texas judicial system, which does the bidding, with no application of common sense, of the gas drilling companies.

And back to Steve Doeung and the dirty dealings done to him, how is it that Chesapeake Energy's eminent domain case was not instantly dismissed as soon as it became widely known that TxDOT had agreed to an alternative pipeline route? How could this case of eminent domain abuse be allowed to continue?

There is only one reason this has been allowed to happen, and that reason is the fact that this is taking place in a part of America where the laws have been corrupted, as in "Texas State Law gives energy companies the right...." to run roughshod over Texans, with the state acting as the agents of the energy companies, and not as stewards of the public welfare.

Am I communicating how disgusted I am?

Is The Texas Chapter Of The Institute For Justice For Real?

There is this thing called the Institute for Justice. The Institute for Justice has a Texas Chapter, working out of Austin.

Supposedly the Institute for Justice fights to secure property rights, economic liberty, freedom of speech and school choice and to help Texas property owners in a range of property rights disputes, including eminent domain, annexation, zoning, special districts and citizen referendums.

There is a heavily reported case of eminent domain abuse and freedom of speech suppression here in the Tarrant County town of Fort Worth, Texas involving Steve Doeung and his fight against Chesapeake Energy and the City of Fort Worth, to try to keep his home from being taken via eminent domain.

When I say eminent domain is being used to attempt to take Steve Doeung's home, by home I mean the place where one feels safe and secure in the privacy of ones home. Steve Doeung believes, and with good reason, that a non-odorized natural gas pipeline running under his home is an unacceptable risk, thus it would compromise the quality of his home, taking it from Steve Doeung, really, no differently than if his home were forcibly taken.

Up til now Steve Doeung has been a Lone Ranger, for the most part. He is alone no longer. On Thursday the Carter Avenue Rescue Operation is holding a Rally at the Tarrant County Courthouse to Support Steve in his Battle for Life, Liberty and his Pursuit of Happiness.

Read Steve Doeung's account of what he and Don Young experienced in court when Steve was fighting alone.

Attempts have been made to enlist the help of the Institute of Justice, contacting the Executive Director of the Institute for Justic Texas Chapter, Matt Miller, to no avail.

If ever there was a case that warranted the attention of an entity calling itself the Institute for Justice, the Steve Doeung Eminent Domain Suppression of Free Speech Case would seem to be that case.

Does anyone out there know anything about the Institute for Justice? Is it legit? Have they been helping Billy Mitchell with his eminent domain abuse nightmare?

Is there not a single lawyer in the Eminent Domain Abuse Capital of the World, Tarrant County, Texas, willing to help Steve Doeung, pro bono? Just because it's the right thing to do?

Join the Carter Avenue Rescue Operation Cause on Facebook where you will be able to find details about Thursday's Fort Worth Support Rally.

Chesapeake Energy Continues With Its Eminent Domain Attack On Fort Worth Citizen's Property

The Star Telegraph, that being the Fort Worth area blog that often prints news you can't seem to find in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, in a blogging today, says that Chesapeake Energy is still taking the one remaining Carter Avenue holdout to court, this coming Friday.

High pressure tactics were used by minions of Chesapeake Energy to convince Carter Avenue citizens to sign away their property rights so that Chesapeake Energy could install a pipeline running under their homes, carrying non-odorized natural gas.

In cahoots with the City of Fort Worth's corrupt city government, with an ethically challenged, conflicts of interest laden, energy industry installed puppet mayor named Mike Moncrief, eminent domain was threatened to be used against those who resisted the Carter Avenue pipeline.

A few weeks ago, after a long time of saying there were no options for the pipeline except for Carter Avenue, Chesapeake Energy discovered the pipeline could be run in a different location, under no homes, along side Interstate 30.

So, why is Chesapeake Energy continuing with its eminent domain attack on this particular Carter Avenue American? I thought that battle was won with the good guys winning?

The Star Telegraph says the lone holdout asked for legal representation, you know, counsel like that afforded criminals. But, apparently there is no mechanism to provide legal counsel to someone who is a victim of a corrupt city government and an overbearing, rights and decency be damned company like Chesapeake Energy, run by a should be in jail thief named Aubrey McClendon.

Have the Oklahoma City Supersonics won any games this season? I've not paid any attention. Are the players and their families still being disgruntled over being yanked out of Seattle?

Someone famous, I think it's that guy who's birthday we'll be celebrating in about 8 days, supposedly said, "That which you do to the least among us, you do unto me."

Someone else once said something like, "Chesapeake Energy used eminent domain to take property in another county, and I said nothing, then Chesapeake Energy used eminent domain to take property in a city different than mine, and I said nothing, then Chesapeake Energy used eminent domain to take property in my city, and I still said nothing, and then Chesapeake Energy used eminent domain to take my property, and no one said anything and I wondered why?"

Well, it'd be a real good thing if a few thousand Americans decided to say something on Friday, down at the courthouse in downtown Fort Worth, at 100 E. Weatherford Street. Court proceedings begin at 8:30am in Judge Vince Sprinkle's courtroom.

The Texas Insitute For Justice Is Afraid To Take On Barnett Gas Driller Eminent Domain Abuse

A couple days ago I blogged about what I now know to be the Institute for Injustice, wondering why this entity that calls itself the Institute for Justice, claiming to work to help victims of eminent domain abuse and freedom of speech ,was not all over the Steve Doeung Carter Avenue Eminent Domain Abuse Case like a fat fly on a Texas Longhorn.

In the blogging about the Institute for Injustice I asked if anyone knew if this was a legit operation or not.

Well. I soon heard from Chris who had heard from another Chris, that being Chris Grodecki of the Castle Coalition and Institute for Justice.

I'll copy the comment from Chris below, followed by two comments from the ever ubiquitous Anonymous....

Chris said...

Regarding the Institute for Justice, I have been down that road before. They do not get involved in eminent domain disputes involving energy companies because the "public good" argument tends to favor energy or utility companies.

As Chris Grodecki of the Castle Coalition and Institute for Justice wrote to me in November of 2008:

"As you may know, we provide resources for property owners threatened by eminent domain for private economic development. Situations that involve energy companies are bit more complicated because those companies are considered common carriers. Because they are licensed by the government to provide services to the general public, their uses of eminent domain are very likely to be considered as "public use" by the courts. We, unfortunately, do not get directly involved in situations that regard takings for "public use"; that's not a judgment, however, on the merits of your situation, which while fully legal, doesn't necessarily make it any less wrong."

Activate your grassroots! Educate yourself and talk to your neighbors. It does take stamina and patience, however, because you will have to "saddle your own horse." Compare notes with our experience: Spectra Energy

Anonymous then said...

Let me get this right: the Institute for Justice only takes cases they can win and will not take cases involving energy companies because THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY ARE UNBEATABLE. Either that claim is pretty absurd or this Steve on Carter guy's been doing some mighty impressive "lawyering" --esp. with being disabled and untrained in the law in any way. With this kind of attitude from self-proclaimed public interest firms fighting for justice and liberty, old Steve might just be better off fighting on his own --with "We the people" supporting him in any way possible. This kind of stuff is what gives lawyers and even the legal system a bad name and Shakespeare...nevermind.

And then Anonymous had more to say...

One more thing: if the services to the "public good" provided by these oil and gas companies are so overwhelmingly helpful to the American public and even the economy, then let Wal-mart and big trucking companies have the rights of eminent domain to take people's front yards to provide overnight stops so that they can drive safely in their work to provide cheaper consumer goods of all sorts and get the needed rest without having to find sparse and costly truck stops/motels. Besides, trucks idling overnight on people's front yards don't hardly ever blow up and destroy whole neighborhoods like a 16-24 inch natural gas lines do on a fairly regular intervals.

---

On a totally different, yet related to the Anonymous comments, note. Anonymous typed in his comments twice. This happens when commentators do not notice the "comments moderated" message. I have to moderate the comments or it would be an awful lot of bother to go through the various posts to delete inappropriate comments. Every day there are dozens of spam comments, nonsense comments and demented comments. Moderating the comments makes it way simpler. Sorry you had to go to the bother of typing in your comments twice, Anonymous, but I'm glad you did.

Dallas Cowboy Stadium Scandal: Part VII

Sometimes reading what people think is really depressing. Depressing because when you read what some people think, you are reading what they wrote to express what they thought. And from reading what they thought, well, their thinking, as written, is, well, sad. Sad and stupid.

I like to believe, but I think I'm probably naive, that there are fewer really stupid people out there than there really are.

And then I read comments to my blog. Most of the comments are from people who are obviously well informed, smart, sophisticated, understand nuance and the concept of difference of opinion.

And then I get comments to something like the YouTube video I made of the eminent domain abuses that were done in Arlington to build a private business a football stadium. The comments are like a sad window into some very undeveloped, ignorant minds. Why is it the less someone knows the more sure they are of what they know? While smart people always seem to leave a window open to the fact that maybe there is some bit of information that might shed a different light.

So, the comments. This morning I got one from someone calling him/herself (I'm gender confused because he/she used "titty" in the name) "theonetitty."

Here is the comment...

"this guy must have lived in one of the homes destroyed to build it. its not really a scandal cause nothing illegal happened? Jerry Jones bought the land, and built on it. all the people and businesses that were there would have had to agree and sell their property for him to build it. who ever made this is kinda dumb. sorry."

Let's just ignore the shooting fish in a barrel part of the irony of someone saying someone else is dumb when that person can make so many errors in one short paragraph.

First off. Jerry Jones did not buy the land via negotiating with the property owners. The land was condemned by using the concept of eminent domain, where the government can condemn property for the public good and decide what you will be paid for your property after forcing you to negotiate. You can't just say NO, I don't want to sell. Usually this is used to build highways, hospitals, schools, airports. Using eminent domain to disrupt the lives of thousands of citizens to build a sports stadium is not the norm where eminent domain is non-scandalously used.

Second off. All the people who were victimized by this abuse of eminent domain did not agree with the hurried condemnation of their property. They fought it in court. Dozens of those cases are still in court.

Third off. How can anyone be so clueless as to think that absolutely everyone upon who's property this stadium was built agreed to sell their property so Jones could build a stadium?

Fourth off. The stink from this scandal has been so strong that when Jerry Jones tried to get Arlington to abuse eminent domain again, so that he could take some more houses, so he could build a parking lot, Arlington and Mayor Cluck said no, that they would be party to no more eminent domain abuse. With the city of Arlington refusing to help Jones steal houses he has had to go about it the old-fashioned way, by offering deals to homeowners to get them out of their houses. Several are saying NO. Which is what would have been said by many who's land was taken to build the stadium. Which might have been for the greater good. Forcing Jones to look elsewhere to build his stadium.

Somewhere like Dallas, perhaps, that's seems a logical location for a Dallas Cowboy stadium, at Fair Park, maybe, instead of in a lackluster Arlington neighborhood surrounded by a lot of industrial blight.

Trust me, when this stadium opens, the national press is not gonna be pretty. Like I've said before, the stadium looks like a giant thing from outer space that's been plopped down in a poor American neighborhood.

The one thing "theonetitty" said that sounded like it might be sort of true is "who ever made this is kinda dumb. sorry." Obviously I'm kinda dumb. But it was sort of rude to be so blunt about it. Below is the "dumb" video that riled up "theonetitty."

I Did Not Suffer Heatstroke Today Thinking About Hiking In Yosemite Or General Tarrant's Eminent Domain Abuse At Village Creek

Yes, I know I sort of clearly indicated I was going to stay out of the Texas sun today and thus avoid any minor heatstroke incidents.

But, I was feeling the need to be outside after spending hours inside working on webpages and blogs.

Including a blogging on my Durango Roadtripping Blog that made me want to return to Yosemite National Park and hike to the Glacier Point viewpoint of Half Dome, Yosemite, Vernal and Nevada Falls and the rest of the panoramic view of the Yosemite Valley from up high.

The highest I have ever been up the Yosemite Valley walls of granite is half way up to the top of Yosemite Falls. My co-hikers lacked the stamina to go any further. That and they were hungry.

Today I did not do anything in the Texas Heat as strenuous as hiking in the Yosemite Valley. In the ongoing process of taking America away from the Natives who had lived there for thousands of years, at one point Indians sought refuge in the Yosemite Valley.

Indians wish they had refuge in the place I walked today, that being, again, Village Creek Natural Historic Area, it being the site, long ago, of one of the biggest Indian Villages in America, an agricultural center growing corn and squash and other goodies, until, like I've said before, Texans came along, in what became Tarrant County, using a somewhat primitive form of eminent domain abuse to take their land away from its rightful owners.

One of the Texans who used the primitive form of eminent domain abuse, to remove (or kill) the Village Creek Indians, was named Edward H. Tarrant. He was a General. Due to his successful use of primitive eminent domain abuse, Tarrant County was named after him. Tarrant County continues to honor the memory of General Tarrant by repeatedly securing its reputation as the Eminent Domain Abuse Capital of the Free World.

Changing the subject from eminent domain abusers to my HEAT woes.

I did not overheat today, even though it was 94 when I left my abode, with a Real Feel Heat Index of 98.

In the Village Creek Bayou, today, I saw a bird colored in a very nice shade of blue. Is it a blue heron?

The Village Creek Bayou appears to be quickly drying up. Parts of it are now mud. What becomes of the snakes, turtles, fish and birds if the bayou turns totally to mud?

Well, I am totally headache-free and heading towards downtown Fort Worth in a few minutes to find the Center of Paradise and the Paws of a Cat. Wish me luck in this very risky endeavor.

I hope I don't overheat.

Stormy Look At Zero Panther Island Bridge Motion Progress

Over two years ago, on February 10, 2015, I was in downtown Fort Worth, near where new bridges were supposed to be being constructed.

At that point in time I took the picture you see here, among others, and blogged about what I saw in a blogging titled Taking A Look At The Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's Products.

About a year before that, way back in November of 2014, I blogged A Big Boom Begins Boondoggle Bridge Construction Three Months Late about the bizarre TNT exploding ceremony the Trinity River Vision Boondogglers, and its politician enablers, engaged in to mark the start of construction of one of their three simple bridges being built over dry land to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.

A year later, in October of 2015, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram published one of its more embarrassing pieces of mis-informative propaganda about "Fort Worth's signature V-shaped bridges are under construction and will eventually span the expanded river channel for the Trinity River Vision project." 

I blogged about this Star-Telegram irresponsible act of pseudo journalism in Beautiful Fort Worth V Piers The Likes Of Which The World Has Never Seen.

Six months after the Star-Telegram's ridiculous V-Piers swoon, construction came to a halt. America's Biggest Boondoggle's bridge construction has been halted now for a year. Halted with no explanation and with no local newspaper working to uncover what has gone awry with this aspect of the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision Boondoggle.

Would you not think the Star-Telegram would send one of its intrepid reporters to the ground floor of the Star-Telegram building, where the Trinity River Vision has its headquarters, along with multiple project representations, including 3-D models of all the imaginary wonders this inept, failed public works project claims to be foisting on the public, which the public has never voted for?

Years ago, what eventually became America's Biggest Boondoggle, eminent domain was abused to take property from Fort Worth citizens.

Proper use of eminent domain takes private property for the public good for things like roads, hospitals, schools. With the property owner fully compensated and made whole.

Eminent domain is not supposed to be used for private enterprise. And certainly not when the development scheme increases the property value of some of those enabling the eminent domain abuse. Has there ever been an accounting of Kay Granger's property holdings in the area seen by the Trinity River Vision?

Some of those who had their property stolen fought the theft in court. Some were sued for not accepting the compensation offered. None of this organized crime-like activity has been reported in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

And now, years after property was taken for what was claimed to be a vitally needed flood protection and economic development scheme, nothing has been built to fruition. A project alleged to be vitally needed, and yet enacted in slow motion, or no motion at all, such as is the case with the Boondoggle's bridges.

What follows is a look at one of those notorious bridges no longer being constructed.  These photos are brought to us by one of the victims of the Trinity River Vision's abuse of eminent domain.

In the first picture that aforementioned victim of eminent domain abuse is standing where his business used to be, looking at one of Fort Worth's future tourist attractions.

As we go through these photos we get a closer and closer look at the infamous wooden V-Pier forms.

I have never understood how these piers are supposed to support a road deck.

You reading this in modern parts of America, and the world, have you ever seen something like a bridge under construction looking like the mess you see above?

Before we look further at these photos of the current state of stalled bridge construction I must share with you what the bridges are supposedly supposed to look like upon completion.

The above is from the Trinity River Vision Authority website. Make note of the water channel. With V-Piers in the water.

If you look closely at the above drawing and the illustration at the top you will see that the drawings show two V-Piers, side by side, at each instance of a V-Pier. Did they not get around to building any of the side by side V-Pier pairs? Or did the design get changed?

Again regarding V-Pier pairs, is that what we are seeing above, in the foreground, the foundation of a second V-Pier, awaiting the wooden form being attached to the rebar sticking up out of the top?

How in the world was, or is, cement supposed to be poured in these forms? Maybe the above is not ready for its cement. Supposedly it was a problem with the rebar which brought about the construction halt. I doubt that is the actual reason. I suspect the design failure is much more comprehensive than just a problem with rebar.

Above is a close up look at the foundation of one of the Boondoggle's V-Piers. What a mess.

Looking at this incredibly sloppy construction site, and the V-Piers, several questions come to my mind.

First off, the foundations for the V-Piers.

Was a big hole dug, with a lot of cement poured into the hole, so as to make a solid, impervious to movement, foundation for the V-Piers, and the road deck to be built above the V-Piers?

If cement is poured onto those wooden forms, and the supports then removed, how do the V's not collapse to the ground?

One of the Boondoggle's, and its partner in propaganda, the Star-Telegram's, more ridiculous pieces of misinformation has been that these bridges are being built over dry land so as to save money.

When the fact of the matter is that no water will flow under these bridges until a ditch is dug under them and water is diverted from the Trinity River into that ditch.

In other words, there never was any reasonable option other than building these simple bridges over dry land.

And that is another element I do not understand. That being the ditch. So, you have the bridges built. And now you dig a ditch under the bridges, with V-Piers in the ditch? How do you dig a ditch under an existing bridge without creating all sorts of engineering problems?

If this was just local foolishness with the locals wasting their own money on this inept nonsense it really would be no one's business but the locals, but this inept project is being funded with federal money, to the tune, currently, of more than a half billion bucks.

I do not think most of the Fort Worth locals have any problem with being the host to America's Biggest Boondoggle. Else wise the locals would not have re-elected Kay Granger. Obviously the Fort Worth locals are totally okay with America's Biggest Boondoggle and Kay's son, J.D., being the Executive Director of something most of America would not  tolerate.

But, most of  America does not operate in the Fort Worth Way.

Thank God.....

The Last Dallas Cowboy Stadium Scandal Court Case

I've gotten some rather idiotic comments regarding what I call the Dallas Cowboy Stadium Scandal. One recently said something like, "How can it be a scandal that those homes were destroyed? The owners had to agree to sell their homes or Jerry Jones wouldn't have been able to buy them."

Now, I've longed learned that once a person let's it be known that they are an idiot, there is no point in trying to alleviate them of some of their idiocy. There would be no point to explaining what the concept of eminent domain is. Or what abusing the concept of eminent domain means. Or why its abuse is a scandal.

Anyway, yesterday the last of the holdouts in the Dallas Cowboy Stadium Land Acquisition Scandal has settled, with Arlington's City Council agreeing to pay $325,000 for Paul Jordan's 3 properties, after a long court battle over the properties condemnation by eminent domain.

Not happy with the black eye the eminent domain abuse has given Arlington, Mayor Robert Cluck won't go along with Jerry Jones' attempt to get the city to abuse eminent domain again so as to acquire land for parking lots.

Another reason why this particular use of eminent domain is of the abuse/scandal nature is people's homes were bulldozed prior to the owner's getting their day in court. Paul Jordan was ordered off his property, was told how much he would be paid, he objected, brought the city to court. But the bulldozing of his property went ahead, in the rush to build this stadium.

Originally the city had figured it'd cost about $40 million to take people's property. It ended up costing twice that amount, due to more people fighting the condemnations in court than the city figured on.

Paul Jordan still feels the sting of the scandal, made evident when he talks about his old neighborhood and the new stadium that hovers above it like a misplaced giant UFO. He said his old neighborhood reminded him of a Norman Rockwell painting, with a sense of community, where he knew everyone on a first name basis.

Paul Jordan may wax nostalgic about his lost home, but he can also verbalize anger over the scandalous stadium, complaining that "We are paying more taxes than the Cowboys will ever pay. That's such a lop-sided, one-sided, bad deal for anybody but Jerry Jones."

The City of Arlington owns the stadium, so it will generate no property tax revenue on the land that formerly did generate property tax revenue.

The picture at the top was the last house standing, Evelyn Wray's house. The city offered her $351,000 for her property. She fought back. And got a lot more money. Her property, 4 acres and a house, which was on Randoll Mill Road, across from the Wal-Mart Supercenter, was obviously worth more than the city offered after condemning her property to build a sports facility. The courts agreed. Evelyn Wray eventually settled for $2.75 million.

You can read Evelyn Wray's story and a lot more about the Dallas Cowboy Stadium Scandal, with photos of all that was condemned and destroyed. While the owners tried to fight to protect their right to feel safe, secure and happy in their own homes, by going here.

Answers Needed From C.B. Team

Back earlier in the year I received an email from someone I eventually ended up identifying as Deep Moat II.

Deep Moat II sent me some info about someone running for the Tarrant Regional Water District Board, info she felt people needed to know about, so as to know who he is and to whom he is connected.

The name of the guy in question is Charles "C.B." Team.

I blogged about what Deep Moat II had to tell me, mostly about the appalling abuse of the perfectly legitimate legal tool known as eminent domain, as regarding those with whom C.B. Team is associated.

A day or two ago C.B. Team commented, at length, in response to that blog post.

I shared C.B. Team's comments with a few people associated with the current TRWD Board Election. Those people asked me to ask C.B. Team why he opted to not run in the last TRWD Board Election, when he was expected to.

And who influenced him to run this time? Specific names would be useful.

And what is C.B. Team's position regarding the ongoing Granger Scandal, and the other nepotism corruption issues associated with the TRWD?

Multiple inquiring minds would really like to know.

But, as our inquiring minds eagerly await answers, below is the referenced comment from C.B. Team...

Charles "C.B." Team has left a new comment on your post "Deep Moat II Concerned CB Team Not Fit For TRWD Board":

Hi Durango. This is C.B. Nice to meet you. I want to clarify a few things from your blog post. 

I have never been a party to, or represented a client in any eminent domain cases. My company has never represented a client in eminent domain proceedings. I do not take the issue of eminent domain lightly as I have spent my career as a REALTOR standing up for private property rights at the local, state, and national level. I have become very familiar with the eminent domain process because the person, Vic Tinsley, I acquired my company from in 2013 is the most experienced special commissioner in the State of Texas. This means that he has been determined to be a real property expert by State of Texas Judges and then appointed to hear and then decide both sides of eminent domain proceedings in Special Commissioner Hearings. Special Commissioners do not represent either party and are NOT the condemning authority. I have had the opportunity to sit in on these hearings in order to better understand the process and witness first hand what the property owner has to endure during the long and tedious process. 

I am not a politician. This is my first run at public office. I'm just a business owner that saw a need on the TRWD board for fresh energy and someone with real estate and business knowledge to help get us out of the predicament in which we currently find ourselves. I'm committed to responsible and transparent oversight and I figured commenting here directly would be the most transparent approach to tackling these errors. Feel free to reach out to me any time. 

Why Seattle Seahawks Will Not Beat Dallas Cowboys In Super Bowl

This blogging falls into the category of seeing something in an online west coast newspaper, usually the Seattle Times, which I would not be expecting to see in a Texas newspaper, usually the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, about a similar thing happening in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro zone.

In this case the thing one does not see in D/FW is the local NFL team winning a game and taking over first place in NFC West, East, North or South.

As long as I have been in Texas I have been reading and hearing the North Texas locals lamenting about the Dallas Cowboys never seeming to have themselves a mighty fine winning team.

When I lived in Washington I recollect the Seattle Seahawks being like the Dallas Cowboys, as in never making it to a playoff game, let alone the Super Bowl.

Since I have been in Texas the Seahawks have made it to more than one Super Bowl. I think they won the Super Bowl once, maybe twice. My memory of this type thing ain't all that great, and I don't think the need for the actual number is great enough to warrant consulting Google.

Earlier in this century when the town of Arlington, in cahoots with Jerry Jones, he being the hapless owner of the Dallas Cowboys, went for a record breaking level of abusing eminent domain to dislodge hundreds of citizens and businesses so as to have enough land onto which to build a giant homage to a space ship serving as a football stadium.

Years ago I webpaged this blight of Dallas Cowboy Stadium eminent domain abuse, with that eminent domain abuse being the primary reason Tarrant County is known as the Eminent Domain Abuse Capital of America, with that title made even more solid when Fort Worth went in for some outrageous eminent domain abuse in order to take property for its ill-advised, ineptly implemented economic development scheme disguised as un-needed flood control.

Way back when I was shocked to see all the homes, apartment complexes and business taken away for a sports stadium I opined that the bad karma of this will likely keep the Dallas Cowboys from ever being in another Super Bowl, and would put an end to the Cowboys being known as America's Team.

As of 2019, both bad karma results seem to be happening. There are fans of the Dallas Cowboys over a quarter century old who have never seen the team play in a Super Bowl.

Eminent domain was not used or abused to get the land on which to build the Seattle Seahawks stadium. All they had to do was blow up the Kingdome and build a new structure in its place.

I saw the above on Facebook this morning. Seeing this caused me to wonder anew if this will finally be the year I secure an invite to the legendary Knappson Super Bowl Party. Those tickets are even harder to get in a year when the Seahawks are in the big game...

UPDATE: Ex footballer, or long distance jobber, Bruce F., points out that it is impossible for the Seattle Seahawks to play the Dallas Cowboys in a Super Bowl, unless one or the other moves from the NFC to the AFC. I probably should have already realized this...

The Complex Imaginary Dallas Plot To Take Control Of Fort Worth & Tarrant County

Some eye opening, jaw dropping J.D. Granger information fell into my lap yesterday. I figured I would blog about the J.D. Granger material today. But then I found myself needing to make a fix to almost 400 webpages, so I will be postponing sharing the eye opening, jaw dropping J.D. Granger information til I get done with the webpage fixing.

However, this morning in the midst of doing that webpage fixing a blog comment arrived which I thought to be share worthy in its inadvertent amusing embarrassing imbicilicness, to coin a new word that needed coining to describe much of what I witness at my current location on the planet.

The blog comment....

Ed Jackson has left a new comment on your post "More TRWD Election Propaganda Lies From Jim Lane, Marty Leonard, Betsy Price & Mike Moncrief": 

Monty Bennett does have a horse in this TRWD race. It is at least an eminent domain issue about a ranch he owns. Mr. Bennett is not a resident of Tarrant County, nor is he a customer of the TRWD. He does what a lot of Dallas business people do, attempt to gain control of Fort Worth and Tarrant County by filling political positions with people who will owe favors to him, and to the democrat party. 

The facts are Marty Leonard and Jim Lane have been on the TRWD Board for some 10 years, and vast improvements to access water and manage resources have been made in that 10 years. Mayor Betsy Price is a great Mayor, and Mike Moncrief was a good Mayor. Both have lead Fort Worth to prosperity in most areas of the city. 

Mr. Bennett, OTOH, also tried to gain control of the TRWD back in 2013. when the other 3 board members were up for reelection. He got one candidate to win, Mary Kelleher, who has no engineering. business, or legal background. She is a school psychologist, a worthy background, but not a qualification to manage and plan a water district. If Mr. Bennett gets his two candidates onto the TRWD Board in this election, he will control the board. Have you noticed his two 2015 candidates have not listed any qualifications, except for "former president of the Tarrant County democrat party"?

After these last 6 years, I don't want any democrat running anything, much less than something that costs billions of dollars and affects millions of people. 

The current make up of the TRWD Board is 2 engineers, 1 Lawyer, 1 small business owner (that understands water use and conservation because they are golf courses), and 1 school psychologist. Let's not put two more political hacks on the board. 

______________________________________

A business owner who understands conservation and water use because they are golf courses? That sounds like Charlton Heston exclaiming Soylent Green is People.

Is Marty Leonard the owner of the golf courses being referred to?

Monty Bennett has a horse in this race, because it is an eminent domain issue about a ranch he owns?

Does this Jackson guy even know what eminent domain is? Or that the issue as it pertains to Monty Bennett is he feels the way the TRWD has gone about trying to take his property is what is known as eminent domain abuse? Or that Monty Bennett is not alone as a property owner believing himself to be a victim of what they believe to be eminent domain abuse by the TRWD? Ask the business owners whose property was taken for the TRWD's Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's ditch and little bridges being built in slow motion over dry land to connect to an imaginary island, what they think of the TRWD's use of eminent domain.

What does it have to do with anything that Monty Bennett is not a resident of Tarrant County? He owns two hotels in downtown Fort Worth. If he was a resident of one of those hotels would it change anything to do with his fight to keep the TRWD off his property?

I am fairly certain Monty Bennett is a customer of the TRWD. Unless he somehow pipes water to his Fort Worth hotels via a pipeline from Dallas.

A lot of Dallas business people try to gain control of Fort Worth and Tarrant County? Really? And who would they be and why would they want to control Fort Worth and Tarrant County? A messianic dream of modernizing the town and pulling it into the current century?

A Dallas football team owner moved his team to a new football stadium in Tarrant County. Was that the result of an evil Dallas businessman's evil plotting to take over Tarrant County?

Mary Kelleher has no engineering background? And so she is not qualified to manage a water district? Remind me again what exactly J.D. Granger's qualifications were to manage a water redevelopment project? J.D. Granger has been paid over $110,000 a year for almost 10 years to ramrod what is currently the biggest boodoggle in America.

Craig Bickley and Michele Von Luckner are political hacks? Implying also that Mary Kelleher is a political hack?

I tell you, the TRWD Scandal is the weirdest Alice Through the Looking Glass thing I have ever observed up close.

A backwards Looking Glass where right is wrong, wrong is right, qualified is unqualified, unqualified is qualified, smart is stupid, stupid is smart, world class is no class, no class is world class, public good is public bad.

And taking four years to build three little bridges over dry land saves money and makes engineering sense....

UPDATE: On Facebook TRWD board candidate, Craig Bickley, had the following to say about the above comments from Ed Jackson....

Craig Bickley likes this.

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  Craig Bickley For the record (to your commenter), the former director of the Democratic party mentioned is the 5th candidate, not Michele or I. He seems like a nice person, but got a very late start, and hasn't gained much traction. He would be great to watch in two years. Also, I have an engineering degree from Texas A&M and have been in the field of engineering and project/personnel management for over 15 years...