Kay Bailey Hutchison Irks Another Fort Worth Native

Last month Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison breezed into town and said some remarkable things about Fort Worth. So, I remarked about her remarks in a blogging.

Judging by a letter to the editor in this morning's Fort Worth Star-Telegram at least one other Fort Worther shares my concern and wonderment regarding this hopefully not gonna be, but likely will be, boondoggle known as the Trinity River Vision. Or sometimes as the Trinity Uptown Project.

Anyway, below is the letter from a sensible Fort Worth citizen....

Serving pork and earmark to KBH

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison blew into town Aug. 19 and was hoodwinked by the Trinity Uptown people.

After a brief stop at Trinity River Vision Authority’s office in downtown Fort Worth, she effused, “I think this is just amazing.” (See: “Sen. Hutchison praises Trinity Uptown,” Aug. 20)

What is amazing is that the senator rushed to judgment after hearing from only the program’s gung-ho nepotistic drumbeaters.

Was the wannabe governor told that there is substantial vocal opposition to this earmark boondoggle?

Does the senator not know that President Bush has taken a strong stand against such earmarks and that might-be President John McCain has never voted for an earmark?

Did she ask whether any protesting property owners whose land is caught in the crosshairs of the Vision would be hauled off their land kicking and screaming, a la eminent domain?

Did she ask if environmental consequences could arise like a monster from the waters of this controversial project?

Was the senator not told that the authority, knowing that money has charms to soothe a savage breast, is shelling out taxpayer money for land in the project at the rate of two and three times the Tarrant Appraisal District’s valuation?

It is amazing, senator, what can be done when hands are in the taxpayers’ till and nobody is paying attention.

Authority officials were eager to point out to her that River Oaks, Crestwood, Brookside, Burton Hill and North Crest would receive better flood protection if the Trinity River levee were raised six to 12 inches in some places.

Right on!

None of the opponents to the boondoggle object to raising levees for flood protection.

That’s what ought to be done — not the antithesis of leveling levees for an economic development boondoggle.

Inanity of inanities; all is inanity! Truly amazing!

— Don Woodard, Fort Worth