Let's Talk About Libraries Fort Worth

Last week I mentioned that the Ruling Junta of Fort Worth was holding their final "Let's Talk Fort Worth" meeting. This had been a series of town hall type deals where the citizens of Fort Worth could let the Junta know what they're thinking. This current "Let's Talk Fort Worth" was the 3rd time in about 50 years the Ruling Junta has solicited such citizen opinions.

Today is the day the Ruling Junta puts its full page ad in the Star-Telegram, called "City Page." Under the headline, "Residents Share Their Dreams at Let's Talk Fort Worth," there is an embarrassing propagandish version of what the citizens of Fort Worth had to tell the Ruling Junta. There is no mention of the large protest that preceded the meeting during which Fort Worth citizen's let the Junta know what they think of all the gas drilling going on all over town.

The article also made no mention of the many people who verbalized their gas drilling concerns to the Ruling Junta during the Let's Talk meeting.

The following paragraph really rubbed me the wrong way. After you read it I'll tell you why it annoyed me....

"Several speakers praised Fort Worth's quality of life, it's neighborliness and cultural attractions, and its peaceful ambiance and low crime rates. Also mentioned as favorite things about Fort Worth were its thriving downtown and associated entertainment, dining and shopping and the urban villages burgeoning in various parts of the city...."

Before I get to the part about the above that really bugged me I've got to say, first off. Shopping? In downtown Fort Worth? Fort Worth is the only city in America with a population over 400,000 with absolutely no department store downtown. Not a one. Very meager shopping opportunities. Contrast Fort Worth's downtown with smaller in population Seattle. Seattle has at least 3 vertical malls downtown. More than one grocery store. Several department stores, like Nordstroms and dozens of other stores, in addition to Pike Place Market. Seattle has a thriving downtown. Fort Worth has the deadest downtown of any downtown I've ever seen. Just look at photos I took of downtown Fort Worth on the busiest shopping day of the year, the day after Thanksgiving.

Okay, now the thing that really bugs me. Beneath the article on the "City Page," singing the praises of Fort Worth's alleged livability, is another article. This one making note of the city's library's new operating hours. Due to budget shortfalls the city of Fort Worth decided to save money by laying off library employees and cutting back operating hours. Every time I have been in my nearby Fort Worth library it is real busy. Everyone of the computer terminals being used by people I assume don't have a computer. People wait outside the library's entry waiting for it to open.

What sort of city that has any sort of pretension regarding caring about its quality of life would cut back on the access of its citizens to its libraries?