Among the many problems was a bizarre economic development scheme camouflaged as a much needed Trinity River flood control project, in an area of Fort Worth where there has been no flooding since well over a half century ago, after the Army Corps of Engineers installed levees which have functioned without flaw ever since.
This pseudo public works project was foisted on Fort Worth well over a decade and a half ago. The public has never been allowed to vote on this public works project. This project, known as the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision, or, more commonly, as America's Biggest Boondoggle, is currently stalled in full Boondoggle mode.
A couple years ago a big fuss, with a big explosion, marked the start of construction of one of The Boondoggle's three bridges being built over dry land to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island. Construction on that one bridge has been stalled for almost half a year.
Meanwhile the Godmother of America's Biggest Boondoggle, Congresswoman Kay Granger, is trying to attach an earmark to a spending bill so as to send about a half billion bucks of pork to Fort Worth for her son, J.D. Granger, the unqualified Executive Director of America's Biggest Boondoggle, given the job so as to motivate his mama to get that federal money.
So far, like most of Fort Worth's pitiful development schemes, this is not working out as planned.
If I have said it once, I have said it more than once, Kay Granger needs to get booted out of Congress, her son needs to be fired, the plug needs to be pulled on America's Biggest Boondoggle.
And the only federal involvement should be a racketeering investigation.
One more thing, before I move on to another thing. Tarrant County has some actual serious, deadly, dangerous, flood control problems. Development in north Fort Worth of malls, houses, schools, has covered acre upon acre with asphalt and roofs, with no effort to mitigate the increase in runoff volume and speed during a heavy rain event.
This has resulted in deadly floods careening through Haltom City. Kay Granger visited the area devastated by deadly flash floods. Kay Granger has done NOTHING to help direct any federal help, of the Army Corps of Engineers sort, to mitigate this problem. While being party to the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's planned waste of money on an un-needed flood control project.
Criminal irresponsibility is a phrase which comes to mind. The woman apparently has no conscience. Fort Worth and Tarrant County deserve someone better to represent them. Someone who is more interested in the problems of the people than pocket lining schemes.
Meanwhile, the town I moved to, Wichita Falls, has its own water related vision. The Lake Wichita Revitalization Project. This project seems to be well thought out, has involved the public in a meaningful way, solves an actual problem and when fully realized will be a tremendous asset to Wichita Falls and the region.
This week the project proposal for Lake Wichita is being delivered to Army Corps of Engineer offices in Oklahoma.
No unqualified son of a local congresswoman has anything to do with the Lake Wichita Revitalization Project. No one has plotted an elaborate scheme to line their own pockets with the Lake Wichita Revitalization Project. No local congresswoman is promising to attach an earmark to a spending bill so as to send some federal pork to Wichita Falls.
Wichita Falls does not seem to be a town ruled by corruption, by people so corrupt they don't even realize they are corrupt. Who do not understand why nepotism is wrong. Who, apparently, don't understand, or care, why conflicts of interest are corrupt. Who really do not understand much of anything other than to continue to rule Fort Worth in what is known as The Fort Worth Way, until, maybe, some magical day when the Fort Worth sheep have had enough and vote all the rascals out and take over the town, for the people.
Oh, and run J.D. and his mama out of town on a rail after a good tar and feathering....
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