Will Fort Worth's Panther Island Madness End On May 5?

A couple days ago I read this What will $250 million bond for Panther Island project mean for property taxes? article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

And was appalled by what I read. That and the bad writing I was reading. Typos, spelling errors.

And erroneous information.

It has been a couple days. Maybe the Star-Telegram found itself an editor who cleaned up this article's mistakes. Then again, as recently as yesterday, I read this article's bad grammar referenced in comments to a Facebook post by the Star-Telegram's food critic and resident apologist for the Fort Worth Way.

Read the article yourself by clicking the What will $250 million bond for Panther Island project mean for property taxes? link and see if the mistakes have been fixed.

I will share some of the appalling erroneous information, and out and out misleading propaganda, which existed when I read and copied the article. First example....

Plus, the improvements are needed to improve the flow of flood water through the heart of Fort Worth. When the existing levee system was build in the 1960s, Fort Worth only had about 350,000 residents, but today there are nearly 900,000 residents and suburban development upstream has dramatically increased the flow of storm water during severe storms, said Jim Oliver, water district general manager.

Those levees were built in the 1950s, not the 1960s. (Note I typed "built" not "build"). Jim Oliver, paid around $300K a year to mis-manage the TRWD, doesn't know when those levees were built?

And then there is the following gem, also from the TRWD mis-manager, Jim Oliver...

If the bond election were to fail, the first option would be to simply delay the Panther Island project by a few years, which could lead to higher construction costs, Oliver said. But ultimately, if Panther Island were not built, the water district might eventually have to consider building higher levees and buying more private property for water storage, something that not only could lead to higher property taxes but would be a missed opportunity to build a beautiful new neighborhood with a river walk, he said.

So much absurd nonsense in the above paragraph. If the imaginary island is not surrounded with water the water district might have to raise the levees?

Raise the levees?

Those levees have prevented flooding in the downtown Fort Worth zone for well over a half century. Has anyone ever seen a flooding Trinity River ever get anywhere near topping those levees? And Oliver is threatening even more private property may be taken? Adding to all the property stolen via abusing eminent domain in the area where America's Biggest Boondoggle has been boondoggling along for years with little to show for all the money already wasted and property damage already done.

Well, to be fair, we did get to see a little wakeboard park for a short while before it failed. And there are those Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats at an imaginary pavilion at an imaginary world class music venue, with outhouses, and the world's first drive-in movie theater of the 21st century, sporting an ice rink for a few weeks during the winter. And other wonders which have nothing to do with flood control.

Or drainage.

Speaking of which. Here are another couple gems in this article...

A proposition on the ballot seeks permission to issue $250 million in bonds to cover the remaining unfunded portion of the $1.17 billion project, including among other things the acquisition of land, the re-channeling of 1.5 miles of the Trinity River and the construction of flood gates and water storage areas.

On the ballot, the measure is listed as Tarrant Regional Water District Proposition A, and is described as a measure for “flood control and drainage facilities.” Panther Island isn’t mentioned by name.

Okay, this article first points out what the quarter billion bucks is actually for in one paragraph, and then the next paragraph mentions how the measure is described on the ballot. Without any sort of mention made of the fact that this would seem to be fraudulent, to mis-describe a ballot measure so egregiously.

What a shocker. Panther Island is not mentioned on the ballot. Maybe the measure was run by some sort of lawyer who made some sort of point about it not being a good idea to mention an imaginary island which does not exist and never will be an island in any real sense of that island word if the Trinity River Vision ever does become something anyone can see.

When will this madness end? Maybe with a big NO vote on May 5...

Wichita Falls Hamilton Park New Hammock Included Playable Park Art

A few days ago I made mention of the fact I had not seen any kids playing on the new piece of abstract looking playground equipment in Wichita Falls' Hamilton Park.

Well, today that phenomenon of not seeing kids playing on this abstract looking playground equipment came to an end as soon as this work of playable park art came into view.

Two barely post toddler sized kids were having themselves a mighty fine time climbing on the conveyor belt type straps strung between angled posts.

While what appeared likely to be the kid's maternal parental figure used one of the wider conveyor belts as a hammock.

This is one cleverly designed piece of playground equipment.

In that previous blogging about this serious subject I opined that maybe a sign with directions explaining how to play on this thing might be needed. Apparently, as I often am, I was wrong. Kids can figure out how to play on this, and mom's can figure out how to relax whilst the kids play.

Unscheduled Wichita Falls May 5 Texas Bond Election Interview

Yesterday, Monday, the first day of a new week, winter left, once again, from North Texas, with balmy warmth blowing in from the south.

And so, what with once again no need for excessive outer wear I took off in the noon time frame to have myself a mighty fine long bike ride which eventually took me to Mount Wichita, that being the towering, currently snow cap-free, mountain you see here.

When I rolled under the shadow of Mount Wichita I suddenly found myself participating in an unscheduled interview with Wichita Falls Channel 3 TV News, with the interviewer being a perky young lady who asked me if I would answer a few questions on camera.

I am a pathologically shy person, and so I declined the on air request, but agreed to answer questions.

I do not think the Channel 3 TV News young lady knew I am the un-official Wichita Falls Convention Center and Visitors Center Outdoor Adventure Guru. I thought it best to not share that fact. Such info made have made her more insistent I agree to be interviewed on camera.

What the Channel 3 TV News young lady wanted to ask me about was my thoughts on the upcoming May 5 Propositions voters are being asked to approve.

No, this was not about Fort Worth's fraudulent vote hoping to approve a quarter billion bucks via a ballot which misrepresents that which is being voted for, making it seem as if one is voting to prevent floods and fix drains, when the funds are actually directed to rescuing America's Biggest Boondoggle from its financial ineptitude.

Unlike Fort Worth, Wichita Falls is a Texas town which puts ballot measures before its voters in a straightforward, non-corrupt, honest, normal, American democratic way.

In other words Wichita Falls does not ask voters to approve some fool thing by asking voters to approve a dollar rental fee for a livestock stall. That type thing. Wichita Falls puts a measure before its voters in a clear, direct way, not the confused dishonest Fort Worth Way.

In that same upcoming May 5 election where Fort Worth voters, well the few allowed to do so, are being asked to approve a quarter billion bond misrepresented as being for flood control and drainage issues, Wichita Falls voters well be voting on a precise, succinct series of propositions honestly describing that which is being proposed.

Let's look at a short summation of the $131 million worth of seven propositions Wichita Falls will be voting for or against on May 5...

Proposition A is for park improvements. That would entail circle trail improvements, including the aqueduct trail, the spur from the Ohio Street bridge, and replenishing turf at the softball complex.

Proposition B is an issue for shoreline improvements at Lake Wichita this includes projects such as the Veteran's Memorial Plaza and a pavilion and boardwalk for the lake.

Proposition C will be for street repairs, which could help fund the Maplewood extension, widen parts of Taft Boulevard and drainage improvements.

Proposition D will help fund a new municipal government center in the downtown area, and police and fire department facilities.

Proposition E is created for renovations and upgrades at the MPEC, including ticket scanners at the coliseum, camera and surveillance upgrades in several portions of the MPEC.

Proposition F is for Memorial Auditorium upgrades. This includes lighting and sound system upgrades for Memorial Auditorium.

Proposition G — the last proposition — with go towards downtown improvements, such as sidewalk renovations, parking lots and other beautification improvements in the area.

Above you are seeing the short summations of the various Wichita Falls propositions. The actual details are much more specific, unlike that which happens in that aforementioned American backwards backwater known as Fort Worth...

Questioning Fort Worth's TRWD Imaginary Flood Control Bond Levee Vote

A thing or two about a thing or two has me thinking a thing or two about this upcoming May vote when voters, well, those few allowed to do so, are being asked to approve a quarter billion bond to funnel funds to what has become America's Biggest Boondoggle, originally officially known as the Trinity River Vision, later morphed to being the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision.

Also known as an ineptly implemented, ill-conceived embarrassment which could not take place in other, well, more developed locations in America.

By developed I mean locations in America populated by informed citizens who have had some contact with how the more modern, more advanced, more progressive locations in America operate in what is sometimes characterized as the Democratic Way, rather than what is known as the Fort Worth Way.

You know, locations in America where a public works project is approved by the voters, after a thorough vetting of the project's plans.

You know, a location in America where something like nepotism is a big NO NO. You know, nepotism. Giving a job to someone with exploitable connections with that connected someone having zero qualifications for the job nepotistically given.

And who then proceeds to botch the job nefariously nepotistically corruptly given. Hence one of the reasons nepotism is frowned upon in democratic locations in America and the world.

You know, sort of why many Americans are currently appalled at Ivanka Trump pretending to be the acting Secretary of State at some international meeting in South America.

The Trumps are a text book example of why nepotism is considered corrupt and unethical.

Back to the main subject. So, we have this Trinity River Vision bond vote for a quarter billion bucks. On the ballot the verbiage indicates these bucks are for flood control and drainage, specifically, right from the ballot...

Tarrant Regional Water District, A Water Control and Improvement District, Proposition A
The issuance of $250,000,000 bonds for flood control and drainage facilities and the levy of taxes to pay for the bonds.

Recently, in a blogging about Fort Worth Weekly Asking If You Can Spare A Billion For America's Biggest Boondoggle mention was made of the ongoing criminal investigation into Election Fraud alleged to have been perpetrated by the parent of America's Biggest Boondoggle, the Tarrant Regional Water District, the same parent behind putting this quarter billion buck bond before the voters.

How can an entity under investigation for criminal election fraud be allowed to put measures to a vote when the entity is under investigation?

Is there not a lawyer with imagination in the Fort Worth Way zone who could file some sort of injunction to stop this obviously fraudulent ballot measure, touting flood control where there has been no flood for well over half a century due to flood prevention levees long in place, long ago paid for?

And another thing.

The issue of who it is who gets to vote in a TWRD election.

If you live in Haltom City, a town with actual flood issues, and other towns and locations in the TRWD service area, you don't get to vote in a TRWD election.

When this who gets to vote issue has been raised previously one of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's well regarded, by some, apologists, repeats, as explanation, that only "Stakeholders" get to vote in a TRWD election.

With the "Stakeholder" area being that area which was covered by the initial originating of the Tarrant Regional Water District.

When I lived in Fort Worth I was a "Stakeholder" even though I was a recent immigrant who happened to move into the magical "Stakeholder" area.

How does it make any sense that all who are affected by the TRWD's shenanigans are not allowed to vote on TRWD issues? Isn't this just one more type of Election Fraud?

This is all perplexing, and like many of us have already said, Vote NO On TRWD Fraudulent Water Control Bond...

Windy Cold Lucy Park Adventure To Wichita Falls

What with winter deciding to make yet one more weekend return to North Texas, blowing in extremely cold overnight, there was no way I was in the mood to layer on the outerwear to venture out into the outer world to roll my pedal powered wheels anywhere.

So, I opted to roll my mechanized wheels to Lucy Park, a location I formerly frequented frequently but in recent times, not so much.

I thought what with me being the semi-official Wichita Falls Outdoor Adventure Guru I would have myself some waterfall adventuring at Wichita Falls today.

As you can see Wichita Falls is running in full fall mode today. The Wichita River was also running a lot of water. Seems odd since not much rain has fallen of late.

Well, let's take a look at some views some have never seen of Wichita Falls, including a video which you will come to as you scroll down the photos.

Above we are hiking the serpentine brick trail which meanders to the top of Wichita Falls. You can see a peak at the falls through the foliage.

Now we are at the top of the falls, looking over the watery precipice, getting soaked from the windblown mist.

Another look at the roaring waterfall that sort of gives this town its name.

Another view from the top of Wichita Falls, looking down on the new Circle Trail bridge across the falls and the aforementioned Wichita River.

Above we are at the bottom of the falls, about to run up those steps to get up close to the top of the falls.

There we are, as far as one can go on those steps, up close to Wichita Falls.

And below you can join me on a video run up those steps to the view you see above...

Tomorrow April Iceman Cometh Again To North Texas

Last weekend North Texas dropped into an April deep freeze, with the temperature several degrees below freezing at its chilliest.

By Monday the deep freeze retreated.

By Thursday the outer world in North Texas found itself heated into the 90s, with thousands of A/C units on and cooling for the first time in 2018.

While the air was being heated into the 90s the warmth was blowing in from the south at high speed.

Those high speed winds, gusting at time to speeds nearing 40, made for a challenging bike ride yesterday when I rolled my wheels to Lake Wichita to do some dock floating and rocking and rolling.

At one point a gust removed my new sunglasses and sent them to a watery grave.

And now, this morning, I learn via the Wichita Falls Times News Record, we are once again heading into a freeze.

A windy freeze tomorrow, as you can see via the screen cap above. I suppose I will go on a warm windy bike ride today, and likely fore go that pleasure tomorrow....

Fort Worth Weekly Asks If You Can Spare A Billion For America's Biggest Boondoggle

A couple days ago I mentioned the fact I thought it was time to Let Us See The Texas Attorney General TRWD Criminal File.

The mentioning of that fact ended up on Facebook, generating some interesting comments, including the following two..

Clyde Picht: Remind me sometime to tell you about the 2006 water board election where 6 precincts in minority neighborhoods suddenly got so interested in the election that they produced 50-70 mail ballots each. Enough to tilt the outcome of the election. Yet two years later when Barack Obama was on the ballot no one voted by mail in one of those precincts.

Aaron Harris: I'll say this....this is a good time for Durango to stock up on ink....the next month or two are going to be interesting.

I need to stock up on ink? What fresh hell is about to descend upon us?

Meanwhile, the closest thing Fort Worth has to a legitimate newspaper of record, Fort Worth Weekly, has gotten on board with the 20/20 sight see-ers seeing the Trinity River Vision for what it is, or isn't.

The first paragraph of some FW Weekly Static about what has become America's Biggest Boondoggle...

Fort Worth officials and Tarrant Regional Water District personnel have more nerve than a bum tooth, or else they don’t realize the gall it takes to seek a $250 million bond referendum to pay for “flood control.” The election is May 5, and approval means the bond money is expected to go to the Trinity River Vision plan, now referred to as Panther Island. This could raise the total cost of that project to more than $1 billion.

Read the entire Buddy, Can You Spare A Billion? article...

Texas Wildflowers In Bloom Including Pink Evening Primroses In Wichita Falls

It was decades ago.

Well, the next to last year of the last century, when I first saw the pink Texas beauties of the type you see here.

It was early May, heading towards DFW from the northwest, driving southeast on Highway 287, somewhere between Amarillo and Wichita Falls I started to see patches of pink along side the road.

After a few miles of seeing this I felt the need to stop for an up close look at the delicate flowers.

This was my introduction to Texas wildflowers.

I do not remember when it was I learned these wildflowers were called something like Evening Primroses.

The patch of pink I stopped and photo documented today were one patch among many one rolls by whilst biking around Sikes Lakes.

Windy today, extremely so. I was happy the Evening Primroses were able to rigidly pose long enough to take their picture...

Let Us See The Texas Attorney General TRWD Criminal File

Interesting incoming information came in late Monday afternoon.

Source?

Let's call this source Deep Moat II.

Deep Moat was the name used by a person who, years ago, emailed me information from inside the offices of what was then known as the Trinity River Vision, which years later is now known as the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision, or, more commonly, America's Biggest Boondoggle.

The interesting info from Deep Moat II is also about America's Biggest Boondoggle, specifically the parent which birthed that ongoing fraud, the Tarrant Regional Water District.

Deep Moat II has been doing some Open Records requesting with the Texas Office of the Attorney General Law Enforcement Division.

Among the Open Records requested and received are email exchanges between a notorious Fort Worth politician, up for re-election, and her son who was given a special job for which he had zero qualifications.

Among the Open Records requested, which were denied, was an Open Records request requesting the records of the Texas Attorney General Law Enforcement Division investigation into criminal activity of the aforementioned TRWD (Tarrant Regional Water District). Supposedly, this Open Records request was denied because this is an open, ongoing criminal investigation.

A paragraph from the Open Records request denial...

On 3/23/16, Texas Attorney General (OAG) SERGEANT (SGT.) WAYNE RUBIO was assigned this investigation. This investigation was referred by the Texas Secretary of State's Office and involves multiple allegations of election code violations, including, but not limited to; Illegal Voting, Unlawful Assistance, Carrier Envelope Action by Person Other than Voter, Method of Returning Marked Ballot, Assisting Voter, Assisting Applicant, and Providing False Information on Application. Specifically, it is believed several suspects committed the various election code violations on or around the May 9, 2015 Tarrant County Joint Elections and the March 2016 Primary Election.

I am assuming the election being investigated is the TRWD Board Election with results so obviously fraudulent it was astonishing the results did not instantly erupt into a scandal, with an outraged outcry from Fort Worth's responsible newspaper of record. Unfortunately Fort Worth does not have one of those.

And so crooks get away with stealing elections, because, apparently, or so I have been told, that has long been the Fort Worth Way.

And now, in 2018, in the coming month of May, there will be another TRWD sponsored election, likely with shenanigans and fraud involved, so desperate is the TRWD to get their hands on a quarter billion bucks to try and rescue the sinking mess which is now known as America's Biggest Boondoggle....

Warm Wichita Falls Ride To Hamilton Park Playground Art

No, that is not some sort of hang glider flying type contraption you see my bike looking at here.

What you are seeing is the new playground installation in the Wichita Falls park named Hamilton.

This looks more like some sort of art installation than something for kids to play on.

I have yet to see any kids playing on this. I have seen kids crawling around on the padded ground cover upon which the playground installation sits.

I think maybe kids are not able to figure out how they are supposed to play on this. Maybe there should be a sign with instructions.

My last bike ride was on Friday, when the outer world was heated to nearly the 80 degree zone. Then later that day a cold front arrived, dropping the outer world temperature to below freezing for most of the next two days.

That return to winter left by this morning. Let us hope this past weekend was finally the death rattle of the coldest winter since I have been in Texas.

If I remember right it was in December of 1998 I arrived in Texas. I left Washington in a heavy rainstorm and six days later arrived at my new Texas location in an even heavier rainstorm. With flooding. My weather intro to Texas was harsh. That wet entry was followed two weeks later by the first Ice Storm I've ever slipped in.

I moved to my first Texas domicile without having previously seen it in person. I only saw multiple photos. I remember when I first saw the pool I was appalled by how small it looked, not realizing my perspective made it look smaller than it actually was, which turned out to be plenty big, with a deep end and a diving board.

Currently there is an operation underway to find me a new domicile, in a state out west called Arizona. I am heading to Arizona, again, in a couple weeks.

There is a fairly good chance Durango Texas will soon become Durango Arizona.

Time will tell....