Dam Failure Endangers Dallas With No Army Corps Of Engineers Help

What you are looking at here is a screencap from Facebook, a post from former Tarrant Water District Board candidate, John Austin Basham, raising an alarm about that which you see in the photo.

That being a failing Lake Lewisville Dam.

Lake Lewisville is a reservoir at the north end of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

Lake Lewisville is currently at full pool, meaning the reservoir is full, thus putting maximum stress on the dam which holds back a 65 foot tall wall of water from careening though the heart of Dallas.

In other words the Army Corps of Engineer's has indicated a Lake Lewisville Dam breech could put some 431,000 people in harm's way.

But, the Army Corps of Engineers says it will need millions of dollars to  repair what is known to be one of the nation's most dangerous dams.

Well.

Meanwhile, a few miles to the west of Lake Lewisville we have the Army Corps of Engineers spending millions of taxpayer dollars on an un-needed flood control project where no flood control project is needed, not needed because over a half century ago the Army Corps of Engineers spent millions to build massive levees which have prevented flooding for decades.

The Army Corps of Engineers has signed on to the absurd idea of taking down those levees, replacing them with a "flood diversion channel" which will fast track a flood past downtown Fort Worth where it will then get slowed down by a forest of what are known as J.D. Granger's Magic Trees.

Should not those Magic Trees already be planted, so that they may be well established if that flood diversion channel ever actually gets dug and shoots a volume of water at high speed towards Arlington?

How many millions would it take for the Army Corps of Engineers to fix Lake Lewisville Dam before a disaster strikes?

How many million has the Army Corps of Engineers already wasted on America's Biggest Boondoggle?

Two comments from Mr. Basham's Facebook post I thought worth repeating....

Tony Pompa: If the possibility of a 65' wall of water traveling at 34 MPH right through the heart of Dallas does not get their attention, then I don't know what would! This should be fixed, like yesterday!

Mr. Spiffy: Very frightening. But on the upside we have a new kinetic sculpture in Fort Worth that cost several hundred thousand and millions of taxpayer dollars spent on fun parties and cool marketing campaigns. Meanwhile they have tarp and duct tape holding back a wall of death.

The kinetic sculpture to which Mr. Spiffy refers is that which I blogged about in America's Biggest Boondoggle's Million Dollar Wind Roundabout Ridiculousness.

Near as I can from what I have read, regarding the reaction to Fort Worth's newest sculpture, "disgust" seems to be the thought most frequently expressed in various ways. As in a disgusting waste of money for something that looks like the ruins of a water tower or a garbage can. And which is designed to be a big shiny object casting random bolts of reflected light at driver's trying to navigate around a big roundabout.

Fort Worth's #1 Boondoggle's absurdities are pretty much hopeless at this point. Apparently there are no adults in the room to intervene with the foolishness.

One would have thought that the fact that The Boondoggle's first completed project, Cowtown Wakepark, has been flooded multiple times, shut down, gone out of business, that this first project of something that touts itself as a flood control project, would see its first project destroyed by floods, that whis would cause some sort of backlash where people come to the realization that what used to be known as the Trinity River Vision is now an embarrassing boondoggle.

Why would The Boondoggle dig a wakepark pond where it would get flooded every time the Trinity goes into flood mode? I remember when I first saw Cowtown Wakepark thinking won't there be a lot of damage when the river floods? It seemed sort of obvious.

And I can't be the only one who wonders what calamity will ensue the first time the Trinity floods into that flood diversion channel if it ever gets dug.....

East Fort Worth's Boy Scout Troop Restoration Of Harrison Cemetery

Way back in August of 2013 I blogged about an abandoned cemetery in East Fort Worth.

At that point in time the cemetery was an overgrown jungle, yet it had a Texas State Historical Marker near the side of the road, which is what caused me to stop to see what was being marked.

When I read the historical marker I was surprised to learn this overgrown cemetery was the final resting place for a local notable, J.C. Randol, he of Randol Mill fame.

Anyone who drives anywhere in the Dallas/Fort Worth zone has found oneself driving on Randol Mill Road at some point in time. For me it is pretty much anytime I drive anywhere.

A couple days ago someone named Anonymous commented on that blog post from way back in 2013.....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Today I Found East Fort Worth's Abandoned Harrison Cemetery":

A local Boy Scout troop cleaned the cemetery in 2014 and again in October 2015. You might want to drop by again...

I did as Anonymous suggested and dropped by the Harrison Cemetery again.

Well.

That Boy Scout Troop deserves a medal or two or some special accolade.

Harrison Cemetery has been restored. That is how I found, above, the obelisk marking the grave of J.C. Randol.

Below is the aforementioned Texas State Historical Marker. Now you can see the cemetery behind it. Go to the original Today I Found East Fort Worth's Abandoned Harrison Cemetery blog post and see what this looked like two years ago.

What motivated this Boy Scout Troop to do this good deed? Methinks some sort of reward is warranted.

Did the Fort Worth Star-Telegram have an article about the restoration of this East Fort Worth cemetery? If not, why not?

Betsy Price's Tarnished Golden Rule of Pseudo Compassionate Service

Compassionate Fort Worth.

Sounds like a good idea.

I often see a thing or two, or hear of a thing or two, in Fort Worth, which I think could use a little compassion.

Fort Worth's Mayor, Betsy Price, is spearheading a program or event or public relations operation called Compassionate Fort Worth, asking that people who are part of a compassionate Fort Worth organization to participate so as to gain more attention for their project.

My instant reaction upon learning of Betsy's Compassionate Fort Worth operation was to think here we go, once more down the Rabbit Hole, where Up is Down, Right is Wrong, Stupid is Smart and Heartless is Compassionate.

I am not suggesting there are no compassionate people or groups in Fort Worth, because there are plenty of such.

What I am about to suggest is that it is a bit hypocritical for Betsy Price and her city government to be part of an operation called Compassionate Fort Worth. Because the City of Fort Worth, under Betsy Price's reign has not been compassionate in more than one instance where a compassionate person would have exhibited compassion.

Included in the document announcing this Compassion Initiative is a letter from Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. You can read the entire letter below, but, before you get to that, take a gander at the first paragraph of this letter from Fort Worth's mayor......

Last year, the Fort Worth City Council signed the International Charter for Compassion, designating Fort Worth as a "Compassionate City". I believe that actions motivated by the Golden Rule, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you", will help us become an even greater and compassionate city.

Betsy Price practices the Golden Rule?

Last year I wrote a couple blog posts about how well Betsy Price adheres to the Golden Rule.

Fort Worth Shrugs Its Shoulders While Hundreds Of Citizens Are Given 30 Day Eviction Notices

and

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price Has No Comment About 30 Day Evictions Of 100s In Her Town

Now, if I was a town's mayor and some out of town developer came to town and coldheartedly issued eviction notices in a manner which violated decency, and maybe the law, well, I would have directed that something be done to help those people. Betsy did nothing.

In Fort Worth there is a wall that is slowly coming down, making a lot of Fort Worth citizens nervous. Plea after plea to the city, and to Betsy Price, for help, has resulted in no help, nothing, absolutely no doing unto those people the way you would want yourself to be treated in a similar situation.

I have blogged about the Pulte Wall of Shame multiple times, including a recent blogging pointing out Betsy Price's neglect of this issue in Why Is Fort Worth's Best Public Servant Ignoring The Pulte Wall Of Shame?

Compassionate Fort Worth.

A week does not go by where I do not see a mom struggling to push a stroller along side a Fort Worth street, with that street lacking a sidewalk. Want to initiate something meaningful and compassionate, Betsy Price, how about advocating for a sidewalk building program for Fort Worth?

A mom and dad take their kids on a picnic to a Fort Worth park. Mom looks for running water to wash her kid's hands. Dad looks for a restroom to which to take Junior. Neither are to be found in most Fort Worth parks. That is right, in the city which is the envy of the nation the majority of the town's park have no running water, along with outhouses serving as restrooms.

What is the City of Fort Worth's Compassionate Program to help all the panhandlers and homeless people? Day after day I see panhandlers at various intersections. Just yesterday it was a mom with two girls, near the Jack in the Box at 820 and John T. White Road. Mom's sign said "Please help. I need a job." She was not begging for money. She was begging for a job.

I'm sure this Compassionate City thing makes Betsy Price and fellow sorts feel real good about themselves. But, how about doing something actually meaningful that addresses something real?

Below is the aforementioned letter from Betsy Price and below that the reasons why you should participate in the Mayor's Week of Compassionate Service....

Throwback Thursday To Ruby, Theo & David's Mustanging Mama

What with today being Thursday I guess this is one of those TBT Throw Back Thursday things, which I have never done before.

That would be my little sister, Michele, you are looking at here. I don't know if this is her kindergarten profile pic, or first grade.

A couple weeks ago Michele asked if I could be any help with a school project of my nephew David. David's assignment was to write a brief history of his family. I sent David my take on his family history. I do not know if David got a good grade on this assignment, or not.

In more family history news, last week, out of the blue, my little brother texted me asking what year my Mustang was. I replied it was a 1965 Mustang Fullback. My little brother texted back "Fullback", to which I replied, I am border line elderly and thus a bit senile. I corrected Fullback to Fastback.

I mentioned to David's mother that our little brother had asked me about my old Mustang's age and mentioned that somewhere I have a photo of David's mother with my old Mustang. David's mother replied that she remembered seeing such a photo.

I figured the Michele Mustang photo must be in one of my ancient photo albums. I looked to no avail. I did find photos of my old Mustang, but not the one I was looking for.

Then it occurred to me  that this photo might have been one I scanned way back in 2001. I had roadtripped to Washington for my mom and dad's 50th Anniversary Party. At that party I was shown some photos I'd not seen before. Old family photos from way back in the 1910s, or thereabouts. I think it was that same day I was shown a big  box with a lot of photos. I recollect asking if I could take this box back to Texas with me so I could digitize a lot of the photos.

I did so.

I eventually turned those photos into a website.  Mom and dad were here the following October. I returned the box of photos to them at that point in time. I have no idea where that box is now.

Eventually I found that photo I was looking for of Michele and my Mustang, and a lot more.

So, for the viewing enjoyment of the twins, Ruby and Theo, and David, photos of your mom when she was a baby, and a bit older....

Above is Baby Michele being held by your Great Grandma Slotemaker.

That is your Aunt Jackie holding what appears to be crybaby Michele.

Mama Michele's first Christmas. She could not yet walk but she was able to rip open Christmas presents.

Here Mama Michele is the guest of honor at your Aunt Jackie's birthday party. I built that picnic table in wood shop when I was a freshman in high school. I wonder if it still exists? I suspect not.

I have no idea where the pony came from, but that is Aunt Jackie and Mama Michele being cowgirls.

And here is the photo I was looking for, Mama  Michele climbing into the front seat of my 65 Mustang.

Michele sitting on the hood of the Mustang. That was the funnest car to drive I have ever had. That car took me a lot of miles to a lot of special places. Many special events took place in that car.

Above we see Mama Michele driving her first car. I do not know the make or model.

By the time Michele reached parade age mom and dad were not quite as industrious with parade float building as they were when Michele's siblings were her age. The red, white and blue theme and the street makes me think this may be in Sedro Woolley's Loggerodeo Parade, not Burlington's Berry Dairy Days Parade.

So, there you go, Ruby, Theo and David, photo proof your Mama Michele was once a little kid, just like you, but better behaved, because she had a lot of older siblings to keep her in line....

America's Biggest Boondoggle's Million Dollar Wind Roundabout Ridiculousness

Early last month I was in downtown Fort Worth after which I blogged Downtown Fort Worth's Sleeping Panther Took Me To The Heart Of Darkness Today, in which the Heart of Darkness to which I referred was the Star-Telegram building with the Trinity River Vision Headquarters occupying the ground floor.

It was at that point I realized the degree to which Fort Worth's embarrassing newspaper of record was in cahoots with America's Biggest Boondoggle.

Today the Star-Telegram provided another example of this embarrassing pseudo newspaper being in cahoots with America's Biggest Boondoggle, that being an article titled Panther Island public artwork to be dedicated Thursday.

This article contains multiple jaw dropping bits of shake your head in wonderment gems.

We'll get to those gems, but first, why does this piece of "artwork", you see above, need a dedication ceremony? Well over a year ago the Trinity River Vision Boondogglers, led my J.D. Granger, had a big ground breaking ceremony, complete with explosions, to mark the late start of the construction of The Boondoggle's three little bridges connecting the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island. I verbalized my bumpuzzlement about this bizarre groundbreaking event in A Big Boom Begins Boondoggle Bridge Construction Three Months Late.

In response to that Big Bridge Boom event someone opined that while Fort Worth is a big city of around 800,000 population, the town has a small town mentality, hence making a big deal  over very little.

But, a dedication ceremony for that odd structure in the middle of a roundabout which is still under construction? That is just odd.

Let's go through the Star-Telegram article about the dedication of this important piece of art and opine as we go along....

The first structure on the city’s almost-built Panther Island will be dedicated at 9 a.m. Thursday.

The almost built Panther Island? Almost built? Did the Star-Telegram reporter ask for details as to how this imaginary island is at the point of almost being built?

The premier construction is Wind Roundabout, a 30-foot kinetic sculpture by California-based artist Ned Kahn, which sits in the center of the traffic circle that joins Henderson Street and White Settlement Road. The circular tower is covered in a scrim of hinged aluminum plates that move with the wind and reflect the sunlight during the day and headlights at night.

Premier construction? And its name is "Wind Roundabout"?  So, this work of art is a big shiny thing in the center of a location by which cars will be passing. Will this reflective light be distracting? Will this reflective light possibly be blinding? Could this reflective light possibly lead to an accident? Has the city considered its potential liability in allowing the installation of this potentially dangerous literal eyesore?

Wind Roundabout will be in the center of Panther Island’s west island. Currently, the entire area is a massive construction project that will encompass three new bridges over the Trinity River and a bypass channel of water that will separate 800 acres north of downtown into Panther Island.

What? This light reflector is at the center of Panther Island's west island? There is a west island? Does this mean there is also an east island? Why does the Star-Telegram reporter not elaborate on such a puzzlement? The entire area is a massive construction project? Really? I have seen a massive construction project in action. What is going on at The Boondoggle location is not a massive construction project. The area where some construction is under way is very small.

While the ribbon-cutting moment may seem premature — the sculpture lacks landscaping, and the roads are still being built for the roundabout — it had to be done now, Granger said. “It seemed to make sense to have the piece put in, even though it is still a construction zone so we don’t interrupt traffic in the future,” he said. “Plus, the longer we wait, the costs would go up.”

Ribbon cutting moment  might be premature? How about not needed at all in a normal  big city. So, even though the roundabout is still an unfinished mess this dedication had to take place now, according to Kay Granger's son, the highly qualified project engineer, J.D., because it seemed to make sense, because the cost of doing this dedication would go up if it was postponed. Huh? How much is today's Wind Roundabout dedication costing?

Wind Roundabout has a budget of more than $952,230. Even though all of the invoices have not been submitted, Martha Peters, vice president of Fort Worth Public Art, anticipates it will come in under budget. The sculpture is owned by the city and will be maintained by Fort Worth Public Art. It was paid for by the city and the 2 percent Public Art receives from infrastructure projects.

This ridiculous thing cost almost a million bucks! Maybe more, what with invoices still coming in. What a windfall for the creator of this, well, uh, work of art.

While the sculpture project has taken more than 10 years, “this is fast track for a public art pieces,” the artist said. Panther Island (formerly called Trinity Uptown) has been in the planning stages since the 1990s; The Trinity River Vision Master plan was adopted by the City Council in 2003.

10 years? It took 10 years to make this? And that's a fast track? How long did it take France to make the Statue of Liberty?  Panther Island has been in the planning stages since the 1990s? Really? Seems like only a couple years ago Panther Island became The Boondoggle's latest name change.

After a slow start, the creation of Panther Island is becoming more of a reality as the massive earth-moving equipment carves the new river bypass channel. Granger said that with the activity came the developers. The area is being constantly recorded by video cameras so progress can be watched in real time on the Trinity River Vision website.

Really? A slow start? And now the project is just zipping along? Panther Island is becoming more of a reality rather than a pipe dream, as earth moving equipment carves the bypass channel? With the activity came the developers? What activity? What developers? Anyone seen of this happening? I was just through that area a couple weeks ago. I saw no earth moving going on. I saw nothing going on. A camera is recording the project's progress and can be viewed live? Well, I guess that would hold some appeal to anyone who has enjoyed watching paint dry.

Kahn was chosen to create a piece of public art for Panther Island 10 years ago. When the roundabouts were designed, he chose one for his sculpture.

So, years before this Panther Island thing was foisted on the people this Kahn guy was chosen to make a sculpture, which he began work on, 10 years ago, and eventually chose as its location the one and only roundabout under construction. Yeah, that all sounds reasonable.

I will compress into one paragraph the Kahn creator's words about his work of art....

“This whole idea of orbiting around this thing, and for it to be equally interesting from all angles, was interesting to me,” he said. In his previous works, there was a definitive boundary between the architecture and the sculpture. Here, the sculpture is the architecture, and it morphs as the environment and time of day changes. Sometimes it is transparent; sometimes it is opaque. The stronger the wind, the more it moves. He has placed many of his kinetic panels on the sides of buildings where the wind ripples across the surface, making visible what is invisible. The psychological effect of watching the wind play across his pieces “is similar to watching a fire, waves on a lake or tall grasses swaying in the wind,” Kahn said. Kahn has tested his structures under the most adverse weather conditions, and he admits he was impressed by the Texas winds. He said that by adhering to the proportions found in nature — making his little panels no larger than tree leaves, for example — his structures can withstand hail and strong winds. “This was like creating a building — an entirely useless building permeable to light, wind and rain,” he said. “It is sort of a gossamer ghost.”

Like creating an entirely useless building? The useless building creates a psychological effect similar to watching a fire? Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Put a big thing in the center of a roundabout that looks like a fire.

Like I already said. Road hazard.

Anyway, just when you think America's Biggest Boondoggle and its partner in civic irresponsibility, the Star-Telegram, can  not get any more ridiculous, somehow they manage to do so.....

Spencer Jack Driving Through A Flooding Skagit River

Earlier today I mentioned that I expected I would be seeing Skagit River flood documentation from Spencer Jack and his dad.

What I did not expect I would be seeing is video documentation of Spencer Jack driving through a flooding Skagit River.

Seems like only yesterday Spencer Jack took us on a virtual drive on a super dry Skagit River bed.

One bridge has been constructed across the Skagit River since I evacuated the valley to begin my long exile in Texas. That bridge connects Burlington and Mount Vernon. This bridge was built in far less than four years and was built over a big river that can  move a lot of water at times.

Fort Worth is currently taking four years to build three simple little bridges over dry land to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.

Four years.

Over dry land.

Anyway, below Spencer Jack takes you on a very short drive which ends in a big splash, in which you see the new bridge over the Skagit River, with its very special signature one of a kind piers....

An El Nino Pineapple Express Will Not Be Flooding The Trinity With Snowmelt

This is not yet one more blogging about something I read in a west coast online news source that I would not read about in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Yet it sort of is.

As in, regarding a Fort Worth flood you would never read that the flooding is exacerbated by a rising freezing level in the mountains melting the snowpack.

If I am remembering correctly, and I likely am, November and early December bring the worst of the Western Washington floods, when conditions conspire for a perfect storm.

As in El Nino, or El Nina, I can never remember which is which, warms up the Pacific, causing what is called a Pineapple Express, bringing torrents of water north where it gets dropped on the Pacific Northwest.

Usually by this time of year a snow pack of several feet has grown in the mountains, often enough for the ski areas to open. Then a Pineapple Express hits, rapidly melting the snow, adding more water to the already rain-soaked rivers.

Western Washington floods can be very dramatic, as can Texas floods, but they are quite different experiences, though both involve a lot of water.

I suspect this current flood event will be my old hometown of Mount Vernon's first time it has to use its new flood wall.

I also suspect I will be getting reports and photo documentation from Spencer Jack and his dad.....

Downtown Fort Worth Wants To Recognize My Trailblazing Contributions

Yesterday I got email from Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. asking me if I have blazed any trails lately, telling me that they want to recognize me for my contributions to Downtown Fort Worth.

I am so honored.

The email came with an attached document to fill out detailing my contributions to Downtown Fort Worth.

I have made so many contributions to Downtown Fort Worth it is hard for me to decide which to submit for this prestigious honor.

I suppose my number one contribution has been all the years I pointed out that Downtown Fort Worth was confusing its few tourists by having signs in its downtown zone pointing to Sundance Square, when there was no square in Downtown Fort Worth. When those few tourists would ask where Sundance Square was most would be pointed to the parking lots at the location where eventually, a couple years ago, an actual square was built.

And then goofily, redundantly named Sundance Square Plaza.

Another of my many contributions to Downtown Fort Worth has been pointing out what an embarrassment it has been for the city to allow a park which purports to celebrate Fort Worth's heritage to become a boarded up, cyclone fence surrounded eyesore, visible to all who come to Fort Worth, sitting as it does directly across the street from the Tarrant County Courthouse.

While my pointing out the Heritage Park eyesore embarrassment over and over again has yet to lead to the park being re-opened, there has been some progress, with there now being somewhat of a plan to move towards restoring Heritage Park.

Another of my many contributions to Downtown Fort Worth has been over and over again pointing out the fact that America's Biggest Boondoggle has cast a pall over development in Downtown Fort Worth, due to the fact that developers do not know if The Boondoggle will ever actually come to fruition and be the location to invest in, or is that investment opportunity elsewhere in Downtown Fort Worth, such as the underdeveloped south end of downtown?

Yes, I can see how pointing out such things is a big contribution to Downtown Fort Worth.

Does getting a Trailblazer Award come with a prize? Elsie Hotpepper has already insisted she be my date for the awards show.

I think I will wait til tomorrow, or the next day, to write my acceptance speech.....

Riding A Bali Motorbike With Flora Cheng

That is Flora Cheng you are looking at here.

I met Flora Cheng way back in the last century when she emailed me via my old Dialing Doctor Durango website.

Flora asked me for some advice. I gave the advice, even though I was totally unqualified to do so.

Flora took my advice to heart and the next thing I knew I was being invited to Flora's wedding in Singapore. Unfortunately I was unable to attend, but I did get to see photo documentation. It was a beautiful wedding in a beautiful setting.

Eventually Flora had herself two of the cutest little boys you've ever seen.

Over the years I have gotten to vicariously travel  all over Asia with Flora. To Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kuala Lampur, Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, Taiwan and other places I am not remembering.

And Bali, which is where Flora is right now. That is Flora motorbiking in Bali above.

Yesterday Flora Facebook chatted me. We chatted for the longest period of chatting in years. Who would have thought twenty years ago that it would a perfectly normal thing to so easily have a chat with someone in Bali whilst one is in Texas. For free.

Flora has called me a couple times since I've been in Texas. The first time I heard Flora's voice I was surprised. I was expecting a Chinese accented voice in lilting tones. Instead Flora sounds like Tallulah Bankhead. I would think a Chinese Singaporean sounding like Talulah Bankhead is a very good thing.

On the Facebook post where I saw Flora motorbiking there is a long thread of comments. All the comments are in Chinese. But, Facebook gives one a translate option. Translating the Chinese comments into English renders them sort of poetic and amusing.

Below is a sampling.....

Eat sleep eat sleep eat sleep I'm full of the day. Must be hard.
This is the climax five minutes after dinner check big let me control of the bike, so leaning leaning stop walk was just starting out bed and breakfast then went to the game in the a c e greatly get it running read amitabha pulling the car stop okay!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Every time after all of the sweet smell of grilled seafood
Full House.
Every time his wife not into
Because don't eat pork
Pulled this big check to try to eat inside.
(think I don't eat he can address)
I can't believe it's delicious.
Just melt in the mouth of the barbecue are hard in
And No, I hate the pig goat?
We both share a plate plus one bowl ask her has full.
It's arrived in Bali fat cats think the first line of delicious.
Photo of a plate of roast pork rib 7 seven million Indonesian Rupiah, NEW CREDITS 7 Yuan.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I'm a capricorn block, everything was to study hard except textbooks

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

If the network carefully, you will soon be crazy.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Oh I'm busy watching poem by didn't talk to them contact only daddy's home care teacher at SMS on communication curious she is high school classmates

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Focus is not on the forehead of the oil light.

My top off a bunch of mosquitoes humming

Walked into the dirty duck shop known

So it's mosquito fortress

Check big said he put on a mosquito away dance

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You feeling better?

Become an oval face?

This weight loss is amazing, accident just try!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Leaves you have time to get up, get up too slow today, the sun is perched at its highest peak high farts bones, and how to find you?

__________________________________________

The sun is perched at its highest peak high farts?

So, there you go, a bit of a visit with Flora Cheng in Bali.....

Another Fort Worth Development Bites The Dust

Elsie Hotpepper directed to me the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Developer backs out of deal for Cultural District hotel article you see partly screen capped here.

A time or two or maybe more in the past several months, and as recently as yesterday, in a blogging titled I Wonder Why A High-Rise Building Boom Is Not Reshaping Fort Worth's Skyline? I have blogged about development in the downtown Fort Worth zone being stymied by the uncertainty caused by the slow motion pseudo public works project known as America's Biggest Boondoggle, officially known as the Trinity River Uptown Central City Panther Island Vision.

I suspect that is the reason why Elsie Hotpepper directed me to this Star-Telegram article.

This hotel deal that collapsed was not an enterprise where a developer assessed there was a great demand for his product, and hence economically feasible to build.

Instead of this hotel deal coming about via market forces, it came about, like so many of Fort Worth's boondoggles do, by the city offering an incentive to a developer to develop something which the developer would not develop, unless, well, bribed.

In this case, in August, the Fort Worth City Council approved a 10 year deal where up to $7.8 million collected in city hotel taxes would be returned to the developer.

That deal was not sweet enough to make the project work.

So, the developer tried to get the city to increase the incentive, in other words, tried to increase the shakedown. The city said no. And then the developer also said no to building the hotel.

Now why is it I don't read of these type "incentives" attached to projects I read about in other towns? It happens over and over again in Fort Worth.

A sporting goods store runs a con on Fort Worth which it has run on many towns. Fort Worth falls for the con that this store will be the Biggest Tourist Attraction in Texas, approves all sorts of incentives. Soon that sporting goods store was not the only Cabelas in Texas. Now it is not even the only Cabelas in the Dallas/Fort Worth zone.

Radio Shack wants a new corporate headquarters in downtown Fort Worth. The city approves all sorts of incentives, including abusing eminent domain to destroy a public housing development, closing the world's shortest subway, losing acres of free parking.  Soon upon moving into its new headquarters Radio Shack found it could not afford it.

I've lost track of all the other instances of Fort Worth giving a developer an incentive to build something that market forces could not bring about. Oh, I remember one. The new Fort Worth Convention Center Hotel. Other towns have private developers eager to build high rise hotels nears the town's convention center, doing so without special incentives.

The City of Fort Worth, even in the best of times, has to dangle carrots to get stubborn mules to build something. And now, even with incentives, the City of Fort Worth has to also overcome the uncertainty caused by America's Biggest Boondoggle.

The City of Fort Worth really needs to send out a task force to other American towns to find out how those towns manage to have booming downtown's, with developers developing without special incentives, and while they are at it, find out how those towns manage to have sidewalks alongside most of the town's streets. And modern facilities,with running water, and no outhouses, in the town's park.

The task force could start with a look at Dallas. Then head north. And west. Or east.....