| The Trinity River Vision is a project to build a lake just north of downtown Fort Worth with over $400 million in tax payer dollars. This is Rep. Kay Granger's project.
The project has some laudible goals: economic development for Fort Worth. Some fear that it will drain taxpayer dollars from other worth while projects and infrastucture for the second fastest growing big city in America. Others, including conservative Republicans like Clyde Picht, oppose it on the grounds that it is just a waste of tax payer dollars. Others like the project but fear it will benefit only Granger's posse: Granger's son has been installed as the Director on the project; Granger's political consultant and supporters recently recieved $1.7, million in no bid contracts for "public relations services", the developments seem to be only for wealthy folks. To be fair, Granger's son, a former prosecutor, seems like an ethical person but the fact he was selected despite having no experience in the administration of public works projects and with no hiring process raised eyebrows about how the project is being handled in general. This project will also have enviormental impacts, but, if done right, could be a positive for the enviorment. Oh, and the Democrats took control of Congress and pledged to put an end to pork barrel spending. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson has voiced problems with how the Trinity River Vision project came to be funded by Congress (apparently TRV project bypassed some subcommittee that it should have gone through that Johnson happens to be Chairing in the upcoming Congress.
This is a public issue that progressives in Fort Worth can impact and become part of the debate in Tarrant County. I like many don't necessarily oppose the concept but oppose how its being implemented.
Progressives in Fort Worth need to get involved in the Trinity River Vision. This could be Fort Worth's version of S.O.S. in Travis County |
