Wanted to take a little break from our bicycle-related programming and let you in on some important news:
Tomorrow will go down as a sad day in the history of our city. Tomorrow will be the day that our City Council, and perhaps most disappointingly our Mayor, tell the people of the Fort Worth central city that they care more about what one well-connected, old-money family (ahem… Basses) thinks than the thousands of people who actually live and work in the areas the streetcar would serve.
Make no mistake… no matter what misinformation the bought-and-paid-for editorial board at the Star-Telegram tried to sell you, this was no waste of money. What is truly a waste of money is the endless study of a project that you only plan to kill when the political winds swirl a little bit.
The simple truth is this: the two TIF districts that would have benefitted most from the initial line offered to foot the bill for the streetcar. Add that to the Federal Grant awarded to the city, and Fort Worth’s general fund would have had to contribute exactly zero dollars to get the starter line built. (Aside from the study dollars which they have already spent, now for nothing).
When we opened our business, we looked at lots of locations. We looked at a neighboring city, where we could have had a greater market share and likely better sales from day one. And we looked at Fort Worth, where the market was a little fuller, but we saw potential along the future streetcar routes.
Ultimately, we chose Fort Worth because of the bright future of its central city. A future which we now know our Mayor doesn’t care about.
Not too long ago, the Mayor himself said in a speech, “Commuter Rail, street cars, and other alternative modes of transportation also remain a priority for me and this City Council. Unfortunately, Fort Worth and other major metropolitan areas are finding out the hard way what a mistake it was to design and build cities around automobiles years ago. Friends, we cannot continue to focus solely on building more roads for more vehicles. That’s counter productive at best. Business as usual is dead.”
He was right until the last sentence of that quote. Unfortunately for the people who truly care about this city, business as usual is not dead. Business as usual, i.e. bend to the political pressure of the haves at the expense of the have-nots, is alive and well in Cowtown.
This is a bummer. I have a lot of things to say about it, but I think it is best summed up by that sentence… maybe one day someone with the power will open their eyes to the potential.
Bernie, I heard the numbers too but I’m still not giving up hope yet. It ain’t over til the fat lady sings. Let’s hope for a stay of execution.
If not, let’s rally the troops to storm the castle. I’m tired of Fort Worth politics, the “Fort Worth way” and all the other horse shit they are shoveling at City Hall. Let’s take our city back one vote at a time or pack our bags and move on to greener pastures.
What is driving me crazy is all these people in Ft Worth that for some reason want a street car. I havnt heard ANY one want a streetcar in Ft Worth until like 6 months ago and strangely all these people also are big bike riders. I say, the only thing more annoying than waiting at a railroad crossing is when the road is clogged up with bike riders. Which remains the ONLY hobby that clogs up roads and causes people to be late everywhere. I say if you want street cars and want to bike everywhere move to San Francisco. They have tons of both. I dont go into a vegan restraunt and whine about how they don’t have steak then form “action groups” to get them to serve steak. I just go to a steak restraunt. That’s what you should do. Go to the place that already has EVERYTHING you want. So the rest of us can continue living in a town that is just how we like it.
Your comparison of restaurants (private businesses) to a city that is supposed to serve its residents is laughable, Dick. And people have been asking for streetcars for a heck of a lot longer than 6 months. Perhaps you weren’t paying attention. Or perhaps you haven’t lived here that long yourself. (For that matter, do you even live here at all? Or are you in Lawton, OK as your IP address suggests?)
Even more troubling to me, though, is the fact that you are apparently late everywhere and angry about it. Instead of blaming your tardiness on others, have you considered improving your trip planning?
Oh, and just so you know… for those that don’t ride, bicycles may seem like a hobby. But for many, they are transportation. And I don’t hear many cyclists bitching about all you motorists clogging up the roads and making them late. They just leave the house a little earlier.
Score:
Bernie 1
Dick 0
Dick, why don’t you move? We could use fewer people who are misinformed and who spread misinformation in this town. I can assure you, the many people who disagree with you strongly are going NOWHERE.
Like Bernie pointed out if you ride a bike to get from point A to point B, then it is not a hobby, it’s a vehicle. I have several friends who do not own a car and get to work and back on a a bike. I have even more friends who do own a car and ride a bike to work anyway.
You’re right, though, Dick. HOW DARE THESE PEOPLE NOT DRIVE TO WORK. They should all move to San Fransisco where the rest of their kind live. Oh, but wait, they have cars in San Fransisco. How does that work?
In all seriousness though, Dick, if you want to live in a place that will continue to rely on cars for transportation, you better have that time machine fired up. Alternative modes of transportation are not a choice, they will become and are becoming a fact of life.
Class warfare is the new political “norm”. As they keep shrinking the middle class who is going to fund their class warfare games. It is very sad when greed and clout hurt the greater cause.
Unfortunately, dicks always seem to win in the end no matter the score.
There is always a DICK out there running his ignorant mouth! Dick, tell me exactly where it is in Fort Worth that cyclists are “clogging up” the roads, preventing you to get to work on time? That’s just RiDICKculous!
Great reply Bernie. And as for Dick, it’s not just a name but a life philosophy for life.
Dick
Sorry to disappoint, we’re going to change this town.
Thanks for caring,
Aaron
It is indeed a sad day. Our mayor’s motto is “the Fort Worth way”. I guess the FW way is to rely on cars, not try to improve our city, to lag behind most cities our size, and to waste taxpayers time and money. We spent thousands studying the streetcar and then he decides to kill it. When Kathy Hirt runs and wins the mayoral election, maybe we can try again. I’m sure Ms. Hirt will be about improving this city, not killing it!
Get out the vote. From the Mayor, down to the city council and we’ll show them what we think of their leadership.