Don’t Listen?

By Ron West

To quote the Star-Telegram’s paraphrase of Mayor Oscar Trevino’s remarks to the Regional Transportation Council, “Don't listen to these little people. Let's do what we want.” This was in reference to the changing of public roads to Tollways. Mayor Trevino, is apparently carrying his intense desire for ever more taxes and fees on the populace to his position on this council.

Again to quote from the Star-Telegram Editorial “Not the attitude that we want to see from our elected officials.” (Star-Telegram scan.)

The Regional Transportation Council didn’t listen to Mayor Trevino and the electorate in NRH did not listen either regarding the freeze of taxes for the seniors and disabled. The vote on September 11^th, brought out record numbers of voters and the freeze passed by an overwhelming margin. Mayor Trevino has indicated that the council will enact the will of the people. Prior to the election, Mayor Trevino, Council Members Metts, Lewis, Welch, Johnson and Whitson had all expressed strong opposition to the measure. They did however; vote to place the measure on a ballot after much pressure from citizens of the city.

The message should be clear across Tarrant County. The voters want the Seniors and Disabled to have this freeze enacted and the voters will support those elected officials who have the courage to move forward with it. It has an insignificant impact on taxing authority budgets and all seniors and disabled who avail themselves of the freeze will continue to pay taxes into the various taxing coffers. Tarrant County Commissioners should take heed and move to make the freeze applicable to county taxes also.

Even though the Star-Telegram Editorial leads with “Citizens Prevail”, we must also recognize that if we are not diligent in monitoring the activities of our City Council, Mayor Trevino will lead in the direction that he “knows best” for us as indicated by his comments to the RTC. While all of us want a strong progressive city, we do not want to be dictated to. With all forms of revenue going steadily up for NRH, we can continue to grow our city into the best city in Tarrant County to live in by recognizing that the “little people” have a right to be heard and their wishes respected. We do not want a city where the elected officials are masters who know better what is good for us than we do for ourselves. We do not want elected officials who think our property and our money is theirs for the taking. We want responsive, courteous and responsible city leadership.

The recent election brought out two opposing view points. This is the nature of our society. Dissent is the engine that makes people think and brings about positive change by focusing our intellect and energies on issues that are important to a majority of the population. Each activist on any side is said to represent up to 100 voters who do not speak up. All have a right to speak but the “activists” speak for more than themselves.

During the campaign for and against the freeze, some troubling things did occur. The city fathers choose to publish factually incorrect numbers in the City Newsletter which should be classified as “electioneering” and prohibited. There was a lot of labeling and name calling by the opposition to the freeze alleging that those who supported the freeze were vindictive, selfish, “political terrorists” and many other terms. It was suggested that if anyone supported the freeze they were just not informed or stupid. Perhaps this was desperation for a losing cause or the lack of understanding of our roll as citizens. No one is required to vote according to another’s wishes in our great country and city. After all the rhetoric and noise, each voter is allowed to vote his or her conscience. This is not out of malice or vindication – it is a basic right of our country.

To suggest to elected or appointed officials that they should not listen to the electorate is truly sad. Perhaps Mayor Trevino and his current majority on the council will work on improving their listening skills in the council meetings between now and next May but that may only occur if all of us work to make our collective voices heard.

To all who voted in the Freeze Election, I would like to say thank you. Whether you were for or against the freeze, your vote signifies that you take your citizenship in our city seriously and you are making your voice heard. Please remember that there is always room for improvement in even the very best situations and only by such participation will we achieve the quality of local government that all of us want and deserve.