Carefully Orchestrated Performance

by Ron West

        If anyone watched the performance before the North Richland Hills City Council last night (4/25/05), I hope you gave the Mayor and Incumbents a hand for the "citizen" presentations.   While some were not what the Mayor wanted published, particularly his treatment of Mrs. Myrtis Byrd but she held her own anyway.

        The Mayor didn't want any campaigning but managed to get his letter supposedly refuting the publication by Councilwoman Bielik read in the public meeting.  There is another version of his letter with real facts here.  One gentleman who thought that the $10 Million for the new Library was going to provide a multi-use facility like we have now was allowed his 10 minutes but there are multiple expensive facilities planned.  This meeting was different from others also in that there was no role call of the supporting people like has been done historically when the presentation might be critical to the council.  Unfortunately the recreation center is scheduled to cost an additional $27 Million and no cost has been attributed to the new courts, Southside library or other ancillary facilities that the city has planned. 

        The speakers before the council were allowed indirect campaigning by impugning anyone who disagreed with the incumbents but not calling them by name.  Both Kerry West and Ron West (me) were singled out for public naming and criticism.   Apparently if you live in NRH and dare to become active and voice an opinion, you are not what our current city council considers a desirable citizen.

        The Mayor exhibited his typical lack of statesmanship when he got into a shouting match with Mrs. Byrd and lost his cool. 

        One major step forward for the city was the approval of what was called the Code of Ordinances on the City's website.  This is a first step at allowing the citizens of the city to really be able to see the laws passed by the council and what the laws actually say.  Even though we are fighting hard for open government in our city, the work done by the City Secretary and her staff in producing this work so it can be placed in public view is to be heartily commended.

        Please don't be misled by the presentations in this meeting.  The incumbents were campaigning under the control of the Mayor and his cohorts.  The allowance of the attack presentations was an attempt to discredit any opposition.  This has been the strategy of the incumbents since the beginning of the campaign.  

        We all need to take a tour of Hometown NRH to see the 19 entry and exit streets to this area.  With the designated new location for the Library, this neighborhood will be swamped with traffic when it is complete.

        Truth, courtesy and consideration of the citizens was absent at the meeting as was the tolerance of divergent opinions.

        The meeting ended with a very misleading letter with a lot of misinformation written by City Manager Larry Cunningham.  A full copy of that letter is here.   Just one of the very misleading statements is examined here.   Wouldn't it be nice to expect the city to tell the truth!  Rather than read the law, high priced lawyers have "rendered their opinion" at the expense of the city.