Correct Information!

by Ron West

 

    I can tell that I am an amateur writer when I read some of the interpretations of what I write.  The Fort Worth Star Telegram provided a vivid example of this fact this morning with the publication of a letter from a resident of Hometown NRH.  His sincere letter was based on a number or misconceptions that need to be clarified.  (His letter is reproduced below for reference.)

    1)    NRHOnline is an INDEPENDENT website controlled by me!  It is not the publication of the North Richland Hills Citizens Group.  The groups' website is located at:  www.nrhcitizens.com/ 

    2)    The views expressed on NRHOnline are my own views.  Reporting of actions within the city is supported by factual information wherever possible.

    3)    I believe that Hometown NRH is a quality residential neighborhood similar to other neighborhoods in NRH and should have the same rights and privileges of all citizens in NRH.  I strongly resent the fact that all other citizens of NRH are being required to pay for all city services to Hometown NRH because of the moving of tax payments from Hometown residents to the TIF that will pay for the new library and recreation center.   All new property tax generated in Hometown NRH is diverted to this fund that is essentially closed to the public.  The citizens of NRH who will be subsidizing Hometown residents for the next 25 years did not get a chance to vote on doing so.

    4)    As to the location of the new library and/or recreation center, I feel that is also an issue that should be decided in public forums with citizen input.  If all of the residents of Hometown NRH want these facilities located in that development, and if such location is supported by the rest of the city, then so be it.  I openly wonder why a development with narrow streets, on street parking to "calm" traffic and a design towards a "walking" neighborhood that  basically exclude outsiders, would then undertake the building of new facilities that must serve all residents of our city and which will significantly increase the traffic through the development.  It is important to understand that these are my own views and not necessarily the views of the challengers to the council.  Up until now, all decisions regarding Hometown have been made by our city council without citizen input.

    5)  Hometown residents and new members of our community are not the problem at all.  I expect that all new residents of Hometown NRH will be wonderful contributors to our city.  The fact that our existing council decided to divert $85 Million or more in tax funds from this area was a decision made by them.  Unfortunately, they saddled the rest of the city taxpayers with the burden of supporting all city services to Hometown but didn't bother to seek the approval of those that must carry this burden.  This is closed government at its worst.

    Under state law, the TIF that formed Hometown NRH is supposed to be no more than 10% residential but Hometown is already 25% residential.  The ramifications of the illegal formation of a Tax Increment Financing District are yet to be determined.

    I would like to repeat that this website and this answer to the letter posted in the Star Telegram are my own words and thoughts and not those of the challengers or the citizens group.  You can read their positions on the following websites:

Suzette Christopher for Place 1:  www.suzettechristopher.com

Kerry West for Place 7:  www.kerrywest.org

Maury Siskel for Place 5: www.maurysiskel.org

John Martin for Place 3:  by email:   jdm6909@yahoo.com

NRH Citizens Group Web Site:  http://www.nrhcitizens.com/

The letter that triggered this article follows:

EMAIL IN STAR THIS MORNING:  Wednesday 4/6/05

In the May 7 North Richland Hills election, four incumbent City Council members are opposed by a slate of challengers supported by the North Richland Hills Citizens Group and a self-proclaimed watchdog news reporting organization that appears on the Web under the name NRHonline.

The clear intent of the challengers is to take control of the council and to take North Richland Hills in a new direction that is consistent with their vision of what's good for the city.

I've spent considerable time reading their views as stated on their Web sites. Their opposition to the continued development of my neighborhood, Hometown NRH, alarms me. The amount of verbiage dedicated to their opposing the relocation of the library and recreation center to an area near Hometown is considerable.

What alarms me even more is what seems to be their lack of truthfulness. In response to a query by a Hometown resident (posted on the NRHonline site), these candidates now claim that they support Hometown and relocation of the library. This is contrary to everything they've publicly stated.

The author of this e-mail response (candidate Suzette Christopher) stated that she doesn't speak for the Citizens Group. However, she is the president of that group as well as head of the communications committee. Is she trying to distance herself from the group in order to get elected, or is she trying to deceive?

A major issue for the opposition group is the need for an honest and open government. Is this their idea of openness and honesty?

Tim Barth, North Richland Hills