What Happened to the Watchdog?

An Open Letter from Maury Siskel to the Fort Worth Star Telegram - 5/2/05

 

Ms. Diane Smith
Mr. John Kirsch
cc: my family, friends, candidates, & Star-Telegram officials

Dear John and Diane

A copy of the mail out from Mrs. Johnson is furnished below. This kind of writing illustrates why it is difficult for some of us to understand why the Star-Telegram would be so interested in running an account of last Monday's Council meeting which only reports on the successful codification of NRH ordinances and a tepid Sunday piece about that circus last Monday.  The codification of the Ordinances is really important and is a commendable achievement by the City. The City Staff did a great job;  it is also noteworthy that the Council voted to fund the work and voted to approve it when it was completed.

But it remains something of a mystery why the principal newspaper in this city would see fit to report the Ordinance approval vote which consumed a few minutes and almost IGNORE the events which consumed nearly all of the Council meeting -- You will wait a long time to witness and report any city council meeting which was turned into an outright illegal political rally with full participation by the Mayor and the incumbent Council candidates. But the Star-Telegram has chosen to remain essentially silent on this startling performance. I do not know, John and Diane, if either or both of you were a party to this dilution, but if you attempted to submit the faintest semblance of fair and balanced reporting, then your newspaper did you both a disservice by electing to remain silent.

Amazing and sincerely disappointing in both of you and in the Star-Telegram. Examples:

 "... as supporters of the incumbents and challengers pushed their respective election issues. ..."  There were three (3) speakers opposing the incumbents for about two minutes each as against the incumbent advocates for the remaining forty minutes or so of the Citizens Presentations. -- not including the illegal participation by the Mayor!  And there is not a word in your account about the two remarkable and dismaying confrontations between the Mayor and Mrs. Byrd who has been a resident of NRH since before it became NRH!

"... But both sides did their best to continue the politicking. ..."  Both sides? Indeed, cannot you folks count or read a clock?  Both sides?! Surely you jest. Whether either of you learned that residents wanting to speak for the challengers did submit proper request forms, they were submitted and ignored. Moreover, where or when did you see or hear BOTH SIDES continue politicing?

"... Some speakers who supported the incumbents wore pins that said ..."  Yes, to be sure, some speakers did wear pins (or badges); if fact most of those favoring the incumbents wore those badges while (because it is contrary to city ordinances) none of us favoring the challengers wore campaign materials. Some wore ... Gee, I wonder where you were seated?

"... Ken Sapp  ... said the forum allowed ... to address issues raised by the challengers ..."  John and Diane, that was not a forum and you both know it. You could not report accurately such a performance as simply a forum! It was an out and out old time political rally presided over by the Mayor which masqueraded as a  regularly scheduled city council meeting. I agree that it is important to quote people correctly, but do you believe you are obligated to allow such absurd statements to stand without at least some qualification as to what was really happening?

I hope sincerely that NRH residents will view that council meeting on Citicable so that they can see the truth of what transpired. After reading the Star-Telegram accounts, I hope now that they will view Citicable to see clearly the extent to which the Star-Telegram distorted its so-called report of that event.

In any event, I offered you a copy of Mrs. Johnson's mailout.  Thus, to keep my word,  here it is -- not that it should cause the Star-Telegram any doubts about its obviously biased support of the incumbents in NRH.

Sincerely yours,
Maury&Dog  (Maury Siskel  maurysis@ev1.net)
  __________
"There is no 'slippery slope' toward loss of liberty, only a long staircase where each step down must first be tolerated by the American people, their journalists,  and their leaders."
  

=============================
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Even though this NOT my year to run for re-election I feel it is so important that citizens be made aware of a serious political matter in out city.
"I do not want us to become another Bedford"

I ask that you verify any allegations you have heard of received by mail concerning actions of the City Staff or City Council. The NRH City Managers office will be glad to answer questions concerning any city business. Individual council members Mayor Oscar Travino, John Lewis, Tim Welch, Suzy Compton, David Whitson or myself would welcome any questions.

There are candidates and even a sitting council member, Namely Nancy Bielik who are distributing materials that are misleading full of inuendoes and out and out lies. They are all members of group who call themselves "North Richland Hills Citizens Group"[nrhcg]. Their apparent intent is to take over the governing body of NRH and as some of them have stated, "remove city staff," and turn NRH into another Bedford. (members of this group have been attending meetings with members of  the group in Bedford who voted to close the Library and Parks.)

One of the organizers of [nrhcg] is Ron West who ran unsuccessfully for State office undere the "Libertarian Party" in the early 2000's and in 2004 held office in another group called "TAIG".  A small portion of "TAIG's" mission statement posted on it's web site was "if all else fails, "TAIG" may consider suggesting civil disobedience on a voluntary basis. It is our sincere hope that those who govern will respond well before such a drastic point is reached." After "nrhcg" was organized and losing in 2004 for city council  the TIAG web site was shut down.

Ron West is not running in this years election but his son Kerry West who is also a leader in this group is running. Also running is Suzette Christopher who according to the news paper is President of [nrhcg].

 
To save the integrity of North Richland Hills
Please vote for:
John Lwis,  Suzy Compton,
David Whitson and Tim Welch
 


JoAnn Johnson
 

The above information other than the title is unedited and presented as received.  The following comments are added as factual reference.

NRHOnline Publisher Comments Regarding Johnson mail out: 

    1) No challenger has said anything about removing city staff at all.  This is simply a lie by Ms. Johnson

    2) No challenger has any plans to make NRH into a "Bedford".  Another lie from Ms. Johnson

    3) Ron West was not an organizer of NRHCG and did not even join the group until after the last council election.  Another lie by Ms. Johnson.

    4) The TAIG organization referenced by Ms. Johnson did not exist in 2004.  Ron West was not an officer but did serve as trustee to disburse funds to lawyers retained by that small group to fight the mandatory use of the Social Security number to get a Texas Drivers License.  The suit was lost and TAIG disbanded in 2002.  This slanderous lie is similar to the material published by Ms. Johnson to retain her seat last year.

    5) Ron West is not a candidate for office in NRH.  Honest citizens are running who would not stoop to the lies and slander put out by Ms. Johnson.