The Price of Free Speech

by Ron West

            Somewhere back in my foggy memory, I think I remember someone encouraging everyone to take part in politics and to exercise their right to vote.  I don't remember them warning that if you did choose to become an "activist" that it would be considered truly bad.  They surely didn't tell me that your neighbors would call you names such as "bumbling", "ludicrous", "obnoxious", "liar", "political terrorist" and maybe worst of all "Libertarian".  I do think that whoever suggested that becoming informed was important should have warned me that I should keep whatever I learned to myself.  Think of all the pain for everyone that would have saved.

        I guess it was my mistake to take on our city government with my initial opposition to the pork barrel (in my opinion) bond election three years ago.  My feeble efforts helped to defeat only $1 Million in spending out of a total sought of $38 Million.   My next misguided adventure was to oppose Mr. Bob Griggs for the office of state representative for District 91.  Griggs ran as a Republican without a primary so to oppose him, I ran on the Libertarian ticket because I do agree with their primary position that less government is better and most importantly, it didn't cost anything to file as a Libertarian.  I do not and did not endorse legalization of drugs or pornography as has been recently grossly misrepresented.  One other minor consideration of my feeble efforts is that the Texas Ethics Commission fined Mr. Griggs after finding him guilty of representing himself as State Representative prior to his election.  (Sorry Mr. Sapp, I am not the only one fined by TEC as you have represented nor the first!) Just for the record, I am an "Independent" - not a Libertarian, not a Democrat, not a Republican, not any other party - just a voter/citizen.

        My last adventure into politics was a year ago when I ran for City Council versus Ms. Johnson.  In my ignorance, I did not even dream of the low level Ms. Johnson would go to, to retain her seat.  To this day, I believe that her slanderous letter sent a few days before the election insured her victory rather than merit for her to be on the council.

        Moving forward to the now time frame, I think I am beginning to question the sanity of involvement in politics.  Since I have been publicly expressing my specific opinions on local issues, the citizens who are running in opposition to the current incumbents in NRH are having to defend my writings in the public forum.  Unfortunately for them, they did not have input into what I write nor did I, or do I, seek their consent before I choose to publish my thoughts.  NRHOnline - other than where quotes or specific input are identified - is my own "public forum".  Since visiting this site is totally voluntary, I must admit that I am amazed at the furor it seems to raise. 

        I am also amazed at the lack of my own ability to clearly state positions as issues - if most people are coming to the conclusions drawn by the current incumbents and their spokesman.

        The following quote from an E-mail sent to a local website - not NRHOnline - claims to be seeking direct information from me:

        West and his people have referred to Mayor Trevino and others on the council as "tax evaders", having created an illegal Tax Increment Financing District, illegal sign ordinance, (on and on and on) among other slanderous things with no logical basis at all. Then I read the "Letter to the Editor" from North Richland Hills resident Patti Trainer (*LNO, April 23, 2005). Oh sister I am with you! I quote, "If it is all true, where are the Feds? Where are the State Police? Where is the IRS for crying out loud?"

Just a few tidbits -

1) Why is it bad that we want to spend money on city parks? Please tell
me.

2) Why is it bad that we want to spend money on synchronizing the traffic
lights on Davis Blvd? I have driven this road to work for twenty years,
something needs to be done and NOW! Please tell me.

3) Why is it bad that we want to enforce the city's sign ordinance in an
effort to REVITALIZE (OOOOH, that pesky word again!) older sections of town.
Please tell me.

4) Why is it bad that we want to widen North Tarrant Parkway? Please tell
me.

I speak directly to Ron West, his political action committee and those candidates aligned with him:

        While it would seem if there was a real desire for answers from me, the questions would be sent to me but... this excerpt does deserve some answers.

        First of all, I don't think you will find anywhere where I have referred to anyone as "tax evaders".  Having owned small businesses in Tarrant County, I do resent the special treatment that the Mayor received when he did not file the legally required renditions of his business personal property in Tarrant County while serving as Mayor of NRH.  (Further there are no "his people".)   While I support the challengers, saddling them with me as baggage is a disservice to them.  They are all individuals with their own opinions and thought processes.

        The Tax Increment Financing District #2 does not appear to be in compliance with law and did not fulfill the intent of the law when formed.  You Decide Which is Truth      Ordinance Creating TIF#2

        The current sign ordinance is not in compliance with State Law and is being illegally enforced.  Evidence is on file where even Certificates of Occupancy were being withheld pending destruction of legal signage.

        Then perhaps shocking information:  There is no Federal oversight of our City or City Council actions.  There is no recourse with any State Police or Attorney General.  The IRS is only interested in individuals and businesses so again no interest in NRH.  The only enforcement agency is the Tarrant County District Attorney - who is an elected official.   There has been no prosecution of any wrongful action by any city in the county under the current District Attorney - i.e., city governments can ignore both state law and their own charters without any danger of legal prosecution.   The last option is civil lawsuits and in NRH, the City Attorney is very encouraging of such suits since he makes a lot of money at taxpayer expense if any are filed.  In fact, when I asked him personally who enforced our city charter, he replied "hire an attorney".

        As to the tidbits:

        #1)    Spending on city parks is not bad!

        #2)    The synchronizing of the city traffic signals is not bad - rather, money well spent.

        #3)    Enforcement of non-existing requirements or illegal ordinances is bad.  "Revitalization" is good when it is done with respect of law and private property rights.

        #4)    I have not commented on North Tarrant Parkway previously.  Please note that the current work by the County is with the use of asphalt overlays.  I support the cost effective use of overlays to repair any repairable streets.

        Unfortunately for me personally, the writer of this email used the incumbents slanderous website for virtually all of his comments.   I assume he is unaware of my repeated pledge to CORRECT anything written on this site that is factually false.  So if he reads this column, maybe, he will choose to cite anything on the site that he can document as false.

        As evidenced by the Campaign Rally billed as a City Council Meeting on April 25th, this is campaign season in a city where truth is an ignored encumbrance and anything goes.  

        If the incumbents are remotely interested in truth - perhaps they would care to document how they can label the citizens running against them as Libertarians?  Such labeling is false, misleading and not supported by any factual information anywhere.  Even Ms. Compton made a "Libertarian" reference in her comments Monday night, claiming personal research on her part.   I wonder if anyone would take her comments to mean #1) she is a Libertarian?,  #2) she is in favor of biometrics which she mentioned?  (biometrics involves planting a chip under the skin for identification purposes) and #3) she wants to fingerprint everyone?.  Before you jump to conclusions, she is not a Libertarian as far as I know, not for biometrics and does not want to fingerprint everyone.  This is just an example of the type of information found on the websites supporting the incumbents with false allegations against the challengers.

        The bottom line is that if you choose to participate in politics in NRH against the current establishment, they will extract a price from you!  While there are times that I question my own sanity, change occurs from diversity of opinion and from questioning the status quo.  I plan to continue to pursue the causes and issues that I believe in and I am very thankful that I live in a country where I have the right of free speech.  I am also thankful that when the Mayor of the city says "it is too bad we can't do anything about it" in reference to silencing me during the Council Meeting that it is still a true statement in this country.  Apparently, if Mayor Trevino had his way, not only could he "ignore her" he would deny the free speech of opposition.