Responding to Allegations

by Ron West

        When the campaign for NRH City Council began this year, no one expected it to be an easy battle.  I don't think we were truly prepared for just how far the incumbents would go to try to retain their seats - and - since the election is still two weeks away as I write this, I doubt that we have seen the worst yet.

        Monday night, April 25th, the Mayor and his rubber stamp friends will read a letter at the council meeting regarding the TIF#2 and Hometown NRH.  The letter is readable at this link - TIF Propaganda.   I would like to make it clear that I understand this letter to clearly state the position of the current majority on the council and our City Manager but I would encourage readers to understand a couple of points.  The "intent" of Tax Increment Financing Districts was to encourage development of blighted or un-developable areas.  I don't think anyone would really argue that the Hometown section was ever a blighted or un-developable area.  The 10% residential element was to try to avoid what we have in Hometown NRH but as we all know, smart lawyers funded by unlimited tax money buckets, can twist the law into any form they wish.  Regular citizens do not have enough money to challenge the actions of a runaway city council and they know it.  A recent letter to another website alleged that my personal intent was to divide the city into sections pitted against each other.  The person writing that letter obviously did not read the rhetoric of the incumbents in the Senior/Disabled Tax Freeze Election where they clearly tried to pit the old against the young in our city.  I have no problem with our residents of Hometown at all but I do resent all the misinformation that is being poured out on the public in our city.  Fortunately, I believe that our citizens are smart enough to separate truth from fiction and make their own decisions.  If the outcome of the election is the retention of the current incumbents and their closed (hidden) government, then that is something I have to accept and live with.  Unfortunately, regardless of the outcome of the election, all the citizens of NRH will have to subsidize the residents of Hometown for the next 25 years or so anyway.

    Note in the letter above that the city admits to the "other sources of revenue" including millions of dollars in the Crime Control District Sales Tax money.  Didn't that initially pass as a way to provide "additional" money for crime control - not full funding of our police so that property tax dollars could be spent elsewhere?

    On another point, this week saw an interesting event in the "sign wars".  When the recent "changes" were made to the sign ordinance, Mayor Trevino expounded in pre-council about the legal placement requirements for political signs along Davis Blvd, which is a state highway.  Alluding to the presidential election when signs were everywhere including close to the pavement on Davis, the Mayor said he didn't want to use city trucks to enforce the state ordinances in the future since they had not been enforced by the state in the past.   He said that if the state wanted to have such rules they could enforce it with their trucks.  In a lightening strike this week, Mayor Trevino apparently called in favors from a friend on TXDOT (due probably to his highway construction connections) to seek strict enforcement against the small signs on Davis that comply with NRH sign ordinance restrictions but not TXDOT (previously unenforced) restrictions.  Friends in power are just one more example of unethical use of office by our Mayor.  We moved about 40 of the small signs supporting the Challengers.

    Suzy Compton has now decided to "respond" in the campaign.  She has publicized a letter also.  Remember if you read it:  #1)  When asked about the budget and runaway spending - she responded with "no comment".   #2)  She is an employee of BISD and IS paid with tax dollars.  The more tax dollars available - the higher her pay.  #3)  She is the appointee of Mayor Trevino without citizen input or discussion and has not yet been elected by the voters.  #4)  Her brother is a home builder but does not do business - yet - in NRH.  This may not be important, but developers and real estate related companies are certainly part of the click that has been running our city for the past few years.  Her opponent is trained in accounting, has his own small business and is not paid with tax dollars.  We have a choice.  Hopefully these are real facts whether she likes me or not.  I still have not had the "privilege" of meeting her in person but based on her comments I insulted her by announcing that.

    As a last item in this brief response, I have received a new title - "Mr. Negative" in a letter to the Star Telegram this week.  If being for Open Responsive Government is "negative" - I consider this a compliment.  If being for honest accounting, proper use of tax dollars, courtesy and respect of our citizens is "negative" - I am further complimented.  If being active in local politics, expressing opinions, helping candidates by active participation, working for legal ordinances and identifying issues is "negative" then this is a wonderful title.  If the intent is like other rhetoric from the incumbents and their spokesmen - mean spirited and venomous - then I would encourage the writer and readers to look further at what is being said.  There is a lot to be said for Open, Responsive, Honest - local government.  We don't have that now - but we can elect folks who would help us achieve that.