The Cowtown Chronicles

You did some awesome things and got involved in the one political arena that most people don’t give a second thought about until something goes disastrously wrong.

While you were doing that, you managed to increase the number of people actually voting in a local election by nearly 33%! That’s unbelievable, and the fact that you did it so (relatively) inexpensively makes it all the more impressive of an accomplishment.

We’ll be behind you in 2009 and however long it takes to get you into office!

Technorati Tags: 76102, 76110, elections, fort worth, vote bernie

If you haven’t voted early, today is your last chance. Polls are open from 7AM to 7PM. If you don’t know where you’re supposed to go, you can look up your info here.

If you’re in District 9, I strongly encourage you to vote for our friend Bernie. He’s got great ideas for the city, like making it more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, finally getting something done as far as light rail, and promoting a true local economy.

And if that sort of thing matters to you, here’s what he looks like:

Technorati Tags: 76102, 76106, 76110, elections, fort worth, vote bernie

It seems to me that you can be for or against something, and still be able to conduct an effective and objective study of that thing.

I know this seems impossible to some people who have never taken a side they weren’t paid to take, like politicians and some CEOs, but it really is possible, particularly in academia.

Why do I mention this? Recently an air pollution expert at UT Austin published a study that says if TXU and others are allowed to build the 16 coal fired power plants they want, that air quality in all of north Texas and even as far south as Waco and Austin and east to Tyler would be negatively affected. No. Shit.

What doctors do these guys go to to get their common sense gland removed when they are put in charge of pollution-creating industries? I just don’t see how anyone could seriously think that there’s another possible outcome for this situation. I guess that’s why I’m not a millionaire captain of industry.

Technorati Tags: activism, pollution, environment

I’m really glad that our city’s network of bike routes is finally being marked.

Never mind the fact that the project was approved in 1999, but it took ‘em until 2006 to do it. Never mind the fact that the project was federally funded at first, but the city bungled it so badly they ended up having to pay for it themselves. We’ll just sweep all that under the rug for now… I’m just glad they’re finally up.

But here’s the thing: bike routes are nice, and they are definitely an improvement, but they’re not enough to encourage more people to ride their bikes to work. We need more.

I’d personally like to see the city promoting better bicycle parking facilities near or in workplaces, especially downtown. Lollipop-shaped bike racks in front of bars and restaurants in sundance are nice for the recreational rider, but don’t cut it for the serious commuter.

Lockheed Martin is a good example of what I’d like to see more companies doing. They recently installed a bicycle parking facility and showers for their employees at their main facility.

I was at a “State of District 9″ meeting last night, where council member Wendy Davis recited a laundry list of “Public-Private Partnerships” (that’s political jargon for “We gave ‘em a tax break so they’d build it). But way too many of those economic development handouts are going to builders of $300,000 condos that the average Fort Worth Citizen can’t afford. How about we give incentives instead to companies like Lockheed who find innovative ways to encourage their employees to do their part in cleaning up our air and relieving traffic congestion?

-Bernie

Technorati Tags: activism, bikes, panther city bicycles

You may have heard lately about the events last week involving a Cartoon Network guerilla marketing campaign and the massive over-reaction of Boston’s emergency response teams. I have three words for this:

WTF?

What most bothers, bewilders, and bemuses me about this whole situation is that these things were around the city and lit up for TWO WEEKS before anyone decided that they were a threat. TWO FREAKING WEEKS! Yet the mainstream media focuses on the “hoax” and how the placers of these devices should be ashamed of themselves. What about the “vigilant” people who noticed this threat and reported it to Boston’s security apparatus TWO F-ING WEEKS after they’d been put there? Why hasn’t the media asked that question? Why do they insist on calling it a “hoax”? Someone needs to get these folks a dictionary. This was NOT a deception. Nobody claimed that these devices were bombs, simply LED ads for a cult-favorite cartoon.

Now Turner Broadcasting is paying the city $2 MILLION, basically because the city reacted in a completely inappropriate manner in response to a marketing campaign. This is possibly the second most ridiculous part of the situation, after the very well-executed over-response to a non-threat. If anything, Turner and their advertising company are guilty of and liable for trespassing and possibly littering. I think they should absolutely be held accountable for and fined for those crimes if they’re guilty. There is no way in hell that anyone involved (except maybe Boston’s PR machine) should be facing anything even related to terrorism charges. Welcome to Massachusetts, “The State of Over-reaction.”

Technorati Tags: activism, homeland insecurity, marketing, Massachusetts, rant

Everyone you know should visit http://www.starnoldgoestoaustin.com/blog/ for information about how the Saint Arnold Brewery and our own Rahr & Sons Brewing Company are working with other independent breweries in Texas to change the liquor laws and allow them to sell their beer directly to the public, instead of ONLY through a distributor. The distributor system in Texas has made a few people (and companies) VERY rich, and has made MANY more people who are just trying to earn a living selling their fermented beverages bankrupt. It’s unfair for the state to mandate how a product should be sold, and I’m really surprised that the “Free Market” Republicans in this state have let this go on for so long.

Do your part! Write your state senator and congresscritter!

Just a quick introductory post:

I’m Bernie of Panther City Bicycles semi-fame. I’m also running for the distrcit 9 seat on Fort Worth City Council in May.

I’ll try to be a fairly regular contributor here. In fact, I’m working on a post with actual content for you for tomorrow.

Bernie is running for city council!

I guess it’s time to empty the change jar and get him a donation. Good luck, Bernie, you’ve got at least one vote from my household! (I am in your district, right?)

Technorati Tags: americana, legislation, PCB, government, Ryan Place

We just got the monthly RPIA (Ryan Place Improvement Association) newsletter on our door. In addition to updating everyone on what’s happening with sidewalks and street lights and whatnot, there was an interesting tidbit of information in it:The Tarantula property on 8th street (across from Braum’s, I guess) has been leased for a gas well. I suppose they’ll start drilling any day now.As if the trains don’t make enough noise for all of us, now we have to deal with construction and well servicing trucks and the risk of an “incident.” The newsletter also mentioned that neighborhood associations from Fairmount, Berkely, Mistletoe Heights, and Ryan Place will be forming a task force to meet and deal with the city on this issue.Where do you stand? I know that nothing makes me feel at home like watching a gas well go up in my neighborhood, along with the associated risks. You know, it’s all fine and good for these things to be going up in the suburbs like Roanoke, where the houses are 1/2 mile apart, but come on! Drilling in the middle of the oldest and most established neighborhoods in your city is just asinine.“One Evening” by Feist from the album Let It Die

Technorati Tags: gas drilling, legislation, barnet shale, social observation, sustainability

Got this in the (e)mail today… Whether you’re for or against the ban, be sure to make it out and let your voice be heard!

The City of Fort Worth will host a series of meetings to receive public comment on recommended changes to the current smoking ordinance. Anyone interested in this issue is strongly encouraged to attend one of the meetings listed below:

* Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. - R.D. Evans Community Center (3242 Lackland Rd., 76116)

* Monday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. - Handley Meadowbrook Community Center (6201 Beaty St., 76112)

* Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. - Southwest Community Center (6300 Welch Ave., 76133)

* Monday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. - North Fort Worth Baptist Church (5801 North I-35 West, 76101)

The recommendations that will be considered during these public meetings were presented to the Fort Worth City Council by the Smoking Ordinance Review Ad Hoc Work Group.

The recommended changes include:

~Banning smoking from:~
• Restaurants

• Bars

• Billiard Halls

• Bingo Parlors

• Bowling Centers

• Business/Office Buildings

• Service Lines, including those that extend out the doors of non-smoking facilities

• Within 20 feet of any entrance or openable window of a non-smoking facility

~Providing exemptions for:~
• Retail tobacco stores unless they open into a mall or another non-smoking venue.

• Outside dining patios, except portions within 20 feet of facility’s main entrance.

• Sexually-oriented adult entertainment businesses.

For more information about these meetings, contact the City of Fort Worth Smoking Ordinance Hotline at 817-212-2710. To view a copy of the current smoking ordinance and other information on this topic, visit the city’s Web site at www.fortworthgov.org/publichealth and under the Quick Links menu select Health Happenings.

Technorati Tags: bars, legislation, smoking, restaurants, social observation