******************************************************************** 2009 RETROSPECTIVE: |
Looking back, this year seemed a bit tamer than 2008 ... and that is a good thing.
Even though 2009 was not the roller coaster ride of the previous year, many of us are glad to see it in our rear
view mirror. The local economy took a hit as the nationwide recession finally reached Texas. Layoffs and economic stagnation
created hardship but thankfully
we are still better off than most other states. Many of us are perplexed about the economic policies coming out
of Washington, D.C. We wonder how huge Federal spending will get us out of debt and why government expands
while private sector jobs disappear. On the local level, numerous hotly contested City Council campaigns brought
out an apathetic 4% voter turnout and all incumbents retained their Council seats. District 8 Council Rep Kathleen Hicks initiated
a rezoning project to save Meadowbrook from an onslaught of duplexes and apartments as residential prices slide lower. A
new police chief came onboard downtown as well as a new captain for NPD5.
Fireworks erupted when the
proposed Carter Avenue pipeline reared its ugly head again. After calling a hiatus on the pipeline right before the
City-wide elections last spring, Chesapeake hastily announced an October 15th "community meeting" where
they declared the Carter Avenue pipeline would become a reality after all. The meeting was poorly attended since
only two residents reported receiving the mailed notices and it was closed to anyone other than those with
actual pipeline easements. After a public outcry, a block party protest on Carter Avenue, a media blitz and the involvement
of TX Senator Wendy Davis and Representative Lon Burnam, Chesapeake decided to once again seek an alternative route.
We sincerely hope that this pipeline will not be run under Carter Avenue homes and that Chesapeake will truly
find a safer way to get this gas to market. The jury is still out on this one ...
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On a brighter note, snow flurries gave
us a rare "White Christmas"...
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A
botched terrorist attack over the skies of Detroit marred the holiday but the year 2009 made a fairly graceful
exit.
So "CHEERS" to our neighbors and friends. It wasn't the best of years but it could have been
a whole lot worse ... Let's keep our fingers crossed as we enter into a brand new decade ... SAY HELLO TO 2010 !!!
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