2010 will be remembered as a year that most of us
would rather forget ....
Our North Texas economy thankfully fared better than
most during the rocky financial times of 2010.
But gone is the giddy anticipation of gas royalty checks as
the sobering reality of urban gas drilling has literally hit too close to home.
With disappointment, we have seen one neighborhood
association buckle to
powerful gas interests and virtually stand down over a dangerous gas pipeline
planned for
Carter Avenue. (Thanks to State Senator Wendy Davis
and Rep Lon Burnam, the pipeline was rerouted)
The last man standing on Carter Avenue, Steve Deoung, lost a hard
fought battle in eminent
domain court as Judge Vince Sprinkle allowed
Chesapeake to take a 20' swath from Steve's front yard. We don't
understand
why Chesapeake still wants Mr. Deoung's property since the pipeline has
been rerouted. Makes us wonder
about future pipeline plans ...
With dismay, we watched another neighborhood association literally cheer
on
the plans for gas wells within 200' of Handley homes. (Those folks
were not so lucky and the drilling has begun
at their doorsteps)
We witnessed a Mayor give the boot
to members of the City's Ethics Panel.
Why? Because they had the audacity to proclaim a serious conflict of interest
with the appointment of gas industry personnel onto drilling oversight committees.
As the year wound down, we watched our own Channel 5 TV station incorrectly
smear the
whole Eastside as the "15th most dangerous neighborhood in the nation"
and launched the story that just would
not die ...
There were few bright spots
...
The election of FWISD Trusty Tobi Jackson brought much needed change and
our schools are showing
signs of improvement.
Captain Gene Jones and the officers of the newly reorganized
FWPD East Division continue
to improve our stats.
Super Bowl excitement reached a fever pitch towards the end
of 2010 and businesses geared
up for the onslaught of Steeler
and Packer fans.
But all things considered, it was a year we would rather forget ...
Say hello to 2011 .. and not a minute too soon!
