Well, V-Day is almost here. It will all be over but the shouting or crying Saturday evening. Either Mayor Shetter will still be leading as he has for the past 8 years or we will be propelled into the world of confusion and mayhem. I would hope that we could count on the new City Manger being able to do his job without interference should the worst happen, but if the Burleson Chamber of Commerce's recent events are any fore-shadow of things to come, and Larry Pool wins, Burleson is in for a rocky ride.
What we have to look forward to is the Burleson Chamber of Commerce Shuffle. I am not a member of the Chamber and have been just as confused as the next person about the tenure of the current Chamber Director Dan-o Strong. First, I have never met anyone with a hyphenated name. I have a step sister with number for a name. That's odd too, right? Anyway, I've never met Dan-o. A lot of people I respect respect him and spoke on his behalf at the Chamber last week.
However, it does look like Dan-o was caught in the middle of a Tango of "Should I stay or Should I Go?" with the Chamber Board. The last I heard, he was staying. I think there was an appeal for amnesty and from what I read in the Burleson Star, one of Burleson's council members called out Keith Kelly, a member of theChamber Board, like it was OK Corral. The board retreated into a closed session and I wish I could say that Mr. Kelly was relieved of his board seat, but alas I cannot. However, that is probably what it will take for things to calm down around here. I'm glad that Dan-o is staying and I hope that there has been enough light shined on the situation with the Chamber that it will make it more difficult for Mr. Kelly and cohorts who sit with him on the Board to interfere with the Director's job. That may just make it a boring position for Kelly and he'll leave for greener pastures like in the Rio Grand Valley or even back to Massachusetts.
On to another issue that has gotten my attention... The housing fraud. Shelly Grant, also known as "Praise Jesus" and her partners in misinformation who are also running for the council and claim to be an anti-mud slingers, have a little Facebook Group. It's "How to be against the American Privilege of Living Anywhere You Can Afford. Well, it's something like that. I don't want to give it to you as I don't want you to get mucked up all the fodder they are selling. In any event, Praise Jesus has just been adding names like crazy. Some of these people have no idea they have been added. Basically, having your name on the list will make it difficult to have dinner conversation with disabled, elderly, those with mental and emotional challenges, minorities and just about anyone that doesn't look just like you. I'm sorry, but these women can call it anything they want. They can say it is because of over-crowding, etc... but the truth is, they are say, Not in My Back Yard orAnywhere But Here. This is not about where to put your nuclear trash. These are people that want the same things for their families as you do. Many of these people tried to own their own home and got caught in that crazy housing crisis where people that couldn't afford home were sold homes anyway. They just want a decent place to live in a good school zone and have places to shop. How is that any different than you???
It is not the practice of HUD to build the kind of housing complex that you may associate with that in Ft. Worth that you can see from I-35 and I-30 near the mix-master (for old timers). Those red brick buildings sitting on that ridge with stark grounds and no tree lined streets. However, since those are still there, they are used as they are. However, make no mistake. Rules are enforced. There is no trash outside those apartments. There are no jacked up cars sitting outside the front door. There is no kids running around the complex at midnight.Its a whole different ball game.
Today, HUD requires that apartments build with their Federal monies meet certain requirements for leasing and living there. They are mixed income. There are no felons, no druggies with convictions. There is a complex near me that has been there more than 10 years and it is well maintained as it was when it was build. It is full of working families getting a break on their rent so they can still buy groceries. Stop living in the 1960's. Take your head out and look around at your neighbors. The guy next door could be selling porno on line and mailing it from his garage. The head of a car theft ring could be living next door or across the street. Crime can be everywhere. You cannot tell who will rob you because of who makes the least amount of money-not if they do it for a thrill. Read the Mayors response to this misinformation being handed out by "Praise Jesus".
http://www.kenshetter.com/fact-check/1316-affordable-housing,
Also, read my previous blog post, "What Would Jesus Do".
Another thing that has amazed me is the people that have posted on my FB page (and then deleted it) or sent me private messages to to express how bad they feel for Larry the candidate for Mayor. First, isn't great to believe in something so much that you are ashamed to have your name associated with the thought?
This has been completely baffling to me. They ask, "Why are you being so mean to Larry?" Mean what do you mean? Oh, mean like saying, "he owned that bar and all". Oh, that. Well, he did own that bar. Yes he did. The State of Texas says that he still owns it. He filled out the paperwork twice saying he owned it after he "sold it". Yes, he did. As Susan Cloud said, that isn't being mean, that's 'vetting" your candidates. But, "you are being so mean by not saying you are sorry.". Sorry? Why? Because some one found out he owns something he didn't want us to know about? Hey, you need to be asking him to tell YOU that he's sorry. I've had several posts that have chided me for working "so hard" for Ken Shetter. They ask why? What's in it for me? Do I own a construction company or something? Why would I do such a thing? Another asks, "Don't you have anything better to do than message each person to tell them that their names have been put on a mis information website that is anti-housing for poor people?" Well, I'm retired, sorta. So, why not? I just refer them to my blog post about the "The Extreme Right of Right isn't Always Right". It'll give her a clue. She might want to touch on "No Apologies" as well, just so that she REALLY understand why no one should feel sorry for Larry the candidate.
Finally, I'd like to say that I have never been around so many people that care about the truth and getting information out to the public. There is a kind of "child like quality in their belief that if you can just let the people know the truth, they will embrace it and let the misrepresentations go. I want to believe that too. I have always believe that the truth is the best strategy. I've have begun to question that theory a bit after some of the people I have met. I realize that my truth isn't always the truth someone else has. But, there has been a full out effort to inform people and get information out. I remember when I served on the board of trustees in the mid to late 90's, I always felt that if you could just get the truth out that people would feel that were included and not feel so threatened. However, there are those who can never ever see truth and believe it. They are so jaded and cavalier. They will never accept it even when handed to them. Ken Shetter knows those people are out there, and he keeps on believing that he can trust them anyway to make the turn toward the light.
As we head down the home stretch, these are some of the things I will ponder. See you Sat.
Just sayin...
Ann
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