EJ and Ann start the podcast off with new updates on the mayor's priorities, panther island, and a visit from the governor to address street racing. The main story is a deep dive into Trinity Metro's impact on the city with the new CEO, Rich Andreski. This is your episode if you are a stan for Ann and transportation! Enjoy!

SHORT STORY #1: Mayor Announces Priorities (https://fwtx.com/news/mayor-mattie-parker-announces-her-top-budget-priorities-for-/)

SHORT STORY #2: New Report about Panther Island (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article277921638.html)

SHORT STORY #3: Governor Signs Street Racing Bill in Fort Worth  (https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/news/2023/8/street-racing?fbclid=IwAR3_jCRHGR2OM2-zHy6QAiderefQMgv3nIQqItQqgd1u83Pka-UJ23SQr2M_aem_AVU8ZdE08vj8U7Y7uaeXHlqpcvSkV3CZnzqMo-NCpPcX4Acjg2TFzFYb8HvjJcQ43Rw&mibextid=Zxz2cZ)

BIG STORY: Interview with Rich Andreski CEO of Trinity Metro

WINS AND LOSSES:

EJ:
Win: Teacher Recruitment for FWISD (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article277672963.html)
Loss: Bitcoin transparency at the city level (https://fortworthreport.org/2023/08/02/fort-worth-was-the-first-city-to-adopt-bitcoin-mining-to-attract-attention-was-it-worth-it/)

Ann:
Win: New extended TexRail stop at Near Southside (https://fortworth.culturemap.com/news/city-life/texrail-near-southside-station/)
Loss: Driverless Vehicle Delivery (https://fortworthreport.org/2023/08/03/driverless-vehicle-company-clevon-brings-self-driving-package-delivery-to-town-near-alliance/)

Ann and EJ are back in the podcast studio. The theme for today’s pod is -- Who Needs to be Heard in Fort Worth? We discussed the mayor’s emails that led to the removal of the Pride Badge for the annual summer reading challenge. We also look at the blocking of city banners for upcoming event organized by the Metroplex Atheists group and the weird staffing issues at Texas A&M questioning free speech in higher education. Enjoy!

SHORT STORY #1 Emails Reveal New Concerns about the Mayor’s Decision to Remove the Pride Reading Badge 

 https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/emails-reveal-new-details-of-fort-worth-mayors-decision-to-remove-pride-reading-challenge/287-43313321-9302-4d05-9f07-b2e0def6b051?fbclid=IwAR3XODNLTnpyMPmbnGmXkJG2cYT9eZ008DKwg196n_3JMO77foYPDq7F0WA_aem_Ab4-4l7IQDzYrGD1C1_mFuSN_MGPRhXnZJvxizRXPGla4fb_Oa2WDuGzm6Tukk9zBfI&mibextid=Zxz2cZ#lko2cbal4v77y3fc4ja

SHORT STORY #2 Metroplex Atheists Group Gets Banners Blocked for Downtown Event
(https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article277428558.html)

SHORT STORY #3 The State’s Influence on Texas A&M (https://www.keranews.org/politics/2023-07-27/a-texas-a-m-professor-was-suspended-for-allegedly-criticizing-lieutenant-governor)

SHORT STORY #4 New Death Star Law Prohibits Cities from Creating New Regulations (https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article277505038.html)

WINS AND LOSSES

EJ
W: Junchuang North America (https://fortworthinc.com/news/chinese-company-junchuang-north-america-to-make-ev-parts-in-/)
L: Tarrant County (https://www.keranews.org/government/2023-07-28/tarrant-county-shifts-plans-for-building-regional-law-enforcement-training-center)

Ann
W: Comprehensive Plan and new Transportation RFP
L: The economics of journalism (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article277672063.html)

Ann and EJ resume their regular program after discussing Mercy Culture with Eddie at the Fort Worth Weekly. They discuss an article about DFW becoming the largest metro in the country by 2100. They review the latest development news and begin planning how to make DFW a prosperous area.

SHORT STORY #1: Legislature Commits $1M for National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/07/09/legislature-commits-1m-for-national-juneteenth-museum-in-fort-worth/

SHORT STORY #2: Should Tarrant County join group vying for an EPA solar power grant? Commissioners say no — for now

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/07/18/should-tarrant-county-join-group-vying-for-an-epa-solar-power-grant-commissioners-say-no-for-now/

SHORT STORY #3: TCU medical school could bring an annual economic impact of $4 billion to Fort Worth

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/07/16/tcu-medical-school-could-bring-an-annual-economic-impact-of-4-billion-to-fort-worth/

BIG STORY: Dallas-Fort Worth could be biggest metro in U.S. by year 2100, new report says

https://dallas.culturemap.com/news/city-life/dfw-biggest-population-2100-movebuddha/

Supporting articles:

1) Development booms on outskirts of Dallas-Fort Worth as sprawl swallows small towns

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/growth/article276987113.html

2) Downtown Fort Worth could reach new heights with new buildings

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/07/14/downtown-fort-worth-could-reach-new-heights-with-new-buildings/

3) Planning, data combine in new city of Fort Worth department focused on budgeting and finance

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/07/20/planning-data-combine-in-new-city-of-fort-worth-department-focused-on-budgeting-and-finance/

WINS AND LOSSES

EJ's Win: Major League Cricket
EJ' Loss: FW Police

Ann's Win: North Texas Community Foundation
Ann's Loss: Berry Theater

Today we have Eddie Brown, an award-winning journalist who writes for the Fort Worth Weekly. He has been keeping tabs on Mercy Culture and the power it has in our politics. Ann and I will be gone next week. Links for the show are below:

Short Story #1: July 4th Shooting in Como (https://www.star-telegram.com/article277037373.html)

Short Story #2: FWPD kills two men during a call in north Fort Worth (https://www.fox4news.com/news/fort-worth-lee-avenue-shooting)

Short Story #3: Learning from our mistakes in neighborhood development in the north

- East Lancaster receives $20M from federal government (https://www.fox4news.com/news/east-lancaster-avenue-to-get-20-million-upgrade-asking-public-for-input)
- Mayor Parker in the Real Deal Magazine (https://therealdeal.com/texas/2023/07/03/its-just-the-start-fort-worths-mayor-promotes-smart-growth/)
- Fort Worth's fastest growing area (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article276827956.html)
- Trains holding up traffic (https://fortworthreport.org/2023/07/06/drivers-play-daily-waiting-games-with-trains-across-fort-worth-the-reasons-are-long/)
- Why Texas is becoming America's most powerful state (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBYu7tR7DHg)

Big Story: Interview with Eddie Brown with the Fort Worth Weekly (https://www.fwweekly.com/2023/06/28/culture-vultures/)

Wins and Losses:

Ann W: UTA student concern about Panther Island
Ann L: The FW zip codes have increased the most

EJ W: Opal Lee painting
EJ L: Another FWPA candidate for country commissioner

Checkout the virtual exhibit if you missed it  -> https://matterport.com/discover/space/CzTuKLRKrG 

This episode is for the real ones. Ann and EJ dissect the new demographic data recently released by the city. This is important because this is the first published data on the new districts. You will also see the evolution of legacy districts and how the perception might have changed. Get your laptops out because we get into the weeds of the ever-changing landscape of our city.

Short Story #1: No qualified applicants for Tarrant County elections chief? Applications say otherwise (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article276878913.html)

Short Story #2: Fort Worth to delay requirements for Evans and Rosedale project (https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/29/fort-worth-to-delay-requirements-for-evans-and-rosedale-project-officials-say-it-wont-affect-construction-start-times/)

Short Story #3: Higher homestead exemption approved for elderly and disabled in Fort Worth (https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/higher-homestead-exemption-approved-for-elderly-and-disabled-in-fort-worth/3286273/)

BIG STORY: New Demographic Data Reports: What do they mean?

District 2 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/ea38657687)
District 3 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/2bdb1449e5)
District 4 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/6ebdeab945)
District 5 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/1339193fd6)
District 6 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/7fa0b1cb0f)
District 7 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/456436e4dc)
District 8 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/949ffbfeb80
District 9 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/2be558423e)
District 10 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/ddf7d2ed36)
District 11 (https://reports.mysidewalk.com/dc4243ae50)

Additional Resources:

American Spend too much time in cars: https://slate.com/business/2023/06/suburbs-driving-traffic-housing-affordable-solutions.html

Neighborhood Improvement Strategy: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/neighborhoods/improvements

Wins and Losses:

Ann
W: Fort Worth health clinic to reconsider demolition of historic theater amid pushback
L: Downtown Fort Worth Library Closes with no real plan

EJ
W: WSJ article
L: Medstar 

We have a solid episode for you today as we discuss all parts of Fort Worth. Below is the lineup and links to follow along. Enjoy!

Short Story #1: Mayor Mattie Parker is taking a second job (https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/23/fort-worth-mayor-mattie-parker-takes-part-time-chief-of-staff-job-at-cook-childrens/)

Short Story #2: City website got hacked on Friday (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article276729116.html)

Short Story #3: I-35 North Tollway  opens (https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/20/2-6-billion-i-35-tollway-opens-in-north-fort-worth-after-three-years-of-construction/)

Bonus: The Fort Worth City Council will consider a measure to release over 1,400 acres from its extraterritorial jurisdiction.

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2023/06/23/fort-worth-etj-burleson-bear-creek.html

Big Story: A&M breaks ground with big news of business partners (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article276569861.html)

Wins:
EJ - Shaq's Fort Worth concert
Ann - Trinity Pride Fest

Loss:
EJ - Teen Homicides 
Ann - Fort Worth sprawl and how we approach growing the city

Extra links and call to actions

Drive-thru article  Ann mentions during her loss: https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/24/business/drive-thru-fast-food-chick-fil-a-urban-planning/index.html

Wallstreet Journal article EJ mentions during the North Fort Worth sprawl conversation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cities-real-estate-bonds-taxes-c6736f8b

CCPD Grants 2023: https://youtu.be/H1-bXSr_O7c
Training is required to be eligible to apply.
Upcoming Training - Program Grants Training will be held on June 29, 2023
IN-PERSON 1:00 – 2:30 PM. To RSVP, please follow this link (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fy2024-ccpd-rfp-training-program-grants-tickets-651202102017)

Download the myFW app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/myfw/id1463082731

The National Juneteenth Museum just hosted its first event in the city. Ann and EJ were in attendance and absolutely moved by the history, present, and future of the connection between Juneteenth and Fort Worth. Jarred Howard is the CEO of the National Juneteenth Museum. We sit down with him to talk about the project and how we Fort Worthians can get involved. Enjoy!

Short Story #1: U.S. representative speaks out against Tarrant elections chief finalist (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article276400031.html)

Short Story #2: What’s Next for Fort Worth’s City Hall? Building could be reimagined as police facility, library branch (https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/13/whats-next-for-fort-worths-city-hall-building-could-be-reimagined-as-police-facility-library-branch/)

Short Story #3: Speaker series to support construction of National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth (https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/speaker-series-to-support-construction-of-national-juneteenth-museum-in-fort-worth/3278268/)

BIG STORY: A conversation with the CEO of the National Juneteenth Museum

Wins and Losses

Ann's
Win: https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/15/what-will-define-success-of-panther-island-fort-worth-leaders-look-at-question-through-a-different-lens/
Loss: https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/13/city-leaders-have-a-plan-to-tackle-environmental-justice-in-southeast-fort-worth-residents-say-its-not-enough/

EJ's
Win: https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/15/whose-house-hughes-house-new-housing-development-in-stop-six-is-a-nod-to-community-leader/
Loss: Hot as Hell Outside

Ann and EJ turn a chapter as they host their first podcast together without Jimmy. They are joined by Tyler Long, one of the organizers of Trinity Pride Fest.

Election Results
District 11: Jeanette Martinez: https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/10/martinez-makes-history-district-11-elects-first-latina-to-city-council/
FWISD District 5: Kevin Lynch: https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/10/west-fort-worth-isd-voters-send-newcomer-to-school-board-over-one-term-incumbent/
TCC Precinct #4:

Short Story #1: Cultural District landmark too old to save: What will be Fort Worth arts center’s fate?
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article276186686.html

Final Report on the Art Center
https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/files/assets/public/government/documents/gendy/final-report-of-1300-gendy-task-force.pdf

Support Fort Worth Art
https://instagram.com/supportfortworthart?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Short Story #2: G.K. Maenius, Tarrant County administrator since 1988, will be tough to replace, many say
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article276220411.html#storylink=cpy

Short Story #3:  Fort Worth’s Bivens to Lead Regional Transportation Council
https://fortworthinc.com/news/fort-worth%E2%80%99s-bivens-to-lead-regional-transportation-council/

Big Story: Trinity Pride Fest with Tyler Long

https://trinitypridefw.org/
https://www.lgbtqsaves.org/
https://www.finnsplacetx.org/
Yesterqueer Fort Worth

Tyler's Podcast 👇🏿
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/queer-contxt/id1625420773

Wins and Losses

EJ:
W: FWR article: https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/04/where-i-live-west-meadowbrook-provides-peace-proximity-and-prosperity/
L: Mattie Parker's response to the queer community about the LGBTQ+ book challenge  https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article276166276.html

Ann:
W: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/article276143411.html
L: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article276186686.html

BUY TICKETS
National Juneteenth Museum event at I.M. Terrell Academy:
https://www.fortworth.com/event/uniting-voices%3A-the-national-juneteenth-museum-speaker-series/34160/

We are back with a jam-packed episode. It is Jimmy's last show, and we announce our new official cohost! The big story discusses the latest census data around Fort Worth's growth and the recent article in the Texas Monthly about Fort Worth possibly passing Austin if growth rates remain the same. We also talk about film incentives and what is going on with the discriminatory market on Magnolia. Enjoy!

Short Story #1: Jimmy's last show

Short Story #2: Texas approves a statewide $200 Million incentive for the film industry:

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/05/30/fort-worth-applauds-legislatures-approval-of-200-million-in-film-incentives/

Short Story #3: Discriminatory Market and Mayor Mattie Parker's Book Challenge

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/02/a-step-backwards-community-rallies-around-lgbtq-vendor-denied-spot-in-magnolia-market/

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/pride-challenge-removed-fort-worth-mayors-summer-reading-challenge-complaints/287-70facef4-855f-4d46-99c2-d050f3e768da

Big Story: Fort Worth's growth and what we are doing about it

https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-census-update/

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/05/29/where-in-north-texas-is-growth-happening-new-regional-data-shows-smaller-cities-are-leading-the-charge/

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/05/30/what-can-fort-worth-learn-from-other-land-banks-across-the-country/

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/01/fort-worths-eastside-transportation-plan-offers-comprehensive-approach-to-safety-land-use/

https://twitter.com/UrbanFortWorth/status/1659261322180141069

Wins:

- Meta supports the National Juneteenth Museum:

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/01/national-juneteenth-museum-announces-new-partnership-with-meta/

- The Art of Dying event at Leaves Bookshop

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/06/01/the-art-of-dying-fort-worth-business-aims-to-plan-support-through-death/

- Trinity Metro bus system's new bus stops

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/05/30/trinity-metros-modern-bus-stops-could-change-how-residents-view-public-transit/

Losses:

- District 11 drama
- Attacks on companies support Pride Month

We have another stellar podcast episode for you, as we have two outstanding guests this week. Dee Lara O'Neal and Nydia Cardenas are Latinx women who grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and have traveled with a plethora of knowledge and perspectives. We discuss the significant urgency we should all have about the Tarrant County Election Chief Position and why Marc Veasey and company are writing a letter to the federal government. We also hit the spicy drama that is going on in District 11 as Tara Maldonaldo endorses Rick Herring. Then we hit the big topic: Why some Hispanics identify with white supremacy. 

We will be off next week, so get a beverage and enjoy this meaningful and dynamic conversation. Links below:

SHORT STORY #1: Congressman, others urge feds to investigate Tarrant County judge over voting rights, and Tarrant GOP wants to eliminate countywide voting and go back to paper ballots

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article275433646.html


https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article275583861.html

SHORT STORY #2: Tara Maldonaldo endorses Rick Herring for District 11 and why has this created an entanglement for the community

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsbPU7ALnls/?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg%3D%3D

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/article275581041.html

SHORT STORY #3: County Jails are strained to keep guards and fill vacant positions

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2023/05/02/dallas-county-jail-strains-to-keep-guard-vacancies-at-bay-with-many-close-to-retirement/

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article269724661.html

BIG STORY: Machismo, misogyny, misinformation: Why some Hispanic people become white supremacists

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2023/05/15/is-it-unusual-for-a-hispanic-to-adopt-white-supremacist-beliefs/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/30/simple-math-that-should-keep-republicans-up-night/

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/01/30/whats-the-matter-with-men

https://www.wsj.com/articles/college-university-fall-higher-education-men-women-enrollment-admissions-back-to-school-11630948233

Wins and Losses:

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article273782575.html

https://dallasweekly.com/2023/05/impact-ventures-bringing-capital-to-the-culture/ 

https://fortworthreport.org/2023/05/10/a-world-of-hurt-more-teen-girls-and-gay-bisexual-students-feel-hopeless-data-shows/