It has begun

So, here today I have finally created a specifically political blog for all to see. Just over two months ago I began my official foray into politics by applying for an appointment to a City Council board or commission. In session on Sept. 27th, the City Council appointed me to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

The ZBA is one of the more powerful boards given its autonomy. Rather than making recommendations to the City Council for approval, the decision of the board is final and can only be overturned in District Court. This is a great honor and a I am profoundly humbled by this appointment. I am, also, characteristically jumping in head first…I think I have traded E-Mails with the Director of Public Works and the Liaison to the board with tons of questions. I hope I don’t become a nuisance but I really want to understand my role and do it to the best of my ability. On Tuesday, Oct. 11 I will have lunch with the Director of Public Works, the Liaison to the board, and a fellow board member so they can get to know me and explain how the board works. I really can’t wait!

In other political news that is spurring me on to create this blog, the City of Hurst has several bond proposals coming up and one in particular is to construct a pedestrian bridge across a ravine that bisects Pecan Street. Now it appears this is to improve the passage of school children to get to the Junior high school in the area so yesterday I drove over to take a look and see the area first hand. After looking at it for a few minutes I started to turn around and drive away when I saw a resident. I stopped and asked if the man lived there and if he had a second to discuss the proposed pedestrian bridge. He did live there, he did have a second, and he was very much AGAINST having the bridge “rebuilt”! Apparently there was a bridge there before, and he constantly had to break up kids fighting on the bridge because apparently some kids would crowd the bridge then “Charge a toll” for others wanting to cross it! Literally charge a toll for other kids to use it and then fight them if they wouldn’t pay! I snickered but he was earnest that it has happened. He was very much opposed to it being built which led me to several questions: How many other residents in the area didn’t want the bridge built? And who then was behind the push to get the bridge built? This is a political topic I need to get more involved in! In the words of Matt Drudge, this story is “Developing”…