Right Bait, Wrong Pond...

After a long delay I return to my blog with enthusiasm. Apologies but with new responsibilities comes an increased load on my schedule. I want to address a very eloquent comment made by Mr. Criswell on my last post. Although it had the slight ring of an accusatory declaration, the comments themselves were fair, balanced, and most of all constructive. However, they were made with a unclear vision of my position and ambition concerning Lancaster and I want to clear that up for everyone.
I have never, nor will I ever seek a position of Leadership in Lancaster. I have no desire to lose my wife, which is exactly what would happen if I told her we were moving there! Not that Lancaster isn't an interesting place, it is! I love the country atmosphere of the square and the older "feel" of the vintage homes. I also love the Ten Mile Creek area with larger estate homes nestled in the thick of 100 year Oak and Hickory trees. However, it is not my intention to make the area my home. Without that vested interest in the area, my comments are simply observations of the more obvious issues surrounding Lancaster politics, education, and development as I perceive them.
Yes, they are statements stoked in negativity because these issues are...well...negative issues! I didn't make them that way, nor is it my responsibility to come to Lancaster and hold the hands of those that did! They wouldn't listen if I did. It's my wish to provide insight into these issues for the huddled masses to digest and respond to. I've made recommendations pertaining to alternative courses of action but perhaps you've neglected those statements in your readings Mr. Criswell. Yet, even if I hadn't, the call to leadership as defined by your comment, is a call to another individual. A call to someone that, more than likely, will have read this blog...agreed with some of its assessments and still disagreed with others. They would have the discernment to know what means anything at all and what is, admittedly, a cheap shot at those that I feel deserve exactly that. In all, they'll laugh at what's funny, ignore what they don't agree with, and act on the information they may not have known.
I truly agree with 90% of what you stated and honor you in this post for it. I try to apply the vast majority of these points in my personal life and professional life as it pertains to my own commission appointment and recent promotion. I just think you're fishing in the wrong pond on the leadership thing where it pertains to Lancaster. Perhaps you might call your counsel people and give them that speech?

Here they come...and why not?

That's right kids, Flower Mound is getting an 18 story hotel and a fast track to becoming the next "got to live there" place in North Texas. Meanwhile Dallas releases low level felons to accommodate more space in the local jails. Although most will go right back to their neighborhoods and continue living their lives, some will find their way to Lancaster as a part of the natural migration to cheap homes in new neighborhoods. After all, where else can you buy a 2800 square foot home for 119,000 dollars! I compare Lancaster to places like Flower Mound because I see the potential for this city to take real advantage of the historical aspect of its environment. Flower Mound started out the same way. Sure they have a lake and several other natural traits that help their presence in the north but so does the southern sector! Why is it then, that Lancaster seems to run out of steam when faced with some of the same opportunities? The reason, I think, is that Lancaster settles. Settles for increased taxes without true tangible benefit to infrastructure, education or representation. Your streets are horrible but your stadium looks like the Acropolis. Your Recreational Center is fantastic but your police department leaks. Finally, and maybe most absurdly, you have the highest marketable housing growth in the area yet no grocery or retail support for those that live there! Furthermore, no one is even looking to come! Sure you have larger warehouses and factory interest looking at the fringes of your city for cheap land and even cheaper labor. All of that is good but what are the real benefits to the average Lancaster resident? Better streets? Better schools? What? That's right nothing but the ability to say that they are in Lancaster...or at least close to Lancaster. Isn't that a little like saying you are a lucky man because your sister-in-law is so pretty? You get no direct benefit yet you hope that other cities will see you as successful for the things that are close to you.
I'd venture to say Desoto laughs at Lancaster behind closed doors because the more you settle for inferior development, poorly managed school finance, and horrible retail prospects the better they look to local and national businesses for future store and retail locations. Of course, you do have the market cornered on prostitution and transportation. Maybe Joe should be a little nicer to Dart and possibly organize the prostitutes along Dallas Ave and I20. After all, there is an untapped tax market there and I'm sure both the city and LISD could use the boost.

No Inland Port and more Importantly...No Cultural Center!

Lancaster, what can I say? Every time you put your hopes and dreams behind something it turns into crap. Realizing that the designation of an Inland Port was an important goal toward making Lancaster the next "boom" business location. I was disappointed to hear that the designation now appears out of easy reach. As important as that is, bringing true commercial validity to the area along with countless possibilities in area wide improvement. I can't help but to shed a tear for another lost cause. Kimberly's Multi Cultural Center. Speaking of which, how is the multi cultural center based in a predominately Black community coming? Not one of the brightest ideas I've heard of but in the interest of being polite...nah, the hell with that. How is it going! Let me guess, no participation from other counsel members (because they all know it's a dog), no funding (because...well it IS a dog), and no public interest...why...you guessed it. It's a dog. I mean that in the nicest possible way and have to apologize to dogs around the world because the idea is actually much worse than a dog but that's all I could think of off hand! Maybe Tommy could fund it? Oh, that's right, he's not "in town" and certainly wouldn't give to anything that didn't promote his future development interest! Steve? you gotta be joking! The Chamber? They know better. No, I think if you're going to make this fly, you're going to have to put in some work. Maybe dress in multi-cultural garb and pan handle a bit, I don't know. Just brainstorming. After all, I certainly see why the youth of Lancaster might want their parents to come to a place where they can explore the cultural differences between themselves and others. That's much more helpful than any scholastic support initiative that your "due diligence" funding could have brought about. Answer this Kim, how many books could the city have bought and donated to LISD for the 2 grand or so that you got to find a consultant to tell you what I just told you for free?

Can Lancaster Wait on Quality?

What's wrong with the promotion of a conservation development in an area surrounded by natural beauty? If the city leaders acknowledge the area's natural assets in creating (at no small cost to taxpayers) a Nature Center, then why shouldn't the developers that are interested in that area follow suite? Not with a half-hearted, cookie cutter, "Master Planned" monster, but with a sectioned development of 1-2 acre lots naturally melded into the countryside. You decide. If you were an affluent business owner, doctor, or retiree would you consider another close proximity neighborhood over a quality custom built home located in a natural setting? Of course not! Most of these buyers have already lived in the standard suburban neighborhoods and are looking for something SIGNIFICANTLY better. Not a gated version of the same old dribble, but an open natural environment with manicured walking trails, and varied home styles and sizes. Well lit paths that lead to wide expanses of open space. Circular drives, multiple garages, and larger profiles...you know...the things that ALL people think of when they think of a quality upscale home! How can Lancaster ever hope to have a true affluent community if it sells itself short on the only property left to develop! Where else will the next community go? Is Lancaster to be the dumping ground of Tommy, Steve, and the like? An area primed for a quick profit on a compromised development? Finally, is that what Lancaster is limited to? If so, I suggest moving to Flower Mound, or somewhere that cares a bit more about who comes in and with what. I said that The Preserve would rear it's ugly head again and it appears that it may be sooner than later. Don't let it sneak up on you. Realizing that I'm extremely biased against Steve, Tommy and that whole sneaky Klan, that still doesn't diminish the truth of my statements. The fact of the matter is, if these guys tried to push their half-ass development off on any number of thriving areas in North Texas, they'd be run out of town. Yet in Lancaster, they're tolerated out of a general feeling that there might not be better over the horizon! Absurd as it may sound, there are people that live there that truly buy into the idea that this type of "take it or leave it" nonsense is all they can ever aspire to have. Because of that, unless someone stands up and a lot of people wake up, it's all you WILL ever have. I can almost guarantee someone at the city is talking in that backroom as I type. After all, that's how business is done there. Starting slowly and quietly in a closed door meeting or a phone conversation. Which brings up an interesting thought...who's ringing your phone Mrs. Belcher?

God missed you...but not by very much.

So I'm doing some work around the house when my email prompts. It's a friend from Anna that has run across a link and wonders if it could be true or even applicable. The link (Tommy Tompkins) gives a tribute and memorial to one Tommy Tompkins who seems to have passed on. What's even stranger is that this Tommy leaves behind a wife, Linda, and several other family members (similar to our Tommy). The locations are all within the area and familiar to the places that Tommy does business. The whole memorial seems plausible and due to the cancer notation and Tommy's chain smoking habits even probable. It just all seems to fit! Yet, while researching it further, I was... disappointed to find that Tommy has actually spoken to people since the date mentioned in the memorial. Although I'd like to think I would never wish death upon anyone... I certainly won't shed tears when he slumps over an ashtray for the last time. I know, it's horrible to say and I need help. Professional help to deal with such anger issues and maybe, just maybe, a little boost in my Lexapro dosage(don't worry, it's non addictive). However, if we're going to be honest with each other, my first thought was. Wow, he really bit it! My second was, too bad Steve wasn't with him! That's just fact, what can I say? Anyway, it doesn't appear that God got the right one this time. Must not have seen Tommy under the rock and all.

So what's up with Dick?

Get your mind out of the gutter! I meant Dick Headen. Last I heard he was going to bow out and go gracefully into the sunset, the next rumor was that he was concocting a secret plan to promote Marcus Knight into a leadership roll in his district and now? Haven't heard anything. I wouldn't usually care because although Dick is a nice guy, I've never really seen or heard much out of him during counsel meetings ( absent the occasional snore when someone accidentally wakes him up ) yet in response to The Preserve in December he got the SPIRIT! I mean, I saw a different kind of guy that night...dare I say...a leader? Now, before you light the torches and head to my house, I realize that Dick can't be mayor. Not that he wouldn't make a good mayor of someplace...say Six Flags of Texas Western Town. He'd be an excellent mayor at Six Flags, but when you expand the scale to a real city it would be best to have someone that's been a little more animated. I just wonder, whatcha gonna do there Dick? Tread water a little longer or start taking the reigns to something?