PROPERTY RIGHTS in Farmers Branch

Those who follow my blog know that I have a lot of experience with the city through their Code Enforcement department. If you try to read the Code of Ordinances for the fine city of Farmers Branch, you will soon discover that you are severely limited in the enjoyment of your own home. For, not only does The City in the Park dictate what can be seen from public areas, they will tell you what you can do in areas that are not visible from the public eye. It does not matter if your neighbor, who is the only person who can legally see your back yard, cares. What matters is whether or not BJ cares.

Ah yes – we have a new character in our story. BJ is the conscience of The City in the Park. BJ will tell you what is nice and what is naughty. BJ can legislate through the telephone and email. BJ has the City Manager’s number on speed dial. If BJ doesn’t like it – Thou Shalt Not have it.

Now, what does BJ like? Hmmm – it’s hard to tell right now. For sure BJ does not like illegal immigrants. They steal insurance cards, they wreck her car, they mow her lawn, oops, sorry, I guess I got carried away. Let’s see, where was I? Uhhh – they bring her drinks at The Club? They clean her house? What’s not to like about that? Oh – darn. Sorry – I keep messing up. I’ll try to be fair to BJ. Let me think, surely there’s something. Ummmm, the legal-illegals (can’t think of a better term for that) aren’t being paid a living wage, so they apparently get government assistance, like free lunches for their school-aged children, and medical care, and, I don’t know, a new Mercedes when they get to be 16. I don’t know any of that for sure, but according to BJ they are getting all kinds of goodies that the normal citizen who makes a living wage is not allowed to get.

I also don’t know this for sure, but the BJ’s in our fair city own a company that either employs illegals or lets them wander through the company at will. For the allegation was made that illegals steal the insurance cards from the company fleet so that they can use them. See, this is humourous to me, because I wonder how, if BJ doesn’t hire them, they get into the trucks in order to steal the cards. Either way, they can’t use them – give me a break. Our government knows darned well whether or not you have insurance on your automobile. You can’t fake that by showing a forged card.

As for wrecking her car – good point. I wish every single member of any ethnic group who runs around causing auto wrecks was deported. For instance, my daughter’s car was ruined by a malicious teenager. She was white, and 15 years old, and she thought it would be really funny to put sugar in the gas tank, throw fish in our swimming pool, trash in our mailbox, and egg our home, among other things.  It totalled my daughter’s car and we were out the expense and inconvenience of having our pool emptied, cleaned, and refilled, cleaning the cars and home, and being without a car. So – based on this, I think we should not allow any white 15 years old girls in this nice town. They are just too malicious.

While we’re at it – I was in the grocery store the other day and

• There was a little kid WHINING! What is wrong with those parents? Couldn’t they see that if they couldn’t shut that little brat up they had NO RIGHT to have brats? I raised my babies, and they were cute and when we went to the store and they wanted something that was cute because they just wanted something and they were so adorable and smart. But this kid – he was annoying. And he was bothering me and he had NO RIGHT to do that.
• And an old couple wasn’t moving their cart fast enough to suit me.   There should be a special time for seniors to go to the store if they can’t walk quickly. Better yet – they should stay in some kind of affordable housing and let the younger, more agile people do the shopping for them. They annoy me and it is just dreadful having to witness my own future through their experiences. Wait - I will never get old and feeble, for I am just too special for something as mortal as growing old. Seniors need to stay somewhere where they don’t interfere with my enjoyment of grocery shopping. If they can’t move fast enough for me they have NO RIGHT to get in my way.
• And a young man was standing in front of the cereal that I wanted to look at. He was reading the boxes. It really made me mad. I knew what I wanted, and if he couldn’t make a decision he had NO RIGHT to stand in my way.
• Then, when I got to the checkout, there was a person in line ahead of me who maliciously, and on purpose, and knowing full-well what she was doing – picked up an article that needed a price check! So I had to wait. If this thoughtless person didn’t know the price she should not have picked up the item. She had NO RIGHT to make me wait. Couldn’t she see how important I am?

There should be laws against anyone who willfully makes it inconvenient for me to go about my business in the manner that I want. What is wrong with these inconsiderate clods. They have NO RIGHT to bother ME.

Ohhhhh – I had intended to write this post about property rights, but now I am too upset and angry. I guess I will do that later. Right now I need to get my housekeeper to mix a cold drink for me so I can sit by my pool with a cold cloth over my face and try to forget about all the unwashed in this nice city who are out to make my life miserable and depress me and my property values. They have NO RIGHT.

Right, BJ?

Vote Like Your Future Depended On It

During the past few months I have had the opportunity to learn more about city government, and our fair City in the Park, than most citizens. In the past I was quite content to live my life free of any municipal worries, content to escape to the sanctuary of my little home and enjoy the freedoms and liberties that living in America provides. Then, the harassment began, and my life changed.

Because I was appalled at what I found, I became involved, and the more I became involved, the more appalled I was. So, as my readers know, I ran for City Council. I came in third, but with a very decent 20% of the votes, so I know that there are others like me out there. Now there’s a runoff election between the incumbent, David Koch and a relative newcomer, Brenda Brodrick.

I have had the opportunity to spend time with both of the candidates. David is charming and professional. Brenda is personable and very likable. They are both intelligent and hard-working.  Personally, I like both of them. 

But you know what ? …… this election is not about them – it’s about ME. Which one will look out for ME? Which one will listen to ME? Which one has MY best interests at heart – and the cojones to fight for ME?

I know – it’s hard to tell by just listening to them. They both have great ideas. But they are both campaigning. So how do I sort out which candidate I want to represent ME? Which one would best represent ME? Granted, this is but one council position in 5, but one voice is better than none.

Here’s your chance to be informed: Branch Forum is holding a debate tomorrow night, May 25th, at the Farmers Branch Library. The questions for the debate will come from the people: YOU and ME. The people who care enough about their own welfare, and the future of our community, to get out and vote.

Farmers Branch City Council Candidate Forum

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Manske Library Large meeting Room

13613 Webb Chapel Drive

Farmers Branch, TX 75234

Doors Open: 6:30 PM         Program Begins: 7:00 PM

David Koch and Brenda Brodrick, candidates for City Council Place 4, will respond to questions from Branch Forum, the organizer of the event, and questions submitted by the audience.  Questions may be submitted in advance to info@BranchForum.com.

 

It is not too late to submit questions to Branch Forum. It is not too late to have your voice heard. When YOU go to the polls in June YOU need to have all the information you can so that YOU can make a good decision based on what is good for YOU …. and ME.

While you’re on the website, look around. Branch Forum is a relatively new organization, but they care about YOU, and ME, and all the citizens of Farmers Branch.

And Vote. Vote as if Your Future Depended On It. It only takes a few minutes, and the results of that vote will last a long, long time.

A Second Chance for Farmers Branch

There are 14,000 registered voters in Farmers Branch

Less than 3000 voted on Saturday.

Does your vote count? It would have, if you had spent half an hour going to the poll. As it was,

• 1300 people are going to decide your fate for the next 3 years.
• 1300 people are going to dictate what you want.
• 1300 people are going to encourage aggressive and strict code enforcement for 32,000 citizens.
• 1300 people are going to tell 32,000 people what they should have in their front yards, what kind of storage buildings are upscale and desirable, bless our tax increases, throw around our hard-earned money.

Actually, not voting is a vote: by not bothering to spend a few minutes of your time you are effectively telling the city that you don’t care what happens with your future. So, they take this apathy as a green light to continue the harassment, continue the tax increases, continue spending money foolishly, continue to violate our homes, because 1300 people said they like it, and 11,000 said they don’t care one way or the other.

Rarely do we have a second chance  – to raise the voice of the people – the REAL people. We have this chance now, in one race. Although Brenda Brodrick is not me; she’s the next best thing, and our precious second chance to make things right. Get out and Vote for Brenda during the runoff election. She will listen, she does understand. If you’ve seen David Koch’s final campaign mailing you know that, mysteriously, Brenda’s 17 rental properties received 20 code compliance notifications. Right before elections, but in time for Mr. Koch to gleefully record it on his campaign flyers, have them printed, and sent to voters. She understands how unscrupulous people use Code Enforcement to harass and intimidate. As an aside: have you seen Mr. Koch’s rental property? Have you seen Mr. Scott’s own home? Pictures are on my posting “  City Snapshots”.  To see them for yourself look on the left column  under the Farmers Branch Mayor and City Council category, then pick the link  Pictures of our City Council’s Homes and Neighborhoods.

 Brenda has 17  properties that are well-kept and maintained. The opponent can’t even keep 3 up to snuff. But he doesn’t get code violation notices now, does he?

And here’s the interesting part. I called Brenda and asked her about the violation notices. She gave me some vague details, but refused to talk any further: and do you know why? Because she was concerned about her tenants RIGHT TO PRIVACY! That’s correct – although she had been a victim of dirty politics she would not strike back because it could hurt someone else. And she would rather take the brunt of that mudslinging attack than expose innocent people to potential inconvenience. Isn’t that the kind of person you want looking out for your interests?

• Someone who really and truly cares about your welfare – not just at election time, but all the time.
• Someone who understands … someone who’s Been There.
• Someone who is sensitive about the impact her actions could have on others.

For the record: the “violations” were all minor: nothing at all that would endanger the neighbors’ Health, Safety, or Welfare. And they were corrected before the voters even received the scurrilous mailing. They were non-issues, and the only thing the opponent could come up with to sully Brenda’s reputation.

That is pathetic.

God, Fate, Karma, or whatever has handed the citizens of Farmers Branch a Second Chance. Use it.

Why Farmers Branch Wants to be Rid of Undesirables

I attended the City Council meeting in which the council voted unanimously to appeal the March 25, 2010, Court judgment that city Ord. 2952 is unconstitutional.  Ord. 2952 regulates who may rent property in Farmers Branch by requiring landlords to secure a permit from the city before leasing to prospective tenants, and to check the immigration status of those tenants.

As expected, there was a large crowd, and there were many speakers: pro and con. I carefully listened to each and every one and tried very hard to understand what each was saying while maintaining emotional detachment. Some speakers were very eloquent, some not so much, but all wanted a chance to voice their opinion and all were given that chance. Mayor Tim did a great job of keeping a potentially volatile situation under control, with the timely assistance of Chief Fuller and the professional Farmers Branch Police Department. Therefore everybody got a chance to have their say without fear of being publically harassed and intimidated.

So what did We hear?  

Political Arguments

1. The more expensive aspects of the litigation are behind us and that to appeal (this time) will cost the city a relatively small amount: the guesstimate is around $100,000 – $150,000; because all the heavy lifting has already been done.
2. If Farmers Branch finally wins this litigation other cities will follow suit. Thus, even though it’s expensive, and painful, and divides the city, the end result will be well worth the cost, because The City will be known as a trailblazer.
3. Success will put Farmers Branch “on the map” nationally as well as internationally.
4. Farmers Branch is merely trying to Uphold The Law, and since the federal government isn’t stepping up to the plate it is our patriotic duty to fill the void.

Well, isn’t that interesting? If you read this without knowing what the litigation was about you might think that the City is just trying to stoke someone’s ego: to Put Us On the Map. I can think of many cheaper, nicer, and more effective ways to do that.

So let’s address the other issues.

First, the quotes: are there facts to back up every assertion? Most, if not all, of the members of the City Council are Rotarians, so let’s borrow the Rotary Club’s 4 way test:

Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Okay then: I’ll put each statement in italics, and we’ll run the test.

Quotes from City Leaders

• “We did what an overwhelming majority of our town wanted to do.”

This is sort of true, in that the City Council did go on with what a majority of the people who voted in 2007 wanted to do. The problem is that the voters were misinformed about the cost, the legality, the constitutionality, and other little details. So that statement was not fair, did not build goodwill and better friendships, and was not beneficial to all concerned. The lawyers on both sides have to love it, though, so maybe that built goodwill and better friendships with them. And they are, um considered Upscale and Desirable, but they don’t live in Farmers Branch. I wonder why. 

• “Illegal immigrants are overburdening the schools.”

 In interviews school officials disagreed with that notion, so we have an unproven statement here. Also not fair, no goodwill and friendship, and no benefits, well, except if you want to count riling up the uninformed – that benefits the politicians.

• “Illegal immigrants are committing crimes at a disproportionate rate.”

Police chief Sid Fuller noted that in a community where violent crime is very low, illegal immigrants stand out only when it comes to driving without a license or insurance. Okay – I know what you are going to say “well, that’s a crime, and being illegal is, by definition, a crime”. Good point. I’m thinking along the lines of the chief, though: crimes against other people.  Again: not fair, no goodwill and friendship, and no benefits except for the throwing gasoline on a fire component.

• “We had a Montessori school owner complain about how she’d find used drug needles and used condoms in front of the school, right across from a place everyone knows rents to illegals.”

Those who stayed on after the litigation vote could have seen the school owner speak to the council about other undesirables around her school. This time it was an issue with the students at the Dallas Can academy. So it’s not just the illegal immigrants in the apartment across the street who are causing grief. In fact, I wonder how many of the used drug needles and condoms come from sources other than the apartments.

• “They would go through drive-throughs and the people on the other side couldn’t understand English. They were getting frustrated over pressing ‘one’ for this and ‘two’ for that.” 

1.  
   1. Oh yeah – now you got my attention: that is frustrating, and with the dearth of fast food joints around town it’s so hard to find one where the workers speak English. NOT!
   2. As for pressing one or two – I wish that was all I had to do. I get tired of pressing 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0 every single time I want to talk to a service provider on the telephone. I’d be happy to speak with someone who is in the same time zone as me. Someone, anyone. Maybe we can bring a lawsuit for that once the illegal immigrants one is settled.

Ya know what – this is getting kind of repetitious, and is not going to sway any of the hard-core believers. So let’s try this test instead: in place of “Illegal Immigrant”, put the word “Disadvantaged”. That’s like,well, poor people: People who are living on fixed incomes, people who are disabled, people who lost their jobs, senior citizens, single parents; people without a lot of disposable income. So let’s do that, and move on to social arguments.

Social Arguments

1. Illegal immigrants  Disadvantaged are disproportionately represented in the lists of uninsured motorists.
2. Illegal immigrants  Disadvantaged don’t pay their own way – with taxes, consumption of material goods, etc.
3. Illegal immigrants  Disadvantaged are overburdening the schools. 
4. Illegal immigrants  Disadvantaged are overburdening the health care system.
5. Illegal immigrants  Disadvantaged are overburdening the welfare system.
6. Illegal immigrants  Disadvantaged are committing crimes at a disproportionate rate – to the extent that many people find themselves living in areas that have been taken over by shady characters who are also disadvantaged, and they are frightened.
7. This year, over 11,000 anchor babies were born to illegal immigrants in Dallas County.

Okay – the anchor baby thing doesn’t apply to this situation, as I don’t have any idea how many Disadvantaged kids are being born in Dallas County each year. But do you see where this is going? You can use the same tired arguments for any group that some people don’t like. And if you don’t have facts and data to prove your claims you can still say anything you want, and you can appeal to emotions, and you can make believers of the uninformed.

SUMMARY

Now, don’t get me wrong: I am against our porous borders. I am against allowing anyone into our country without the proper documentation and permission. But I am also against stereotyping, hypocrisy, bullying, and blatant lies. And that is the basis of my concern over the direction the City Council is leading the citizenry of Farmers Branch.

 The members of the City Council have unanimously agreed: by word and by action; that they want only Upscale and Desirable People in Farmers Branch. People with lots of Disposable Income. People who think the same way they do. People who are more than happy to have their taxes raised, and raised, and raised so that the City can go on their shopping expeditions beautification campaigns. People who don’t mind that their money is being spent on frivolous pursuits. People who don’t care that the City, time and time again, has voted unanimously for projects that were opposed by a large proportion of the residents. People who are Not Disadvantaged.

It sounds like the City Council want only wealthy people to live here. People like:

• Kenneth Lay
• Bernie Madoff
• Jack Abramoff
• Paris Hilton
• <You get the idea>

Yeah – how Upscale and Desirable are they? My point is this: every race, every socio-economic group, every age group, has its good and its bad characters. We cannot judge people based only upon exterior appearance – didn’t you learn that in school ….. didn’t your grandmother, and mother, and pastor, tell you that over and over again? Let’s stop this senseless, hypocritical, spit-flinging rhetoric and get together to do something that really does make a difference. Let’s Stop Posing - and Start Doing something worthwhile and Christian. Let’s start by helping our neighbors – not turning them in to Code Enforcement, and spreading lies, and parroting untruths. Let’s grow up and make a real difference. Let’s Get On the Map by showing the world what true Americans stand for. And we can start right here in River City  Farmers Branch.

 

I’d like to remind you of one of my favorite poems, but I am going to change the wording a little to put it in the proper perspective. This was written during WWII by Martin Niemoeller, who was a decorated u-boat captain in the First World War but subsequently became a minister of religion and a relatively high-profile opponent of the Nazis as they increasingly gained firm hold of the reins to power in Germany. 

Niemoeller was active as a leader in a so-called Pastors’ Emergency League and in a Synod that denounced the abuses of the dictatorship in the famous “Six Articles of Barmen.” Such activities finally led to his arrest on 1 July 1937. When the subsequent court appearance was followed by his release with only a modest ‘slap on the wrist’ Hitler personally ordered his incarceration with the result that Niemoeller remained in concentration camp, including long periods of solitary confinement, until the end of the war.

Niemoeller occasionally traveled internationally after the war and delivered many speeches and sermons in which he confessed of his own blindness and inaction in earlier years when the Nazi regime rounded up the communists, socialists, trade unionists, and, finally, the Jews.

In this regard he framed a now famous quotation that is often presented in a corrupted form. Niemoeller himself however lived through the events associated with the Nazi seizure of absolute power and knew which groups had been persecuted by the Nazis and also knew the order in which those groups had come particularly under persecution. I am going to copy the popular quote below, and change some wording so it will apply to what is happening here:

First they came for the communists  renters, and I did not speak out–
    because I was not a communist  renter;
Then they came for the socialists,  poor  and I did not speak out–
    because I was not a socialist poor;
Then they came for the trade unionists  senior citizens, and I did not speak out–
    because I was not a trade unionist  senior citizen;
Then they came for the Jews middle classes, and I did not speak out–
    because I was not a Jew middle class;
Then they came for me–
    and there was no one left to speak out for me.

I’ll finish with the following observation about prejudice and hatred - and logic:

 

“It is possible to violently disagree with something intellectually, but the emotional visages of early training survive the logic of intellect. In fact, the emotions of prejudice and hatred have a chilling logic of their own. The Holocaust perpetrators seemed to be acting on the logic of their Anti-Semitic heritage.”

Read more at Suite101: Historians Interpret the Holocaust: Did Global Depression and Anti-Semitism Produce the Shoah? http://weuropeanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/historians-interpret-the-holocaust#ixzz0lwrv40Tx