The Texas Open Meetings Act is one of those good intentions that doesn't work out as well in practice. In the words of the Texas Attorney General, "The Texas Open Meetings Act honors the principle that government at all levels in this state should operate in a way that is open and accessible to the people." In practice, the Texas Open Meetings Act sometimes does just the opposite.
After the jump, the transcript from the May 10 Richardson City Council meeting.
On May 8, Richardson voters approved four bond proposals totalling $66 million. The proposals all passed by comfortable margins, but smaller than any Richardson bond election in memory. There are different explanations for the smaller than usual margins, from growing resistance to tax increases in general, to the tough economy in particular, to a protest against perceived failings of city staff and city council, to doubts about some of the projects themselves. I voted for the bonds, but that doesn't mean I don't still have a few reservations myself.
After the jump, my top three issues remaining as the smoke of the election campaigning clears.
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| From 2010 05 Fair Park |
On the negative side, the weather wasn't the best -- overcast and cool and breezy. But if the crowds stayed away, so did the rain. A good time was had by all.
To see more photos, click here.
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| From 2010 04 HS Baseball |
All three Richardson ISD high schools advanced this week in the Texas UIL high school baseball playoffs, each winning game 3 of their 3-game bi-district series against Garland ISD schools. Richardson beat South Garland 5-2, Berkner beat Lakeview Centennial 5-0, and Lake Highlands beat Rowlett 4-0. The area round of the playoffs will be played next weekend. Congratulations to all for continuing to ... Play in May!
For more photos, click here.
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| From 2010 05 Lion Dance |
The Richardson Public Library's Fountain Plaza was the site of a fun and energetic Lion Dance Saturday afternoon. The Chinese Lion Dance is performed for festive occasions. The library was celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in recognition of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
For more photos, click here.
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| From Flowers |
The photo caption is correct. The photo above was snapped at the Richardson Civic Center. That field of wildflowers is surrounded by busy city offices, streets, a freeway, library, post office and apartments. Henry David Thoreau understood that "in Wildness is the preservation of the World." Richardson honors that sentiment with pockets of colorful wildflowers spread around the city every Spring.
Richardson doesn't honor wildflowers just by planting them, it wildly celebrates them with an annual "award-winning, multi-day eclectic arts and music festival" called simply Wildflower!, now just one week away. It takes over the Galatyn Park Urban Center from May 14-16. Take the DART Red Line to Galatyn Station. Enjoy live entertainment at one of three outdoor performance stages, along with food tasting, displays and exhibits and plenty of kid's activities. After all, Thoreau's Wildness isn't the only kind of Wildness that's beneficial to the human soul.
After the jump, a couple of close-ups of those wildflowers at the civic center.
The City of Richardson has a bond election coming up on Saturday -- $66 million for streets and alleys, parks and rec centers, fire stations and neighborhood vitality projects. The "yes" side says we need these things to keep Richardson an attractive place to live, work, shop and play. The "no" side says we only want these items, not need them, and we can't afford them in any case.
After the jump, another way to look at the election.
Twitter tracks from April, 2010:
After the jump, more Twitter tracks.
