Remarks to East FW Business Association

On Thursday, January 8^th I was honored to address the East Fort Worth Business Association at the Trinity Hotel in Council District 8.

Longtime District 8 activist and resident Ms. Sarah Walker gave me a wonderful introduction. Ms. Walker has been a wonderful mentor to me. She has worked tirelessly preserving the history of South-East Fort Worth.

The Association has long promoted positive economic development in our community. I was pleased to see Council Member Frank Moss, long time friends, Attorneys Jesse Gaines & Gwinda Burns, Jim Austin, and of course President of the association Norm Bernes.

My message to the association was simple: We don’t have to re-invent the wheel in East Fort Worth; we must utilize economic tools that have worked elsewhere in our city, state, and country. One such tool is the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone which I talked about in an earlier blog. The city received a federal grant which we leveraged with private funds to revitalize the store fronts across from Texas Wesleyan University.

Also, we are well on our way to revitalizing the east side with the Gateway Park Riverside Oxbow improvements. The area will see millions of dollars of improvements in the coming years thanks to local, state, and federal dollars.

Of course crime remains a great concern to all of us across our city, especially in these rough economic times. The past week has been especially challenging. The police will have a long term presence in East Fort Worth. Indeed, the council has already approved funding for the NEW CRIME LAB that will occupy the old Stripling and Cox Building on East Lancaster. Also, a new POLICE STOREFRONT will be built near I-35 and East Lancaster.

We must continue to be vigilant and not accept anything that goes in our community. We must spread the word about the positive development. Why must we always stereotype East and Southeast Fort Worth?

I was very pleased to learn that Star Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy will be a speaker at the Association meeting in March. A few weeks ago, he wrote an awesome column about how the media loves to focus on the Negative in East Fort Worth, but rarely the positive.

With organizations such as the East Fort Worth Business Association, we will continue to revitalize our community!

Until Next Time,

Onward and Upward!

- Kathleen Hicks

Neighborhood Empowerment Zone Unanimously Passed!

This week’s council meeting was another milestone for Council District 8. The Council unanimously passed the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) district for the Oakland Corners area along east Lancaster. Long-time activists were present at the council meeting, including West Meadowbrook Neighborhood President, Don Boren and Wanda Conlin.

The NEZ designation is especially important as it is a vital tool to attract positive Economic Development. Moreover, this NEZ is especially important because the Neighborhood Association was able to craft the NEZ. Applicants will have to adhere to the strict rules upon which businesses are eligible for tax abatements in the area. This will ensure positive development for years to come. More to come later on my remarks to the East Fort Worth Business Association this past week!

Onward and Upward District 8!

-Kathleen

Please come out and join me at my campaign fundraiser:

Blackeyed Peas & Possibilities!

Saturday, 31 January 2009
1-3pm

1301 Evans Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76104

Hope, Progress and CHANGE!

Dear Fellow District 8 Resident,

2008 was another exciting year for our district. Indeed, George Bernard Shaw once stated that “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” Change was a crucial theme this past year as we elected a new president in a historic election. Locally, positive change continued to ring throughout our district.

The last quarter of 2008 saw many more groundbreakings across the district. Mayor Moncrief, numerous city staff and community advocates joined me on a crisp October day to break ground on the new Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods on the corner of Terrell and I-35.

In November, I joined federal and state officials to break ground for the new multi-million dollar Veterans Hospital. The facility near Campus and 8-20 will serve veterans from across north Texas. A few weeks days later we celebrated more positive change with the opening of the newly renovated Baker Building on the campus of Texas Wesleyan University. The renovation reflects the significant progress in the Polytechnic Urban Village. Thanks to public and private partnerships, the area is coming alive with the TWU bookstore, and other commercial development to come in 2009 in buildings along East Rosedale that have stood empty for far too long.

November also saw the Go Gateway! Celebration as hundreds of residents came out to enjoy this great east side park which soon will boast numerous new improvements for all of Fort Worth to enjoy. Also the FW City Council recently approved the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone for West Meadowbrook. This important milestone will encourage re-investment in East Fort Worth.

Finally, I was delighted to take part in the ceremony in which All Church Home for Children celebrated their move to the old Masonic Home Campus at MLK Freeway and East Berry. As a proud board member of ACH, I can tell you that this organization is setting the bar for quality programs in child welfare that is dramatically strengthening families and reducing child abuse. ACH will invest well over 10 million dollars to improve the campus and will be a vital anchor in district 8 community. We welcome them!

I could go on and on about all the positive change occurring through-out our wonderful district. I thank you for going on this positive journey with me as we continue to make important and lasting strides!

Until next time,

Onward and Upward District 8!!

-Kathleen