Looks like Fort Worth's Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks is not telling the truth (lying).

"Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks and Fisseler are named in the City Construction Company's incorporation papers as managers of the company. In an earlier interview both said they had no involvement with the company."
http://www.fwweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1500:house-of-cards&catid=76:metropolis&Itemid=377

Ft. Worth's Council District 8 Sierra Vista Housing Project

Three years ago, the taxpayers provided $3.2 Million dollars for the 232 unit Sierra Vista housing project at Berry & Riverside Drive in Council District 8. Ralph McCloud, City Council Rep for District 8 started the project. The current Councilmember Kathleen Hicks, served as McCloud's aide until June 2005 before she became the elected Rep for the District.

Of the 232 lots, only 80 houses have been built as of today. That's a mere 34% of sales in three years! The fields are empty around the fenced housing project and the project has not "spurred" ANY Economic Development around the area. Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks says, "Sierra Vista is coming along just fine." I disagree. I believe those $3.2 Million dollars could have remained in the people's pockets and never collected by the Government.

It's always interesting to me when Developers say, "Well, I grew up in Ft. Worth and I want to 'give back' to the community." "Give Back?" One would be "giving back" if they were investing their own money for a project and taking the risks as they will the "profits," as most of us business owners do. One is not giving back when the taxpayers are paying for the risks. That's what I call "taking", not.... "giving back."

In looking at the facts, Michael Mallick, (Vertex Investments) put in $3+ Million for the project; however, he turned around and sold all but 31 of the lots to History Maker Homes. So, in reality, he served as the middle man in the exchange of monies.

Below are some quotes regarding the project from years past:

"Vertex’s planned community, named Sierra Vista, will include the construction of 232 single-family homes, two outdoor strip-mall centers and a large grocery story. " (Hasn't happened.)

"“We are committed to ensuring an abundance of new economic opportunities such as new businesses, grocery stores and more commercial development in the area,” said Kathleen Hicks (Oh really? Where are the new businesses, grocery stores and more commercial development?)

"the project, which will serve as a neighborhood revitalization project." (Where is the revitalization?)

http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=4114

"Of all the urban revitalization projects under way in our city, one of the most astounding transformations will be the Sierra Vista project and the complementary activities at the intersection of Berry and Rosedale streets." (Complementary activities? Where are they?)

http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=5620

"It is anticipated that this project in conjunction with the adjoining Sierra Vista project will result in one of the most successful Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) districts in the country. " (Really?! How much money has the TIF gained because of these projects?)

http://www.synergyprop.com/happy-baggett.htm

Hicks "points to the two Mallick Group developments on the map. The Sierra Vista development will provide about 230 new single-family homes on the site of the old Riverside Village apartment complex, plus retail sites nearby. Hicks helped broker a deal earlier this year that created a tax increment financing district to include both Mallick Group properties. As tax income to the city increases because of the development, the extra dollars will pay for infrastructure improvements — perhaps one of the few instances when Fort Worth has used the TIF device in the kind of blighted area it was intended for. " (Really Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks --where are the extra dollars? We are still waiting!)

http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=4221

Briscoe, "The city gave Michael Mallick $4 million. Cash. They gave him money for demolition. We had demolition too. It cost us $300,000 to make our site useful." (So, what exactly cost Mallick $3+ Million?)

http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=4221

Ft. Worth's Mayor Pro Tem, Kathleen Hicks, wants taxpayers to "step up" and make sure Development succeeds

IMO, making sure retail Developments succeed is not the responsibility of the tax payers. It is the responsibility of those who decide to take the risk and invest in the development. They, in turn, will make sure that their investments make sense and are profitable. Forcing the tax payers to socialize the risk is not what is best for the taxpayers. Hence, Sierra Vista Housing Project, Evans Rosedale Development and THER housing project that never got off the ground but thousands of tax dollars are gone and the taxpayers are having to repay right now. Thanks to Nehemiah Davis (President of THER, donor to Hicks Campaign and President of Ft. Worth's NAACP), Ft. Worth City Council members in 2003, 2004 & 2005 including Ralph McCloud (Kathleen Hicks was his Council aide) and others for allowing the thousands of taxpayer dollars to be given away.

http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Davis_Nehemiah_24285192.aspx

http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=6093

Government needs to stick to taking care of basic services and quit playing Mommy & Daddy with the taxpayer's dollars and quit passing them out to their friends and supporters (in the name of helping the poor, of course!).

We the taxpayers have "stepped up" enough and bailed out every Tom, Dick & Harry. I say it's time that we elect someone to Ft. Worth's City Council who understands the value of a taxpayer's dollar and who's campaign IS funded by the people as opposed to Big Business. I say it's time that we elect someone to Ft. Worth's City Council who is not ethically challenged and who truly "cares" about The People, The Neighborhoods and Quality of Life here in Ft. Worth. http://www.suzetteforcouncil.com/

(Political Advertisement authorized by Suzette Watkins)

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/feb/24/fort-worth-city-council-looking-bring-large-retail/

http://www.fortworthgov.org/citysecretary/info/default.aspx?id=62960

http://www.pegasusnews.com/people/kathleen-hicks/

http://startelegram.typepad.com/files/hicks_jan.-15-part-1-1.pdf

http://startelegram.typepad.com/politex/fort-worth-city-council/

Who has been held accountable for Ft. Worth's $1.45 MILLION dollar discrepancy? Where's our money?

Words below were taken from FW Weekly Article written in June 2007.
"From 1996 to 2005, the city received HOME allocations to build low-income affordable housing totaling more than $41.3 million but spent only about $29.6 million. The report also said that two nonprofits the city has been dealing with do not meet HUD guidelines — and the city not only has been ordered to immediately cease funding those two organizations but will also be required to pay back the money already granted to them.
HUD recently forced the city to set aside $1.45 million that may have to be used to pay back federal funds misspent between 1999 and 2004. The figure is based on a 2003 HUD audit that found discrepancies in the way the city housing department had accounted for federal dollars on projects such as the Mercado commercial development on the North Side and the Evans-Rosedale redevelopment project on the East Side. Both projects have cost millions, and neither has delivered the promised commercial and residential redevelopment of the surrounding low-income areas.
Because of housing projects, jump-started with federal funds, that are now being foreclosed on by banks. They include the Victory Arts apartments on Hemphill Street ($287,000), Women’s Second Chance transitional housing project ($61,000), and the Rolling Hills/Glen Eden housing development off Riverside Drive ($253,628.) The city housing department was also cited in the reports for failing to diligently oversee its contractors, failing to keep proper accounting records, and failing to follow HUD rules regarding the use of government funds that passed through its coffers from 1992 to 2006. "

http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=6093

1997 - 2005 Ralph McCloud, City Council Rep, District 8
Kathleen Hicks, Aide to Ralph McCloud (for about 8 of those years)

2005 - present Kathleen Hicks, City Council Rep, District 8

Talk about needed CHANGE. How about it?! Vote Suzette Watkins, City Council, District 8
http://www.suzetteforcouncil.com/

HUD Audit finds $1.45 MILLION dollar discrepancy with City of Ft. Worth's housing projects

Two projects mentioned were Victory Art Center (Southside) & Texas Housing & Economic Resource project (Southeast D8). Problem? Defunct/bankrupt projects, corrupt politicians, poor planning, oh and Affordable Housing requirements not met. And our politicians wonder why we question their decisions & honesty?
Below is a great example of why we should pay closer attention to what they do, what they say, how they vote, etc. It's time to bring some tax payer watchdogs to the City Council table in Ft. Worth, Texas. Elect Suzette for Council http://www.suzetteforcouncil.com/ .
Donate here: http://www.suzetteforcouncil.com/donate.html

Here's the explanation according to CFW:

COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 12/16/2008 DATE: 12/16/2008
REFERENCE NO.: G-16403LOG NAME:17 ESCROW AMEND
CODE: G
TYPE: NON-CONSENT
PUBLIC HEARING: NO
SUBJECT: Authorize Use of Funds from the Custodial Account Established by the Custodial Agreement with Wells Fargo, N.A., for Resolution of Audit Findings from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Authorize use of funds from the Custodial Account created by a Custodial Agreement executed with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., on August 7, 2007, City Secretary Contract No. 35607, to resolve any and all audit findings from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development;
2. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute any related legal documents with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and Wells Fargo, N.A., regarding payments to resolve audit findings from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
3. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to release funds from the custodial account up to the amount of $1,452,675.00 to resolve audit findings from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

DISCUSSION:
In 2004, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) conducted a financial management review of the City’s grant-funded programs. This review resulted in an audit finding with questioned costs of $1,452,675.00 which could not immediately be resolved. As a result the City retained the services of the accounting firm Weaver Tidwell to complete an investigation and reconciliation of these questioned costs. To resolve the outstanding HUD findings, City Council in May 2007, (M&C G-15737) authorized creation of a custodial account at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in the amount of the questioned costs. These funds were to be held until HUD had reviewed the results of the Weaver Tidwell reconciliation at which time any costs that were deemed ineligible would be returned to the City’s Line of Credit for HUD grants. HUD has completed its review and to date has authorized the City to draw $266,190.00 of the $1.4 million in questioned costs. The overall repayment could be up to $440,731.00.Subsequent to the 2004 review HUD conducted an Affordable Housing monitoring review in February 2007, and a Comprehensive Monitoring Review in March 2007. These reviews resulted in findings of which certain ones can only be resolved through repayment of funds to the City’s Line of Credit for grant funding. Therefore, staff is recommending that the funds in the Custodial Account be used for resolution for all HUD findings.

FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:
The Financial Management Services Director certifies that funds are available in the custodial account established at Wells Fargo, N.A., for the purposes stated above.

TO Fund/Account/Centers

FROM Fund/Account/Centers
GG01 106000 0000000

$1,452,675.00
Submitted for City Manager's Office by: Tom Higgins (6140)
Originating Department Head: Jay Chapa (6192)
Additional Information Contact: Jerome Walker (7537) Barbara Asbury (7331)

http://www.fortworthgov.org/council_packet/mc_review.asp?ID=10897&councildate=12/16/2008

http://www.fortworthgov.org/