Author: citybaseblog

Another Project for the McKinney Suckers

.Reading time 11 minutes.

This is the way it starts out. Unfortunately, the story sounds good:

Resort hotel coming to McKinney?

By Marthe Rennels
Community Impact
April 20, 2016

Craig Ranch could soon be home to a new resort hotel if David Craig’s plans come to pass.

Craig of Craig International and developer of Craig Ranch presented a plan to McKinney City Council during a work session April 18 that included plans for a 250-room resort hotel.

The proposed resort-hotel would include 15,000 square-feet of indoor meeting space and an additional 3,000 square-feet of available meeting space at the TPC clubhouse. Plans also include two ballrooms, two or three breakout rooms and one boardroom.

“We desperately need hospitality near the McKinney Corporate Center,” Craig said. “This is an opportunity to bring one of the essential developments and attractors to the corporate center in the form of a hotel that brings many of the amenities required by corporate America: meeting space, dining and overnight stays on campus.”

Craig said the occupants of the hotel would have access to the TPC Golf Course in Craig Ranch, an added bonus that he said would encourage weekend stays and help provide additional sales tax revenue in McKinney. On-site restaurants are included in preliminary plans, and the hotel’s future management firm, Aimbridge Hospitality, said it is open to amenity requests from the city and public.

According to the presentation, the estimated construction cost is roughly $68.75 million. Craig requested the city council allow the city manager’s office to speak with Aimbridge Hospitality in hopes of establishing some type of partnership with the city in terms of McKinney Community Development Corp. or McKinney Economic Development Corp. funds.

“I do think this is an opportunity for all concerned,” Mayor Pro Tem Travis Ussery said.

The timing is uncanny. There are two enormous projects in McKinney that have turned into a money pit. The first and most significant is Craig Ranch. The second is known as the Gateway Project. The Gateway Project has been a series of nightmares with lawsuits, project delays and investors jumping in and pulling out.

I have made a Open Records Request to try to obtain documents that would allow me pull together the total dollars the City of McKinney has spent on both. There has been cash, infrastructure improvements, impact fees and other fees waived and … well, that’s just it, I don’t know just how much more. That’s what I wanted to find out. You can ask for records, but the first thing you are told is that the law doesn’t require the City to answer questions. How interesting.

On April 1, 2016, I made a request for two things:

  1. “I would like to request records that would show the total costs incurred by the City for the Gateway Land and All Related Projects, irrespective the name of the project or payee.
  2. I would also like to request records that will show the total costs incurred by the City for any aspect of the Craig Ranch project, irrespective of the name of the project of payee.”

Anticipating a clarification letter I often get, I try to add some explanation to my request:

  1. “I am seeking to determine the entire financial investment the City of McKinney has made in the ‘Gateway Project’ as well as the ‘Craig Ranch Property’ irrespective of the names of the payees or conduits. For instance, if money was paid for a parcel of land but was wired through an attorney, then those items would be included in [the] ORRs.
  2. While I emphasize ‘total costs’ this is meant to convey all costs. However, I am requesting detail check payments, wires or any kind of transfers of money by fund: Capital Projects, Bond Funds, General Funds, Utility Funds, MEDC/MCDC funds.
  3. The definition of ‘total costs’ includes any direct or indirect payments, reimbursements, infrastructure expenditures, land purchase, and any waivers of building permits, impact fees or other waivers. It should also include any city in-kind payments or services other than administrative costs. For instance if the city paid for any surveying costs related to a land transaction, those are costs that should be included in my ORR.”

I guess I failed in trying to be explicit. I received a clarification letter anyway. I didn’t explain the term “All Related Projects” in my first request. Okay, mea culpa. These projects have boundaries. Money Pit 1 and Money Pit 2 have lines on maps encircling the projects. How much has the City put into those two Money Pits? I’ll try to rephrase and improve on my ORR later today.

The second clarification has to do with the specific documents I am asking for that reaches into development agreements, contracts and a litany of things. I am forewarned that these documents may be voluminous and entail significant staff time to locate and compile. Okay, I’ll work on that one today, also. I think know I am convinced that I want everything. I was told before I requested the information that the City won’t be very happy to dig into the amount of money that has been spent just on the Gateway land.

However, this brings me to a complaint I have made to both the Mayor and Interim City Manager as well as the City Council. Everything I am asking for is what THEY should be asking to see. Maybe not detailed documents. But as of April 22, 2016, do THEY even have a clue how many dollars have gone into these two projects since they pulled up to the City’s Money Pumps?

Why am I the one having to ask? THEY are telling me this information hasn’t been asked before! If so, you would just point me to the link on the City’s Web site where that information has been compiled and made public already. Oops! Apparently that’s not what they mean by transparency.

So, here’s the deal. I want to know, but THEY don’t apparently. So THEY are going to make me pay to get some of the most profound information that has ever come out of the City of McKinney! Information that would likely be a citizen’s first question to ask when David Craig came calling yet AGAIN!

Mayor Pro-Tem Ussery thinks this may be a good opportunity for “all concerned,” but I’m not so sure. And some others may be wanting to get a little better educated before making that bold statement. There is no doubt in the world that this is a good opportunity for David Craig.

Mr. Mayor and City Council, at one point in time, the City had invested zero on these two projects. How much has been invested as of April 22, 2016? You say you treat the City’s money like it was your own in an attempt to convey stewardship and fiduciary responsibility. Why aren’t the new council members asking for an independent forensic audit? Would someone go in an shake the members of the City’s audit committee and tell them to wake up. Oh wait, I think it is chaired by Mayor Pro-Tem Ussery.

Any project works as long as there are sufficient subsidies to build it and make a profit for the developer.

By the way, what is the capacity and the utilization rate of the Gateway Hotel? Where is the demand study for a resort hotel in Craig Ranch? What will the room rates have to be? Or do you plan to pump $millions into another project and just hope it works out? An investor using their own funds would never put money into something so large without an independent study showing there is a demand. Well, a smart investor.

Speaking of smart investors. According to the news media, the money behind Craig Ranch appears to be from the Van Tuyl Group, one of the largest auto dealerships in the country. Warren Buffett has now purchased the Van Tuyl Group. Ask Mr. Buffett what the Craig Ranch development is worth at this point and how much more money he is willing to invest in it.

The City of McKinney has put $millions into Craig Ranch. Don’t put another penny into this developer’s pocket. LFM

 

 

 

On My Watch

.Reading time 9 minutes.

I was impressed with the mayor of Dallas proclaiming that a spike in the crime rate happened on his watch and, therefore, he was taking responsibility for it. I would be prone to argue that his willingness to fall on the sword is unnecessary unless he is claiming perpetrator status. As I said recently, three 100-year floods have happened in sequential years before. Some things are not totally within your sphere of influence. I also doubt that he, the city manager or the police chief would be solely responsibility for a one-year drop in the crime statistics. A longer trend, up or down, would be a different story.

However, this blog is not about that particular press conference in Dallas. The purpose is a tip of my hat for the condition that exists when any leader, manager, supervisor or even an individual employee feels that special “on my watch” responsibility. It is the way most of us deal with someone’s safety or well-being if they come into our life while we are “on watch.” It is a privileged status when we are put in charge of caring for someone else, especially when the circumference of our circle of care is quite large.

The City of Grapevine had men stand watch over the small town at night from the early 1900s into the 1950s. There is an eight-foot, six-hundred pound statue on top of city hall honoring those men. The icon is the Watchman, holding a lantern. I love it! It is bold and speaks volumes about security. But the outward appearance doesn’t interest me as much as the internal drive and calling to be a person taking the responsibilities of the shepherd.

Linda and I were part of a team of teachers who took high school students to Europe each year during winter break for about a decade through the 1990s. It was a very popular program. At its peak we had 104 people traveling each year, two bus loads. We would have 104 signed up again within 30 days of returning from a trip even though the destinations for the following year were still undecided.

Our leader, Dianah, had a rule. It was to say Yes to the students in every way possible. That meant to let a small group go walking after returning to our hotel. Or to go across the street to a cafe for coffee. But one of us would go with them. I can’t begin to tell you the joyful burden it was to watch over our assigned teenagers. We had to keep all of their medicines. I have fond memories of handing out meds at the assigned times, especially to one student with a heart condition. How simple. How important. And how fulfilling it was for me to be taking care of people on our watch. I was on high alert for 11-12 days and did not rest easy until the wheels of the airplane touched down at DFW at the end. We cherish those days.

This “on my watch” gift is ingrained in almost every local government worker I have ever known. A very close friend and I discussed the burglar bar blog after I wrote it. He has had a heavy influence on me since junior high days. He persuaded me to realize governments can’t be responsible for everybody under every circumstance. I forget that point sometimes, and have no argument with the point. He’s dead right.

Yet I am conflicted because I know that when a life is lost, fire and police personnel stuggle to not take it personally. Even though they fully understand something is beyond their control, it doesn’t help the human part inside that really haunts them. It happened on their watch. Could it have been prevented? The answer is almost always Yes. Could I have prevented it? The answer is almost always No. But that internal calling to keep people safe is hard to satisfy at times even though it won’t be long, maybe the same day, when they have transformed another threat into a safe situation by their presence and actions. You shake off saving a life as duty. Losing a life is personal.

The calling is powerful. It starts with the servant magnet pulling them to be in a particular line of service, whether teacher or a public safety staffer. But it goes deep, very deep for others as well. It’s real for just about everybody who cares and believes without a doubt that they are called to be doing what they are doing. If you are in charge of the city streets, you take it very personally when heavy equipment is tearing up the street with their weight or spikes. If there is a wreck that knocks down light poles, there is both a duty to get it fixed quickly and a frustration that “their” assets got damaged.

If ballfields get destroyed by dirt bikes or weather, there are parks people who take it hard after working so diligently to have fields mowed, groomed and ready for play. Those folks are often invisible like the janitor story yesterday. They are probably sitting off to the side somewhere in pickups or golf carts waiting for games to end so they can pick up litter left behind. They are also watching the weather, relying on the lightening detectors to warn parents and players. I would expect that some are saying prayers that nobody gets hurt on their watch – even if there is nothing they could do to prevent some injuries. And can you imagine the relief that a ton of school and public safety officials feel when a football game is over, the stands are emptied and the parking lots with no cars without there being an incident?

If parents upheld their duty to be on watch and remain on watch over their kids, a ton of municipal services could be less riskier and even reduced in some cases. Parents can say Yes to many, many requests from their children, and should. But ask our son Kenneth how many times he heard “not on my watch, not under my roof or not on my dollar” when growing up.

So, I’m a conflicted person, and I admit it. The deal is, being a caring public official, whether elected or appointed, makes it hard to say No. But it takes a boldness and a level of discernment that is rarely found in most of us. I am often reminded of the powerful words of the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to changes the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”

God bless those standing watch. And in some form or fashion, that’s all of us. Every single one of us. LFM

Leadership and the Janitor

.Reading time 18 minutes.

I don’t have permission to reprint this story, but a colleague forwarded it to me to read. I’ve got to share it with you. It says so much. Coming from a blue collar background, I have always been grateful for my upbringings as well as my successes. When I see workers like the one in this story, I always see my dad and mom.

At a conference the past two days, I always look for a janitor, maid or meal server to whisper my usual, “thank you for taking care of us.” It is easy to see they get a surprised look on their face and then smile. What I don’t do is take the time to ask about their family, their history, their life. What a blessing that would be.

This story today gave me a big lift. There is always a person around us to appreciate and to let them know their service or just a pleasant quietness does not go unnoticed. How surprised we might be if we knew a little more about them. Nothing but ourselves prevents that from happening. LFM

Leadership and the Janitor

by

William “Bill” Crawford was an unimpressive figure, one you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Crawford, as most of us referred to him back in the late 1970s, was our squadron janitor.Army Master Sergeant William J. Crawford (Ret.), poses for a photo for a Denver Post photographer shortly before a Fourth of July parade in Denver, Colorado. Photo courtesy of Beverly Crawford-Kite.Army Master Sergeant William J. Crawford (Ret.), poses for a photo for a Denver Post photographer shortly before a Fourth of July parade in Denver, Colorado. Photo courtesy of Beverly Crawford-Kite.

While we cadets busied ourselves preparing for academic exams, athletic events, Saturday morning parades, and room inspections — or never — ending leadership classes—Bill quietly moved about the squadron mopping and buffing floors, emptying trash cans, cleaning toilets, or just tidying up the mess 100 college-age kids can leave in a dormitory.

Sadly, and for many years, few of us gave him much notice, rendering little more than a passing nod or throwing a curt, “G’morning!” in his direction as we hurried off to our daily duties. Why? Perhaps it was because of the way he did his job — he always kept the squadron area spotlessly clean, even the toilets and showers gleamed. Frankly, he did his job so well, none of us had to notice or get involved. After all, cleaning toilets was his job, not ours.

Maybe it was his physical appearance that made him disappear into the background. Bill didn’t move very quickly, and in fact, you could say he even shuffled a bit, as if he suffered from some sort of injury. His gray hair and wrinkled face made him appear ancient to a group of young cadets. And his crooked smile, well, it looked a little funny. Face it, Bill was an old man working in a young person’s world. What did he have to offer us on a personal level?

Maybe it was Mr. Crawford’s personality that rendered him almost invisible to the young people around him. Bill was shy, almost painfully so. He seldom spoke to a cadet unless they addressed him first, and that didn’t happen very often. Our janitor always buried himself in his work, moving about with stooped shoulders, a quiet gait, and an averted gaze. If he noticed the hustle and bustle of cadet life around him, it was hard to tell. For whatever reason, Bill blended into the woodwork and became just another fixture around the squadron. The Academy, one of our nation’s premier leadership laboratories, kept us busy from dawn till dusk. And Mr. Crawford… well, he was just a janitor.

That changed one fall Saturday afternoon in 1976. I was reading a book about World War II and the tough Allied ground campaign in Italy, when I stumbled across an incredible story.

On September 13, 1943, a Private William Crawford from Colorado, assigned to the 36th Infantry Division, had been involved in some bloody fighting on Hill 424 near Altavilla, Italy.

William Crawford's Medal of Honor Citation. William Crawford’s Medal of Honor Citation. The words on the page leapt out at me, “in the face of intense and overwhelming hostile fire… with no regard for personal safety… on his own initiative, Private Crawford single-handedly attacked fortified enemy positions.” It continued, “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, the President of the United States…”

“Holy cow,” I said to my roommate, “you’re not going to believe this, but I think our janitor is a Medal of Honor recipient.” We all knew Mr. Crawford was a World War II Army vet, but that didn’t keep my friend from looking at me as if I was some sort of alien being. Nonetheless, we couldn’t wait to ask Bill about the story.

We met Mr. Crawford bright and early Monday and showed him the page in question from the book, anticipation and doubt on our faces. He stared at it for a few silent moments and then quietly uttered something like, “Yep, that’s me.” Mouths agape, my roommate and I looked at one another, then at the book, and quickly back at our janitor. Almost at once, we both stuttered, “Why didn’t you ever tell us about it?” He slowly replied after some thought, “That was one day in my life and it happened a long time ago.” I guess we were all at a loss for words after that. We had to hurry off to class and Bill, well, he had chores to attend to.

After that brief exchange, things were never again the same around our squadron. Word spread like wildfire among the cadets that we had a hero in our midst — Mr. Crawford, our janitor, had been bestowed The Medal! Cadets who had once passed by Bill with hardly a glance, now greeted him with a smile and a respectful, “Good morning, Mr. Crawford.”

Those who had before left a mess for the “janitor” to clean up, started taking it upon themselves to put things in order. Cadets routinely stopped to talk to Bill throughout the day and we even began inviting him to our formal squadron functions. He’d show up dressed in a conservative dark suit and quietly talk to those who approached him, the only sign of his heroics being a simple blue, star-spangled lapel pin. Almost overnight, Bill went from being a simple fixture in our squadron to one of our teammates.

Mr. Crawford changed too, but you had to look closely to notice the difference. After that fall day in 1976, he seemed to move with more purpose, his shoulders didn’t seem to be as stooped, he met our greetings with a direct gaze and a stronger “good morning” in return, and he flashed his crooked smile more often. The squadron gleamed as always, but everyone now seemed to notice it more. Bill even got to know most of us by our first names, something that didn’t happen often at the Academy. While no one ever formally acknowledged the change, I think we became Bill’s cadets and his squadron.

As often happens in life, events sweep us away from those in our past. The last time I saw Bill was on graduation day in June 1977. As I walked out of the squadron for the last time, he shook my hand and simply said, “Good luck, young man.” With that, I embarked on a career that has been truly lucky and blessed.

Mr. Crawford continued to work at the Academy and eventually retired in his native Colorado, one of four Medal of Honor recipients who lived in the small town of Pueblo.

A wise person once said, “It’s not life that’s important, but those you meet along the way that make the difference.” Bill was one who made a difference for me. Bill Crawford, our janitor, taught me many valuable, unforgettable leadership lessons, and I think of him often.

Here are ten I’d like to share:

1.) Be Cautious of Labels. Labels you place on people may define your relationship to them and bind their potential. Sadly, and for a long time, we labeled Bill as just a janitor, but he was so much more. Therefore, be cautious of a leader who callously says, “Hey, he’s just an Airman.” Likewise, don’t tolerate the O-1, who says, “I can’t do that, I’m just a lieutenant.”

2.) 
Everyone Deserves Respect. Because we hung the “janitor” label on Mr. Crawford, we often wrongly treated him with less respect than others. He deserved much more, and not just because he was received the Medal of Honor. Bill deserved respect because he was a janitor, walked among us, and was a part of our team.

3.) 
Courtesy Makes a Difference. Be courteous to all around you, regardless of rank or position. Military customs, as well as common courtesies, help bond a team. When our daily words to Mr. Crawford turned from perfunctory “hellos” to heartfelt greetings, his demeanor and personality outwardly changed. It made a difference for all of us.

4.) Take Time to Know Your People. Life in the military is hectic, but that’s no excuse for not knowing the people you work for and with. For years a hero walked among us at the Academy and we never knew it. Who are the heroes that walk in your midst?

5.) 
Anyone Can Be a Hero. Mr. Crawford certainly didn’t fit anyone’s standard definition of a hero. Moreover, he was just a private on the day he earned his Medal. Don’t sell your people short, for any one of them may be the hero who rises to the occasion when duty calls. On the other hand, it’s easy to turn to your proven performers when the chips are down, but don’t ignore the rest of the team. Today’s rookie could and should be tomorrow’s superstar.

6.) Leaders Should Be Humble. Most modern day heroes, and some leaders, are anything but humble, especially if you calibrate your “hero meter” on today’s athletic fields. End zone celebrations and self-aggrandizement are what we’ve come to expect from sports greats. Not Mr. Crawford—he was too busy working to celebrate his past heroics. Leaders would be well served to do the same.

7.) 
Life Won’t Always Hand You What You Think You Deserve. We in the military work hard and, dang it, we deserve recognition, right? However, sometimes you just have to persevere, even when accolades don’t come your way. Perhaps you weren’t nominated for junior officer or airman of the quarter as you thought you should — don’t let that stop you. Don’t pursue glory; pursue excellence. Private Bill Crawford didn’t pursue glory — he did his duty and then swept floors for a living.

8.)  No Job is Beneath a Leader. If Bill Crawford, a Medal of Honor recipient, could clean latrines and smile, is there a job beneath your dignity? Think about it.

9.) 
Pursue Excellence. No matter what task life hands you, do it well. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “If life makes you a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be.” Mr. Crawford modeled that philosophy and helped make our dormitory area a home.

10.) Life is a Leadership Laboratory. All too often we look to some school or class to teach us about leadership when, in fact, life is a leadership laboratory. Those you meet everyday will teach you enduring lessons if you just take time to stop, look, and listen. I spent four years at the Air Force Academy, took dozens of classes, read hundreds of books, and met thousands of great people. I gleaned leadership skills from all of them, but one of the people I remember most is Mr. Bill Crawford and the lessons he unknowingly taught. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn.

Bill Crawford was a janitor. However, he was also a teacher, friend, role model, and one great American hero.

Thanks, Mr. Crawford, for some valuable leadership lessons.William Crawford poses with his statue in Pueblo, Colorado.William Crawford poses with his statue in Pueblo, Colorado.

“Semper Vercundus”

Private William John Crawford was a scout for 3rd Platoon, Company I, 142nd Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, fighting in Italy during World War II on September 13, 1943 — just four days after the invasion of Salerno.

Crawford was a hero, lauded by peers for his actions in combat but was missing in action and presumed dead. Army Major General Terry Allen presented Crawford’s Medal of Honor posthumously to his father, George, on May 11, 1944, at Camp (now Fort) Carson, near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

It was later learned that Crawford was alive and in a POW camp. He returned to the United States after 18 months in captivity.

Crawford retired from the Army after 23 years and went to work as a janitor at the U.S. Air Force Academy so that he could remain close to the military. Master Sergeant William J. Crawford passed away in 2000. He is buried on the grounds of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

More Intellectual Dishonesty at McKinney ISD

.Reading time 6 minutes.

About 50% of the $220 million Bond Program should be Operating & Maintenance funded, not funded with bonds. There is a reason they have structured the needs this way. And the reason adds to their consistent intellectual dishonesty I’ve already talked about a few blogs ago. It is bad and manipulative that MISD is bundling $200 million, including $50.3 million for a football stadium. Take it all or leave it all is their deal.

However, they are duping the taxpayers and deputizing the naive parents to help sell the whole package lest their children be held hostage for basic needs. Don’t buy it. They are including O&M items that should be paid out of the either the General Fund or a Repair & Replacement Fund set aside for known things that wear out. In fact, roof and HVAC lives can be predicted with a high amount of certainty.

There are $62.5 million in Comprehensive Upgrades. What are those? HVAC replacements, Roof Replacements, Plumbing & Electrical, Digital Marquees, Playing Service Replacements, and Equipment & Furniture Refresh. Why would MISD be selling 20-25 year bonds for things they know are going to wear out? Those items have been wearing out over the last few years. Why didn’t they spend $6.25 million for the last 10 years to take care of routine business? It would have been a drop in the bucket for their enormous budget?

There are $6.5 million for Security Cameras as well as Fire Panels & Fire Alarms. Those items could have fit into the previous category. But he oldest trick in the book is to put a little safety fear into your hearts. Oh, please! We are too intelligent for that kind of manipulation. That was a dead giveaway.

Then there is another $35 million for Technology. Much of that money is for student computers and related that by their very nature has a 4-7 year life.

I fully understand serial bonds. These bonds will be issued such that some mature in 1 year, 2 years … up to 20-25 years. But with such a huge load of O&M and small items, it is clear to me that there is a high likelihood of a mismatch between the bond payments and the useful life of the items purchased by the bonds. And that mismatch is a cardinal sin of debt financing.

My guess is that some of the other items listed under Additions and Renovations are really questionable as appropriate bond items. MISD gives us plenty of reasons to be suspicious.

MISD goes a step further in their carefully masterminded bond program pitch. They sprinkle every one of these O&M items to every single school. That gives the impression everybody gets something. Worse, you don’t get an defibrillator replaced in your kids’ school unless you vote for the football stadium. Check out the details at http://www.mckinneyisd.net.

But there is nothing I’ve said so far that even holds a candle to my last point. If you pay for O&M items out of the annual budget, it’s done. Keep it up properly and maintenance is slower to turn into repairs and repairs delay rehab and rehab delays replacement. And, as I’ve said, known replacement dates can be accurately calculated to set aside reserves to minimize debt.

But here’s the hidden part of debt. It’s not the interest paid. That is shown in debt schedules. However, the issuance of debt itself is not free. Not at all. The players that make that happen are: financial advisors, bond attorneys, underwriters, underwriters legal council, bond rating agencies, bank paying agents and more.

If there are $100 million of things being put into a bond issue that should have been paid out of an O&M budget, how much more money does that add to the issuance of debt? It can easily be 5-7% or $5-7 million. That exact number won’t be known until the bonds are sold. But an estimate can be made today, and the final amount will be very, very close.

Ask them. You should know the full story before you vote.

It makes sense to issue bonds for new schools, major additions and, yes, football stadiums for certain.

I’m not against the football stadium. If it were on a separate ballot and if MISD said in their promotional materials the cost is the tax rate equivalent of 4-cents, I’d vote for it.

But I don’t like all or none. And I don’t like blackmailing parents by adding in O&M so that every school gets a few crumbs, labeled as safety or critical needs, that have no business being part of long-term debt.

How a Board can either be so misled or, worse, complicit in this intellectual dishonesty is beyond me. LFM.

The Burglar Bar Issue That Got Overlooked

.Reading time 10 minutes.

It’s tragic. A person dies in a house fire because they couldn’t get out the window that had intractable burglar bars on it. The newspaper is all over it. I wait for this story to pop up someone in Texas ever so often, at least once every 5-10 years. I’ve written about an aspect of this story several times over the years.

The public is outraged. Elected officials go on high alert. Got to do something. And fast. Between the event and literally the next council meeting a good MPA student intern can research, find and adapt an ordinance from another city in days to meet the agenda deadline. Standard operating procedure – make it illegal to have intractable burglar bars. Require a permit. And inspect to make sure it is installed properly.

Done! Leadership in action. Conscience cleared. Maybe even an attaboy or attagirl from the public and press.

Hold on a second. You blew past the part that always concerns me. When budget time rolls around and there is a request for more inspectors to monitor and enforce the program created on a few pages of an ordinance, what is going to be the response from the governing body? The Tea Party will be there to say, OMG here comes some more bloated bureaucracy. You, reckless council, YOU must be ‘fer Big Gov-ment. What unpatriotic scum you are!

Why do public safety, public works and other staffers usually sit in attendance at council meetings even if they have nothing on the agenda? It is to watch out for well meaning initiatives to come from the elected body that is going to cost a ton of money and place a big workload on them. Oh, it is not the workload. It is the expectations that everything can be done without additional resources.

It is possible that they have worried about burglar bars way before it blew up in a newspaper story. Yes. They worry all the time about loss of life and property that could have been prevented. And themselves being thrown under the bus by the council or public wanting to find someone to blame. But they think it through. Who is going to pay for the purchase and installation of a higher quality, escape-capable set of burglar bars on, say 8-15 windows per house? When installed, how much time is it going to take to check that they work? Do you leave it at that or make sure that every house member knows how to use the release mechanisms?

And what about the ongoing monitoring? If this particular house in question had internal breakaway burglar bars installed 20 years ago, what would be their condition today? Rusty or weathered non-functioning burglar bars today would be the same as no burglar bars. Not to mention repairs required after an inspection means a re-inspection.

To just play with numbers, if the City of Dallas has a population of 1.3 million people at 3 per household, that would be 433,333 living units. Many of those are multi-family, but let’s just say there are only 2.5% with burglar bars. That would be over 10,000 potential units with burglar bars. Or 70,000 windows averaging 7 windows per unit. Pick your own numbers. I’m trying trying to push people to think through the practical realities of potentially huge workloads produced by few words in an ordinance.

At 2 minutes per window and an 1,800 hour work year for a standard employee, that would be just under 40 employees needed to do annual inspections. At a full-loaded cost of $50,000 per year, that’s a potential $2 million of new costs. Yes, I know. I could cut that in half by reducing the frequency of the inspections. I could also triple it if the real time spent is 6 minutes per window due to getting to the actual window to inspect, fighting off the pitbull in the backyard and dealing with a Tea Party property rights tenant or occupant who wants to shoot anybody not invited to stand on their front porch.

Argue with my numbers if you want, but please don’t miss my point. Was there any kind of fiscal analysis done? Or did a current council not want to know? Do-gooders love to spend money the next council has to raise. By the way, $2,000,000 of costs divided by 10,000 living units would be $200 per year. Anybody going to pay those levels of fees? Nope! Coming out of taxes.

Also, what is the administrative and billing mechanism that is going to be required to keep track of all this? Who is going to make anybody take out a permit or to go after somebody who didn’t pay? Take a look at unpaid traffic fines, ambulance billings and high-weed mowing liens! There is an entire cottage industry of lawyers we have created billing for things almost impossible to collect.

Not to mention the risk factor. Is there a potential lawsuit when the city requires a permit and an inspection – and then lets something slip through the cracks? Do you really think 10,000 houses with burglar bars are going to be added to a staff’s workload and nothing fall through the cracks? A few years go by, and a fire-related death is due to burglar bars that were not inspected – or at least a record can’t be found. Now get ready to write the really big check that comes out of the taxpayers’ pockets.

Here’s the deal. Call in key city officials and use the burglar bar example to set the stage for the meeting. And then ask this question: how many potentially similar “burglar bar” events do you think about every day that might occur once every year or two? They WILL eventually happen over a decade, perhaps. What keeps you awake at night? Where are we exposed and won’t realize it until the news media makes us look like uncaring, reckless city workers?

You will be disturbed by the answer. You will not rest well for many days. I promise.

Or another way to put this particular issue into perspective, how many burglar bar fire related deaths have there been for these 10,000 living units over the past decade? Things do happen. We have had 100-year floods three years in a row. There will be spikes in the crime rate that has little to do with anything the police department controls.

I fully understand the “value of just one life” issue. But even if the levels of government services were raised many rungs higher than exist now, would we be able to eliminate all deaths in all circumstances where they might be classified as “preventable?” Absolutely not.

I just get tired of the news media that go out of their way to stick the ugliest of the uglies in our faces and then don’t stand ready to support paying for the most effective and efficient ways those issues can be addressed. Governments can always improve at least a little in the way they provide services to do more with less – the mantra at just about every conference I have ever attended in my career. But there comes a time when you have to pay more to get more. Or agree that you are willing to do without and risk the consequences.

Or let me turn this around in a way we can discuss this as intelligently as possible. Spend not a penny more in total, but for every $million you add, decide where you are going to subtract a $million in services elsewhere. You. Meaning the news media. You. Meaning the Tea Party. You are a big talker with no skin in the game. LFM

 

Top Contenders For The Worst Jobs On Earth

.Reading time 10 minutes.

The headlines are screaming. “CPS workers didn’t check on endangered child but filed records showing they did.” “Did CPS troubles allow another child to die?” “More CPS bigwigs quit, Texas House Speaker vows to make protecting abused kids a top priority.”

I don’t know all of the details, and neither do you. But here is what I do know. When I became the first County Budget Officer in Texas in 1977, it was an eye-opener. Only 30, I had just under five years of city experience under my belt. While I was at Dallas County just under two years, I fell in love with county government. Not the dirty politics, although I was treated very well.

It was the services a county provides I appreciated. I considered them the ugly services in our society. Counties administer and carry out services on behalf of the state. They generally cannot do anything unless state law allows them to do so, unlike a Home Rule City that can do just about anything they want to do unless the law specifically says they can’t. When a person dies, cannot be identified or any family member found, who takes care of the pauper burials? That would be the county.

There were 77 elected officials at the time I was at Dallas County. I assembled most of the many judges at one point to talk about the budgeting process. Apparently they didn’t assemble often back in those days, and they were anxious to talk. Not to me, but to themselves. There was a burning topic that was worrying them since it was about to have a huge impact on their workload – other than my Zero-Base Budgeting forms. The law had been changed. One little word was scaring them: “Neglected.” Laws that dealt with abused children in the legal system had been changed to say “abused and neglected.”

This was my introduction into the world of battered and abandon children. However, I had a dinky little office at first. It was square under part of the old county jail several floors up. I heard no noise, but the prisoners had a knack for stopping up the commodes. I had to move when ceiling gave way one night. But for the several months I was in that first office, I was only a few feet from one of the family law courts. There were benches outside and the typical windows in the doors.

So I got to see the daily stream of families going before the judge. It was usually a tragic picture. I didn’t dwell on it, and I don’t recall ever sitting in to listen to the hearings. I do remember sobbing coming from people on the benches outside.

Everybody pretty much understands the justice system as people are arrested and put in jail. It is also fairly easy to appreciate the actual court system where either the judge or a jury decides someone’s innocence or guilt. Even many of the aspects of the incarceration function get highlighted in Hollywood fashion.

But there is a core group of people who have the least glamorous jobs on earth. The mentally ill have to be treated and cared for. The parole officers have to keep up with those out of prison knowing that with the high recidivism rates they are likely to spend months or years monitoring people only to have them cycle right back though jail, courts and then prison before coming full circle back to the parole office.

The toughest job of them all, to me, is the Child Protective Services. They are the ones who have to respond to a police call or a judge’s order and confront the mother and take their child out of maternal arms and into a foster care system. Ugly, ugly, ugly. CPS folks have a high calling. You simply couldn’t desire their job for any kind of glory or reward many of us seek in a job.

And then comes the insult. Generally CPS folks and others like them in the state and county service system are paid nowhere close to their worth. We fret over teacher pay inequities. But nobody gives a damn about CPS workers. Most of us have never seen a CPS worker or a parole officer. Yet the pay isn’t the toughest hand dealt to the CPS worker. It’s the never-ending workload. And then cap it off with a lack of respect.

When I told the story about Gennie Egans a few blogs ago, there was something I didn’t share. The defense lawyer tried to blame the fire department, the medical examiner and police department for having mishandled some aspect of that episode. But he went out of his way to try to make the CPS workers the crown of the evil empire. When the accused mother had to turn over her other children to CPS workers, he portrayed the undoubtedly horrible scene like it was the fault of uncaring CPS workers. I didn’t understand why he did this until I got in the jury room.

The jurors were truly some of the most decent people in the world. Many didn’t want to believe a mother could kill her child. But two or three of these level-headed people let it be known they had no love for the CPS. They had seen or heard of experiences with family members. Never mind that the jurors left out the story as to why there was a CPS investigation in their family or neighborhood. They wanted to dwell on the separation scene or on the prodding of the CPS worker to look inside the house or to talk to the child.

Fortunately, the jurors were able to look beyond that particular bias. But the disdain for CPS workers and the words of the defense attorney haunted them temporarily and could have changed the outcome of the trial.

But here is the irony. Everybody in the state and county system knows that CPS workers are overworked. It would be nice if they only had to deal with a family once, but many of their calls are to families who are known from the multiple instances. But just exactly what would you do when repeaters are added to the otherwise growing population? Can you appreciate what happens when a law changes and the system not only has the authority but the obligation to deal with a “neglected” child in addition to a legally defined “abused” child?

And then the tragedy of a child’s death puts the issue on the front page. Heads Up! Mr. Speaker of the House. In what other world do you live in where you give workers a charge so significant, so massive in weight and then not give them the best supervision – and the damn resources to do the job effectively? How disingenuous to act like you care now that something has blown up in your face. Where were you and your predecessors and all 131 in the State House and Senate as CPS workers and many in the ugly services have been doing their jobs as best they can on the thin resources you give them? No brass building plaques or ribbon cutting photo ops, huh? Get into the trenches first and help!

I’m glad you are going to make child abuse a priority, Mr. Speaker. I would be more impressed if you had taken the initiative before you were forced to do so to save face.

BTW, did you even know that at one time our country had no child abuse laws. When they finally got around to writing some laws for the first time in New York, do you know where they turned to find a framework? They had to turn to animal abuse laws on the books! We worried about child abuse after we worried about animals.

Those in state and county “ugly” services should get more respect than they do. LFM

 

The Stain of Collin County & The News Story That Hasn’t Happened Yet

.Reading time 25 minutes.

I am to blame. I selected the straight ticket option that helped put Ken Paxton into office. Never again.

But I’m not the only one to blame.

The Republicans and the Tea Party wing are remaining strangely silent. I can’t find a recent story where either of these parties are encouraging AG Ken Paxton to resign. Even stranger, I can’t find anything showing that either party is still supporting Paxton.

I know. I know. Wait and see. Let the legal system play out.

But here’s the deal. To me this is not a legal issue. In yesterday’s blog, the legal documents do what has to be done for a jury. They reveal the character of Ken Paxton. Discount big chunks of the legal claims and you still have a money-hungry bad guy willing to throw his clients, associates and friends under the bus so he can gain financially.

So would those powerful supporters of Ken Paxton when he ran for the Senate in 2012, and presumably for Attorney General in 2014, still vote for him today? I say “presumably” because the list I once saw on Ken Paxton’s political Web site when he was running for AG seem to have disappeared.

Where is that news story? In a secret ballot, would the people on the lists below give Paxton a thumbs up or down today? Either way, it would be revealing. Not about Paxton. His character has already been revealed. It would reveal a lot about the character of the movers and shakers below.

By the way, I know some of these people in the first list are not in office now. But most still carry some influence. Not all. But most.

If you on the lists are privately lending your support to AG Ken Paxton yet still remaining silent, why aren’t you speaking up? I have the same question if you are privately telling him to resign. However, I can’t help but wonder why Paxton would know you want him to resign and is resisting the call? I think you are hiding. I am guessing it is your silence he is translating into support.

You allowed him to use your name in these political advertisements. Would you let him use your influence today? Do something! Get public one way or another. Silence, in this case, means you’ve got your arms wrapped around this guy, and he has you wrapped around his finger. The Republicans, the Tea Party and Ken Paxton are now the laughing stock of the state. Heck, even the country. And you are, too.

Or maybe you are one of the three mystery investors that seems to have lost $840,000, along with the two that have revealed themselves, and have decided to eat your loss instead of going public to expose Paxton’s misdeeds. And your blind ignorance.

Attention Shallow News Media: here’s your big story! Awake from your slumber. LFM

Mayor and City Council Endorsements

 
 
Allen
Mayor Steve Terrell
Mayor Pro-Tem Debbie Stout
Council Member Ross Obermeyer
Council Member Gary Caplinger
Council Member Robin Sedlacek
Council Member Joey Herald
Richardson
 
Mayor Pro-Tem Laura Maczka
Council Member Mark Solomon
Council Member Scott Dunn
Council Member Steve Mitchell
Council Member Amir Omar
Frisco
Mayor Pro-Tem Pat Fallon
Council Member Scott Johnson
Council Member Bob Allen
Council Member Jeff Cheney
Council Member John Keating
Council Member Tim Nelson
Fairview
Mayor Pro-Tem Ron Kasian
Council Member Jim Cunningham
Council Member Carolyn Erickson
Council Member Henry Lessner
Council Member Mary Price
Council Member Darion Culbertson
McKinney
Mayor Brian Loughmiller
Mayor Pro-Tem Travis Ussery
Council Member Don Day
Council Member Ray Ricchi
Council Member Roger Harris
Council Member David Brooks
Parker
 
Mayor Pro-Tem Z Marshall
Council Member David Leamy
Council Member Scott Levine
Council Member Eleanor Evans
Murphy
Mayor Bret Baldwin
Council Member John Daugherty
Council Member Bernard Grant
Council Member Dave Brandon
Lucas
Mayor Rebecca Mark
Mayor Pro-Tem Kathleen Peele
Council Member Wayne Millsap
Council Member Philip Lawrence
Council Member Debbie Fisher
Sachse
Mayor Mike Felix
Mayor Pro-Tem Charles Smith
Council Member Jared Patterson
Council Member Bill Adams
Wylie
Mayor Eric Hogue
Mayor Pro-Tem Red Byboth
Council Member David Goss
Council Member Bennie Jones
Council Member Diane Culver

Paxton for Texas State Senate Endorsements
(Partial list at time of printing)

 

Hon. Bob & Teresa Allen, Frisco
Hon. Jeff & Dana Cheney, Frisco
Hon. Bob & Claude Ann Collins, Farmersville
Hon. Don & Linda Day, McKinney
Hon. Mac Hendricks, McKinney
Hon. Corbett and Sue Howard, Celina
Hon. Joe & Shelley Jaynes, McKinney
Hon. Scott & Julia Johnson, Frisco
Hon. John Keating, Frisco
Bob & Hon. Jodie Laubenberg, Parker
Hon. Brian & Donna Loughmiller, McKinney
Hon. Tim & Candice Nelson, Frisco
Hon. David & Nanci Prince, Frisco
Hon. Keith & Tracy Self, McKinney
Hon. Stan & Carol Sewell, Plano
Hon. Shep & JoeAnn Stahel, Plano
Hon. Steve & Sally Terrell, Allen

Frank & Susan Abbott, Frisco
Gail Abbott, Frisco
Lance & Sarah Abbott, McKinney
Dr. Homer & Cathie Adams, Dallas
Dave & Mary Kaye Adams, Dallas
Mike & Colleen Adams, McKinney
Audi Adkins, Frisco
Sharron Albertson, Plano
Cathie Stanford Alexander, Plano
Anita Allen, McKinney
Anne Allen, Plano
Richard & Lucy Allen, Allen
Rich & Drew Allen, Prosper
Jay & Jenny Allison, Frisco
Carlos & Cindy Amaral, Plano
Jacqueline Amos, McKinney
Rebecca Anderson, Frisco
Josh & Bri Andor, McKinney
Chris & Jill Apple, Plano
Shelley Ard, Plano
Phil & Annette Armstrong, Plano
David & JoAnna Arnold, McKinney
Jud & Kristen Arrington, Allen
Rona Zafari Ata, Allen
Blair Baker, Dallas
Brett Baldwin, Plano
Jeanet Ball, Plano
Len & Connie Bara, Plano
Mike & Keely Barbour, McKinney
Bourdon & Melanie Barfield, Fairview
Doug & Traci Barnes, McKinney
Doug & Jodi Bartek, Frisco
Scott & Donna Bashrum, Frisco
Rob Bass, Frisco
David & Helen Batson, Lucas
Heather Batson, Lucas
Troy & Lynda Batson, McKinney
Jason Baxley, Plano
Stan & Pam Baxter, Frisco
Larry & Cheryl Beck, McKinney
Mike Beck, Plano
Mike & Karen Beeson, Plano
Mrs. William E. Bell, Dallas
Dan & Judy Bellue, Frisco
Erin Bellue, Frisco
Brian & Dee Dee Benjamin, Frisco
Janice Berg, Frisco
Michael & Amy Biavati, Dallas
Randall & Renee Bingham, Frisco
Bob & Deb Blencowe, Princeton
Marion Bond, Frisco
Rick & Shirley Booze, Plano
Jennifer Borchardt, Garland
Bob & Erin Botsford, Garland
James & Freida Boyle, Plano
Brian & AnMarie Bozick, McKinney
Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Bradshaw, Plano
Bob & Flora Brands, Fairview
Paul & Ruby Brands, McKinney
Lt. Col. (Ret.) & Mrs. Paul Brands, McKinney
Kevin & Judy Brannon, Allen
Brad & Leanne Brenneman, Frisco
Dr. Brett & Lynne Bridgeman, Plano
Jim Bright, Plano
David & Mendy Bristol, Prosper
Lee Brock, McKinney
Mike & Teresa Bronsky, Plano
Linda Broom, Allen
Richard & Joann Brown, McKinney
Chad Brubaker, Frisco
D. Forrest & Kay Lynn Brumbaugh, Dallas
Jay & Ellen Bruner, Plano
Mike & Joanie Buster, Prosper
Steve Buttry, Plano
Ken Byler, Allen
Eddie & Paula Caldwell, Plano
Kristina Campbell, Richardson
Bruce Carlin, Frisco
Al & Dorothy Carnes, Plano
Dr. & Mrs. Thornton C. Carpenter, Addison
Bruce W. Carr, McKinney
Lisa Carter, McKinney
Roger & Debbie Casey, Allen
Thomas & Nancy Chalin, Frisco
Suzanne & Gene Chapman, Plano
Tim & Kay Chastain, Allen
William Cherry, Richardson
Kay T. Chitty, Allen
Mike & Kathy Chrasta, Wylie
David & Zodie Christakos, Allen
Charles & Cindy Christian, Richardson
Rudy & Patti Churner, McKinney
Bob & Debby Clark, Frisco
Brad & Lisa Clark, Plano
Mark & Sandra Clark, Frisco
Jenny Clark, McKinney
Chris Clements, Frisco
Darrell & Stephanie Cline, Allen
Jonathon Cline, Allen
Tracey & Larry Cline, Allen
Michael Cline, Allen
Mark & Samantha Cobb, McKinney
Carlos & Minal Codero, Frisco
Q Coleman, Plano
Patrick & Elizabeth Collins, Frisco
Phil & Barbara Collins, Plano
Clint & Marie Cook, Plano
Brad Cooke, Plano
Doug & Denise Cooke, Plano
Brittaney Cordon, Plano
Ric & Celeste Cordon, Plano
Chris & Sara Cowman, Frisco
Chad & Cheryl Crawford, Frisco
John & Jennifer Creech, Allen
Randy & Jennifer Creech, Frisco
Bill & Betty Crenshaw, Allen
Sean & Tara Cross, Murphy
George & Angela Crumley, Allen
Tait & Joy Cruse, Frisco
Tim & Rae Curren, McKinney
Dana Dahlen, Plano
Amy Dankel, McKinney
Roger Dankel, McKinney
Darrell Day, Richardson
Steve Day, Plano
Dr. Brad & Shan Dean, Frisco
Glenn & Mary Dean, Dallas
Dr. Octavio De La Pena, Frisco
John DeMattia, Richardson
Brady Dennis, Frisco
Philip & Diedra Dennis, Allen
Todd & Penna Dexter, Plano
Bill Dierion, Frisco
Mark & Judy Dorsett, Frisco
Dorothy Douglas, Allen
Richard Dover, Frisco
Joe Dowell, McKinney
Mary Ann Dowell, McKinney
Todd & Tina Dreger, Frisco
Kent & Angie Driskill, McKinney
Brice & Diane Drogosch, Allen
Ron Dubner, Plano
Steve & Tammy Duke, Lucas
Ed Dunkle, Plano
Howard Durfee, McKinney
Dillon & Amy Durham, McKinney
Bill & Pam Dyer, Frisco
Linda Easton, Dallas
Dorinda Eaton, Allen
Ray Eckenrode, McKinney
Fred & Emily Edwards, Frisco
Greg & Cynthia Ellington, Plano
Johnson & Beth Ellis, Plano
Bill & Sarabel Epperson, Dallas
Scott & Dana Epperson, Plano
Robert Epstein, Dallas
Steve & Colleen Epstein, Plano
David & Elaine Erinakes, Murphy
Kirk & Tonya Estes, Plano
Gerald & Linda Etheridge, Wylie
Brent Everett, Plano
Jim & Kris Falvo, McKinney
Mike & Cindy Fannin, Frisco
Belinda Fantin, Plano
Jim & Karen Farley, Plano
Sharon Feagin, Fairview
Bill Feath, McKinney
Mike & Laura Fechner, Dallas
Sarah & Chuck Fink, Allen
Jeff & Mary Carl Finkelstein, Plano
Noel & Nancy Fischer, Allen
Joy & Paul Flavil, McKinney
Brian Fletcher, Frisco
Bill & Hope Fobes, Plano
Steve & Jamie Fort, Frisco
Dan & Karren Fortney, Plano
R.D. Foster, McKinney
Trina Foster, McKinney
Rick & Tanya Franklin, McKinney
Chris & Stacey Frantz, Carrollton
Lisa Freeman, Plano
Liesl Friesenhahn, McKinney
Sam & Elaine Fritcher, Plano
George & Maylee Fuller, McKinney
Scott & Windy Gallagher, McKinney
Brian Gallimore, Allen
Kyle & Shawn Gant, Melissa
Dale Gasser, McKinney
Alex Gelb, Plano
Beth Gibson, Plano
Stacy Gibson, Plano
Darrin & Kristin Gile, Frisco
Anthony & Bonny Glenn, McKinney
David & Ana Gomez, Allen
Kathy Letchworth Gonzales, Fairview
Clyde Goodnight, Plano
Monty & Laura Goodwyn, McKinney
Lt. Col & Mrs. Paul Gosnell, Frisco
Karen Gravley, Allen
Mike & Pam Grayson, Plano
Pat Greer, Plano
David & Judy Griffin, Plano
Ken & Tara Griffin, Plano
Dr. & Mrs. Chad Guetersloh, Prosper
Dennis & Ruth Guten, Richardson
Bruce Guthman, Frisco
Darlene Hagen, Plano
Brent Hagenbuch, Dallas
Joni Halpin, Allen
David Hamilton, Frisco
Jeff & Jenny Hamlett, McKinney
Rhonda & Mark Hamlett, Richardson
John & Tracy Hancock, Allen
Jenny Hankinson, Dallas
Sandy Harman, McKinney
Dr. Chris & Melanie Harmon, Frisco
David & Cindy Harper, Dallas
Kelly Harper, Frisco
Dr. Herman & Barbara Harrison, Plano
Brent & Sophia Harvey, Plano
James & Kelly Hayes, McKinney
Fred & Kathy Hebert, McKinney
Kendall Helfenbrein, Richardson
Jim & Dana Herblin, Prosper
Chris & Laura Hill, McKinney
Ron & Jan Hirsch, Plano
Mrs. Christine Hogan, Dallas
John “Doc” Holladay, USMC, Ret., Plano
Randy & Fran Hollingsworth, Plano
Peter & Marla Horn, Frisco
Kevin Housh, McKinney
Adam & Amy Housley, McKinney
Linda Howard, Frisco
Mark & Sandy Huffaker, Sachse
Phillip Huffines, Plano
Ray & Ann Huffines, Plano
Kerry & Pam Huffman, Frisco
Gary & Karen Hughes, Westminster
Cdr. (Ret) & Mrs. Jeff Hunt, Frisco
Cindy Hyltin, Plano
Jennifer Ingram, McKinney
Shawn Ingram, McKinney
Craig & Marilyn James, Celina
Evan Janc, McKinney
Luke Janc McKinney
Mike & Kelli Janc, McKinney
Anna H. Janis, Plano
Ron & Linda Jenkins, McKinney
Joe & Kim Jibrail, Plano
Bob & Barbara Johnson, Plano
Bob & Sheila Johnson, McKinney
Cindy Johnson, McKinney
Lauren Johnson, McKinney
Ron Johnson, McKinney
John Jones, Anna
Bill & Mary Jane Journey, Prosper
Dr. Sheffield & Shanna Kadane, Frisco
Brendan & Kasja Keane, Allen
Denny & Sandy Keelan, Richardson
John & Colleen Keene, Plano
Mike & Keara Keith, Allen
Ron Kelley, Plano
Paxton & Pam Kelso, Frisco
Colin & Susan Kimball, McKinney
Ray & Jackie King, Plano
Mike Kinsey, Allen
Wayne Kirk, Plano
Kris & Wendy Kizer, McKinney
Meredith Knox, Allen
Joan Konkel, Plano
Nicole Krasa, Frisco
Leslie Kreatschman, Frisco
Erik & Shane Krotz, Anna
Chuck Kuykendall, McKinney
Gary & Sue Kuzman, Plano
Bob & Jena Lamse, Plano
David Leopard, Richardson
Henry & Nancy Lessner, Fairview
Jeanice Barton Lewis, McKinney
Judy Lewis, Plano
Keet & Margaret Lewis, Dallas
Rick & Stacy Lewis, McKinney
Lance & Alysia Lindsay, McKinney
Tommy & Darrellene Lindsey, Plano
Jon & Gina Lineberger, Frisco
Cheryl Littrell, Murphy
Esau & Abby Liu, Plano
Mike & Kim Loftus, Allen
Charles Loper, Frisco
Chip & Nicki Loper, Frisco
Mark & Robin Lowe, Plano
Chris & Leslie Luce, Plano
Diana Lund, Allen
Laura Lutek, Allen
Trent Lutek, Allen
Mike & Leigh Anne Maack, Plano
C.G. Maclin, Frisco
Jim & Julie MacManus, McKinney
Nancy Madson, Allen
David & Carolyn Magee, Allen
Jim & Carol Maguire, Plano
Mary P. & Peter Maguire, Fairview
Aaron & Jennifer Manley, Frisco
Rosanne Manner, Plano
Bill & Tamara Mapp, Plano
Bob & Jo Raye Masengill, Plano
Jim & Kimberly Mask, McKinney
Mark & Dianne Massei, McKinney
Carroll Maxwell, McKinney
Sharron Mayer, Allen
Tom & Margie McCabe, Frisco
Alice McCaulley, McKinney
Curt & Beth McClellan, Allen
Steve & Deena McCool, Plano
Walter & Kristi McElheney, Frisco
William McElheney, Frisco
Beth McGuire, McKinney
Mike & Janean McLaughlin, Lucas
Aaron McMahon, McKinney
Mark & Wendy McMillon, Plano
Denise & Tim McNamara, Dallas
Linda McNeff, McKinney
Glendy Valdez-Medcalf & Jack Medcalf, Frisco
Steve Melton, Frisco
Brad Merkle, McKinney
Josephine Merkle, McKinney
Mark Mersman, Plano
Phil & Myra Migicovsky, Dallas
Dr. Ed & Susan Miles, McKinney
Bill & Sheryl Mills, Fairview
Doug Mills, Fairview
Chuck Molyneaux & Cindy Meyer, Parker
Joe Minchillo, Plano
Crystal & Randy Monson, Allen
Geoff & Jill Moore, Allen
Joel & Suzanne Moore, Dallas
Stefani Moreland, McKinney
Kathy Morgan, Frisco
Steve Morgan, M.D., Allen
Steve Morris, McKinney
John & Donna Mow, Frisco
Fritz & Christi Mowery, McKinney
Bernadette Mussell, Fairview
Danny & Elizabeth Muzyka, Plano
Greg & Ann Myer, Plano
John & Patty Myers, Plano
Nathan Nash, Plano
Fred Nasseri, Plano
Robert & Candy Noble, Plano
Lynn Nored, McKinney
David & Amy Norton, Plano
Steve & Kim Norton, McKinney
Mark & Diane Nusbaum, Prosper
Nicholas & Melissa Nuspl, Allen
Kevin & Tricia Olson, Allen
Mike Openshaw, Plano
Bill & Carol Orender, Frisco
Jim & Elaine Orr, Celina
Frank O’Reilly, Fairview
Judy Overall, McKinney
Gary & Cathi Page, Allen
Dan & Tricia Panetti, Plano
Katherine Park, Plano
Jim Parrish, McKinney
Suzanne Parten, Allen
Lee & Kelly Passmore, Frisco
Don & Linda Pate, Allen
Ron & Jennifer Patterson, Frisco
Dr. Carey Patrick, Fairview
Faye Perdew, Fairview
Richard & Toni Perdue, Frisco
Lee & Shawnette Petrey, Sachse
Mike & Dawn Petrik, Fairview
John J. Pfister, Jr., Frisco
Dennis & Kay Pharr, McKinney
Oleta Phillips, Plano
David Pitstick, McKinney
Bill & Carolyn Pittenger, Frisco
Ron & Cindy Pittman, Fairview
Brandon & Jennifer Pogue, McKinney
Judy Pogue, McKinney
John & Lisa Primrose, Allen
Stephanie Pudik, McKinney
Michael & Sue Puhl, McKinney
Randy & Julie Pyle, Plano
Juan & Ashlea Quinonez
Dr. Suresh Radhakrishnan & Uma Suresh, McKinney
Curtis & Tracy Rath, McKinney
Trenton Rath, McKinney
Alex & Tina Rasor, McKinney
John & Gabriele Recker, Murphy
David & Holly Reed, Frisco
Dave & Renee Reese, Allen
Doug Reeves, Plano
Mark & Janis Reid, Plano
Mike & Leslie Renfro, Allen
Justin & Karla Reyes, McKinney
Carolyn Riccomi, Richardson
Wayne & Susan Richard, Plano
J.R. & Keresa Richardson, McKinney
Ty & Sharon Richardson, Frisco
Robert & Lana Richardson, Frisco
Rob & Karen Riding, McKinney
Mrs. Nan Riederer, McKinney
Dustin & Elizabeth Rimes, Celina
Andy & Amie Rittler, McKinney
Rick & Brenda Rizos, Lucas
Doug Roberts, Plano
Mike & Amy Robison, Frisco
Bob & Terri Ann Rogers, Plano
Tom & Mona Roise, McKinney
Mark Rollins, Fort Worth
Dale & Gerry Rose, McKinney
Marie B. Rosenbaum, Plano
Daniel Rudd, Plano
Derek & Amy Rude, McKinney
Cris Rude, McKinney
Kirsten Rude, McKinney
John & Kelley Rutledge, Frisco
Lisa Luby Ryan, Dallas
William Sampson, Frisco
Terry Sanchez Wade, Plano
Vinny & Emily Santanelli, Wylie
Hiram Sasser, McKinney
Karen Schalles, Frisco
Dennis G. & Patsy A. Scharp, Frisco
Ron Schoof, Plano
Chris & Mona Schultz, Plano
Andrew Scriven, Plano
John & Kathy Scriven, Plano
Maria Scriven, Addison
Steve Scriven, Plano
Patrick & Kristina Selakovich, Plano
Ken & Joan Self, Allen
Steve & Vickie Senior, Plano
Kelly & Karen Shackelford, Allen
Steve Shelley, McKinney
Wendy Shelley, McKinney
Tom & Jen Sherman, Plano
Mike & Lola Shoemake, Allen
Dave Siciliano, Dallas
Steve & Azadeh Sickman, Plano
Barbara Singleton, Plano
Beth Shumate, McKinney
Ed & Kimberly Silva, McKinney
Jared & Jennifer Smith, McKinney
Royce & Jeanine Smith, Farmersville
Steve Smith, Plano
Tom Smith, Frisco
JoAnn Snodgrass, Allen
Brian & Cathy Snow, Frisco
Marcia Snyder, Plano
Mark & April Solomon, Frisco
Dr. Rod & Kristi Sosa, Frisco
Ann Sowieja, Plano
Steve & Melissa Spence, Allen
Carla R. Springer, Allen
David & Sandra St. Martin, Frisco
Ron & Alicia Staes, Fairview
Charles & Jane Stephenson, Plano
Mark Stuertz, Dallas
Jeff & Leslie Swan, McKinney
Rajiv Suresh, McKinney
Judy Taylor, McKinney
Rene Taylor, Allen
Robbie & Kelly Taylor, McKinney
Joe & Leanne Thomasson, Frisco
Chris Thompkin, Dallas
Chris & Sheacy Thompson, Frisco
Greg & Pam Thorn, Plano
Tom & Sondra Thorne, Allen
Bill Thrailkill, Plano
Tim & May Tolson, McKinney
Don & Patsy Totusek, Richardson
Daniel & April Townsley, Richardson
Cliff & Ramona Traverse, Plano
Tim & Courtney Trylovich, Plano
James & Angela Tucker, McKinney
Paul & Terri Turner, Allen
Kevin Turner, Frisco
Lisa Turner, Frisco
Juan & Jennifer Velez, Richardson
Cindy Vella, Wylie
Fred & Amy Villa, Plano
Jessica Vittorio, Frisco
Tony & Kim Vitz, McKinney
Jan Vogt, Dallas
Tod & Candace Vogt, Plano
Karl & Kathy Voigtsberger, Richardson
Lawrence Wainer, Dallas
Gregg & Jane Watling, Allen
Vicky Webster, McKinney
Eric Weinkam, Frisco
Rod & Bonnie Wells, Richardson
Jim West, Plano
Betty Westbrook, Allen
Kurt Westenhoefer, Sachse
Phil Wheat, McKinney
Taylor & Shannon White, Frisco
David & Patti Whitehurst, Addison
Paul & Sue Whitesell, Plano
Beverly Whittington, Richardson
Jim Wiederhold, Dallas
Mark & Jennifer Wiggins, Plano
Ben Williams, Richardson
Bob & Carol Williams, Richardson
Jim & Nedra Williams, Frisco
Laura Williams, Frisco
Paul O. Williams, Frisco
Phillip & Mari Williams, Allen
Don & Sue Wills, Dallas
Michael & Karen Willis, Frisco
Fran Wilson, McKinney
Monty & Karen Wilson, Frisco
Janell Wimberly, Plano
Robert & Meredith Winninghan, Allen
Ed Wohead, Allen
Randall Woodman, Allen
Mark Yablon, McKinney
Jay & Kiley Young, Frisco
Eric & Katina Zepp, McKinney

A Secret McKinney Investment Club Dons Their Hazardous Material Suits

.Reading time 9 minutes.

That which has been seen cannot be unseen. That phrase is usually used when talking about porn or a murder scene. I have an image in my head I cannot remove. It involves AG Ken Paxton. But first we must learn a new word for many of us. The word is “disgorge.” The word means to vomit, spew out, expel, spit … you get the image. In the legal world it also means to yield, to surrender. I’m thinking about the pie-eating contest in Stephen King’s Stand By Me!

How does this relate to AG Paxton? Let’s explore the latest SEC charge that includes 111 points. It lays out the events of some bad actors and how they were intertwined. Bill Mapp is one of them, and is pretty much described as a snake oil salesman. Mapp is the head guy at Servergy, a company that received $150,000 in rent subsidy from the McKinney EDC, and for which the City got nothing in return. If you were to go to the Servergy offices, which I did, and turn too quickly, you walk directly into the MEDC/MCDC offices next door.

But this story starts in 2011 with a meeting between Bill Mapp and Ken Paxton in the then- state representative’s McKinney law office. Why would a snake oil salesman even approach Paxton to help find investors’ money for a tech company? My guess is it would have to be due to Mr. Paxton’s reputation for being in the investor promotion business. Perhaps it was also due to an “investment club” of which Paxton was a member. An offer is made to Paxton to promote the company and to raise money. Paxton likes the opportunity and says “I will get to work.”

The work involves Paxton organizing and inviting seven prospective investors to Servergy’s offices for an investment pitch. Paxton was there and also introduced Mapp to five additional prospects by telephone or email that same day. So, now we have twelve recruits. Among the people Paxton recruited were his friends, business associates, law firm clients and members of an investment group to which Paxton belonged. None were told that Paxton was doing this for a commission.

Paxton is a lawyer, the profession that invented the words and concept of “due diligence.” Prospective investors were told by Paxton that he had met with Servergy’s management and determined that it was a great company. However, he apparently didn’t inquire too deeply to even see their manufacturing plant or if it even existed. He didn’t ask anybody he knew about the “advanced” servers being of 32-bit technology instead of the 64-bit standard the industry had already moved to.

Another state representative (Investor 1) was apparently part of the investment group. The way the investment group worked, the members trusted each other to consider the interests of the group as a whole and not exploit one another for personal benefit. Also, if a member recommended an investment, it was understood that the person carried the responsibility to monitor the investment going forward. As time passed, Servergy’s claims were not coming to fruition, and Investor 1 grew worried about his investment.

So Paxton gets Investor 1 an audience with Bill Mapp. So the snake oil salesman becomes a snake charmer. The SEC documents actually say Mapp “lulled” Investor 1 with false claims Servergy was flush with with purchase orders. The cobra head is swaying, and the eyes are getting very sleepy. You would think that at this point Paxton would have heeded the red flag and started asking his own questions. He didn’t. Also, Investor 1 had no clue that Paxton was getting paid to promote the company and raise money.

Investor 2 was another investor of Paxton’s investment group. In this case, Paxton used pressure tactics to persuade Investor 2 to make a hasty decision to invest in Servergy. Investor 2 was not intending to invest in Servergy and had a travel related conflict that prevented him from making the investment decision deadline.

Now get this: Paxton without any technical or market knowledge calls Investor 2 late in the night persuading the person to change his mind, hyping the opportunity, and claiming the great opportunity was going to double in price if he did not decide in 8 days. So Investor 2, not knowing that Paxton was earning a commission, forks over $150,000!

Paxton kept on soliciting investors. He forwarded Mapp’s promotional materials, including claims from Mapp that Servergy’s technology was third-party tested and validated by a world class testing lab and that there was an 80% savings in power, cooling and space costs. Paxton did nothing to determine if Mapp’s claims were true.

How much money did Paxton raise? By the deadline, five of the twelve prospective investors became real investors. The kind that write checks for $840,000. For Paxton’s successful efforts, Servergy issued a stock certificate for 100,000 shares of stock. For the 2011 tax year, Servergy issued a 1099 to Paxton for $100,000.

Did Paxton ever put any of his own money into Servergy. Hold on, that’s another gem in the story. Mapp and Paxton meet at the “City Club” of McKinney where all big deals are brokered: the Dairy Queen. According to Paxton, he went to the meeting intending to invest $100,000 of his own money into Servergy. But the SEC documents record that Mapp refused Paxton’s money. Then comes a classic line, one that Hollywood might write: “I can’t take your money. God doesn’t want me to take your money.”

Brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?

But wait a minute. There were five investors that coughed up the $840,000. Only two apparently came forward to claim damages. Who are the other three members of the investment group? Why would anybody put up that kind of money, learn it was all a sham, and then not go for Paxton’s jugular? These must be really good friends of Paxton’s. With plenty of money. Enough that $150,000 is chump change. Or maybe they have been in or are now in other deals with Paxton.

Who is Investor 3, Investor 4 and Investor 5? That has got to be a better story than the one in this blog. The first two have actually been named in other news stories. I think the other three are in hiding and praying their fraternity doesn’t get into the public spotlight. This is penny-ante poker for the McKinney Underground doing real estate deals.

Okay, after 111 points were made, the SEC gets to the relief they are seeking. This is where we need to glove up and bring in the hazardous material clothing. Maybe a fire truck to help with the wash down.

The SEC is ordering Mapp and Paxton to disgorge any ill-gotten gains or unjust enrichment realized resulting from the conducted alleged in the Complaint.

It will be an epic scene. LFM

 

Please, Please Advise AG Ken Paxton To Resign!

.Reading time 8 minutes.

I woke up early to learn that the Waco Tribune had beat me to the punch on my intended topic for this blog. In fact, they quoted verbatim a few lines my best friend in Houston sent to me yesterday. However, I will add some thoughts at the end.

EDITORIAL: Many of us are complicit in scandal fast engulfing state attorney general

Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 12:01 am | Updated: 1:02 am, Tue Apr 12, 2016.
Waco Tribune

If Texas Republicans are to lay claim to values such as public integrity and good governance amid changing political demographics, they best deal with the ethical problems mounting around State Attorney General Ken Paxton. Of course, if Paxton truly cared about his political party, his state and the fleeting prestige of his office, he would resign and save taxpayers a bundle of money in legal costs and any further embarrassment.

Just Monday the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission added to Paxton’s swelling legal problems by charging civil securities fraud for his business sideline back in the Texas Legislature — encouraging people to buy stock in Servergy Inc., a North Texas tech company, without revealing he was being compensated by that company. He already faces criminal charges for the same business dealings, a violation of Texas law.

Among the people the McKinney Republican reportedly serenaded were friends, business associates, law firm clients and members of an investment group to which he belonged. Despite a legal and ethical duty to do so, Paxton “recklessly failed to inform the individuals he recruited [to invest] that he was being compensated to promote Servergy to investors,” the SEC alleges. According to the complaint, he raised $840,000 in investor funds for Servergy and received 100,000 shares of stock in return.

More evidence? The technology company that Paxton was reportedly talking up to friends and associates is accused of boosting stock sales with false claims about a “supposedly revolutionary computer server and big-name customers purportedly placing orders to buy it.” Servergy has since cut ties with its earlier CEO and agreed to pay a $200,000 penalty to settle these damning SEC charges.

Texas voters are quite complicit in all this. While some outrage is voiced over such snafus as the botched March 1 local election, the fact remains voters are too often foolish in casting ballots when they do get a chance to do it right. In 2014, many Republicans — including a plurality in McLennan County — bypassed two upstanding, qualified Republicans running for attorney general — Barry Smitherman and Dan Branch — and instead rallied around Paxton, who by then had already admitted to violating state securities laws, a third-degree felony. Amazing.

Some Republicans argue the charges against Paxton parallel the politically motivated legal troubles of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, including allegations that Perry abused his state executive powers. This newspaper knows better, which is why we repeatedly defended the Republican governor of those charges, eventually dismissed. Paxton has admitted to violating state securities laws. His holding of a high office of public trust as this state’s top law enforcement officer is a disgrace that indicates just how deeply many of us have failed as citizens.

The part I would like to add is an appeal to some key leaders who should have stepped up by now and ended this travesty of our political and legal system.

Governor Abbott. You could have ended this a long time ago and should have. Your silence has been screaming loudly as many of us have wondered why you would not encourage AG Paxton to stop embarrassing Texas. Your word would have carried a lot of weight and still will if you use your voice. You have done us no favors. Lead! You are as guilty as Ken Paxton for letting this drag out so long. Advise Ken Paxton to resign!

Former Governor Perry. Here is a case where your influence and your position is perfectly suited to tell the emperor he has no clothes. You should have handled this already as a friend to Gov. Abbott and the most central person who should put Texas first and tell your crony it’s over. Advise Ken Paxton to resign!

Senator Cruz. Where is your leadership? Oh wait, I just remembered you had Ken Paxton hire a truckload of your Texas staff irrespective of qualifications or process. You are worthless. However, you have many ways of getting the message to the AG. And this is more important than your cronyism. Advise Ken Paxton to resign!

Collin County/McKinney Leadership. Many, many of you had your name listed as supporters on AG Paxton’s political Web splash page when he was running for office. I would publish all of the names now, but the AG has managed to take it down. I wouldn’t have blamed you for wanting to retreat from an overt sign of support. But that is not enough. It is YOU who could write a letter or place a phone call to your Tea Party darling. Advise Ken Paxton to resign!

Prestonwood Baptist Church. And all church leaders. I think it is good that you are praying for the AG. He needs all of our prayers. He will need them more if he goes to prison. But right now there are many of you, including the pastoral leadership, who could be a Prophet Nathan and hold up the mirror to Ken Paxton. Surely you know this has to be done. Your misplaced encouragement to stay the course has made the man delusional. Advise Ken Paxton to resign.

Citizens. If you were like me and blindly chose the Republican ticket route, then you are as dumb as I am. It was a mistake. The major daily newspapers warned us of this Bad Boy. We didn’t read or didn’t care or had socks coming out of the drier and didn’t ask questions. Repent. He is a major embarrassment to Texas. Write a letter or jump on a bus to protest in Austin. Advise Ken Paxton to resign!

Conclusion. This dragging out of the inevitable is costing tax payer money. It is also eroding the integrity of our political system. It is putting Texas in a bad light. Every major newspaper in the country is focused once again on this bad actor. I truly believe he did not start out this way. But his ambition got the best of him. This is all of his doing.

Please, please, advise AG Ken Paxton to resign! LFM

Two Girls & Four Painters

.Reading time 19 minutes.

LFM Note: I was fortunate to be invited to read to each of my granddaughter’s classes about four years ago. Instead of reading a book, I wrote my own stories. This one was adopted from a story circulated on the Internet (author unknown) that you will recognize. Our granddaughter Lily loves art. All three of our grandchildren do. However, Lily is all about art and has a gift to draw and cut out three dimensional objects that fascinate us. This story was for her class. I wrote an original story for Lindsey, two years older, when she was in either kindergarten or first grade. This age was great to be around.

When I arrived, the classmates were sitting at their desks. The teacher, Ms. Holland, told me to sit in the rocking chair close to the far corner of the room. I thought I was going to read to the kids at their desks. Then she told the kids to sit on the big rug in front of the rocking chair, literally up against my feet. I have never had such an attentive audience in my life. Legs crossed, chins on their fists, the scene as they peered up at me is a fond memory. Just so you will know the names, Mr. Morris, the Head of of the Lower School just retired at Trinity Christian Academy, the most loved man at TCA after 40 years of service.

I offer this to you as a suggestion to make up your own stories to your young kids and grandkids. I see at least 25 potential stories in the cute and funny Facebook quips and clips you send around every day. The personal touch is appreciated. As with many stories, you can also convey many life-lessons.

 

Two Girls & Four Painters

Lily was not happy. She was rolled into a hospital room two hours after surgery on her leg. They told her she would be staying for about three days before she could go home. She didn’t want to be in the hospital unable to get out of bed. Lily wanted to be home with her paint set. She was happiest when she was painting or creating a craft project.

The hospital room had two beds separated by a wooden wall that went about halfway to the ceiling. One bed had a window and the other bed didn’t. Lily got the bed without a window. She went from being unhappy to being disappointed as could be seen by the frown etched on her face.

“What’s your name?” Lily didn’t realize there was already somebody in the bed on the other side of the room – the side with a window – until she heard the voice.

“My name is Lily. “What is your name?”

“My name is Lindsey. Welcome!”

“I don’t like it here,” said Lily. “I’d rather be home painting.”

Lindsey said, “You’re a painter? I am, too.”

“What do you like to paint?” asked Lily.

“Just about everything,” Lindsey replied.

Lily had brought her paint brushes and some paper to paint on while in the hospital. But she was in no mood to paint. In fact, she didn’t really have an interest in talking to Lindsey. She just wanted to pout. It even bothered her that Lindsey sounded so happy. How could anybody be happy in a hospital bed? Even if you had a window?

Lindsey could sense that Lily didn’t want to be there. She had been there for two days and had one more day before she could go home. The surgery Lindsey had on her foot had kept her in bed, but she was trying to stay positive. She hoped she could get a roommate who was more pleasant than Lily seemed to be.

The day ended with Lily and Lindsey falling to sleep without saying much more to each other. Lily wondered what Lindsey looked like. It was strange talking to someone she could not see because of the wall between them.

The next morning Lily was awakened when Lindsey yelled, “Lily, wake up! Wake up!”

Lily buried her head under the pillow. She wanted to be left alone.

“Lily, there’s a cardinal on the window sill!”

Lily couldn’t resist this comment. The only things she loved more than painting were birds and animals. Any kind of animal! Especially baby animals. Lily couldn’t think of an animal she didn’t like.

“Is it a male with bright red and crest on his head,” asked Lily?

“Yes, and he is very big. He looks like he has just eaten a big meal.”

Lily wanted more details. “What is he doing?”

“He’s looking in the window like a curious neighbor watching kids playing in the street. Except he is looking in instead of out. He is cocking his head back and forth like he sees me but can’t quite figure out who is in our room.”

“Gee,” said Lily, “I wish I could see out the window.”

Then Lindsey told Lily the cardinal had just flown away.

Nurse Stephens and Holland then came in to give the two girls their breakfast.

Before long Dr. Morris came in to check on Lily and Lindsey to make sure their leg and foot were healing from the surgery. Everything was looking just fine.

While Lily had perked up after hearing about the cardinal, she slumped back into her bed and began to feel sorry for herself confined in a hospital bed. The day went by, night came and both girls fell asleep. Lindsey was worried about Lily being unhappy and hoped that the next day would be better.

The next morning started off about like the previous morning. “Lily, Lily, wake up! I can see a dog park from the window. It is Saturday morning with tons of families with their dogs running and playing in the dog park.”

Lily sat straight up in her bed. Without thinking she reached under her bed and pulled out her pad and paints. “Tell me what you see, Lindsey. Don’t leave out a thing.”

Lindsey described the dog park that had many trees. There were also benches where people could sit as their dogs ran free. There was a large oval water pan at one end of the dog park. It was about 3 feet wide and 5 feet long. Next to the pan was a low place where dogs had splashed so much water than it had become muddy.

Lily stopped Lindsey and asked, “What color are the park benches? How many are there? How many people and dogs are there? Tell me more about the water puddle? What color is the mud? Are most of the dogs big or small? Are any of them fighting or all playing?”

As Lindsey started describing the dog park in more detail, Lily started painting. The benches were made of metal with green tops and seats on gray piping. The trees were tall and provided about half sunlight and half shade. There were about 20 dogs of all sizes. They were all playing, many running in circles. The mud was brown.

“What color is the brown,” asked Lily? Reddish brown like a bowl of chili or a dark brown, like a grizzly bear.”

The more Lindsey described the details, the faster Lily painted.

“Lily, there’s a little dog chasing a big dog in circles, and their pathway goes right through the mud puddle!”

“Really? Tell me more” giggled Lily.

Lindsey said Big Dog was lopping along like he was happy with his ears flapping in the wind. It was almost as if you could see a smile on his face. Little Dog was trying to show Big Dog how brave he was, but when Big Dog stopped suddenly, Little Dog slid right under Big Dog’s belly. Lindsey was shouting each movement like an announcer at a football game.

Lily’s giggle turned into a belly laugh. She had to put down her paint brush. She could imagine what the scene looked like. She was laughing so hard that her sides were aching. “Oh Lindsey, please tell me more!”

By the end of the day, Lily had painted three scenes of the dog park. She was exhausted, but it had been a very good day. The evening ended with Lily and Lindsey talking for several hours in their dark room. They both talked about their favorite students at their different schools. They talked about their dreams when they went to high school and then to college. They talked about family vacations. They talked about church. They fell asleep talking about God and their understandings of Jesus and the Bible. They both prayed out loud as they drifted to sleep.

Lily slept so soundly that she was awakened only because Nurse Holland brought her breakfast tray to her. “Where’s Nurse Stephens with Lindsey’s tray?”

“Lindsey checked out of the hospital early this morning” said Nurse Holland. Dr. Morris said it was time for her to return home to continue healing.

“Oh no,” said Lily, “I didn’t get to tell her goodbye.”

Nurse Holland said, “Well, one more day and you can go home, too.”

Lily said, “Nurse Holland, would it be okay if we moved my bed to the other side of the room so I can be near the window?”

Nurse Holland looked puzzled and said, “Lily, why would you want to move? The window looks out to the brick wall of the building next to us. You can’t see anything.”

Lily was confused but then got mad. “Lindsey lied to me! She said there was a dog park she could see. She described it in detail. Here are three pictures I painted after listening to her tell me about what she saw.”

About that time Nurse Stephens walked in to hear the conversation. “Lily, it is impossible for Lindsey to have seen those things. Not only is there a brick wall outside the window, but Lindsey cannot see at all. Lindsey is blind. She has no eyesight.”

There was a silence in the room as the two nurses and Lily looked stunned and just stared at each other. Nobody could think of what to say.

Dr. Morris walked in the room and asked what was going on. There was a commotion as Lily was holding up her paintings and the nurses were trying to explain.

He then started laughing, adding to the shocked reaction to Lily and Nurses Holland and Stephens.

“Don’t you see what we have here? This room has been home to two girls and four painters.”

“What do you mean?” they all three said at the same time.

“Lily paints with brushes and paper. She uses colors and brush strokes to tell a story. The types of strokes she chooses add emphasis to details she wants people to see. The images she forms communicate a message between Lily and the person looking at her pictures.”

“Lindsey, on the other hand, is the second and third painter. She paints in her mind. She does not have eyesight, but the images in her head are clear and have color and details just as vivid as if she had painted them like Lily.”

“Lindsey also paints with her words. She has a rich vocabulary. She is a writer and a poet. Words can describe the details of many things. Not just colors. Words can describe how things smell, feel and sound. Lily, one of your pictures shows two dogs romping around a dog park. I can see fun, I can see action and I can see humor in your picture. You drew that picture that says all of those things from the words used by Lindsey. Neither you nor Lindsey actually saw those pictures until they were put in your heads by words.”

Lily had to think about the different kinds of painters for a few minutes as did Nurse Stephens and Nurse Holland.

Then Lily said, “Dr. Morris, you said there were four painters and described three. Who is the fourth painter?”

“It is you, Lily” Dr. Morris said. “When I talked to Lindsey as she left this morning, she told me about how much she enjoyed you. She said you kept motivating her to see more details. You pulled those details out of her imagination. If she had eyesight, you would have been encouraging her to look closer and deeper at things. She described two dogs running around in circles. You made her see the action, the fun, the life of the event. That is also want a painter does. So you are the first and fourth painter. Lindsey is the second and third painter.”

They all heard a noise and turned around to see Lindsey’s mom pushing her in a wheelchair. They had returned to the room to pick up an iPod Lindsey left in the room.

Lindsey rolled over to Lily’s bedside and gave her a hug. Lily was in disbelief that Lindsey really was blind. She told Lindsey how she now understood. Lindsey was trying to help Lily cheer up. She knew it was by giving her something to paint so that Lily would snap out of her sadness.

Lindsey explained to Lily that while she did not have eyesight that she really was not blind. “I saw a dog park, but you made it crisp and clear, with more colors and with a lot more action than I saw at first. I am the one who should be thanking you for giving me better sight. I also saw your friends and family and pets and everything you described when we talked and prayed after the lights were out. During that time we both were relying on our thoughts and our words to see in the darkness. God gave both of us certain gifts. Those gifts are even greater when we work together!”

Lindsey and Lily both promised to call each other each week so they could “paint” over the phone. LFM

Adapted and embellished from a story circulated on the Internet (author unknown)