Sometimes city government “works” and sometimes it doesn’t. At the Oct. 7 Fort Worth City Council meeting, we saw both examples.

After hearing resident opposition to a proposed high-impact gas well near a neighborhood, the council denied the permit. Kudos to the council. Resident input works.

The council then considered a zoning request for a rodent-breeding business in the Rosemont area that has operated since 2003 in violation of an ordinance prohibiting animal-breeding facilities in our zoning classification. A number of us expressed odor and health concerns. (See: “Rodent factory will get change of zoning,” Oct. 10) Despite this business’ willingness to install air filtration equipment (which may or may not work), we don’t want to live or work near 500,000 rodents. But the council voted to change the zoning and allow the business to continue. The council chose mice over men.

Our opinion of this decision: It stinks. We appreciate Councilmember Kathleen Hicks, who cast the lone “no” vote. For other rodent breeders out there, Fort Worth apparently is a real city of opportunity.

— Knox Ross, Fort Worth
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