March, 2009

Kathleen In the News
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Council briefs: $12 million in tax breaks OK'd for southeast Fort Worth development
3/29/2009 5:07:17 PM

The City Council approved up to $12 million in tax breaks for a developer who plans to build a shopping center at the former Masonic Home at East Berry Street and U.S. 287. FW Mason Heights, a development partnership led by Happy Baggett, plans to build 300,000 to 500,000 square feet of stores. The tenants haven’t been named, but Baggett said this month that they could include a grocery store and clothing stores. Baggett will have to invest at least $46 million and will qualify for the full $12.5 million only if he and his partners finish the shopping center by 2012 and meet hiring and contracts goals. Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks praised the project as the biggest economic development in southeast Fort Worth in more than 30 years.

City’s auditors to be paid $1 million more

The council also voted to pay its outside auditing firm, Deloitte & Touche, an additional $1 million. The auditors have been working since 2005 to bring Fort Worth’s books up to date. The city is required to audit its books once a year to prove its creditworthiness to lenders, but it hasn’t finished an audit on time since 2004 because of outdated equipment and staffing issues in the Finance Department. Deloitte has been asking for extra money to perform the audits because it has had to reconcile numerous problems, including accounts that haven’t been balanced for years. The city’s original contract with Deloitte was for $1.1 million over four years. The council increased the payment in November to $3.8 million. The latest increase — $135,000 for the fiscal 2006-07 audit and $869,000 for the fiscal 2007-08 audit — brings the total to $4.8 million. — Mike Lee
www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1277209.html

Watching history being made in D.C.
3/13/2009 4:30:26 PM

By: Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks
I recently had the opportunity to attend the inauguration of President Barack Obama. It was a spectacular experience. 

Thanks to Congressman Michael Burgess and Congresswoman Kay Granger, I received the coveted inauguration tickets to witness history in making with my family. I was particularly moved to be able to share the moment with my mother and her sisters.

These strong women survived segregation in the South in 1950s and 1960s and countless other indignities. While experiencing the inauguration, I also reflected on my grandmother, Kathleen, for whom I am named, who surely had to be looking down at us all with a big smile!

Despite what they had to go through, my “sheros” as I like to call them, succeeded in their given fields, from education to corporate America to politics. In some small way, they paved the way for Barack Obama to become the 44th president of the United States of America .

Yes, it was bitterly cold for this life-long Texan. Yes, it was extremely crowded as upward of 2 million people gathered to witness the peaceful transfer of power that some countries will never enjoy. Despite it all, I would not have wanted to be any where else.

As I looked out on the Mall and saw a sea of American flags, the tears flowed.  I cried for how far this country has come and the remarkable journey that we continue to be on together. Whatever your political views might be, we all must agree that only in America could the son of Kenyan immigrant and a mother from the American heartland become one of the most powerful persons on earth. 

Indeed, President Obama once said, “In a tolerant America, your name is no barrier to success.” This is an awesome country and I truly got to witness that at the inauguration in January. Any child growing up can now truly know that anything is possible.

For a moment in time, we were united as a country – not by geographical boundaries or race or gender. We were united as Americans and it felt great! As we commemorate African-American history month during February, I am reminded that we celebrate all of history – American history!

Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks represents District 8 on the Fort Worth City Council.

www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php

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Kathleen Hicks Campaign ~ P.O. Box 15921 ~ Fort Worth, Texas 76119 ~ 817.810.0007 ~ khickscampaign@sbcglobal.net ~ Dr. Clarence Brooks, Treasurer