Richardson Echo's May 2022 Voter's Guide

Welcome to the Richardson Echo's first Richardson Voter's Guide.

Early voting starts April 25, 2022, for three Richardson ISD trustee races in single-member districts. This academic year saw the resignation of Superintendent Jeanie Stone, controversies over public health, concerns over books, defenses of teachers, Social-Emotional Learning, and issues of diversity.

I restarted the Richardson Echo a few months ago. For those few who read the first incarnation, you will remember that I stuck pretty much to the news. I reviewed election outcomes but didn't endorse candidates. Since I declared this go-round would be more opinion-based, you get my opinion on these Richardson ISD School board candidates.

Richardson's Public Engagement - Rickey Henderson Edition

Previously I posted that Richardson's Public Engagement is broken. I criticized the City for not using its monthly Richardson Today to publicize its engagement efforts properly. This week the April edition of Richardson Today arrived, and it is different. Let's see what they did.

Richardson Today - April 2022
Source: City of Richardson

 

Fewer Polling Locations for Hotly Contested RISD Board Election?

 On April 6, 2022 Community Impact reports that Dallas County may “temporarily” close some polling elections for this May’s election due to a polling worker shortage. According to Community Impact, the Elections Department requested 68 of the 469 polling location centers be closed. The Lake Highlands Community Impact article focused on Richardson ISD and Lake Highlands locations.

RISD District 5 Map with
Potential Closed Polling Location

What the Community Impact article did not tell you is that four of those polling places are in the hotly contested RISD Place 5 Board district. That was the Board of Trustee location vacated suddenly by former Board President Karen Clardy in her bid to stave off the exit of now-former Superintendent Dr. Jeanie Stone. More after the jump.

Richardson's Ten Best Planning Decisions:10 - Sidewalks are Everywhere in Richardson

I believe that of the things a city can control, its land use planning is the most impactful thing that can control its future fortunes and success. A city that does that poorly or does not try to make up for past errors will show its cracks in the long run. A city that does it well will reap financial or economic fortunes and social and intangible ones as well.

 

I have started a "Ten Best" list of Richardson's planning decisions with that in mind. These are past decisions that give it strength, pay dividends, and make Richardson a great place to live. More after the jump.

Richardson's Public Engagement is Broken

Active Transportation Plan Landing Page Clip.
Credit: City of Richardson

 

On March 2, 2022, I attended an open house run by the City of Richardson requesting input on its Parks and Open Space Master Plan and its Active Transportation Plan. (defined below.) Smart move. Have two public input sessions in one place.

These are sessions in which our knowledgeable, professional staff and paid consultants take input directly from the public.  
 
When entering the bounds of the Richardson Heights Recreation Center Gymnasium, I noticed that the staff and consultants outnumbered the public in attendance. The people using the gym equipment in the next room outnumbered the people in attendance. What went wrong?  More after the jump.

 

Is a Palisades Settlement or Lawsuit Brewing?

 On February 7, 2022, the agenda of the Richardson City Council lists an executive session on the following topic:

In compliance with Section 551.071 (1) and (2) of the Texas Government Code, Council will convene into a
closed session to discuss the following:
 
• Consultation with City Attorney regarding JP – KBS Holdings, LLC Payment Request

What is JP - KBS Holdings? That is a holding company that now owns and manages the Palisades development. You know, Palisades, that stalled development that got former Mayor Laura Maczka twice convicted of federal charges surrounding corruption. Oh yes and along with that there was/is a potential $47 million economic development agreement.

 

The Story of Scottsdale

The Story of Scottsdale is the story of every residential street in Richardson. The story of Scottsdale is the story of almost every suburban residential street in America. I pick this example because it is a practical real-world example with dollars, places, bids, and votes and not merely a piece of theory.

I start with this first post after relaunch because it is an example of something I want to emphasize through The Richardson Echo. An important point about cities that is often overlooked is that, of the things a city can control, land use policy is possibly the most important key to a city’s health and well-being.   More after the jump.

Scottsdale Dr. - January 2021 (photo by Google)