"It Ain't Undone Yet," Kirk Says
What's former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk been up to lately? I mean other than paying back taxes, kissing up to senators in confirmation hearings and preparing for his Cabinet-level position as US Trade Representative? Well, he's been second-guessing the Army Corps of Engineers.
Todd Gillman, in The Dallas Morning News, interviews Kirk, who says, "I just find it remarkable that you would wait until you've gotten that far along with bridge construction and now raise a concern about the integrity of the levees." Like this is the first time someone's questioned those levees. Katrina should have been a wake-up call to the danger posed by those aging earthen levees protecting downtown Dallas from Trinity River floods. And this spring's floods in Fargo, North Dakota, should serve as a start reminder of the danger of river flooding far from coastal hurricane zones. Kirk pretends that the risks posed by those levees is, in fact, what was behind the Trinity River project all along. "We knew the levees needed strengthening. That was the whole purpose of this program, to restore the structural integrity of the levees."
If you thought those comments would get past Unfair Park's Jim Schutze, you haven't been following Schutze's coverage of the Trinity project. Schutze appreciates that Kirk is an effective lobbyist, but he just doesn't see the public rising up in anger with the Corps, demanding that the Trinity River project go forward, unsafe levees be damned. I'm with Schutze. The Corps aren't the bad guys here. The powers that be that have pushed this ill-conceived plan to build a tollway inside and partially on top of the levees that are all that protect downtown Dallas from ravaging floodwaters are the bad guys. And they haven't had a change of heart yet. "It ain't undone yet," Kirk says.
Best Spring Show Yet
The Richardson Berkner High School drill team, the Bandoleras, are putting on their annual spring show. The show, titled "Save the Date," is the best in years. The calendar theme ties the dance numbers and the show as a whole together nicely. The dancing itself is, as usual, superb. The chemistry between the emcees is natural and infectious. The pacing is fast, with welcome appearances by the country dance team, the Ramblers and the Mighty Ram Band's drumline. Lighting and sound were flawless. The comedy troupe's well-rehearsed acts showed creativity and wit. All in all, a great night of live entertainment. There's on more night to catch the show, Saturday at 7:30 pm. Be there.
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