While waiting for results from today’s council meeting setting the Trinity referendum date, the Morning News got a jump on the action by printing a couple of stories this morning under the headline: "Let the Trinity fight officially begin." It’s unfortunate that the whole issue of public involvement in a major civic project has to be labeled a fight, but I suppose it is what it is.
Anyway, after reading the stories and also trying to read between the lines, it was apparent (to me at least) what the strategies of at least the pro-Trinity side will be:
1) We already voted on this thing, so leave it alone.
2) If, God forbid, we vote to move the road, the whole project could collapse!
3) Everybody who is anybody in Dallas supports this thing, so shouldn’t you support it, too?
4) It sure is interesting that Angela Hunt is using this issue to boost a candidacy for mayor some day, isn’t it?
5) We already voted on this thing, SO LEAVE IT ALONE!!!
As for the TrinityVote people, the strategy also seems clear:
1) All those pretty pictures in 1998 haven’t materialized yet, have they?
2) This thing never would have passed in 1998 if voters had been told the truth.
2) Honestly, do you really want a high-speed toll road in the middle of your park?
This whole campaign represents the essence of voter involvement in public policy. When you really think about it, this issue isn’t complicated (although some will try to make it so) and it really isn’t difficult to wrap your head around (if you take a little time to think it through). Whichever side wins or loses, it will be good for the city and for those of us who live here to go through the exercise of thinking about a public policy issue, rather than just letting the people we elect pull all of the strings.
