Republicans are Wasting our Money and
Making us Less Safe
$1.2 million dollars of your taxpayer money on the “Dead Baby Zenorah in the Jail” lawsuit.
Largest lawsuit in Tarrant County history. 5/21/24
$1 million dollars of your taxpayer money on another death in the jail lawsuit.
Second largest lawsuit payout in Tarrant County history. 2023
For others, see below
Largest lawsuit in Tarrant County history. 5/21/24
$1 million dollars of your taxpayer money on another death in the jail lawsuit.
Second largest lawsuit payout in Tarrant County history. 2023
For others, see below
Local Tarrant County Republican officials have cost us millions in lawsuits for unnecessary deaths in the jail due to negligence and murder by the jailers. Largest lawsuits in Tarrant County history in the past year. Taxpayers pay the legal fees on both sides.
They have taken $55 million dollars of our taxpayer money and wasted it on an out-of-county, for-profit prison and gave millions to the Sheriff for another unneeded law enforcement training facility when Tarrant taxpayers just paid $101 million of one in 2017.
Judicial incompetence is costing taxpayers $69 million to over $200 million per year in unnecessary and illegal incarcerations (e.g. incarcerations for class C misdemeanors where the maximum legal sentence is a fine). Inmates serving twice as much time as that to which they are sentenced. Leaving murders out on bond in the community (one murderer in the community five years before trial). (While judges do not show up for work, judges not holding court, and people spend double the time in jail as their sentence).
Republican officials withholding evidence in the record breaking, largest in Tarrant history $1.2 million dollar case - already settled (Baby Zenorah who was born in the jail and died). Not releasing this evidence has caused the case to be reopened. Taxpayers are going to pay for this lawsuit twice. (Mother kept in jail 5 months without a single court hearing).
Local Republican officials have given $200 million dollars of our money to a subpar contractor and to get $35,000 in return for campaign contributions.
$5000.00 the head of Commissioner's Court (Republican) elected official is using our taxpayer dollars for a political consultant. Another local Republican official tried to use our tax dollars for a political consultant, but was called out on it and therefore unsuccessful.
Not using the jail diversion center that is staffed with our tax dollars.
Voter suppression units masquerading as election integrity that has not prosecuted a single case (3 Assistant District Attorneys, and investigator, Sheriff’s employees).
No Public Defenders or competency attorneys which would save money.
Attempted takeover of the judiciary causing judges to leave their benches to spend the day at Commissioner’s Court.
Deputies burning a man and his dogs to death in their home. $15 million dollar lawsuit pending.
Refusing to follow the advice of experts that have been paid for by our taxpayer dollars.
The County secured a $400,000 grant from the State of Texas to create a temporary felony court to assist in the backlog of in-custody cases with greater expediency. This is a desperate attempt to clean up the mess before the election. Check the Office of Court Administration website to see that Tarrant County Judges have not been putting in the work.
Posting as many as 40 unformed, armed law enforcement officers at Commissioner’s Court at a time. Incarcerated persons dying of overdose after being in the local jail for months (how are illegal drugs getting into the jail?) Our local law enforcement and law enforcement vehicles have been sent to the Republican national convention, etc. etc. etc..…
Local Republican elected officials cut money from youth programs - Girl's Inc, Juvenile rehabilitation, juvenile substance counseling . . . Hurting the most vulnerable among us and ensuring more crime in the future. Making us less safe. Studies show that for every dollar spent on programs for the youth and mental health, 8 tax dollars is saved.
There is a lack of written policies. This is leading to lawsuits.
$1,463,608 for 3 Assistant District Attorneys at the hospital for "Tarrant County Jail Related Medical Claims."
Tarrant County Jail Payouts:
BEFORE 2017 (the current administration)
•$350,000
AFTER 2017-
•Dean Stewart - $400,000
•Javonte Mayers - $1 million
•Cory Rodrigues - $200,000
•Chasity Congiuous - $1.2 million
•Georgia Kay - $750,000
TOTAL
$3.5 million
The costs to the families who lost loved ones and the costs to Tarrant County are just too high.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS
They have taken $55 million dollars of our taxpayer money and wasted it on an out-of-county, for-profit prison and gave millions to the Sheriff for another unneeded law enforcement training facility when Tarrant taxpayers just paid $101 million of one in 2017.
Judicial incompetence is costing taxpayers $69 million to over $200 million per year in unnecessary and illegal incarcerations (e.g. incarcerations for class C misdemeanors where the maximum legal sentence is a fine). Inmates serving twice as much time as that to which they are sentenced. Leaving murders out on bond in the community (one murderer in the community five years before trial). (While judges do not show up for work, judges not holding court, and people spend double the time in jail as their sentence).
Republican officials withholding evidence in the record breaking, largest in Tarrant history $1.2 million dollar case - already settled (Baby Zenorah who was born in the jail and died). Not releasing this evidence has caused the case to be reopened. Taxpayers are going to pay for this lawsuit twice. (Mother kept in jail 5 months without a single court hearing).
Local Republican officials have given $200 million dollars of our money to a subpar contractor and to get $35,000 in return for campaign contributions.
$5000.00 the head of Commissioner's Court (Republican) elected official is using our taxpayer dollars for a political consultant. Another local Republican official tried to use our tax dollars for a political consultant, but was called out on it and therefore unsuccessful.
Not using the jail diversion center that is staffed with our tax dollars.
Voter suppression units masquerading as election integrity that has not prosecuted a single case (3 Assistant District Attorneys, and investigator, Sheriff’s employees).
No Public Defenders or competency attorneys which would save money.
Attempted takeover of the judiciary causing judges to leave their benches to spend the day at Commissioner’s Court.
Deputies burning a man and his dogs to death in their home. $15 million dollar lawsuit pending.
Refusing to follow the advice of experts that have been paid for by our taxpayer dollars.
The County secured a $400,000 grant from the State of Texas to create a temporary felony court to assist in the backlog of in-custody cases with greater expediency. This is a desperate attempt to clean up the mess before the election. Check the Office of Court Administration website to see that Tarrant County Judges have not been putting in the work.
Posting as many as 40 unformed, armed law enforcement officers at Commissioner’s Court at a time. Incarcerated persons dying of overdose after being in the local jail for months (how are illegal drugs getting into the jail?) Our local law enforcement and law enforcement vehicles have been sent to the Republican national convention, etc. etc. etc..…
Local Republican elected officials cut money from youth programs - Girl's Inc, Juvenile rehabilitation, juvenile substance counseling . . . Hurting the most vulnerable among us and ensuring more crime in the future. Making us less safe. Studies show that for every dollar spent on programs for the youth and mental health, 8 tax dollars is saved.
There is a lack of written policies. This is leading to lawsuits.
$1,463,608 for 3 Assistant District Attorneys at the hospital for "Tarrant County Jail Related Medical Claims."
Tarrant County Jail Payouts:
BEFORE 2017 (the current administration)
•$350,000
AFTER 2017-
•Dean Stewart - $400,000
•Javonte Mayers - $1 million
•Cory Rodrigues - $200,000
•Chasity Congiuous - $1.2 million
•Georgia Kay - $750,000
TOTAL
$3.5 million
The costs to the families who lost loved ones and the costs to Tarrant County are just too high.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS
1. The judges are responsible for setting the cases for hearings so that people do not sit in the jail unnecessarily.
The mother (dead baby in the jail case) was in the jail unnecessarily, and there for five months without a single court hearing.
Stormer as a Judge will: A. Move cases timely
B. eliminate the need for out-of-county, for-profit prisons (she’s done it before)
C. appoint a mental health public defender to the court to handle those issues
2. The Sheriff is responsible for caring for the inmates.
3. The Tarrant County Commissioners Court is responsible for establishing public defenders, who would have prevented this catastrophe. They fund the Sheriff and Judges and have control. The Republicans on Commissioners Court refuse to vote for programs that cost nothing that would have prevented this.
There are systemic failures on every level in Tarrant County.
STOP PAYING MILLIONS IN LAWSUITS FOR UNNECESSARY DEATHS!!!
Vote for all the Democrats on the ballot to fix this problem.
Stormer has repeatedly advised the Tarrant County Commissioners Court on how they could save lives and money. The Republicans on Commissioners Court refuse to follow evidence based/best practices suggestions, some of which are of no cost, others with an up front cost, but may save millions in taxpayer dollars. (See summary of her information repeatedly provided to Commissioner's Court below.)
FIX IT - VOTE FOR ALL THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Federal Covid funds reallocated from the homeless and child care to another law enforcement training center
The Republicans on the Tarrant County Commissioner's Court are wasting $55 million of your taxpayer dollars ($44 million which was originally designated for COVID relief for the homeless and children).
$32 million dollars for a law enforcement training center for the Sheriff when Tarrant County taxpayers just spent $101 million for this in 2017 and there are several such facilities nearby. Your children and grandchildren will have to continue paying for this. You, your children, your grandchildren . . . will have increased taxes staffing this facility.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
out-of-county, for-profit jail
Tarrant County is currently sending 430 inmates to Garza County (281 miles west of Tarrant County – Abilene is the halfway point) to a for-profit prison costing Tarrant County taxpayers $22 million dollars a YEAR. This is unnecessary and a direct result of mismanagement of the jail and judges not moving the cases timely. The jail is the biggest expense in the County.
“Tarrant County alone has signed over more than $40 million to the Dalby facility to house local inmates in the last two years.” This can be avoided by moving cases faster - getting violent criminals to the State prison faster. Currently persons charged with murder are on bond in your community for up to five years. Also there are many that should never have been in the jail i.e. class C offenses (maximum punishment by law is a fine). Per Commissioner, Alisa Simmons in Commissioner’s court on 10/10/23 there were 68 in jail on $500 bonds (or less) for minor offenses like criminal trespass. They were unable to make their bond and spent 2,179 days in jail at a state cost of $185,000.
1/6/24 Citizens plead for republicans on Tarrant commissioners court to cancel out-of-county, for-profit prison.
State Watchdog finds Medical neglect and Other violations at Private prison that Houses Tarrant Inmates (KERA)
Tarrant County commissioners reallocate money from housing and education (childcare) to law enforcement initiatives ($44 million from homeless and children to prison industrial complex)
(See "Deaths in the Jail" tab)
The mother (dead baby in the jail case) was in the jail unnecessarily, and there for five months without a single court hearing.
Stormer as a Judge will: A. Move cases timely
B. eliminate the need for out-of-county, for-profit prisons (she’s done it before)
C. appoint a mental health public defender to the court to handle those issues
2. The Sheriff is responsible for caring for the inmates.
3. The Tarrant County Commissioners Court is responsible for establishing public defenders, who would have prevented this catastrophe. They fund the Sheriff and Judges and have control. The Republicans on Commissioners Court refuse to vote for programs that cost nothing that would have prevented this.
There are systemic failures on every level in Tarrant County.
STOP PAYING MILLIONS IN LAWSUITS FOR UNNECESSARY DEATHS!!!
Vote for all the Democrats on the ballot to fix this problem.
Stormer has repeatedly advised the Tarrant County Commissioners Court on how they could save lives and money. The Republicans on Commissioners Court refuse to follow evidence based/best practices suggestions, some of which are of no cost, others with an up front cost, but may save millions in taxpayer dollars. (See summary of her information repeatedly provided to Commissioner's Court below.)
FIX IT - VOTE FOR ALL THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Federal Covid funds reallocated from the homeless and child care to another law enforcement training center
The Republicans on the Tarrant County Commissioner's Court are wasting $55 million of your taxpayer dollars ($44 million which was originally designated for COVID relief for the homeless and children).
$32 million dollars for a law enforcement training center for the Sheriff when Tarrant County taxpayers just spent $101 million for this in 2017 and there are several such facilities nearby. Your children and grandchildren will have to continue paying for this. You, your children, your grandchildren . . . will have increased taxes staffing this facility.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
out-of-county, for-profit jail
Tarrant County is currently sending 430 inmates to Garza County (281 miles west of Tarrant County – Abilene is the halfway point) to a for-profit prison costing Tarrant County taxpayers $22 million dollars a YEAR. This is unnecessary and a direct result of mismanagement of the jail and judges not moving the cases timely. The jail is the biggest expense in the County.
“Tarrant County alone has signed over more than $40 million to the Dalby facility to house local inmates in the last two years.” This can be avoided by moving cases faster - getting violent criminals to the State prison faster. Currently persons charged with murder are on bond in your community for up to five years. Also there are many that should never have been in the jail i.e. class C offenses (maximum punishment by law is a fine). Per Commissioner, Alisa Simmons in Commissioner’s court on 10/10/23 there were 68 in jail on $500 bonds (or less) for minor offenses like criminal trespass. They were unable to make their bond and spent 2,179 days in jail at a state cost of $185,000.
1/6/24 Citizens plead for republicans on Tarrant commissioners court to cancel out-of-county, for-profit prison.
State Watchdog finds Medical neglect and Other violations at Private prison that Houses Tarrant Inmates (KERA)
Tarrant County commissioners reallocate money from housing and education (childcare) to law enforcement initiatives ($44 million from homeless and children to prison industrial complex)
(See "Deaths in the Jail" tab)
Wasting our Money and
Making you Less Safe
Judges not doing their jobs
Deaths in the jail are due in part to judges not moving cases efficiently and timely:
- not utilizing the Jail Diversion Center (A Tarrant Judge stated that it went "unused" in 2022. Your taxpayer dollars pay for the facility and to staff it),
- people spend double the time in jail as their sentence on average according to a recent study done by the same Republican judges causing the problem,
- judges and or other Tarrant County employees "get paid for 40 hours of work when they’re really working 10 hours." Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare,
- judges not showing up for work,
- judges not holding court...
All judges in Tarrant County are Republicans.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS
The Tarrant County Jail has 3 times the national average in deaths, costing Tarrant taxpayers millions in lawsuits.
Making you Less Safe
Judges not doing their jobs
Deaths in the jail are due in part to judges not moving cases efficiently and timely:
- not utilizing the Jail Diversion Center (A Tarrant Judge stated that it went "unused" in 2022. Your taxpayer dollars pay for the facility and to staff it),
- people spend double the time in jail as their sentence on average according to a recent study done by the same Republican judges causing the problem,
- judges and or other Tarrant County employees "get paid for 40 hours of work when they’re really working 10 hours." Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare,
- judges not showing up for work,
- judges not holding court...
All judges in Tarrant County are Republicans.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS
The Tarrant County Jail has 3 times the national average in deaths, costing Tarrant taxpayers millions in lawsuits.
Wasting our Money and
Making you Less Safe
Spending $400,000 for a Temporary Judge to clean up the mess before the November election
Interesting that these temporary actions are not taken by local Republican officials until 104 days before early voting starts and yet citizens have been pleading for these changes for years. These delays and neglect have cost Tarrant Taxpayers millions in lawsuits and unnecessary, illegal incarcerations.
"people get paid for 40 hours of work when they’re really working 10 hours" County Judge Tim O’Hare.
"the average length of stay was over 100 days,” (Republican Commissioner) Ramirez said. “But yet, the average sentence was about 70 days, which means people were being held prior to trial, and then just let out after trial due to time served.” As of Wednesday morning, 4,190 inmates were in the Tarrant County jail. The average stay was listed at 133 days.
"the county secured a $400,000 grant from the State of Texas to create a “temporary felony court to assist in the backlog of in-custody cases with greater expediency.”
“discipline,” . . .elected judges must work in accordance with state and county guidelines, as well as civil service rules, to ensure elected judges’ “core duties” are fulfilled.
"The three judges on the committee — Ryan Hill, David Cook and Charles Vanover — did not respond to requests for comment on why the “fraud, waste and abuse” section was necessary to include in the report or on what examples of abuse were found."
Making you Less Safe
Spending $400,000 for a Temporary Judge to clean up the mess before the November election
Interesting that these temporary actions are not taken by local Republican officials until 104 days before early voting starts and yet citizens have been pleading for these changes for years. These delays and neglect have cost Tarrant Taxpayers millions in lawsuits and unnecessary, illegal incarcerations.
"people get paid for 40 hours of work when they’re really working 10 hours" County Judge Tim O’Hare.
"the average length of stay was over 100 days,” (Republican Commissioner) Ramirez said. “But yet, the average sentence was about 70 days, which means people were being held prior to trial, and then just let out after trial due to time served.” As of Wednesday morning, 4,190 inmates were in the Tarrant County jail. The average stay was listed at 133 days.
"the county secured a $400,000 grant from the State of Texas to create a “temporary felony court to assist in the backlog of in-custody cases with greater expediency.”
“discipline,” . . .elected judges must work in accordance with state and county guidelines, as well as civil service rules, to ensure elected judges’ “core duties” are fulfilled.
"The three judges on the committee — Ryan Hill, David Cook and Charles Vanover — did not respond to requests for comment on why the “fraud, waste and abuse” section was necessary to include in the report or on what examples of abuse were found."
Wasting our Money and
Making you Less Safe
Paying for right-wing political consultant with tax dollars
Judge O'Hare is paying for a political consultant out of your taxpayer dollars. 4/16/24
See Commissioner’s Court meetings (they are on YouTube - link below and the segment is included in this article).
This is the Commissioner’s Court where County Judge Tim O’Hare was exposed by Commissioner Simmons for using taxpayer funds for his personal political consultant. This was his response:
"County Judge Tim O’Hare believes he can talk to his Black female peer in any way he chooses.
On April 16, at the last County Commissioner’s meeting, Judge O’Hare told Commissioner Alisa Simmons two things:
“Sit down and be quiet,” after she questioned a political contract on the county’s taxpayer dime.
“Have a semblance of class,” after a debate on whether another Commissioner had already voted on something."
PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE TO SEE WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN YOUR TARRANT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. See what other media is ignoring.
For the record, "county judge" is a ceremonial title for the one that presides over the meetings. The county judge can declare an emergency such as a burn ban. Otherwise, he has no more power or authority than the commissioners. They are each elected officials and all constitutional equals. This was an insult to the one million constituents she represents.
Simmons is the ethical and fiscally responsible Commissioner on the Court. We must support her and vote for all the Democratic Candidates on the ballot to stop the waste, nonsense, and unnecessary deaths in the jail (murders according to the mothers who spoke on May 7th).
Michelle H. Davis - a journalist with integrity. 5/8/24
Making you Less Safe
Paying for right-wing political consultant with tax dollars
Judge O'Hare is paying for a political consultant out of your taxpayer dollars. 4/16/24
See Commissioner’s Court meetings (they are on YouTube - link below and the segment is included in this article).
This is the Commissioner’s Court where County Judge Tim O’Hare was exposed by Commissioner Simmons for using taxpayer funds for his personal political consultant. This was his response:
"County Judge Tim O’Hare believes he can talk to his Black female peer in any way he chooses.
On April 16, at the last County Commissioner’s meeting, Judge O’Hare told Commissioner Alisa Simmons two things:
“Sit down and be quiet,” after she questioned a political contract on the county’s taxpayer dime.
“Have a semblance of class,” after a debate on whether another Commissioner had already voted on something."
PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE TO SEE WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN YOUR TARRANT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. See what other media is ignoring.
For the record, "county judge" is a ceremonial title for the one that presides over the meetings. The county judge can declare an emergency such as a burn ban. Otherwise, he has no more power or authority than the commissioners. They are each elected officials and all constitutional equals. This was an insult to the one million constituents she represents.
Simmons is the ethical and fiscally responsible Commissioner on the Court. We must support her and vote for all the Democratic Candidates on the ballot to stop the waste, nonsense, and unnecessary deaths in the jail (murders according to the mothers who spoke on May 7th).
Michelle H. Davis - a journalist with integrity. 5/8/24
“Do not use our money for a personal political campaign“. Citizen Harriet Harral. In reference to County Judge O’Hare’s expenditure of public funds for a political consultant. This is your taxpayer money that has been approved to be used in this manner by the Republicans on Tarrant County Commissioners' Court. Thank you Alisa Simmons for Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 2 and Commissioner Roy Brooks for being the only fiscally responsible members of the Court. At 1:47:43
"When you (O'Hare) turn to your colleague (Alisa Simmons for Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 2) who has been elected by over 1/2 million voters in Precinct 2 and say 'SHUT-UP', it is offensive to the people of Precinct 2 . . . harken back to a time when women could not vote . . . those words come with a sting and a bite offensive to every woman sitting in this room and to every woman listening on-line today." President of the Arlington Ministerial Association. At 1:03:25
Meeting where it was approved:
"When you (O'Hare) turn to your colleague (Alisa Simmons for Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 2) who has been elected by over 1/2 million voters in Precinct 2 and say 'SHUT-UP', it is offensive to the people of Precinct 2 . . . harken back to a time when women could not vote . . . those words come with a sting and a bite offensive to every woman sitting in this room and to every woman listening on-line today." President of the Arlington Ministerial Association. At 1:03:25
Meeting where it was approved:
See "Deaths in the Jail" tab.
Commissioner Ramirez tried to get a political consultant paid for with your taxpayer funds. 4/2/24
5/14/24
Please watch your Commissioner's Court Meetings on Tuesdays on YouTube to keep up with the waste.
Attend Commissioner's Court every other Tuesday to support the ethical, fiscally responsible Commissioner Alisa Simmons.
Or at least watch Commissioners Court every other Tuesday (YouTube or live). May 21 is the next session. to see how your taxpayer dollars are being wasted/spent. support Tarrant County Commissioner Simmons, the ethical and fiscally responsible commissioner.
Commissioner Ramirez tried to get a political consultant paid for with your taxpayer funds. 4/2/24
5/14/24
Please watch your Commissioner's Court Meetings on Tuesdays on YouTube to keep up with the waste.
Attend Commissioner's Court every other Tuesday to support the ethical, fiscally responsible Commissioner Alisa Simmons.
Or at least watch Commissioners Court every other Tuesday (YouTube or live). May 21 is the next session. to see how your taxpayer dollars are being wasted/spent. support Tarrant County Commissioner Simmons, the ethical and fiscally responsible commissioner.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
$200 million of your taxpayer dollars
Substandard "Developer Gave Tarrant Commissioners $35,000 and they Ok'd a $200 million dollar deal for his project
"Mehrdad Moayedi, the developer who will benefit from the recently approved public improvement district on Bonds Ranch Road, donated $25,000 to Commissioner Ramirez late last year, a couple months after he gave County Judge Tim O’Hare $10,000. The improvement district is in Ramriez’s precinct. A look into Moayedi’s past reveals unfinished projects, years-long delays, alleged faulty construction and alleged involvement in a securities fraud scheme, according to media reports and court records. He is president and CEO of Centurion American Development Group, which plans to build 1,100 homes on the improvement district site near Eagle Mountain Lake."
The only vote against the public improvement district came from commissioner Alisa Simmons, who questioned Moayedi’s reputation and business history in North Texas ahead of the vote.
THANK YOU Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons FOR BEING ETHICAL AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
4/30/24
Read more below.
VOTE FOR ALL THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT TO VOTE FOR ETHICAL CANDIDATES.
Making you Less Safe
$200 million of your taxpayer dollars
Substandard "Developer Gave Tarrant Commissioners $35,000 and they Ok'd a $200 million dollar deal for his project
"Mehrdad Moayedi, the developer who will benefit from the recently approved public improvement district on Bonds Ranch Road, donated $25,000 to Commissioner Ramirez late last year, a couple months after he gave County Judge Tim O’Hare $10,000. The improvement district is in Ramriez’s precinct. A look into Moayedi’s past reveals unfinished projects, years-long delays, alleged faulty construction and alleged involvement in a securities fraud scheme, according to media reports and court records. He is president and CEO of Centurion American Development Group, which plans to build 1,100 homes on the improvement district site near Eagle Mountain Lake."
The only vote against the public improvement district came from commissioner Alisa Simmons, who questioned Moayedi’s reputation and business history in North Texas ahead of the vote.
THANK YOU Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons FOR BEING ETHICAL AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
4/30/24
Read more below.
VOTE FOR ALL THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT TO VOTE FOR ETHICAL CANDIDATES.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Lawsuits - this is your money
$$$$$
*Chasity Congious – pending (dead baby in jail) $1.2K ONE MILLION AND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS
Resulted in the largest lawsuit in Tarrant County history 1.2 million dollars.
(settled 5/21/24) (See "Deaths in the Jail" tab)An innocent mother - in jail 5 months without one court hearing.
*Javonte Myers – $1 million paid Sept. 2023, negligence (seizure)(dead in jail cell 6 hours before body discovered)
Resulted in the largest lawsuit in Tarrant County history 1 million dollars at that time. It is now the second largest. (See "Deaths in the Jail" tab)
*Dean Stewart $400,000 paid 2023, negligence (suicide)
*COREY RODRIGUES – $200,000 paid 2023, 1/19/24 severely beaten by jailers (jailers beating and then hiding the inmate 2 days)(DA drops charges against jailers). The Jailers who beat Rodrigues did not pay for their crime, but Tarrant County taxpayers did.
Kemal Shea, $15 million Lawsuit Pending - Deputies Kills man and Dogs - Ruled Homicide
*Shanelle Jenkins vs. Officer Michael Tahmahkera, et al., Civil Action No. 4:23-cv-01207-P Lawsuit Pending. This is the Robert Miller case. Robert Miller who was handcuffed and pepper-sprayed to death (official cause of death sickle cell disease – Miller did not have sickle cell disease).
*Kelly Masten – Lawsuit pending, woman who should not have been in jail, not developed beyond a 4 yoa, intensive care 8 weeks after jailed 1 ½ weeks,
*Carolyn Rodriquez -Lawsuit Pending, Attorney Employment Agreement Engaging the Law Office of Jim Jeffrey as Outside Counsel Re: Defense of Tarrant County Employee (Deputy) David Ukle in a Lawsuit Entitled Carolyn Rodriguez v. Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, et al., Civil Action No. 4:24-cv-00237-O $250.00 per hour
AND engaging the Law Office of Kenneth E. East as outside counsel re: defense of former Tarrant County employee Larry Cox
*Georgia Baldwin Case - Lawsuit Pending, (died of dehydration) her sons sued, Attorney Dean Malone, suit filed 6/25/23
*Anthony Johnson, Sr., et al. v. Tarrant County, Texas, et al.; Cause No. 4:24-cv-686- Lawsuit Pending, Daryl Washington, an attorney for Anthony Johnson Jr.’s family
*Cassandra Houston v. Tarrant County, et al., Cause No. 096-349152-24 ????
*Baby Zenorah who died after being born in the jail case (above) reopened after already paying 1.2 million becasue Tarrant County Officials hid evidence. Lawsuit Pending Again
Cassandra Johnson (mother of Trelynn Wormley) v. Tarrant County Lawsuit Pending, Attorney Ben Crump who successfully sued on behalf of the George Floyd for $27 million. (filed July 29th 2024)
Padilla-Bernal v. Estrada, et al.; Cause No. 236-349314-24
Salinas v. Tarrant County, Texas; Cause No. 4:24-cv-00318-P
etc., etc., etc. . .
See the tab "Deaths in the Jail"
The above figures do not include attorneys fees - which you pay for both sides of the litigation.Anthony Johnson, Sr., et al. v. Tarrant County, Texas, et al.; Cause No. 4:24-cv-686
Making you Less Safe
Lawsuits - this is your money
$$$$$
*Chasity Congious – pending (dead baby in jail) $1.2K ONE MILLION AND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS
Resulted in the largest lawsuit in Tarrant County history 1.2 million dollars.
(settled 5/21/24) (See "Deaths in the Jail" tab)An innocent mother - in jail 5 months without one court hearing.
*Javonte Myers – $1 million paid Sept. 2023, negligence (seizure)(dead in jail cell 6 hours before body discovered)
Resulted in the largest lawsuit in Tarrant County history 1 million dollars at that time. It is now the second largest. (See "Deaths in the Jail" tab)
*Dean Stewart $400,000 paid 2023, negligence (suicide)
*COREY RODRIGUES – $200,000 paid 2023, 1/19/24 severely beaten by jailers (jailers beating and then hiding the inmate 2 days)(DA drops charges against jailers). The Jailers who beat Rodrigues did not pay for their crime, but Tarrant County taxpayers did.
Kemal Shea, $15 million Lawsuit Pending - Deputies Kills man and Dogs - Ruled Homicide
*Shanelle Jenkins vs. Officer Michael Tahmahkera, et al., Civil Action No. 4:23-cv-01207-P Lawsuit Pending. This is the Robert Miller case. Robert Miller who was handcuffed and pepper-sprayed to death (official cause of death sickle cell disease – Miller did not have sickle cell disease).
*Kelly Masten – Lawsuit pending, woman who should not have been in jail, not developed beyond a 4 yoa, intensive care 8 weeks after jailed 1 ½ weeks,
*Carolyn Rodriquez -Lawsuit Pending, Attorney Employment Agreement Engaging the Law Office of Jim Jeffrey as Outside Counsel Re: Defense of Tarrant County Employee (Deputy) David Ukle in a Lawsuit Entitled Carolyn Rodriguez v. Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, et al., Civil Action No. 4:24-cv-00237-O $250.00 per hour
AND engaging the Law Office of Kenneth E. East as outside counsel re: defense of former Tarrant County employee Larry Cox
*Georgia Baldwin Case - Lawsuit Pending, (died of dehydration) her sons sued, Attorney Dean Malone, suit filed 6/25/23
*Anthony Johnson, Sr., et al. v. Tarrant County, Texas, et al.; Cause No. 4:24-cv-686- Lawsuit Pending, Daryl Washington, an attorney for Anthony Johnson Jr.’s family
*Cassandra Houston v. Tarrant County, et al., Cause No. 096-349152-24 ????
*Baby Zenorah who died after being born in the jail case (above) reopened after already paying 1.2 million becasue Tarrant County Officials hid evidence. Lawsuit Pending Again
Cassandra Johnson (mother of Trelynn Wormley) v. Tarrant County Lawsuit Pending, Attorney Ben Crump who successfully sued on behalf of the George Floyd for $27 million. (filed July 29th 2024)
Padilla-Bernal v. Estrada, et al.; Cause No. 236-349314-24
Salinas v. Tarrant County, Texas; Cause No. 4:24-cv-00318-P
etc., etc., etc. . .
See the tab "Deaths in the Jail"
The above figures do not include attorneys fees - which you pay for both sides of the litigation.Anthony Johnson, Sr., et al. v. Tarrant County, Texas, et al.; Cause No. 4:24-cv-686
Ben Crump is now in Tarrant County.
LAWSUIT PENDING.
Tarrant County taxpayers should brace themselves and get ready to pay for the wrongs and incompetence of Republican elected officials.
How are drugs getting into the Tarrant Jail?
"Tarrant County has a “de facto policy” of letting drugs and other contraband into jails, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Fort Worth earlier this month. The lawsuit was filed by Cassandra Johnson, the mother of Trelynn Wormley, who died in the Tarrant County jail on July 20, 2022. The medical examiner found that Wormley’s death was due to a fentanyl overdose."
"It alleges that there have been 145 in-custody deaths in Tarrant County since 2017, with at least 64 of those occurring among people in custody of the Sheriff’s Office. At least six of those, including Wormley, were due to drug toxicity, according to medical examiner records."
"One of the deaths mentioned is that of Anthony Johnson Jr., who was killed in the Tarrant County jail during an altercation with jailers in April. The medical examiner ruled Johnson’s death a homicide."
"The lawsuit mentions Aaliyah Lyles, a commissary employee who was arrested for smuggling drugs into the Green Bay jail facility less than two months after Wormley’s death. Lyles was sentenced earlier this month to 10 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance, according to Tarrant County court records. The suit also refers to three other cases in which jailers either brought illegal drugs into the jails or failed to properly search inmates in possession of drugs."
"Attorney Ben Crump, whose firm filed the suit alongside lawyers from the McCathern law firm, said in an emailed statement to the Star-Telegram that the case is a “crucial step” in holding the county accountable for Wormley’s death. Both are national firms with offices in the Metroplex."
"Crump represented the family of George Floyd in their lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis and the police officers responsible for his death, which resulted in a $27 million settlement in March 2021. He also represented the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor and others killed by police in recent years. The lawsuit also mentions a call from U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey for the federal government to investigate the “distressing pattern of inmate deaths and jail incidents” at the Tarrant County jail."
For more regarding repeated warnings for years to Republican elected officials about how to avoid this, see www.stormerfortexas.co
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS
The Tarrant County Jail has 3 times the national average in deaths, costing Tarrant taxpayers millions in lawsuits. See www.StormerForTexas.com under the tab "Jail Deaths" and "Republicans are Wasting Our Money".
LAWSUIT PENDING.
Tarrant County taxpayers should brace themselves and get ready to pay for the wrongs and incompetence of Republican elected officials.
How are drugs getting into the Tarrant Jail?
"Tarrant County has a “de facto policy” of letting drugs and other contraband into jails, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Fort Worth earlier this month. The lawsuit was filed by Cassandra Johnson, the mother of Trelynn Wormley, who died in the Tarrant County jail on July 20, 2022. The medical examiner found that Wormley’s death was due to a fentanyl overdose."
"It alleges that there have been 145 in-custody deaths in Tarrant County since 2017, with at least 64 of those occurring among people in custody of the Sheriff’s Office. At least six of those, including Wormley, were due to drug toxicity, according to medical examiner records."
"One of the deaths mentioned is that of Anthony Johnson Jr., who was killed in the Tarrant County jail during an altercation with jailers in April. The medical examiner ruled Johnson’s death a homicide."
"The lawsuit mentions Aaliyah Lyles, a commissary employee who was arrested for smuggling drugs into the Green Bay jail facility less than two months after Wormley’s death. Lyles was sentenced earlier this month to 10 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance, according to Tarrant County court records. The suit also refers to three other cases in which jailers either brought illegal drugs into the jails or failed to properly search inmates in possession of drugs."
"Attorney Ben Crump, whose firm filed the suit alongside lawyers from the McCathern law firm, said in an emailed statement to the Star-Telegram that the case is a “crucial step” in holding the county accountable for Wormley’s death. Both are national firms with offices in the Metroplex."
"Crump represented the family of George Floyd in their lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis and the police officers responsible for his death, which resulted in a $27 million settlement in March 2021. He also represented the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor and others killed by police in recent years. The lawsuit also mentions a call from U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey for the federal government to investigate the “distressing pattern of inmate deaths and jail incidents” at the Tarrant County jail."
For more regarding repeated warnings for years to Republican elected officials about how to avoid this, see www.stormerfortexas.co
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS
The Tarrant County Jail has 3 times the national average in deaths, costing Tarrant taxpayers millions in lawsuits. See www.StormerForTexas.com under the tab "Jail Deaths" and "Republicans are Wasting Our Money".
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Abuse of Inmates will lead to more lawsuits
“The sworn complaints are full of horror stories, including one of a man who repeatedly slit his wrists to escape alleged daily sexual abuse by jailers.”
“jailers didn’t hear Congious’ tormented screams as she delivered a newborn”
See the article below:
Making you Less Safe
Abuse of Inmates will lead to more lawsuits
“The sworn complaints are full of horror stories, including one of a man who repeatedly slit his wrists to escape alleged daily sexual abuse by jailers.”
“jailers didn’t hear Congious’ tormented screams as she delivered a newborn”
See the article below:
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Judges not holding court
Retired State Representative Honorable Lon Burnham
at a presentation to Commissioner's Court
Judges are not holding court, not moving cases
“I want to make if real clear, I’m pissed about the waste of my time on October 30th when I went to the Central Jury Room with over 200 other people when I was informed. Oh, your services are not needed, you are dismissed because there are over 30 judges that are not holding court today. That speaks to the very real issue that a lot of people know. The judges are not working a 40 hour work week and they are getting paid way too much for the time that they don’t spend on the bench getting the job done.” You can’t get an alcoholic to recognize the problem and do something about it until they are willing to admit that there is a problem, I want you all to admit that you are not doing an adequate job and recognize that you have a serious problem. We are not going to fix the problem until Sheriff, Judges, and Commissioner’s Court recognizes that there is a problem." Retired State Representative Lon Burnham
at a presentation to Commissioner's Court (1/9/24)
Click button below for Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court at 3:07:49 on the timer.
Making you Less Safe
Judges not holding court
Retired State Representative Honorable Lon Burnham
at a presentation to Commissioner's Court
Judges are not holding court, not moving cases
“I want to make if real clear, I’m pissed about the waste of my time on October 30th when I went to the Central Jury Room with over 200 other people when I was informed. Oh, your services are not needed, you are dismissed because there are over 30 judges that are not holding court today. That speaks to the very real issue that a lot of people know. The judges are not working a 40 hour work week and they are getting paid way too much for the time that they don’t spend on the bench getting the job done.” You can’t get an alcoholic to recognize the problem and do something about it until they are willing to admit that there is a problem, I want you all to admit that you are not doing an adequate job and recognize that you have a serious problem. We are not going to fix the problem until Sheriff, Judges, and Commissioner’s Court recognizes that there is a problem." Retired State Representative Lon Burnham
at a presentation to Commissioner's Court (1/9/24)
Click button below for Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court at 3:07:49 on the timer.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Judges Not Moving Cases
A defendant charged with murder was on bond in the community and not convicted until five years later.
A Defendant who threatened to murder numerous members of a church was put on probation.
Deaths in the jail could be prevented by moving cases faster to prevent overcrowding and many other practices outlined in my book - BrainStormer, Dealing Logically, Ethically, and Efficiently with the Mentally Vulnerable and Those with Addictive Tendencies, What is Wrong with the Criminal Justice System and How to Fix it.
This presentation was made to Commissioner's Court on 7/16/24:
Judicial incompetence has caused Tarrant County taxpayers $69 million per year. And it could be more than three times that amount.
“Number 67 McLendon Caldwell might still be alive had you implemented public defenders as we requested for years. The 67 inmates that have died under the current Administration might still be alive if you had implemented public defenders. These are attorneys that are in the building.”
“On average people are sentenced to 70 days. On average, they are serving 133 days. 70 extra days x $100 per day= $7000 per inmate. 4100 inmates at any given time times 4100 x 7000 per inmate … $69 million per year is the cost of judges, not moving the cases.”
“It would be three times that much if you’re dealing with mentally ill people and they’re being treated properly to avoid lawsuits.
it has been stated that over half the people in the jail are mentally ill. Mentally ill tend to serve 11 times longer on their sentences because they can’t advocate for themselves. So it is most likely that these are mentally ill people.”
“If these people were being given proper care, it would be three times that much. But we know that they are not receiving that care because they’re dying and it’s costing us millions in lawsuits.”
“This is what judicial incompetence, lack of empathy, poor work ethic on the part of the judges is causing Tarrant County taxpayers.” …
“Incompetent uncaring judges that aren’t showing up for work and not doing their jobs when they are here. And you’re hiring a temporary judge to try to speed things up and clean up this mess before the election. Then you’ll undoubtedly go right back to what you were doing all along.”
“Not implementing the same requests that have been made to you by experienced knowledgeable citizens taking their own time coming down here telling you repeatedly for years what needs to be done.”
“This isn’t even counting the millions in lawsuits. And the pain and suffering family members who have lost their loved ones in this torture chamber you call jail.”
“This is jail space that we shouldn’t be paying for. If this were managed properly, you wouldn’t need to be sending 430 inmates to an out of county for profit prison in Garza county hundreds of miles away.”…
Josh Lucas
Making you Less Safe
Judges Not Moving Cases
A defendant charged with murder was on bond in the community and not convicted until five years later.
A Defendant who threatened to murder numerous members of a church was put on probation.
Deaths in the jail could be prevented by moving cases faster to prevent overcrowding and many other practices outlined in my book - BrainStormer, Dealing Logically, Ethically, and Efficiently with the Mentally Vulnerable and Those with Addictive Tendencies, What is Wrong with the Criminal Justice System and How to Fix it.
This presentation was made to Commissioner's Court on 7/16/24:
Judicial incompetence has caused Tarrant County taxpayers $69 million per year. And it could be more than three times that amount.
“Number 67 McLendon Caldwell might still be alive had you implemented public defenders as we requested for years. The 67 inmates that have died under the current Administration might still be alive if you had implemented public defenders. These are attorneys that are in the building.”
“On average people are sentenced to 70 days. On average, they are serving 133 days. 70 extra days x $100 per day= $7000 per inmate. 4100 inmates at any given time times 4100 x 7000 per inmate … $69 million per year is the cost of judges, not moving the cases.”
“It would be three times that much if you’re dealing with mentally ill people and they’re being treated properly to avoid lawsuits.
it has been stated that over half the people in the jail are mentally ill. Mentally ill tend to serve 11 times longer on their sentences because they can’t advocate for themselves. So it is most likely that these are mentally ill people.”
“If these people were being given proper care, it would be three times that much. But we know that they are not receiving that care because they’re dying and it’s costing us millions in lawsuits.”
“This is what judicial incompetence, lack of empathy, poor work ethic on the part of the judges is causing Tarrant County taxpayers.” …
“Incompetent uncaring judges that aren’t showing up for work and not doing their jobs when they are here. And you’re hiring a temporary judge to try to speed things up and clean up this mess before the election. Then you’ll undoubtedly go right back to what you were doing all along.”
“Not implementing the same requests that have been made to you by experienced knowledgeable citizens taking their own time coming down here telling you repeatedly for years what needs to be done.”
“This isn’t even counting the millions in lawsuits. And the pain and suffering family members who have lost their loved ones in this torture chamber you call jail.”
“This is jail space that we shouldn’t be paying for. If this were managed properly, you wouldn’t need to be sending 430 inmates to an out of county for profit prison in Garza county hundreds of miles away.”…
Josh Lucas
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Judges not Setting Cases for Hearings
Innocent People Languishing in Jail for Months
Tarrant County Taxpayers just paid $1.2 million dollars for the baby dying in the Tarrant jail case. “(The) Mother was left to bleed out and suffer in a cell for hours before she was given medical attention. . At no point during her five months in jail did she have a court hearing. . .” FW Weekly 1/24/24 Not a single court hearing the five months she was in jail. Why did no Tarrant County judge set this case for a single hearing in five months? 86% of the people in the Tarrant Jail are awaiting court action. What are the judges doing? 47 (Republican) judges, each with a salary of over $100k per year.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Republicans are wasting your tax dollars.
Making you Less Safe
Judges not Setting Cases for Hearings
Innocent People Languishing in Jail for Months
Tarrant County Taxpayers just paid $1.2 million dollars for the baby dying in the Tarrant jail case. “(The) Mother was left to bleed out and suffer in a cell for hours before she was given medical attention. . At no point during her five months in jail did she have a court hearing. . .” FW Weekly 1/24/24 Not a single court hearing the five months she was in jail. Why did no Tarrant County judge set this case for a single hearing in five months? 86% of the people in the Tarrant Jail are awaiting court action. What are the judges doing? 47 (Republican) judges, each with a salary of over $100k per year.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Republicans are wasting your tax dollars.
“It sometimes takes up to four days to get a bond on a class B misdemeanor (very low-level offense) and then another two days to get out of jail.” Attorney Jackee Cox, Commissioners Court Tarrant County 6/4/24.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Judges not moving cases
Commissioner Alisa Simmons at Commissioner’s Court
10/10/23
68 in jail on $500 bonds (or less)
2,179 days in jail at a state cost of
$185,000
Minor offenses like criminal trespass
Making you Less Safe
Judges not moving cases
Commissioner Alisa Simmons at Commissioner’s Court
10/10/23
68 in jail on $500 bonds (or less)
2,179 days in jail at a state cost of
$185,000
Minor offenses like criminal trespass
Misallocation of taxpayer funds
REPUBLICANS ON TARRANT COUNTY’S COMMISSIONERS COURT TAKE MONEY FROM HOMELESS AND CHILDCARE TO FUND ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING FACILITY
County Judge Tim O’Hare, and the other two Republicans on the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, take $44 million dollars in federal COVID relief funds already designated by the federal government for housing homeless and children, and give it to the Sheriff for a training facility, and to pay out of county for-profit prisons . Note Tarrant County taxpayers paid $101 million for a law-enforcement training facility on Northwest campus in 2017. It received an award from the FBI as being the best of its kind in the nation. And there’s still a North Central, Texas council of governments, police academy in Arlington Texas.
REPUBLICANS ON TARRANT COUNTY’S COMMISSIONERS COURT TAKE MONEY FROM HOMELESS AND CHILDCARE TO FUND ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING FACILITY
County Judge Tim O’Hare, and the other two Republicans on the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, take $44 million dollars in federal COVID relief funds already designated by the federal government for housing homeless and children, and give it to the Sheriff for a training facility, and to pay out of county for-profit prisons . Note Tarrant County taxpayers paid $101 million for a law-enforcement training facility on Northwest campus in 2017. It received an award from the FBI as being the best of its kind in the nation. And there’s still a North Central, Texas council of governments, police academy in Arlington Texas.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Unnecessary and illegal incarcerations
FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR UNNECESSARY ARRESTS IN TARRANT COUNTY
Think this doesn't affect you?
In 2023 there were 1,306 people put in the Tarrant Jail on Class C Misdemeanors e.g. speeding. Jail time is illegal on Class C misdemeanors.
Penal Code Sec. 12.23: An individual adjudged guilty of a Class C misdemeanor shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.
That’s 1306 times the police officers put someone in jail when it was illegal to do so
That’s 1306 times the judges set bonds for people that never should have been in jail in the first place
That’s 1306 cases of false imprisonment (arguably a felony given the conditions of the Tarrant Jail)
That’s 1306 potential lawsuits here in Tarrant County
This is how Waller County got sued for millions of dollars and we eventually ended up with the Sandra Bland Act.
Further, when a person is arrested, their vehicle is towed. The largest contributors to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s campaign are tow truck drivers (as of early 2024).
Making you Less Safe
Unnecessary and illegal incarcerations
FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR UNNECESSARY ARRESTS IN TARRANT COUNTY
Think this doesn't affect you?
In 2023 there were 1,306 people put in the Tarrant Jail on Class C Misdemeanors e.g. speeding. Jail time is illegal on Class C misdemeanors.
Penal Code Sec. 12.23: An individual adjudged guilty of a Class C misdemeanor shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.
That’s 1306 times the police officers put someone in jail when it was illegal to do so
That’s 1306 times the judges set bonds for people that never should have been in jail in the first place
That’s 1306 cases of false imprisonment (arguably a felony given the conditions of the Tarrant Jail)
That’s 1306 potential lawsuits here in Tarrant County
This is how Waller County got sued for millions of dollars and we eventually ended up with the Sandra Bland Act.
Further, when a person is arrested, their vehicle is towed. The largest contributors to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s campaign are tow truck drivers (as of early 2024).
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Unnecessary Incarcerations
TOWN HALL MEETING BY COMMISSIONER SIMMONS 1/18/24
On a $25 bond, the crime: “He was sitting in a curb and refused to move for street sweeper. He stayed in jail over 90 days. 90 days at $85 per day. That is about $7,600. THAT IS YOUR MONEY” Commissioner Simmons.
“[A] Mental Health Diversion center. In the past year 2022 the center was basically unused.” Tarrant County Judge Nekom.
(see below)
“We couldn’t figure out how to set a personal bond.” Greg Shugart, Criminal Court Administrator
Note: A personal bond is one at no cost so people don’t stay in jail for months that are innocent or have no money – low level, non-violent offenses.
Nekom at 1:55 min on this video
Shugart at 1:42 min on this video. 1/18/24 Town Hall Meeting
“It sometimes takes up to four days to get a bond on a class B misdemeanor (lowest level of offense for which there is jail time and judges rarely expect anyone to spend time in jail for such offenses) and then another two days to get out of jail. . . it is an extortion racket.” Attorney Jackee Cox, Commissioners Court Tarrant County 6/4/24.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Not using the Jail Diversion Center
“[A] Mental Health Diversion center. In the past year 2022 the center was basically unused.” Tarrant County Judge Nekom at the Town Hall Meeting by Commissioner Simmons 1/18/24
Note: Your tax dollars are paying to staff this facility, but judges are not sending people there. It accommodates 400 people per month. There would be no need for an out-of-county, for-profit jail costing $22 million dollars per year if this facility were used.
Also, it would have saved the lives of some inmates like Robert Miller and Georgia Baldwin and the life of baby Zenorah born in the jail to a mother who should not have been in jail.
Thank you, Commissioner Alisa Simmons, for fighting for fiscally responsible measures.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Republicans are costing people their lives with mismanagement and wasting your tax dollars.
“If you don’t put people’s feet to the fire, they are not going to comply. This Tarrant County Jail Diversion Center is not being used to its full capacity. The court system is not requiring conditions of probation that would save lives, and restore communities.
Employee of the Jail Diversion Center, Tarrant County
Making you Less Safe
Not using the Jail Diversion Center
“[A] Mental Health Diversion center. In the past year 2022 the center was basically unused.” Tarrant County Judge Nekom at the Town Hall Meeting by Commissioner Simmons 1/18/24
Note: Your tax dollars are paying to staff this facility, but judges are not sending people there. It accommodates 400 people per month. There would be no need for an out-of-county, for-profit jail costing $22 million dollars per year if this facility were used.
Also, it would have saved the lives of some inmates like Robert Miller and Georgia Baldwin and the life of baby Zenorah born in the jail to a mother who should not have been in jail.
Thank you, Commissioner Alisa Simmons, for fighting for fiscally responsible measures.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Republicans are costing people their lives with mismanagement and wasting your tax dollars.
“If you don’t put people’s feet to the fire, they are not going to comply. This Tarrant County Jail Diversion Center is not being used to its full capacity. The court system is not requiring conditions of probation that would save lives, and restore communities.
Employee of the Jail Diversion Center, Tarrant County
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
More Unnecessary and illegal incarcerations
There were 329 incompetent individuals in the Tarrant County Jail last year. They served an average of 282 days each. The average sentenced days for the charged offenses would have been 8 days. The charge that the mentally ill are most frequently charged with is criminal trespass (translation: being homeless and in public with a mental illness). You don’t need to wait for a State Hospital Bed to restore competency, you can just dismiss the charges on these low-level, non-violent offenses. This would save millions in lawsuits.
Thank you Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons for being the empathic, fiscally responsible Commissioner.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING YOUR TAX DOLLARS
Hundreds of Tarrant County Jail inmates are awaiting competency restoration at any given time before their cases can be resolved. They have not been found guilty of any crime. The wait time is years for some. With billions of dollars in surplus last year, very little was spent to resolve this problem by the Republicans in charge (on the state or local level).
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING YOUR TAX DOLLARS
See the video below where Commissioners Court was notified that they would have personal liability if they failed to keep low-level, non-violent offenders out of the jail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FyKySA7SQk&t=368s
Making you Less Safe
More Unnecessary and illegal incarcerations
There were 329 incompetent individuals in the Tarrant County Jail last year. They served an average of 282 days each. The average sentenced days for the charged offenses would have been 8 days. The charge that the mentally ill are most frequently charged with is criminal trespass (translation: being homeless and in public with a mental illness). You don’t need to wait for a State Hospital Bed to restore competency, you can just dismiss the charges on these low-level, non-violent offenses. This would save millions in lawsuits.
Thank you Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons for being the empathic, fiscally responsible Commissioner.
Vote for freedom, Democracy, and fiscal responsibility. Vote for all Democratic candidates on the ballot.
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING YOUR TAX DOLLARS
Hundreds of Tarrant County Jail inmates are awaiting competency restoration at any given time before their cases can be resolved. They have not been found guilty of any crime. The wait time is years for some. With billions of dollars in surplus last year, very little was spent to resolve this problem by the Republicans in charge (on the state or local level).
REPUBLICANS ARE WASTING YOUR TAX DOLLARS
See the video below where Commissioners Court was notified that they would have personal liability if they failed to keep low-level, non-violent offenders out of the jail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FyKySA7SQk&t=368s
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
WRONGFUL PROSECUTION OF CRYSTAL MASON
TWO SEPARATE TEXAS APPELLATE COURTS WITH ALL REPUBLICAN, CONSERVATIVE JUDGES HAVE CONCLUDED THAT MASON WAS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED.
I was the Conviction Integrity Attorney (overturning wrongful convictions) for the Dallas District Attorney's Office, a former Elected District Attorney, an appellate attorney for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office, and a career prosecutor. I have read the appeals briefs in the Crystal Mason case. This was a wrongful conviction (two appellate courts have reviewed the evidence and agreed that she should not have been prosecuted -that is 16 Republican Judges), The NONPARTISAN League of Women Voters FILED 4 SEPARATE BRIEFS IN THE CASE requesting that Mason not be prosecuted. Mason deserves restitution and not further persecution.
The prosecution amounted to voter suppression - which of course is the motivation). This was 2016. We have had the 2018 midterms. The 2020 Presidential election, the 2022 midterms - IT IS ONE PERSON. . . .THE BALLOT NEVER COUNTED . . .This case is eight years old.
Why are you not prosecuting the Republican Mansfield School Board Candidate who voted on a provisional ballot just like Crystal Mason and worse - he then got on the ballot illegally over objection.
It is estimated that the incarceration alone of this mother and grandmother cost taxpayers over $100,000.00. The attorneys’ fees (paid for by taxpayers on both sides) AND LOSS OF THIS MOTHER TO THE FAMILY FOR THE TIME OF INCARCERATION may be incalculable.
Thank you Commissioner Alisa Simmons of the Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 2 for being the fiscally responsible, intelligent Commissioner and calling this out for the voter SUPPRESSION that it is.
Crystal Mason is also the caretaker for her brothers 4 children. Crystal Mason continues fighting for democracy see below: through The Fight, a nonprofit that advocates for prison reform and integration of prisoners into society.
FYI - lawyers do not tell their clients all the ramifications of convictions. See my book Texas Small Firm Practice Tools to see the pages devoted to collateral consequences for convictions. She has never hurt anyone. Her original offense was tax related. Police never investigated this voter fraud case. It was handpicked by Republican officials to suppress votes.
Her comment about the arrest for voting:
“Being a mother, a nourisher, a provider, it was the hardest thing in the world to leave your kids. I had promised them I would never leave them.” “We have to go door to door and tell people how important their vote is” “Your one vote can make a difference”
CRYSTAL IS VOTING. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE REST OF US.
She was on an appeal bond for 6 years. The election judge at the polling site was the one responsible for not pointing out that she was on parole before she voted. She was offered probation, but refused it as she had not committed any crime. The provisional ballot she cast must be cured. This means it never counted.
DA Sorrells, You may be watching the vote, but history is watching you.
Thank you Alisa Simmons for Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 2 for being the fiscally responsible, intelligent Commissioner.
Contact the Tarrant County District Attorney and ask him to stop wasting YOUR MONEY and making Tarrant County the embarrassing national epicenter of VOTER SUPPRESSION: Telephone 817-884-1111
Making you Less Safe
WRONGFUL PROSECUTION OF CRYSTAL MASON
TWO SEPARATE TEXAS APPELLATE COURTS WITH ALL REPUBLICAN, CONSERVATIVE JUDGES HAVE CONCLUDED THAT MASON WAS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED.
I was the Conviction Integrity Attorney (overturning wrongful convictions) for the Dallas District Attorney's Office, a former Elected District Attorney, an appellate attorney for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office, and a career prosecutor. I have read the appeals briefs in the Crystal Mason case. This was a wrongful conviction (two appellate courts have reviewed the evidence and agreed that she should not have been prosecuted -that is 16 Republican Judges), The NONPARTISAN League of Women Voters FILED 4 SEPARATE BRIEFS IN THE CASE requesting that Mason not be prosecuted. Mason deserves restitution and not further persecution.
The prosecution amounted to voter suppression - which of course is the motivation). This was 2016. We have had the 2018 midterms. The 2020 Presidential election, the 2022 midterms - IT IS ONE PERSON. . . .THE BALLOT NEVER COUNTED . . .This case is eight years old.
Why are you not prosecuting the Republican Mansfield School Board Candidate who voted on a provisional ballot just like Crystal Mason and worse - he then got on the ballot illegally over objection.
It is estimated that the incarceration alone of this mother and grandmother cost taxpayers over $100,000.00. The attorneys’ fees (paid for by taxpayers on both sides) AND LOSS OF THIS MOTHER TO THE FAMILY FOR THE TIME OF INCARCERATION may be incalculable.
Thank you Commissioner Alisa Simmons of the Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 2 for being the fiscally responsible, intelligent Commissioner and calling this out for the voter SUPPRESSION that it is.
Crystal Mason is also the caretaker for her brothers 4 children. Crystal Mason continues fighting for democracy see below: through The Fight, a nonprofit that advocates for prison reform and integration of prisoners into society.
FYI - lawyers do not tell their clients all the ramifications of convictions. See my book Texas Small Firm Practice Tools to see the pages devoted to collateral consequences for convictions. She has never hurt anyone. Her original offense was tax related. Police never investigated this voter fraud case. It was handpicked by Republican officials to suppress votes.
Her comment about the arrest for voting:
“Being a mother, a nourisher, a provider, it was the hardest thing in the world to leave your kids. I had promised them I would never leave them.” “We have to go door to door and tell people how important their vote is” “Your one vote can make a difference”
CRYSTAL IS VOTING. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE REST OF US.
She was on an appeal bond for 6 years. The election judge at the polling site was the one responsible for not pointing out that she was on parole before she voted. She was offered probation, but refused it as she had not committed any crime. The provisional ballot she cast must be cured. This means it never counted.
DA Sorrells, You may be watching the vote, but history is watching you.
Thank you Alisa Simmons for Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 2 for being the fiscally responsible, intelligent Commissioner.
Contact the Tarrant County District Attorney and ask him to stop wasting YOUR MONEY and making Tarrant County the embarrassing national epicenter of VOTER SUPPRESSION: Telephone 817-884-1111
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Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Voter Suppression at Taxpayer Expense
TARRANT COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ATTACKING DEMOCRACY.
Voter suppression is parading as “election integrity”. The Election Integrity Task force in the District Attorney’s Office has three Assistant District Attorneys and an investigator. The supervisor is paid approximately $165,000 per year. They have only had 12 complaints made to the District Attorney’s office. Citizens complain publicly (documented on video found on YouTube or the Commissioners website) to Commissioners Court that their complaints against Republicans violators are ignored. This while Tarrant County is the largest county in the United States that has no public defenders i.e. attorneys specialized in moving mental health cases. These attorneys save lives and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer’s money. See Commissioner's Court Meeting 6/4/24.
“Tarrant County Texas is the epicenter for voter suppression” Former State Representative the Honorable Lon Burnam to Commissioner's Court 6/4/24.
“This so-called election integrity unit is just political posturing meant to sow confusion among voters and criminalize voting. I think Tarrant County would be better served focusing its resources on making elections more accessible to voters and providing open lines to voters to help with any problems they may face, but this so-called election integrity unit is not going to accomplish that.” - Ashley Harris, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas
Dallas News
Post in Tarrant4change
"Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare, Sheriff Bill Waybourn, and District Attorney Phil Sorrells are creating an election fraud investigation unit.
This is a tactical move to intimidate voters before the local 5/6/2023 elections and potential candidates before the filing deadline of 2/17/2023. There is potential they will still try to go after Deborah Peoples campaign too. We need folks to help push back on this attack on our democracy.
Making you Less Safe
Voter Suppression at Taxpayer Expense
TARRANT COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ATTACKING DEMOCRACY.
Voter suppression is parading as “election integrity”. The Election Integrity Task force in the District Attorney’s Office has three Assistant District Attorneys and an investigator. The supervisor is paid approximately $165,000 per year. They have only had 12 complaints made to the District Attorney’s office. Citizens complain publicly (documented on video found on YouTube or the Commissioners website) to Commissioners Court that their complaints against Republicans violators are ignored. This while Tarrant County is the largest county in the United States that has no public defenders i.e. attorneys specialized in moving mental health cases. These attorneys save lives and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer’s money. See Commissioner's Court Meeting 6/4/24.
“Tarrant County Texas is the epicenter for voter suppression” Former State Representative the Honorable Lon Burnam to Commissioner's Court 6/4/24.
“This so-called election integrity unit is just political posturing meant to sow confusion among voters and criminalize voting. I think Tarrant County would be better served focusing its resources on making elections more accessible to voters and providing open lines to voters to help with any problems they may face, but this so-called election integrity unit is not going to accomplish that.” - Ashley Harris, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas
Dallas News
Post in Tarrant4change
"Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare, Sheriff Bill Waybourn, and District Attorney Phil Sorrells are creating an election fraud investigation unit.
This is a tactical move to intimidate voters before the local 5/6/2023 elections and potential candidates before the filing deadline of 2/17/2023. There is potential they will still try to go after Deborah Peoples campaign too. We need folks to help push back on this attack on our democracy.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Voter Suppression parading as Election Integrity in the District Attorney's Office
Tarrant County Taxpayers are paying $165,000 per year for a prosecutor in the District Attorneys office the sole purpose of which is a voter suppression. They have not prosecuted a single case since the unit was established. Making you less safe as this prosecutor could be moving cases out of the local jail and on to the State Penitentiary where the violent offenders should be.
BECAUSE IT WILL RESULT IN MORE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Voter Suppression parading as Election Integrity in the Sheriffs Office
There are investigations for voter suppression and immigration in the Sheriffs Office, neither of which are constitutionally mandated duties. Care of the people in the jail, however is the biggest responsibility and a duty of the sheriff. However, we have three times the national average of deaths in our jail resulting in numerous lawsuits. These deputies could be working on crime or preventing the atrocities in the jail that are resulting in lawsuits.
See the letter from Congressman Veasey and numerous other elected officials requesting an investigation of Tarrant County Republican Officials. Republican officials are wasting your tax dollars engaging in voter suppression.
Making you Less Safe
Voter Suppression parading as Election Integrity in the District Attorney's Office
Tarrant County Taxpayers are paying $165,000 per year for a prosecutor in the District Attorneys office the sole purpose of which is a voter suppression. They have not prosecuted a single case since the unit was established. Making you less safe as this prosecutor could be moving cases out of the local jail and on to the State Penitentiary where the violent offenders should be.
BECAUSE IT WILL RESULT IN MORE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Voter Suppression parading as Election Integrity in the Sheriffs Office
There are investigations for voter suppression and immigration in the Sheriffs Office, neither of which are constitutionally mandated duties. Care of the people in the jail, however is the biggest responsibility and a duty of the sheriff. However, we have three times the national average of deaths in our jail resulting in numerous lawsuits. These deputies could be working on crime or preventing the atrocities in the jail that are resulting in lawsuits.
See the letter from Congressman Veasey and numerous other elected officials requesting an investigation of Tarrant County Republican Officials. Republican officials are wasting your tax dollars engaging in voter suppression.
Wasting our Money
Forcing Out Competent, highly regarded Elections Administrator of Tarrant County resulting in
Loss of Institutional Knowledge
Forced out of his job by Judge O'Hare
This is the first meeting without Heider Garcia, who recently resigned from being the Tarrant County Elections Office Administrator.
From Texas Tribune: Garcia, in his resignation letter to county leaders, wrote, “When leadership respects the team’s values and shows trust, members of the team become the best version of themselves. … Judge O’Hare, my formula to ‘administer a quality transparent election’ stands on respect and zero politics; compromising on these values is not an option for me. You made it clear in our last meeting that your formula is different, thus, my decision is to leave.”
Read more from the article here:
Forcing Out Competent, highly regarded Elections Administrator of Tarrant County resulting in
Loss of Institutional Knowledge
Forced out of his job by Judge O'Hare
This is the first meeting without Heider Garcia, who recently resigned from being the Tarrant County Elections Office Administrator.
From Texas Tribune: Garcia, in his resignation letter to county leaders, wrote, “When leadership respects the team’s values and shows trust, members of the team become the best version of themselves. … Judge O’Hare, my formula to ‘administer a quality transparent election’ stands on respect and zero politics; compromising on these values is not an option for me. You made it clear in our last meeting that your formula is different, thus, my decision is to leave.”
Read more from the article here:
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Republican Elected Officials engaging in Voter Suppression
Tarrant County elected officials want to be the enforcers of Election Integrity
Justice Department to meet with Tarrant County Democrats about voter suppression letter
Making you Less Safe
Republican Elected Officials engaging in Voter Suppression
Tarrant County elected officials want to be the enforcers of Election Integrity
Justice Department to meet with Tarrant County Democrats about voter suppression letter
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
No Competency Attorney
Dallas County created an Assistant District Attorney (ADA) position who specialized in competency. This attorney not only got people out of jail and into hospitals or other facilities to get the treatment they deserved, it saved lives and for Dallas taxpayers it saved $300,000 the first year the position was created and even more each year after that.
The Republicans on Tarrant County Commissioner's Court refuse to implement this cost saving measure even though they have been publicly advised to do so by a Mental Health Expert. (See Stormer's repeated testimony to Commissioner's Court below)
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Head of Commissioner's Court attempt to take over the Judiciary forcing judges to be present at Commissioner's Court and therefore not moving cases
On April 2, 2024, the head of our Commissioner’s Court (executive branch, O’Hare) tried to take over the judiciary by pressuring the Court Administrator to resign (which eventually happened in June 2024) and attempting to place their 63 employees in a position to report directly to O’Hare. This caused many of the judges to come to Commissioner’s Court (taking time away from moving cases). O'Hare stated that he didn't want people working 10 hours and getting paid for 40. O’Hare received so much pressure from local judges and attorneys on this issue, that he decided to put it off until June.
Making you Less Safe
Head of Commissioner's Court attempt to take over the Judiciary forcing judges to be present at Commissioner's Court and therefore not moving cases
On April 2, 2024, the head of our Commissioner’s Court (executive branch, O’Hare) tried to take over the judiciary by pressuring the Court Administrator to resign (which eventually happened in June 2024) and attempting to place their 63 employees in a position to report directly to O’Hare. This caused many of the judges to come to Commissioner’s Court (taking time away from moving cases). O'Hare stated that he didn't want people working 10 hours and getting paid for 40. O’Hare received so much pressure from local judges and attorneys on this issue, that he decided to put it off until June.
Wasting our Money
Poll tax on free speech
Beloved local Pastor Ryon Price was banned from speaking at Commissioner’s Court for reading the letter to the Department of Justice from Texas A&M Lawsuit about the unnecessary deaths in the Tarrant Jail. Shortly after that Retired State Representative Lon Burnam (Democrat) was banned after the Republican County Judge refused to let Commissioner Simmons (Democrat) request the Standard Operating Procedure Manual from the Sheriff e.g. a lack of policy on pepper spray is resulting in unnecessary deaths. This is the same fiscally, responsible, ethical commissioner being berated and ignored and ordered to “sit there and be quiet and have some class“, because she exposed that a right wing extremist political consultant was paid with your tax dollars to keep the extremist in power. Burnham objected to this and pointed out that Simmons represents one fourth of the County and should be allowed to speak.
These advocates for justice were banned indefinitely for advocating for vulnerable – they have no 1st Amendment rights.
True Texas Project a nationally designated extremist group is allowed to hold their convention here – because the local government does not want to infringe on their First amendment rights. (See photograph of Sheriff with Kyle Rittenhouse, keynote speaker for this group on this same page).
Shortly after this the County implemented a new rule. Now one must get permission from the Sheriff and pay his deputies (however many and at whatever price the Sheriff deems is necessary).
All this will undoubtedly result in more lawsuits for which Tarrant taxpayers will pay the attorney’s fees on both sides of the litigation.
Poll tax on free speech
Beloved local Pastor Ryon Price was banned from speaking at Commissioner’s Court for reading the letter to the Department of Justice from Texas A&M Lawsuit about the unnecessary deaths in the Tarrant Jail. Shortly after that Retired State Representative Lon Burnam (Democrat) was banned after the Republican County Judge refused to let Commissioner Simmons (Democrat) request the Standard Operating Procedure Manual from the Sheriff e.g. a lack of policy on pepper spray is resulting in unnecessary deaths. This is the same fiscally, responsible, ethical commissioner being berated and ignored and ordered to “sit there and be quiet and have some class“, because she exposed that a right wing extremist political consultant was paid with your tax dollars to keep the extremist in power. Burnham objected to this and pointed out that Simmons represents one fourth of the County and should be allowed to speak.
These advocates for justice were banned indefinitely for advocating for vulnerable – they have no 1st Amendment rights.
True Texas Project a nationally designated extremist group is allowed to hold their convention here – because the local government does not want to infringe on their First amendment rights. (See photograph of Sheriff with Kyle Rittenhouse, keynote speaker for this group on this same page).
Shortly after this the County implemented a new rule. Now one must get permission from the Sheriff and pay his deputies (however many and at whatever price the Sheriff deems is necessary).
All this will undoubtedly result in more lawsuits for which Tarrant taxpayers will pay the attorney’s fees on both sides of the litigation.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Exposing County to Sexual discrimination Lawsuits
Losing Institutional Knowledge
Republican commissioners, and County Judge, Tim O’Hare appoint only men and no women
“In the months after O’Hare, a lawyer from Southlake, and Commissioner Manny Ramirez took office in 2023, county commissioners made 11 prominent hires or appointments. All 11 were men. Commissioners also stopped requiring anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training that protected women.”
Note: this move will subject, Tarrant County taxpayers to unnecessary lawsuits. Training and policies on these matters must be in place to avoid lawsuits.
“[The Republican party, does not] support women having an equal role or say. “”In a party where belligerence, aggressiveness and testosterone are now prized, women have become disposable. “”Republican women were purged from three state judgeships, a state school board seat, a local Texas House seat and a countywide office Tuesday, and one of the staunchest Republican women in the Texas House was pushed into a May 28 runoff.”
Making you Less Safe
Exposing County to Sexual discrimination Lawsuits
Losing Institutional Knowledge
Republican commissioners, and County Judge, Tim O’Hare appoint only men and no women
“In the months after O’Hare, a lawyer from Southlake, and Commissioner Manny Ramirez took office in 2023, county commissioners made 11 prominent hires or appointments. All 11 were men. Commissioners also stopped requiring anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training that protected women.”
Note: this move will subject, Tarrant County taxpayers to unnecessary lawsuits. Training and policies on these matters must be in place to avoid lawsuits.
“[The Republican party, does not] support women having an equal role or say. “”In a party where belligerence, aggressiveness and testosterone are now prized, women have become disposable. “”Republican women were purged from three state judgeships, a state school board seat, a local Texas House seat and a countywide office Tuesday, and one of the staunchest Republican women in the Texas House was pushed into a May 28 runoff.”
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
DEPUTIES KILL MAN AND HIS DOGS
"The family of a North Texas man killed in a standoff with deputies is suing the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, alleging that deputies intentionally set a fire at the man’s home while attempting to execute an arrest warrant and then shot him without provocation. Kemal Shea, 58, was killed by Tarrant County sheriff’s deputies trying to serve the warrant on June 23, 2022, authorities said at the time. . . The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide, saying he was killed by a gunshot wound to the neck"
"The family claims in the suit that Shea was burned alive along with two pet dogs. . .The suit seeks more than $15 million"
Making you Less Safe
DEPUTIES KILL MAN AND HIS DOGS
"The family of a North Texas man killed in a standoff with deputies is suing the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, alleging that deputies intentionally set a fire at the man’s home while attempting to execute an arrest warrant and then shot him without provocation. Kemal Shea, 58, was killed by Tarrant County sheriff’s deputies trying to serve the warrant on June 23, 2022, authorities said at the time. . . The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide, saying he was killed by a gunshot wound to the neck"
"The family claims in the suit that Shea was burned alive along with two pet dogs. . .The suit seeks more than $15 million"
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Threat to Democracy
Tax dollars spent on Anti-government groups as one of the architects of the failed coup.
“FAR RIGHT SHERIFF THREATENS DEMOCRACY”
“Just weeks before the 2020 presidential election, John Eastman co-drafted the 70 Days Report for the Claremont Institute, a far-right research group that officials with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have tied to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol which left seven dead and hundreds of rioters facing federal criminal charges.. . . The recent seizure of Eastman’s phone by FBI agents has direct implications for (Sheriff) Waybourn and anyone with direct ties to groups that may have planned and implemented the insurrection. Eastman, founder of the Claremont’s Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, is frequently described by experts who follow anti-government groups as one of the architects of the failed coup.”
“Waybourn was one of six Claremont fellowship attendees affiliated with the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA), a group labeled as anti-government extremists by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. CSPOA wants to place regular military troops along the southern border, fight efforts to mandate background checks for firearm sales, and reduce or eliminate federal control of state land, among other conservative initiatives.
“Bill Waybourn, Constitutional Candidate for Sheriff of Tarrant County, is officially endorsed by CSPOA founder and president Sheriff Richard Mack,” reads a 2016 CSPOA Facebook post. Mack, who founded CSPOA in 2011, is also a founding board member of the far-right militia the Oath Keepers that federal prosecutors believe spearheaded the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6. ”
Uniting the ideologies of right-wing militias is the false belief that the United States is a solely Christian nation that should be ruled by fundamentalist Christian politicians. The most outspoken proponents of Christian Nationalism in Fort Worth can be found at Mercy Culture Church, the charismatic megachurch at the center of this week’s cover story.
The Republican controlled Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court used $6,000.00 of taxpayer’s money to send the current Sheriff, Bill Waybourn, to Claremount training (where law enforcement officers are trained to ignore federal law) affiliated with the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA). The group and the Oath Keeper’s training were organized by attorney John Eastman. CSPOA wants to place regular military troops along the southern border, fight efforts to mandate background checks for firearm sales, and reduce or eliminate federal control of state land, among other conservative initiatives. (source Ft Worth Weekly).
“Waybourn is a frequent visitor and speaker at Mercy Culture events that promote Republican candidates, despite federal laws that ban churches, which are tax-exempt, from endorsing political candidates. By making human trafficking a major focus of his administration, Waybourn is again aligning himself with far-right groups that include Mercy Culture Church. Without any evidence, QAnon followers and other right-wing fanatics maintain that Democrats and Hollywood elites manage large rings of human trafficking, the umbrella term that encompasses forced sex and labor.”
Making you Less Safe
Threat to Democracy
Tax dollars spent on Anti-government groups as one of the architects of the failed coup.
“FAR RIGHT SHERIFF THREATENS DEMOCRACY”
“Just weeks before the 2020 presidential election, John Eastman co-drafted the 70 Days Report for the Claremont Institute, a far-right research group that officials with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have tied to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol which left seven dead and hundreds of rioters facing federal criminal charges.. . . The recent seizure of Eastman’s phone by FBI agents has direct implications for (Sheriff) Waybourn and anyone with direct ties to groups that may have planned and implemented the insurrection. Eastman, founder of the Claremont’s Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, is frequently described by experts who follow anti-government groups as one of the architects of the failed coup.”
“Waybourn was one of six Claremont fellowship attendees affiliated with the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA), a group labeled as anti-government extremists by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. CSPOA wants to place regular military troops along the southern border, fight efforts to mandate background checks for firearm sales, and reduce or eliminate federal control of state land, among other conservative initiatives.
“Bill Waybourn, Constitutional Candidate for Sheriff of Tarrant County, is officially endorsed by CSPOA founder and president Sheriff Richard Mack,” reads a 2016 CSPOA Facebook post. Mack, who founded CSPOA in 2011, is also a founding board member of the far-right militia the Oath Keepers that federal prosecutors believe spearheaded the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6. ”
Uniting the ideologies of right-wing militias is the false belief that the United States is a solely Christian nation that should be ruled by fundamentalist Christian politicians. The most outspoken proponents of Christian Nationalism in Fort Worth can be found at Mercy Culture Church, the charismatic megachurch at the center of this week’s cover story.
The Republican controlled Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court used $6,000.00 of taxpayer’s money to send the current Sheriff, Bill Waybourn, to Claremount training (where law enforcement officers are trained to ignore federal law) affiliated with the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA). The group and the Oath Keeper’s training were organized by attorney John Eastman. CSPOA wants to place regular military troops along the southern border, fight efforts to mandate background checks for firearm sales, and reduce or eliminate federal control of state land, among other conservative initiatives. (source Ft Worth Weekly).
“Waybourn is a frequent visitor and speaker at Mercy Culture events that promote Republican candidates, despite federal laws that ban churches, which are tax-exempt, from endorsing political candidates. By making human trafficking a major focus of his administration, Waybourn is again aligning himself with far-right groups that include Mercy Culture Church. Without any evidence, QAnon followers and other right-wing fanatics maintain that Democrats and Hollywood elites manage large rings of human trafficking, the umbrella term that encompasses forced sex and labor.”
Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn had his photograph taken with Kyle Rittenhouse.
Rittenhouse gained national attention at age 17 for shooting three men in Kenosha, Wisconsin—two fatally.
Rittenhouse gained national attention at age 17 for shooting three men in Kenosha, Wisconsin—two fatally.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Sheriff has photo op with right wing extremist murderer
Is this why black people are dying in the Tarrant County jail?
The Sheriff goes to Washington on your tax dollars for photo ops with Trump.
At the Town Hall meeting in January, the Sheriff stated that 80% of the inmates were "fatherless". This seems to be justification for the abuse.
Also, at the Town Hall Meeting regarding the Deaths in the Jail, held by Commissioner Simmons on 1/18/24, the Star Telegram article said nothing about the details of the deaths in the jail.ews.org/criminal-justice/2023-08-04/man-dies-in-tarrant-county-jail-custody-bringing-this-years-death-toll-to-6
*TOWN HALL REGARDING DEATHS IN THE JAIL
Sheriff arrived 6 minutes after video started.
https://www.facebook.com/CommALSimmons/videos/2613070932201494
Making you Less Safe
Sheriff has photo op with right wing extremist murderer
Is this why black people are dying in the Tarrant County jail?
The Sheriff goes to Washington on your tax dollars for photo ops with Trump.
At the Town Hall meeting in January, the Sheriff stated that 80% of the inmates were "fatherless". This seems to be justification for the abuse.
Also, at the Town Hall Meeting regarding the Deaths in the Jail, held by Commissioner Simmons on 1/18/24, the Star Telegram article said nothing about the details of the deaths in the jail.ews.org/criminal-justice/2023-08-04/man-dies-in-tarrant-county-jail-custody-bringing-this-years-death-toll-to-6
*TOWN HALL REGARDING DEATHS IN THE JAIL
Sheriff arrived 6 minutes after video started.
https://www.facebook.com/CommALSimmons/videos/2613070932201494
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Unnecessary Incarcerations result in homelessness
Reallocating funds designated by the Federal Government for homelessness to the prison industrial complex increases homelessness
2/23/24
"43% increase in homelessness in Tarrant County from 2020"
https://fortworthreport.org/2024/02/22/tarrant-county-homeless-coalition-awarded-20-million-federal-grant/?utm_source=Fort%20Worth%20Report&utm_campaign=46c173b88a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_02_22_03_36&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-46c173b88a-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=46c173b88a&mc_eid=0bb8e2915f
2/27/24
“[SHERIFF] also said that the jail stopped more than 270 attempted suicides last year”. Ch 8 news 2/27/24 WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTY JAIL THAT 270 PEOPLE ATTEMPT SUICIDE A YEAR?
“Chasity gave birth, and the baby wasn’t discovered until almost 40 minutes after birth was given,” Congious’ family attorney, Jarrett Adams, said. “A lot of people dropped the ball and that’s how it happened. And it will continue to happen unless the citizens of Tarrant County demand better.”
“Jail deaths are a problem,” said Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, a frequent critic of the jail’s operations. “And unfortunately, they will continue to be a problem until the sheriff and the commissioner's court prioritize it and say, ‘We've got to do a number of things differently.’”
Judges must move these cases faster to alleviate this suffering and cost to taxpayers. Millions of dollars for out-of-county, for-profit jails and lawsuits.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/tarrant-county-jail-deaths-fort-worth-texas-sheriff-bill-waybourn/287-b510f0e0-ddf5-4243-a004-29fea6096795?fbclid=IwAR3hf6x0sdkv0Y4dVZe3r_tikgK_lbaoR2N_lWdr7hixU4XErQJE0gUFRQE
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Failure to provide Minimal care of Inmates
3/10/24 #64
Tarrant County Jail inmate found hanging in cell dies at Fort Worth hospital, officials say
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article286469620.html?deviceId=5e477931737b36ae&tempKey=value
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Not following the advice of experts your tax dollars paid for
3/13/24
"[The Company hired by the County] offered a solution: Reduce the jail population. For example, offer more diversion programs to keep people with mental illness out of jail for low-level crimes. . ." Note this is what the Justice Network of Tarrant County has been advocating for years.
Making you Less Safe
Unnecessary Incarcerations result in homelessness
Reallocating funds designated by the Federal Government for homelessness to the prison industrial complex increases homelessness
2/23/24
"43% increase in homelessness in Tarrant County from 2020"
https://fortworthreport.org/2024/02/22/tarrant-county-homeless-coalition-awarded-20-million-federal-grant/?utm_source=Fort%20Worth%20Report&utm_campaign=46c173b88a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_02_22_03_36&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-46c173b88a-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=46c173b88a&mc_eid=0bb8e2915f
2/27/24
“[SHERIFF] also said that the jail stopped more than 270 attempted suicides last year”. Ch 8 news 2/27/24 WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTY JAIL THAT 270 PEOPLE ATTEMPT SUICIDE A YEAR?
“Chasity gave birth, and the baby wasn’t discovered until almost 40 minutes after birth was given,” Congious’ family attorney, Jarrett Adams, said. “A lot of people dropped the ball and that’s how it happened. And it will continue to happen unless the citizens of Tarrant County demand better.”
“Jail deaths are a problem,” said Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, a frequent critic of the jail’s operations. “And unfortunately, they will continue to be a problem until the sheriff and the commissioner's court prioritize it and say, ‘We've got to do a number of things differently.’”
Judges must move these cases faster to alleviate this suffering and cost to taxpayers. Millions of dollars for out-of-county, for-profit jails and lawsuits.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/tarrant-county-jail-deaths-fort-worth-texas-sheriff-bill-waybourn/287-b510f0e0-ddf5-4243-a004-29fea6096795?fbclid=IwAR3hf6x0sdkv0Y4dVZe3r_tikgK_lbaoR2N_lWdr7hixU4XErQJE0gUFRQE
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Failure to provide Minimal care of Inmates
3/10/24 #64
Tarrant County Jail inmate found hanging in cell dies at Fort Worth hospital, officials say
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article286469620.html?deviceId=5e477931737b36ae&tempKey=value
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Not following the advice of experts your tax dollars paid for
3/13/24
"[The Company hired by the County] offered a solution: Reduce the jail population. For example, offer more diversion programs to keep people with mental illness out of jail for low-level crimes. . ." Note this is what the Justice Network of Tarrant County has been advocating for years.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
300 vacancies in the Sheriff's Office
THE JAIL IS THE BIGGEST EXPENSE IN THE COUNTY.
300 vacancies in the Sheriff's Office leading to mandatory overtime for jail workers which doesn’t alleviate an already hostile workplace of any stress. PEOPLE BEING ABUSED IN THE JAIL AND EVENTUALLY RELEASED ONTO THE STREETS.
The Sheriff is the CEO of a billion-dollar company. What company would keep the CEO if there were 300 vacancies?
Tarrant County Sheriff's Department:
300 vacant positions
204 are detention officers
41 are deputy
It is difficult to attract workers when there are news reports of jailers being ordered to falsify records and then being criminally prosecuted for same.
Wasting your Money And
Making you Less Safe
40 uniformed, armed Sheriff’s deputies at Commissioner’s Court
There were over 40 uniformed, armed, Sheriff’s deputies teaming inside and outside of the building for Commissioner’s Court and large buses standing by apparently to cart away citizens to jail that dared to anger the County Judge. This was the first Commissioner's meeting after O'Hare ordered Commissioner Simmons to "Sit there and be Quiet" and "have some class" after she exposed he was using taxpayer funds to pay a right-wing, political consultant for undisclosed work with taxpayer dollars. This show of law enforcement force was solely to intimidate Commissioner Simmons' supporters.
Citizens described as "religious activists" by the Star Telegram. Allan C. Turner Jr. and Della Maree Sapp were removed from the courtroom for speech (Turner went 5 seconds past when O’Hare told him to leave the podium, Sapp pointed out O'Hare's hypocrisy for not allowing pro-Simmons speakers to speak and then allowing O'Hare supporters to speak in violation of the rules). Sapp was also illegally cited for trespass. Both these speakers were black. Some of Simmons supporters waited all day – eight hours - and their names were never called or they were not allowed to speak. One Senior Pastor who has spoken eloquently on Simmons behalf in the past had O’Hare refuse to allow him to speak when the Pastor’s name was called by the Administrator. See You Tube video 5/7/24 Commissioner's Court
These Deputies should have been protecting citizens from crime, not being used for show and the ego of the Republican Politicians.
30 uniformed, armed, Sheriff’s deputies teaming inside and outside of the building for Commissioner’s Court 5/21/24 This was the second Commissioner's Court meeting after O'Hare told Simmons to "sit there and be quiet" and "have some class" after she exposed that he was paying for a right-wing, political consultant with taxpayer dollars for undisclosed work.
These Deputies should have been protecting citizens from crime, not being used for show and the ego of the Republican Politicians.
Making you Less Safe
300 vacancies in the Sheriff's Office
THE JAIL IS THE BIGGEST EXPENSE IN THE COUNTY.
300 vacancies in the Sheriff's Office leading to mandatory overtime for jail workers which doesn’t alleviate an already hostile workplace of any stress. PEOPLE BEING ABUSED IN THE JAIL AND EVENTUALLY RELEASED ONTO THE STREETS.
The Sheriff is the CEO of a billion-dollar company. What company would keep the CEO if there were 300 vacancies?
Tarrant County Sheriff's Department:
300 vacant positions
204 are detention officers
41 are deputy
It is difficult to attract workers when there are news reports of jailers being ordered to falsify records and then being criminally prosecuted for same.
Wasting your Money And
Making you Less Safe
40 uniformed, armed Sheriff’s deputies at Commissioner’s Court
There were over 40 uniformed, armed, Sheriff’s deputies teaming inside and outside of the building for Commissioner’s Court and large buses standing by apparently to cart away citizens to jail that dared to anger the County Judge. This was the first Commissioner's meeting after O'Hare ordered Commissioner Simmons to "Sit there and be Quiet" and "have some class" after she exposed he was using taxpayer funds to pay a right-wing, political consultant for undisclosed work with taxpayer dollars. This show of law enforcement force was solely to intimidate Commissioner Simmons' supporters.
Citizens described as "religious activists" by the Star Telegram. Allan C. Turner Jr. and Della Maree Sapp were removed from the courtroom for speech (Turner went 5 seconds past when O’Hare told him to leave the podium, Sapp pointed out O'Hare's hypocrisy for not allowing pro-Simmons speakers to speak and then allowing O'Hare supporters to speak in violation of the rules). Sapp was also illegally cited for trespass. Both these speakers were black. Some of Simmons supporters waited all day – eight hours - and their names were never called or they were not allowed to speak. One Senior Pastor who has spoken eloquently on Simmons behalf in the past had O’Hare refuse to allow him to speak when the Pastor’s name was called by the Administrator. See You Tube video 5/7/24 Commissioner's Court
These Deputies should have been protecting citizens from crime, not being used for show and the ego of the Republican Politicians.
30 uniformed, armed, Sheriff’s deputies teaming inside and outside of the building for Commissioner’s Court 5/21/24 This was the second Commissioner's Court meeting after O'Hare told Simmons to "sit there and be quiet" and "have some class" after she exposed that he was paying for a right-wing, political consultant with taxpayer dollars for undisclosed work.
These Deputies should have been protecting citizens from crime, not being used for show and the ego of the Republican Politicians.
Too many officers at Tarrant Commissioner's Court to get them all in a photo.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Illegal Drugs in the Tarrant Jail
JAILED DECEMBER 4TH, DIED OF A FENTANAYL OVERDOSE 4/18/24
OVER 4 MONTHS LATER
HOW DID FENTANYL GET IN THE JAIL?
"One of two people who died in Tarrant County Jail custody last month died of fentanyl and trazodone poisoning, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.. . KERA News has reached out to the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for comment on how the substances got into the jail . . .
(Roderick) Johnson had been jailed since Dec. 4, 2023 on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm . . . He died three days before 31-year-old Anthony Johnson — no relation — who died about an hour after being pepper sprayed by detention officers at the county jail during a routine cell check for contraband. His cause of death is pending."
"At least 63 people (it is 65 see www.StormerForTexas.com and the "Deaths in the Jail" tab) have died at the Tarrant County Jail since Sheriff Bill Waybourn took office in 2017, according to data provided by his office in late April. Three of those were fentanyl-related overdoses."
More lawsuits wasting your money and people becoming addicted to drugs in the jail.
https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2024-05-14/tarrant-county-inmate-died-of-fentanyl-trazodone-toxicity-in-custody-last-month
Making you Less Safe
Illegal Drugs in the Tarrant Jail
JAILED DECEMBER 4TH, DIED OF A FENTANAYL OVERDOSE 4/18/24
OVER 4 MONTHS LATER
HOW DID FENTANYL GET IN THE JAIL?
"One of two people who died in Tarrant County Jail custody last month died of fentanyl and trazodone poisoning, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.. . KERA News has reached out to the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for comment on how the substances got into the jail . . .
(Roderick) Johnson had been jailed since Dec. 4, 2023 on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm . . . He died three days before 31-year-old Anthony Johnson — no relation — who died about an hour after being pepper sprayed by detention officers at the county jail during a routine cell check for contraband. His cause of death is pending."
"At least 63 people (it is 65 see www.StormerForTexas.com and the "Deaths in the Jail" tab) have died at the Tarrant County Jail since Sheriff Bill Waybourn took office in 2017, according to data provided by his office in late April. Three of those were fentanyl-related overdoses."
More lawsuits wasting your money and people becoming addicted to drugs in the jail.
https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2024-05-14/tarrant-county-inmate-died-of-fentanyl-trazodone-toxicity-in-custody-last-month
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
No Mental Health Public Defenders
“Tarrant County is likely the largest county in the United States without a Public Defender's Office at this point”, said Geoffery Burkhart, executive director of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. July 22, 2020. https://www.fwweekly.com
Private attorneys (the current system) give campaign contributions, public defenders who do not rely on appointments generally do not give campaign contributions.
Public Defenders can be trained in mental health and know the available resources. Private attorneys cannot afford to take the time to develop this expertise.
It costs eleven times more to treat the mentally ill in jail than in the community and jail is less effective. Are we afraid of them or just mad at them? If we are just mad – they should not be incarcerated. That is the formula. The solution for implementing the formula is Mental Health Public Defenders. The Assistant District Attorney (ADA)- competency attorney saved Dallas County $300,000 the first year the position was created by getting people out of the jail and into hospitals or other treatment (2010). This was a fraction of this ADA’s salary.
The District Attorney can create a Mental Health position by moving a current, experienced prosecutor into that position. But the county needs to create a Public Defenders Office.
Dallas County has 98 public defenders. Tarrant county has zero. These are specialized attorneys that know how to get people out of jail that should not be in jail. Get them into services. On average one half of the people in jail have a diagnosed mental illness and many are there on non-violent charges. One third of the jail population on average are there on drug charges. We could be using best evidence procedures to get to the root causes of why the people end up in jail for these minor offenses - housing, education, healthcare, childcare…BE SMART ON CRIME instead of feeding the Prison industrial complex.
The war on drugs began at a time when drug use was on the decline -Ronald Reagan presidency 1980s. The United States incarceration rate is 6 to 10 times greater than other industrialized nations. Directly traceable to the war on drugs. No other country in the world incarcerates such an astonishing percentage of its racial or ethnic minorities. In 1999 a drug bust incarcerated almost 15% of the black population of Tulia Texas based on the uncorroborated false testimony of a single informant hired by the sheriff. Until 1988, one year of imprisonment had been the maximum for possession of any amount of any drug. The new Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander page 54. In 1991, the sentencing project reported that the number of people behind bars in United States was unprecedented in world, history, and that 1/4 of young African-American men were now under the control of the criminal justice system.
Drug offenses alone account for 2/3 of the rise in the federal inmate population and more than 1/2 of the rise and state prisoners between 1985 and 2000. Race to Incarcerate, Mark Mauer, revised edition (New York: the New York press, 2006) 33
By the end of 2007, more than 7 million Americans, or one in every 31 adults, were behind bars, on probation, or on parole. Pew center on the states, one in 31: The Long Reach of American Corrections, Washington, DC: Pew charitable, trust 2009.
Contributing to the mass, incarceration for drugs:
Grants for drug enforcement
Fed gov providing military equip
Harsh, mandatory federal sentencing guidelines
Making you Less Safe
No Mental Health Public Defenders
“Tarrant County is likely the largest county in the United States without a Public Defender's Office at this point”, said Geoffery Burkhart, executive director of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. July 22, 2020. https://www.fwweekly.com
Private attorneys (the current system) give campaign contributions, public defenders who do not rely on appointments generally do not give campaign contributions.
Public Defenders can be trained in mental health and know the available resources. Private attorneys cannot afford to take the time to develop this expertise.
It costs eleven times more to treat the mentally ill in jail than in the community and jail is less effective. Are we afraid of them or just mad at them? If we are just mad – they should not be incarcerated. That is the formula. The solution for implementing the formula is Mental Health Public Defenders. The Assistant District Attorney (ADA)- competency attorney saved Dallas County $300,000 the first year the position was created by getting people out of the jail and into hospitals or other treatment (2010). This was a fraction of this ADA’s salary.
The District Attorney can create a Mental Health position by moving a current, experienced prosecutor into that position. But the county needs to create a Public Defenders Office.
Dallas County has 98 public defenders. Tarrant county has zero. These are specialized attorneys that know how to get people out of jail that should not be in jail. Get them into services. On average one half of the people in jail have a diagnosed mental illness and many are there on non-violent charges. One third of the jail population on average are there on drug charges. We could be using best evidence procedures to get to the root causes of why the people end up in jail for these minor offenses - housing, education, healthcare, childcare…BE SMART ON CRIME instead of feeding the Prison industrial complex.
The war on drugs began at a time when drug use was on the decline -Ronald Reagan presidency 1980s. The United States incarceration rate is 6 to 10 times greater than other industrialized nations. Directly traceable to the war on drugs. No other country in the world incarcerates such an astonishing percentage of its racial or ethnic minorities. In 1999 a drug bust incarcerated almost 15% of the black population of Tulia Texas based on the uncorroborated false testimony of a single informant hired by the sheriff. Until 1988, one year of imprisonment had been the maximum for possession of any amount of any drug. The new Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander page 54. In 1991, the sentencing project reported that the number of people behind bars in United States was unprecedented in world, history, and that 1/4 of young African-American men were now under the control of the criminal justice system.
Drug offenses alone account for 2/3 of the rise in the federal inmate population and more than 1/2 of the rise and state prisoners between 1985 and 2000. Race to Incarcerate, Mark Mauer, revised edition (New York: the New York press, 2006) 33
By the end of 2007, more than 7 million Americans, or one in every 31 adults, were behind bars, on probation, or on parole. Pew center on the states, one in 31: The Long Reach of American Corrections, Washington, DC: Pew charitable, trust 2009.
Contributing to the mass, incarceration for drugs:
Grants for drug enforcement
Fed gov providing military equip
Harsh, mandatory federal sentencing guidelines
Wasting our Money
Baby Zenorah born in jail and died case (from the Federal Court's Opinion). Tarrant Taxpayers just paid $1.2 million dollars, largest judgment in Tarrant County history. And the case continues for more damages because EVIDENCE WAS WITHHELD BY TARRANT COUNTY OFFICIALS:
"Shockingly, at no point during her five months of incarceration did Congious receive a legal hearing."
"Congious banged on the window of her cell for help. Blood was
visible on the toilet seat. Although two correctional officers were responsible for monitoring the pregnant Congious, they did not respond to her banging. As a result, Congious gave birth to her
baby girl alone in the cell."
The withheld evidence resulting in continued litigation "Congious did not have the new email showing that Dr. Shaw took no action on the day Congious gave birth despite knowing that she was in pain and in labor. Congious also did not have the expert report discussing this new email."
The Texas Penal Code's Section 37.09 states that a person commits an offense if they knowingly alter, destroy, or conceal evidence during an investigation or official proceeding. The offense can also include making, presenting, or using evidence that is known to be false with the intent to affect the outcome of the investigation.
"Shockingly, at no point during her five months of incarceration did Congious receive a legal hearing."
"Congious banged on the window of her cell for help. Blood was
visible on the toilet seat. Although two correctional officers were responsible for monitoring the pregnant Congious, they did not respond to her banging. As a result, Congious gave birth to her
baby girl alone in the cell."
The withheld evidence resulting in continued litigation "Congious did not have the new email showing that Dr. Shaw took no action on the day Congious gave birth despite knowing that she was in pain and in labor. Congious also did not have the expert report discussing this new email."
The Texas Penal Code's Section 37.09 states that a person commits an offense if they knowingly alter, destroy, or conceal evidence during an investigation or official proceeding. The offense can also include making, presenting, or using evidence that is known to be false with the intent to affect the outcome of the investigation.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Sheriff Refusing to release the entire Video to Commissioner (or public) in Anthony Johnson killing by Jailers
JAILERS killing Anthony Johnson see "Deaths in the Jail" tab
Sheriff refuses to release entire video.
The Sheriff is denying this evidence to Commissioner Simmons when it is her constitutional right and, in fact, her duty to review the evidence to mitigate damages. This will result in litigation, both sides of which are paid by our taxpayer dollars.
"County Commissioner Alisa Simmons said during commissioners court Tuesday that she had requested to watch the video during executive session, outside of the public view, but that request was denied."
"This has been a horrific incident involving many people." Sheriff Waybourn
“There is an additional 9 minutes where my son was dragged around like a ragdoll” mother of Anthony Johnson, who was killed in the jail, April 21, 2024 to Commissioner's Court 6/4/24.
DEMAND THAT THE FULL VIDEO BE RELEASED:
Call the Sheriff's department (817) 884-3099
And his legal representative, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, 401 West Belknap
Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-1400
It is your tax dollars that murdered this woman’s child.
And it will be your tax dollars that pay the millions in lawsuits for such actions.
Your tax dollars pay the Sheriff’s salary – who goes to the firing range with people like Kyle Rittenhouse who drove to another state and murdered a Black Lives Matter protester (creates a culture of disrespect of life).
Your tax dollars pay the salaries of the jailers who have a callous disregard for human life.
Pay the salaries of the judges who "do not show up for work" and move the cases out of the overcrowded jails. Most people in your local jail have not been found guilty of a crime.
Pays the salary of the Republicans on Commissioners Court who refuse to implement policies despite overwhelming evidence that would save lives and money of which they have been repeatedly informed.(See "Deaths in the Jail" tab for more information)
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
One Million Dollars of your Money
Second Highest Judgment in Tarrant County History
Javonte Myers.
$$ONE MILLION DOLLARS OF YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY PAID FOR THIS LAWSUIT
"The death of Javonte Myers in June 2020 highlights the ongoing issues at Tarrant County Jail regarding the care of inmates and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms. Myers, a 28-year-old inmate with a history of severe medical and mental health conditions, including a seizure disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, was found dead in his cell just two days after being booked.
"When he was found dead in his cell, his body was already exhibiting rigor mortis. An investigation revealed evidence that jail staff had falsified records of routine checks for hours under instructions from their supervisors. This falsification of records came less than a month after the Texas Commission on Jail Standards found Tarrant County Jail out of compliance with minimum observation standards following the suicide of another individual and staff’s failure to check on him.
"Despite assurances of improved monitoring practices, staff were instructed to ignore these guidelines, which coincided with the deaths of two other inmates in the same period. Two officers faced criminal charges related to the falsification of records.
Making you Less Safe
One Million Dollars of your Money
Second Highest Judgment in Tarrant County History
Javonte Myers.
$$ONE MILLION DOLLARS OF YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY PAID FOR THIS LAWSUIT
"The death of Javonte Myers in June 2020 highlights the ongoing issues at Tarrant County Jail regarding the care of inmates and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms. Myers, a 28-year-old inmate with a history of severe medical and mental health conditions, including a seizure disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, was found dead in his cell just two days after being booked.
"When he was found dead in his cell, his body was already exhibiting rigor mortis. An investigation revealed evidence that jail staff had falsified records of routine checks for hours under instructions from their supervisors. This falsification of records came less than a month after the Texas Commission on Jail Standards found Tarrant County Jail out of compliance with minimum observation standards following the suicide of another individual and staff’s failure to check on him.
"Despite assurances of improved monitoring practices, staff were instructed to ignore these guidelines, which coincided with the deaths of two other inmates in the same period. Two officers faced criminal charges related to the falsification of records.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Corey Rodrigues Beaten by Jailers
Lawsuit alleging an inmate, Corey Rodrigues, was beaten by Tarrant County jailers and then was left in cell for 2 days.
“Corey Rodrigues sustained various injuries from the July 2020 beating (by jailers), including bleeding in his lungs, a collapsed lung, multiple rib fractures and a broken cheek bone that required surgery. . . Even though he was in great pain after the beating, Rodrigues did not receive medical care for two days. . . . the charges against all three men were dismissed due to “prosecutorial discretion”.
‘Another lawsuit is from Cory Rodrigues, a former inmate who says jailers beat him so badly he had to go to the hospital. Last year, the Tarrant County DA’s Office (Republican elected District Attorney) dismissed all criminal charges against the jailers involved in Rodrigues’ beating, which was caught on tape.’ (see settlement agreement).
The Jailers that beat Rodrigues did not have to pay for this but taxpayers did.
Settles for $200,000.00. 1/19/24
Making you Less Safe
Corey Rodrigues Beaten by Jailers
Lawsuit alleging an inmate, Corey Rodrigues, was beaten by Tarrant County jailers and then was left in cell for 2 days.
“Corey Rodrigues sustained various injuries from the July 2020 beating (by jailers), including bleeding in his lungs, a collapsed lung, multiple rib fractures and a broken cheek bone that required surgery. . . Even though he was in great pain after the beating, Rodrigues did not receive medical care for two days. . . . the charges against all three men were dismissed due to “prosecutorial discretion”.
‘Another lawsuit is from Cory Rodrigues, a former inmate who says jailers beat him so badly he had to go to the hospital. Last year, the Tarrant County DA’s Office (Republican elected District Attorney) dismissed all criminal charges against the jailers involved in Rodrigues’ beating, which was caught on tape.’ (see settlement agreement).
The Jailers that beat Rodrigues did not have to pay for this but taxpayers did.
Settles for $200,000.00. 1/19/24
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Another lawsuit due to neglect and overcrowding in the Tarrant County jail.
Kelly Masten
4/11/24
Her family called for her to be transported to the hospital. Instead, she was taken to the jail where she laid in a jail cell suffering seizures for 10 days with no medical attention. "In 2022, a disabled 38-year-old woman named Kelly Masten left a 10-day stint in the Tarrant County Jail comatose and covered in bruises. Masten has a severe form of epilepsy, and the jail did not give her medication, even though her family brought her medicine to the jail, her father said."
4/11/24
Another lawsuit due to neglect and overcrowding in the Tarrant County jail.
“When I finally saw Kelly, my knees buckled. My screams brought hospital security running to us," she wrote. "She looked like two grown men had repeatedly beaten her."
“Doctors placed Masten in a medically induced coma for eight weeks, with no one expecting her to survive, although she did, according to the lawsuit.”
KELLY MASTEN COVERED IN BRUISES WHEN SHE WAS TRANSPORTED FROM JAIL TO HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS IN A COMA
Kelly Masten mental capacity of 4 year old (crime: she bit her grandmother who called to have her transported to the hospital). Instead, she was taken to the jail where she laid in a jail cell suffering seizures for 10 days with no medical attention. "In 2022, a disabled 38-year-old woman named Kelly Masten left a 10-day stint in the Tarrant County Jail comatose and covered in bruises. Masten has a severe form of epilepsy, and the jail did not give her medication, even though her family brought her medicine to the jail, her father said."
Lawsuit Pending
Making you Less Safe
Another lawsuit due to neglect and overcrowding in the Tarrant County jail.
Kelly Masten
4/11/24
Her family called for her to be transported to the hospital. Instead, she was taken to the jail where she laid in a jail cell suffering seizures for 10 days with no medical attention. "In 2022, a disabled 38-year-old woman named Kelly Masten left a 10-day stint in the Tarrant County Jail comatose and covered in bruises. Masten has a severe form of epilepsy, and the jail did not give her medication, even though her family brought her medicine to the jail, her father said."
4/11/24
Another lawsuit due to neglect and overcrowding in the Tarrant County jail.
“When I finally saw Kelly, my knees buckled. My screams brought hospital security running to us," she wrote. "She looked like two grown men had repeatedly beaten her."
“Doctors placed Masten in a medically induced coma for eight weeks, with no one expecting her to survive, although she did, according to the lawsuit.”
KELLY MASTEN COVERED IN BRUISES WHEN SHE WAS TRANSPORTED FROM JAIL TO HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS IN A COMA
Kelly Masten mental capacity of 4 year old (crime: she bit her grandmother who called to have her transported to the hospital). Instead, she was taken to the jail where she laid in a jail cell suffering seizures for 10 days with no medical attention. "In 2022, a disabled 38-year-old woman named Kelly Masten left a 10-day stint in the Tarrant County Jail comatose and covered in bruises. Masten has a severe form of epilepsy, and the jail did not give her medication, even though her family brought her medicine to the jail, her father said."
Lawsuit Pending
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
$750,000.00 of your money paid in this lawsuit
Georgia Kay Baldwin dies of dehydration in Tarrant County Jail
A woman with severe mental health issues died from dehydration in a Tarrant County jail cell in what a lawsuit calls a “a tragic, completely unnecessary death.” She was in jail for making phone calls.
George Baldwin died of thirst in the Tarrant County jail. Tarrant County taxpayers will pay $750,000 in this lawsuit. This is happening in part because judges are not moving the cases. A recent study showed that the average sentence to the Tarrant County jail was 70 days while the average stay there is 133 days. People are staying in the jail twice the length of their sentence. It is even worse for mentally ill inmates. The average stay for a mentally ill inmate is 282 days. The average sentence for the crimes they committed is eight days. It cost you $100 per day to keep an inmate in jail. The cost is closer to $300 per day when the inmate is mentally ill.
This is your money.
Vote for fiscal responsibility, vote for every Democrat on the ballot.
Making you Less Safe
$750,000.00 of your money paid in this lawsuit
Georgia Kay Baldwin dies of dehydration in Tarrant County Jail
A woman with severe mental health issues died from dehydration in a Tarrant County jail cell in what a lawsuit calls a “a tragic, completely unnecessary death.” She was in jail for making phone calls.
George Baldwin died of thirst in the Tarrant County jail. Tarrant County taxpayers will pay $750,000 in this lawsuit. This is happening in part because judges are not moving the cases. A recent study showed that the average sentence to the Tarrant County jail was 70 days while the average stay there is 133 days. People are staying in the jail twice the length of their sentence. It is even worse for mentally ill inmates. The average stay for a mentally ill inmate is 282 days. The average sentence for the crimes they committed is eight days. It cost you $100 per day to keep an inmate in jail. The cost is closer to $300 per day when the inmate is mentally ill.
This is your money.
Vote for fiscal responsibility, vote for every Democrat on the ballot.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Ricky Farmer.
Ricky Farmer, 57, died on February 26, 2020, after not receiving his necessary medication for grand mal seizures for three days. He was found unresponsive in his jail cell and later declared dead at John Peter Smith Hospital. The sheriff’s custodial death report labeled the death as “natural,” attributing it to “Anoxia / Secondary outside of hospital cardiac arrest” due to a pre-existing medical condition, without detailing the circumstances of the death. Farmer was previously known to have mental health issues and was kept in a single cell, supposedly for his protection.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
DEAN STEWART
County commissioners recently agreed to pay $1 million to the family of Javonte Myers, who died of a seizure disorder in his cell in 2020. Last year, the family of Dean Stewart, who died by suicide in the jail, received a $400,000 settlement.
Making you Less Safe
Ricky Farmer.
Ricky Farmer, 57, died on February 26, 2020, after not receiving his necessary medication for grand mal seizures for three days. He was found unresponsive in his jail cell and later declared dead at John Peter Smith Hospital. The sheriff’s custodial death report labeled the death as “natural,” attributing it to “Anoxia / Secondary outside of hospital cardiac arrest” due to a pre-existing medical condition, without detailing the circumstances of the death. Farmer was previously known to have mental health issues and was kept in a single cell, supposedly for his protection.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
DEAN STEWART
County commissioners recently agreed to pay $1 million to the family of Javonte Myers, who died of a seizure disorder in his cell in 2020. Last year, the family of Dean Stewart, who died by suicide in the jail, received a $400,000 settlement.
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Assistant District Attorneys responding to Medical Claims
The Tarrant District Attorney has had to assign 3 full time Assistant District Attorneys to the hospital because of all the lawsuits. “Tarrant County Jail Related Medical Claims (see the hospital contract).
Dallas does not have to do that and there are more inmates there.
Cost $1,463,608 for 2 years.
Making you Less Safe
Assistant District Attorneys responding to Medical Claims
The Tarrant District Attorney has had to assign 3 full time Assistant District Attorneys to the hospital because of all the lawsuits. “Tarrant County Jail Related Medical Claims (see the hospital contract).
Dallas does not have to do that and there are more inmates there.
Cost $1,463,608 for 2 years.
Is this why so many black people are being killed in the Tarrant County Jail? Three times the national average.
County Judge Tim O’Hare, District Attorney Phil Sorrells and Sheriff Bill Waybourn spoke about the county’s election integrity unit at a True Texas Project meeting April 10, 2024.
True Texas project is in Tarrant County and “urges attendees to embrace once-fringe ideologies such as Christian nationalism or the Great Replacement Theory.”
Founder “McCarty wrote on social media that she sympathized with the gunman who murdered 23 Hispanic people at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 — one of many mass shooters who have been motivated by a belief in Great Replacement Theory.”
“True Texas Project is a key part of a powerful political network that West Texas oil tycoons, Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks have used to push the state GOP and Legislature to adopt their hardline opposition to immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and public education. Dunn and Wilks are by far the biggest donors to the Republican Party of Texas”
Bud Kennedy states "When my own vote was thrown out completely in a 2020 election — because I didn’t use the same kind of pen to sign the mail-in application and ballot — most of the ballot review board members canceling my vote were members of the True Texas Project. They were appointed by the Republican county chairman and told to challenge ballots."
"In so many words, the event’s message seems to be, “Native-born white Protestants are real Americans, and you’re not.. . .Black Americans and American Indians are included, but only if they affirm the “domination and pre-eminence of the European derived peoples, their institutions, and their way of life.”
"The True Texas Project’s message is now much more direct: Foreigners are inferior, and native-born white Christians should rule."
County Judge Tim O’Hare, District Attorney Phil Sorrells and Sheriff Bill Waybourn spoke about the county’s election integrity unit at a True Texas Project meeting April 10, 2024.
True Texas project is in Tarrant County and “urges attendees to embrace once-fringe ideologies such as Christian nationalism or the Great Replacement Theory.”
Founder “McCarty wrote on social media that she sympathized with the gunman who murdered 23 Hispanic people at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 — one of many mass shooters who have been motivated by a belief in Great Replacement Theory.”
“True Texas Project is a key part of a powerful political network that West Texas oil tycoons, Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks have used to push the state GOP and Legislature to adopt their hardline opposition to immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and public education. Dunn and Wilks are by far the biggest donors to the Republican Party of Texas”
Bud Kennedy states "When my own vote was thrown out completely in a 2020 election — because I didn’t use the same kind of pen to sign the mail-in application and ballot — most of the ballot review board members canceling my vote were members of the True Texas Project. They were appointed by the Republican county chairman and told to challenge ballots."
"In so many words, the event’s message seems to be, “Native-born white Protestants are real Americans, and you’re not.. . .Black Americans and American Indians are included, but only if they affirm the “domination and pre-eminence of the European derived peoples, their institutions, and their way of life.”
"The True Texas Project’s message is now much more direct: Foreigners are inferior, and native-born white Christians should rule."
"The True Texas Project was added to national list of extremist groups in 2022."
"Experts on terrorism and extremism said the lineup (at their conference held in Fort Worth's
Botanic Gardens July 12-13, 2024) is particularly concerning because it brings together more mainstream conservative speakers with fringe figures who have close links to neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists."
“These are the type of people that I’m most concerned about from an extremism standpoint,” said Elizabeth Neumann, who served as a senior Department of Homeland Security official for three years under former President Donald Trump. “A number of them have been making arguments — some of them supposedly Biblical — that violence is okay, and that violence is justified by Scripture for the purposes of establishing a Christian nation.”
Botanic Gardens July 12-13, 2024) is particularly concerning because it brings together more mainstream conservative speakers with fringe figures who have close links to neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists."
“These are the type of people that I’m most concerned about from an extremism standpoint,” said Elizabeth Neumann, who served as a senior Department of Homeland Security official for three years under former President Donald Trump. “A number of them have been making arguments — some of them supposedly Biblical — that violence is okay, and that violence is justified by Scripture for the purposes of establishing a Christian nation.”
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Local Republican Elected Officials including a District Judge up for reelection (with a democratic opponent) taking money away from vulnerable youth for rehabilitation
Local Republican elected officials, including a district judge, refuse to fund organizations that help our youth.
Until Tarrant County Voters ask for a change, there will be no change.
Vote for democracy. Vote for freedom. Vote for every Democratic candidate on the ballot. Republicans are wasting your money.
Making you Less Safe
Local Republican Elected Officials including a District Judge up for reelection (with a democratic opponent) taking money away from vulnerable youth for rehabilitation
Local Republican elected officials, including a district judge, refuse to fund organizations that help our youth.
Until Tarrant County Voters ask for a change, there will be no change.
Vote for democracy. Vote for freedom. Vote for every Democratic candidate on the ballot. Republicans are wasting your money.
"When Republicans lose the Tarrant County courthouse someday, this is how they will lose it:
▪ Showing outright hostility and aggression against women, minorities, longstanding charities, community institutions and even a 140-year-old Baptist church.
▪ Running a jail where the boss, the county sheriff, has political delusions of grandeur but can’t do the one job Texas law assigns solely to him: safely running a jail.
▪ Having a county Republican Party chairman whose goal is to make Tarrant County “inhospitable to Democrats” and who publicly attacks the Texas A&M Law School, TCU (repeatedly), establishment Republicans, government employees and anyone else somehow deemed less pure.
▪ Puppeting a tax board run by a majority of directors from Southlake and Colleyville who give “hot” neighborhoods tax breaks while outright robbing money from taxpayers in established neighborhoods in Fort Worth and Arlington.
▪ Turning public health and welfare into a public disaster, starving the county hospital of money it needs to get out of a hole and finish neighborhood clinics in Kennedale and northwest Tarrant County, along with a psychiatric unit that was approved by voters way back in 2018 and is now more sorely and urgently needed than ever.
▪ Running the county courthouse like a political headquarters, barring volunteers from registering new voters and questioning early-voting locations for college students that in 2020 served up to 13,000 voters each. Tarrant County Republican Party chairman Bo French wrote on his X.com account on Aug. 12, 2024, “There are just some things where you can’t trust women TBH [”to be honest”].” He was replying to the Kamala Harris post, “Trust women. Trust them to make decisions about their own body, health care, and future.” X.com
▪ Canceling required county equal-rights training that protected female employees from bigotry, harassment and discrimination.
▪ Avoiding reporters from digital and TV news agencies, often speaking only through a political website owned by a major campaign donor."
▪ Showing outright hostility and aggression against women, minorities, longstanding charities, community institutions and even a 140-year-old Baptist church.
▪ Running a jail where the boss, the county sheriff, has political delusions of grandeur but can’t do the one job Texas law assigns solely to him: safely running a jail.
▪ Having a county Republican Party chairman whose goal is to make Tarrant County “inhospitable to Democrats” and who publicly attacks the Texas A&M Law School, TCU (repeatedly), establishment Republicans, government employees and anyone else somehow deemed less pure.
▪ Puppeting a tax board run by a majority of directors from Southlake and Colleyville who give “hot” neighborhoods tax breaks while outright robbing money from taxpayers in established neighborhoods in Fort Worth and Arlington.
▪ Turning public health and welfare into a public disaster, starving the county hospital of money it needs to get out of a hole and finish neighborhood clinics in Kennedale and northwest Tarrant County, along with a psychiatric unit that was approved by voters way back in 2018 and is now more sorely and urgently needed than ever.
▪ Running the county courthouse like a political headquarters, barring volunteers from registering new voters and questioning early-voting locations for college students that in 2020 served up to 13,000 voters each. Tarrant County Republican Party chairman Bo French wrote on his X.com account on Aug. 12, 2024, “There are just some things where you can’t trust women TBH [”to be honest”].” He was replying to the Kamala Harris post, “Trust women. Trust them to make decisions about their own body, health care, and future.” X.com
▪ Canceling required county equal-rights training that protected female employees from bigotry, harassment and discrimination.
▪ Avoiding reporters from digital and TV news agencies, often speaking only through a political website owned by a major campaign donor."
Wasting our Money And
Making you Less Safe
Only .08% of the mentally ill in Texas receive government assistance for their mental health needs. Many end up in your local jail on non-violent, low level charges. A Tarrant County man spent 90 days in jail for failing to move for a street sweeper (a crime that only carries a punishment of a fine - not jail time) costing you approximately $20,000.00 unnecessarily for his incarceration.
IF THE MENATLLY ILL DO NOT RECEIVE TREATMENT WHEN THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THEY CONTINUE TO CYCLE THROUG THE SYSTEM AND DETERIORATE.Brain Scans (SPECT scan – Single-photon Emission Computerized Tomography) depict loss of brain function.
Brain with substance abuse v. a normal brain.
This is what Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons is trying to fix, but the Republicans on the Court vote against systems that would save money and lives.
Making you Less Safe
Only .08% of the mentally ill in Texas receive government assistance for their mental health needs. Many end up in your local jail on non-violent, low level charges. A Tarrant County man spent 90 days in jail for failing to move for a street sweeper (a crime that only carries a punishment of a fine - not jail time) costing you approximately $20,000.00 unnecessarily for his incarceration.
IF THE MENATLLY ILL DO NOT RECEIVE TREATMENT WHEN THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THEY CONTINUE TO CYCLE THROUG THE SYSTEM AND DETERIORATE.Brain Scans (SPECT scan – Single-photon Emission Computerized Tomography) depict loss of brain function.
Brain with substance abuse v. a normal brain.
This is what Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons is trying to fix, but the Republicans on the Court vote against systems that would save money and lives.
Wasting our Money
BRAIN WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND NORMAL BRAIN
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