This week we have a very special episode, talking just about transit. EJ Carrion is out this week, so Ann Zadeh & Wesley Kirk bring you the history of transit in Fort Worth, where we're currently at, what the future of transit could look like, and how you can advocate for better transit.

Much of the info for today's episode came from local historian Quentin McGown's History of Transit presentation for Tarrant Transit Alliance's Transit Academy, and is being used in the upcoming Transit Zine for Community Design Fort Worth.

Other info came from:

Streetcar operations once thrived in Fort Worth. And then buses and cars came along. by Carol Roark in Star-Telegram.

Who Killed the Streetcar? The State of Fort Worth's Public Transit by Brian Kendall in Fort Worth Magazine

Trolley Parks: Lake Como ("Most Beautiful Spot in Texas") by Mike Nichols in Hometown by Handlebar

ACTIONS

Join us at Community Design Fort Worth's monthly transit mixer every third Wednesday of the month from 4:30pm - 6:30pm at Acre Distilling.

For more transit info, follow:

@design.fortworth

@urbanfortworth

@walkablefortworth

@ridewithdata

@strong_towns

@jonjon.jpeg

This week, for our big story, we sit down with Hunter Griffin and Emeri Calloway from the Tarrant County Young Democrats to showcase how young people in Tarrant County make a difference when fighting for democracy. TCYD helped fight Tim O'Hare's attempt to eliminate college campus voting sites, Keller ISD's attempt to resegregate, and get a Fort Worth progressive elected. We listen to their origin story and how a band of small groups can make a difference while also building community. Enjoy! Watch on YouTube | Join the Discord | Attend an 817 Gather

The short stories for the week are below:

SHORT STORIES

Short Story #1: Big BullSh!T Bill's Impact on Texas

Short Story #2: Tarrant County Spends $250K of Your Tax Dollars to Protect Their Racial Gerrymander

Short Story #3: Tarrant County Adds Extremists to Their Historic Commission to Silence LGBTQ Recognition

WINS - LOSSES - ACTIONS

Wins: Sonidos Northside, New Southside Distillery,

Losses: Kerr County, Defense Capital, Cooper Apartments

Actions: Sonidos Northside September Event, A Strange Loop, Cooper Apartments Fund

The team is joined by Allison Campolo, who is running for chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. She ran for the Texas Senate in 2017 and served as the former county chair from 2021 to 2023. She shares why she wants to get back in the saddle and updated plans on how to turn the county blue! Watch on YouTube.

BIG STORY: An interview with Allison Campolo

- DFW native Kendall Scudder is the Texas Democratic Chair

- Democrats Allred, Castro, O’Rourke, Talarico meet to discuss 2026 options

- Texas Dems To DC: We’re Not You

- Become a precinct chair

SHORT STORY #1: Trump wants cities to remove DEI programs. How will Fort Worth respond?

- Watch City Hall

- Fort Worth weighs DEI programs vs. $277M in federal money. What will it do?

- Fort Worth council debates DEI programs, delays vote

SHORT STORY #2: Dan Patrick wants Bo French Gone

- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Bo French should resign as Tarrant GOP chair over ‘bigotry’

- Nate Schatzline exits race for Texas Senate after new candidate announces her run

SHORT STORY #3: SINIFI Grades House Members Alliance to Christian Nationalism: What does it mean?

- Review the full grades

WINS

- Fort Worth lights City Hall in rainbow colors for LGBTQ Pride Month

- Pictures from Trinity Pride

LOSS

- Fires: Cooper | Hulen Mall | Metal Recycling Business

- Echo Heights

- Fort Worth Community Arts Center

ACTIONS

- Speak at the Commissioner Court. July 1st

- Sign up to be a precinct chair