817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show

100 Years of Service with Leah King from United Way of Tarrant County

This episode was full of insight and honest conversations about making a difference in Fort Worth and the greater Tarrant County area. The big story is a conversation with Leah King, the CEO of United Way Tarrant County, who is leading the organization in its second centennial. We talk about UW priorities, the safety of our children, and the Fort Worth way. Our guest host is Brian Renteria, a higher educator, and multi-generational Latinx Fort Worthian. Brian and EJ discuss Mattie Parker's s...

Engaging Voters and Entrepreneurs with Brian Dixon and Hayden Blackburn

Today our guest cohosts are Brian Dixon and Hayden Blackburn. We discuss the election results but also what prevents engagement in Tarrant County, where only 8.9 percent of registered voters completed their ballot.  Below are the stories referenced: Short Story 1: Yellowstone and HB4419 https://fortworthreport.org/2023/05/04/tinderholt-action-blocks-film-bill-favored-by-fort-worth-draws-criticism-from-goldman/ https://fortworthreport.org/2023/05/05/film-industry-bill-backed-by-fort-worth-l...

Neighborhood Development for Both Residents and Tourists

Today starts our guest cohosts series, which we will have throughout May as we search for the next passionate voice for the 817 podcast. On this episode, EJ and Jimmy are joined by Ann Zadeh, former city council member and Community Design Fort Worth, executive director! The three discuss the current early voting numbers and what we should expect. They also talk about the Tarrant Appraisal District extension and the search for a new election chief due to the departure of Heider Garcia. The b...

Neighborhood Development for Both Residents and Tourists with Ann Zadeh

Today starts our guest cohosts series, which we will have throughout May as we search for the next passionate voice for the 817 podcast. On this episode, EJ and Jimmy are joined by Ann Zadeh, former city council member and Community Design Fort Worth, executive director! The three discuss the current early voting numbers and what we should expect. They also talk about the Tarrant Appraisal District extension and the search for a new election chief due to the departure of Heider Garcia. The b...

Early Voting and Election Integrity in Fort Worth

Short Story #1 Fort Worth officials say flood mitigation projects won’t be delayed by Panther Island funding move https://fortworthreport.org/2023/04/18/fort-worth-officials-say-flood-mitigation-projects-wont-be-delayed-by-panther-island-funding-move/ Short Story #2 Will streetcars return to the city? https://fortworthreport.org/2023/04/18/will-streetcars-return-to-fort-worth-with-growth-comes-a-renewed-interest-in-project/ Short Story #3 Could Fort Worth add another skyscraper? https://w...

Elections and Policing with Pamela Young of United Fort Worth

We have a treat for you today! This is our first episode in our new studio space, allowing us to have our first in-person interview!! Since starting our podcast, we have been inspired by Pamela Young and the entire team at United Fort Worth (https://linktr.ee/unitedfortworth). They are local leaders in the conversation around immigration, policing, and BIPOC empowerment. We discuss important topics we should consider as we enter the polls in less than a week. Later in the episode, we also th...

Campaign Finances: Who's funding who and what does it mean?

Jimmy and EJ dive into the nitty gritty of campaign finance reports, and we are shocked to see who is most funded and why the most competitive races have very little dollars invested. We start the pod with some crazy stories that involve FW and the metroplex, then hit two update stories before diving into the reports! Short Story #1: District 5 Gossip and Bedford Preacher Ponzi Scheme - https://fortworthreport.org/2023/04/05/fort-worth-city-council-candidate-ineligible-to-run-according-to-p...

Which Candidate Excites You Most? Dissecting the City Council Roundtables

EJ and Jimmy have some MAJOR news to announce on this podcast. If you feel called to be EJ's next cohost, reach out at [email protected]. The big story this week is the Fort Worth Report Roundtable Discussions. We hit each district seat, including the mayoral race. Short stories include homeless numbers spike, especially for families and veterans, and Pete Buttigieg visiting DFW airport. 

District 11 Candidate Panel: Who should be the next city council member of Fort Worth?

This is a historical episode as EJ and Jimmy host the first District 11 candidate gathering. All five candidates come together on the 817 podcasts to discuss their priorities, goals, and visions. Below is each candidate's campaign information. Early voting starts April 24th and ends May 2nd. Election day is May 6th. Enjoy! Ricardo Avita - Fort Worth Native and Co-Founder of Hemphil No Se Vende: https://www.ricardoavitiaforcitycouncil.com/ Christopher Johnson - Entrepreneur and President of...

From The Economist: What Do We Think of Texas' Growth

Texas and the greater DFW area were featured in the Economist magazine. It was the main story and filled with tons of information. Jimmy and EJ break down the essential points and why Texas is leading in more than just oil, guns, and bbq. Short Stories: 1) FWISD leaked conversation about cutting jobs https://fortworthreport.org/2023/03/15/job-cuts-in-fort-worth-isd-could-include-campus-staffs-according-audio-of-closed-meeting/ 2) FW City Council considers giving $1.5M incentive  to new vi...

What come first in Fort Worth, Density or Development?

SHORT STORIES: Education Recap Dr. Ramsey's first six months at FWISD: https://fortworthreport.org/2023/03/08/six-months-on-the-job-fort-worth-isd-superintendent-addresses-major-issues-in-public-education-and-offers-solutions/ Fort Worth ISD to eliminate and change admin jobs in reorganization: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article273026525.html FWISD 22,000 GED program: https://fortworthreport.org/2023/03/05/were-changing-lives-fort-worth-isd-to-serve-22000-in-adult-...

Welcome to Wokelandia and Affordable Housing

Fort Worth is making some progress with two affordable housing projects.  Jimmy and EJ discuss both projects in the big story. Short Story 1: District 7 candidate makes Wokelandia game https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article272628203.html#storylink=cpy Short Story 2: The city is looking to change how council member proposals are approved for the agenda https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/13-decrease-in-violent-crime-%2411m-in-housing-for-homeless/id1579328171?i=100...

A Breakdown of the 30 Candidates Running for Fort Worth's City Council

Jimmy and EJ break down each council seat and share their insights and thoughts on who is in the hot seat and who is cruising to remain in power. The guys dive into the new retail data and discuss Fort Worth's strategy to bring residential living to the urban core.  They also discuss Chief Noakes's oversight committee and Tim O'Hare's removal of mandatory bias training for Tarrant County employees. Below are a few of the stories discussed in this week's episode: SHORT STORY 1 Fort Worth Cit...

The Fort Worth Way with Alex Jimenez

Last week the Fort Worth report hosted a panel discussion called the Fort Worth Way. Alex Jimenez who was a part of the panel joins us to give an expanded view on the topic. The event was happening at the same time the city announced$50 million in an additional cost for city hall and Visit Fort Worth hosted its echo chamber bruncheon around tourism.  The Unexpected City trailer (https://youtu.be/nMxDgjY1Wqw)

The Future of TCU with President Daniel Pullin

In recent news, Texas Christian University announced Daniel Pullin as their new president. President Pullin began his new position on Feb. 1, supporting 12,000+ students. Pullin's background is in business, entrepreneurship, and innovation so Jimmy and EJ get to discuss the future of TCU but also the complete ecosystem we call North Texas. Enjoy!

Curfew with Dr. Jared Williams and FW Development with Austin James at Now.Town

This is the FIRST two interview episode and we are excited to give you timely news on the topics you care about most! Our first guest is Councilmember Jared Williams, who is leading the front on eliminating the curfew ordinance in the city. We also talk about his C.A.R.E. for Minors plan, which helps us holistically support our youth.  The second interview is with someone we have been excited to get on the show for a long time! Austin James is the producer/founder of Now.Town (HTTP://www.n...

Where does Fort Worth fit into the growth of the DFW metroplex?

Jimmy and EJ nerd out about all the new economic data around jobs, real estate, and hotels, leading to a big story about Fort Worth's role in the metroplex. The guys also discuss the curfew and the expansion of the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Sources below: SHORT STORIES 1. Tarrant Area Food Bank becomes an agricultural hub feeding nearly a half a million people (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crossroads-lab/article271588527.html) 2. Rosedale continues the $70M project, but when wil...

Updates on A&M and Who's Filed to Run for City Council

On January 18th, candidates could file to run for city council, FWISD school board, and Tarrant Regional Water District. Jimmy and EJ discuss the new candidates and share updates on A&M and downtown developments.

What to Expect from this Texas Legislative Session

The big story this week is about the legislative session. Mayor Mattie Parker joined mayors across the big city metros to advocate localized control and broadband access. FWISD created priorities that included more funding since the state has a 33 billion dollar surplus. The boy's wins and losses include the impact of Frisco's Universal partnership and the economic impact the national championship had on the city. Enjoy!

What to Expect from this Texas Leislative Session

The big story this week is about the legislative session. Mayor Mattie Parker joined mayors across the big city metros to advocate localized control and broadband access. FWISD created priorities that included more funding since the state has a 33 billion dollar surplus. The boy's wins and losses include the impact of Frisco's Universal partnership and the economic impact the national championship will have on the city. Enjoy!

2023 Predictions for Fort Worth

Jimmy and EJ arrive back from the long break with fresh perspectives and predictions for the city in 2023. Learn who were last year's losers and winners and the significant trends impacting the city's future growth. There will not be a pod next week.

Fort Worth 2023 and Beyond with Chief Innovation Officer Carlo Capua

For the final episode of the year, we talk with a true Fort Worth evangelist Carlo Capua who is responsible for building a decades-long strategy for the city to thrive.  ENJOY!

What Does Aaron Dean's Verdict Mean to Fort Worth

EJ and Jimmy are back from a three-week hiatus and have some serious news to deconstruct as the trial of Arron Dean, the FWDP officer who killed Atatiana Jefferson in her own home, has been found guilty of manslaughter.  The jury is expected to start deliberation today and determine Dean's punishment. The guys break down their readings and unravel their opinions about such an emotional case for the city. 

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Fort Worth Journalists Threatening to Strike and Panther Islands New Completion Date

Now more than ever, we need to support our local journalists as their employer McClatchey provides zero compromises to their poor wages and work conditions. Here is the link to donate to support journalists, as they may have to strike to make a point on how important local news is to the city.  https://www.gofundme.com/f/fort-worth-newsguild-strike-fund?utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet&utm_medium

Understanding the Tarrant County Election Results

EJ and Jimmy get together to breakdown the election results. Reference for rants After the midterms, America and its democracy look stronger American policy is splitting, state by state, into two blocs https://www.economist.com/interactive/briefing/2022/09/03/american-policy-is-splitting-state-by-state-into-two-blocs America’s black upper class and Black Lives Matter https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/08/22/americas-black-upper-class-and-black-lives-matter Inside the battle f...

Reactions to Tarrant County's Early Voting Data and Trends

Jimmy and EJ break down election data and what their concerns are moving forward. They also discuss the rise in crime in West 7th, Las Vegas Trail, and Stockyards rezoning. Come hang with the boyz at Hotel Dryce today from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Be a Part of the Future of 76104: An interview with Shawn Lassiter

We are back from a two-week hiatus with a special interview with Shawn Lassiter.  She is a former science teacher and TX06 candidate who leads BRAVE/R Together, a nonprofit focused on transforming communities of color that deal with systemic inequities. Her team of localized ambassadors and United Way Tarrant County will be hosting the inaugural 76104 Phoenix Festival celebrating the greatness in communities such as Historic Southside, Morningside, and Hillside. The 76104 Phoenix Festiva...

*** CORRECTIONS AND NOTES ***

We made some inaccurate comments on this week's pod that we felt we needed to correct. See you in two weeks!

*** CORRECTIONS AND NOTES ***

We made some inaccurate comments on this week's pod that we felt we needed to correct. See you in two weeks!

Is Fort Worth Over COOKEd? Where do we go from here with our city manager.

It was a slow news week, but the Fort Worth Report and the Star-Telegram provided some concerning updates about the city manager's relationship with Sasha and Ed Bass. How deep does this relationship go, and did the city council do enough? We will be out for the next two weeks and miss you all.

Analyzing Mayor Mattie Parker's State of the City Address

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker delivered her first State of the City address on Thursday, so Jimmy and EJ decided to break down the conversation. There is also a special announcement at the very end of the pod to hang with Jimmy and EJ at Hotel Dryce!

Is Fort Worth WOWtown?

This weekend at the Texas Tribune Tribest annual event, Mattie Parker, Nicole Collier, and Marc Veasey were on a panel called WOWtown, which focused on how Fort Worth is the most exciting and interesting town in the state of Texas.  Jimmy and EJ decided to take that theme and highlight the local challenges that are not being discussed in the city.

Updates on Juneteenth Museum, Glen Whitley Endorsing Mike Collier, Techstars, and much more

This episode is a basket of updates on important projects in Fort Worth.

Updates on Juneteenth Museum, Glen Whitley Endorsing Mike Collier, Techstars, and much more

This episode is a basket of updates on important projects in Fort Worth.

How Do We Approach Density and Accessibility as Fort Worth Grows?

Jimmy and EJ are back together with a full slate of topics and conversations to have with you and the rest of our amazing community. We start the pod with three short stories: 1. FWISD's new superintendent comes from Midland. Is that a good thing? 2. Carswell Prison gets attention from Marc Veasey to hold a hearing to investigate sexual assault cases 3. Glen Whitley and Betsy Price move away from GOP agenda The BIG story is the recent conversation around density in the city as West 7th loo...

A Sitdown with Democratic Nominee for TX13 Kathleen Brown

Kathleen Brown is an attorney who decided to run for office after her congressman, Ronny Jackson, tweeted "#StopTheSteal Fight For Trump!" just moments before our nation's capital was breached by insurrectionists who believed the election was stolen. At the 817 podcast, we believe this big lie that the GOP supports is threatening our democracy, which is why we were excited to support and welcome Kathleen to the show. Kathleen has a big hill to climb as the Democratic nominee for Texas's ...

Glen Whitley Calls to Defund Two Judges as more Tarrant County Youth are Detained

We have a lot of updates this week around several different topics, including the new Omni development and FWISDs B rating! The big story is about the shenanigans in the 323rd District Court, which oversees juvenile criminal cases. Two associate judges are rarely holding hearings leading to an overcrowded detention center. The data shared in a 21-page audit uncovered wide-ranging problems at nearly every level, including violations of Texas law and how some youths are being housed. 

Fort Worth's 2023 Budget Priorities and Potential Developments

Jimmy and EJ are back in action, just the two dissecting the local news circuit after a few weeks of excellent guests who joined us on the podcast. Make sure to check the last few episodes! The city has proposed its budget for 2023, laying out its priorities. This episode does not have a big story; instead, Jimmy and EJ riff on five to six stories around new development opportunities in the city. Here is a list of non-profits that received money from the ARP (Total $35.5M) Here is Bud Kenn...

Where Does Fort Worth's Economic Growth Go from Here? With Robert Sturns

Early in the pandemic, we had Economic Development Director Robert Sturns on the pod to talk about his team's work to support small businesses that were dealing with shutdowns.  Now that business is returning to normal and Fort Worth continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities, we sit down with Robert to discuss their corporate relocation strategy and approach to building a community where everyone can thrive. Below is some important information to support this conversation:  (EconD...

City Council is Back from Break. Will Fort Worth Teachers do the Same?

The council returns to their normal meeting schedule tomorrow with a full list of priorities to jump into, from short-term rentals to finalizing the budget. We discuss the different agenda items we need to consider as residents. Learn how you can get involved and attend one of their upcoming meetings below.  The big story is teacher shortages, as FWISD saw a 50% uptick in teacher resignations over the previous year, creating acceleration of vacant positions. Today's guest co-host Anthony H...

What should Fort Worth do about AirBnBs with Jessica Black Co-Founder of TX Neighborhood Coalition

This is our ONE-HUNDREDTH EPISODE!!! Thank you to everyone who has shared an episode or was a DAY 1! We are inspired to keep going and providing updates to our amazing city Fort Worth, Texas! This is a super episode with the big story being short-term rentals. Fort Worth is hosting several public comment events in the next few weeks to share its four options for STR management. We sit down with Jessica Black, who has become a big influencer and advocate for neighborhoods across Texas that ...

How Fort Worth is Supporting Small Business Right Now

A few pandemic relief grants are available for small business owners in Tarrant County. Jimmy and EJ share two and give updates on the $200M CDFI loan program. Jimmy and EJ share three short stories, one big story, and their wins and losses for the city. Enjoy!  CDFI $200M Loan Program: https://fortworthreport.org/2022/06/29/program-focused-on-fort-worths-entrepreneurs-of-color-lends-millions-with-more-to-come/ Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program ($20,000 Max) https://gov.texas.g...

Building Fort Worth with District 3 City Councilmember Michael Crain

Jimmy and EJ sat down with District 3 City Councilmember with Michael Crain to have an intimate conversation about the city's future. He has a complex district and prime area to woo companies for economic growth. He is also a born and bred Fort Worthian, so he brings a unique perspective to the changes in the city.

What Happened at City Council and What Losing Roe v Wade Means for Fort Worth

This felt like a long week as Texas politics continue to protect the wrong things.  Jimmy and EJ start the pod with three short stories which include the TxDOT I-30W study, Fort Worth's PR contract, and Councilwomen Biven's frustration over how $28 million in stimulus spending was introduced to the council. The big story was highlighting the ramifications of Roe v Wade in Texas and exploring what to do next. Here is a list of the stories mentioned: TxDOT: https://fortworthreport.org/2022...

Building the Eastside with Dante Williams from Community Frontline

Dante Williams was just a kid from the Funk who ended up building a tight-knit group of brothers from the Eastside who are influencing how our city is shaped. If you do not know Dante or his nonprofit  Community Frontline, get to know them, as I am sure they will be making an imprint on your and our future. Community Frontline: https://communityfrontline.com/ DIG Contracting: https://dig-contracting.com/

A Look Back on the First Year of Fort Worth's Fresh City Council

Jimmy and EJ dissect this Fort Worth Report article (https://fortworthreport.org/2022/06/07/fort-worth-council-members-reflect-on-first-year-in-office%ef%bf%bc/).  Budget season has also started for the city and there has been some movement on short-term rentals in the city.

East to West: How Does Development Look Different Across Fort Worth?

Jimmy and EJ are back from a long weekend and ready to tango. A lot of movement is happening around the development of Fort Worth. The guys spend time discussing black tourism, aerospace manufacturing, affordable housing, and the possible revitalization of East Lancaster.

Bonus Pod: How Can Fort Worth React to Uvalde?

We were not planning on doing a pod this week, but due to the horrific tragedy in Uvalde where our fellow Texans were massacred, we felt we had to check in on the community. We are thinking of every one of you, and now more than ever, we need to take action and be bold for the future of Texas.

Why You Should Vote in the Republican Runoffs on Tuesday

Sometimes you have to play defense instead of offense. EJ and Jimmy share who they are voting for in the Republican runoff and why 96% of voters should do the same. Bud Kennedy had a great article in the Sunday paper that plays as the backdrop to this episode. Enjoy and share! Here is a list of Republicans Jimmy and EJ are voting for: Attorney General: George P. Bush Commissioner of General Land Accounts: Tim Westley Railroad Commissioner: Sarah Stogner US Representative, District 30: P...