Redistricting 101

This January through March is a busy time for City Council, thanks to the process of redistricting Fort Worth. At last week’s meeting, seven redistricting maps were selected by the Redistricting Task Force as potential finalists to submit to the City Council. Here are the chosen maps + everything you need to know about redistricting.

📖 Let’s start from the beginning

Back in 2016, Fort Worthians voted in favor of an amendment to the City Charter to increase the number of City Council voting members from 9 to 11 — meaning a new 10-district map, each represented by a council member, would need to be in place (the mayor makes the 11th voting member).

Additional districts not only adjust the map for Fort Worth’s population growth, but per an official recommendation from the Task Force on Race and Culture, help the City Council reflect the diverse communities it represents. Public input, legal counsel, and various task forces are key parts of the process to ensure maps are fairly drawn.

✏️ What’s happened so far

A Redistricting Task Force was appointed in 2020, which went on to do the following:

Presented 10 redistricting criteria, divided into low and high priority concerns
Held software training for residents, enabling us to propose our own redistricting plans
Posted all submitted maps online, providing an analysis of how well each map met the criteria
Selected seven out of the 26 maps for final consideration.

📍 The Maps

Map X + district breakdown by Pablo Calderon
Map Z + district breakdown by Fernando Florez — Presented by The United Hispanic Council of Tarrant County
Map Q + district breakdown by Michelle Swindle
Map M + district breakdown by Rejina Shrestha
Map U + district breakdown by Paul Wilson
Map I + district breakdown by Fernando Florez — Presented by The United Hispanic Council of Tarrant County
Map S + district breakdown by Cary Moon — Current District 4 City Councilmember

💪 Next steps + your part

Join City Hall’s public hearing on Thurs., Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. to discuss the seven chosen maps. To speak, register by 4 p.m. that day via email or by calling 817-392-6156 — comments can be made both in-person and by calling in. View the rest of the redistricting timeline here.

Share this story with anyone looking for a redistricting breakdown.

EVENTS

Today

Shuffle Dance Lessons | Tues., Jan. 11 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Rodeo Exchange, 221 W. Exchange Ave. | $5 | Join Rodeo Exchange every Tuesday for dance lessons + drink specials.

Wednesday

Oklahoma State vs. TCU Women’s Basketball | Wed., Jan. 12 | 1 p.m. | Schollmaier Arena, 3000 Stadium Dr. | $17+ | Watch the Cowgirls and the Horned Frogs go head to head. 🏀
Indie Sounds Open Mic | Wed., Jan. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Da Crab Trap, 3431 Altamesa Blvd. | $5 | This artistic event will feature poets, singers, rappers, comedians + musicians. 🎤

Thursday

Second Thursday at the Carter: Culture & Creation | Thurs., Jan. 13 | 5-8 p.m. | Amon Carter Museum of American Art | Cost of purchase | Enjoy drinks, viewing artist Sandy Rodriguez’s work, curator Maggie Adle’s remarks, and more. 🍸

Friday

Southwestern Exposition Livestock Show and Rodeo | Fri., Jan. 14-Sat., Feb. 5 | Times vary | Will Rogers Memorial Center | $30+ | Grab your favorite boots + enjoy 23 days of rodeo performances. 🐎

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

YOUR AMAZING JANUARY PLANS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

56º | Mostly cloudy | 10% chance of rain

Community

The City of Fort Worth has a full itinerary planned for this Thurs., Jan. 13 from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Future City Hall, 100 Energy Way in advance of MLK Day. Grab complimentary cupcakes, vlog in an “I Dream a World” video station, and enjoy a spoken word program.

Number

$32,000. That’s how much two Fort Worth Arts organizations received in grants — and the money’s going straight to local artists. Art Tooth will fund new works from three artists and display them at local businesses, while Arts Fort Worth will give one artist 24-hour studio space access + a monthly stipend. 💰 (KERA Art&Seek)

Outdoors

Trail improvements at Rosen Park are near finished. The new 720-ft concrete trail better connects both North Beverly Hills + the Far Greater Northside Historical neighborhoods to the park and uses a repurposed bridge from the Fort Worth Zoo. 🌳

Sports

After the Cowboys’ 51-26 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, they’ll face the San Francisco 49ers at AT&T Stadium this Sun., Jan. 16 at 3:30 p.m. in their first-round playoff game. Dallas is now the No. 3 seed in the NFC. See who they’d play next after a win against the 49ers. 🏈 (WFAA)

Health

Universities are changing COVID-19 mandates in accordance with recent CDC guidelines — Texas Wesleyan University is requiring masks in all indoor spaces + has a vaccination clinic tomorrow, Wed., Jan. 12 from 10-11 a.m., while TCU lecturers have the option for online or hybrid classes this week. See more school changes here.

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📸 @fortworthzoo

There’s good news for an endangered species at the Fort Worth Zoo. Last week, four baby tiger rays were born to carry on their parents’ legacies. The tiger rays are the first successful second-generation birth of this species in managed populations.

Less than 30 tiger rays exist in all U.S. zoos and aquariums — once the new babies are older, they’ll be transferred to other aquariums for enhanced genetic diversity of the species when they breed. Check out the lucky parents in the Flooded Forest habitat while the babies rest, and give them a big ol’ Texas welcome from afar.

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THE WRAP

Editor's Pick: Yesterday, we asked what you'd like to see in the West 7th District — you said more green space and shopping, free parking, shaded areas outdoors, a public rail, and a whole lotta you asked for restaurants. 🍽️

Missed yesterday's newsletter? Read about the upcoming $83 million West 7th project.

Today's Edition by:

Sarah

FTWtoday Team

Editorial: Rebecca, Sarah, Dayten, Josh

Sales: Rachel

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