City staff and Fort Worth Police are attempting to expand the North Side "No Cruising" ordinance to include the W. 7th Street entertainment district. In 1992, the City of Fort Worth created this discriminatory “No Cruising” ordinance in North Side only, that disproportionately targeted the Latinx community, giving police the power to cite people up to $500 for driving through one location more than three times within a two-hour period. The stated purpose of the ordinance was to alleviate traffic congestion and to help increase access for emergency vehicles and police to certain areas.

Their rationalization is that ticketing people for “cruising” will fix the traffic congestion problem in already high traffic entertainment districts like the Stockyards in North Side, and now, W. 7th.

The truth is that the problem of traffic congestion, in these areas or anywhere in the city, is NOT about cruising. It’s about the failure of city leaders to come up with comprehensive solutions that deal with root causes of traffic congestion, and provide REAL funding for public transit. For W. 7th, this would include REAL solutions like, well-funded and accessible multi-modal (rail, bus, etc.) public transportation,  a rideshare (Uber, Lyft, et.) pick-up/drop-off system that works, and expanded access to parking.  Ticketing "cruisers" won't minimize traffic congestion, but it will disproportionately put people of color at a greater risk for racial profiling and unwarranted police interactions. It will also unnecessarily burden Fort Worth police officers (and the taxpayers that fund them), at a time when our new chief is looking for ways to free up more officers and resources to focus on addressing actual violent crime.

Fort Worth needs #transitNOTtickets!

Thankfully, newly elected and United Fort Worth endorsed District 6 City Councilmember, Jared Williams made a motion at the June 22 council meeting to postpone the vote until the August 17 (10am) council meeting, giving council more time to discuss the matter before voting. #BrandNewCityCouncil

Now we have the time to make our voices heard and let city council know that we do not want this outdated and unnecessary ordinance expanded, but, as the 12th largest city in the NATION, we do want REAL, equitable and comprehensive public transit in Fort Worth!

Follow the instructions to send your letter to city council, now! And please share widely!

Thank you!

United Fort Worth