"I wish I knew how to quit you" — Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) to Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) in the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain.
In 2013 Richardson published its "Main Street/Central Expressway Study", which contained this vision: "The Interurban District could become a vibrant, mixed-use district that builds upon the existing block structure and buildings in the area." Beginning that very year, Richardson City Councils have been approving zoning requests for automotive uses there, each time finding it impossible to say "no" to a business owner flashing pretty pictures. First, it was a new car dealer ("Lemon"). Then it was a car repair shop ("Council Recap: Sell Out for a Mural"). This week it was another special permit for that same car repair shop (Zombie Zoning in the Car District).
Each time, the City Council found a reason to believe. A reason to believe that they weren't abandoning their vision. Each time, the City Council negotiated with themselves and ended up with a deal that gave a smooth-talking business person everything they want and had the City left holding only non-binding promises. The City Council should stay out of cars. They keep getting taken for a ride.
[Verse 1]
Seen a man standing over a dead dog
By a highway in a ditch
He's looking down, kinda puzzled
Poking that dog with a stick
Got his car door flung open
He's standing out on Highway 31
Like if he stood there long enough
That dog'd get up and run
[Chorus]
Struck me kinda funny
Seemed kinda funny, sir, to me
Still at the end of every hard day
People find some reason to believe.
—
Reason to Believe, Music and Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
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