Richardson Mayor Amir Omar held a town hall meeting at Communion Coworking & Event Venue on August 5, 2026. He answered a lot of questions in two hours. I'm extracting topics, one at a time. Below is ChatGPT's summary of the mayor's town hall remarks on one topic.
Richardson Mayor Amir Omar held a town hall meeting at Communion Coworking & Event Venue on August 5, 2026. He answered a lot of questions in two hours. I'm extracting topics, one at a time. Below is ChatGPT's summary of the mayor's town hall remarks on one topic.
 |
| From 2025 12 27 Lisbon |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, Portugal. According to Wikipedia, "The Jerónimos Monastery is one of the most prominent examples of the late Portuguese Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon. It was erected in the early 1500s near the launch point of Vasco da Gama's first journey, and its construction funded by a tax on the profits of the yearly Portuguese India Armadas. [Think of that as a tax on billionaires.] In 1880, da Gama's remains and those of the poet Luís de Camões (who celebrated da Gama's first voyage in his 1572 epic poem The Lusiad), were moved to new carved tombs in the nave of the monastery's church, only a few meters away from the tombs of the kings Manuel I and John III, whom da Gama had served."
 |
| From 2025 12 27 Lisbon |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from Lisbon, Portugal, first stop on our New Year's trip this year whose highlight was a river cruise of Portugal's Douro River.
Richardson Mayor Amir Omar held a town hall meeting at Communion Coworking & Event Venue on August 5, 2026. He answered a lot of questions in two hours. I'm extracting topics, one at a time. Below is ChatGPT's summary of the mayor's town hall remarks on one topic.
Richardson Mayor Amir Omar held a town hall meeting at Communion Coworking & Event Venue on August 5, 2026. He answered a lot of questions in two hours. I'm extracting topics, one at a time. Below is ChatGPT's summary of the mayor's town hall remarks on one topic.
Richardson Mayor Amir Omar held a town hall meeting at Communion Coworking & Event Venue on August 5, 2026. He answered a lot of questions in two hours. I'm extracting topics, one at a time. Below is ChatGPT's summary of the mayor's town hall remarks on one topic.
The Richardson City Council has to fill a vacancy on the Council caused by the resignation of Council Member Dan Barrios. There were thirteen applications. On August 17, 2026, the Council reduced the applicant count by five based on their written applications and whatever Council Members could find on Facebook or Google or elsewhere online, without giving the applicants a chance to rebut or explain what Council Members found online about them.
The argument for doing this is that it leaves more time for Q&A with the remaining eight applicants. The argument against is that all applicants deserve a chance to speak to the Council in person. Otherwise, the Council might unwittingly cut some excellent applicants. That's the argument I presented in "Council Recap: Thirteen Good Men and Women". The majority of the Council didn't listen to me, so what's new?
Richardson Mayor Amir Omar held a town hall meeting at Communion Coworking & Event Venue on August 5, 2026. He answered a lot of questions in two hours. I'm extracting topics, one at a time. Below is ChatGPT's summary of the mayor's town hall remarks on one topic.
Richardson Mayor Amir Omar held a town hall meeting at Communion Coworking & Event Venue on August 5, 2026. He answered a lot of questions in two hours. I'm extracting topics, one at a time. Below is ChatGPT's summary of the mayor's town hall remarks on one topic.
 |
| From 2025 09 22 Samarkand |
Today's photo-of-the-day is of miscellany from Uzbekistan. First, a sign for a public restroom. Next, a fast food place. Last, a common sight along the highways — storks nesting on power poles, chimneys, or any tall extension offering safety for nests.
Bonus photos are after the jump.
 |
| From 2025 09 22 Samarkand |
Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Shah-i-Zindi Necropolis in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, the Shah-i-Zinda complex was formed over eight centuries, starting in the 11th century, and includes more than twenty mausoleums and other ritual buildings. "The name Shah-i-Zinda is connected with the legend that Qutham ibn Abbas, a cousin of Muhammad, is buried here. He came to Samarkand with the Arab invasion in the 7th century to preach Islam. According to one legend, he was decapitated during prayer, picked up his severed head, and walked to the deep well known as the Garden of Paradise, where he resides to this day."
Well, OK then. It's an impressive cemetery even without the legend.
A bonus photo is after the jump.
The Richardson City Charter imposes on the City Council a daunting task — filling a vacancy on the Council. Council Member Dan Barrios resigned and the remaining Council members are required to appoint his successor. Here's the schedule the Council adopted:
| Application Period | Jul 22 - Aug 7 |
| Public Release of Applicant List | Aug 11 |
| Council Review of Applications | Aug 11-16 |
| Council Selects Applicants to be Interviewed | Aug 17 |
| Council Conducts Applicant Interviews | Aug 24 |
| Council Announces a Maximum of 3 Finalists | Sep 14 |
| Council Conducts Finalists Interviews/Identifies Lone Finalist | Sep 21 |
| Council Vote on Appointment, Swearing-In | Sep 28 |
What goes around comes around.
The Richardson City Council reviewed the Richardson Police Department's use of the Flock camera system. The council members' questions were revealing. Should Richardson keep the cameras? Should Richardson ditch the cameras? Should Richardson put stronger safeguards in place for the use of the cameras? Let's go through three of the clearest positions on Flock that emerged from the meeting.
|
Disney+
Richardson Mayor Amir Omar held a town hall meeting at Communion Coworking & Event Venue on August 5, 2026. He answered a lot of questions in two hours. I'm extracting one topic, the use of Flock cameras by Richardson Police Department because 1) a lot of questions about this came up, and 2) the Richardson City Council will be reviewing this topic at its August 10, 2026, meeting. Be there to learn more. In the meantime, you can review what The Wheel has had to say about Flock in our archives: "Flock Cameras are Watching Us".
Below is ChatGPT's summary of the mayor's town hall remarks about Flock.
 |
| From 2025 09 22 Samarkand |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on the street outside the Observatory of Ulugh Beg in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, "Ulugh Beg, the son of Shah Rukh and grandson of Amir Timur, became the ruler of Samarkand in the 15th century AD. Ulugh Beg was very skilled in mathematics and astronomy...[The observatory] could accurately measure the sun from the horizon, the altitude of a star and other planets. The duration of the year, period of planets, and eclipses were measured by this device. Ulugh Beg's measurements of planets closely relate to today's measurement."
Oh, the photo. It shows, not a model of Saturn's rings, but freshly baked bread offered by a street vendor outside the observatory.
A bonus photo of the observatory itself is after the jump.
 |
| From 2025 09 22 Samarkand |
Today's photo-of-the-day is of the interior of the Tilakari Madrasa in Samarkand, Uzbekistan's Registan Square. It was built between 1646 and 1660. According to Wikipedia, "The Tilakari Madrasa is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Timurid architecture, a tradition deeply rooted in the Persianate architectural and artistic legacy that dominated Central Asia during the 14th-17th centuries...The madrasa reflects the refined aesthetics developed in Iran, Khurasan, and Transoxiana, where Persian cultural and artistic norms shaped the visual identity of the Timurid Empire."
The Richardson City Council conducted its annual budget workshop. Yesterday, I reported on Day 1's peculiar focus on one $5,000 budget expense ("Council Recap: Debating a Rounding Error"). Here I want to cover Day 2, specifically what happened to any leftover questions regarding that one item. This time, roughly 18–20 minutes was devoted to this topic. The mills of government grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine. Spoiler: there was a surprise ending!
The Richardson City Council started its annual budget workshop August 3, 2026. Day 1 focused on the General Fund revenues and expenditures. Day 2 is scheduled to focus on the Operating Funds. (Note: this article was written after Day 1 but before Day 2.) The graphic above is one slide from the city's presentation. I am not going to discuss the $190 million General Fund Expenditures in the proposed budget. That would be too logical. Instead, I'm going to discuss one proposed $5,000 expenditure. Why? Because that's what the council spent time talking about. Too much time, in my opinion, given its tiny impact on the budget.
|
Disney+
Graphic by City of Richardson.
The City of Richardson is rightly regarded as having some of the best and most diverse dining options in north Texas ("Eat & Drink"). But that doesn't mean every restaurant in Richardson exceeds in every measure. Here is a list of the worst places to eat in Richardson last month, based on the City of Richardson's Health Department Restaurant Scores from inspections last month. Not all Richardson restaurants are inspected each and every month. Only those inspected last month are ranked here. Only the lowest scores are shown.
 |
| From 2025 09 22 Samarkand |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the Mausoleum of Tamerlane in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, "Timur (c. 1320s—1405), also known as Tamerlane, was a Turco-Mongol conqueror, first ruler of the Timurid dynasty, and the founder of the Timurid Empire, which ruled over modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia. He was undefeated in battle and is widely regarded as one of the greatest military leaders and tacticians in history, as well as one of the most brutal and deadly. Timur is also considered a great patron of the arts."
Surprisinly, this photo is not of his mausoleum. It's only the gate that leads to his mausoleum, which becomes visible after you walk through the gate. The photo of his actual mausoleum is after the jump.
 |
| From 2025 09 22 Samarkand |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It shows a wooden bench outside one of the madrasahs, where "L" sits at peace in a city older than time.
Bonus photos are after the jump.
|
On airplane
Source: Interurban-Richardson.netlify.app.
A developer has a website featuring fancy renderings (above) of what Richardson's Interurban District could look like if all the pieces fall into place. It sounds wonderful: "A walkable district of rooftops, patios, murals, and local shops is being explored on the rail line Richardson was born on. Before anything is decided, we want to hear from the people who live here. Tell us what you would want in it." The website contains a survey that may be little more than a marketing exercise, but it's worth participating anyway.
I know what it feels like to be Charlie Brown running up to a football teed up by Lucy, only to have her pull it away at the last second. But this time, I'm more hopeful than I've ever been that good things could happen here.
|
AppleTV+
Source: City of Richardson and ChatGPT.
The Richardson City Council is in the process of filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Councilmember Dan Barrios. Project teams sometimes use a simple exercise called "Roses and Thorns" to reflect on a completed project and identify lessons learned. Things that went well and that we can be proud of are "roses." Things that didn't go well are "thorns." Barrios's seat isn't filled yet (and won't be filled until late September), but we can see how the process is likely to play out, so it's not too soon to hand out some roses and thorns.
 |
| From 2025 09 22 Samarkand |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It shows two women very fashionably dressed and posing for a photographer. For what reason, we didn't learn. We just snapped our own photos.
Bonus photos are after the jump.
 |
| From 2025 09 22 Samarkand |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, it's "a historic public square [that] served as the heart of the Timurid Empire and later as the city's commercial, educational, and ceremonial center. The square is famed for its ensemble of three madrasas which together represent some of the finest achievements of Islamic architecture in Central Asia. Renowned for its soaring iwans, turquoise domes, intricate mosaic tilework, and geometric ornamentation, Registan is considered one of the greatest examples of Timurid and Persian-influenced architecture."
We visited the square twice, once during the day and again at night when it's the subject of a sound-and-light show.
Bonus photos are after the jump.
Source: City of Richardson and ChatGPT.
The Richardson City Council met July 20, 2026. One of the topics was "Review and Discuss the City Council appointment process and consider approval of the application." The council had already voted 6-1 on June 8 to adopt the vacancy-filling process as part of its Rules of Order and Procedure. (The lone "no" vote was by Dan Barrios who objected to the process of awarding a Key to the City, not to the appointment process of filling vacancies on council.) Given that support, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this agenda item would be over quickly. You'd be wrong, for two reasons. First, the council had agreed on the twelve-step process, but not on the calendar. Second, Curtis Dorian. In effect, Dorian asked the council to revisit the process it had already debated and adopted just six weeks earlier.
|
On plane
 |
| From 2025 09 19 Bukhara |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in the courtyard of the Nadir Devanbegi Madrasah in the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. A fashion show accompanied dinner.
 |
| From 2025 09 19 Bukhara |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the Bahouddin Naqshband Memorial Complex outside Bukhara, Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, this complex "includes the tomb of Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari, the founder of the Naqshbandi order, who died in 1389... It has een a place of pilgrimage for many generations... During the time of the Soviets, it was forbidden to visit the grave here."
Out of respect, visitors to the site wear modest clothing. Still, that leaves a lot of flexibility in clothing style.
|
Prime
From Blank Space, by W. David Marx:
|
 |
| From 2025 09 19 Bukhara |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on the street in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, where a pile of old binoculars and cameras was spread carelessly on a table. I wondered about all the images that appeared through their lenses in the years and decades gone by. And whose eyes had framed those images.
 |
| From 2025 09 19 Bukhara |
Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Bolo Hauz Mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. According to Asian Historical Architecture, the mosque "stands opposite the Ark Fortress... Its name means 'above the pool', referring to the octagonal hauz, or artificial pond, located directly in front of it Begun in 1712, early in the reign of Abu'l-Faiz Khan (r. 1711-47), it is one of the last and finest of Bukhara's major buildings prior to the modern era."
|
Netflix
Source: City of Richardson.
The Richardson City Council met June 22, 2026. One of the topics reviewed was the "FY27 Matching Fund Beautification Project Requests". According to the city, citizens, businesses, civic groups, and HOAs may partner with COR to improve the landscape on public property. COR matches partner group funds 100%. COR maintains the landscape after project completion. Improvements often are made in parks, on medians, and at neighborhood entry points. So far, so good. So what was the City Manager asking City Council to provide direction on?
 |
| From 2025 09 19 Bukhara |
Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Kalyan Minaret in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The minaret was built in 1127. According to Wikipedia, "About a hundred years after its construction, legend has it that the tower so impressed Genghis Khan that he ordered it to be spared when all around was destroyed by his men." The Mongols likely spared it because its height made it an incredibly valuable watchtower. "It is also known as the Tower of Death, because until as recently as the early twentieth century criminals were executed by being thrown from the top."
 |
| From 2025 09 19 Bukhara |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in central Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The domed bazaars are centuries old, yet vendors still sell goods beneath them. Covered markets provide shade. Thick masonry walls provide insulation from the sun. Narrow openings minimize direct sunlight. They are well adapted to a hot, dry, environment.
Graphic by City of Richardson.
The City of Richardson is rightly regarded as having some of the best and most diverse dining options in north Texas ("Eat & Drink"). But that doesn't mean every restaurant in Richardson exceeds in every measure. Here is a list of the worst places to eat in Richardson last month, based on the City of Richardson's Health Department Restaurant Scores from inspections last month. Not all Richardson restaurants are inspected each and every month. Only those inspected last month are ranked here. Only the lowest scores are shown.
2026-06-01: Another industry wrecked by Trump.
Alt National Park Service: "The U.S. just had its worst year for international tourism since the pandemic and it wasn’t even close. While the rest of the world broke records in 2025, America was the only country out of 184 to see a drop in foreign visitor spending."
bsky.app/profile/altnps.bsky.s...
|
Netflix
Source: NTMWD.
The Richardson City Council met June 22, 2026, and heard a presentation by the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), which supplies all of Richardson's water. One particular exchange highlighted a question NTMWD did not answer.
 |
| From 2025 09 19 Bukhara |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in the heart of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, where historic spaces formed by centuries of trade and daily life come together by the Lyab-i Hauz, a broad stone-edged pond shaded by trees.
 |
| From 2025 09 19 Bukhara |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. I don't know the story of this food truck. No one was minding it. I'm not going to make up a story. Instead, it's just an intriguing photo.
|
Prime
"You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people
some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time."
— attributed to Abraham Lincoln
The Richardson City Council met June 15, 2026, and reviewed the FY 2026-2027 Transportation and Mobility Work Plan. In my blog post ("Council Recap: Less is More"), I quoted Mayor Pro Tem Ken Hutchenrider, who expressed concern about bike club riding in northeast Richardson, where he lives. I didn't find his statement to be particularly productive. I found it repetitive and lacking in constructive suggestions. But I didn't have anything brilliant to contribute, either, so I decided to ask ChatGPT. Here is our condensed conversation.
