Jim Fact Checks FrontBurner So FrontBurner Doesn't Have To

I knew I went to last night's Trinity toll road debate for a reason -- just didn't think it'd be this one. See, on FrontBurner today, we are given the following information in a post by Tim Rogers, writing about last night’s Pave the Trinity wingding:

One guy who did ask a question identified himself as a civil engineer who moved here from New York. In New York, he said, they've figured all this out. They use tunnels. He asked why we didn't simply tunnel the road under the flood plain. It's a wonderful notion. Tom Leppert answered the question thusly: "If you've got $2 billion, we'll do it tomorrow."

Sure. But, Tim, I can’t help thinking it would have helped place this idea in context for your readers for you to have identified the speaker, Richie Sheridan, who is usually described in The Dallas Morning News as “activist and perennial candidate Richard Sheridan, who was once arrested by City Hall security after approaching the council uninvited during a meeting and gesturing toward Mayor Laura Miller."

The story about that specific event, if you need help, ran on November 10, 2005, under the headline, “Activist arrested at council meeting Dallas: Frequent mayoral critic held briefly had been warned in past.” Here's some more of his work. And don't forget this. How could you?

I do not question Richie’s right to speak. If you do need to do a long interview, however, I would suggest a Hazmat suit.

And meanwhile, it helps sometimes, when you’re writing about these folks, to whip out your pen and notebook, saunter over there and find out who in the hell they are. Reporting: It's a wonderful notion. --Jim Schutze