My family and I have been residents of Ellis Avenue in Tarrant, Texas for over 60 years. We've seen our community change over time, but nothing has struck us as deeply as the recent loss of our beloved grocery chain, Carnival. This was a place where Fort Worthians created warm memories - from enjoying snow cones to shopping together. It was always bustling with activity and served as a cornerstone for our community.

Now, they plan to replace it with yet another hotel aimed at attracting tourists. This is not just about losing a cherished local spot; it's about the overall impact on our residential area. Our streets are becoming overrun by tourists who often engage in disruptive behavior due to excessive drinking. The safety of our children is at risk; they can no longer play freely on the streets due to increased traffic and frequent car crashes.

We already deal with enough drunk drivers from all the bars in the stockyards and existing hotels - we don't need more added to that mix! Our tax dollars should be used for amenities that benefit locals rather than catering solely to tourists.

Instead of another hotel, we propose alternatives that would truly serve our community such as a new community center, retail stores or restaurants. Even something as simple as filling pot holes or adding greenery would be more beneficial than another tourist attraction.

We urge city officials who will meet on April 9th at City Hall to consider these concerns seriously before making any decisions about further developments in residential areas like ours. Please sign this petition if you believe that residential streets should remain safe havens for families rather than becoming extensions of tourist districts.