Tragedy at a Recreation Center

As you may have heard, there was an attempted robbery and shooting at the Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center. The Center is located in Pleasant Grove (map). Channel 8 had coverage of the story (link).

Cheryl Lydick, who is a well-liked employee at Pleasant Oaks, was shot four times and is currently in critical condition. Another employee was injured as well.

I only talked with her once, but we had a great hour long conversation.

She wouldn't hurt anyone. You could see how much the kids loved her. This is a woman who worked tirelessly for the kids of that community.

If you've ever met Miss Cheryl, you know that she would do anything for anyone.

Although we were talking for the first time, Cheryl let me put up my flyers to help get my business started.

I remember her talking about how the federal and local funding for Pleasant Oaks had dwindled and they were trying their best to keep programs going.

I am praying that she survives.

According to Channel 8, Schepps Dairy announced a $10,000 reward in connection with an arrest and grand jury indictment in the robbery and shooting. Anyone with information should call Dallas police at 214-671-3584.

If only we could get someone in office to take a stand on crime and protect the people who help our communities with the same fervor that they cheer for the Mavericks.

Can we get someone in office to take a stand on violence in this city? While everyone is running around trying to get political favors cashed in, hanging out at the W, OUR CITY IS DYING!

Now even the park and recreation centers are targets. Let's see if anyone steps up to the plate.
Will the city help out Cheryl the way she helped the community?

Who will stand up?! WHO?!

Update on Townhomes Case

The case involving the townhomes in the 4300 Block of S. Marsalis has been held under advisement until August 17th. Hopefully, the Chair of the City Plan Commission will be back at that time. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, here is a previous article to get you up to speed (link).




There is also talk that a Planned Development District will be put in place in that area. What an interesting change of events, after having the case be postponed 3 times in the past.

There has been talk of the builders constructing one townhome, to see if it sells. Have you ever heard of such foolishness? What if it doesn't sell? Then what will become of the land?

We will continue to follow this case as it proceeds. If these townhomes are approved, we will follow them every step of the way.

We will also track them to see if they become rental units. We will take note of which names pop up in their development.

Latino Graduate and Undergraduate Political Internships

From my new buddy Zulema Mendoza comes this announcement about The Mexican American Legislative Leadership Foundation:

The 2007 Internship/Fellowship application for this great legislative leadership program is now available. To download a copy, please visit www.mallfoundation.org

This program provides a unique opportunity for Latino undergraduate and graduate students from across the state of Texas to gain first-hand governmental experience working in the Texas House of Representatives during the 80th Legislative Session.

Selected students will serve as full-time policy interns. These students will work alongside experienced legislative staff and also participate in weekly seminars designed to enhance their understanding of the legislative process through interaction with various other interns, elected officials, and state agency representatives.

Those selected as interns/fellows for the Moreno/Rangel Legislative Leadership Program will be provided with a $2,050 monthly stipend to assist with living expenses. The program will begin January 4, 2007, and ends the last day of session on May 28, 2007. Interns will be required to work full-time in Austin, Texas for the entire duration of the 80th Legislative Session.

If anyone knows of any similar programs, please let me know.

Emerald Isle Project - The Fight over the Tower near White Rock Lake

This fight has been heating up over the past year. In fairness to both groups, I have decided to post links to opposing views on this matter

This site, by Aren Cambre, supports the condo tower on the east side of the lake (link).

The Save White Rock Lake group is opposed to the tower (link).

It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out.

Exxon still Ripping off the Public

I just found out that Exxon made the second highest quarterly profit in U.S. history (link). Exxon had over $10 billion in profit in one three-month period.

Guess who has the record? Yep, Exxon (link).

Rich people can afford it, that's why no one cares. But think about the working people who are choosing gas before food because they MUST pay for gas to go to work, take their kids to day care, etc.

Now will you vote? What more motivation do you need?

How can we have progress in Dallas when the everyman is getting ripped off left and right?

Double Feature from Robert Wilonsky

Robert Wilonsky of the Dallas Observer follows up on the Bama Pie situation here.

In addition, Robert had an interesting take on Candlewood Suites employees (and guests!) volunteering to build a house in South Dallas (link). It's worth a read. Private companies doing what they can to improve the southern sector, with no fanfare? Sweet!

Inaccuracies in the El Angel Club Shooting

I am hearing from more people that were at or around the El Angel Club on the night of Saturday July 15th. It is apparent to me that the entire story is not being told. I talked to people who were in the club, and feel good about my sources for this story. One of the items in question is whether or not "Put Yo Hood Up" was played at all.

I've heard other things as well, but posting what I have learned would only further the divide the city.

These types of crimes are societal problems - not music problems, not club problems, and not hip-hop problems. Most times the public takes what the news media says as fact, and such reporting as was done in this case can damage lives and reputations. They have an obligation to act more responsibly.

I do appreciate Shaun Rabb of Fox 4 News. He used his Sunday morning show, Insights, to have a forum with young people expressing their views on what happened and why these things occur in our society.

I maintain that these types of incidents may unfortunately continue if the young people are not included in the process of decision-making with respect to handling downtown clubs.

My door is always open to anyone from the DPD that wants to make a difference and make downtown Dallas safe for all citizens.

Runaway Truck in Dallas - BE CAREFUL

Due to the way that the story was covered while it was in progress, I have pulled the story. The main reason that I posted it was for public safety purposes. I'm not going to contribute to negative stereotypes of people of any race. I apologize for any confusion caused by this action.

Why is the Interstate Motel Still Open?

I have heard questions about the Interstate Motel. It is located at Beckley & Overton in Oak Cliff. (map) Unlike the American Inn at 4538 Scyene in South Dallas, we did not initiate the action to close the Interstate. Our efforts against the Interstate were born out of the motel owner's efforts to secure a Special Use Permit to continue to operate as a motel with 60 rooms or less (per City Code).

In November 2005 Dwaine Caraway and I, along with help from others in Dallas were successful in getting the Special Use Permit denied.

So, why is the motel still open?

Here the scoop: once the permit is denied at the City Plan Commission level, the motel owner can then get the case heard at the City Council level. The motel owner did so in January of 2006, but then it was deleted from the agenda as shown here (see item 53 in this link). The owner must then apply to have the case put back on the agenda within 60 days. The owner never re-applied, and nothing else came of the situation.

The motel is still open because the Councilperson for District 4, Maxine Thornton-Reese, has made zero effort to close the motel. She has not called Code Enforcement, Building Inspections , or any other City department to close the motel. I'm sure they'd love to do it.

We have done all we can do to get the motel closed. Our job was completed in November of 2005. Now, the onus is on the City of Dallas. We can't do everybody else's job ALL of the time.

In April of 2006, we received news coverage regarding our efforts to close southern sector hot-sheet motels. Here's the link. This is just one story, but it shows what we're up against. Although it is not shown in the clip, we did receive support from Councilman Fantroy and a few others, but no support from any of the other three Southern Sector council members.

It's been 8 months since the permit was denied. How long is enough?

When Will the Killing Stop!

A young man, eighteen-year-old Dorwin Robinson was shot to death outside the Parks Apartments in the 1500-block of Argentia (across from Wynnewood Village), around 11 p.m. Wednesday. (map)

Earlier on Wednesday, he was excited about finding a job. By nighttime he was dead.

Another life, ended too soon. These are the murders that hit me really hard. This young man found a job, was attending church, and dreaming of a better life. Now he's gone.

Dorwin's murder received only a little coverage, and will probably be forgotten in a few days.

This murder is a stain of the City of Dallas, and on the WCH Limited Partnership which is the entity that owns the property.

The property is registered to the entity below:

WCH LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
% PARKS AT WYNNEWOOD APTS
1400 S ZANG BLVD OFC
DALLAS, TEXAS 75224-1551

WCH Limited Partnership is registered to an address on Bishop in Oak Cliff. It appears that the property is owned by Dallas City Homes, a Community Development Corporation in Oak Cliff.

Do you think WCH or Dallas City Homes will step up security or install new cameras? Probably not.

My prayers and condolences go out to his family and friends.

Bama Pie building Still not Open - Chaney Promised Holiday 2005 Opening

This is NOT an article about the trust fund. This is an article about how city money gets given away to cronies, the work never gets done, and no one goes to recover the money. Doesn't anyone care about your tax dollars?

Robert Wilonsky of the Dallas Observer has been all over the Leo Chaney Bama Pie fiasco. The owner of this building, Derrick Mitchem has received over $360,000 for the renovation of this building from the City of Dallas. The funds were to be reportedly used to make it into an Automobile Museum. The museum is located in South Dallas, one block south of Fair Park on Pennsylvania Avenue (map).


When Robert did his story in November, the owner of the building put some windows in to make it look like progress was being made. Robert wrote a follow up in March.

In November of 2005, Wilonsky wrote that "Mitchem couldn't be reached on his cell or home numbers, but Chaney insists it will be open by the holidays."

8 months later.. the building is exactly the same. The guy is four years behind on the payments, with no real progress to show for your $364,000. But Mr. Mitchem still can't be reached. Let me see... if I were the City, and someone owed me $364K... I would hire a private detective or someone (cost? under $1,000) and serve the guy with some papers or something. Or at least hire that crazy guy from Cheaters... he seems to be good at finding people.
It's one thing if it was almost complete...but this is ridiculous.

I took some pictures myself. Not surprisingly, it looks the same as it has for years. The illegal dumping in the first picture is a nice touch.

Did Chaney mean the holidays of 2006?

Mr. Mitchem bought the building in 1997, so some work should have been done on the inside right? OK, maybe not.

According to Dallas city records, the only work done on the building was a $1,500 paving job in early April 2006 (completed). Let me repeat that - the City records show that the only work shown for the City's $360K+ investment is a driveway paving. That $360,000 includes $290,000 of Community Development Block Grant money. That's where the city gets its money for Minor Home Repair for seniors and low-income people, and other community programs. Do you know how many home repairs could have been funded with $290,000? Close to 100! The pictures speak for themselves.

Here are the pictures, taken by yours truly in the past week (click pic to enlarge):

Looks like a Landslide

Many people have let Steve Blow have it over his article on Tuesday.

Get it right, I am appalled by the shooting at Club Angel. Many families have been victims of gun violence, including my own family. I just hate lazy reporting that clouds the issue instead of getting at the root of the problem.

Apparently, I wasn't the only person who thought the articles written on Tuesday were ridiculous.

The verdict is in from:

Sam at the Dallas Observer.

Blair Lovern at Texas Gigs.

Adam at D Magazine also linked to our story.

And of course, my people at Dallaspeeps had my back.

This Shooting Could Have Been Prevented!

I think the police department and the business communities are both making some mistakes with regard to the incident at Club Angel over the weekend. They are leaving out a key component of the equation – the people in my age bracket that attend these parties. Unfortunately, I believe that these things will continue until all parties are at the table.

I realize that Chief Kunkle is in London right now at a crime conference, and can’t be reached. I am going to try to meet with him as well as my councilperson (Ms. Hunt, since she covers that part of downtown) in the coming weeks regarding this issue.

Solely suggesting that certain songs be banned and increased policing is not the end all.

According to people that I know that were at the party, these fights were occurring before the song was even played. This is based on 20-25 e-mails and notes I got yesterday. I personally know the DJ, and know him to be a positive guy that wouldn't knowingly touch off a riot.

One of my best friends is the owner of a website that has over 190,000 registered users, most of which are under 30 and the main attendees of urban parties and clubs like these.

After the last multiple shooting in July, I offered to meet with the Downtown Neighbors Association to clear the air and have a meeting of the minds and work to put the clamps on this sort of thing happening in downtown Dallas. I got no response.

Do I like the song Put Yo Hood Up? No, I don't like the song. But for a writer to suggest that it's the music and nothing else is simply lazy reporting that will get a lot of agreement from their coterie.

We are never at the table when these press conferences occur, and we are never brought into discussions. We could have prevented this shooting, but no one wants to hear out point of view. Until they realize that they DO need our input, it’s going to be a long summer and a long year for downtown Dallas.

Dallas Needs a Revolution

This Town Needs a Revolution

To get the whole City of Dallas moving in the right direction, this town is going to need a revolution. A revolution in its mindset, and a revolution at the polls.

14-1 can work, if you have the right people in place. The Mayor deserves a big share of the blame, of course. However, she’s not the only problem but part of a systemic problem with which this City has been burdened for years.

I think it is obvious that some councilpeople, on both sides of the river, leave a lot to be desired. I personally look forward to the turnover resulting from the 2007 election; hopefully it will bring a new attitude to the entire council, not just a few spirited members.

I look at some of the zoning that gets passed, and wonder how certain councilpeople allow it to happen. How they allow certain things to be built in their district is beyond me.

When you drive through certain parts of the city, you can get sick to your stomach. There are parts of this city that have NO real shopping. These areas are overburdened with dollar stores, liquor stores, and hole-in-the-wall grocery stores, but no real stores. There is one Albertson’s and zero Krogers, Tom Thumbs or Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets in the southern sector. The one Albertson’s at Hampton & Ledbetter is a piece of garbage, with overpriced goods and basic items like batteries under lock and key. It’s a large corporate version of a rip-off bodega. They treat customers like criminals and get away with it.

I traded e-mails with a commercial broker today and learned that there are more Family Dollar Stores coming to the Southern Sector. They are now building them in advance and selling them to the highest bidder upon completion. A lot of these stores are taking up good retail space on the best corners, and the community will be stuck with them for the next 20-25 years. WHY?! Whose fault is that? According to the people that I write about, it’s everybody’s fault but their own.

This is just one issue that I see on a daily basis.

I challenge anyone to take a ride with me through certain parts of this city. What you will see, in the year 2006, will shock you.

We need “roll up your sleeves and do something” councilmembers in ALL seats, not just a few.

Some of the councilpeople don’t bother me because I can appreciate the fact that they vote how their constituents want them to vote. How could Mitchell Rasansky upset me when he’s a fiscal conservative who apparently likes to examine everything and tow the line on spending?

Some councilmembers, like the two in the Southern Sector which I give a hard time (and for good reason), do NOT always vote with the wishes of the constituents. And that is a problem for me.

The "vote for me and I'll vote for all your stuff no matter how ridiculous the project" must stop. Why all the 14-1 and 13-2 votes? Did I miss something? A lot of this stuff gets passed on the consent agenda, meaning there’s basically no discussion so they vote on all of it once.

I think we need to up the salary of both council members and the Mayor in order to attract more people that want to serve but simply can't because they have something called BILLS and RENT that must be paid. Ironically the best council members seem to be ones that seem to have money independent of being a councilmember. Sad, but true.

A lot of the articles written in the newspapers are racially-charged and divisive White vs. Black vs. Hispanic articles. It needs to stop. Those folks could learn a lot from my generation.

The discourse between races is not something that happens in my age bracket.

I believe that the racial discord in Dallas is a stereotype purported by a few people that don’t get out much and need to sell papers or fix elections. I know bad blood runs deep for some in the older generations and I respect that. In my generation, however, we don’t have those problems.

I showed some older folks pictures from a party I attended recently, that was attended by people of ALL races...Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, African, and African-Americans. We do all types of things together, and it’s been like that for us all of our lives. For us to come together doesn’t have to be forced or marketed as a political campaign, it’s a way of life. My generation is a product of integration and our friends reflect that. We are planning to unite next year in a true show of force at the polls.

The problem is that young people have not voted historically, although steps are being taken so that doesn’t happen in next year’s elections. The establishment doesn’t depend on new voters; it depends on the same people voting and ONLY those people voting.

I am optimistic about the future. If we get left with a council that consists of Angela Hunt, Steve Salazar, Pauline Medrano, Linda Koop and some newbies then we’ll be in good shape. There’s other good councilpeople, but to me they stand out as models for the future.

In the southern sector, it’s going to be very hard for a “clean slate” of people to win all four races. The chiselers are going to put every dollar into making sure they have a seat at the table.

I look at elections nationwide like the 2006 Newark, NJ election of Cory Booker. Cory defeated Sharpe James, a 16+ year Mayor who was also the State Senator (not a typo – the guy held BOTH offices). Both were African-American yet Cory faced broken windows, being cursed out in public, unfounded rumors of him being funded by the KKK and worse. Sharpe James even had police and firefighters tearing down Mr. Booker’s signs and harassing campaign workers with towed cars and parking tickets. But the people were tired and fed up with the establishment and ‘business as usual.’ He won his election with over 70% of the vote. THAT’S A REVOLUTION.

To break up this system and make 14-1 work the way it was supposed to work, you need a revolution. Here’s to hoping we have a revolution in Dallas in May 2007.

Another Month, Another Club Shooting Downtown

I woke up this morning to hear about another club shooting. This one was at Club Angel on Harwood Street. According to reports, it seems that a fight spilled outside and turned tragic.

We need more of a plan than just putting more officers on the streets to get the job done. A meeting of stakeholders can be put together to unite and try to prevent these types of events from happening. The last thing I want is to have some negative stereotypes and fears that minorities can't party downtown in a safe manner.

Our offer to the Downtown Neighborhood Association (which we've had since the last club shooting downtown), as well as any other concerned groups, still stands. If they are willing to meet and develop some plans of action that we can take forth to make progress we are available to help.

The Numbers are In

In its first month, Dallas Progress recorded over 6,300 hits.

I appreciate the fact that many groups, blogs, and people are recommending and reading Dallas Progress. The site must be resonating with a growing group of people that look at our City and wonder why certain areas are ignored and others flourish.

And believe me, we have definitely made the chiselers a little more sensitive. Maybe they still need one of these (click).

From condescending remarks from time to time and fake posturing when I have spoken at some City Board meetings, it's business as usual.

We must be on to something. It's typical when people would rather lash out and cloud the issue instead on coming clean and doing right by the City and its residents.

I will do my best to continue to write stories that pique your interest and put a thorn in the side of those that try to get over by going around the system at your expense. Remember our tagline, Dallas can't progress as a whole until we break some of this stuff up.

Please keep coming back to visit!

And to the haters...

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Voting Rights Act Renewal Approved by the House

Bill HR-9 passed by a vote of 390-33. However, according to Renee Hartley at Blue Island, six Texas House Reps voted against the bill:

District 6 Joe Barton Republican Ennis, TX
District 11 K. Michael Conaway Republican Midland, TX
District 5 Jeb Hensarling Republican Dallas, TX
District 3 Sam Johnson Republican Plano, TX
District 14 Ron Paul Republican Surfside, TX
District 13 Mac Thornberry Republican Clarendon, TX

The LA Times states:

"Republicans and Democrats have united in a historic vote to preserve and protect one of America's most important fundamental rights — the right to vote," House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) said in a statement after the 390-33 vote, without mentioning that a majority of Republicans voted for most of the efforts to modify the law.

There are many articles on the subject. Read to your heart's content.

Allen Gwinn: DISD Watchdog, TV Star

I watched a great story last night. It was about Brett Shipp of Channel 8 interviewing Allen Gwinn of Dallas.org. Check out the story (link). It talks about the ridiculous charges ran up by some of the DISD credit card users.

I have confidence that Superintendent Michael Hinojosa will get to the bottom of this and fire or suspend employees as necessary.

One fact that Allen mentioned to me a while back always stuck with me: DISD is responsible for over 56% of your taxes. So when people questionably use DISD credit cards, or give away contracts based on perks and junkets received by the bidder, it's your money.

Even if you live in an apartment, you are still paying taxes indirectly. So this affects all of us.

A Life Cut Short

Larry James at Central Dallas Ministries has a blog that I read, called Larry James Urban Daily. He talks about Tyree Sims, the young man that was shot and killed just north of Fair Park a few weeks ago. Any one that has lost a family member or loved one, like myself, will be touched by this story. After reading this story, I didn't have much motivation to write today.

This has been another bad week in the Southern Sector, with murders, strong-arm robbery, home invasions, and other violent crimes ruling the day.

The violence in the Southern Sector, and Dallas in general, is appalling. I'm not sure what the answer is, but elected officials have to take a stand. It seems like the only thing I hear elected people talking about is who will or will not run for Mayor. I will not be supporting anyone that's elected now that hasn't taken a stand against violence and drugs during their time of service.

Does Dallas do Enough to Retain Young African-American Talent?

I talk to college age and recently graduated African-American college graduates all of the time.

Most of them do not return to the Dallas area after graduation. They move to cities like Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Chicago. Why? They feel that there is more opportunity and they are more welcomed and valued in other cities compared to Dallas.

I can believe it. Whenever you see a major event, you don't see young African-Americans participating on the business side. If you do, you see the same two or three with whom the establishment is comfortable.

If one young person of color participates in the process, it's highlighted in such a way that it becomes a Dallas Morning News article.

There was some sort of tour that happened during the NBA finals, conducted as if it were in secret. The goal was to get young Blacks and other minorities to relocate to Dallas. It wasn't highly publicized, and the majority of the places visited were not Black establishments. None of the prominent people that are known among the Dallas social scene were used.

Why won't that tour be successful in getting young, hip urban Blacks to move or stay in Dallas?

The problem is that they don't utilize people that are really plugged in with the younger, professional African-American set in Dallas that they are trying to attract. It's just like the studies that are bantered about by the City. On most of these panels, you see the same names over and over. And you see the same results, over and over. Usually a bunch of lawyers and wonks that produce a lot of charts, and with no measurable results.

I'll give you an example. When the meetings were happening with the Deep Ellum Association and the City in the spring, I met Frank Librio (current Mayor's chief of Staff) and Meranda Carter Cohn (public information officer for the Mayor). We had some good convo and I mentioned that to really improve the safety and viability of Downtown you must include young Blacks in the process. I got the usual nods and the trading of business cards and promised calls. In addition to e-mail, I left messages for Ms. Cohn on several occasions but never got a response.

And therein lies the problem with this city. The go it alone method does not work. Neither does the "use the same two or three people and put them in the front to feign interest" method. Until Dallas gets it, expect more of the same.

This is not just a problem with non-Blacks. Most prominent Black power brokers, as a whole in this city, do not include my age bracket on the money side of any decision. You want a picture? Sure. You want to volunteer? Cool! You want to do business??? "Um, here's my card...give me a call." They're full of it. There are some exceptions, but they are few and far between.

I have some good friends that own DallasPeeps, a network of over 190,000 young people in DFW. How can you do anything in this town involving young African-Americans without using DallasPeeps? Easily, if you're the City of Dallas. They have made a BIG mistake.

Through music, through entrepreneurial spirit, through the web, we have learned to interact with people all around the country. Most successful young Blacks have created their own network that expands nationwide. We trade ideas, offer support, and compete with one another.

That is why, in the 2007 election, we are hell bent on turning out our own candidates especially in the Southern Sector. Enough is enough.

Our consumption dollars are wanted in this City, but nothing else. Until our power is appreciated and our ideas embraced, the Black Brain Drain will continue. How can you have urban renewal in places like South Dallas and Oak Cliff when the best minds are leaving for greener pastures?

UNT-Dallas will be a great school once it's completed, one that keeps a lot of young Blacks in Dallas for college. But will they stay after graduation? Probably not.

Dan Rather is Stirring Things up with Mark Cuban!

As reported by the Dallas Observer's Robert Wilonsky and the Washington Post, Dan Rather will be doing a show for Mark Cuban called "Dan Rather Presents." It will be shown on Mark's HDNet network, starting in October. Dan says that he will report the news "with guts."

Why should you care? This is great news for people who want the truth about today's issues. I look forward to seeing what Dan is able to uncover in this world of backroom deals and returned favors.

Zoning Case is BACK

Our favorite zoning case, the one that has been postponed 3 times, is back on the City Planning Commission agenda for approval (agenda here). This is the case regarding the $150,000 townhomes in the middle of South Oak Cliff (link). Some fear that they won't become townhomes, that they will be built as low-income rental units that are called townhomes.

Not sure why such a controversial case is being put back on the agenda so quickly, what's the rush?

If it does pass, which is likely will since the Chair of the CPC will be absent due to illness, I can promise you that I will be on top of the situation every step of the way.

Southern Sector can Learn from University Park

I read an article this morning in the Dallas Morning News about University Park (link) regarding the fight against an unwanted land use and zoning change. It affects the main town square, Snider Plaza, which is a stone's throw from SMU's campus in the area of Hillcrest & Lovers Lane (map).

Now I'm sure you're asking, what can a predominantly lower-income area learn from a rich well-to-do place like University Park, where the average income is over $90,000 and the average home sells for over $900,000?

The answer: they are vigilant about unwanted zoning changes, and take extra steps to protect the community. If the community doesn't want the changes, IT AIN'T GETTIN' DONE! (I can hear my professors at my alma mater Morehouse cringing at the last sentence)

"Under the proposed conditions, the developer would work with an advisory board of area residents, merchants and commercial owners and hold at least one town hall meeting before a detailed site plan is considered. The company would also have to include the library in the site plan and submit documents confirming that the library could use the space as long as it wants"

"Opponents have repeatedly rallied against including multifamily in the development, calling the idea non-negotiable. "

In the most controversial projects, developers are made to have a townhall meeting before it goes to UP's Planning & Zoning Commission. I know that some Dallas builders north of I-30 are proactive when it comes to controversial projects. On the south side, shady developers depend on low community interest to get poorly planned projects through the system. Developers in the Southern Sector should be made to do the same.

Often times, I get calls about these projects once they're already getting built. By then, it's usually too late to act. Citizens must get involved, but the City must protect its residents as well.

Just got Paved!

Not to be confused with one-hit wonder Johnny Kemp's song from 1988, my song is the new theme song for Maxine Thornton Reese's pork project at Marsalis & Ann Arbor.

How can Maxine Reese claim to be using some of the $3.7 million for paving and infrastructure when Marsalis & Ann Arbor just got paved! Here are the pictures.




Where is the rest of the money going?

Keeping your Word - The Truth about Lancaster Kiest

(editors note: more comments on this subject (link, link, and link)

(is this pork-fest tied into the shady zoning deal mentioned here? (link and link)

(do we pave streets twice? link)

(learn how to subscribe to DallasProgress via email and other services (link))

A lot of people have asked me why am I so strongly against giving $3.7 million for a shopping center revival in South Oak Cliff at Marsalis & Ann Arbor.

That couldn't be farther from the truth. I AM in favor or revitalizing Oak Cliff, but I also want people to keep their campaign promises. And Maxine Reese said her top priority was Lancaster-Kiest Shopping Center. However, she chooses to pour all of her resources into a shopping center that has never been mentioned, that's owned by a top campaign supporter.

To top it all off, she is proud of the fact that she has released no details on the project. Such temerity is noted in Jim Schutze's recent article.

For those of you that feel that the proof is in the pudding, I offer you these quotes and citations from verifiable public sources:

From the Mayor's "State of the City" speech in June 2005. Here is the link. It is widely known that the Mayor asks for blurbs about ongoing plans to make this speech on behalf of everyone in the council.

"Dr. Maxine Thornton-Reese has a clear vision, too. She wants the Lancaster-Kiest Shopping Center to be totally redone to look like Mockingbird Station, filled with shops and restaurants and residential. And why not? It's achievable - and needed. Lancaster-Kiest is on the DART rail line, just like Mockingbird Station. It is located on busy thoroughfares, like Mockingbird Station, close to residential neighborhoods and major hospitals. The economic drivers are there - we need the focus and dedication to make it happen."

This was not disputed in any way by Reese.

This is from a Dallas Morning News Article, which was written as recently as March 2006. This was a summation of one of the neighborhood bond hearings (link)

"Arrivals to City Council member Maxine Thornton-Reese's bond meeting at the Beckley-Saner Recreation Center started slowly. But 10 minutes into last week's event, the house was packed; almost exclusively black, almost exclusively women.

And they've got big ideas. For alley paving and sidewalk repairs. For creek maintenance and storm water improvements. For better shopping options (particularly at the Lancaster Kiest center) and more visible police, especially around the area's vacant lots."

Again, I give you the link to the Citizen requests in District 4, from the Dallas City Hall website (click here - see page 54 and 55). The shopping center on Marsalis is not mentioned. Lancaster-Kiest IS mentioned.

So again, I raise the question - why THIS mall?

The Game just Changed

I have been tapped to write at DallasBlog. DallasBlog is one of the top blogs in Dallas. They feature viewpoints from all perspectives and corners of Dallas. DallasBlog had 27,018 unique viewers and 270,386 page views in June (their eighth full month of operation).

Nothing will change at Dallas Progress. I'll still be writing the same articles that you've seen since we started.

It's a win-win for all parties. The establishment, however, should be concerned.

My profile on DallasBlog is listed here.

My first article, which focuses on Laura Miller not running and the 2007 Mayor's Race, is here.

Laura Miller OUT of Mayor's Race

This was a shock to many.

A whole lot of people will speculate on the reasons, but I'm not one for propaganda so I'll just look forward to next year's election even more.

Suggestions about who will now jump in since the waters have cooled are welcome.

The 2007 Mayor's Race just got that much more interesting. In my opinion, the early lead now goes to candidate Darrell Jordan.

Only Way to Stop Maxine Reese Shopping Center Fiasco

Jim Schutze really brought it home in this week's Dallas Observer by outlining the bond add-on meeting that occurred last week. (link)

Jim also does something that Maxine Reese never does when it comes to your tax dollars. It's called MATH. He rightfully calculates that with the interest this shady undetailed exercise in screw-ups will cost $7.4 million.

I have written so much about the pork-filled, shopping center deal added on to the bond package by Maxine Reese, I don't know what else to be said. This woman is so arrogant that she doesn't even feel that an explanation of details is necessary for your $3.7 million.

She provides no details on the information she submitted to the city (link)
She provides no details to City Council and the general public (per Jim's article)
No one asked for this project in any of the bond townhall meetings (link to District 4 citizen requests - read page 54 and 55)

It's time to turn the plan into action.

There's only one way to put the brakes on this program. Obviously, Reese put it in the program as an add-on, and anyone she endorses to inherit her seat as a space-taker on City Council is going to be 100% behind this fiasco.

That anointed person is Gloria Hogg. Gloria Hogg is the same person that I wrote about two months ago, that is running for City Council and taking out ads even though she sits on the Park Board. That is a flat-out violation of the City Charter, which I detailed in May (link)

The only way to put the brakes on this shopping center is to vote against Gloria Hogg in 2007. You must support, with your votes and financial commitments, another candidate in the race for City Council District 4.

Without that support, it will be like getting another 8 years of Maxine Reese. Can District 4 and the City of Dallas afford that?

Ken Lay of Enron is Dead

Trey Garrison at Dallasblog.com reports that former Enron CEO Ken Lay, who was recently convicted of conspiracy and fraud is dead. More details over at DallasBlog.

Review of the W and Ghostbar

Every now and then we will look at social aspects of Dallas. Tim Rogers at D Magazine had this eye-opening review of the W Hotel, it's rooftop Ghostbar, and restaurant Craft.

Since yours truly wasn't an invited bigshot, I hope this opens your eyes.

Murder and Carjacking Arrest

Dallas Police just announced several arrests in Sunday night's murder and possible carjacking at I-30 & Carroll. Lt. Rick Watson credited the arrests to the SW Division and the Homicide Division. The way Lt. Watson spoke made me wonder if the arrested persons are responsible for the robberies I wrote about in Oak Cliff.

More info...

Can WE get some National Guard Help!

I've been reading how New Orleans brought in the National Guard to help deal with their crime problem. I think it's an idea that needs to be considered in Dallas.

Last weekend, it was business as usual in the Southern Sector. One murder in a carjacking gone wrong. Another murder and shooting in South Dallas. Various other crimes committed as well. There seems to be 2-3 murders per week in these areas. Drug dealers continue to set up shop in the open and residents continue to be the prisoners, locking themselves in for the night behind burglar bars.

Maybe some innovative elected official will make the bold call to have such folks patrol our streets. We can't wait until there's enough police on the streets. Something has to be done now.

DISD Credit Card Database

Update: All Credit Card Use Suspended by DISD Superintendent (link)

You've probably read the story about DISD employees and their credit card use.

Allen Gwinn of Dallas.org has done a masterful job of putting together a database that can be searched by name, organization, or school. He first talked about the high level of spending and lack of oversight last year.

In fairness, a lot of employees are using their card within reason; paying for school supplies and such. But some, like the teacher cited in the Dallas Morning News for spending $342,000 in two years but has no receipts, should be subject to some scrutiny.

I also don't have a problem with the principal who took his students to dinner after they won the state championship. How often does that occur? They were going to have to eat anyway since they were in Austin.

The real issue is the lack of oversight. Even the teacher who bought the Ipod said that the only contact he had from the district was telling him he should buy his school supplies at Office Depot, not OfficeMax. Who's minding the store?

Here is the link (registration required). Call it what you want, but it's your money.