Looking Back on 2006

Many irreplaceable people were lost this year. You can never have a comprehensive list of people, but I chose a few folks that inspired me the most:

Coretta Scott King

Over 900 members of the Armed Forces

Casha'e Rivers - a 5-year old girl in Philadelphia caught in the crossfire of drug dealers (link).

Dorwin Robinson - killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time in Oak Cliff (link). Dorwin died the same day he found his first job. This crime is still unsolved. Read the comments to my post about Dorwin to get a sense that nothing has changed in that neighborhood in the months after his death.

The young mother that was killed in February at Lancaster-Kiest Shopping Center while trying to rescue family members from a boy with a gun inside of Cici's Pizza (link).

Ed Bradley

James Brown

Gordon Parks

The people that I mentioned inspire me to keep fighting to better this City. I choose to honor their memories, and to never fold in the face of corruption, cowardice, and negligence by many parties that ignore what is happening in Dallas.

Let's take a moment to reflect on all of the people that passed on in 2006.

Hollow Points

I've heard a lot of news articles proclaim that crime is down in Dallas compared to last year. Dallas had 11 less murders this year (183 in 2006 vs. 194 in 2005).

Yes, from a statistical standpoint, crime may be down in some areas. But in many areas, no one feels safer. Parts of Oak Cliff, South Dallas, and Pleasant Grove still feel as dangerous as ever. The bad guys aren't stupid. Criminals know that the police are undermanned, and they know that no one will expose their dirty deeds in the neighborhoods in which they operate.

The Dallas Police Department is doing the best that they can to reduce crime. But they don't always get the support that they need. Citizens must stand up. Stop protecting killers, drug dealers, and pedophiles in your neighborhoods.

It's going to take a united front on all sides to make all parts of Dallas a safer place to live.

Dangerous Stray Dogs in Dallas

David Schechter of Channel 8 did an excellent series of stories on stray pit bulls and other dangerous dogs that are terrorizing Oak Cliff, South Dallas, and Pleasant Grove. Community Activist and District 4 Dallas City Council Candidate (and my client) Dwaine Caraway (link) was featured in the story, and took David on a tour of Oak Cliff. This is what many of us experience on a daily basis.

See for yourself. Check the story (here) and video (here).

Oak Cliff Road Construction

A lot of people have been wondering what is going on near 67 & Loop 12. The bridge at 67 & Five Mile Creek is being demolished and rebuilt.

This from TxDot:

The structure is located on the northbound frontage road of US 67 at Five Mile Creek. The bridge replacement project costs more than $736,000.

“We are replacing the bridge because it is structurally deficient,” said Michael Bostic, P.E., the area engineer of the Texas Department of Transportation’s Southwest Dallas County Area Office. “Since erosion is occurring underneath the bridge and in the channel, we decided that the structure should be removed and rebuilt.”

Crews will spend more than 200 working days taking out the existing bridge and replacing it with a new, stronger bridge. During the project, the northbound frontage road of US 67 at Five Mile Creek will be closed to traffic.

Motorists traveling on the frontage road must detour by turning right at Loop 12 and then left at Polk Street. Motorists will then continue north on Polk Street back to the northbound US 67 frontage road.

The bridge replacement job is scheduled to complete in August 2007.

Albertson's in Oak Cliff Closing

No, it's not the one I talked about last week. This is the store in the West Cliff Shopping Center at Hampton and Ledbetter (map). According to the Dallas Examiner, this store was a late addition to the list of store closings that are occurring all over Dallas.

I shopped there on a few occasions. As I have mentioned in previous articles, this store was doomed to fail due to extremely overpriced merchandise, spotty service, and doing things that are outright unwelcoming like putting basic items like batteries under lock and key. To my knowledge and experience Albertson's was the only store to have such asinine policies and it only occurred at this location.

Albertson's lease expires on December 31st.

The company claims to be working hard to market the store and get it leased to a new tenant. I wouldn't hold my breath, considering that previously closed stores at 67 & Polk and Wheatland & Westmoreland have been mothballed for some time.

My Favorite T-Shirt of the Week

Midweek Rant

I went to the Pegasus News party last night. Much love to Alan & Mike for being comped. Shouts out to Jeremy, Blair, Erin (sp?), and everyone else I talked to last night. Great band, plus I love hanging out with my people. Win win. I wish I could've stayed longer. Be careful if my homie Mike Orren gives you a gently used Santa hat for Christmas.

Must Gromer Jeffers of the Dallas Morning News keep writing the same article? I swear I've seen the same tired "insights" about the Mayor's race in his column at least 4 times in the last 6 weeks. Does he have more than 3 people to quote? Are we a major market or is this some college town outpost where newsflashes come in via morse code? I guess that's better than him salivating over young interns on their blog and writing garbage like this and this.

The DMN was scooped weeks ago by Shawn Williams at DallasSouthBlog regarding the clsoing of Black Images. Left out, of course, was Shawn's social insight on the plight of independent bookstores. We may talk in future weeks about how plans for the demolition of Wynnewood Village (home of Black Images) probably contributed to their demise and will cause gentrification in that area.

Most news shows still call everything south of I-30 'South Dallas.' Please get a clue. And a Mapsco.

I still believe that there are many people out there that don't respect the power of the young voter. I do. Let's keep proving them wrong.

If you haven't heard, the Albertson's at Hampton & Davis is closing. From what I've heard, not many people will notice. It joins the still-mothballed store at 67 & Polk, among others. Oak Cliff People had a great editorial talking about how the store had issues from day one. Surprised much?

Perry Homes' new townhomes near Bishop Arts are hideous, I don't care what anyone says.

Pinnacle Park, located at I-30 & Chalk Hill Road, is NOT the southern sector. It's West Dallas. I'm sick of people pointing to that place and calling it "southern sector development."

That's all...for now.

Larry James and Helping Dallas' Homeless

There is a troubling attitude that has been bubbling and has boiled over in the past couple of weeks. There is a strong dislike for all programs that help the homeless and articles about Larry's various plans have been met by many with various levels of hatred. Newsflash: The homeless you hate so much are already in your neighborhood.

You can see the animosity toward the poor in some of the comments made towards Larry James, CDM, and CityWalk in the past couple of weeks. It seems to me that a lot of people don't give a damn about the homeless, as long as they don't have to look at them.

Too many times, people don't want to see or admit that Dallas has a homeless problem. Homelessness has been a epidemic in America for the last 20 years. And yes, if you haven't noticed it's a problem in Dallas too.

As I have said time and time again (link), Larry and CDM are using methods that have been proven nationwide to reduce homelessness and bring people together. Most of Larry's big projects are focused on people that don't want to be on the street, but need a safe place to sleep and gain normalcy in their lives.

Miami had an absurdly dangerous homeless problem in the 80s and 90s; to call it problematic would be an understatement. Guess how they helped to reduced the problem? A comprehensive plan buoyed by programs and facilities like CityWalk at Akard.

I once saw a news story about a homeless guy who wanted to work, but couldn't get a decent job but had no mailing address. You have to have some sort of physical address to apply for a job. And how exactly is he going to get dressed and prepare to be interviewed if he can't clean up? Think about that the next time you hate on a project like CityWalk.

Many people that are homeless do get Social Security or VA benefits, but that isn't enough to get a decent place to live unless you want to be in one of those crime-ridden $299/month complexes that are all over Dallas. I'm sick of saying this but I'll say it again...CITYWALK IS NOT A HOMELESS SHELTER!

The first step is admitting that Dallas has a homeless problem. The next step is to use your brainpower and research similar projects like CityWalk to see if they're successful. The homeless situation needs work, and it's going to get fixed if the detractors leave people like Larry Davis alone and let him work on his mission.

Random Thoughts

With all of the things we're fighting out here, someone asked me if I have any fun at all...

Of course I do. I like to do the same stuff as everyone else: hang out, clown with my people, etc etc. I don't really shut the club down anymore because I did that in my early 20s. I'll leave that to the young ones out here.

I've always been the type to know a lot of people but not hang with a bunch of people...that's me. Some people say I look 25 but I act 50. That's cool...we just have a lot of work to do in this city.

When you grow up listening to PE, Frank Sinatra, and Al Green you tend to be a little different.

Now when you see me at City Hall, it's usually game time so I get into my zone..but other than that I'm just a regular dude trying to make a difference in this world.

Go Ciro, It's Your Birthday!

If you hadn't heard, Ciro Rodriguez won his election for TX-23. This is the district that was redrawn by Tom Delay and crew and then redrawn again after the Courts ruled in favor of complaints regarding previous said redistricting. The district stretches from San Antonio south to the Mexican border and almost to El Paso in the west.

I had to give kudos to my blogger colleages in the Lone Star State like Eileen at InThePinkTexas, Capitol Annex, Burnt Orange Report, BayAreaHouston, PinkDome, and all of the others. I know a lot of you are going to kill me for leaving out your site, my apologies!!! Drop me a line anytime.

You all really focused in when no one gave you a chance. I believe that you all, along with the great citizens of that district, held it down until the national people stepped in to keep the fight going.

Furthermore, you showed that political blogs in Texas are a FORCE to be reckoned with. Take a bow!

Austin Raises City Council Salary

Recently, Austin increased the pay of their City Council members to $57,736 and the pay of its Mayor to $67,981.

For the record, Dallas pays $60,000 to our Mayor and a paltry $37,500 to City Council members.

Isn't it about time we come out of the stone age? For the curious, here is a list of City Council pay around the country:

Los Angeles $149,160
Philadelphia $102,292
Seattle $95,234
Chicago $94,805
Washington DC $92,520
Portland $90,812
San Francisco $90,731
New York $90,000
Detroit $81,312
San Diego $75,386
San Jose $75,000
Boston $75,000
Denver $73,512
Cleveland $68,000
Milwaukee $67,488
Phoenix $51,500
Kansas City $50,604
Sacramento $50,000
Houston $49,795
Baltimore $48,000

Things you need to Know Today

What's happening in the City?

• It looks like Dallas Housing Authority CEO Ann Lott will keep her job. Apparently the DHA Board got cold feet after the last meeting, which was attended by hundreds that protested the firing. Still up in the air is whether or not DHA Board Chairman Guy Brignon knew about the rumored plan to rezone Little Mexico so it could be sold to developers. Something tells me this isn't over.
  

• The City is moving forward with the Homeless Assistance Center. Votes are pending to authorize the condemning of the TXU land needed in the Cedars. This is part of this week's City Council addendum.
  

• The Days Inn Motel at 4500 Harry Hines will be let off the hook because they paid their hotel taxes up to date. I guess the hookers in the neighborhoods east of Wycliff and Maple will rejoice.

• The Oak Cliff Health Clinic at 8th and Ewing will not close. The lease in being extended until March 2014.
  

• According to the DMN, newly elected Dallas County DA Craig Watkins will announce his transition team during a news conference at the Crowley Criminal Courts Building today.

An Easy Way to Help Ash Creek MHP Residents

The City of Dallas has thousands of units available in these tax-credit apartments that we all paid for. Why not take these couple hundred people and give them a deal on a unit? It sure couldn't hurt.

True, these complexes are owned by private developers. But shouldn't they do the city a favor since they made millions each time one of these was built because there was a so-called pent-up demand for these units? Some of these complexes are frighteningly empty. I know, I've been to them at night.

We took care of everyone from the Hurricanes, some of whom are still getting free rent and stipends. Certainly we can take care of some residents that are being displaced through no fault of their own.

Is anybody listening?

The Little People Get the Shaft Once Again

I just got a press release and letter from the folks at Ash Creek Mobile Home Park. These are the folks near I-30 and Ferguson in the shadows of Tenison park (map)

In fairness to Mike Orren at Pegasus, he has at least given them an outlet to post their side of the story including photos, legal docs, and video. Too bad Chaney never even met with them. Surprised much?

I still believe that the owner could've done more to make sure they have a safe environment. Steve Crossett (said owner) did nothing to help these people until the City came down on him for various violations. A good landlord fixes problems to be a good landlord, and he failed miserably.

This is an unfortunate situation on all sides.

I have to decided to print following their e-mail to me, unedited and in its entirety:

***

PRESS RELEASE:

In light of Dallas City Councilmember Leo V. Chaney's, public claim of "helping" the residents of Ash Creek Mobile Home Park;

Save Ash Creek HOMES wishes to share an open letter to Leo Chaney that was written (but not made public; until now) before we received our "termination date."

Although, we have already received our "termination date" of 5:00 p.m., February 9, 2006, the letter below may illuminate the "help"
Mister Chaney has offered so far.

This open letter to Mister Chaney, was on-hold, pending approval from SACH members.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Open letter to Dallas City Council Member, Leo V. Chaney, Jr.:
from SaveAshCreek Homes – Nov. 25, 2006

Hello Mister Chaney,

You know who we are.
We are the residents of Ash Creek Mobile Home Park.

We are primarily a Latino family park with many children.

You are a champion of the downtrodden, the oppressed, the poor.
We wonder, why does your compassion, for those suffering social injustice, not extend to the residents of Ash Creek Mobile Home Park?

You are our city council member. We live in your district and most of us, voted for you.

We have reached out, in various ways, for a dialog.

You do not respond.

We were able to arrange contact with you, on two occasions.

1) Barbara Cline, resident of Ash Creek Mobile Home Park, was in attendance at a meeting, but her identity was unknown to you; until she asked you about the Park. It was the only way we could talk to you.

You told Barbara that you would tour the Park: Anonymously.

Incognito?

Why? Are you a spy or something? We are honest people, expecting a fair shake from the city. So far, we haven't gotten, it.

Members of the Dallas City Plan Commission, came to the park and spoke with us. They toured the park. They gave us a chance.

Do you think we will all get it together, tidy-up things and try and fool you? If it were only that easy.

We are who we are, but we do not deserve the "trailer park" genocide being waged against us by the Ferguson Road Initiative (FRI).

One definition of "genocide" is "deliberate and systematic extermination of a cultural group."

Citation: dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/genocide

If there was ever a unique culture group; it's us.

We have been good stewards of the land for 57 years. We have dealt with copperhead snakes, possums and reports of 50 pound, hybrid coyotes roaming Ash Creek.

We have lived in peace until your organization, the FRI, sent provocateurs after us (albeit, inept provocateurs; at least on the 'legal' end of things) .

2) The Second time we were able to make contact with you, was when Park resident Jack Lougheed, (although you kept calling him Tracy) called-in to your radio show on KNON, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., Thursday mornings. He asked a question about the Park and you eventually cut him off.

You are correct that the issue may never come before the city council but you are "our" City Council member.

Please speak with us about the deeply disturbing issues that concern the ambiance of the White Rock Lake areas. Once again, please speak with us. It's your job.

Onslaught: three-story, big matchbox homes (we watch them as they are being built) forced on the White Rock area.

There are only so many huge, magnificent trees in our neighborhood.
Once they are bulldozed by big home builders, our area will never totally recover, ecologically.

Mister Chaney, how often do you drive on Ferguson Road and through the pleasing adjacent residential neighborhoods?

Why have you failed to respond to our communications?

Does it have anything to do with our ethnic make-up at Ash Creek Mobile Home Park?

Or might it be a preconception and type casting of people who live in a "trailer park." You may not know that WE are nurses, school crossing guards, construction workers, domestic workers, artists, musicians, veterans, gourmet cooks, gardeners and retired seniors, mothers, fathers, and children attending nearby schools.

Have you and others determined that we do not count, that we are simply insignificant members of your District?

We are "seriously" starting to wonder about all of this.

It's not like we are a bunch of troublemakers (as we have been "SO" incorrectly portrayed). Does that inaccurate portrayal, makes us, "less?"

We are your constituents.

We will call your office soon to try again to make a time to meet with you. Please meet with us; we need your help, advice and "City Councilman" expertise regarding our future at Ash Creek Mobile Home Park.

COUNCIL MEMBER CHANEY, WE ARE YELLING, FROM A RAGING SEA, FOR LIVE PRESERVERS!

Save Ash Creek HOMES
saveashcreekhomes@gmail.com
www.c-noah.com

P.S.
Never mind, Mister Chaney... never mind...
SACH

Texas Bloggers make Truitt Backpedal

The Fort Worth Telegram reported on Wednesday that Texas State Rep Vicki Truitt will change her bill.

I previously wrote about it here after reading about such absurdity on (In The Pink Texas) and Bay Area Houston (which is like the Dallas Progress of H-Town).

My favorite parts of the article (among many):

(Eileen) Smith, of InThePinkTexas.com, expressed surprise that Truitt's broadly worded bill was intended to be about something so specific as identity theft. Regardless, she said the furor over the bill has helped spark a dialogue about how blogs should be treated compared to traditional media.

"It has brought up interesting questions about how legislators are going to view blogs as vehicles of information," Smith said. "It's actually a good discussion platform for everyone to have anyway ... even if it wasn't what she intended.

OK, so I'm a couple of days late. I've been working on some other stuff.

Great Movie...Great Neighborhood...Great People

Robert Wilonsky informs us that Dean Terry’s documentary Subdivided will debut on KERA-TV on January 3rd. Even if you end up watching the Sugar Bowl instead (Notre Dame? YUCK!), at least set your VCR or Tivo for this one. You won't be disappointed.

I saw the film last summer in Little Forest Hills. Great movie. Dean's Mom sat next to us...she was oh-so-proud. My wife and I saw it at an HOA meeting at a church (can't remember which one).

Besides the film being excellent, one thing that struck me about that neighborhood is how friendly and welcoming they were. Several people asked me where I lived. When they found out that I didn't live in LFH they immediately went into recruitment mode. I got a quick crash course including info on Sanger Elementary and everything else LFH. Rarely have I felt so much at home even as an outsider.

That night, we actually considered moving to the area.

Little Forest Hills and their people will always have a place in my heart. I wish Dean and everyone else the best with the film.

Here's the link to the Official Website.

Black Images is Really Closing?

Shawn Williams at DallasSouth Blog (link) is reporting that Black Images is indeed closing at the end of December.

I guess this will be the first of many businesses to bite the dust at Wynnewood Village as the attempt to completely demolish the center and turn it into another West Village. Ironically, one of the District 3 City Council Candidates and one of the Mayoral candidates are the main cheerleaders of this experiment in gentrification. Think about that when they run over Wynnewood and put up a chain big-box bookstore in the next couple of years.

A Little More about the DHA and where I Stand

I have heard a lot of radio comments from folks in West Dallas today that will not be disappointed to see Ann Lott replaced as head of the Dallas Housing Authority. They cited ongoing problems in the projects in that area: safety, upkeep, and responsiveness.

Let's clear something up:

I have my beefs with the Dallas Housing Authority. I've written about them in previous posts. The Forest Green Manor in Northeast Dallas is a dangerous mess complete with underfunded security; so are other housing projects. They also have not been outgoing with community radio shows like KHVN's Community Forum with Robert Ashley. If Brother Robert calls and asks you to come on his show, you need to heed the call.

I don't know anything about the allegations of those callers in West Dallas. They live in that area, I do not. Anyone who knows me understands that I am on the frontline when it comes to crime, quality of life, and the working people getting a fair shake.

If the Little Mexico deal is the reason why she's being fired, and the public was not informed, it's wrong. By the way, Robert Wilonsky at the Observer reports that the new is "very developer friendly (link)." Which proves my point.

I just wanted to set the record straight.

The Truth about DHA and Little Mexico

The Observer's Unfair Park (link) and DMag's Frontburner (link) are reporting that the DHA is trying to fire Ann Lott because she refuses to go along with the sale of Little Mexico, the safest DHA neighborhood that we have.

Guy Brignon, the Chair of the Dallas Housing Authority Board claimed that no one has made any definite decisions about Little Mexico. Little Mexico is in the shadows of the American Airlines Center. It's also a place where a ton of money has been spent for the Little Heroes field and other things. I wrote about it a couple of months back (link).

So Guy Brignon said nothing has been settled regarding Little Mexico, huh?

Not...so...fast...

It was reported last night by Betty Culbreath on her website (link) that an application had been sought and a planner had been hired for possible rezoning or other moves. She reports that the public process was skirted in an attempt to cash in on the now-valuable location. Miss Culbreath is threatening to file a lawsuit on behalf of the taxpayers.

There are reports that there is already an official application in the works for DHA to rezone the property, which would clear the way for a future sale.

The community is going to fight this back-room deal tooth and nail.

We're watching!

DISD Office of Integrity? Not so much!

The Dallas Morning News just reported (link) that David Fryar, newly hired (at $125,000 per year) as the DISD's Director of the Office of District Integrity, had to quit for LYING on his resume. Turns out he's not a CPA as he presented himself to be. In fact, he hasn't been a CPA for ten years!

Doh!

Exactly how big is the egg going to get on the face of the School District? No wonder good teachers can't do their jobs.

I already got word from the everyman's head of the Office of District Integrity, Allen Gwinn (link), that there's more to not love about this guy. In case you're wondering, Allen breaks stories for $125,000 less than the guy DISD just hired... I mean...fired?...Ummm...busted? Something like that...Yeah, that's it.

Where I'll be this evening...and where you should be too!

Allen Gwinn has done it again



My buddy over at Dallas.org is back on his game with the entire City of Dallas Credit Card Database. Check out the story (link) to find out why it's called the Procurement Credit Card database. You can search by employee, vendor, or top card chargers.

Knowing the hard time that the City of Dallas gave him over getting the records, it was good to see him stay on top of it for the benefit of the taxpayers.

I'm not making any assumptions about the charges, but at least we can see it for ourselves and draw our own conclusions.

DISD Board Member Engages in Sneaky Tactics

And uses district lawyers and your tax dollars to do it!

As reported in the Dallas Morning News (link), Jerome Garza (Trustee for District 7-picture) had precincts switched on the DISD redistricting map without anyone's consent or knowledge. The precincts were switched from DISD District 6 to District 7. District 6 is Carla Ranger's District.

The paper reports that he also used District Lawyers to make the swap, and never consulted Ms. Ranger about such a move. Equally important, he also never informed the residents of DISD District 6 about such a move.

I have learned that the under-the-table swap involved Precinct 4417, which surrounds Molina High School, and Precinct 4419. Unlike Garza would lead you to believe, Precinct 4417 is a diverse district of many races. Precinct 4419 is overwhelmingly Hispanic. I believe this is all about payback and dilution of the African-American voting bloc. I will back that up with statistics later on in the article.

Here is the exchange, according to the DMN Article:

When trustees reviewed the maps before voting, they noticed the precinct encompassing Molina High School had been moved – without explanation – into District 7, which is represented by Trustee Jerome Garza.

Mrs. Ranger was irate. That area had always been included in District 6, her district. She wanted to know why it was removed, who was behind it and why she wasn't consulted.

When she posed the question to the legal team that drew up the maps, she found the response unsatisfactory.

Lawyer Rolando Rios told her he couldn't recall why the switch was made. When asked if it was done at the behest of a trustee, the lawyer claimed attorney-client privilege and wouldn't answer. When she turned to her fellow trustees for help, none offered an explanation.

After unsuccessfully lobbying trustees to switch the precinct back, Mrs. Ranger asked Mr. Garza if he had anything to do with it. After drawing a deep breath, Mr. Garza conceded that he wanted to represent the schools in that district, which include Molina, Quintanilla Middle School and Botello Elementary School.

Those schools, he said, are named after Hispanic activists he has long admired, and he wanted to ensure that the children in those neighborhoods understood who those men were. He did not apologize to Mrs. Ranger for asking for the precinct swap without her knowledge or consent.

Note: Having schools named after "people you admire" is not legal justification for redistricting.


Ms. Ranger's reply said it best:

"I certainly would hope that each trustee would respect me and District 6," she said. "It certainly seems to me to be a racially and politically motivated move."

Precinct 4419 (the precinct that Garza switched OUT of his district) has a much higher percentage and whole number of Hispanic voters than 4417 (which he switched into his district).

Voting records show that in Precinct 4417 (swapped IN by Garza) there are approximately 830 people that voted in at least one general election since 2004. Of that total, approximately 435 voters are non-Hispanic. That's roughly 50 percent.

In Precinct 4419 (swapped OUT by Garza), there are approximately 1270 people that voted in at least one general election since 2004. Of that total, approximately 1030 voters are Hispanic. That's over 80 percent.

The numbers don't lie. Jerome Garza used our political process as an opportunity to exploit procedures for his own gain, nothing more. The redistricting process had nothing to do with the area under discussion.

This was a move to marginalize the residents that have been outspoken against the DISD Spanish-Speaking requirements and policies.

A formal investigation should be called to find out how it was determined that this was a fair an equitable swap.

At the DISD redistricting meeting held Tuesday at Tommie Allen Rec Center in Oak Cliff, this switch was never discussed. Garza didn't even show up, and Board President Jack Lowe left early. Next time, have the courtesy and guts to show up when you're trying to make cheap political moves disguised as representation.

And to boot, we're paying $200,000 to Rolando Rios who claims "attorney-client privilege" when pressed about these underhanded tactics. Newsflash to Rios: you're getting paid by the ENTIRE district, not just Jerome Garza.

From what I've heard about Lowe, it wasn't surprising to see him wimp out and sneak out when the speakers got a little heated. And he's the President of the School Board? Surely he didn't drive 30 miles from North Dallas to stay for 20 minutes. Then again, maybe he did. Good grief.


The swap passed 5-4. The breakdown was as follows.

Voting yes (for the swap): Jack Lowe, Jerome Garza, Edwin Flores, Adam Medrano, Nancy Bingham.

Voting No:(against the swap) Lew Blackburn, Leigh Ann Ellis, Ron Price, Carla Ranger

The vote on the final map adopted (Map K) on Thursday, November 30, 2006 was as follows:

6 For Map K - Jack Lowe, Nancy Bingham, Jerome Garza, Ron Price, Edwin Flores, Adam Medrano

3 Against Map K - Lew Blackburn, Leigh Ann Ellis, Carla Ranger

It may not seem like much to most people, but this move was totally disrespectful of people in that neighborhood who have long fought for civil causes and for the right to be represented.

All this is going to do is open up Pandora's boxes that should remain closed. This may represent a new low in DISD Politics.