South Dallas Cultural Center Reopening!

As you know, I have written several times about the issues with the renovation and expansion of the South Dallas Cultural Center. The City was able to find a new contractor and now the center is reopening!

The City's website has a press release which includes all of the events going on during the month of November. The SDCC is just east of Fair Park (map). Congrats to all of those that had a hand in making the new South Dallas Cultural Center a reality!

South Dallas Cultural Center Reopening!

Where Have You Been?

People keep asking me where have I been on the Trinity referendum. Here's your answer - I dropped out of the campaign a while back.

The bottom line is this. There are certain people I will never work with. You can guess who they are.

I also don't agree with people coming down to City Council and campaigning during the public speaking time. Period - no excuses. It makes a mockery out of the process and is fake citizenry. Someone with concerns about crime, safety, and other issues gets bumped off of the morning Council schedule because it's clogged with campaigners. If Vote No sent a bunch of people down there people on the other side would be crying foul.

You also don't insult the intelligence of Black voters by using a flyer with Laura Miller plastered all over it. I've taken my hits at Laura, but she's not even in office anymore.

I have been around politics my whole life, and this is a rule that should always be observed. Disagreement is one thing, but pseudo-civil unrest is another. Could you imagine how much of a circus the City Council meetings would have been in May and June if everyone that spoke at Council was tied to a Mayoral candidate?

There are people on the Vote No side for which I have a tremendous level of respect. And for fake civil discourse to be used to sully their reputations is not right. Dwaine, Tom Leppert, Jerry Allen, Dave Neumann, Linda Koop, and others deserve better. I don't support any of that type of nonsense.

Make sure you go vote by next Tuesday.

You asked - and now you know.

Where Have You Been?

Dallas and its Valets

FrontBurner had an interesting discussion on Dallas restaurants and their maddening practice of valet parking. Having traveled to many cities I can tell you that Dallas has the strangest method of valeting your car, especially when in some cases your car is parked 5-10 feet from the restaurant's door. And how exactly do they get away with taking over free spaces to park? In Philly, some businesses have valet but most depend on parking lots in the neighborhood. You park on the street and walk, like normal people. To me, this is one of the biggest issues holding back downtown and other areas. My fear is that this practice spreads into neighborhoods as other areas in the City begin to develop.

Dallas and its Valets

Letters to the Editor

This letter is in today's DMN. It's good to know that people in District Four feel that Dwaine is making a difference.

South getting attention

I was so happy to see that something is finally happening in the southern sector. I live in Dwaine Caraway's district.

The fact that Mr. Caraway has a good working relationship with Mayor Tom Leppert and other Dallas City Council members hardly means he has turned his back on black Dallas.

Things need doing in South Dallas and Mr. Caraway cannot get them done without the help and support of the mayor and other council members who historically have not worked well together.

I hope Dwaine Caraway will remember that the next time loud-mouthed has-beens are attacking him, and I certainly hope Mr. Leppert will continue to show them the door.

I also hope Mr. Caraway and Mr. Leppert will continue together to tear down drug houses and run off prostitutes.

Jeffrey Martin, Dallas

Letters to the Editor

Did YOU vote?

The voter turnout for the November election is awful. We as a City should be embarrassed. This election will decide the fate of one of the most important projects in the history of our City. Yet less than 15,000 people have decided that it was important to have their voice.

Whether you Vote Yes or No, you should go and vote. Is five minutes of your time worth it to help determine the course of our City? Prove it.

There are also 16 state amendments that require your attention. The League of Women Voters (link) has a good breakdown with pros and cons for each side.

Thank you to those that have voted and will vote by November 6th.

Did YOU vote?

No More Southern Sector

My homie Shawn Williams at Dallas South Blog wants us to bury the term "Southern Sector" (link). I agree. I've always preferred the term Southern Dallas, because I look at the term "Southern Sector" as a way for groups to act like they care about Dallas when they continue to build and develop the outlying suburbs at our expense.

No More Southern Sector

Is Target just a Target?

There is a new Target store being built in Oak Cliff. The development in which it will be located is called Wheatland Town Crossing; it's at the northwest corner of I-20 & Wheatland in front of Unity Estates (map). There is speculation as to whether this new store will be a SuperTarget or a regular Target. The development's anchor sign went up recently and it does not say "SuperTarget" but simply "Target."

There is an important distinction. As you know, SuperTarget is the regular Target store with a full grocery store inside. As I have written often, Oak Cliff is starving for new grocery stores. We already have a Target at the corner of Gannon & Cockrell Hill (map), although I suspect that this store will be closed once the new store is opened.

It is known that Target builds SuperTargets only in areas which they think are growing and thriving areas. It will be a great day when that store opens, but I hope that they believed enough in our area to open up a full-service SuperTarget.

It looks like Target will be joined by a Ross store, Marshall's, Office Depot, and Aldi. The fact that Aldi is coming really makes it seem like this store will not be a SuperTarget.

Is Target just a Target?

PPT at Lee Harveys

This Saturday, the infamous Lee Harvey's is having it's Third Annual Halloween Bash Up featuring PPT, Shanghai 5, and many others. The festivities start at 8PM. Pikahsso is my homie, straight up. My long lost South Dallas cousin. More like my soon-to-be Grammy nominated cousin!



Most people don't know that a 3-4 years ago when we met up, Pikahsso was one of the first people to get me on the air and allow me to talk to the youth and young adults during his shows. Pikahsso and his co-hosts gave me this crazy nickname which some of y'all know. I appreciate all of the conversations over the years.

Just remember this line homie .... we know the lines to live by as we ignore the haters:

“End of the story, I followed the code, I cracked the safe/
Other cats ain’t in the game, so they practice hate.”

Anyway, come through if you can. Witness another positive hop-hip and rock event with a bunch of groups that have talent for days.

PPT at Lee Harveys

Thank You to Turner Courts!

Thank you to all the people in Turner Courts in South Dallas for the kind e-mails. I hope the little things I try to help you with pay off in the long run.

You see the obstacles that we have in our way, but they can only remain if we give up and let the haters win. You know I'm with you, and I thank you for being with me.

Janet Morrison's blog really hit me today - it made me think of all of the struggles I went through to get my college degree. You all are blessed to have her in your neighborhood, and I know she feels the same about you.

Thank You to Turner Courts!

A Note of Information

Today, someone attempted to post using the name "John Wiley Sellout." Your comments will not be posted.

For my readers, please do not attempt to post comments on this blog using the names of citizens or elected officials in a slanderous fashion. There are many others in the blogosphere that will accommodate you.

While I do not agree with all citizens or elected officials at all times including Price or any others, even those that I do not agree with have the right to not be slandered.

We base things on real information, and you can create your own blog for that nonsense.

A Note of Information

Green Building Coming Soon!

Be on the lookout for a major announcement for "green" houses being built in District Four. We'll let you know when the official announcement and ribbon cutting takes place.

Green Building Coming Soon!

Controversy Sells?

I am sick of getting calls from reporters asking me about the FBI Investigation and the blowup that happened at City Hall on Wednesday. How about asking about the 99 other things that we are trying to do that matter?

Ironically, the publications that have done the most to highlight other things in the community are the ones that get assailed the most: The Dallas Morning News and D Magazine. Thanks to Robert at the Observer also. Maybe he could talk to some of his colleagues about some of the good we're trying to do instead of them hounding us with b.s. calls about hit job articles. Yeah, I said it. And if you call me asking about stuff like that expect to get an earful.

I also am not that concerned about a misplaced apostrophe on a billboard. Look at what the youth of the community are trying to do. Does that outweigh a small mistake even though they had the best of intentions? Most of the sports stars you idolize and fawn over can't complete a sentence in an interview.

Controversy sells, but does it mean anything if you never gain the respect of the community you write about? Just a thought.

Controversy Sells?

Thank You Carla Ranger

Last night, DISD District 6 school board Trustee Carla Ranger held her Community Education Forum at Carter High School.

My pastor, Rev. Bryan Carter of Concord Missionary Baptist Church gave a great message as well. I was also impressed by Leslie Williams, who is Executive Director of the Superintendent's Learning Community (pdf link). Mr. Williams was a Principal of the Year when he served at Skyline High School.

Thank you for the information and allowing citizens to ask questions and learn more about the changes in the DISD.

Mrs. Ranger has stated that this will be the first in a series of sessions that will move around her District.

Thank You Carla Ranger

Life Savers

Before I went into the City Council meeting today, I got to meet emergency physician Dr. Jeff Metzger and personally thank him for his heroic efforts. You may remember his name as one of the two SWAT team doctors that I mentioned last week that were on hand when Lt. Carlton Marshall was shot in a drug raid.

I was glad to see the City Council formally thank Dr. Metzger and Dr. Eastman for the fine work they did. Dr. Metzger did tell me that he was one of the doctors that helped the SWAT officers last year during a multiple shooting in Oak Cliff. He had his proclamation in hand, and I found him to be very modest even though he basically saved an irreplaceable officer that is trying to help the community.

Here is the official press release (pdf link).

Life Savers

DPD's New Station is Open!!!

Last night, city and community leaders officially opened the new building for the South Central Division of the Dallas Police Department. This is the first new DPD division building for the south since 1991, when the southeast division moved to Jim Miller & 175.

Back in the mid-1990s, Dwaine Caraway took Vernon "Hoople" Jordan out to that area, which is just east of Singing Hills. Mr. Jordan bought the land, and under the council leadership of former councilman James Fantroy and others sprouted the Village of Runyon Springs housing development, UNT-Dallas, and now the DPD Station. It was great to see so many community leaders from Southern Dallas. Thanks to Councilmen Neumann, Kadane, and Natinsky for making the trip south to join us in this great occasion.

I grabbed a few minutes with Chief Kunkle before things started, as well as other members of DPD. It's always great to get a history lesson - I never knew that the raggedy little building across from Turner Courts was the old southeast division HQ.

I also got to talk to Deputy Chiefs Scott, Golbeck, and Harvey. To me, Chief Sherryl Scott is perfect for this new position of leading the South Central Division. She is focused, calm, and reassuring. We have a lot of faith in her, and you can tell that this is the beginning of a great partnership with the community.

My favorite moment of the night was talking to former Councilman James Fantroy. The best thing was that we got to talk in the room that he fought to get, the community room. South Central has a community room that is open to the public and can be reserved for neighborhood meetings, functions, and events. People know that he fought hard to get that station in place, and it was great to see him walk (not roll) into the building.

This building is the first DPD Station that is LEED Certified. We all took tours and were impressed by the design of the building. It was hard to picture when we were at the groundbreaking last August. Most important, it will continue the redistribution of officers in that area and ease the load on the Southwest and Southeast Police divisions.

Thank you to Scott Goldstein of the Dallas Morning News, Gary Reaves of Channel 8, JD Miles of Channel 11, and others for covering this event. Once again, "that person" at Channel 8 tries to get a gotcha story for no good reason. On a day of great joy in the community, she decides to run around our community's event and ask people stupid questions about DPD's new hiring policy (which is the SAME as the FBI's by the way). She wanted her ink, and as always I guess she got it. Channel 8's in the community more that any other station, but did they really need to lead off the news on a great day like this? Couldn't it have waited one more day? We do thank them for sending Gary Reaves to balance it out.

When we pulled off, my wife and I noticed how the building literally glowed. What a fitting sight!

For years, many community leaders have fought to increase police presence in that area. Now they'll get it. The station is located on Camp Wisdom just east of Lancaster Road (map).

DPD's New Station is Open!!!

New DART Board Chair

*Exclusive*

Congratulations to Lynn Flint-Shaw. She is the new Chair of the DART Board.

Lynn was appointed in 2003 by the Dallas City Council to represent Dallas on the DART Board of Directors. She follows Marc Enoch as DART Board Chair. We know she will do a great job representing Dallas, the region, and the southern sector.

UPDATE: Rufus Shaw at Dallas Blog gives more insight on how it went down.

New DART Board Chair

Anti-Sagging Billboard Unveiled

Today, the "Pull 'Em Up" movement continues. The first billboard in the anti-sagging movement is located at I-35 & Illinois in heart of Oak Cliff. A billboard is also up at

This represents a commitment by Clear Channel. As anyone in politics or media knows, freeway billboards are the most expensive. It's major right now. Dwaine also mentions the development and quality of life links to sagging.

In this clip, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway is interviewed by WFAA's Brad Hawkins of Channel 8. More info can be found on Dwaine's website on the "Pull Up Your Pants" info page (link).

Anti-Sagging Billboard Unveiled

PPT could get Grammys?

Yes, it's true. Local hip-hop supergroup PPT (Pikahsso, Picnic, and Tahiti) mades the Grammy selection list of which groups can actually get nominated for a Grammy. This is a list of less than 100 groups out of all the artist nationwide.

I'm so proud of my homies right now. While there are dozens of artists on this list, the fact that they continue to be a positive group and are becoming successful speaks volumes. They are prime examples of not compromising themselves and being patient for their success. Their link is in my link section on the right side of the page.

They are on the short list of potential candidates in the following categories:

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or a Group - Work It Out- PPT
Best Rap Song – Work It Out – PPT
Best Rap Album – Tres Monos In Love – PPT

PPT could get Grammys?

DISD Community Forum

Our DISD school board Trustee Carla Ranger is having a Community Education Forum on Wednesday at 6:30 PM. Come out to Carter High School and join us!


My pastor, Rev. Bryan Carter of Concord Missionary Baptist Church will be the guest speaker. Come get an inspirational and relevant message and learn about the future of DISD and District Six.

Click photo to enlarge.

DISD Community Forum

Geography Lessons Needed

I wish that the media would take the time to learn the neighborhoods of southern Dallas. I am sick of seeing or hearing news stories that call every area south of I-30 "South Dallas." Yet, when you see stories about areas north of I-30 specifics are used. Examples include Love Field, Knox-Henderson, Oak Lawn, etc.

This has been an ongoing battle. Every e-mail that I have ever sent to authors of such reports has been ignored.

It's not very hard. I'm sure there's someone in your office that knows the difference and would be glad to use a Sharpie and a Mapsco to help you be more accurate. All I'm asking is that you show the same sensitivity that you would show for any other area.

Geography Lessons Needed

Southern Comfort Motel Coverage

Here's a quick news clip from Channel 8 on the motel closing I mentioned earlier in the week.

The sync is off a little but you get the gist of how run-down this place is in real life.

Brad Watson from Channel 8 with stellar reporting (as usual).

Southern Comfort Motel Coverage

Pull Your Pants Up! Conscious Rap with a Message

Dooney Da' Priest, who is a well-known gospel rapper, has produced a anti-sagging rap song called "Pull Your Pants Up!" Dooney was inspired by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and the others involved with the issue. It's already being played on KHVN and will likely air soon on radio stations across the country.

The no sagging movement didn't go anywhere. So you coddlers keep hating.

The song can be found on Dwaine's website (link).

Story on Fox 4 - it also mentions the possibility of this being a national movement.

Pull Your Pants Up! Conscious Rap with a Message

Thank You to SWAT Doctors

Thank you to the Dallas SWAT Team Doctors that saved the life of Lt. Carlton Marshall. Dr. Alex Eastman and Dr. Jeff Metzger performed heroic work today after Lt. Marshall was shot as the SWAT team served a pre-dawn warrant today in Oak Cliff.

*DMN Story: (link)

*CBS 11 has an interview with the two doctors. (link)

These streets are that real. DPD Officers risk their lives on a daily basis. Where would we be without these great officers?

I won't be writing about anything else today. Everything else seems less important.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thank You to SWAT Doctors

Dallas City Council Makes a Major Move

Rudy Bush of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Dallas City Council Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to let the Dallas County Sheriff's handle accidents on I-30 and freeways in southern Dallas.

As Assistant Chief David Brown mentioned at yesterday's meetings, this is a significant move that puts 18 experienced DPD officers back on the streets. Combined with this month's opening of the South Central Division and Police Station, this will give southern Dallas a major boost with respect to safety.

The County will require wreckers to respond to accidents within 15 minutes. In addition to the safety benefits, this will reduce pollution since accident-related traffic jams tie up our freeways for hours.

The entire council must approve the measure on November 12th, which is certain.

Dallas City Council Makes a Major Move

Thanks Readers!

Over the last few weeks, readership of Dallas Progress has more than doubled.

I hope that you found something you like and keep coming back. There will be several major announcements coming soon in addition to the normal writing.

Thanks Readers!

SPEAK Project at the Ridglea Theater

My homie Pikahsso wanted me to pass the word on an event comping up on Saturday October 20th.

More after the jump.



Mark your calendars for Sat. October 20th. @ 3PM. People Bring your Kids and Entire Family

We will be participating in the first annual SPEAK Project at the Ridglea Theater! (map)

This is an ALL-AGES even and is the first event of it's kind.

It's goal is to raise awareness about HIV, STD's and substance abuse in D/FW. Please come show your support and begin spreading the word NOW!!!

This event will be HUGE and we'll be performing alongside some of our favorite local bands including PPT, The Burning Hotels, The Cut-Off and also DJ sets by Prince William.

Check out SPEAK on myspace and add them NOW!!!
http://www.myspace.com/thespeakproject
Hope to see you all there!

SPEAK Project at the Ridglea Theater

Community Teen Summit #4

Last month, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway held an all-girls summit and this month he is focusing on issues that apply to young males. The all-boys Dallas Community Teen Summit is coming soon! It will be on October 27th and focus on personal image.

This is the fourth summit in the series. It's just another campaign promise being carried out.

Teen Summit flyer: (link)

Community Teen Summit #4

Southern Comfort Motel Update

Today, the Board of Adjustment voted to set a compliance (closing) date of December 31, 2007 for the Southern Comfort Motel. We thank the Board for their decision.

The motel owners have filed for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to keep the motel open. We are waiting for an opinion with respect to how this will affect the proceedings. The Board of Adjustment considered that filing a separate process from today's hearing.

Southern Comfort Motel Update

Highland Park PD has Some Explaining to Do

Jon Edmonds, civic leader and also my church member, had an incident of police harassment in a place known for such behavior.

Tod at the DMN Editor's Blog highlights this incident of DWB that happened in Highland Park. Shouts to Eric at D Magazine for the link.

I've been followed in Highland Park also. On more than one occasion. Since I moved here, I have tried to ignore what people would say about being followed/harassed/pulled over by Highland Park police. But Jon is as easy-going as it gets. What in the world would make them think Jon was doing anything?

It would be nice if Highland Park at least made a statement of some sort. But they won't. Or maybe they just ran out of old ladies to harass.

Highland Park PD has Some Explaining to Do

Good Luck to Paul Kix

A week or so ago, my buddy Paul Kix from D Magazine left to become senior editor of Boston magazine. According to Zac Crain, if you're lucky a thousand guys named Sully will toast your arrival.

Paul is one of those writers that cares beyond the story, and delved into issues that matter to a wide range of people. His October story in D Magazine focused on payday lending. Read it.

Good Luck to Paul Kix

My Three Favorite Politicians...

...that aren't in Dallas.

Anyone that knows me understands that I do a lot of reading and studying of cities, political ideas, and policy. I read 3-4 papers per day and spend way too much time scouring websites for ideas. At some point, my beautiful wife is going to chuck my old PC out of the window and force me to get a hobby.

That being said, here are my three favorite non-Dallas politicians:

1. Newark Mayor Cory Booker - for moving into the hood in Newark, fighting an entrenched, corrupt system and winning on his second attempt to be Mayor. He essentially met the problem head-on and is doing his best to turn around an embattled city. Rent the movie Street Fight and you'll get a great insight into Booker (link to movie trailer). This New York Times series will also tell you a lot.

2. Pennsylvania State Rep. Dwight Evans - for taking an area of Philadelphia that was left for dead and making it a thriving area to live, play, and raise a family. Evans created a super example of revitalization without gentrification.

3. Former Philadelphia City Councilman and (the next) Mayor Michael Nutter - for realizing that the city in which he grew up is broken, and not being afraid to challenge the political system to benefit the people of the City instead of a chosen few.

None of these people bow to negativity or baseless attacks; they seem to spend every waking moment caring about people and how to move their cities forward.

My Three Favorite Politicians...

The Best Thing I Heard Today

"Somebody better tell them that the future of DFW is southern Dallas, not Melissa, Texas."

I feel you.

The Best Thing I Heard Today

Last Day to Register to Vote

Today is the last day to register to vote in next month's election.

Here's all the info you need to vote in Dallas:

*Explanation of each State of Texas Amendment on the Ballot (link)

*Check on your registration - You can view your ballot ahead of time (link)

*Check your registration by address - You can view your ballot ahead of time (link)

*List of all Elections (link)

*When and where to early vote (link)

*Demonstration of Touch Screen Voting Machine (Flash player required) (link)

*Services Available to Voters with Special Needs in Texas (link)

*League of Women Voters' Online Voters Guide (link)

Last Day to Register to Vote

Reward for Missing Fort Worth Woman

Glenda Furch was last seen on September 28th, leaving her job at the GM Plant in Arlington. She is a Fort Worth resident.

Schepps Dairy is offering a $5,000 reward for information about the disappearance of Ms. Furch.

If Ms. Furch is a victim of foul play, the reward money would be paid for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible. Anyone with information can call police at 817-335-4222 or 817-392-4330.

The reward will be offered for six months. Get more info about Glenda and other missing persons by reading the Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse Online Bulletin.

Reward for Missing Fort Worth Woman

A Wondrous Art Exhibit - Robert Haas

Yesterday, my wife and I went to NorthPark Center to check out the photo art exhibit of Robert Haas' journey through South America. His journey is the basis for his latest book, Through The Eyes Of The Condor: An Aerial Vision of Latin America. This book is Haas' second published through National Geographic.

Robert Haas is a Dallas-based buyout company owner who has turned a lot of his attention to aerial photography. The results have to be seen to be believed. In my opinion, his aerial style is on an entirely different level from anything I've seen.

To complete the book, Haas is said to have covered 14 countries and 80 percent of the land mass of Latin America.

I encourage all of you to hit the second floor of NorthPark and check it out. The exhibit will be at the mall for the next few months.

A Wondrous Art Exhibit - Robert Haas

Thanks to My Fellow City Plan Commissioners

As most of you know, Thursday was my first meeting as a City Plan Commissioner. It was very interesting.

My fellow plan commissioners welcomed my questions (no matter how basic). The staff has been supportive as well. I sit on the far end like the rookie that I am.

We will soon have a new Chair of the City Plan Commission (CPC), and I was inspired how the current Chair is handling the change with class and dignity and not taking it personally. Sometimes that is not always the case with City Boards and Commissions.

Thank you for providing a great example and for making sure that the public feels welcome to such a meeting. And thanks to my fellow commissioners for welcoming me to the CPC.

Thanks to My Fellow City Plan Commissioners

Keep on Coddling the Kids

For those in the community and press that are cynical toward Dwaine's movement to outlaw sagging and for those that think the police shouldn't give out tickets for sagging, this is dedicated to you.

Here's something that happened today:

We are coddling our youth. By trying to be to cool with them and babying them to no end, we are creating a generation of wimps that don't respect authority and are more apt to pull a gun than to have a meaningful conversation.

At yesterday's City Hall press conference, Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell and two of his students told of how the no-sagging rule helped to increase attitude, self-esteem, and grades. It works, but y'all are too busy coddling these kids to see that this is a very important issue.

Now the rest of y'all can go back to wimping out and coddling our youth.

Keep on Coddling the Kids

Laura Miller still "Holier than Thou"

...and she still knows better than you what you need in your Council District.

Today's Dallas Morning News features Laura Miller riding in on her broom and waxing poetic about how she had these great ideas that no one would listen to about City Hall and blah blah blah regarding her ideas about council districts. More after the jump.



We don't need any "superdistricts" of council members or planning commissioners making decisions; that's another way of going back to a non 14-1 system. Of course, that's also the only way that her inability to build consensus would ever be rewarded. We already have such a system in place; it's called a majority vote!

This is the same woman that tried to sideline our Business Assistance Center and job training site last summer and ended the ability for Block Grant money to be used for "brick-and-mortar" (i.e. building) projects. She led the charge in raiding the South Dallas Trust Fund for security cameras. And so on.

Laura didn't think it wasn't a problem when her Preston Hollow street got paved when it was nowhere near at the top of list from the streets department. In fact, the street was shown to be in good shape via the City of Dallas grading system. I guess "the system" worked fine in that case.

Didn't she have a hand in Leonard Jones not being at the Cedar Crest Golf Course anymore, causing the City to lose hundreds of thousands in revenue and 600 poor kids to lose their youth golf program and free golf lessons? (story here)

Miller's quote from a story on Leonard Jones at the time of his removal: "Right now, he's not working there," said Mayor Laura Miller. "I don't think that's going to change anytime soon." She also wouldn't let anyone talk on camera about the issue.

Nice.

She did absolutely nothing about hot-sheet motels, drugs, or anything else in the southern sector. I'm not sure if she visited anywhere in the south during her last term other than North Oak Cliff. However, our new Mayor has publicly pledged to support our efforts to clean up our communities. We're still better off without her as Mayor.

No matter what, an issue still needs 8 votes to pass at council. In some cases, items need a 2/3 vote to pass.

For a council member to get a special item on the agenda it takes seven signatures. The Mayor can do that without co-signers.

Be clear, I am not defending anyone's alleged actions regarding the FBI investigation. What I am saying is that Laura has a lot of nerve trying to come in on her high horse and broad brush with this holier than thou routine.

I guess she got a little coverage by wagging her finger from on high. Now we can get back to business.

Laura Miller still "Holier than Thou"

Living in the (other) O.C.

Shawn Williams of Dallas Blog South has a super post on his site titled "Two Years and Counting in Oak Cliff." It's a reflection on the state of Oak Cliff and what it's like to really live here.

It's a must read, so stop reading this post and go check it out.

Living in the (other) O.C.