|
| |
1/05/10 Give me
the name of a successful city where liberals rule?
Because of the Obamacare debate/debacle,
I have become increasingly pessimistic about the future of the country in
general and of Dallas in particular. We are
going the same direction as Chicago, Detroit, LA. The State of Texas
seems to still be on strong footing, but Dallas County is on its own precipice.
The common denominator toward the chaos is liberal politicians in control;
liberal politicians who do not respect or trust the ability of the individual
citizen.
Going to ask the question again. Name one successful city where liberals
rule.
|
I was in a convenience store where the owner blasts PBS from the radio. I had to
listen to a few minutes' rantings of pseudo-intellectuals before completing my
purchase. One woman said that during
the George W. Bush era there was an inordinate worship of individuality vs.
government leadership. She did not think that was a good thing. This
country was built by rugged individuality. Government did not tame the
wilderness. |
|
|
1/7 Bob Hosea:
I feel a smart ass remark is appropriate.
?Can Dallas Be Saved?? As I sit here the answer is NO.
The same old schemers would still be here. Self-centered, greedy,
narrow minded, unable to conceptualize the consequences of their
blind actions.
On the federal level, we got Obama. We have millions of pissed off
people ready to get rid of him. Happen in Dallas? Not a chance.
|
|
The economy of Texas is doing better than almost any state in the country, so
liberals are abandoning areas they have already ruined and heading here
for jobs. They come here and want to turn
Dallas into the place they chose to leave. Why? More importantly,
why have Dallas natives allowed it to happen.
Our last 3 mayors have not been from Dallas. I supported 2
of them. I wholeheartedly backed Laura Miller because I thought she
would focus on quality of life issues for regular people, but that was
short-lived. Con Jerk/Ron Kirk never cared about regular people.
Like Tom Leppert, Kirk was a big picture guy.
Who cares if the streets of Dallas look like a war zone? We've got to
build big ticket stuff to keep eyes off the street level.
Who cares if Dallas businesses like Woodard Paint & Body get pushed out in favor
of some twit's pipe dream of non-existent coffee shops and boutique shops on
Ross Avenue?
We've got to build big ticket stuff to bring in new businesses. City Hall
does little to keep existing businesses or help them stay in business within our
city limits. |
|
|
1/7 Darryl Baker:
Why does Dallas think it will ever have a "vibrant Downtown" if
it is:
1 TOO BIG. When
current CBD is so empty, why expand it into the Uptown District?
2 Parking rates
INCREASE after 5 PM and on weekends. In Ft Worth, after 5 PM
and on weekends, parking Downtown is FREE!
All we have to do is
look West, about 30 miles to Ft Worth to see how to do something
so basic to success and follow their lead. It is not BRAIN
SURGERY! Why can't the planners and the business owners in
Downtown Dallas get that basic point? If you want people to
come and spend money with you, is it really too much to ask that
you provide a place for them to park for fee and spend $100 to
$400 to eat, drink, and be merry?
Also, when will TxDOT
fix the pothole on the northbound Oak Lawn exit from Stemmons?
It has been there 5 YEARS and just gets BIGGER AND BIGGER.
Calls and e-mails to them do no good.
|
|
This is not about bashing Democrats. It's about bashing politicians who
don't respect individual efforts. It's about bashing politicians who don't
respect existing Dallas businesses, large or small.
Three of my favorite local politicians are Democrats: Councilman Steve
Salazar, Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and County Judge Jim Foster. These
three men have their eyes on the street. They have supported the big
ticket items, but never take their eyes off the street.
Councilman Salazar has been tirelessly trying to find someone to redevelop one
of the biggest eyesores and problems in Northwest Dallas, the European
Crossroads Center. He has gotten little support from the city's Economic
Development Dept. or Mayor Leppert, even though Northwest Highway is a major
east/west artery from DFW. He is not about to let a big development
planned for West Dallas get away.
In December, there was a big brouhaha regarding a land swap for county land that
will result in a fabulous new development in West Dallas. A "new
development in West Dallas" sounds like an oxymoron.
|
|
Councilman Dave
Neumann is complaining about the deal because the county intends to
build a garage on land near where Neumann and the Trinity crowd want a
trail. Doesn't that make you sick? We have an immediate
opportunity for new development in West Dallas with new property tax
revenue, but Neumann, et al would kill the deal for a pie in the sky,
pipe dream. |
Same mentality as what was done
to Woodard Paint & Body (District 14, Angela Hunt). The difference in this situation -- the
developers want to build in Councilman Salazar's District 6. Councilman
Salazar is not anti-business like Councilwoman Hunt. Councilman
Salazar has a keen sense of reality and keeps his eye on the street rather than
day dreaming. He stepped up and said he would not allow the developers
to be held hostage for some plan that may or may not ever happen. It's
encouraging to have a council member support a project that will generate
property taxes, create jobs and improve the quality of life in the surrounding
area.
Hike and bike trails are great, but they don't generate tax revenue, they cost
tax dollars to maintain and they take land off the tax rolls. We don't
maintain the parks and city owned property we already have.
Dallas County's plans to move an auto facility to prime real estate along the Trinity River are conflicting with the city of Dallas' plans to turn the river corridor into a shining example of urban renewal.
...The sale was part of a land swap that gave the county almost three acres on the corner of North Beckley Avenue and Interstate 30 along the Trinity River corridor.
That, however, is where city officials want to see shops and restaurants as well as walking trails and other amenities. The city is requiring the county to apply for a special permit because the current zoning doesn't accommodate an auto shop.
...But city council member Dave Neumann, whose district includes the county's new land, said he doesn't believe an auto facility is compatible with the area.
"I would be opposed philosophically to it," he said. "This kind of flies in the face of the Trinity project. It's inconsistent with the long-term design of that area."
..."I'm not surprised that city staff is questioning whether that is the highest and best use," Neumann said of the county's garage.
...Oaxaca Interests and shopping-center developer Drexel Realty Partners approached county officials earlier this year with the land-swap proposal. They said it would allow them to build a $45 million mixed-use development in West Dallas that will include a specialty grocer.
...Commissioners said another reason they approved the land deal was because they didn't want to stand in the way of West Dallas redevelopment efforts.
Loessberg said it's possible the developers could extend the lease to give the county more time.
But the developers have said they hope to break ground on the project at the beginning of 2010.
The county land was the only piece the developers hadn't already tied up for their project, tentatively titled Project Luke, which will front I-30. The 6.5-acre project will feature studio and loft apartments and about 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. It will be anchored by an organic grocery store. ...
|
We need Project Luke. In "this economy", we
are blessed to have a developer want to invest in any part of our city. To
get a Project Luke in West Dallas is beyond a blessing, it's a miracle. I
am so proud of Councilman Salazar. We have been on opposite sides of the
Trinity Project for years, and he has been a staunch supporter of the Project.
Still, Councilman Salazar puts the needs of his constituents ahead of pipe
dreams. Dallas is his hometown.
Common sense is a rare commodity in local politicians.
Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway has surprised a lot of people since he was elected
to the city council. He has supported the big ticket projects, but he also
keeps his vision focused on the real world of his district and the entire
southern sector. He has been relentless in going after hot sheet motels.
He has refused to play ward politics when community leaders ask for his help.
If it needs fixing, Caraway is willing to get his hands dirty to get the job
done. Sometimes that has annoyed (outraged) one or two of his colleagues,
but he does not back down.
Normally, a request to help an anti-violence group led by a powerful southern Dallas pastor would be welcomed with open arms by a Dallas City Council member.
Not so, however, in the recent case of District 5 council member Vonciel Jones Hill and Friendship West pastor Frederick Haynes' "Stop the Violence" campaign.
Hill sent out an unusual memo, dated Nov. 24, insisting that City Manager Mary Suhm "not schedule, or permit to be scheduled, any meeting, of any nature, for any person or organization, at any city of Dallas facility within Dallas City Council District 5 without my prior knowledge."
The memo was reported by Shawn Williams at his blog, dallassouthnews.org.
Hill's demand came a day after her biggest political foe, Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway, sent her a memo to say that Haynes had requested his help in setting up community meetings for the campaign.
Haynes requested the meetings take place in Hill's district, near a carwash on East Ledbetter Drive where there have been two killings and multiple shootings of late.
"As the chair of public safety, it is my duty to assist them in any way possible," Caraway wrote to Hill.
..."Do feel free to assist in any manner you wish and to meet whenever you wish at their facility or any facility in your district ? that is, Dallas City Council District 4. However, please do not convene ANY meetings within District 5 ? the district that I am elected to represent, and the one that I have competently represented since 2007," she wrote.
It goes on: "I greatly appreciate your respecting your own boundaries, and mine, as a fully equal member of the Dallas City Council."
Caraway called Hill's reaction "unfortunate and sad" and said he won't stop helping Haynes' efforts against violence anywhere in Dallas. "As chairman of public safety, I will not turn my back on one community in this city," he said.
Hill said Tuesday that her response to Caraway and demand of Suhm weren't based in any political rivalry.
"From my perspective, this is not a political issue. It's a lack of knowledge on the part of the council member whose district this is in," she said.
|
Is that asinine on Vonciel Hill's part, or what?
She should have thanked him for his help and offered to coordinate the event.
It is typical of that silly woman to put her ego before the needs of her
constituents. Still, to put all that in writing goes way beyond looking
silly; it's confirming stupid. Mayor Pro Tem Caraway did not back down and
should not have. The problems of the Southern Sector do not stop at
council lines. If Councilwoman Hill were not such a moron, she would team
up with Caraway. I know personally that Dwaine Caraway will work with
anyone. He does not hold grudges. He just wants to make our city
better. Dallas is his hometown.
County Judge Jim Foster is another politician who walks in the real world.
His common sense approach to government will probably cost him a re-election.
It's very doubtful that Democrats will re-nominate him in March. He has
crossed Commissioner John Wiley Price and State Senator Royce West, and that is
not allowed in Donkey World. I do not understand why the gay community is
abandoning Judge Foster, but --
Casie Pierce says
"Because they are trying to win popularity contests. It's why I
don't care about gay activism in Dallas, and also why I am not a
Democrat. There are a couple handfuls like me in this city and we
don't live in Perry Heights and drive BMW's. We live south of I-30
and don't get invited to Black Tie (or care if we did get an invite).
The "popular" gays are posers who snap into action to win popularity
contest (aka elections). It's disgusting to watch."
Sounds like a good explanation, but not
good sense. Judge Foster has surprised everyone. He's a quiet man,
even meek, but he's been strong when he needed to be. When county
employees working under two problematic constables complained to him about
inappropriate and/or illegal demands being placed on them by their bosses, Judge
Foster recognized the risk to Dallas County taxpayers when these wronged
employees inevitably sue. He took a stand and has not backed down.
When Commissioner Price went mental a few weeks ago, Judge Foster ignored him.
Some think he should have had security remove JWP from the Chambers, but Judge
Foster wisely avoided playing in JWP's drama. Judge Foster doesn't believe
county employees should be abused by their bosses -- that's not done in Dallas.
Judge Foster believes to allow JWP to use the Commissioners Court Chambers as a
grandstand for JWP's theatrics is an insult to the history of that room and the
commissioners and judges who have served there in the past. Dallas is his
hometown.
Salazar, Caraway and Foster are all Democrats. More importantly, they are
all homegrown. What happens here matters to them. They are are not
resume builders; they are serving their hometown.
If Dallas can be fixed, it will be by men and women who have a stake in this
city. People who don't want to make Dallas look like some other city.
People want it to look like Dallas again. Clean, livable and prosperous
for all of us.
These three men are not "group" thinkers. They do their own thing.
They encourage individual citizens to excel and take personal responsibility.
If Dallas can be fixed, it will be by men and women taking personal
responsibility for improving our own neighborhoods and demanding that our
elected officials use common sense when they make decisions that impact the
quality of our lives.
|
|
|
If Dallas can be fixed, it will be by
elected officials who can embrace a vision, but won't let a pipe dream
stand in the way of real progress. West Dallas has been dumped on
by City Hall forever. They finally have a councilman who puts them
first.
Project Luke is a dream come true for West Dallas. |
sb
| |
|
