Darryl Baker

07/24/06 Three Dallas Bond Items called Speculative

I was disappointed that once again, some of our Council members are trying to plan without a license. Chris Heinbaugh's article, Three Dallas Bond items called speculative, shows how some council members are trying to do things that "staff" should be doing and in most cases, are perfectly capable of doing.

In this case, the City should be taking control of "existing", tax delinquent shopping centers and apartments that would not come close to costing what we are trying to pay for them when council members get involved. At that point, the numbers work! The location is settled and in most cases has shown that it could support that type of development. It is at this time it makes sense to partner with a developer to build something. Everybody wins and at a reasonable cost.

This concept seemed very apparent to me in the case reported in District 4. There are far too many existing, abandoned sites that could be redeveloped. They all have water, sewer and infrastructure "in place", and are typically close to existing DART lines. Any projects that require developing raw land are just not worth putting "taxpayer" money into.

As a former City employee, I am always amused that some council members are quick to criticize staff, do not have a clue as to how things should be done and proceed to try and do it themselves in ways that are far more expensive and exceedingly less efficient.

Since so many of the Council feel the "private sector" is the key to Dallas' future development and success, then let the private sector do their magic with their own money and not the taxpayer's! We have enough to pay for in the form of pot hole repairs and the like!

The City Councils we have elected since the 1980's have consistently disserved the citizens by giving away taxpayer dollars to their friends and relatives in the form of City contracts. In return, the citizens have NEVER received a "report card" on how outsourcing and privatization have worked (and in most cases, it has not worked).

Lower costs should NOT be the only factor they consider. What we have gotten in exchange for reduced work forces and no tax increases is slower response times to citizen needs, broken and substandard buildings and infrastructure, reduced or eliminated services in our parks and libraries, and a perception-turned-reality that Dallas is unsafe and does not offer quality services and facilities.

In many cases (especially when it comes to construction contracts), it costs us more because the work is either substandard, has to be done over or the contractors are inept and go bankrupt before the project is done!

My advice to Mr. Blaydes and Dr. Thornton-Reese: "Don't try to plan without a degree or a license"! Stay out of the way and help our staff do their jobs for the citizens of Dallas -- not your political friends or family members.