Saturday, May 31, 2008

Victor Morgan



Today is a great day for me and my family. One of the loves of our lives-my nephew Victor (the tall handsome young man on the left)-graduated from High School today with a bright future at Clark Atlanta.

My family has always worked as a unit to raise the children. We consider ourselves a village and using that philosophy, we support and nurture the entire group of nieces, nephews and cousins. We insist that they be respectful, well mannered and good citizens , and there is no sagging of clothes allowed in our family. Victor has been blessed to have parents who have kept him on the right path of life and now they can hold their heads high with great pride and dignity for this wonderful young man.

When some people talk about the young people stepping in, I will take a young man like Victor any day of the week compared to some of these people who want to lead.
You first have to have some idea of what respect, honesty, dignity and humility are before you can lead, and I think through Victors young life he has been able to understand and adhere to the challenges that will make him a person to be respected.

Aunt Joyce Loves you and will continue to watch you spread your wings at Clark Atlanta.

Thought for the Week

Bright as a blue sky
Light as a cloud:
Joyful within me
I sing aloud.
Life is so precious
I want to express
Love to my Father
For each happiness.

Sorrows? I know them:
Cheeks course the tears.
But, Oh! God has blessed me
All through the years.

Author unknown

Friday, May 30, 2008

When You Give Your Word It Should Mean Something

As a child growing up my wonderful mother would tell me that your word is everything and if you give your word you should keep it. It is about character, self esteem, truthfulness and honesty. Once a person does not keep his/her word you can never trust them again because they have shown what kind of character they have. It is so often that we would like to think the best of people, but they just have something shoddy about them and their character.

In some recent conversations I have been told that one thing people can count on from me is that I will keep my word. Thank God !!!!!!!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Thank You

Vonciel Jones Hill, Carolyn Davis, Angela Hunt, Pauline Medrano,Steve Salazar and Linda Koop. I would just like for the public to know how much I appreciate your support. As a citizen of Dallas, I could not ask for a better group of people supporting me and my desires. You are a class-act on the Dallas City Council and the public should be aware of who you are and why your efforts should be supported. You are about the real development of this city and I will be forever grateful to you.

Citizens taking control of development

Rich Jordan, minister of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Concord Baptist Church is leading a group of citizens who have formed Community Renaissance Development Corporation in an effort to preserve and revitalize the shopping corridor along West Camp Wisdom at 67.

The group will initially focus on the Southwest Center Mall area and renovate the long vacant Cinema Theatre. That is good news.

City of Dallas will tow cars without insurance

In January of 2009 Dallas police will began towing vehicles after routine stops if the driver can not prove that they have insurance. Almost all of the minority council members expressed some concern with proceeding with the new ordinance and voted against it.

Dwaine(Dewayne,Dwayne) Caraway voted for the ordinance after giving some off the wall speech. We need to continue to watch who is at city hall and who is suppose to be representing the community.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

DART Board Vote

The vote was taken and I lost. I know that Mayor Tom Leppert, Dwaine(Dewayne,Dwayne)Caraway, Tennell Adkins,Jerry Allen,Elba Garcia, Dave Newman, Sheffie Kadane all got what they wanted. I am good with that. I was told that Michael Davis brought up the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts contract. He will truly get his, its just a matter of time. Just read the blogs.

The good thing is God is in total control. When they ousted me the first time, nothing good happened. I want the community to know that God is good and I will survive this as I did before.

Thought of the week

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.

DART Board

The Dallas City Council will make a decision today about my reappointment to the DART board. I really think that my record of serving on over 55 boards and commissions since June,1981 is a clear indicator that I have worked hard to represent this city.

I am at peace with what happens today. Whatever the decision, I will consider it the Lords will and I will await his next assignment for me.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Former Councilmember James Fantroy sentenced



U.S.District Judge Ed Kinkeade sentenced Former City Council member James Fantroy on yesterday. His sentence was as follows:

1. Serve one month in prison or admit that he was wrong for stealing from Paul Quinn
College and not spend anytime in prison.
2. 180 days of home confinement followed by 2 years of probation.
3. Pay more than $17,000.00 dollars in restitution.

Ben Jealous - NAACP President




The NAACP's 64 member Board of Directors chose Ben Jealous, a 35 year old former news executive as its new president. He is the youngest leader chosen in the 99 year history of the organization.

Mr. Jealous was born in Pacific Grove California and educated at Columbia University and Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. In 1991 he worked as a community organizer with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund where he worked on health care access in Harlem.

His family proudly boast of 5 generations of NAACP memberships.

GOOD LUCK BEN JEALOUS !!!!!!

Friday, May 16, 2008

Rev. Dr. Marshall Earl Hodge-My Godfather




HODGE, DR., MARSHALL EARL Birth Date - July 12,1929. Place-Groesbeck. Passed away on May 13, 2008. Preceded in death by son Anthony Hodge. He leaves to mourn his wife Dr. Francis Hodge, 3 grandchildren and a host of friends and relatives. Former President of the NAACP Dallas Chapter. National Board Member Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Former President of Dallas Chapter of SCLC and served as a United Methodist pastor at Aldersgate United Methodist church along with other churches in the Dallas area.

"A Godfather has the skill and observation of the best physician; the diligence and vigilance of the best nurse; and the tenderness and patience of a father."

I will miss the guidance,laughs,lectures,tears,hugs and smiles. May your soul rest in peace.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

DISD BOND PASSES

What a shame so many registered voters did not turn out to vote on Saturday. Only approximately 4 percent of registered voters within the DISD's boundaries came out to vote on the bond. The vote was 10,178 to 8693 a difference of 1485 votes. I've been told that the pro bond organization spent $600,000 and that they had no organized opposition. Most of the contributions came from the business community who stands to benefit the most. That should tell the voters something.

Now everyone is talking about accountability and how we need to hold them accountable and DISD must rebuild the public trust. Simply put, if you tell a child that they can not go out to play unless they do their homework and the child keeps badgering you and you finally give in to his wants without him completing his homework, what makes you think the child will be in the mood to do homework when he returns from play? He has gotten his way,so he can make another excuse to get out of what he did not want to do in the first place. It just does not make common sense to say now that you have 1.5 billion you had better straighten up your act. Foolish thought and assumption.

Sometimes I think that voters just give up and do not understand the impact of such elections, and those who want to make money always say that it is "FOR THE CHILDREN," as if those who are asking for accountability are not for the children. We all are for the children but some of us can see that it is always about the money.