Don't believe the lies about Souther Sector Votes on the Convention Center Hotel

You have some of the same " wanna be" people spreading lies about the outcome of the Vote Yes for the Convention Center Hotel in the Southern Sector. District 7, 5 and 8 all had the majority of votes for Vote Yes against the Convention Center Hotel. District 4 is the only council district represented by an African American that went Vote No by a slim margin. In fact, District 8 represented by Tennell Atkins lost the Vote No by 10%. That means that the councilman was for Vote No and the citizens were for Vote Yes by 10%. When all of the numbers were aggregated, VOTE YES won in the Southern Sector. That means, VOTE YES WON IN THE FOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS REPRESENTED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS WHEN ALL OF THE VOTES WERE ADDED FOR THOSE 4 COUNCIL DISTRICTS.

That is what is wrong with our community, we have so many untruthful persons saying that they are working for the community and they are not. If you tell the truth, it will all come out okay whether you win or lose. WIN OR LOSE, DO IT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

"Special Liaison" created by US Corp of Engineers for Dallas Trinity Toll Road

It was reported by Rudy Bush that the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is creating a special laison for the Trinity Toll Road Project. This came after a meeting in the office of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison with Tom Leppert and the U.S. Army Corp.

I thought these were tough economic times and that everyone was cutting back. It seems like I was wrong.

I do know that this was all about politics. Senator Hutchison is going to run for Governor and needs all of the support that she can get expecially from a Texas big city mayor. The Trinity Toll Road is tanking and Leppert is doing all that he can to save face. He sold the citizens a bad deal.

DART-FTA Investigation

FTA - Civil Rights division will be at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) on February 4th and 5th to investigate allegations of raced based action. It has been alleged that one of DART's top executives gave a mandate to hire Hispanics. There has been at least one lawsuit from a fired employee that made such a claim.

DART should not be allowed to say that their hiring practices are just because they have a large number of African Americans that are bus drivers. The FTA should look department by department as reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Office *EEOC".

I do not know who got them here, but Thanks to FTA for coming.

NO Tax-Payer Owned Hotel

I went to Robert Ashley's Show (KHVN) along with Anne Raymond from Crow Holdings so that she could give our side of the issue on the taxpayer owned hotel. As I have stated before, I am a consultant for the Citizens Against a Taxpayer Owned Hotel. My intention was not to be on the show, but with Mr. Ashley's encouragement, I spoke my mind. Most people in the community who know me, know that I believe in doing my homework before I take a position on any issue. I take great pride in getting the information for myself and making an informed decision about where I will be on an issue. I am not a person that take second hand information and carry that tale. We all know what happens when something is repeated over and over. You have a new story.

I personally am not against a convention center hotel, but I am against the taxpayers taking the risk and the city owning the hotel. If it is such a good deal, let the private developers do what they do best, develop. Mr. Ashley informed us that he had ask Dwaine Caraway to come on the show and that he was told that they are not starting their campaign until February. I do not see that as a reason for us not to move forward with educating the community. The good thing about the show was that the callers were educated on the issue and clearly understand what is at risk.

While serving on the Executive Committee of the Greater Dallas Chamber, the taxpayers added dollars to the convention center for expansion because we were told that there was not enough meeting space. Taxpayers did that, and now the convention center is loosing about $4 million per year.

The issue of Minority Contractors participation is an interesting one. That question was raised on the show. People who have never been in business have a difficult time understanding the process. This might be a new day, but we do not award contracts to just a few contractors in the name of the community.


Facts To Remember:

Fact: We know that the city has capped the cost of building the hotel, but there are other expenses, like a $50 million dollar reserve, attorney's fees, cost of land, cost of financing the bonds, etc. which will add up to half a billion dollars or more.

Fact: The Omni Hotel in Fort Worth is not owned by the taxpayers. It is fully owned by Omni, with assistance by the city, therefore Omni is taking all of the risk.

Fact: People in favor of a Taxpayer owned hotel were not at the community meeting.

Fact: The low-end job creation will not help the struggling people in our community. We want jobs that will give a livable wage.

Fact: Dallas has an abundance of Hotel in downtown, Hyatt, Adolphus, Sheraton, Plaza of Americas, Jewel, Ritz Carlton, Fairmont, Magnolia, Crescent, Holiday Inn, and Indigo. Fort Worth downtown is more compact and they do not have the large number of hotels in their downtown area.

Fact: Hotels are not destinations. How often have you had people to say that I am going to a city so that I can stay in the Omni Hotel?

Fact: The largest number of citywide conventions in Dallas has been 20. Let's say that we get to that number again and that the conventions last for 5 days, that would give us a 100 days that the hotels are full, what about the other 265 days?

Fact: The hotels that we currently have pay taxes to the city of Dallas, and the convention center hotel will not be paying taxes.

Fact: Dwaine Caraway was on KNON not KHVN talking about the taxpayer owned hotel when I called the show. He did not want to take questions, but the Host, Rev. Barnett insisted. I guess some people do not know the difference between KHVN and KNON. Oh well, can't believe everybody who say they have facts.

NTTA Minority Business Director

Anthony Coleman has been named the new Minority and Women Owned Business Director for the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA). The agency made a good choice. Mr. Coleman has a long history of working with Minority and Women Owned Business Programs and he is a person who will attempt to open the doors for all eligible minority and women business owners. He will not be one that will try to hand carry a few and leave others behind.

Good choice NTTA.

African American Business Participation at The City of Dallas

While gathering information on minority participation on contracts, and particularly African American business participation with public agencies, it was striking that Councilman Dwaine Caraway, Tennell Adkins and Mayor Tom Leppert are interested in how well other agencies are utilizing African American contractors and businesses. They appear to want to tell other agencies that they should do a better job at utilizing African American businesses ,but when you look at the city of Dallas's record, you can only wonder why aren't they trying to make sure that equity is spreading within the arena that they have some control over instead of going to other agencies making demands. The city's African American business participation:

FY 2005-2006

African American $14,828,786.............. 5.1%

Expenditures $289,385,589

FY 2006-2007

African American $22,443,183............... 5.9%

Expenditures $377,702,706


FY 2007-2008

African Americans $25,287,511................ 5.4%

Total Expenditures $468,578,222



Total 3 years African American Participation ............. $62,559,480
Total 3 year Expenditures ................................$1.135 Billion
Total 3 year percentage ..................................... 5.5%


Mayor Leppert,Dwaine Caraway, and Tennell Adkins need to make sure that the city of Dallas is doing everything it can to ensure that their is inclusion on the city's contracts instead of going to other agencies telling them what to do. Make sure that your house is in order before going to others to tell them what to do.

Speakers Will Not Be Heard

The Dallas City Council has decided that they will no longer telecast the speakers at the end of the meeting. That is very interesting. The only council persons that usually come under their raft are Mayor Tom Leppert and Councilman Dwaine (Dwayne,Dewayne Caraway), so it is logical to assume that the two of them got together to change the rules.

If the people who come to speak at the end of the meeting are wise, and I think they know what they are doing, they should just speak on an item so that they can still be heard.

We are a Democratic Country and I hope that Democracy will not be thrown out the window because two persons on the council can not take the heat. I have been told, "If you can not take the heat, get out of the kitchen"

DART DART

DART is overall a good agency. It is struggling with leadership just as Dallas ISD is struggling. If the person at the top is not competent, the administrative staff is usually lacking. Gary Thomas by all accounts appear to be a good person, but in over his head as the president of DART. When the comparison to Dick Rudell at the "T" in Fort Worth and Gary Thomas at DART is made there is a big difference in their leadership style and ability. You never hear about scandals at the "T" as you do at DART. That does not mean that things may or may not be going wrong at The "T", but the leadership seems to keep things running smoothly.

Part of the reason that DART struggles, is that the mayor of Dallas,Tom Leppert, and city council members like Dwaine (Dewayne,Dwayne) Caraway are interfering with the daily operations of the agency. Things like, Caraway attempting to get the DART board to focus on getting rail to come to the Cedar Crest Golf Course near his house instead of sticking with the current 20 year plan which focus on the access to the Inland Port that has estimated 30,000 jobs will be created. Would you want to get to a golf course or a job via rail? And there is the mayor calling DART Board members telling them how to vote on the pending Bus purchase. It has been said that he is telling the Dallas appointees to vote for natural gas buses which would be fueled by Clean Energy a company owned by T. Boone Pickens.

Now you have the DART President, Gary Thomas,some members of his staff and some of the board members not being good stewards of the taxpayers money when they attend conventions. It is so easy to do the right thing by attending the meetings and finding additional time to attend other functions.

DART also has to deal with its suburban board members who are more politically savvy than the Dallas appointees. They are making sure that DART's president stay in place as long as he is giving them what they want, and that is to make sure that the light rail build out to their cities is on time. It does not have to be on budget, because they are willing to spend more to get it to their cities on time.

And surely the last straw was the allegations that DART Executive Vice President Ben Gomez is telling Human Resources staff to hire Hispanics only. What a shame. Why not hire the best person for the job?

The plan for a regional transportation authority to take over DART,The "T" and Denton County Transit Authority is moving forward with all due speed, and the citizens of Dallas will loose the most because all of the long range plans for DART will go out the window and the planning of new service and building of rail will be to the outlying communities.

Wake up Dallas!

NO TRESPASSING IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS

Yesterday while sitting in my office in Downtown Dallas,one of Dallas's finest (Police Officers) came in with a document that he wanted me to sign. It was a NO Trespassing form that would virtually allow the police to pickup Homeless people who were in front of my business for trespassing. I was shocked. Why would I sign a blanket order for homeless people to be picked up if they were in front of my business? No way would I even consider such a thing.

My office has been in downtown Dallas for almost 30 years and I have come to know many homeless people. Some experiences have been bad, but for the most part, I understand many of their plights and I believe that the city of Dallas is trying to harass the homeless so that they will not be in downtown for the new people who are moving in their lofts,condos,and expensive apartments.

The homeless problem is so complicated, but the city seems to be attempting to make the case that they are all drunks and drug users who are harassing people. They do not seem to care that there are working homeless, women, children, veterans, mentally ill,alcohol and drug addicted homeless people. How can you possibly solve all of the problems that they are facing by using a cookie cutter approach to resolutions? This council does not seem to have the heart or the will to address many needs for the homeless,other than the new facility that they have built,which was on the drawing board before many on the current council was elected. I believe that a facility is not the only answer, and that is why you have over a hundred people sleeping outside each night.

I ask the officer several questions about the initiative that they were working on and he explained everything that he could to me. He was very courteous and listened to my concerns, while not agreeing with my assessment of the problem.

I did not sign the form and hope that other merchants will not blindly sign a form that would automatically give the police the right to accuse the homeless of trespassing and take them straight to jail.

Criminalizing the act of homelessness will not solve the problem.

Convention Center Hotel

Yesterday at the Dallas County Courthouse there was a young man passing out these fliers . The interesting thing to me was this issue was not on the ballot and from all that I could see, most people were focused on the current election.

On one side of the flyer there was a caption "What OUR LEADERS are saying". The first thing that I noticed was the people on the flyer and their ethnicity. I wondered if they were passing these out in North Dallas?

I Early Voted and encourage everyone to exercise their right to VOTE.

Dallas Housing Authority

A few months ago Mayor Leppert was rushing to the DHA meetings to give Ann Lott a warning about her length of employment. Now we see that a search is going on for a new Executive Director and Mayor Leppert has not changed the board appointments that were up in March. If the Mayor was going to keep them around, why would he not just reappoint them?

What was most interesting in the James Ragland's article was him mentioning the sell of Little Mexico and how Ms. Lott was against selling that property. Mr. Ragland article states " Now, with Ms. Culbreath in the saddle and Ms. Lott out of the way, the agency is instituting new financial controls. It's also more willing than ever to put all options on he table, including the potential sale of Little Mexico Village. " This board wants to leverage that property and will maximize its value," Ms Culbreath said in a recent post to her online blog." it seems as though that is just what Tom Leppert and the Citizens Council want to hear. Ann Lott stood up to the developers knowing the historical significance of Little Mexico to all of us, but especially to our Hispanic brothers and sisters.

We are all familiar with Ms. Betty Culbreath and her willingness to do the bidding for others. Her record speaks for itself. Review her service on the Planning Commission, DFW Airport and DHA. These were all appointments by Mayor Laura Miller who was Ms. Culbreath's close friend and ally.

In my opinion Mayor Tom Lepperts has pulled many stunts since he has been in office, and they were not in the best interest of the citizens of Dallas. He supported a Ross Perot employee for the DART Board,pushed the for the Trinity Toll Road,pushed for Lynn Flint Shaw to Chair the DART Board, forced Ann Lott out of her job, did not appoint Angela Hunt to chair a committee, supported taking Mike Sorrell off the DFW Airport Board, supported Dwaine (Dwayne,Dewayne) Caraway for Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, supports Michael Hinojosa (DISD Superintendent), supports another layer of government for the Inland Port, supports a taxpayer owned hotel, and supported the DISD Bond Proposal. That is only a few of his positions on issues that makes you go, WHAT?

This current leadership in Dallas is all about construction and contract dollars. Look around the edges and see where all of these people are sniffing. It's the same small pack of people who are pushing these items and they are making out like bandits at the expense of the people.

Dallas Logistics Hub (Inland Port)

The development of the Dallas Logistics Hub (Inland Port) is very important to the citizens of Dallas, but the most affected are the citizens that live in the southern sector of Dallas. We have been waiting for years for the job creation that has been promised by our elected officials. We were told that the Logistics Hub could create at least 30,000 jobs and the development around the area could add an additional 30,000 jobs. It does not matter how you analyze the job creation numbers this would be a win for the cities of Dallas, Wilmer, Lancaster, Hutchins, Duncanville, DeSoto and Cedar Hill.

The creation of jobs and business opportunities in the southern sector will help create a greater tax base, and our elected officials have talked about making sure that the Dallas Logistics Hub is the catalyst for growth in the southern sector. At one point this project was pushed so hard by the previous council that the DART Board made it the number one priority of the Long Range Plan (2030 Plan) for light rail. The council wanted to make sure that there was mass transportation servicing this project.

Mayor Leppert, Dwaine (Dewayne,Dwayne) Caraway, Tennell Adkins and Ron Natinsky seem to be stalling. You have to ask yourself, why? Mayor Leppert has constantly expressed to the community that he wanted to create jobs in the southern sector, but now all the community sees is the mayor and his group of seven on the council holding up progress. Could it have anything to do with the competition that the Dallas Logistics Hub will have with Alliance in Fort Worth? It has been said that Alliance is only 25% built out and the development of the Dallas Logistics Hub (Inland Port) would be serious competition for Alliance. As we all know, Alliance is owned by Ross Perot, Jr. and he has significant ties in the Dallas community. In fact, at one time Mayor Leppert, Dwaine (Dewayne,Dwayne) Caraway and Tennell Adkins supported a person for the DART Board that was an employee of Perot Systems, and that had serious implications because of the need for the Dallas Logistics Hub (Inland Port) to use DART tracks (TRE) to transport goods. That appointment did not happen.

The project still has great value and merit, but the question is who will be in control? The citizens are tired of the political jocking. We want the development to take place now.

Oak Cliff

These newbies to Oak Cliff make me laugh. It's like they moved in yesterday and have all of the answers to what is needed in the area. I say they should take time and learn from people who have been working in the black community for years and then pick up the baton and run. You know, I see it as passing the baton, not dropping it and loosing because you did not practice and learn how to pass and then run. The idea is to win each leg of the race to be the ultimate winner. The last leg of the race can not run without successfully grabbing the baton and running to the finish.

Are we even in the race?

Save Community Television in Dallas

Yes, We Will! Save Community Television in Dallas.



Every great city in America, "land of the free and home of the brave," supports public access to cable television channels. As a model urban city, Dallas should be no different. Once again, I am personally asking you for your immediate action to SAVE community television. The time is NOW, the situation is CRITICAL. The Dallas City Council is working through the proposed 2009 city budget, and Dallas iMedia Network (formerly DCTV) has been reduced to $196,000 dollars. Unless iMedia's budget is restored, our voice will be silenced...and the attack on our free speech will continue to accelerate. Here is a snapshot of how the city has deteriorated iMedia's contract value over the last several years:

2001 - 2005: $700,000
2006: $543,000
2007: $508,000
2008: $300,000
proposed 2009: $196,000

This drastic funding reduction may well end public access television in Dallas. iMedia funding must be restored to the bare minimum 2008 level of $300,000. City Council Members are holding Town Hall Meetings in your neighborhood to listen to citizen concerns. This is an emergency. Please attend and SPEAK. Ask for funding to be reinstated to at least $300,000 for public access television in our community. See the Town Hall Meeting link to the right. Also, mark your calendar to attend the final budget hearings and vote, in Council Chambers, on the following Wednesdays:

August 27
September 10
September 24

Public access television helps local government fulfill its societal obligations. The members of the Dallas City Council need to know YOU and hear YOU say public access television matters in our city! Call 214.670.3738 at least 24 hours in advance to register to speak at the three City Council meetings listed above. In addition, it is vital that you call or email Mayor Leppert and all city council representatives. THE TIME IS NOW, THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL! THE MAYOR AND DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MUST HEAR YOUR VOICE. DALLAS IMEDIA NETWORK MATTERS TO OUR CITY! YES, WE WILL! Save community television in Dallas. Call me to let e know that I can count on you.


Townhall meetings began on August 11 and continue through early September. Please tell us which meeting(s) you plan to attend. Call 214. 631. 5571 (ext 304) or email Lisa Hembry. Mark your calendar to attend budget hearings with the entire council, along with the final vote. Meetings will be held the following Wednesdays at Council Chambers:


August 27
September 10
September 24 Call at least 24 hours in advance to register to speak at these meetings (City Secretary: 214. 670. 3738)


It is very important that you, call, write and email your Councilperson and the Mayor-- they are your public servants, and want to hear from you.
Join our mailing list!


Thank you for your help.
Lisa Hembry
President/CEO
214 631-5571 ext 304

A Hit Dog Will Holler

My mother, rest her sole, always said "A hit dog will holler", and it looks like a lot of hollering is going on. My position has not changed about Dwaine (Dewayne, Dwayne) Caraway and Betty Culbreath.

There are two people that have openly disagreed with me and they are Sharon Boyd and Michael Davis. Michael Davis is a person who lives in District 8 and is appointed to the Dallas City Plan Commission by Dwaine Caraway to represent District 4. I think Michael is a bitter guy who is trying to make his way in politics in Black Dallas. Check him out, he is always defending Dwayne as if his life depends on making sure that anyone who says something negative about Dwaine will get his raft. Who cares about his raft?

Sharon Boyd's opinion is hers, and I hope she remembers how she has maligned many African Americans in the past few years, including Dwaine(Dewayne,Dwayne) Caraway. I do not agree with all of her assessments, but I never commented. Some of the people that she has spoken negative about are my friends and mentors, but sometimes its better to leave things alone. I live in the black community, I have worked on community issues since the late 1960's and I know that I have a better feel than Sharon for what is going on in the black community. I believe that Sharon Boyd's opinion about what is going on in Black Dallas has no relevance in my community.

There is not just one opinion in the Black community, therefore everyone is not going to agree with me, but "I say what I mean and mean what I say".

Dallas Housing Authority

Looks like the dirty work of getting rid of Ann Lott has been done and now Mayor Tom Leppert is going to rid himself of Betty Culbreath. So sad, but that's the way it works. Betty should know that once you are used to do the dirt, your service is no longer needed.

Where is Dwaine (Dewayne,Dwayne)Caraway who is one of Mayor Tom Leppert's gatekeepers? I think he is close to Betty and he is Leppert's head Negro watcher at Dallas city hall. Will he take a stand for Betty? I think that Betty also has a good relationship with Willis Johnson (another gatekeeper for Leppert), and I do not know if he will help his friend. Don't forget that Betty also has a good relationship with Tennell Adkins another disappointment to the African American community. With all of those connections, you would think that she would have very few problems getting reappointed.

I can not help but remember my situation on reappointment to the DART board and the role that this same cast of characters played.

What goes around comes around.

Dwaine Caraway pushing for TAX INCREASE

In an article in today's Dallas Morning News, it was stated that Dwaine (Dewayne,Dwayne)Caraway would be pushing his fellow council members to support a TAX INCREASE for the city of Dallas. I wonder if he is a home owner? Our taxes go up every year because the valuation of our houses increase yearly from the Dallas Central Appraisal District. Just thinking of the median income in his Council District (District 4), I would think that Caraway would only support a TAX INCREASE if there was absolutely no other way to balance the budget.

I have not seen the budget, but I wonder how much additional revenue will be going to the southern sector to insure that development will take place? My guess is there will not be a significant difference.

Caraway has been known to carry Mayor Tom Leppert's water, so maybe that is what he is doing. So sad!!!!

Are the Southern Sector Suburbs ready to jump on DART's bus offer?

It looks like a presentation was made to the DART Board of Directors about cities like Grand Prairie, Duncanville and DeSoto ready to contribute 1/4 of a cent to join the agency for bus service only. Wait a minute,that might not be quite the truth. It was stated in The Dallas Morning News that Duncanville City Manager Kent Cagle said his city, Cedar Hill and DeSoto have approached DART together about the possibility of the agency providing on-demand bus rides for senior citizens. He also said that his city never expressed any interest in paying for a commuter bus service along the lines that animated the discussion at Tuesday' DART board meeting. And in Grand Prairie, City Manager Tom Hart said his city has had no conversations with DART officials about contracting for DART bus service.

So what is the real story? Did DART President Gary Thomas and his staff have the conversations or not? Is this another one of those steps to mislead the Board?

All types (bus,rail,para transit and HOV) of public transportation are subsidized. That means if new service is added there is a strong possibility that the 1/4 cent will not pay for the service and additional dollars will come out of the operating fund which could have an impact on future DART service plans. That is what Ray Noah was implying with his comments.

DART and The "T"

I just learned over the weekend that DART and The "T" (Fort Worth Public Transportation) are having heated discussions about The "T" buying DART's trackage rights on the portion of the Cotton Belt line that is in Tarrent County. This should be interesting because over 2 years ago The "T" presented a plan to the DART board which showed that it would get to DFW Airport quicker than DART using those tracks.

Thank you Mayor Tom Leppert, Dwaine Caraway, Jerry Allen, Tennell Adkins, Ron Natinsky, Dave Newmann, Sheffie Kadane,Elba Garcia and Mitchell Rasansky for having such insight and putting people on the DART board who do not have a clue what is going on. Let's see what happens to the second downtown alignment, Monroe Shops and the extensions in Southern Dallas. Dallas is going to loose again.

Stay tuned for the Regional FIREWORKS!!!!!!!!!!

DART's new Rail Corridor Ad Hoc Negotiation Committee

DART is doing just what I expected. They have formed a special committee of DART Board members to discuss the Cotton Belt rail line. Suburban cities have begun work on funding options to speed the process up of building the rail line. This Ad Hoc committee will have a set of recommendations to give to the full DART board in August. They want to move this along quickly.

The makeup of the Ad Hoc committee members make me wonder what is going on? Robert Strauss who is the appointee of Dallas Councilman Ron Natinsky (the representative of the North Dallas area where the Cotton Belt line will enter and exit Dallas) is not on the committee and none of the African American Southern Dallas representatives (Jerry Christian,Pamela Gates or Claude Williams) are on the committee either. The absence of some representation speaks volumes about what is going to happen with the Southern Dallas proposed extensions.

The suburban members of the DART Board are outsmarting the Dallas members on every issue. Remember the suburban members rallied to help Gary Thomas keep his job after several missteps last year.