If you're not a Dallas resident, you're probably looking at the entry title and wondering why in the world I would even ask such a question. If you do live in Dallas, you're probably still asking! Unfortunately, the question is in a heated debate due to the fact the Dallas City Council and others have decided to place a 6 lane limited access toll road within the levee system along the Trinity River in downtown Dallas.
In 1998, a $246 million bond package was proposed to create an urban oasis and redevelopment of the Trinity River flood plain. Voters were presented with drawings of a town lake similar to the one in Austin, complete with sail boats and fountains. A park along the banks of the Trinity was also proposed. The exact wording on the ballot presented to voters was this:
PROPOSITION NO. 11
"THE ISSUANCE OF $246,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION TRINITY RIVER CORRIDOR PROJECT BONDS, THE PROJECT TO INCLUDE FLOODWAYS, LEVEES, WATERWAYS, OPEN SPACE, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, THE TRINITY PARKWAY AND RELATED STREET IMPROVEMENTS, AND OTHER RELATED, NECESSARY, AND INCIDENTAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRINITY RIVER CORRIDOR."
And you will note the mention of a "Trinity Parkway". This parkway was proposed to allow access to the park. It was supposed to be a 2 lane road at most, and not even a highway of any sort. But due to the fact the wording is "vague", the City Council decided what Dallas needed was a new high speed toll road.
In most cities around the state this time of year, municipal elections are held; providing the local citizens a true voice in changing what they think is wrong in their cities or sticking with the status quo. While it most often sounds cliche, crime remains the number one issue in most every community, as the numbers continue to skyrocket.
The City of Dallas remains at the top of the crime food chain in Texas, and even the nation. 8,624 crimes per 100,000 people. That is the nation's worst crime rate. Dallas has held the top spot for 9 of the last 10 years. Is this something Dallas should be proud of? I don't think so.
One would tend to think that the crime problem only affects the areas of blight in Dallas or lower income areas. That is one of the biggest misconceptions. In District 12, which is Far North Dallas (majority caucasion, majority conservative, with a decent median income), there were 3900 crimes in 2006. That is over 10 per day. Dallas SWAT has been in my parking lot in the last couple months. I even had checks stolen off my dining room table by my apartment complex's own maintenance people this past week.
Today, WhosPlayin interviews John McClelland, a resident of Northern Dallas, and fellow blogger / activist who is running for City Council in Dallas' Twelfth District. John recently announced his intention to run for the seat, currently held by one-term incumbent Ron Natinsky. He was kind enough to agree, so without further introduction, we'll hop right into it:
WhosPlayin: With apologies, because you're going to get this same question a hundred times: What is your motivation for running for this office?
John McClelland: You're right, I will answer it over and over again for the next 3 months and maybe even after the election. I believe it is my civic duty to give back to a city that I've been able to call home for the last 5 years. I want to steer Dallas in the right direction. We need a city government who will stop wasteful spending of our citizens' tax dollars. We need a City Council who feels they are not above the law. We should be model citizens, not model felons.
You probably thought you would not see another "stepping back" thread on the Burnt Orange Report for quite some time, but I have to continue to trend today.
I have announced my intentions today to run for the Dallas City Council, Place 12 in Far North Dallas, for the May 12th election. The campaign is nonpartisan, so I do not feel it would be appropriate to continue writing for BOR since it would more than likely violate a few ethics laws here and there.
I have been asked why am I running several times. I am going to field this question for the next 2 months and probably well after the election is over. I am running to give Dallas a direction. To steer it where it needs to go. The wasteful spending, the ignorance to our crime problems, and the idea that the City Council is above the law, have all got to go! We have a unique opportunity to elect a fresh City Council. 2007 will usher in a new Mayor. It will also usher in 1/2, if not more, new faces to the City Council. The time for change is here.
I also want to take the opportunity to dedicate my campaign to my brother, Sgt James Hodgkiss. James passed away one year ago today in a tragic accident, after having dutifully serving 2 tours in Iraq. My thoughts and prayers are with his family in California on this day.
