Team OSD – Page 27 – The Other Side Dallas

July 20, 2022July 20, 2022

More Fires July 4 – Less Enforcement

More fires July 4, 2022 is the report of Jon Fortune, Assistant City Manager for Public Safety. The kicker is there was less enforcement by Dallas.

The City of Dallas has a consistent issue enforcing fireworks related nuissance crimes. Year after year Dallas Fire Rescue conducts public safety campaigns on fireworks. Year after year, fireworks are an issue.

Fireworks are illegal in the city limits and up to 5,000 feet outside of them.

More Fires July 4 – The Data

Fortune’s memo covers the usual potpourri of cherry picked data. The fire department responded to more reported structure fires, alarms and other incidents. Compared to last year, DFR responded to more than five times as many incidents.

There were more dumpster and trash fires than a year ago, but the biggest increase was in grass fires. Fortune notes that “further analysis is warranted” to determine causation.

This year DFR and Dallas Police issued nine citations for illegal fireworks. They also seized nine hundred thirty-eight pounds of illehal fireworks. Last year, the departments issues thirteen citations. They also seized almost thirteen hundred pounds of fireworks in 2021.

There was also a house fire in the 400 block of N. Peak Street last year which caused a criminal investigation.

The bottom line is more fires July 4, 2022 than 2021, but less enforcement.

July 19, 2022July 19, 2022

Dallas Sheriff Violates Rights

Dallas Sheriff violates rights of incarcerated individuals per Dallas criminal defense lawyers. Deputy sheriff’s are opening attorney letters to jailed clients. The information is legally privileged and jailers are not following procedure.

Elizabeth Lutton says deputies open all letters looking for contraband. They do so as a security measure.

Per other published reports, Lutton says “that’s only done in the presence of the inmate.” She states inspection is “limited to locating contraband or illegal items.”

Defense attorneys dispute this account though. Clients have reported their letters opened outside their presence. Lawyers contend some of these involve legal strategy and client’s guilt or innocence.

The Dallas sheriff’s office did not return a call asking for comment on how long the practice has taken place.

Dallas Sheriff Violates Rights – Again

Marian Brown’s tenure as sheriff could not be worse.

Under her management the jail she oversees fails state inspections more than once.

Deputy sheriff’s have not had appropriate support – particularly in responding to COVID19.

Finally, her staff stole more than $600,000 from inmate commisary funds.

July 18, 2022July 18, 2022

Dallas ISD Mandates Clear Backpacks

Dallas Independent School District mandates clear backpacks for students in sixth grade up for the 2022-2023 school year.

“Clear bookbags are a well intended but relatively ineffective measure,” said Michael Dorn. Dorn is a former police officer and Executive Director of Safe Haven International.

The group is the world’s largest K-12 school safety center. The group produced the video below showing the ease of moving weapons into a school.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas schools trialed a clear backpack policy. They abandoned the policy shortly. It became clear to school administrators that contraband was still coming into schools.

Parents at several high schools told Other Side Dallas that metal detectors are not used. The devices are time limiting and staff does not focus on them.

“They are a physical deterence, but only when they are actually used,” one parent said.

DISD Mandates Clear Backpacks – Unclear Reason

Dallas ISD has not released the results of its parent survey on clear backpacks. They did say they will issue a single backpack to students.

If it becomes damaged or otherwise unusable the student will supply a replacement. It is unclear how many students this will effect given district socioeconomic challenges.

It is not clear how this poplicy will stop incidents like last year’s.

In December 2021, parents were notified of an elementary student with a firearm on a bus. At the time, parents said the note normalized the situation.

There were also multiple protests at Dealey Montessori with at least two events where adults were armed on campus.

July 13, 2022July 13, 2022

Disabled Florida Woman Hurt by Southwest

A disabled Florida woman hurt by Southwest Airlines is suing the airline. The lawsuit is in Broward County’s court system.

It states Southwest Airlines refused to push Gabby Assouline’s wheelchair. Assouline suffers a muscle disease. While moving from terminal to aircraft the jetway incline threw her to the ground. She landed on her head and is now paralyzed from the neck down.

Assouline was not assisted by customer service or supervisory staff.

Her mother, Sandra Assouline, set up a GoFundMe page. The page says the younger Assouline has cracker vertebrae. It also says she must use a feeding tube after the injury.

The GoFundMe continues. “She can’t speak because she has a tube down her throat, and she has no movement below her neck,” the mom wrote on the page. “The fear and pain she is showing in her eyes when she wakes up in those brief moments of clarity is too much to bear.”

Disabled Florida Woman Hurt by Southwest Airlines

The Dallas airline has been out front on other medical issues. Southwest Airlines dropped COVID19 mask requirements. This came despite Gary Kelly contracting the virus saying his planes were safe.

Southwest Airlines has not returned emails requesting comment on their actions.

Southwest Airlines headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

The airlines schedules service to more than one hundred twenty locations around the United States. They also serve ten additional countries.

Federal transportation data shows Southwest Airlines carries more domestic passengers than any other.

July 7, 2022July 22, 2022

Dallas Fire Out Of Service

Dallas Fire out of service per Dallas Firefighters Association Local 58’s Facebook page. Is this an emergency for Dallas citizens to receive prompt response?

City Council member Cara Mendelsohn noted that in February council was told there were eleven reserve engines.

DFA President McDade responded “that wasn’t true then.”

Dallas Fire has reportedly taken receipt of multiple new engines, but it is unclear their status.

Dallas Fire Out Of Service, Out Of Game?

The comments on city management failure come just weeks after Eric Johnson surrendered to TC Broadnax in a power struggle.

The Dallas Firefighters Association was opposed to Broadnax continuing as City Manager after he repeatedly failed to address their concerns. They were joined by a broad coalition of other organizations.

City staff have not responded to request for comment about delays in responding to city incidents. City management staff have not responded to questions about why engines are not available for calls.

Other Side Dallas will continue to monitor public safety response.

July 5, 2022July 13, 2022

Park Board Political Campaign

A Park Board political campaign has led to an ethics complaint and new headaches. The Park Board is already facing separate discrimination complaints due to Juneteenth actions.

Now Dallas Parks and Rec has a new issue: political campaign social media posts by a board member.

JR Huerta, representative for District 1, has posted to Facebook about a campaign. Posts started showing up in May 2022 when rumors Chad West would run for Mayor. West is the city council member for District 1 and appointed Huerta.

In an email response, West denies running for Mayor at this point. He says, “I am focusing on my responsibilities to the constituents and neighbors in District 1.” West goes on to say his focus is “crime reduction, expansion of parks and trails, and West Oak Cliff Action Plan.”

West had not seen the social media statements by Huerta. Reports are that Huerta was talking about political plans at a Parks’ Teen All Access pass event.

While West denied knowing of these statements, one city staff member stated “JR should know better.”

Huerta runs Dallas Youth Sports which has contributed significantly to the Oak Cliff area. That nonprofit consistently donates thousands of dollars to the community in free gifts for back to school events or at Christmas.

Park Board Political Campaign Another Black Eye

It is unclear the status of the ethics complaint, but it is another example of unclear ethics rules. It is also another example of little to no oversight of city appointees.

As we began this investigation there were no other signs JR Huerta was running for city council or mayor. To date he has not filed a Campaign Treasurer Appointment notification. His social media posts do appear to be testing the waters and would put him in violation of the city charter.

These violations would be like Adam Bazaldua’s failed campaign for Precinct Chair.

Adam Bazaldua lost his most recent election – for Precinct Chair of 1084 in South Dallas. That news came per Dallas County Elections returns.

The city charter appears to prevent those types of political events.

July 4, 2022July 4, 2022

Dallas Fire Rescue Sesquicentennial

Dallas Fire Rescue Sesquicentennial is being celebrated today from 9:00AM until noon. The Dallas Fire Museum will be hosting the event in Fair Park with the Fire Chief and others.

Dallas Fire Rescue was first named the Dallas Fire Department. The department, like most, was a fire suppression service then more than now. Currently, it’s primary focus is prehospital emergency medical transport.

The department also incorporates the all-hazards model meaning it provides many more services.

Those include hazardous materials response, technical rescue, and inspections and investigations.

Dallas Fire Rescue Sesquicentennial Celebrates History

In 2022, Dallas Fire Rescue has 2,000 members and operates fifty-eight fire stations. A fifty-ninth is being readied.

Dallas Fire Rescue covers 385 square miles. They provide service to over 1.3 million residents.

Dallas Fire’s Sesquicentennial website, www.dfr150.com for more information.

Apparel and souvenirs are for sale with proceeds supporting the Dallas Firefighters’ Museum.

Sesquicentennial Reminds Of Dangers Of Fireworks

Dallas Fire Rescue has also reminded the public of the dangers and potential criminal liability of using fireworks.

Dallas Fire Rescue is warning citizens of the potential for injury. They are working to keep illegal fireworks off the streets.

Fireworks are illegal in the city limits and up to 5,000 feet outside of them. They are also extremely dangerous, can result in serious bodily injury and significant property loss.

July 1, 2022July 1, 2022

Fireworks 2022 Prohibitions

Fireworks 2022 prohibitions are back in effect. Dallas Fire Rescue is warning citizens of the potential for injury. They are working to keep illegal fireworks off the streets.

Fireworks are illegal in the city limits and up to 5,000 feet outside of them. They are also extremely dangerous, can result in serious bodily injury and significant property loss.

Fireworks 2022

As in years past, city staff say anyone in possession of, or using, fireworks will face penalties. Those include having them confiscated and citations. Fines can be up to $2,000.

In 2020, DFR and DPD together confiscated almost a half ton of fireworks (900 pounds). they issued only eleven citations.

June 29, 2022August 14, 2022

NGAN Hosts Stephanie Elizalde

NGAN hosts Stephanioe Elizalde – the new Dallas Independent School District Superintendent – in her first public appearance.

The Next Generation Activist Network – or NGAN – for short hosted the event which was the first welcome reception for newly appointed superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde.

The Next Generation Action Network (NGAN) self describes as one of North Texas’s largest social justice organizations, with several chapters nationwide. With a mission of lobbying for social change and equality for all regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender, sex, or age, the Next Generation Action Network focuses on legal advocacy and education. Daily NGAN bridges and fills individual and community needs as a catalyst for impactful change.

They claim to focus on education, but in the host committee graphic above it is clear they do not do their own editing. One person is listed twice and a member of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees had his name misspelled.

Early Super Mistake? NGAN Hosts Stephanie Elizalde

A giant question is was this a good move for Stephanie Elizalde.

It is unclear why Elizalde feels NGAN serves the needs of minority students whose test scores reveal abysmal results by her predecessor’s administration.

NGAN’s focal point – the “CEO Minister” Dominique Alexander – is alleged to be in a relationship with former Dallas Police Chief U. Reneé Hall.

Once this allegation was public, confirmed by four separate police and civilian sources at Dallas Police, Hall left office within twenty-four hours.

Additionally, Alexander was convicted of shaking a 2-year-old baby in 2011. He was sentenced to five years but released on probation shortly after his sentencing. Alexander has also been convicted of theft, making a false police report and evading arrest. He’s also been indicted in Denton County for felony theft.

Alexander was also involved in questions about contract awards after the Dallas ISD Auditor Report in 2020.

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022

City Council Redistricting Complete

Dallas City Council redistricting is complete with new district lines. The new lines come after the census which takes into account population shifts.

The city council engages in this process every ten years after they receive census data. The process draws district lines that city council members get elected to represent.

Mayor Johnson said, “Redistricting is critical to a functioning representative democracy.”

He went on, “I am grateful for the work of our Redistricting Commission…led by Chairman Jesse Oliver.”

City Council Redistricting Commission And Upcoming Races

The Dallas city council adoped Plan ID 132918. Per the city charter, city council must approve redistricting forty-five days after redistricting.

Redistricting commission fights were regular and there were process problems when former Republican Alexandra Guio ghosted Paula Blackmon.

A 2014 ruling by the United States Supreme Court negates the preclearance standards. This does not mean a lawsuit will not follow.

One insider called it an incumbent protection map. At least two African American candidates considering races in D5 are dropping out.

Other changes to D4, D6, D7, and D13 also occurred.