Team OSD – Page 43 – The Other Side Dallas

August 7, 2021August 7, 2021

Hinojosa May Defy TEA

Dallas ISD‘s Superintendent Michael Hinojosa May Defy TEA on virtual learning.

Classes have resume in several local ISDs including five campuses on an alternative Dallas ISD Calendar to make up for learning losses, but students are not showing up.

“We only got half the kids at our five schools from our projected enrollment, that’s telling me people aren’t coming back,” Hinojosa told local news.

“Next Monday we’ll have 41 more cases. By next Wednesday I’ll know a whole lot more on how serious we’ll have to be on standing up that virtual program.”

“The way this disease appears to be affecting children, people are just concerned about sending their kids to school,” Frisco ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip said this past Thursday.

The COVID19 Delta Variant has caused a four fold increase in hospitalizations as Governor Abbott denies emergency staffing resources to Dallas area hospitals and the TEA doubles down on its mask policy.

Hinojosa May Defy TEA

Frisco ISD announced it would offer a virtual option and Austin ISD came out with a strongly worded tweet editing TEA’s guidance.

Hinojosa and the leaders of other school districts are trying to figure out how to pay for virtual programs since the TEA has said it won’t give districts money for virtual programs.

A Back To School registration event is scheduled at the Townview Magnet Complex this morning.

August 6, 2021August 6, 2021

TEA COVID19 Guidance

TEA COVID19 guidance to local school districts is out and it is flies in the face of Centers for Disease Control guidance. The Texas Education Agency has issued the following information.

The new guidance from TEA comes shortly after Governor Abbott denied emergency healthcare staffing for area hospitals experiencing a four fold increase in COVID19 hospitalizations in just a month’s time.

TEA COVID19 Guidance: COVID19 Vaccines

The coronavirus vaccine is not available for children younger than twelve, but for those students twelve or older, the vaccine will not be required despite other vaccines being necessary.

Statewide, Texas students in kindergarten-12th grade are required to be vaccinated against:

Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
Polio
Measles/mMumps/Rubella (MMR)
Hepatitis A and B and
Varicella
After a student turns eleven, they are required to be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis.

TEA COVID19 Guidance: Parent Information

TEA guidance also says local ISDs do not have to inform parents of positive cases at their children’s school. They are required to report that information to state and local health departments.

Schools also don’t have to contact trace, but if they choose to do so, parents can still choose to send their kid to school if they are a “close contact” of a positive coronavirus case.

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021

Dallas Youth Sports Back To School Giveaway

Dallas Youth Sports Back to School event is this coming Saturday, August 7, 2021. Dallas Youth Sports is proud to be hosting the Back to School Community Event giving away 1000 backpacks filled with supplies for the coming school year.

In addition to school supplies they event with also include haircuts, food, and much more. Line starts at 9am. This will be a first come, first served event until supplies run out.

About Dallas Youth Sports Back To School Event

Dallas Youth Sports, in conjunction with Dallas Youth Athletic Association, a 501 (c) non-profit organization, works to provide affordable recreational sports programs to the youth of the Dallas-Oak Cliff area.

Founded by a volunteer board, Dallas Youth Sports continues to operate through the generosity of members of our own community. Our staff organizes sports leagues, tournaments, and special events throughout the year in order to reach as many children as possible.

We help our inner city youth develop athletic skills, healthy living habits, and leadership qualities by building a team concept at an early age. This enhances each child personally, athletically, and academically.

A Dallas ISD registration event will also be taking place at the same time that morning.

August 4, 2021August 4, 2021

American Airlines Flight Fight

An American Airlines flight fight is making the rounds on social media.

The flight took place between Louis Armstrong International Airport in Louisiana to Austin’s Bergstrom Airport.

An American spokesman said “law enforcement were requested to meet American Eagle flight 4698, operated by Republic Airways, after arriving to Austin (AUS) from New Orleans (MSY) due to an altercation between passengers.”

One source said this had to do with seat being set too far back, but it is unclear if this is related to masks or social distancing, but last year, American Airlines was attacked by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley over social distancing concerns.

American Airlines Flight Fight Just One Of Many

In another incident, a passenger groped two flight attendants on a Frontier Airlines flight and ended up restrained with duct tape.

He then went on an epic rant about his parents’ “millions” in a case of what appears to be another case of intoxicated affluenza.

August 4, 2021August 4, 2021

Melvin Williams On Administrative Leave Following Deep Ellum Assault

Melvin Williams, the Dallas Police officer, seen in a video last week assaulting a man on the ground, is on administrative leave.

Williams is also assigned to the Special Weapons and Tactics unit, or SWAT.

Dallas Police are investigating him for possible use of excessive force during the recent arrest in Deep Ellum. The investigation comes after Dallas Texas TV shows an officer pushing the man into a light post. The officer then punches him at least six times while he was on the ground before two other officers intervene and remove the attacking officer.

Melvin Williams: Three Use of Force Cases

Williams also has two other use of force investigations ongoing. The prior two cases were of men who were seriously injured during 2020’s George Floyd demonstrations.

Local police have a long history of assaulting, or killing, defenseless citizens.

Eddie Garcia’s department has not been forthcoming about either Williams’ name or his involvement in the prior two cases. While Garcia himself praised the officers for removing Williams from the subject, two police sources say they did not self report the issue to superiors or Internal Affairs.

August 3, 2021August 3, 2021

Steven Monacelli Out At Dallas Observer

Steven Monacelli out at the Dallas Observer per a tweet he sent out seems to indicate he was fired after breaking news about Dallas Justice Now.

Less than a month ago, Monacelli was speaking about the growing influence of QAnon in Texas politics.

Steven Monacelli and Dallas Justice Now

Last week Monacelli did an article for the Observer noting a flyer from a group reportedly from Dallas Justice Now. The article stated that the flyer urged parents in Dallas’ wealthy — and largely white — Highland Park and University Park suburbs to not send their kids to Ivy League schools. The parents needed to make space for students of color, the statement said.

The article insinuated it was a false flag operation put up by Keep Dallas Safe (KDS).

Yesterday a correction went up on the Observer website noting KDS was not connected to the Dallas Justice Now campaign.

As information becomes available we will update this story about Monacelli and the Dallas Justice Now story.

August 3, 2021August 3, 2021

Here We Go Again

Here we go again says Ellen’s owner, Joe Groves.

Rising numbers of COVID19 cases has the restaurant owner with a sign on his door informing his patrons to mask up or shut up.

Groves’ restaurant started mandating masks for its patrons last Thursday, July 29. Many, including Groves say they expect and are prepaing for the worst.

Here We Go Again Locally And Nationally

Locally, coronavirus numbers have returned to the same numbers as February 2021, similar to other parts of the country. In San Francisco though local bar and restaurant industry leaders acted similarly to Ellen’s: No Proof of Vaccination/No Service.

The San Francisco group represents five hundred bars who came together to say patrons must get a vaccine or skip going out to the bars represented by the group.

Beyond Groves, no organization has taken on the question of mandating masks or vaccination as strongly or as unified as the San Francisco example.

Currently, Governor Abbott has stopped localities from implementing government enforced requirements for masks or vaccinations.

August 3, 2021August 3, 2021

Trump Lost Says Texas Rangers

Trump lost the election says the Texas Rangers Baseball Club.

Or at least they said you can not unfurl a banner saying Trump won the election.

The same people who attended June’s QAnon Rally in Dallas apparently think it is appropriate to advertise Trump’s “win” at Globe Life Field.

Video shows a man identified as conspiracy theorist Owen Shroyer demanding his banner back after the security personnel removed it. Shroyer has previously been removed from Congressional hearings for outbursts.

It is unclear if this was intended as entertainment or actual political posturing.

John Blake of the Rangers has not returned an email seeking comment on whether or not Mr. Shroyer will be banned from future Rangers or Major League Baseball games as others have been for similar stunts.

Dion Cini, unfurled a similar banner previously, resulting in a strongly worded letter from MLB.

In Cini’s case, MLB said, “this activity is prohibited at each of these stadiums, and your fan code of conduct violations resulted in your ejection from each of them. A review of your public statements indicates that you intend to continue this behavior at other Major League Baseball stadiums, and that you are encouraging others to conduct themselves likewise,” per a letter circulating on social media.

Trump Lost Dallas

Dallas County Elections reported a 66% turnout. That equaled 924,000 ballots cast.

Biden won the majority of the vote by a margin of almost two to one. Sixty-five percent of voters supported President Joe Biden over President Donald Trump.

Dallas County reported 1,400,730 registered voters.

July 31, 2021July 31, 2021

Dallas Firefighter Paid To Not Work – Twice

A Dallas firefighter paid to not work for COVID19 is now being paid to not work while on adminstrative leave. William Carter, a Dallas Fire Rescue firefighter at Engine 7, was arrested by Dallas Police Department (DPD) officers for felony theft.

The arrest comes just a day after sister agency Dallas Police had one of their own officers caught on camera punching a subject on the ground.

The warrant for Carter’s arrest alleges he lied about a positive virus diagnoses for himself, his spouse, and his child. As a result, Carter received more than $12,000 in paid sick leave from the Dallas Fire Rescue.

Firefighters in Dallas exposed to or diagnosed with COVID19 are given paid time off without having to use their own sick leave bank per Dallas policy. This benefit is also extended to a firefighter with family members who test positive for coronavirus.

Court documents show Carter received $12,548.86 in three payroll cycless over the course of his leave. The funds were coded as “COVID leave,” and were paid from the City of Dallas General Funds. This number does not account for the overtime paid to others to cover his shift requirements.

There has been no comment from IAFF Local 58, the union association, that represents Dallas Fire Rescue firefighters.

Dallas Firefighter Paid To Not Work, But Is He Exception?

Dallas firefighters started having the option to receive the COVID19 vaccination in December 2020, but there are still many who have not taken up the opportunity to be protected against COVID19.

Nationally, firefighters have avoided taking the vaccine at a rate of almost fifty percent in some jurisdictions, despite being on the front lines of the epidemic.

July 30, 2021July 30, 2021

DPD Assault In Deep Ellum

There was a DPD Assault in Deep Ellum Tuesday that made its way to Dallas Police Department Internal Affairs via social media post.

DPD is investigating an officer for possible use of excessive force during a recent arrest in Deep Ellum. The investigation comes after Dallas Texas TV shows an officer pushing a man into a light post. The officer then punches him repeatedly while he was on the ground before two other officers intervene and remove the attacking officer.

There is no word on the condition of the man assaulted or what prompted the actions by what appears to be a police sergeant, i.e. a front line supervisor who would be expected to set the standard for behavior in uniform.

This assault comes almost fourteen months after another video shows DPD officers beating a prone subject during the George Floyd protests. It is still unknown if those officers ever faced disciplinary action for their behavior.

It is not clear how this incident will be seen by City Council who last year was working to defund the police.

Keep Dallas Safe which is launching a podcast today has called on 2000 new officers.

DPD Assault In Deep Ellum Applauded By Chief Garcia

DPD released a statement on the incident:

“The Dallas Police Department is aware of the video on social media showing a Dallas officer using force in the Deep Ellum area of downtown Dallas. The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs administrative investigation. A criminal inquiry is also being reviewed by the department. Chief Garcia would like to commend those officers who recognize their duty to intervene in this incident and deescalated the situation.”

One source noted that while Chief Eddie Garcia commends the officers who intervened, it took a social media post, not self reporting of the incident by officers to bring the issue to light.