City Council – The Other Side Dallas

January 25, 2024January 25, 2024

Dallas Flushes $55M

Dallas flushes $55M in taxpayer dollars with a yawn after a consent agenda item to pay out the sum to Trinity East Energy.

The agenda item can be seen here was referenced in a story by Tim Rogers at D Magazine.

Former city manager Mary Suhm engaged the city in a secret side deal with Trinity East Energy. The deal provided the city with tens of millions of dollars. In exchange the got drilling rights under park property.

Eventually, this side deal led to a lawsuit against the City of Dallas and taxpayers holding the bag.

Rogers’ point though was who is watching out for taxpayers.

In another era where city council is going to ask citizens for a loan to cover their unbudgeted pension obligations, who is watching the store?

Dallas Flushes $55M Again Before Asking For More

The fact that the Dallas pension in crisis is hardly news. The idea no one seems to mind asking the taxpayers to finance their mistakes should be.

Other Side Dallas is your source for Dallas local breaking news.

December 16, 2023December 18, 2023

Bazaldua Stands With Hamas

Bazaldua stands with Hamas in a new resolution supporting a resolution on the Israeli Palestinian war started October 7.

Adam Bazaldua represents Dallas City Council district 7.

Bazaldua says he believes its crucial for elected leaders to be balanced if they are going to discuss international issues.

Dallas City Council previously passed a resolution supporting Israel after the October 7 massacre.

That attack resulted in more than one thousand dead and several hundred killed.

It is unclear what effect Bazaldua’s resolution would have on international relations.

It is noteworthy that Bazaldua’s resolution does not address hostages still under Hamas terrorists’ control.

District 12 representative Cara Mendolsohn asked the same question and why he doesn’t ask for Hamas unconditional surrender.

Bazaldua Stands With Hamas – Unknown Why

At the same time Bazaldua is pushing resolutions, crime is up throughout Dallas and murder numbers far outweigh Fort Worth.

Dallas also is on pace for 18,000 automobile thefts this year – most of which are not investigated.

Beyond those bread and butter issues, Bazaldua missed multiple recent Nazi appearances in Dallas, including by Barry Young.

It is not clear if Bazaldua means to tie himself to these right wing anti-Semitic organizations or not.

Other Side Dallas will provide Dallas local breaking news about city council and other community events.

October 3, 2023October 3, 2023

District 11 Spelling

District 11 spelling is no better than State Fair of Texas spelling after city council staff sent out an email misspelling briefing.

The second major spelling error shows local Dallas schools living up to their reputations of not being able to educate.

This weekend, the State Fair of Texas welcomed visitors with a poorly spelled sign.

District 11 Spelling and Dallas ISD

In local education news, Dallas Independent School District is suing the Texas Education Agency over state standards.

Dallas ISD believes state standards are too rigorous and nearly ten percent of campuses would fail.

Dallas ISD has 233 campuses and 145,000 students. On the last state report card roughly ten percent of these received a D or F grade from the state.

At the same time, Dallas ISD has removed a successful principal from one of its successful campuses without explanation.

September 21, 2023September 21, 2023

Dallas Has Little Johnson

Dallas has little Johnson available for city council business according to an article by KERA citing frequent absences and early departures.

It has led to another defeat at the horseshoe where he can not bring tax savings to local residents.

Per the KERA story, Mayor Johnson has missed more than 130 hours since 2019. This is more time than the next three city council members combined.

Per KERA, Mayor Johnson missed thirteen meetings in their entirety. No other member of city council has missed more than three.

Dallas Has Little Johnson – By The Numbers

In 2022, during the failed attempt to remove TC Broadnax as City Manager it was noted Mayor Johnson couldn’t count to eight.

Eight is the number of city council members voting needed for a majority. Some of the criticism of his vote whipping abilities is his part time status as mayor.

One critic said, “he doesn’t carry himself like an executive because he is there for the perks, not the people.”

Johnson’s inability to do anything meaningful shows again and again, whether it is trying to defund the bureaucracy or tame city hall.

His lack of vote counting acumen also cost him in several city council races in 2021.

September 18, 2023September 18, 2023

Ransomware Attack Report

Ransomware attack report leaves concern after 30000 users had personal details leaked. The city remains tightlipped about the loss.

City officials postponted the official After-Action Review of Chief Information Officer Bill Zielinski.

Candy’s Dirt was able to get a copy of the presentation for the September 6 city council meeting.

The ransomware hack of resources disrupted city operations across the city. Problems occurred for building permits, libraries, and even emergency response operations.

Municipal courts and 311 have also been affected.

Zielinski told Candy’s Dirty they are budgeting eight figures in the FY2024 budget.

This comes after issues with back up of city data causing terabytes of data loss. The data loss caused case load issues where the police could not prosecute cases.

Ransomware Attack Report

The city says this is an ongoing criminal investigation, but will not comment if they paid the ransom.

Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) was also targeted in November 2022. They paid roughly $170000 in ransom. Some say this encourages the attackers.

August 22, 2023August 22, 2023

Dallas Budget Showdown 2023

Dallas Budget Showdown 2023 is here now that the budget was released over two weeks ago and the usual sparklers, not fireworks, have begun.

Late last week, Mayor Eric Johnson sent a memo to TC Broadnax, directing him to develop a new FY 2023–24 Budget. The new budget is based upon a no-new-revenue tax rate.

The mayor is following the lead of Cara Mendelsohn, who has been a consistent voice on the budget since Lee Kleinman left city council two years ago.

Dallas Budget Showdown 2023 Details

Other Side Dallas notes that year in and year out some council members provide performative actions against the budget.

These consistently result in no tax savings to the taxpayer or structural support long term.

Specifically, Dallas has a shortfall anticipated in the next five years that may total one billion dollars. Part of the problem is non response to another structural problem with public safety pensions.

Smoke and mirrors have provided some illusion of lower crime, but most citizens see crime problems creeping further into Dallas.

August 5, 2023August 22, 2023

Dallas Budget 23-24

The Dallas Budget 23-24 is now public after TC Broadnax released his plan to lower crime or tax bills for local residents.

Broadnax’s recommendations for the 2023-2024 budget include more money for police and fire personnel. There is a modest cut to the overall tax rate. The new rate is still a tax increase against appraisals that are rising by ten percent or more.

The budget also includes more money for staff to enforce city council’s move against short term rentals.

The budget also has funding for new technology infrastructure.

Ransomware attacks in Dallas caused problems for Dallas Fire Rescue response and basic services. For weeks, library patrons could not use the request system to check out items.

The attacks also hit the court systems also.

Dallas Budget 23-24

Overall, the city of Dallas, Texas, is gearing up for a transformative year with the unveiling of its 2023-2024 budget.

The full budget is available here.

Other Side Dallas will track budget discussions and ask questions along the way.

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023

Santos Vive

Santos Vive coalition received a city proclamation yesterday at City Hall in the Flag Room in a ceremony filled with speeches, but questioning change.

The proclamation ceremony was attended by dozens and a wide array of media. Notably absent was Mayor Eric Johnson.

The city honored the life and legacy of Santos Rodriguez. Rodriguez died a twelve year old, shot and killed, by Dallas police officer Darrell Lee Cain fifty years ago.

The city issued a proclamation designating Monday as “Santos Rodriguez Day.”

Santos and his brother David, were detained by police investigating the theft of $8 of gasoline.

Officer Cain played Russian Roulette with the pair trying to force a confession. He was arrested and convicted of murder with malice, but served half his five year sentence.

At Monday’s cremony, current police chief, Eddie Garcia noted, “This was an individual that never deserved to wear the badge.”

Vive Santos

The Santos Vive Coalition consists of professors from Dallas College, KERA, The Dallas Mavericks organization, and numerous others.

The week’s memorial will continue with lectures, a film screening, and special radio program hosted by EcoLatino.

July 24, 2023July 24, 2023

Santos Rodriguez Proclamation

A Santos Rodriguez memorial proclamation occurs today in the flag room at Dallas City Hall at 10:00AM.

Council Member Jesse Moreno (D2) will proclaim July 24 as Día de Santos Rodriguez.

The event will consist of coalition affiliated organization representatives speaking on this event’s historical significance.

The Santos Vive Coalition is a conglomeration of organizations intent on the preservation of the history of this incident.

Santos Rodriguez Life

On the morning of July 24, 1973, 30-year-old Dallas Police Officer Darrell Lee Cain murdered Rodriguez, a 12-year-old who was sitting in Cain’s vehicle.

Cain shot Rodriguez while playing Russian Roulette trying to force a confession from he and his brother.

Cain was sentenced to the minimum five years in prison for murder with malice. He was released in September 1979 He served just two-and-a-half-years of his sentence.

The proclamation comes as another case gets ready to go before a civil jury in September – the case of Tony Timpa.

October 28, 2022October 27, 2022

Bazaldua Plays Hero Behind Fence

Bazaldua plays hero behind fence again in another forced confrontation with Dallas City Council colleagues.

Bazaldua was the only vote against an ordinance to improve pedestrian safety in medians and crosswalks.

Dallas City Council approved 14 – 1 a plan that allows citations and fines for people walking on medians or standing at intersections.

The new ordinance is not named or aimed at “panhandling,” but some suggest the intent is clear.

City staff paint a different picture though stating pedestrian-related deaths account for 30% of all deaths citywide.

According to Department of Transportation Director Ghassan Khankarli, “All we’re trying to do is protect innocent pedestrians from harm’s way.”

Focal areas will be on major and minor highways and access streets. The intent is to protect the vulnerable from higher volumes of traffic or higher speed.

Bazaldua Plays Hero Behind Fence

Bazaldua has claimed to support the homeless – until they are on his door step.

In previous years Bazaldua hid behind his fenced community when Keep Dallas Safe brought panhandlers to his neighborhood.

Bazaldua was also silent when antifa activists acted threateningly during a homeless camp clean up earlier this summer.

Bazaldua lost another fight he picked with his own Democratic Party Precinct Chair.

Some have hinted that Bazaldua sees an opening to run for Mayor next year against sitting Mayor Eric Johnson and former Dallas ISD superintendent Michael Hinojosa.