Eric Johnson – Page 2 – The Other Side Dallas

June 11, 2022June 11, 2022

TC Broadnax Showdown Coming

A Dallas City Council/TC Broadnax showdown is coming Wednesday, June 15 it appears. The showdown is the culmination of years of infighting between the city council and city manager.

Mayor Johnson has made clear he believes Broadnax should be relieved of his duties.

Johnson and three council members, Blackmon (D9), Mendolsohn (D12), and Willis (D13) have asked that the closed session meeting take place.

Wednesday is typically a staff briefing day.

The mayor’s memo sent Friday says the purpose of the special called meeting is to “discuss and evaluate the performance and employment of Dallas City Manager TC Broadnax.”

In a press statement, Johnson said, “several of my duly elected colleagues on the Dallas City Council have made it clear in recent days that they also believe it is time for a change.”

He continued, “we are ready to move forward and discuss how best to build for the future of our great city and its amazing people, and that is why I have placed the item on the City Council’s agenda for next week.”

There is a long list of accountability issues with Broadnax’s tenure. Some of those include general management accountability including failure to supervise former Police Chief Reneé Hall, the loss of terabytes of city data, and a nonfunctional permit office inhibiting economic growth.

TC Broadnax Showdown: Public Safety

During a June 2002 city council meeting, Mayor Eric Johnson had a lot of questions for Police Chief Renee Reneé Hall during a special meeting about police response to George Floyd protests.

It was later learned Chief Hall deliberately misled the public about police actions. Post event there was no clear accountability for the police.

Before the meeting began two hundred local citizens spoke out about the city’s reaction to ongoing protests. They were almost all outraged about what happened on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

Beyond the George Floyd protests, a legal challenge can proceed against the city. Dallas lost Qualified Immunity by the family of Tony Timpa.

Beyond, Timpa another in custody death happened just over two weeks ago similar to Timpa’s. City police have not improved their response to mental health issues.

Additionally on the public safety front, the city “lost” nearly twenty terabytes of data when an employee deleted files including police evidence from city servers.

TC Broadnax Showdown: Economic Development

Another area of concern for some city council members is economic development. Mr. Broadnax’s tensure shows a race backward in this area.

Broadnax and then EcoDev chief Dr. Eric Anthony Johnson pushed a $3M grant package to a grocer in South Dallas. The grant had no strings attached and left city taxpayers paying the bill. The grocer was a politically connected friend of Broadnax.

While Broadnax was providing millions to connected cronies, his EcoDev staff harasses mom and pop small businesses.

There are also ongoing permitting issues within Dallas.

Dallas permitting can average roughly four months to get a commercial building permit and more than a month for residential permits.

Some say approval times were projected to reach as high as ten to twelve weeks due to staffingg and executive decision making.

One local businessman noted, “No one on staff is invested in making the permit process go smoothly. Least of all TC.”

The issue is further punctuated by Elon Musk’s development outside Austin, Texas. In a recent Elon Musk statementhe said, “in Texas, it took us eighteen months to build a Gigafactory. In California, we’d still be working on the permits.”

Most large Texas cities expedite economic development projects that bring jobs and opportunity to the tax base. Dallas does not seem to show the same interest in doing the same.

There is also no clear city plan is to address homelessness, road maintenance, or 911 call center response.

Broadnax was at a Texas City Management Association conference at a Hyatt resort and spa in Cedar Creek, Texas. Broadnax makes more than $400,000 per year.

May 24, 2022May 25, 2022

CPOB: Blame White Teenagers For Uvalde Shooting

Breaking news is reporting on the Uvalde shooting at Robb Elementary in South Texas.

In response to a post from Mayor Eric Johnson’s Twitter account, Community Police Oversight Board member Dee Wadsworth (D12) blamed teenage white boys for mass shootings.

We did not notice a similar expression of concern for the multiple shooting events here in Dallas including Deep Ellum or the nonpermitted concert that off duty Dallas Police officers were assigned to protect through their security protection racket that injured ten.

Ms. Wadsworth also made no mention of the serial attacks on Asian businesses in Dallas – an area she theoretically has oversight – or the race of the suspect arrested during that investigation.

We are attempting to get more information on the breadth of Ms. Wadsworth’s racial views as they relate to policing in Texas, but she has multiple tweets on gun violence . None of the tweets we viewed appear to mention of accountability for the criminal.

Uvalde Shooting Details

While this event is outside Dallas and not normal for Other Side Dallas to report, we will note that the shooter has been identified as a Hispanic male, not a caucasion, and that in multiple recent Dallas shootings white teenagers were not involved raising the question does Ms. Wadsworth have a racial viewpoint that might not be open to facts.

We have reached out to District 12 City Council Member Cara Mendolsohn for comment and will update once she responds.

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022

Dallas 911 Dispatch: Too Little, Too Late

The City of Dallas has multiple questions to answer about the Dallas 911 Dispatch Center after a deaf woman, Zarea Dixon, was found dead in her home when police officers took over an hour to respond to her call for help.

In a separate incident it took more than six minutes to respond to an apartment fire in North Dallas.

Dixon called 911 to report her boyfriend had broken into her apartment along South Polk Street and attacked her with a knife.

An interpreter with Sorensen Translation Services relayed that Dixon had been attacked stating her “ex-boyfriend broke into her house, beat her up and tried to stab her with a knife.”

Dixon provided the suspect’s name, description and date of birth to the police through the translator. She also said he had left her home.

Dixon “declined an ambulance but stated she ‘needed the police,'” according to the affidavit.

In addition to the non response to this woman, Dallas Police has not responded to multiple other incidents.

Parents complained about Dallas Police protecting white protestors earlier in the school year at Dealey Montessori.

Sources within the police department told Other Side Dallas that police planned to arrest a black led counter protest should it have occured as a threat to public safety, but police did nothing about the interruption to the school day by white parents.

Additionally, Dallas police never took a report on three students burned by fireworks launched at them in North Dallas.

Dallas 911 Dispatch: Fire Side Issues Also

In addition, Dallas Fire Rescue has launched an internal investigation into why it took six minutes to send apparatus to the Forest Hill Apartment firte that becamse a three alarm event.

Sixty to seventy firefighters responded and saw flames coming from the second floor of the three-story apartment building upon arrival.

The fire quickly spread to the third floor and then into the attic space and roof of the building requiring the additional alarms by Dallas Fire Rescue.

Dallas Fire Station 29 is approximately one mile away or roughly three minutes.

In comments to the media, Dallas Fire Fighters Association President Jim McDade said, “When the first companies got there — there was an enormous amount of fire, probably due to a delay in response,” McDade said.

There were no deaths or injuries, but more than twenty apartments were destroyed and more than one hundred residents displaced.

October 26, 2021October 26, 2021

Eric Johnson Tests Positive For COVID19

Mayor of Dallas Eric Johnson test positive for COVID19 per a statement issued a short while ago.

“I appreciate your thoughts and prayers on behalf of my family, and I look forward to a speedy recovery so I can get back to work with my colleagues on behalf of the people of Dallas,” Johnson, 46, said in the statement. “In addition, I want to take this opportunity to again encourage residents of Dallas to get vaccinated if they have not yet done so — and to receive a booster shot when they are eligible.”

Eric Johnson Tests Positive Despite Vaccination

Mayor Johnson was vaccinated at UT Southwestern Medical Center in January 2021 due to an underlying medical condition not disclosed.

Despite county mask requirements, the City of Dallas has been less strict with enforcing masks locally including at popular gathering places such as The Majestic Theatre.

The Mayor has cancelled a number of appointments including tomorrow’s city council meeting as he recovers.

June 11, 2021July 8, 2021

Marty Walsh Photo Ops Dallas Without Answering Questions

United States Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh was in Dallas yesterday providing a photo op for United State Representative Colin Allred and the administration’s American Jobs Plan. While he did a lot of talking, he did not answer a lot of questions.

Walsh did a multistop tour in Dallas including the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, Garland Veteran’s Administration facility, and the Semones Family YMCA.

His tour was focused on pushing the Biden Administration’s American Jobs Plan, but locally economic development has been questionable at best.

Walsh tweeted that the YMCA location helps “make child care accessible and affordable, invest in early childhood programs, and provide development opportunities to young adults.”

Marty Walsh Missed Opportunity

One area of concern was a high school student believed to be from Hillcrest who tried to ask Secretary Walsh questions about the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The student had started a nonprofit focused on bringing assistance to children with cancer.

The nonprofit has received a loan qualification, but SBA staff have not finalized the loan to assist the nonprofit in staying afloat. The student was briefly detained by staff believed to have been associated with Secretary Walsh or Rep. Colin Allred.

Rep. Allred’s staff did say in a statement that this was a constituent services issue they would look into, but no questions were allowed during the photo op with Secretary Walsh at any of the locations he visited on this topic.

May 2, 2021May 2, 2021

Keep Dallas Safe Unable To Protect Eric Johnson

Keep Dallas Safe (KDS) failed in spectacular fashion at protecting the political strength of Eric Johnson as polls closed on the Dallas City Council election.

While not directly linked, observers noted that KDS was pushing candidates supportive of Eric Johnson’s agenda including pushing out current city council incumbents Jaime Resensez (D5), Adam Bazaldua (D7), and Paula Blackmon (D9).

They sent multiple mailers which some described as “klanlike” and direct from “MAGA World” – a reference to previous support for Donald Trump.

In District 5, Mayor Johnson supported Yolanda Williams who came in third missing the run off, and in District 7 he supported Donald Parish Jr., who also had the endorsements of Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson and State Senator Royce West.

(West has ties to a prominent Trump financial backer and was pushed by potential opponent John Cornyn in his runoff with MJ Hegar.)

Keep Dallas Safe – Another North Dallas Astroturf Operation?

Earlier this year, Dallas Observer noted Daniel Taylor was linked to a similar astroturf operation in New Orleans where actors were paid to attend public meetings.

In the Dallas City Council elections, Keep Dallas Safe also opposed Paula Blackmon who easily cruised to re-election against two opponents avoiding a run off in Elections 2021. They also chose to attack Jaynie Schultz in D11.

It is unclear how active KDS will be involved with run offs in District 7 and District 11. The other major winner was Chad West who also won his re-election easily.

One campaign staff member stated they were already gearing up for his mayoral run in two years. West has been increasingly outspoken including taking exception with staff over COVID19 vaccine rollouts. Given Johnson’s recent record, there are rumors he may not run for re-election.

February 1, 2021February 1, 2021

Chad West Lashes Out At City Staff

Chad West lashes out after he posted on Facebook that he was on the receiving end of “several calls and messages last night from neighbors who experienced 2, 3, 4 and even 6-hour waits at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center yesterday for their COVID19 vaccination appointments.”

Council Member West seemed dismayed at the Mayor, but the entire City Council has been acting as one observer noted “like a bunch of petulant children.”

This local political actist noted “if the Mayor and City Council had to rely on one another for mutual survival, they’d all be done six months ago. Every one of them is more interested in their memo or tweet to score political points than in listening and fixing problems and they are ignoring people with the experience to do help.”

Chad West Lashes Out – In Wrong Direction?

The angry Facebook post came the same day Dallas County reported 1,617 new COVID19 cases and a dozen deaths.

In late January, Dallas County Commissioner’s Court voted 3-0 with two abstentions to prioritize vaccine distribution to certain zip codes leaving black and brown citizens in other areas at the end of the line. An emergency meeting was required after the decision once the Texas Department of State Health Services reminded Dallas County of their obligations under their hub contract to serve everyone.

January 21, 2021January 21, 2021

Dallas COVID19 Politics Gone Bad

Locally, Dallas COVID19 politics have gone bad during the Inauguration – a day which is supposed to signify national unity.

Earlier this week the Dallas County Commissioners Court voted 3-0 with two abstentions to allocate COVID19 vaccines by zip codes. The effort spearheaded by Commissioner JJ Koch was stated to prioritize vaccine distribution by race.

It was attacked by County Judge Clay Jenkins as potentially illegal and now Texas has agreed.

In a strongly worded email to Commissioners, Texas health officials said, “While we ask hub providers to ensure the vaccine reaches the hardest-hit areas and populations, solely vaccinating people who live in those areas is not in line with the agreement to be a hub provider,” wrote Imelda Garcia, an associate commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.

She continues, “If Dallas County is unable to meet these expectations, we will be forced to reduce the weekly vaccine allocation … and no longer consider it a hub provider.”

In addition to the state action at least two attorneys were preparing motions to stop the new vaccine rollout.

COVID19 Politics At 1500 Marilla

Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Johnson sent a terse memo to City Manager TC Broadnax regarding city vaccination rollout and individual council members seeking vaccine registration hubs.

The Mayor’s memo was immediately attacked as another COVID19 politics power grab by Adam Bazaldua in both personal posts and posts to the Other Side Dallas Facebook group.

The two City Council colleagues have been described by another City Council member as “the two boys in the sandbox who can’t get along because neither gets enough attention” from their mother.

“They both just complain about the other and neither does his homework,” the source said.

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021

Dallas Economic Development Bait and Switch

Can the City of Dallas expect more Economic Development bait and switch from the department led by Dr. Eric Anthony Johnson? It appears so when it comes to offering grants and then making the checks impossible to obtain.

In November, the city launched the BUILD grants program offering $3000 microgrants to small businesses and nonprofits hit hard by COVID19. The notice said checks would be out by December 28, 2020. Until we inquired last week through a Public Information Request no one had received notice.

One education based nonprofit noted they received notification Friday and were then given one businesses day to agree to additional terms and conditions not originally outlined in the program. Their reaction to this bait and switch was outrage.

In an email to Carolyn King Arnold the group noted they are already doing the city and county’s job by providing for homeless students who are not receiving services through City of Dallas.

Bait and Switch – Again

The bait and switch grant issue is particularly hard because the City of Dallas provided $3M to a South Dallas grocer with almost no strings attached. It reeked of the economic devlopment problems of the old South Dallas/Fair Park Trust Fund.

The issue is particularly relevant as six different entities contacted Other Side Dallas to complain about process and response.

One person noted this is another example of the City of Dallas giving away dollars to politically connected friends of city council members. In October, city staff tried to sneak through a proposal to give the Lorenzo Hotel nearly $2M. It was only stopped when Council Member Cara Mendolsohn (D12) asked questions.

To date there has been no response to emails from several city council members including Tennell Atkins who spearheaded the $3M to the now closed Save U More grocer, and has been a major recipient of campaign cash from Save U More’s representatives.

Ditty Mayor Eric Johnson who also received sizeable contributions on the repeated failings of Economic Development.

Ditto Casey Thomas (D3) who also has been silent on the matter.

Ditto Adam Bazaldua (D7) who has ignored several requests to discuss this issue and the South Dallas/Fair Park Opportunity Fund Board from current and former board members.

The issue has not escaped notice though.

Calvin Johnson, a candidate for the D7 city council seat in May said,”When it comes to city programs that help small business we have to be better organized on announcing all the requirements upfront.”

“We must set achievable timetables and follow through effectively on the back end when the assistance is approved and granted,” he continued.

It is unclear why his opponent Bazaldua has not taken this opportunity given his progressive public profile for slashing the police budget in favor of social programs.

Ditto North Dallas. Council Member Lee Kleinman (D11) who has been arguing against the Dallas Police Department’s mounted unit for years – which costs the city roughly $125000 annually – had no comment about either the Save U More issue or bait and switch grant programs. Kleinman is term limited and

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020

Have You Seen Our Missing Mayor?

Eric Johnson was a Missing Mayor at yesterday’s budget markup after approximately 1:30 PM when Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano took over the gavel and Eric Johnson was nowhere to be found.

Dallas City Council was to take up eighty-four budget amendments and did so in many cases without the Mayor. Mayor Johnson left proceedings when his amendments were defeated.

The city currently has a $3.8B budget with numerous holes given the loss of tax revenue from COVID19. During that time the City Council nearly unaimously gave Visit Dallas a new five year contract despite no evidence of actually succeeding in bringing convention or visitors to Dallas and a long history of marketing suburban hotels and events.

Missing Mayor – Again

Eric Johnson’s tenures as Mayor and as a State Representative have been marred by a frequent absenteeism. He was named to Pepperdine University’s Board of Regents further fueling speculation about his focus on Dallas.