Dallas, TX
Closing community pools in Dallas will add to a long list of city’s neglect
Over the years, families in southern Dallas have consistently made sacrifices for the betterment of our city. Unfortunately, these sacrifices often arise not from choice, but from neglect. One prime example of this neglect is our community pools.
In early June, our West Oak Cliff neighbors received the disappointing news that the Martin Weiss pool would be closed this summer, a significant loss for the neighborhood. More than a mere amenity, for many of us, it served as a vital resource for underserved families.
Making matters worse, Dallas Park and Recreation staff just proposed permanently closing all nine community pools, the majority being below Interstate 30, citing “disrepair” and “lack of capital investment in decades.”
In response to the proposed closure of community pools in June, District 1 council member Chad West expressed his “disappointment” and the city offered “free swim sessions” for families in West Oak Cliff at the Kidd Springs aquatic center. While his gesture is appreciated, it underscores a disconnect with the needs of West’s working-class constituents, a recurring issue in city leadership.
As someone who frequently visited the community pool as a child, I understand the appeal of its proximity —it allowed us to walk there while our parents were at work. My cousins, sisters and I would bring a half-empty package of deli meat and a few slices of bread to make a “sandwich taco” for our time at the pool.
With little to do in the summer, a short walk to the pool was a welcome escape from the harsh realities of our circumstances. Ironically, West, a proponent of walkability, fails to recognize that reaching the Kidd Springs aquatic center from neighborhoods around Weiss Park would require a 90-minute walk, making it impractical for children, especially in the sweltering Texas heat.
The proposed closures of community pools and the “transportation strategy” to transport youth to the nearest aquatic center render the city’s equity efforts as empty words.
Instead of making meaningful investments in our communities, the city is repeating outdated, vaguely crafted and ultimately ineffective policies.
As an alternative, public/private partnerships sound enticing; however, I don’t think it’s a sustainable option, especially if the economy faces a downward turn.
If we continue to tell ourselves we are a world-class city, then we must provide basic services. The city just passed a bond for Park and Recreation totaling more than $345 million, and no one considered how the bond could address the majority of community pools? Not to mention the leftover funds from the 2017 bond. This city doesn’t have a money problem, it has a priority problem.
Places like Martin Weiss Park and other community pools have been neglected since my father’s childhood. This neglect is not coincidental. Public pools, once symbols of community investment and social cohesion, have faced budget cuts and closures after becoming integrated. Weiss pool, unchanged for over 70 years, exemplifies the unequal distribution of resources in our city.
Brown and Black families still face massive inequities as a result of years of community disinvestment, and the data supports this. For example, a 2017 study by the University of Memphis and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas revealed that 79% of children from households earning less than $50,000 annually have limited or no swimming skills.
But this goes beyond swimming lessons. Having a pool also shapes our community’s overall health. According to a National Institutes of Health study, residential location significantly influences health, opportunities and lifespan. Nearly 10 million children reside in neighborhoods with limited opportunities across 100 U.S. metropolitan areas.
A majority of African American (66%) and Hispanic (59%) children inhabit neighborhoods classified as very low or low opportunity, according to the same study. In contrast, most non-Hispanic white (66%) and Asian (62%) children reside in neighborhoods categorized as high or very high opportunity. In short, having resources increases society outcomes for our youth. These disparities underscore how racial and ethnic differences contribute to varying health outcomes and economic opportunities.
It’s clear that strong policy changes are desperately needed to address these disparities and ensure equal opportunities for everyone. I urge council member West, Park Board members and city staff to keep all of our community pools open and begin planning the construction of new pools in underserved communities.
Meaningful action is long overdue to address the generational neglect our community has faced. Afterall, the oppressive heat our youth endure shouldn’t be compounded by the incompetence of our city.
Giovanni Valderas is a West Oak Cliff resident and former candidate for the Dallas City Council.
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The search for the next general manager or president of basketball operations of the Dallas Mavericks has begun. They terminated Nico Harrison in November, which was about nine months too late, and gave any available candidates clear notice that they were open for business.
The plan was always to wait until after the season to start the search. While names popped up as the season reached an end, they didn’t begin turning over the staff until the Monday after the season ended. However, Dallas Mavericks fans are not going to like how the team is going about the search.
Patrick Dumont Leading Search for General Manager
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Mavericks are not hiring a search firm in their hunt for a new lead executive. Instead, team governor Patrick Dumont is “acting as his own point person.”
This is an… interesting decision, to say the least. Dumont is not a basketball person whatsoever, and most organizations usually hire a search firm. The Chicago Bulls hired one as they look for their replacement for Arturas Karnisovas. Just because a firm is hired doesn’t mean a team will listen, though.
The Mavericks hired a firm in their last search for a GM. They let Donnie Nelson go in 2021 after a long tenure with the Mavs. Instead of listening to the firm, though, Mark Cuban ignored it to hire Nico Harrison, who had no previous NBA front office experience. Harrison had been an executive with Nike, which gave him connections with players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and plenty of others.
For a while, that seemed to be working out okay. While he still had some questionable transactions, such as trading for Christian Wood and letting Jalen Brunson walk in free agency, they were still able to make a run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Then, he blew it all up, trading away Luka Doncic for an older and injured Anthony Davis, and the team hasn’t been the same since.
It’s imperative that the Mavericks get this hire correct. The interim Co-GM setup with Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley has performed admirably, but the 2026 NBA Draft is important for the Mavs to get right. It’s their best chance to pair Cooper Flagg with another young star, as they don’t own their first-round pick again until 2031 after this.
Hiring the right GM could help bring in more draft capital by bringing in bad contracts or flipping veterans into picks.
Dumont was able to convince Rick Welts, a Hall of Famer, to come out of retirement to be the CEO and lead the charge for a new arena. Maybe Dumont pulls another rabbit out of his hat for the GM.
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For a moment, it looked like FC Dallas was on its way to another statement win at home tonight.
Petar Musa scored two first half goals, to extend his Golden Boot leading tally to nine goals. But after Dallas grabbed control, the Galaxy found a way back before halftime with goals from Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil.
The second half brought more chances and more frustration for Dallas, which finished the night with 13 shots to LA’s nine. In the end, the point stretched Dallas’ unbeaten run to five games, though just like last week, it felt like another match where Dallas left points on the table.
Key Moments
7’ – GOAL! After a poor pass back by a LA defender, Petar Musa was free to go one-on-one with the LA goalkeeper. After a touch to get ahead of a defender, Musa slotted home his eighth goal of the season from outside the penalty box.
21’ – Offside! Joaquin Valiente sent a floating ball over the Galaxy defense, where Musa was able to get behind the defense and make an easy play for what appeared to be his second goal of the night. The play was called offside despite a fairly lengthy review period.
38’ – GOAL! This one counts! Musa gets his second of the night off a great ball from Chris Cappis. Logan Farrington picked off the ball in the midfield. He then played Cappis wide to the left of the penalty area. Cappis immediately played a ball back across the goal for Musa to slide in and finish for his ninth of the season.
43’ – Goal LA. Lucas Sanabria got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He took a couple of touches to get outside the penalty box before firing a shot that beat Michael Collodi at the near post.
45+4’ – Goal LA. Gabriel Pec got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He pulled the ball back a bit, which caught a pair of Dallas defenders. This allowed Joseph Painstil to get free behind the Dallas defense as Pec played him through inside the penalty area. Pec immediately smashed home a shot above Collodi to tie the game.
75’ – Another offside goal. This time on a corner kick for Dallas, after a scrum in the penalty box, Kaick hammered home what looked to be the go-ahead goal. But after a few seconds the flag was raised due to a deflection on Osaze Urhoghide, who was in an offside position.
Instant Reaction
Yeah, this is another disappointing result for this team. In a real way, it felt like the first half against Houston from last month. Dallas grabbed the lead, looked in control, but some defensive miscues opened the game up for the visitors to climb back.
With a double-game week coming up, this will certainly be another game where Dallas will wonder ‘what if’ more than anything else…especially when you factor in the two goals called off for offside.
About the Subs
Eric Quill went to his bench for the first time in the 66th minute, as he brought on Santiago Moreno for Logan Farrington. Quill went to his bench again 81st minute with Ran Binyamin and Nolan Norris coming on for Sebastien Ibeagha and Deedson. The final sub came during stoppage time with Herman Johansson and Joaquin Valiente coming off for Sam Sarver and rookie Nick Simmonds, who made his MLS debut.
Man of the Match
No question about it tonight, it has to be Musa.
Where does this fit into the season
As of this writing, the draw puts Dallas into a three-way tie for 5th place with Real Salt Lake and Seattle. Both are in action right now and look firmly in control of their games. I’d expect Dallas to be in 7th place by the end of the night.
What’s next for FC Dallas
Dallas wraps up a three-game homestand next Wednesday night as they host Minnesota United.
Dallas, TX
Akheem Mesidor selected by Cowboys by Blogging The Boys in SB Nation’s community mock draft
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
Pass rush has been an issue since the Micah Parsons trade. The Rashan Gary trade helped, but Dallas still needs an injection of talent. Akheem Mesidor fits here because his body size allows for some versatility inside and out, something DC Christian Parker utilizes. Mesidor is also a high-motor player with a deep bag of pass rush moves.
His last season at Miami was full of disruption in the offensive backfield and he shows an all-around game, not just a bend-around-the-edge pass rusher. Yes, he’s a little older than you’d like in a rookie (25), but his motor, pass rush toolbox, and ability to play the run matches up with a need and makes him a quality pick at number 20.
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