Dallas, TX

Dallas City Hall let its own property be occupied and destroyed

Published

3 weeks ago

June 5, 2024

Dallas City Hall let its own property be occupied and destroyed

If you want to understand how bad things have gotten in certain parts of Dallas City Hall, look no further than a memo filed last week by council member Jesse Moreno on the condition of a city-owned building just steps from City Hall.

What’s known as the old Family Gateway Building at 711 S. St. Paul St. has been vacant for some time and under the care of the city’s real estate team.

What no one at City Hall seemed to know, or if they knew didn’t care enough to act, was that the building was being occupied by unhoused people. The interior was gutted of its water pipes and electrical wires. Unsanitary conditions had taken hold, with human feces and urine throughout.

The building, inside and out, was strewn with trash. The exterior was pocked with graffiti. A door that should have been locked was plainly propped open. The alarm was disarmed. Police found more than 20 people, and animals, living inside.

Moreno, who represents the area, discovered this while he and his small team were trying to do what the city has been too slow to — address an entrenched outdoor encampment along Canton Street and St. Paul that fronted this building.

Here’s a look inside the Old Family Gateway Building

Any city staffer, from the homeless team to real estate to police to code compliance, should have been able to see what Moreno did — that a city-owned building had become an extension of the outdoor camp.

Moreno was measured in his memo to interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. But in an interview with us, he was exasperated at what he saw as a failure of the city to secure the building and protect the safety of area residents and business owners.

It had been a valuable asset, he said. “Instead, now we are dealing with a building that probably needs to be condemned.”

Moreno, who chairs the council’s Housing and Homelessness Solutions committee, has become disenchanted with what he sees as City Hall’s commitment to a “housing first” policy for the homeless. The persistence of the Canton Street encampment likely led to the occupation of the old Family Gateway building, he believes.

But he is also concerned with the way the city is managing its real estate. City officials are considering selling excess property to help manage ballooning pension debt. But if its buildings are destroyed, what is there to sell? Recall that this is a city that moved its building inspectors into a $21 million building that couldn’t pass inspection.

Moreno also wondered what to make of the fact that city staff members told him he couldn’t join in a perimeter review of the building. If it was unsafe for a council member to walk around in daylight, how unsafe was it for people who live and work downtown?

No resident or business owner would be allowed to maintain a building in the condition that the old Family Gateway building is in. They would be slapped with fines.

But for Dallas City Hall, this is the way business is done. It has to stop.

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Sounders vs. FC Dallas, streaming: Kickoff, lineups, updates

Published

23 mins ago

June 22, 2024

Press Room

Sounders vs. FC Dallas, streaming: Kickoff, lineups, updates

The Seattle Sounders start what could prove to be a pivotal three-game home stand tonight against FC Dallas. All three of the matches are very winnable, against teams currently outside of playoff position.

If the Sounders can collect all nine points, they’ll likely find themselves back in contention for a top 4 playoff position. If they drop points, however, they could very well struggle just to get into the playoffs.

Dallas comes into this match playing as well as they have all year, which is an admittedly low bar. Since Nico Estévez was fired as head coach following a draw with Minnesota United, Dallas have won consecutive games for the first time since May of last year.

The main caveat to those results were that they were both at home. Dallas has yet to win a road game this year, where they are a league-worst 0-6-3.

FC Dallas last won a road game against the Sounders on May 25, 2011. That’s a span of 20 matches across all competitions. That includes seven playoff games and a U.S. Open Cup match.
Peter Musa snapped a five-game goal-less drought by scoring a hat trick in his last game. He has eight goals so far this year.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle

QUESTIONABLE: Pedro de la Vega (hamstring)

OUT: Jonathan Bell (International duty); Alex Roldan (concussion protocol)

FC Dallas

OUT: Geovane Jesus (knee); Paxton Pomykal (knee); Alan Velasco (knee)

Sounders: DLWDW (2-1-2)
FC Dallas: WWDLL (2-2-1)

Kit matchup

Officials

REF: Malik Badawi; AR1: Micheal Barwegen; AR2: Eduardo Jeff; 4TH: Elton Garcia; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Peter Balciunasee.

How to Watch

Match date/kickoff time: Saturday, 7:39 PM PT

Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle

Global Streaming English: MLS Season Pass (Mark Rogondino, Heath Pearce)

Global Streaming Spanish: MLS Season Pass (Alejandro Luna, Diego Arrioja)

Local Radio: 93.3 KJR-FM/950 KJR-AM Seattle, iHeartMedia (Danny Jackson & Steve Zakuani)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)

Is this game available to stream for free? No

Will Sounders radio be available as an alternate feed? Yes

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders vs. FC Dallas; watch with us

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Dallas Mavericks Player Reportedly On The Trading Block

Published

7 hours ago

June 22, 2024

Press Room

Dallas Mavericks Player Reportedly On The Trading Block

Tim Hardaway Jr. is coming off his sixth year playing for the Dallas Mavericks.

The former Michigan star finished the regular season with averages of 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest while shooting 40.2% from the field and 35.3% from the three-point range in 79 games.

He only has one more year left on his contract that will pay him $16.2 million for the 2024-25 season.

Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports that the Mavs will look to move the veteran shooting guard.

Via Stein’s Substack article: “League sources say that the Mavericks will promptly resume their long-running search for a trade partner to take Hardaway on, which is more likely than ever to come to fruition with the 32-year-old now entering the final season of his current contract and with his salary declining from $17.9 million in 2023-24 to $16.2 million in 2024-25.”

The Dallas Mavericks are trying to trade Tim Hardaway Jr., per @TheSteinLine
“League sources say that the Mavericks will promptly resume their long-running search for a trade partner to take Hardaway on, which is more likely than ever to come to fruition with the 32-year-old… pic.twitter.com/LJ9Gq9MEv0
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 22, 2024

Hardaway Jr. was the 24th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and has played 11 seasons in the league.

In addition to Dallas, he has also spent time with the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks.

His career averages are 14.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per contest while shooting 41.8% from the field and 36.0% from the three-point range in 736 games.

Jun 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during game four of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Mavs are coming off a fantastic season where they were the 5th seed in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record.

They reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011, but lost to the Boston Celtics in five games.

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Cowboy Roundup: Potential breakout player; toughest 2024 opponents

Published

14 hours ago

June 22, 2024

Press Room

Cowboy Roundup: Potential breakout player; toughest 2024 opponents

Let’s take a look at some of the Dallas Cowboys news and headlines making the rounds in Cowboys Nation as we kick off the weekend.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

From Blogging the Boys:

“While he is listed as a TE on the Cowboys depth chart, his background is that of a wide receiver. That kind of versatility could make him a unique mismatch weapon for Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy to utilize in a variety of different ways this season. Of course, that all depends on how he’s able to rebound from his ACL injury.”

“So far, the signs are pointing to Stephens Jr. being on track to suit up in some capacity when the Cowboys report to training camp July 24. While it’s true the coaching staff will probably take the cautious approach and ease him into things to help prevent any kind of setback, it’s also true his return to the field will be met with much anticipation.”

With the Cowboys needing help at receiver, Stephens will be an intriguing player to watch.

Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

InsidetheStar.com took a look at the toughest opponents the Dallas Cowboys will face in 2024, including the team’s season-opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Ranking the NFC East quarterback-coaching duos from worst to first… Meet Reece Allman: Star of Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Netflix doc… Dallas Cowboys predicted to make shocking in-season trade… Ranking the NFC East running backs from worst to first… Former Dallas Cowboys receiver looking for another opportunity… Dallas Cowboys named one of offseason’s biggest losers by ESPN.

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