Dallas, TX

Dallas City Hall let its own property be occupied and destroyed

Published

7 months 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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Dallas, TX

Hania Aamir explains why she abruptly left her Dallas meet-and-greet

Published

4 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Hania Aamir explains why she abruptly left her Dallas meet-and-greet

After her Dallas meet-and-greet ended abruptly, leaving fans disappointed, Hania Aamir explained in an Instagram story that she left early because an event organiser allegedly verbally abused her and her manager, Maida Azmat.

In a detailed Instagram story, Aamir maintained that she loves and respects her fans, and that the event ending suddenly was unfortunate. She said she was proud of the fact that her fans had built a community of love, trust and support, and therefore offered some transparency regarding the matter.

“Everyone saw videos of me walking to the crowd and taking pictures and everything was fine. When I was going back to my seat I heard one of the organisers verbally abuse my manager. So I walked up to her and asked what had happened and told the man (one of the organisers) that he cannot speak to her like this. She was so distraught that she went backstage. I followed her to make sure she was okay and Fahad [Mustafa] being a gentleman also came to check up on her.”

Backstage, the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actors started taking pictures with fans, however, Aamir said the event organiser in question chased after them, allegedly calling them names and telling them to leave the premises.

“[He] called off the security protocols, and verbally assaulted us even more (people had to hold him back). We were rushed out by our promoter Arif Khan to not further escalate anything and we managed a personal means of transport to get back safely to the hotel.”

Aamir emphasised that no one had the right to disrespect another person, regardless of their position. She continued that just because women were in male-dominated fields, it was wrong to assume that someone could get away “with almost anything” without the women taking a stand for themselves.

“Thirdly, we as a fraternity put in a lot of effort to make our fans happy. And such people with their theatrics are mostly trying to paint us black. I don’t know, maybe it does something for their ego. But promoters/ organisers need to step up and make sure such clowns don’t ruin the events and the experience for the fans and the artists.”

The Mere Humsafar actor also called on media outlets to show responsibility with their journalism and stop levelling allegations against artists without facts.

“Last but not the least, I would like to apologise to every single one of you who came. And I dearly love every single one of you. I am sorry things had to end this way. Just have to get through with the bad days I guess.”

Support from entertainment industry

Soon after Aamir’s statement, she was flooded with support from the entertainment fraternity, with many decrying the disrespect she faced.

Fellow actor Yashma Gill reshared Aamir’s story and said, “Like always, immense respect for Hania Aamir and Maida Azmat for handling the situation not only professionally but also with bravery.”

Gill added that there was no place for disrespect in the entertainment or other industries. “Let’s call him out so no one ever has to go through the same because of him or people like him again.”

Actor Maya Ali said, “Disrespect is unacceptable at any cost or under any circumstances. I am so proud of you for handling this situation with such grace. It’s truly disappointing that some individuals failed to show respect to our Pakistani stars and their teams.”

Actor and internet personality Umer Khan, popularly known as Ukhano, shared pictures of him with both Aamir and Azmat, and said, “No one should have the right to disrespect our stars”.

Khan added that Aamir always devoted herself to her craft and fans, which is why she is “Asia’s most influential artist”, and that Azmat had been his mentor since he started working and inspired him with her professionalism.

“If some third-class promoter can’t show respect and love to our stars then everyone should walk out and boycott such promoters. We stand with you.”

Actor and musician Azaan Sami Khan said, “It’s unfortunate to see the artist being blamed without understanding the complete context.”

Actor Namreen Khan echoed others’ sentiments and wrote, “No one has [the] right to disrespect artists. Hania Aamir is a gem of a person! Her love and respect for fans and people is no secret.”

Radio personality Anoushey Ashraf also said that there was no room disrespect and abuse for anyone.

“Artists are our pride and assets. Am sorry you had to experience this. At the end of the day, people show their own upbringing and mindset when they decide to disrespect a woman (and many a times one from media).”

Filmmaker Nabeel Qureshi said, “This has always been the case with the majority of promoters. In the end, it’s the artists and fans who have to suffer, while the promoters still manage to benefit the most.”

Actor Hira Khan wrote, “No, you can’t put everything on the artist because it’s easier for you to do so!”

Fashion stylist Aarinda Noor, who dressed Aamir for the event, said, “No one has the right to disrespect anyone! It’s very easy to escalate negativity and extremely difficult to understand the responsibility.”

Aamir’s Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum co-star Fahad Mustafa has not commented on the situation yet.

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Dallas, TX

Here is everything you need to know for Sunday’s Cowboys and Eagles game

Published

14 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Here is everything you need to know for Sunday’s Cowboys and Eagles game

The Dallas Cowboys are undefeated this season in games played where they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Whether or not that continues to hold true over the final two weeks of the regular season will be of extreme fascination.

Up next for the Cowboys is their final road trip of the year, a venture to face a division rival in the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the Eagles’ loss last week to the Washington Commanders that served as the final straw that eliminated Dallas from the playoffs, and as a result, Philly all but took themselves out of contention for the top seed in the NFC.

Still though, a win would give the Eagles the NFC East title, their first since 2023. Whenever the division is secured it will mark the 20th consecutive year that the NFC East has seen its reigning champion fail to repeat so Philly will in all likelihood be the team carrying that burden next year.

Cooper Rush, CeeDee Lamb, Rico Dowdle and co. will have their hands full on offense while Micah Parsons, Marist Liufau and DaRon Bland look to help Dallas continue their form on defense. Even with the season being effectively lost before it was official we have seen the Cowboys playing hard and it stands to reason that this will continue in the City of Brotherly Love.