Dallas, TX

Dallas may hire blind workers to answer some 311 calls, but pay under city minimum wage

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2022

Dallas may hire blind workers to answer some 311 calls, but pay under city minimum wage

Dallas may match with a neighborhood nonprofit to rent six blind or partially sighted folks to reply nearly all of municipal courtroom calls, however may waive metropolis guidelines requiring that the contracted employees be paid not less than $15.21 an hour.

Metropolis Council members will weigh a proposal subsequent month to pay Envision Dallas, which helps present jobs and different providers for people who find themselves visually impaired, greater than $786,000 over three years to assist fill 16 vacant metropolis positions within the municipal courtroom customer support name middle. However Dallas’ 311 Buyer Service Director Janette Weedon stated Monday that if the town makes the nonprofit pay employees the minimal contractor price, that would make the employees ineligible for federal advantages, equivalent to Social Safety Incapacity Insurance coverage.

Underneath Social Safety guidelines, visually impaired folks can’t obtain these incapacity advantages in the event that they earn greater than $2,260 a month. That’s a bit of greater than $14 an hour when working eight hours a day for 5 days every week.

“I notice that that is an exception, it’s the solely exception that has ever been requested,” Weedon informed council members throughout a committee assembly Monday. “However I believe this can be a nice alternative for us to associate with a corporation that’s giving a possibility for significant employment for people who wouldn’t in any other case have that chance.”

The proposal requires six employees to deal with about 70% of the almost 11,000 calls the municipal courtroom will get every month. At the least three employees can be bilingual.

Calls are taken from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday by Friday. If the deal is permitted, metropolis 311 and courtroom and detention providers employees would prepare the employees introduced in by Envision Dallas.

Weedon stated Envision Dallas employees possible couldn’t work a full-time name middle schedule in the event that they wish to hold their advantages and the town needs to mandate they be paid not less than $15.21 an hour. She stated making $14 an hour whereas nonetheless getting incapacity advantages can be more cash than simply the town’s minimal wage for contracted employees.

Dallas’ 311 customer support workplace oversees the dealing with of calls coming from 311 and the municipal courtroom’s common line at 214-670-0109. Hiring extra name takers is anticipated to enhance service. The nonemergency line receives greater than 1 million calls a yr from folks needing assist with water, courtroom, animal, sanitation, homelessness and different points.

Metropolis data present 26% of the calls Dallas’ 311 customer support middle obtained from the start of October 2021 by the top of February have been answered inside 90 seconds. However the metropolis’s aim this fiscal yr is 75%.

The proportion final fiscal yr, which runs from the start of October to the top of September, was 28%.

Weedon stated the proposed contract would mandate that the Envision Dallas employees reply not less than 70% of calls inside 90 seconds, a mean of answering calls inside 3 minutes, 40 seconds, and dropping not more than 8% of calls a month.

The Metropolis Council final yr permitted minimal wage will increase for full- and part-time, seasonal and short-term metropolis workers to $15.50 an hour and required that corporations the town contracts for providers pay their employees not less than $15.21 an hour. The earlier minimal wage was $14 an hour for workers and $12.38 an hour for contracted employees.

The will increase have been to place the town according to what employees in Dallas must earn a residing wage in keeping with the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise’s Dwelling Wage Calculator.

Incapacity rights advocates for years have been calling for employees with disabilities to be paid at charges akin to employees with out bodily and psychological challenges, arguing that their incomes potential shouldn’t be restricted. A federal civil rights fee in 2020 beneficial that an exemption below the Truthful Labor Requirements Act be phased out as a result of it permits employers to pay lower than minimal wage to employees with disabilities to stop discrimination and exploitation.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a regulation in 2019 requiring contractors within the state to boost pay for employees with disabilities to not less than the federal minimal wage of $7.25 an hour.

Cities equivalent to Dallas have few choices to supply more cash with out impacting federal advantages for people who find themselves visually impaired, stated Carey Thompson, a Social Safety disabilities legal professional based mostly in Fort Price.

A one-time signing bonus to make up among the distinction could possibly be doable, however something ongoing wouldn’t be allowed. He stated the regulation additionally permits folks to check their potential to work for as much as 9 months on a trial foundation and proceed getting federal advantages regardless of how a lot they earn.

“The usual is, if you’re legally blind and make greater than $2,260 a month, then that’s substantial earnings,” Thompson informed The Dallas Morning Information. “It looks like it may be greater and I believe it ought to be, however these are the foundations that we work inside.”

A disabled employee averaged about $1,287 a month in Social Safety Disabilities Insurance coverage final yr, in keeping with Social Safety Administration knowledge. However the majority of the just about 7.9 million individuals who obtained advantages acquired between $900 to $999.

The Metropolis Council may vote on the take care of Envision Dallas as quickly as June 8.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas Mavericks Exploring Ways To Sign Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson

Published

6 hours ago

June 28, 2024

Press Room

Dallas Mavericks Exploring Ways To Sign Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson

The Dallas Mavericks are looking to make a splash to their starting lineup after making a run to the NBA Finals. They may have lost in five games to the Boston Celtics but they’re still one of the NBA’s best teams and need to make some changes around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to get over the hump.

One option the Mavericks are looking into is Klay Thompson, who has spent his entire career with the Golden State Warriors up to this point. Per Marc Stein “League sources tell The Stein Line that the Dallas Mavericks, with some newfound financial flexibility after securing the Tim Hardaway Jr.-to-Detroit trade that I wrote about Tuesday, are another team intent on exploring the feasibility of signing Thompson once he makes it to free agency.”

READ MORE: Mavericks Trade Tim Hardaway Jr. to Pistons in Exchange for Quentin Grimes

Thompson does not have an offer on the table to return to Golden State as of Friday morning and will explore his options in the open market. He’s not the same player he was in the prime of Golden State’s dynasty at the end of the 2010s after an ACL and Achilles tear, but he still averaged 17.9 PPG while shooting 38.7% from 3 this season. For a Mavericks team looking for a third scoring option and an elite shooter, Thompson could fit alongside Doncic and Irving seamlessly. He’s still a positive defensively, even if he’s not as quick laterally as he used to be.

The Warriors may be more willing to facilitate a sign-and-trade as well, as they’re still looking to get back into contention as long as they have Stephen Curry playing at an elite level. Dallas sits just under $15 million below the first tax apron, but they’re likely to use the majority of that to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr. Thompson is likely looking for a 2 or 3-year contract as he enters the latter stages of his career.

Dallas could dangle Josh Green, Maxi Kleber, and trade exceptions to equal around $32.6 million in salary if the option opens up for a quality trade. The remaining trade exception from the Richaun Holmes trade at last year’s draft expires July 8th and it’d be best for a contending team to not let any asset expire.

Other reports have shown that the Mavericks are interested in Denver’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope but that Denver would be unlikely to help facilitate a sign-and-trade with another contending Western Conference team. Thompson, at 34 years old, is a better player than Caldwell-Pope but his value may be similar given his age.

Teams can start openly negotiating with free agents on June 30th, which is just two days away. There is a good chance the Mavericks reach an extension with Derrick Jones Jr. before then so they know exactly how much they can operate with in this year’s free agency.

READ MORE: NBA Free Agency Rumors: Dallas Mavericks Interested In Two-Time Champion Guard

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the NBA Offseason

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter

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Dallas, TX

Afiya Center to host 11th annual HIV testing event in Dallas

Published

13 hours ago

June 28, 2024

Press Room

Afiya Center to host 11th annual HIV testing event in Dallas

The Afiya Center, Texas’s only Black-led and Black women-centered reproductive justice organization, is hosting its 11th annual Get Tested, Grab A Bite! HIV testing event in Dallas this weekend.

The Afiya Center works to advocate, educate, and provide resources to empower Black women in Texas living with AIDS.

In 2021, the Dallas County saw a 30% increase in HIV cases among men and a 6.5% increase among women. In its newly released State of Black Womxn in Texas Report, the Afiya Center found that in 2021, young Black women accounted for 51% of new diagnoses among women under the age of 25, but sex education and disease prevention programs in the state rarely address community needs.

“Texas is known to be like a resource rich kind of state, right?” Afiya Center founder Marsha Jones said. “But those resources don’t meet the people who need them the most.”

Jones started the free testing event to bring attention to the lack of resources, as well as normalize HIV testing for women.

“We wanted to make this a day that wouldn’t just be focused on HIV testing, but it would really have a sense of community,” Jones said.

Attendees who want to get tested will be able to get a full STI screening free of charge. Dallas County Health and Human Services will provide[NF1] mobile testing sites to help the organization collect data and build more resources in areas that need them.

“It helps us to build out our program,” Jones said. “It helps us to shape narratives around the importance of getting tested.”

People who choose not to get tested can still enjoy the free event filled with free food and live DJs. Jones has urged vendors not to sell anything to avoid discouraging people from attending an event that is based around finding a safe space.

“This is literally a day to enjoy life and have a good time and get some updated information about your sexual health,” Jones said.

The Get Tested, Grab a Bite! event is on Saturday, June 29, from 3-7 p.m. in Glendale Park.

Zara Amaechi is KERA’s Marjorie Welch Fitts Louis fellow covering race and social justice. Got a tip? Email Zara at zamaechi@kera.org. You can follow her on X @amaechizara.

KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you.

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Dallas, TX

BY THE NUMBERS | FC Cincinnati at FC Dallas | FC Cincinnati

Published

21 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

BY THE NUMBERS | FC Cincinnati at FC Dallas | FC Cincinnati

After a prolonged absence from match play, FC Cincinnati will return to action Saturday night in a cross-conference visit with FC Dallas at Toyota Field. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and listen locally on ESPN 1530.

With The Orange and Blue deep in the heart of Texas, let’s break down this matchup with some key numbers to consider, presented by CTI.

Luciano Acosta has been the most impactful player in MLS dating back to the start of the 2023 season without a doubt. Since the start of the 2023 season, a year in which he won the MLS MVP, Acosta has had the most games with 2 or more goals+assists with 16 this season. Acosta, who also has 15 assists this season which leads MLS, also leads the league in games with 1+ goals and 1+ assists with 12, five more than the second place Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF.

Pavel Bucha leads all midfielders with 17 balls won this season, which also stands fourth most in the league when factoring in all positions. Two of the three players above him on the full rankings, though, are his teammates, Miles Robinson and Matt Miazga, with 25 and 24, respectively. Right behind the Czech midfielder as well is teammate Obinna Nwobodow with 16 balls won in a tie for fifth place.

The newcomer to Cincinnati has been a force in the midfield as, on top of his importance in the midfield, Bucha is second on the roster behind only Luciano Acosta with 5 assists this season.

No active FC Cincinnati players have scored a goal against FC Dallas, but not for good reason. The last time FCC played Dallas was in 2019 on a trip to Toyota Stadium, where The Orange and Blue fell 3-1, with Emmanuel Ladesma scoring the lone goal.

With Yamil Asad’s headed goal last Saturday night, FC Cincinnati has now had 10 first-time goal scorers for the club this season, the second most since the club joined MLS in 2019 and the 13 debut goal scorers that season. Asad joins Malik Pinto, Alvas Powell, Isaiah Foster, Dado Valenzuela, Miles Robinson, Luca Orellano, Corey Baird, Kevin Kelsy and Pavel Bucha.

FC Cincinnati has been one of the best road teams this season in MLS, providing dominant performances on offense and defense when playing away from TQL Stadium. With 15.32 xG, third most in the league and 19 goals, also the most road goals in the league, the offense has clicked when it’s needed to to secure a 7-1-1 record on the road. On defense FCC has conceded just 12 times away from home and allowed 14.98 opponent xG, fifth most in the league on both fronts.

What matters most, though, is FCC has tallied a league-high 22 points away from home, putting The Orange and Blue already on pace for one of the best seasons away from home in MLS history. With the record road pace being set by LA Galaxy in 1998 (pre-draw era) at 35 road points, eight more road points would give FCC a tie for the top ten with 30.

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