Dallas, TX

Mayor Eric Johnson rightly calls on Dallas City Hall to get back to basics

Published

1 year ago

December 4, 2023

Mayor Eric Johnson rightly calls on Dallas City Hall to get back to basics

We admit we were worried when Mayor Eric Johnson announced last week that he would be taking his annual state of the city address off of city-owned media and onto a right-wing AM radio station.

The move seemed tailored to make the speech a more partisan affair, in line with his recent embrace of the GOP, and out of line with the letter and spirit of nonpartisan Dallas government.

In fact, Johnson’s speech hewed to important themes about Dallas, both the progress we have made and the areas where we need to improve.

His points about “the four P’s” — public safety, property taxes, parks and potholes — will resonate with most Dallas residents.

As a statement of priorities, the speech provided a path for Dallas government that would keep City Hall focused on the basics, which is exactly what voters have told City Hall they want time and again.

On public safety, Johnson is rightly endorsing that as the first priority. The rise in homicides this year is a worrisome signal that gains in violent crime reduction overall may not last. Simply put, we need more well-trained officers with a reliable pension system.

On property taxes, Johnson is again right to raise concerns about bloat in the city budget. It has grown at an unsustainable rate that will see substantial cuts or higher taxation in coming years if something isn’t done. But, as we said at budget time, it isn’t clear that Dallas taxpayers are prepared to accept service cuts to parks, libraries and other amenities to lower costs. We know they won’t, and shouldn’t, accept cuts to public safety.

Johnson’s broader point about City Hall’s persistent mission creep is well taken, though. The need to review spending and to recognize that 1500 Marilla is not able to resolve every social concern would help pull it back to areas where it can best succeed. The growth in the size of non-public safety city staff is reason enough for that review.

On that point, Johnson cautioned against an effort to see the city borrow some $200 million to pay for affordable housing. This is a plan that does not play to the city’s strengths. The subsidization of a relatively few housing units, at great taxpayer expense, would be a poor use of funds even if there was a clear plan, and there isn’t, and even if City Hall had a good history of developing housing, and it doesn’t.

Johnson recommended finding ways to unlock private-sector investment in housing. That is a much better use of city resources than paying out of pocket.

But if he’s reluctant to spend on housing, he doesn’t seem reluctant to spend on parks. Johnson used his speech to once again push for massive spending on new parks. Here the mayor needs to check the concerns he raises above. Parks are wonderful, so long as there is money to maintain them and ensure they are well patrolled. If they aren’t, these assets quickly become liabilities.

But overall, Johnson deserves credit for an address that offered a straightforward vision that properly aligns City Hall’s role with Dallas’ needs.

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Dallas, TX

‘Longest six days of my life’: Kiwis stranded in US airport without food, clothing

Published

11 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

‘Longest six days of my life’: Kiwis stranded in US airport without food, clothing

Still image taken from video of stranded passengers waiting for help in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, United States, on Saturday, 11 January, 2025. Photo / Carina Fischer

“Everyone went crazy in the plane. It was bonkers. Everyone was yelling, and at the end, the pilot made the announcement and everyone started chanting ‘new crew, new crew’,” Ruhlman.

“I have to go to work. I’m obviously not going to be able to work on Monday. I was supposed to arrive in Auckland on Friday morning,” Ruhlman said.

Carina Fischer, of Remuera, described the scene in the terminal as “a nightmare”.

Fischer said: “Everyone is crying. Kids are screaming.”

She said a relative had helped her buy a hotel room, but she had been washing her clothes in the sink and drying them with a hairdryer.

She was also worried about her child who has ADHD, saying he was without his medication as well.

She claimed American Airlines was “not helpful, not helpful at all”.

Ruhlman echoed that sentiment: “They literally don’t care that they ruined people’s holidays and so many plans – and sanity.”

She said a group of passengers were planning to write to the airline’s chief executive asking for compensation.

“I’m so tired and still in my same clothes as Wednesday. It’s Monday …”

American Airlines was approached for comment on Saturday, but had yet to respond by Monday morning.

The flight, American Airlines 55, was due to leave the US on Wednesday, but after several false starts, the passengers were still waiting in the terminal on Saturday morning. Photo / Carina Fischer

Another passenger, Sarah Botwright was due to be in New Zealand for a holiday to see her friend, said she had to be home in Ohio and she would likely have to cancel her whole trip to Godzone.

“My luggage will be going to New Zealand regardless of whether I go or not, though,” she said.

“It’s just insane,” she said of the situation.

Local daily paper the Dallas Morning News reported more than 600 flights to and from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field had been cancelled as of 5pm Friday (12pm, Saturday, NZ).

More than 800 flights were also delayed. American Airlines flights were the most impacted by the delays, the Dallas Morning News said.

The paper said the delays were due to a snowstorm in North Texas on Thursday which left a dumping of snow and icy conditions.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas visits Ottawa after shootout victory

Published

22 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Dallas visits Ottawa after shootout victory

Associated Press

Dallas Stars (27-13-1, in the Central Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (20-18-3, in the Atlantic Division)

Ottawa, Ontario; Sunday, 5 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Stars -138, Senators +117; over/under is 5.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Ottawa Senators host the Dallas Stars after the Stars defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in a shootout.

Ottawa has a 10-7-1 record in home games and a 20-18-3 record overall. The Senators have gone 11-5-2 in games their opponents commit more penalties.

Dallas has an 11-8-0 record in road games and a 27-13-1 record overall. The Stars have gone 13-6-1 in games their opponents commit more penalties.

The matchup Sunday is the second time these teams square off this season. The Stars won 4-2 in the last matchup. Roope Hintz led the Stars with two goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: Joshua Norris has scored 14 goals with nine assists for the Senators. Ridly Greig has four goals and one assist over the past 10 games.

Jason Robertson has 10 goals and 24 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has four goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 4-5-1, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.6 assists, 4.4 penalties and 10.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.

Stars: 8-1-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.6 assists, 2.4 penalties and 4.8 penalty minutes while giving up two goals per game.

INJURIES: Senators: None listed.

Stars: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Dallas, TX

Hundreds of volunteers clean up the community for MLK Fest Dallas 2025

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Hundreds of volunteers clean up the community for MLK Fest Dallas 2025

CBS News Texas

Live

DALLAS — Volunteers laced up their sneakers and beautified Dallas’ Fair Park neighborhood Saturday morning as part of the MLK Fest Dallas 2025, which aims to reduce blight and promote public art.

Volunteers started off at the MLK Community Center and were assigned to clean up one of eight zones in South Dallas. People mowed grass, renovated homes, and painted a mural.

“It brings community together. A good friend of mine says community and unity are common unity, so we love all of it. We just want to be able to revitalize this place and give the community a sense of pride or ownership and give that back to all,” said Paul Franklin, community outreach director with the Walls Project.

Hundreds of volunteers braved the cold and came together for the large-scale community cleanup. The event brought together people from non-profits, churches, and businesses. The event aims to clean up blight while honoring the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

“This is just another part of how our community celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, to exemplify how important that is and how that connects us all to each other,” said Shawna Nesbitt, vice president of UT Southwestern Medical Center.

UT Southwestern Medical Center had about 160 volunteers who signed up. One of their projects included painting a mail room and bike rack at an apartment complex. Volunteers also picked up trash, cleared weeds, and spoke with those experiencing homelessness.

“I’m going to speak to the people that we see that are possibly unsheltered in tents and inform them of the center here at Fair Park that just recently opened the shelter,” said Jeremy Connally, an owner with the Epiphany Foundation.

The day ends with a block party at the MLK Community Center and a gala at the Renaissance Center.

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