Dallas, TX
Some Dallas neighborhoods likely to be split by redistricting, despite objections from residents
A number of Dallas neighborhoods will seemingly be cut up up throughout metropolis district boundary adjustments regardless of the pleas of residents, in response to the town’s redistricting fee chair.
The 15-member group overseeing the once-in-a-decade course of is scheduled to vote Monday on their prime three map proposals. However the fee on Friday heard from dozens of residents across the metropolis urging them to maintain their neighborhoods intact.
Residents in west, central and northern Dallas cited current group ties and concern of misplaced political energy among the many causes they rejected redrawn boundaries in a few of a couple of dozen submitted maps being thought of by the fee.
Jesse Oliver, the fee chair, stated he appreciated the issues of residents Friday, which have been echoed in earlier conferences. However the course of seemingly gained’t finish with everybody getting what they need.
“Regardless of which map will get drawn, neighborhoods get cut up up,” he stated. “It’s just about unattainable not to try this to any person’s neighborhood.”
The redistricting course of to redraw the 14 Metropolis Council districts happens each 10 years after the discharge of U.S. census information. The purpose is to verify all districts have as near an equal variety of residents as doable.
The fee charged with developing with the brand new map has 15 members appointed by the mayor and the Metropolis Council.
Dallas’ inhabitants grew by 106,563 residents in 10 years to 1.3 million, 2020 census numbers present, which means every of the town’s 14 districts ought to now have round 93,170 residents. Eight of the present districts have populations above that mark, starting from near 94,000 in North Dallas’ District 11 to just about 107,000 in District 14, which incorporates Uptown, elements of downtown and Outdated East Dallas.
The remaining six districts have populations starting from round 91,000 in northwest Dallas’ District 13 and virtually 78,000 within the Bishop Arts and north Oak Cliff space of District 1.
After subsequent week, a public listening to on the ultimate maps is scheduled for Could 7. A last map may very well be chosen by the redistricting fee on Could 9 or Could 10.
After the map is submitted to Mayor Eric Johnson and positioned on an agenda, the council would have 45 days to approve it. Council members might counsel adjustments to the map earlier than then.
The brand new map could be in impact by the following Metropolis Council election in Could 2023.
On Friday, a number of residents objected to maps that cut up neighborhoods. A number of residents of the Elm Thicket NorthPark space, a traditionally Black neighborhood in District 2 close to Dallas Love Subject, stated they rejected one map created by three fee members that put the world in District 13. That district is majority white.
Zach Thompson stated the map diluted the facility of the town’s Black voters. Jonathan Maples, one other resident, stated he wished there was a city corridor assembly in his neighborhood forward of time to get extra suggestions from the individuals who dwell there. Each males stated they might quite have the world moved to District 6.
“We’ve got extra in widespread with West Dallas than Preston Hole on any given day,” Maples stated.
Residents from West Dallas instructed fee members they didn’t need to see any adjustments in boundary strains, together with a proposal that take away the Design District and transfer some individuals into north Oak Cliff. Group members have deep roots within the space and need to proceed constructing on group organizing efforts that developed over time.
“We need to stick with like-minded residents and we need to stick with our West Dallas households and associates,” stated Debbie Orozco Solis, a third-generation West Dallas resident.
She requested for the map submission course of to be prolonged, saying a number of Latino communities didn’t get data in Spanish in regards to the redistricting conferences and plenty of felt unnoticed of the method. There was no indication Friday that an extension would occur.
Metropolis Council member Adam McGough, who represents northeast Dallas and Lake Highlands in District 10, urged fee members to not assist transferring Hamilton Park from his district. He stated his communities want to stay inside the Richardson Impartial Faculty District.
“Please preserve our communities collectively and preserve our neighborhoods stitched collectively as a lot as you’ll be able to,” McGough stated. “And positively, please don’t are available and begin dividing us in ways in which might do injury to our group over the long run.”
Dallas, TX
Public Editor: A valued interaction with Dallas readers
Nine months have swept by since I became public editor. In that time, I’ve received and read hundreds of your emails, and I have learned a lot about you and your relationship with The Dallas Morning News. As we launch into a new year, it seems like a good time to reflect on our interaction. Here are a few observations:
- When I refer to “your relationship” with The News, I mean it. Many of you have subscribed for decades, and you are invested in our work. I am always impressed by your knowledge of our reporters and columnists and by your smart analysis of their journalism. You understand the value and influence of our work and you want us to succeed.
- You consume our work closely. Some of you rely on us for specific news (often sports), but many readers spend considerable time with our content. (One told me it usually takes him an hour to get through the paper.) Your critiques target everything from major national stories to photos to public-safety briefs. And you sweat the small stuff. Many of you (especially teachers in our audience) are not shy about sharing errors you spot — including mine — involving usage, punctuation, misspellings, missing words and grammar. You are helping to hold us to our own high standards.
- You reflect our culture’s larger tensions. We are a divided nation. That certainly comes through in your emails. Many of you see The News as an extension of a media ecosystem that seeks to upend American ideals, although my experience with our journalists defies that suspicion. Some readers perceive every topic through the prism of politics, from our work on tolls and fentanyl to our choices about which comics to publish (and which ones to halt). And no political wing has a purchase on rage. Readers who identify as liberals are just as conspiratorial in their attacks as those who call themselves conservatives. Perhaps all those elections in 2024 fomented your anger. I hope 2025 is a calmer year.
- You applaud The News for being forthcoming about its mistakes — and some of you want us to do more. In fact, several of you have suggested that we run corrections on the front page of our print edition instead of near the bottom of Page 2A. My take: Unlike many news outlets, we take our mistakes seriously and are generally quick to issue corrections. That’s important in and of itself.
Grant Moise, publisher of The News, hired me to help reinforce trust with our audience via transparency, humility and accountability — and you appreciate this. Even when you and I disagree, you inevitably respond with: “Thanks for listening.” I see this as a reflection of your belief that we are all ultimately on the same team, fighting to preserve and strengthen our fragile democracy. This always leaves me surprised and heartened.
All of this is a long-winded way of saying: Thanks. Please do continue to email me with your questions, observations, concerns and kudos at public.editor@dallasnews.com. In the meantime, Happy New Year.
We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com
Dallas, TX
Police investigate jewelry heist at family owned business in East Dallas
DALLAS — Dallas police are investigating a large-scale jewelry heist in East Dallas over the weekend. The family who owns the store claims the thieves stole more than $600,000 worth of merchandise from the business.
Surveillance video shows how a quiet Sunday for Angel Cuenca shattered in just 30 seconds after four men started smashing his family’s jewelry displays inside the El Rancho supermarket in East Dallas.
“I felt completely helpless. They went for the two showcases with the most valuable jewelry,” Cuenca told CBS News Texas.
Three of the suspects wore masks and one showed his face. Cuenca said the men walked away with about $600,000 worth of merchandise.
“A $15,000 chain. We had $13,000 bracelets that were taken,” he explained.
He says the heartbreak of the crime was hard for his mother, Lucy, who opened the store in 2009 and built it from the ground up.
“It’s very heartbreaking, obviously, because, you know, my mother put her blood, sweat and tears into this, and she came to this country at 17,” Cuenca said.
Cuenca says he chose not to engage with the thieves in case they were armed.
“Any type of movement like that, it may have escalated,” he added.
Investigators said earlier this month a similar jewelry heist happened near Houston at the same grocery store chain. Police say the two could very well be related. Cuenca believes a suspect captured on video in Houston is one of the men who robbed his family’s business.
“Just to come in there and steal, steal the American dream from us. It’s just it’s hard. So, this must have been planned out,” Cuenca suspected.
Cuenca suspects a fifth person could have also been acting as a lookout. He posted the surveillance video to social media, catching the attention of thousands across the county. He hopes the crooks can be caught soon so they can start the new year with piece of mind.
“We need the surrounding community at Dallas to hopefully help us bring them to justice because, it’s not right,” said Cuenca.
Dallas police have not made any arrests in the case yet and are ask anyone with information to come forward.
Dallas, TX
Mailbag: Is Dowdle the lead back in 2025?
(Editor’s Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in ‘Mailbag’ presented by Miller Lite.)
After seeing Rico Dowdle really come into his own during the season, do you think he deserves the lead running-back position next year? I think drafting a back is needed, but Dowdle deserves his shot. – Steve Hrasch/Streator, IL
Nick: I think he deserves a chance to get the ball a lot in 2025. Remember, he’s a free agent at the end of the season and he’s probably earned himself a decent payday, whether it’s here or somewhere else. I’ll say this, staying in Dallas might be the best option for him, considering they probably won’t be signing a free agent back better than him, and even if they draft someone, it will be a good spot for him to play.
I think all backs need some help. Gainwell gets the ball quite a bit for an Eagles offense that has a 2,000-yard rusher. Derrick Henry isn’t the only one getting carries in Baltimore. So whoever is running the ball, there should be more than 1 primary runner. That being said, I think Dowdle has earned the chance to be one of those guys in Dallas, along with someone else – probably a draft pick. Again, Dowdle has to be re-signed but assuming the offense doesn’t change too much, it at all, I would think it makes sense to bring him back.
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