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08/26/04
TONIGHT WE HAVE EXPLOSIVE VIDEO OUT OF DALLAS CITY HALL.. AND NEW
INFORMATION ABOUT A CONTROVERSY THAT IS PITTING BLACK COUNCIL
MEMBERS AGAINST THE MAYOR.
WE ALSO HAVE NEW EVIDENCE THAT REVEALS ONE COUNCIL MEMBER MAY
HAVE DELIBERATELY MISLED
THE REST OF THE COUNCIL TO GET EXTRA MONEY FOR A PET PROJECT.
AFTER AN ELEVEN HOUR COUNCIL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY COUNCILWOMAN
MAXINE THORNTON-REESE LAUNCHED INTO AN 8-MINUTE
SCREAMING LECTURE AT THE MAYOR, ACCUSING HER OF BEING
PREJUDICE. BUT,
TONIGHT, WE HAVE LEARNED THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THE
ISSUE THAT HAD TEMPERS FLARING AND VOICES RAISED AT CITY HALL THIS WEEK.
Racism Allegations
MAXINE THORNTON REESE
DALLAS CITY COUNCIL
"I've been
in Dallas all my life, and
I've been Black all my life,
and I'm going to be Black
the rest of my life." . . . "I
think it's unfair... unfair that every time you turn
around you're going to push whatever the white agenda is."
WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FORMALITY VOTE, TURNED
INTO CHAOS AT THE HORSESHOE. THE COUNCIL WAS SET
TO APPROVE A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT TO KEEP THE TEXAS/ OU
GAME IN DALLAS. BUT THEN, A SURPRISE PLAY BY AFRICAN-
AMERICAN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
Racism Allegations
LEO CHANEY
DALLAS CITY COUNCIL
"It's not
if we don't find the money, Mr.
Rasansky. That's
unacceptable. We can't do for one game and not
the other
COUNCIL MEMBER LEO CHANEY INSISTED THE COUNCIL
ALSO KICK IN $50,000 A YEAR TO KEEP THE
GRAMBLING/PRAIRIE VIEW GAME AT THE COTTON BOWL. ITS AN EVENT PROMOTERS SAY IS
THE LARGEST BLACK EVENT UNDER ONE ROOF IN THE STATE.
BUT - SINCE THE PROPOSAL WASN'T ON THE AGENDA, THE COUNCIL LEGALLY HAS TO WAIT A
WEEK TO VOTE ON IT. CHANEY INSISTED THE COUNCIL POSTPONE A VOTE ON THE TEXAS OU
CONTRACT, UNTIL THE GRAMBLING/PRAIRIE VIEW MONEY COULD BE ADDRESSED. THE MAYOR
RESISTED, REMINDING THE COUNCIL THE CITY HAS SPENT A YEAR AND A HALF TRYING TO
NEGOTIATE TO KEEP THE TEXAS OU TRADITION IN DALLAS.
Racism Allegations
LAURA MILLER
DALLAS MAYOR
"if we're
going to keep the games forever, it doesn't start well
by postponing the vote."
BUT COUNCILWOMAN MAXINE
THORNTON REESE SAW IT DIFFERENTLY.
"Dog
gone it, listen to us, don't step on us.
If you don't do Prairie View
and OU at the same time, you are showing that you are
prejudice. "
THE COUNCIL AGREED TO POSTPONE THE
VOTE, BUT CBS 11 HAS LEARNED THAT THE STATE FAIR HAD ALREADY RAISED
$65,000 IN PRIVATE DONATIONS TO GO TOWARD THE GRAMBLING/PRAIRIE VIEW
GAME.
THE PROMOTER TELLS US THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
CHANEY KNEW THAT MONEY WAS ALREADY SECURE FOR HIS CAUSE.
I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED
Mayor Miller: "This
week they had $65,000, and
council members who came to that meeting didn't tell anyone,
and I'm really disappointed.")
COUNCIL MEMBER CHANEY DID NOT RETURN REPEATED
CALLS TONIGHT FOR COMMENT.
THE GRAMBLING/PRAIRIE VIEW PROMOTER TOLD ME BY PHONE, THAT HE WANTS THE CITY TO
KICK IN MORE THAN $100,000 A YEAR TO KEEP HIS GAME IN
DALLAS.
THE STATE FAIR HAS NOW RAISED $75,000
TO SUPPORT THE GAME.. WHICH IS $25,000
MORE THAN CHANEY WAS ASKING THE COUNCIL FOR.
THE COUNCIL WILL TACKLE THIS ISSUE AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY.
.REPORTING LIVE IN DALLAS,
Sarah Dodd
CBS 11 News
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