|
| |
3/9/8 It's no
longer about planning - just controlling.
The problem with doing something for a long time is the realization that you
have done it before. I've been publishing DallasArena.com since 1998.
I have been complaining about ward politics at City Hall almost monthly, if not
weekly, since 1998. I have supported this candidate, and that candidate in
the hope of getting someone in office who will look out for the whole city and
not just focus on controlling his or her district. Controlling one's
district usually translates to protecting one's power base and doing the ODB's
will. My efforts have met with limited success.
Some bad stuff is happening at City Hall. Some of it is being done by
folks who I have admired and considered friends. It's easy to call out
people you don't like. Not so easy to point out cracks in your friends'
armor.
I will get to the Fairfield zoning fight later, but a very wrong thing was done by the
council this past week. Many city boards and commissions are filled with
political appointees who have no expertise in the area where they are appointed to
serve. They wanted a line on their resume, and a council member had a slot
open to fill. Of course, there are many truly qualified people in decision
making roles on Dallas boards and commissions, citizens who have real jobs and
real experience to prepare them for their position. Jan Collmer is the most knowledgeable aviation person in the
entire Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Don't ask me why, but Angela Hunt took
the lead in removing him from the DFW Board and
replacing him with Forrest Smith. See Tom McGregor's
“Whole Lotta Politicking Going Down,” Says Councilwoman
Davis (DallasBlog.com,
3/7/8). There can be no justification for this
move other than some political strategy to build a base for a future campaign.
Why would Councilwoman Hunt be out in front of this wrong move? Why did
the minorities on the council back her? Why didn't Mayor Leppert fight for
Jan Collmer? Why was this evil thing done on a briefing day when we
couldn't follow the debate on WRR? Shame on everyone involved -- from
Councilwoman Hunt's aggressive role to the Mayor's passive role. Is there
anyone left with any character or concern for what's best for this city, rather
than what's best for their political ambitions?
Now, to the Fairfield project discussion. In full disclosure, I am close
friends with Sarah Dodd, who is consulting with the Fairfield people. I
cannot stand Plan Commissioner Neil Emmons who thinks he's the heir apparent to
the
District 14 throne and plays his petty little power games all over City Hall and
on
the Plan Commission.
The part of East Dallas where this zoning fight is happening is not a quaint
conservation district area you might assume. This is on Lovers Ln.
between Greenville and Skillman. You know -- the Village zone, Apartment
Mecca, Central Market -- Action Central. Fairfield wants to replace an
apartment complex pretty much wasted by the Katrina mafia that was housed there
with an upscale 4-story condominium/apartment complex including retail on the
portion facing Central Market.
There is a big divide in the community, with two very organized groups on
opposite sides of Fairfield fight. Sarah Dodd mentioned it to me several months
ago, but it did not ratchet up much interest for me until an old friend, Norma Minnis, called me about it, too. Norma owns some units in the area and
does not want the 4-stories or the retail. She has a right to get
involved.
I don't care about the project, one way or the other. I care about the
process of getting zoning done at City Hall. There is no level playing
field. With every council member deferring to the district
representative's wishes, state law is being violated every time a case comes up
for a vote. For any city to have zoning rights, there must be an
opportunity for a property owner to appeal the zoning and/or change the zoning.
That process is required to happen in a public hearing.
When a case is determined by the council member before there is even a public hearing
and the rest of the council goes along, there is no hearing. It is a sham,
a performance. Most council members will outright tell you they will not
go against the district person's recommendation because they want the same
CONTROL for their district.
Zac Crain covers the controversy pretty well in his blog on FrontBurner.
His comments generated very heated response from both sides and names are named,
including Jerkoff Neil Emmons.
Councilwoman Hunt submitted a
response, which reads in part:
This really shocked and
disappointed me. If you had any doubt the council hearings are rigged and
pre-ordained, Angela's phrase high-lighted in blue confirms all my warnings
about what really happens at City Hall. She doesn't say "I've decided to
support" or "I've decided to oppose" or "I'll be making a motion to oppose".
She says "... I've decided to deny the
Fairfield zoning case." I have a problem with that --
When you don't have the ear of your council representative, you are
disenfranchised at City Hall. You have no voice. You have no power.
You have no recourse.
Petty zoning matters are of no concern to Mayor Leppert. He's a big
picture guy. But, he should be concerned. In January, my husband and
I were on a cruise with several couples. One couple in our group operate a
large construction company, and they will not bid on projects in the city limits
of Dallas. I'm not talking about public projects -- any projects.
They said it's just too hard to get things done in Dallas, too corrupt and too
screwed up at City Hall.
During the council sham hearing on February 27th, Councilman Dave Neumann asked
Theresa O'Donnel if Commissioner Emmons gave any reason for denying the case
with prejudice (which would require a 3/4 vote at council to override).
Staff had recommended approval, but jJerkoff Emmons is lining up his base for
his long planned council race. Ms. O'Donnel told Councilman Neumann that
Emmons gave no reason. Councilman Natinsky mentioned that Fairfield wants
to spend millions doing this project and has not asked for any tax rebate or
financial assistance from the city.
Because Jerkoff Emmons got the project denied "with prejudice" at Plan
Commission, it will take 11 votes at council to get Fairfield's project
approved. If Angela Hunt could get an aviator like Jan Collmer with all of
his credentials removed from the DFW Board to be replaced with a lawyer, there
is not much hope that 11 council members will challenge her denial of
Fairfield's project.
My friend, Betty Culbreath, was Chair of the Plan Commission when I served on it
in the 90's and was reappointed as Chair by former Mayor Laura Miller. She
had very public, verbal brawls with Jerkoff Emmons. She responds to Sam
Merten's
Walk On, Dallas, Walk On. Forward, Preferably. For a
Change?
:
 |
|
The
sooner Neil Emmons is off the Plan Commission the better off the City of
Dallas will be. That area was upscale and busy when I lived over there.
The zoning is good and would be better for the area with retail and not
all rental. |
| Betty Culbreath |
This is just one of several
zoning cases where Jerkoff Emmons has gone way beyond his role as Plan
Commissioner, and Councilwoman Hunt refuses to reign him in or replace him.
Finally, the media are becoming aware of his antics, and he does not like the
publicity.
Sam and Zac's website stories/blogs
generated huge responses, pro and con.
For me, it still comes down to abuse of the process. If I were Fairfield,
I would be lining up lawyers to sue the city for denial of their due process.
They were entitled to a hearing at Plan Commission, and never got one.
They are entitled to a hearing at council and will not get one.
Ward politics at City Hall has lead to corruption and FBI indictments.
When the Plan Commission members and the City Council automatically defer to the
district council representative in zoning cases, it is an open invitation for
cheaters.
The Plan Commission should be split into 3 panels of 5 members like the Board of
Adjustment. Cases would be heard at random by the panels. There
could be no power brokering by the likes of Jerkoff Emmons because the panels
would not get their packets until a few days before the hearing. Decisions
would be made after staff briefings (before the hearing) and after testimony at
the hearing. All of the meddling by Plan Commissioners would be
eliminated. There would be less of a burden on the P&Z members.
Currently, they are at City Hall 1 day every week and more often for committee
meetings. Dividing the 15-member P&Z into 3 panels would free them up at
least 2 or more days per month. Under the present arrangement, it is very
hard for working people to serve on the P&Z because it requires almost as much
time commitment as being on the council without any LEGAL monetary compensation.
As bad as 14-1 has been, it was supposed to make local government more
responsive to the citizens. It was supposed to encourage citizen involvement.
Hasn't worked out so well.
I don't know what Councilwoman Hunt is going to do about the Fairfield case.
I know she is not going to do anything about Jerkoff Emmons, which means more
problems for her. Now, that the media and public are on to his shenanigans
on the Plan Commission, there will be more stories. It's not like Jerkoff
is going to learn from his mistakes. He will be emboldened to see what he
can get away with. It's not about good planning for him. It's a
power game.
Obviously, Councilwoman Hunt has political aspirations, which may mean just
running for her council seat again. That will crimp Jerkoff's plans
because the moron actually thinks he could get elected to the city council.
Now, that would be embarrassing!
Unfortunately, Jerkoff's political fantasies are interfering with good
government and fair play at City Hall, and it's time for someone to stand up to
him and challenge the status quo of ward politics.
We have a bunch of former elected officials and their buddies with pending
federal trials. Council needs to eliminate opportunities for wrongdoing
and start doing what's right, rather than what's politically expedient.
sb
| |
|
Sam Merten got Councilwoman Hunt to be very candid, and she probably wishes she had not said:
What about the neighbors who support Fairfield's project? Who is listening to them? Who is representing them? They aren't seasoned politicos. They are just Dallas citizens who own their condos and want to have a nice project instead of a crime-ridden dump waiting for some do-gooders to fill it up with a bunch of problematics to prey on the neighborhood.
I don't give a care about the project. I care about the hundreds of nearby residents and property owners who want this project and have no one fighting for them at City Hall. They aren't interested in publicity or public relations, they want to know someone is interested in their views.
Politicians and power-hungry losers like Jerkoff Emmons care about publicity. A story in D Magazine or the Dallas Observer may embarrass Jerkoff Emmons and make Councilwoman Hunt uncomfortable, but apparently not enough to change their minds.