12/31/07  Good, better, best of 2007 or more of the same bad, worse , worst for 2008?

This New Year's Baby is appropriate for Dallas.  He looks like your average politician with his hand out.  I've had a tough time sitting down to this commentary because I am not very optimistic about 2008 for Joe or Judy Taxpayer in Dallas.  Sharon Boyd, not optimistic?  What a shocker!  Mind you, I want to be optimistic and in some areas I am -- but . . .

Darryl Baker sent me an e-mail with a suggestion for my best and worst list of 2007.  That got me to thinking about it, and I remembered the grammar phrase "good, better, best - never let it rest until your good is better and your better best".  I don't know if there's a comparable phrase for "bad, worse, worst", but if there is it should be "fix the bad before it gets worse because worst is harder to fix".

There were lots of "bad to worst" in 2007 and some "good to best".   One bad doesn't make it more bad than another bad.  So, I couldn't pick a worst.  However, I do have one favorite good thing that happened in 2007 and some "betters", but none may not qualify as your best,

In an effort to turn over a new leaf of hope and optimism, let me tell you my favorite "good" thing from 2007 that began as the worst nightmare a businessman and Dallas taxpayer could have.  It involved Jack Pierce of Hollywood Overhead Doors.  The man was almost forced out of business where his family has operated his company for over 50 years. 

Former City Councilman Blubbering Bill Blaydes decided that some of his powerful developer friends could make better use of Mr. Pierce's land than Overhead Doors.  Blaydes' friends who planned to benefit from the theft of Mr. Pierce's land are a very connected, very wealthy real estate family in town.  Blaydes could not force his Plan Commission appointee to put an item on the P&Z agenda to rezone Mr. Pierce's land to something that would make his current business illegal at that location.  So, Blaydes got several council members to sign a resolution to put the matter on the council's agenda.  That was the worst thing that happened in 2007 (besides the Trinity Tollroad election results).

Even though his attorney had advised Mr. Pierce he would have no chance at City Hall with the district councilman (Blaydes) pushing for the rezoning, former Mayor Laura Miller and Councilman Mitch Rasansky convinced Mr. Pierce to come to City Hall and make his case to the council.  He was incredibly effective and eloquent in his statement to the council.  Mayor Miller and Councilman Rasansky helped him with pertinent questions, but it was Mr. Pierce who saved himself with his honest and simple speech and answers.  At the end of the day, more council members voted with Mr. Pierce than stood with Bill Blaydes. 

It was a great moment for me to pick that day to listen to a council meeting.  I hardly ever listen to council meetings anymore -- just too depressing.  It was also wonderful to have Mayor Miller and Councilman Rasansky heroically save a long-time Dallas business from the clutches of greedy developers and their henchman on the city council.

Darryl Baker thinks the worst thing that happened in 2007 was for City Attorney Tom Perkins to word the ballot language regarding the Trinity Proposition in such a convoluted manner that it favored the Trinity Tollroadies.  I can go along with that so long as Ron Kirk is included.  Con Jerk works for the city's bond attorneys' firm.  Ron Kirk had as much or more to do with the ballot language as Tom Perkins.  I was the election judge for my precinct.  I can assure you most voters were completely confused by the ballot language.  On their way out, many voters said something to the effect "I voted against that toll road - I voted NO".  

Another good thing in 2007 also involved City Attorney Tom Perkins.  State Rep. Rafael Anchia has been working for his constituents to tighten up state laws involving massage parlors and "spas", as related to businesses using those labels which are in fact prostitution operations.  Tom Perkins has given his full support to getting laws in place that will help neighborhoods and legitimate business keep out the massage parlor/whore houses.  We never got the kind of assistance from his predecessor City Attorney.  City Attorney Perkins and Asst. City Atty. Chris Bowers have really gone the extra mile in assisting State Rep. Anchia, the DPD and the community on this matter.  We didn't get everything we wanted in Austin because the massage parlor lobbyists have the ear of some misinformed state representatives.  Still, Tom Perkins, Rafael Anchia and Chris Bowers are heroes in my book.

Another 2007 bad thing is the lack of coordination between DISD and the City of Dallas.  The DISD is building a middle school on Brockbank, which already is overused with fairly heavy traffic.  Rather than get the road widened and repaired before the new school is completed and the problem is exacerbated, it will be at least a year before the reconstruction is done, if then.  The traffic will be a nightmare for my neighborhood and will result in even more cut through driving than we are already experiencing on our narrow streets.  We can't even get anyone to enforce existing parking regulations, so there's no point in seeking new rules.  When the city knows a new junior high is being built, why aren't there reserve funds to do what needs to be done WHEN it needs to be done.  When they do get around to the street improvements, the school will be opened and the construction will make a bad situation worse.

Another 2007 good thing also involves transportation.  The DART Green line is a go.  I am on Denton Drive almost daily.  The progress on the Green DART line is staggering.  It gives such a feel of progress and revitalization for the Northwest Dallas area.  I hope Irving gets its line on time, too.

One bad 2007 thing got resolved so it became a good thing.  When County Commissioner Maurine Dickey listened to the wrong people and got the other commissioners (except for John Wiley Price) to vote to end the $65,000 tax exemption for senior citizens, DallasArena.com lead the charge to get that benefit back.  To her credit, Commissioner Dickey listened to her constituents and got the  exemption reinstated.  To have any politician admit they were wrong may put Commissioner's mistake and then correction right up there with the best of 2007.

If you have any best and worst or good and bad events you want to include, let me know.

There are some reasons to be cautiously optimistic for 2008.  I don't think any sports team owners are going to getting any politicians to help them steal people's homes or wipe out a neighborhood like what happened in Arlington.  The shame of that should haunt Jerry Jones when he burns in hell, but it doesn't bother the Arkansas Freak now because he's shameless.

Some crucial elections are coming up in the primaries and November.  We can let apathy on our part as voters make things worse, or we can get off our rears and tell the candidates what we want for our County, our State and our Federal government.  Otherwise, things will go from bad to worst in a hurry.  The only way to make a bad situation better is stay vigilant and stay active.  The bad guys never rest, so neither can we.

By the way, don't expect another edition of DallasArena.com until after January 15.  My husband and I will be cruising from Galveston to Cozumel and other Carribean islands.  For an accountant, I could not be doing this at a worse time, but I expect to be having the best time soaking up sun, cocktails and good food.  A friend will be house sitting and taking care of our herd of pets.  This trip will probably be make my  "best" list for 2008.

Happy New Year and God Bless You, one and all --

sb