08/30/04  Let's Not Miss the Real Point...

Regarding the City Council meeting where Dr. Thornton-Reese voiced her discontent about the City of Dallas giving money to Texas and OU to play at the Cotton Bowl and not doing something for Grambling and Prairie View, I think most Dallasites would agree that this subsidy is a BAD IDEA.

The message could have been delivered A LOT BETTER, but the point should not be missed here.  Thanks to DallasArena.com, I at least found out about this (and a lot of other stuff that I would have missed).  In a city where we cannot keep our streets fixed, our parks looking presentable or feel that our 911 calls will be answered, it is OUTRAGEOUS that we pay anybody to use the Cotton Bowl! 

What is our council thinking?!  Are they on crack? 

The tortured logic of Dr. Thornton-Reese is what concerns me more than her race-baited presentation.  It would make no sense to give Grambling and Prairie View money to come here either!  The real answer is to STOP giving Texas and OU any money!  If this event brings in as much revenue and economic benefit as the council and chamber say it does, then there is absolutely NO REASON to provide subsidies.

Not to be rude or arrogant, but where else would they go anyway?  What other city within a 200-mile radius of both has the capacity to hold an event like this or the desire to add resources like police and security, hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions to have so many visitors in for only one time a year? 

The fact that Dallas does not think through these matters concerns me.  This lack of critical analysis of a situation sets us up to sell ourselves short time and time again!

Certain council members say we should run the City more like a business.  Hopefully they mean a successful, profitable, and ethical one.  My point -- What other good business gets into an arrangement like this? 

My sources tell me that the Prairie View and Grambling game brings in more than enough revenues to cover the costs of having them in the city and they do not get any City money to come here.  If that is truly the case, then it stands to reason that we should not only stop giving money to Texas and OU, but that we should demand a refund from them. 

Who set up this deal anyway?  If they are still around, they should be fired IMMEDIATELY!

Racism is not a good thing to do or be accused of.  However, stupidity and BAD MANAGEMENT on the part of our city council is tantamount to "criminal".  I find this more offensive and of greater importance than any lack of decorum on the part of Dr. Thornton-Reese.

Thanks for providing a forum where citizens who want to be informed and have access to "the whole story" can come!