12/02/04  Positive Changes Need to be Made.

In Stop Operating in a Bubble, Michael Davis seems to think our current council members are capable of learning something by traveling to other Texas cities and observing what works. I'm not as optimistic, but I would hope someone with his hopefulness and concern will run for city council and attempt true change in our good old boy political metropolis.
 
 Lets see, we need a new form of government that will discourage having 14 little mayors that allow each other a no interference policy in their individual districts.
 
 Separating the DPD patrol division from the 1979 proposition that requires if one level of officers get a raise all DPD gets the same percentage raise. Dallas tax payers approved it, they?ll resend it if given the chance. Don?t forget the almost $1 Billion pay parity lawsuit still pending against the city because our ?city leaders? don?t know the meaning of an ethical city government.
 
 Mayor Wolens ran on a platform of back to basics.  Now, we just need a mayor that means it.
 
 A code compliance department that works would be a good asset to the city.  We don't need ridiculous quotas that over burden the code compliance officers, just a common sense consistent work ethic to make steady change.
 
 How about all those legalized prostitution retail outlets known as ?spas? ?bath houses? ?massage parlors?, etc.?  Is our city so stressed for cash it?ll sell its soul for some tax dollars?  Oh, sorry, it already has.
 
 It?s a matter of the quality of life we want in our city.  Having these legalized prostitution houses proliferate around Dallas like they have over the past 6 years is a perfect (or imperfect) example of a city that doesn?t work.  In other words, there is a complete lack of quality control.
 
 Hopefully, a council member with Mr. Davis' optimism will help end the prostitution houses that pervade our city. On the other hand, sex clubs and open prostitution are what Dallas has become famous for.  Should we dare to change?  
 
 Then, there?s that Trinity Project.  Councilwoman Miller thought it was a really bad, bad idea; however, Mayor Wolens thinks it?s the most important project that faces Dallas today, along with those string thing bridges she says we so desperately need for tourism.
 
 Tourists from around the world will flock to Dallas in the summer, when it?s 105? in the shade, to wander through the Trinity Park, which will be littered with trash, and homeless encampments as are our current parks that cannot be kept clean.
 
 When the tourists no-show in our oppressive summer heat will it be because Mayor Wolens didn?t foresee air conditioners being needed throughout the Trinity park? Perhaps, that will be solved with a $50 million dollar bond package to install air conditioned relief stations.  Nothing is too good for the tourists.
 
 How about all those non-complying ?restaurants? throughout the city, that are really bars, making over 50% of their revenue from booze.  The city does nothing to bring them into compliance.
 
 All this brings us back to the quality of life issue, or lack thereof....
 
 More patrol officers on the street, where the rubber meets the road in the crime fighting business, would be quite helpful.  How much will it cost per 1? increased property tax to equate to the necessary number of patrolmen needed to make a positive affect on crime in the #1 crime city in the USA?  
 
 There?s that quality of life issue again.