12/17/04  Newcomer thinks she knows what's good for Dallas (better than us locals).

Editor's comments:  If any DallasArena.com readers want to respond to our world-traveled newcomer (who left better places to come to Dallas), feel free.  sb

Sharon C:  Misguided

Dear Ms. Boyd -

I recently have 'discovered' your website when researching local city politics.  Granted I am new to the area (since June) so I am definitely not overly educated about the issues, but I do know this:

Dallas is years behind other comparable cities.  And it seems to be every new initiative being proposed to improve the city is being opposed by you.

Great, we can keep the stagnation that Dallas apparently is legendary to have had.  I don't know how long you have lived in the area, but maybe you are unaware of the amenities other cities have.  I have lived in both Houston and Austin, and both are years ahead of Dallas in the amenities offered to their citizens and I do not remember being taxed more than I am in this city.  So what is the problem?

You're so opposed to the Cowboys stadium?  My first instinct is to say that your position is short-sighted.

What other team is as well known as the Dallas Cowboys - you do recall they are America's team?  Did you consider in your analysis to reject the stadium that we will lose the Texas/OU game now?  Of course, there are lost revenues, but what about the loss of a weekend that defines Dallas, the loss of the ability for Dallas to showcase itself to 100,000 future potential Dallas citizens, etc...  Did you consider the fact that Fairpark would have enjoyed a resurgance and would have received infrastructure that is LONG overdue?  Have you looked at other cities and their sports parks and how they have truly helped to develop the city?  What about city branding?  Is that worth nothing to you?  Sure, it's lame that the city would have had to pay for some of it and it's lamer that Jerry Jones would have been the one to benefit - but that trend has been established by all the other NFL teams with new stadiums before us.

So now you are opposed to the Trinity River Project.  Sheesh!  Have you been to other cities and seen what a central public park with running trails, fields, picnic areas has done for the socialization of the city?  What about the fact that the project will fix the ancient problem of flooding in South Dallas so they might actually stand a chance of re-developing that area.  Instead of being anti-everything - how about being pro-something?  Or suggest something positive in its
stead.

Ultimately, there is a reason Dallas has trouble.  There are no 'killer apps' (i.e. compelling reasons to live in the city.)  You have high crime, poor schools and nothing that great keeping people who make money, build the tax base and those who would actually be politically active in the city.  How many people live in central Austin to have access to Town Lake and downtown Austin?  What else do you think drove the gentrification and subsequent increase in tax base
for that city.

Same thing in Houston - a revitalized downtown, brought people back into the city where people re-energized the neighborhoods...   You have a tax base that is much less than it should be b/c anyone making money moves out of the city b/c of its incompetency.  You yell and scream at Park Cities residents...  I would have hoped you would have learned this back in school, but the reason capitalism is successful is because people act in their own best interest.  So instead of wailing against Park Cities and their ability to have a community that best serves their needs, why don't you work to make Dallas a place where those in Park Cities, Plano and Southlake would actually want to live?!?

So you can reject every initiative to make Dallas better, but then don't complain when people flee the city for Park Cities, Plano and Frisco.

And before you last out at me - I own a home in Vickery Place, have a good job downtown, volunteer/contribute money to my community and would like to see Dallas become all it can be.  But I can tell you this, if the crime and schools in Dallas don't improve, when I marry and have kids, I am likely to move out.  There is nothing compelling me to live inside the city except for a short commute and b/c Dallas has been so anti-friendly to business we have all the major businesses like Frito, EDS, etc.. out in Plano - so most people don't even have that incentive to live in the city.

I can't help thinking that people like you are the problem with Dallas.  Maybe this is premature of me to say.  Not the Laura Millers.

Why people in Dallas are so opposed to the population actually having the power to hire and fire the person actually making the decisions in Dallas is BEYOND me.  A strong mayor is good for Dallas - Laura Miller is only the mayor now.  How can she even be judged whether she has done a good or bad job - she has had no ability to do anything...  I likely would have voted for the other candidate if I had been here, but fair is fair.  Give her and the future mayors a chance.  Give them the power to do their job and fulfill their promises.  Just b/c you don't like their promises - that is not your call.  The voters voted Laura Miller in and deserve to see her capabilities.

That said, I do appreciate your web site and it has provided me with quite a bit of information regarding the local scene.  I appreciate it.

Editor's comments:  I responded with, "I have lived here all my life.  Dallas natives love what we once had.  A clean city that took care of its citizens and did not neglect the city's upkeep to chase after tourists and sports jock sniffers.  The greatest mayor we ever had was Eric Jonson who "let the Cowboys go to Irving".
 
If the other cities where you lived in your world travel are so superior to Dallas, why did you leave?  Why don't you go back?

Sports arenas/stadiums never deliver on their promises.  Why do you think Irving did not fight harder to keep the Cowthugs?  See any big development around Texas Stadium or Reunion Arena or even the Hicks/Perot Arena?  The only stuff seriously happening around the AAC was already on the blocks before the arena site was even picked by the Robber Barons.

You are typical of the superficial city-surfers who never put down roots and think they know better than the simple locals who have a lifetime commitment to this city.

So, please don't even start lecturing me.  This is my hometown, and I know it was a better city before we got our priorities caught up with tourists and keeping up with the opinions of people who have no ties to Dallas.  sb" 

She responded with another dissertation.  I'm too exhausted to try to help her.  You guys go ahead.  sb

Sharon C:

Hi there -

Unfortunately for you, people who grew up in Dallas are not sticking around and you're offering little to the new people who come here to motivate them to want to stick around.  There lies the folly in your thinking - you need new people to come to the city as much as you might not like it, b/c growth drives revenue which drives city development.

Trust me, I am not a sports jocks sniffer ;-).  I voted against the Astros stadium in Houston using the same logic as yours back in the day.  But I have seen what that stadium has done for Houston's downtown.  Of course, stadiums don't help places like Irving and Arlington - they help major metropolitan cities like Dallas.  You do know that Houston got the SuperBowl and that revenue b/c of their new stadium, right?  And finally can you completely dismiss 'quality of life'?  I understand that you might not be into sports - neither am I.   But I understand that for many people venues like that draws them to a city - and unlike you I believe that is necessary to keep talent coming into the area which in turn attracts companies which in turn brings tax base revenue.  Plus, I see blighted areas like Fair Park that need help - and if its not the stadium it's something else that needs to be done to turn it from the cess pool it has become.

You think uptown and that whole area had nothing to do with the AA stadium?  You would have that area still be in shambles b/c it didn't help you out in North Dallas.

Alas for you, I pay taxes like you, vote like you and will be sticking around.  You know in some places they actually think new blood is a good thing - especially when the old blood has never been able to fix the problems that exist.

I am not a city surfer, but I apologize if living in other cities to pursue education makes me a city surfer and one who does not put down roots in your eyes.  I grew up in Shreveport until 18 when I went to college in Houston and afterwards worked there for 4 years.  Went to grad school in Austin and then moved here because I got a great job opportunity, both of my siblings are here and I wanted a city I could put down 'roots'.  That is my entire point.  People like me in my late
20's/early 30's finally get to a point where they can put down roots, but the cities have to have something to offer them.  I will be sticking around because I see the potential for Dallas.  Honestly, I benefit from the fact that Dallas has yet to develop inside the city like other major metropolitan areas in that I was able to purchase a home inside the city for a reasonable price and I am optimistic that many of the current problems in the city will be fixed by the time I
have kids.  Ironic, you would think that a new person like myself with a good job, an interest in the city's future who moves into the city, buys a run-down home, renovates it and tries to improve an old neighborhood inside Dallas would be appreciated by a local Dallas-ite. 

I suppose if it's not old money and North Dallas you aren't interested in newbies contributions.

I have a friend who lives in Koppel-  he wants to move to my area because he see tremendous upside.  He has a wife and child, though, and worries about sending his kid to the public schools near me when the schools in Koppel are so good.  So is he too a city surfer?  And yes, what draws him to the city are amenities the city has to offer!

I mean your answer to people who want to move to a city and are evaluating it can't be to say - you haven't lived her your whole life and I have so I know better...  Do you have any interest in current run-down Dallas neighborhoods being revitalized? 

I have a feeling it's not the old-timers like you who are going to do the much needed work to turn those neighborhoods around.

Also, the way the city currently is, it is only outfitted to attract individuals who tend to not have roots - i.e. singles and younger people - b/c crime is bad and education is poor.  People putting down roots are doing it out in Southlake and Plano in case you haven't noticed.

Yes, the sad truth is Dallas is a product as are other cities that people and companies choose to invest in when they move there.  And sad for you, people consider things like art districts, parks and avenues for entertainment when they move to a city.  Not everyone has family in Dallas.  That does not mean they would not make good citizens.

Many people chose not to take better jobs because they do not want to live in that city - as I can attest having just been through that myself with 400 other classmates.  Uptown is the reason 50+ of my classmates chose to settle here and I am guessing you were probably opposed to that as well.  For you to dismiss their concerns is short-sighted and definitely not in the city's best interest.  It is in your interest to have people move to this city with good incomes and settle here.

Editor's Comments:  I lived in the Oak Lawn/Uptown area for 28 years and spent about 24 years serving on the Oak Lawn Committee which supported the zoning that allowed Uptown to happen.  Most of Uptown is inside the Oak Lawn Planned Development District and was called Oak Lawn until the developers decided they wanted a separate community identification.  sb

And finally, just because I have said other things have worked in cities does not mean I do not like this city and see the potential to love it.  The current system is obviously not working.  Strong mayors have been effective in other cities, maybe you should consider giving it a shot.  You could have come up with a ballot for a strong mayor initiative more to your liking, but you didn't.  Kudos to Mrs. Blackwood for caring enough to do something.