06/16/03  City Hall IS for Sale!

I am ashamed to agree it appears that City Hall is for sale.  No need for me to use a lot of words to elaborate the point.  The BarkingDogs.org sign says it all -- unfortunately!

Sometimes, you're so "right on" point there is little else to say but "Amen!"

Right now, I am trying hard to focus on being part of the solution rather than part of the problem.  What do you think about this idea?

Since Code Enforcement is the #1 problem that citizens say we should try to solve, why don't we get our friends at the Observer and some of the NON-DMN media to organize and probe into why the Municipal Judge does not set court dockets so that the City has a fighting chance of winning these cases?

For example:

One Inspector may have 3-4 cases on the same day but in 3-4 DIFFERENT courts.  He can win one and is a "no show in the other 3".  Somebody in the Municipal Judge's office should KNOW BETTER than this.  Unless, of course, they are stupid or on the take.  

Don't forget, YOU started this -- City Hall is for sale and usually CHEAP!

Front line staff  are constantly undermined by either incompetent or "soiled" management who just plain DO NOT GET IT!

Several city staffers have talked about this with the City Manager, the Mayor and Code Managers.  They all say it seems like a good idea and they will look into it.  Well, you know what gets done --   ZIP!

I could just gripe, or I can use an outlet like DallasArena.com to try to effect some real and positive changes outside the "system".  One reason DallasArena.com exists is because other media folks have abdicated their responsibility to fairly present BOTH sides of the issues and tell the truth.

I have seen you print BOTH SIDES of an issue when it would have been to your advantage to print only your point of view.  In 9 out of 10 cases, I opt for your side.  NOT because we are friends, but because after seeing both sides (usually reprinted side-by-side with your rebuttal), the average "Jane" (Joe) can make up their own minds.  I have never seen that done in the DMN or the Observer, the Voice, Dallas Weekly or any other rag I read in this town.  By far, you have "silk" compared to the others in that regard.

Take care and let me know if you think that we can make a difference in helping Code Enforcement.