08/31/03  Response to DMN Story

Editor's comment:  DallasArena.com frequently dissects absurd reports from The Dallas Managed News, but this response is from an Hispanic citizen who wants honest government and fair play. The text in gray blocks is DMN.  The text in yellow is Alfredo's Ghost.

	Black ministers hold strategy sessions about fired chief, blast Miller 09:18 PM CDT on Saturday, August 30, 2003 By TOYA LYNN STEWART
. . .  Groups gathered at two churches Saturday morning to discuss what some called "a vicious attack," on Mr. Bolton and the black community.    About 40 black ministers and residents held what they called a strategy session at Mount Tabor Baptist Church in support of Mr. Bolton, who was fired Tuesday.    The group said plans are in motion to demand a recall election for Dallas Mayor Laura Miller.    "We will say in numbers how disgruntled we are," said Dr. Stephen C. Nash, pastor of Mount Tabor Baptist.    Election officials have said that it would take more than 72,000 signatures, about 15 percent of the nearly 500,000 eligible voters in Dallas, to trigger a recall. . . . Dr. Nash is also president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, one of the sponsors of the protest march planned for Wednesday. . . . The group added that although it was representing some members of the city's black community, the group wasn't trying to be divisive or ignore other ethnic groups.   "We would love to have the support of the Latino community," said Dr. Nash, adding that it would be up to them to organize their own response. "It's not an effort to come against them. ... Our appeal is for them to join."
I doubt there will be enough certifiable petitions signed to call the recall election but if one is held the Latino community will not embrace the African-American community at the polls that day.  The outcome will be politically horrendous for African-American politicians and result in the beginning of a long-standing political union between Latinos and Anglos, which will be called the Latino/Anglo Coalition.  African-American politicians will refer to it as the Slam-dunk Coalition. The vote to recall is just not there, and the African-American community will push the button on this situation - not the Latino community. Lets be honest, there never has been and currently, there is no African-American/Latino Coalition in terms of politics. One can look at DISD and Redistricting as excellent examples of that. Dr. Nash's silence about those protest signs stating "Benavides is a Sell Out Wetback" (as shown on Channels 4, 11, 23 & 33 through LULAC's leadership along with coverage in South Texas via the Associated Press through our outreach efforts) makes it easy to make our case. The damage is done, when you have Latino leaders like local LULAC President Jesse Diaz staying on the high road getting that message out, it will surely hurt expectations for a great majority of Dallas' Latino community to jump on Dr. Nash's band wagon.  Once the recall countdown begins, they have 60 days to state their case Believe me, Mr. Diaz will be a busy bee with sufficient funds to get his message out.  Any Latino who decides to jump on that fake unity wagon will pay a heavy political price for their stupid choice.
At Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church Saturday morning, City Council member James Fantroy and Mayor Pro Tem John Loza met with about 17 members of the congregation and others to assure them that the black and Hispanic communities would be united in a quest to get answers about what they called Mr. Bolton's abrupt firing.
United in a quest to get answers is one thing.  United for a recall election is  "DREAMING"
"There will be no division between black and brown," said Mr. Fantroy, who represents District 8.     Mr. Loza, who represents District 2, agreed, adding: "I'm determined this won't tear the black and Hispanic community apart.    "We're not going to let anybody at City Hall tear our community apart," he said.    The men urged the group to use level heads and make sure things don't get out of hand while searching for facts.
Currently there is no division since there never was a structured political or social union between the African-American and Latino community.  Councilmen Fantroy and Loza should make a joint public statement denouncing the "wetback" comments made by African-American demonstrators at the next city council meeting, before Mr. Diaz has an opportunity to speak to the city council on that issue next week.  Politically, they should do it before Mr. Diaz speaks with all the media watching.  Can you imagine the attention it will get from the Latino community with the media's assistance.  In short, take your medicine before Mr. Diaz speaks or after Mr. Diaz speaks.
Both council members and meeting attendees said Mr. Bolton's termination was poorly handled.    "It could have been handled much better," said the Rev. H.J. Johnson, pastor of Cathedral of Praise. "I don't appreciate it, and I don't think it was fair.    He called on the mayor to work with the black and Hispanic communities to "be a coalition builder rather than a divider."    "When you hurt one ethnic persuasion, you hurt them all," he said.
The person who started the division is Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, who said Hispanic leaders cut a deal with Mayor Miller to appoint an Hispanic Police Chief.  Commissioner, who were those Hispanic leaders who cut such a deal?   That "wetback" protest sign struck a nerve and hurt one ethnic group, the Dallas Latino community.
Mr. Loza told the group that with the high numbers of blacks and Hispanics in Dallas, the two groups should be running the city.
OK, Mayor Pro Tem Loza, let's not forget we should ALL BE UNITED, Anglos, Asians, African-American, Hispanic & any other ethnic group who live in Dallas. You need to stay away from that church if that is what happens to you when you go there, my friend.
"I think the Hispanic community and the black community need not be trapped into fighting each other," Mr. Fantroy said. "I'm asking us to organize, galvanize and fight whatever element is trying to divide us".
Mr. Fantroy, the only element you'll wind up fighting are individuals who will not be hoodwinked by your statements.  You face some pretty savvy individuals who deal only with truth and who are on level footing with ALL Dallas citizens.  Furthermore, you now must deal with Hispanic leaders who have a moral compass, which you should also have, my friend.
Signed -----   Alfredo's Ghost