Rafael Rodriguez
                             

10/28/02  Group Tries to Tell the Press the Real Deal!!

We've got Con Jerk out there with his Large White Shadow claiming he brought order and prosperity to poor old Dallas.  He never tells the bozos buying his act that Dallas had a multi-million dollar emergency fund when his reign of terror began, and he left us with a $95 million shortfall.

That's why Citizens for a Sound Economy decided to set the record straight.  The full text of their press release:

Thought you might be interested in how the press covered the information:

Group challenges Kirk's record  By Mary Mckee; Star-Telegram Dallas Bureau,  Posted on Sat, Oct. 26, 2002

DALLAS - A group of taxpayer watchdogs Friday challenged claims that former Mayor Ron Kirk left the city on sound financial footing, saying that the city's recent budgetary struggles tell a different story.    Campaign advertisements by Kirk, the Democratic contender for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Phil Gramm, have emphasized his record of balancing budgets and cutting taxes, but the taxpayers said their tax bills grew during Kirk's six-year tenure because of higher appraisals.     "The trick-or-treat antics of politicians claiming to cut property taxes while ramping up assessments is nothing short of financial trickery," said Peggy Venable, director of Citizens for a Sound Economy. "While claiming to have balanced the city budget, Ron Kirk left Dallas to deal with a $95 million budget deficit."     Kirk's campaign spokes-man, Justin Lonon, disputed the claim that Kirk is to blame for the city's recent $94 million budget shortfall, saying that the losses were tied to the economic downturn after the 2001 terrorist attacks.     "No one could foresee the events of Sept. 11 and what effect that would have on cities all over the country, especially a city like Dallas that depends on tourism and convention business through sales tax revenue," Lonon said.     Several of the speakers at the news conference have been longtime Kirk critics, including former City Councilwoman Donna Blumer and city watchdog Sharon Boyd, who is backing Kirk's Republican opponent, state Attorney General John Cornyn.

Donna Blumer talked about how Kirk bullied the council and completely stifled dissent.  Nothing got done that he didn't want to happen, and little got blocked that he wanted.  Like a $4.7 million tax abatement for New York Life Ins. Co. for 11 jobs.  That's right!  11 jobs merited a $4.7 million tax abatement!

I explained the impact of tax abatements.  Projects developed with tax abatements add nothing to our tax base, but create increased demand on our infrastructure (water, sewer) and public safety personnel.  These tax abatements are supposed to stimulate development, but Ron Kirk pushed them for projects in areas hardly needing stimulas -- like at the Informart on Stemmons Expressway.

Con Jerk is claiming to be the "guy who calmed" down a screwed up, wild, infighting Dallas.  He says "You can't take that away from me."  Ron Kirk is no Frank Sinatra, and he left Dallas a worse place than when he found it.

Kirk stumps in rainy E. Texas; Cornyn talks to veterans; Senate candidates on the move, visiting multiple cities 10/27/2002 By Lisa Falkenberg / Associated Press

PALESTINE, Texas ? Pouring rain didn't stop Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Ron Kirk from finishing a 1 ?-mile parade route Saturday as he campaigned in East Texas, which political observers call one of the most hotly contested areas in the state. .  .  .       "I'm going to get the minority vote. The vote that I need is right out here," Mr. Kirk said before joining the procession. .  .  .   Dr. Jillson said Mr. Kirk still faces the "hurdle of people's first impressions."    "When people in East Texas see a black Democrat from Dallas, they seem to think that this is a liberal Democrat in the civil rights tradition," Dr. Jillson said. "What Kirk has to do is say, 'No, that's not who I am. I'm a moderate, successful two-term mayor from Dallas, with an emphasis on business.' " .  .  .   "One thing I really was gambling on is that people in East Texas, while they like their independence, they pay attention to what happens in Dallas," Mr. Kirk said. "They're here because they thought Dallas was screwed up, too wild, too much infighting. They think I'm the guy who calmed all that down. You can't take that away from me." .  .  .

Look at how the DMN treated the press conference:

Kirk woos labor as Cornyn stumps East Texas; Democrat seeks votes in Houston; Republican promotes health care 10/26/2002 Associated Press

HOUSTON ? Democratic Senate candidate Ron Kirk cheered a group of union members and Hispanic senior citizens off to the polls Friday as he swung through the state's largest city.  .  .  .    Mr. Kirk, the former mayor of Dallas who enjoys the support of the national Democratic Party as it tries to retain control of the Senate, told "union brothers and sisters" he was on their side.    "I'm not ashamed to stand up here and fight for the rights of working men and women," Mr. Kirk told the crowd at Don Carlo's Restaurant, a Mexican eatery in southeast Houston, adding that he didn't necessarily consider labor political positions opposed to those of business.   .  .  .   U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, delivered the first half of his energetic address in Spanish, eliciting frequent applause from the crowd and Mr. Kirk, though the candidate's aides say he only understands bits and pieces of the language. .  .  .  "What Ciro basically said was, 'Ron Kirk is a hell of a guy and go vote for him,' " Mr. Kirk said. .  .  .   Mr. Kirk caught flak from conservative critics in Dallas on Friday when they called a news conference at City Hall to attack his record as mayor.     While boasting that he lowered the tax rate, the groups said, Mr. Kirk did not oppose the increasing property assessments that reduced taxpayers' savings. The groups also contended that tax breaks for corporations, which Mr. Kirk often supported, are partly to blame for Dallas' sagging tax revenues this year.    "Meager tax rate cuts did not reach the pockets of the taxpayers," said Peggy Venable, the director of Citizens for a Sound Economy. "We don't think it's a very stellar record." Staff writer Dave Michaels contributed to this report.

There was a long-haired female reporter who was likely the KERA person at the press conference.  She was defensive about us picking on Kirk (imagine that).   She asked why were picking on Kirk.  We responded because he is the one out there making false claims about his tenure as Mayor.

When Kirk tries to blame the financial woes Dallas is experiencing on Sept. 11, ask yourself why it didn't hurt Ft. Worth.  They did not face a $95 million shortfall.

Although I frequently remind DallasArena.com readers about Kirk wanting to tax internet sales, I had forgotten about him trying to get the state Legislature to raise the cap on our city sales tax from our current 8.25 cap.  Clearly, we would be in a world of trouble had he been successful.  With our current 8.25 sales tax, things cost too much, and people will buy elsewhere when they get a chance. 

It is amazing how gullible people can be.  Since I never bought Ron Kirk's act in the first place, it is still a puzzlement to me what others see in him.  He's someone who smiles with his teeth, but not his eyes.

Our Mary Lou is not buying his act:

I am so looking forward to not writing about Ron Kirk ever again.  The guy took over a city with a surplus and an emergency fund, and left our cupboard bare.