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11/14/02  Old Al Warns, Beat that Indictment Fantroy Threatens!

As a Dallas Observer reporter, Miller called Al Lipscomb "Clueless".  That was back when all the Limousine Liberals thought Old Al was just a dumb crook with a heart of gold who always had his hand out.  From the day we learned about Old Al selling out Bachman-NW Highway for a measly bribe from Caligula Nick Rizos, he was no longer a dumb crook to me.  Clueless?  No, Al Lipscomb's just shameless, which explains why he would want a character like James Fantroy to keep his council seat warm.

I've been told not to worry about Old Al going for his old council seat when BTI Fantroy opts not to run due to "health problems".  Supposedly, there's much more hanging over his head, and he knows his limits.  Oh, but were that so.  

Charter review talk focuses on race issue; Mayor surprised by anxieties over possible reallocation of power  11/13/2002   By VICTORIA LOE HICKS / The Dallas Morning News

Mayor Laura Miller told a racially mixed audience Tuesday that she has been surprised by the racial anxieties that have accompanied the charter review process – and black members of the audience said the surprise is that anyone would be surprised. . . .    The event, titled "A Strong Mayor for Dallas: Is Race an Issue," drew a meager crowd that included former City Council member Al Lipscomb. Mr. Lipscomb warned of "riots, burnings and mayhem" as a consequence of concentrating power in the mayor.    When panel member Diana Flores said that, despite being run by a city manager, Dallas had not proved immune to racial violence, Mr. Lipscomb muttered loudly, "Bullcorn." . . .

How dare a convicted felon threaten violence?  How dare a former pimp who enslaved young women and sold them on the streets show his face in public?  

The good news is that Old Al has finally dropped that shuffling personae and is letting the World see he is just an evil, mean old man.  There's no way he can stay out of the limelight even if it means he gets in trouble with the authorities again.  Look what he's got away with so far!  Why should he worry?  

Lipscomb's threat was on my mind as I listened to the council's Wal-Mart debate.  Before they got to Wal-Mart, there was a zoning case in Shakedown Leo Chaney's district.  A large group of African-American homeowners came down to beg the council to turn down a "condo" apartment development.   It was a waste of their time.  There are no longer public hearings on zoning cases at City Hall.

Beat that Indictment James Fantroy told those very articulate, very reasonable homeowners that it pained him, but he didn't want anyone "dipping" in his district regarding zoning cases, and he wasn't going "dipping" in Chaney's district business.  Fantroy used that "dipping" term several times.  The man can barely speak English, but it was quite clear what he meant -- the council should not be concerned with a decision of the Plan Commission.  He said "I'm the elected official."  He said the council should follow the respective council representative's lead in zoning cases.

Translation:  if you have a council member's ear (or you shelled out enough money), you don't have to worry about the Plan Commission, you don't have to lobby the Mayor or the rest of the council.  Fantroy's scenario actually violates State law.  The only way a municipality can have zoning is to have vehicles where you can petition the local government to change or vary that zoning in a public hearing.  A public hearing is not just a staged debate.

I was not the only person to "zone" in on BTI Fantroy's lecture on the new world of zoning at Dallas City Hall.  During the Wal-Mart debate, County Commissioner John Wiley Price flat called out BTI Fantroy on his position of blindly following the lead of the respective council member.

I have gone back and forth on the Wal-Mart case.  I would love to have a handy store like that in Dallas, but I know the area.  The Mockingbird/Lemon intersection is congested almost any hour of any day of any week without a Wal-Mart in the mix.  

The condo owners' objection to the store being near their homes did not move me.  They live in an urban neighborhood right next to a big old ugly store and a rock's throw from Home Depot.  

I don't buy the threat of Wal-Mart causing small stores to close.  It's called competition.  

I sure don't believe the ridiculous claim that a Wal-Mart would bring more crime into the area. 

The traffic problem, however, is real.  There's just no way to get people to and from a Wal-Mart at that location without forcing traffic through nearby neighborhoods.

You should have heard Mayor PreTend Poss playing up to Wal-Mart and the proponents.  She concluded her comments with her new standard -- Dallas is not friendly to business.  When it came to the final vote, Poss voted with the rest of the council in opposition, because she sure did not dispute the Mayor's call of "unanimous".  

The Wal-Mart people should pull a Cinemark.  According to BTI Fantroy, they did not have a hearing before this council.  The decision was made before the council meeting, so there was no hearing.

We must get people on the council who are willing to dare to thwart ward politics.  People on the council who will call Beat that Indictment Fantroy's hand.

If there is a bad zoning case and nearby homeowners don't want it, no council member should go along to get along.  

Commissioner Price talks tough, but here's an issue he should get behind for real.  He justifiably has taken on JP Rose.  He needs to lead the charge to un-do ward politics at City Hall.  He saw today how it can be used to mute the voice of minority homeowners.

Even if the Wal-Mart case should have failed, it should have failed on its merits.  Not because one council member said so.  At least Alan Walne said his opposition was because it was bad zoning.  Fantroy, Thornton-Reese and Poss pretty much said they were for it -- but they bowed to ward politics.  They could have the guts to say "No' when the voice vote was taken.

Of course, some of the other council members could have had the guts to tell BTI Fantroy he was full of something and they would not bow to his threats and trash talk.