12/09/02  Police Officer Sides with Mike Watson

Mr. Watson's response reads as if it was copied and pasted from "DallasArena.com".

He states: "Jim Schutze and his cohorts are sensationalistic journalists whose jobs are to get your attention with hard hitting stories and possibly garner a few awards along the way".  The Mayor also had the same job a few years back.

He says "people either don't remember or choose to forget".  While I will agree this is true, does he forget the Mayor's campaign promises about putting potholes, public safety and parks first?  Only to have her do a 180 and put big budget items first on the ballot such as multi million dollar bond proposals (in such bad economic times) that include a unnecessary park in the middle of downtown. 

He complains about the rampant crime in his neighborhood and police helicopters searching for criminals, but then state that "if you think she (the Mayor) doesn't want to fix the potholes or give the police raises, you're kidding yourself". Really?  

Then why does the Mayor continue to attack public safety officers and civilian employees who affect basic services on such a unprecedented and vindictive basis?  She has, and is, going after city employees in many ways such as campaigning against pay raises after she promised to fight for them, trying to eliminate step increases, SIP pay, vacation and sick time accumulation, going after city employees pension benefits, and apparently trying to destroy any city employee's moral and desire to continue to work for this city. 

Think for a minute what it will be like when many city employees leave for greener pastures rather than be treated like dirt by the Mayor and council any longer.

Finally, Mr. Roberts talks about his neighborhood activities and businesses coming back downtown.  

Please, why would anyone want to come back downtown when basic services (that the Mayor promised) cannot be provided due to attacks on city employees and further cuts in benefits by a vindictive Mayor and council? 

There are simply not enough people to do the job and not enough money to go around, but the Mayor wants to build a brand spanking new park near downtown.  

Forget about the trash man picking up your trash twice a week, what happens when there aren't enough police to answer your call for help in under two hours? 

How about when there aren't enough ambulances to go around? Much less having those potholes fixed as promised by the mayor.

Kojak (name withheld due to fear of retaliation by an incompetent chief of police)

Editor's comment:  DallasArena.com is not a chat room, but well-written opinions will be published from time in response to articles.  The Downtown Park was a "think tank" idea that has been put on a wish list.  It will not be in the Bond Package, which will be much more bare bones than recent DMN or Dallas Observer stories would lead you to believe.  Kojak and other officers have a right to resent the Mayor for switching sides on their pay increase, but no one knew last Fall what a mess things were in at City Hall.  Only that Former Mayor and the City MisManager were privy to the disaster looming -- one's gone and the other should have been fired this year.  The officers should put Ted Benavides first on their hate list.  sb