| Black Power Blowout At City Hall |
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| by Rufus Shaw | Thu, Jul 12, 2007, 04:37 PM |
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The city council is off for the month of July but that has not stopped the new council’s first major racial political fight from taking center stage in the Black community. The fight pits DART Board member, Joyce Foreman, against any City Council person who is opposing her re-appointment to the DART Board. What makes this fight significant is if Ms. Foreman‘s tactics are successful, we might get some early insight into the new Leppert administration. Joyce Foreman is a big time community activist and she is well versed in political infighting where the usage of race and gender are political tactics. Ms. Foreman’s political style has been characterized as aggressive and confrontational. For example, during the mayoral campaign, Ms. Foreman publicly professed outrage for then candidate Tom Leppert and the Black folks who supported him. Now, it is her style and approach to getting re-appointed that has brought into question whether or not this new council needs or wants Joyce Foreman to represent the city of Dallas at DART. Immediately after the new council was sworn in, there were questions about Joyce Foreman’s DART Board appointment. Ms. Foreman is depending on the Black community to get her re-appointed. Despite that fact, questions raised by some Black business people and some Black political leaders are at the heart of Ms. Foreman’s re-appointment problems. It seems DART voting records will show that Ms. Foreman’s style did not always serve the best interest of the Black community. I am a firm believer that confrontational political tactics are sometimes necessary. I also know the tactic can be overused and disingenuously applied. Ms. Foreman quickly embarked on a campaign to get the 8 votes from the City Council necessary to ensure her re-appointment. Ms. Forman’s first move was to issue a threat that any white person who opposed her did so out of racism. She then went on to criticize Council members, Tennell Atkins and Dwaine Caraway, because they both had expressed some reservations about re-appointing Ms. Foreman. Ms. Foreman declared that she would remove both councilmen from office after their first term if they refused to support her. I seriously doubt she has that kind of power. However, in order to bolster her argument against the two Black councilmen, she alleged that this was a conspiracy between two Black men to remove a Black woman. For whites who opposed Ms. Foreman’s appointment, it was about race, even though a Black man is being considered for her replacement. For the two Black men who expressed reservations, it was about gender even though the other Black women on the DART board up for re-appointment, Lynn Flint-Shaw and Pamela Dunlop Gates, have the support of both Mr. Atkins and Mr. Caraway. Mr. Atkins and some of the council members who are supporting Ms. Foreman will vigorously deny that they are being forced to support Ms. Foreman because of racial and community pressure. But if that were true, she would not be using the tactic in the first place. The story that got around to some white council members is that if Joyce Foreman was not re-appointed to the DART Board, the Black community would descend upon city hall to protest her not getting the appointment. In 2007 should that threat really bother a City Council representing a city seeking to become one of the world’s greatest cities? Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway is incensed that Joyce Foreman would attempt to bully him and the new council with threats of community unrest if she is not re-appointed. In addition to threats, Ms. Foreman has publicly called Dwaine Caraway a number of names that I cannot repeat in this column. Is this simply a personal fight between Mr. Caraway and Ms. Foreman? No. I think this is about power. I believe veteran community activists like Joyce Foreman feel that their years of service to the community should exempt them from a rigorous city council approval process and the need to get approval from the likes of Tennell Atkins and Dwaine Caraway. Still, all board and commission members serve at the pleasure of the City Council. I am sure Joyce Foreman has supporters in the community that will go to a city council meeting to lobby on her behalf. But the Black community has far too many issues that will need the attention of the new council to waste too much political capital on any one individual’s re-appointment. In the past I have written positively about Joyce Foreman in this column. But I disagree with how she is handling this issue. However, if Joyce Foreman is able to scare this new City Council into re-appointing her, than more power to Joyce Foreman. At least that is how I see it from South of the Trinity. 
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Comments (15)
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written by Michael Davis , July 13, 2007 "the Black community has far too many issues that will need the attention of the new council to waste too much political capital on any one individual’s re-appointment" Well said, Rufus.
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written by Sharon Boyd , July 13, 2007 You know, Dwaine got elected by 60%. Tennell won a tough runoff. I can't imagine anyone thinking they can take out an incumbent in either district. Even an incompetent like Maxine T-Reese held on to her seat for 8 years. I like Joyce Foreman, but board and commission appointments are not entitlements. They are honors bestowed by elected officials. This is a new council and will have a new agenda. If Joyce gets 8 votes, she stays on the DART Board. There is no reason to retaliate or threaten a council member not supporting her.
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written by Gehrig Saldana , July 14, 2007 You'd think a tenured community activist would understand board and commission appointments originate through the election process. A large majority of Dallas' voters in 2007 do not endorse the kind of lobby activity Joyce Foreman has engaged. This (Leppert administration) council better understands the power of the collective single vote.
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written by Jonathan Green , July 15, 2007 Joyce Foreman does not have the power to sway enough Black voters to impact Mr. Carraway or Mr. Atkins. Nevertheless, my issue with Ms. Foreman is alledging racism. It seems that alleging racism will make a mass of people lean towards your flight with pity. In the grand schema of things that does not work in many cases today. Yes, racism is still prevelent however, to allege racism without merit to the fact does make Ms. Foreman appear singenuous. This council appears to be set on governing without the distractions of a hostile leader seeking personal gain; Laura Miller. Ms. Foreman appears to be playing off the bully tactic that may have had some power in the Miller era but not in the Leppert era.
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written by Lead Them, Do Not “Poll” Them , July 15, 2007 Lead Them, Do Not “Poll” Them Today’s Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1–5 Key Verse: 2 Timothy 4:3–4 The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. Are you a leader in the church? Do not try to lead sheep by following sheep. You cannot do both. You either will lead them and do what God has ordained for you to do, or you will scratch their “itching ears” by following their every whim and wish and end up somewhere else. Politicians try this ploy all the time, and with disastrous results for the electorate. They wake up in the morning and check the opinion polls to find out what their “firm opinions” will be that day! These so-called leaders are simply handing out sweets to win approval. This is not leadership; this is candy distributorship. You do an injustice to the people who follow you if you do not lead them. God always gives His anointed leaders a “mantle” or special ability to do the job He assigns them. It may be tough sometimes, but to do anything less than lead is to rank the God who chose you as second-rate Himself! The same principle holds true in the home, on the job, and in the community. Are you leading or following those God placed under your authority? Today's Prayer: Lord, the only opinion I need to heed is Your opinion as revealed in Your Word, in prayer, and by direct revelation. I will listen to the opinions and wishes of others, but I will make my decisions on the solid bedrock of Your unchanging Word. In Jesus’ name I pray
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written by rene Martinez , July 16, 2007 Joyce Foreman has done a great job on the DART board and merits to not only be re-appointed but is pending to be Chair. She and other minority board members of the DART baord forged with Anglo members a critical coalition that gave an unprecedented number of contracts to minority contractors and vendors. I would hope that for the sake of this continued progress, she is re-appointed and hopefully elected to be Chair. AS someone who was appointed the the Dallas Parks Board and Dallas Planning Commission (and later elcted Vice President of both Boards), Ms. Foreman understands the dynamics of the appointment process. I would hope that mayor pro tem Carraway and CM Atkins support Ms. Foreman...for the good of the entire community.
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written by frank monk , July 16, 2007 Yes, Rene Joyce does good with minority contractors but that is all the boghies in this city are concerned with. Forget about the ridership and the crime and the route service and rates. I hear nothing from any of you, when are the people going to stand up to this elite ruling class of minorities. Joyce is too confrtatnional. The spoils go to the victors. Since when are the council members or the the mayor supposed to reappoint someone who openly opposed them during an election. This spoils process is all that candidates have to nuetralize people like Joyce who openly supported a mayorial candidate , was on his payroll and then wants the mayor's victory vote. It should go to people who supported the victors.
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written by Dallas Perfect Voter , July 17, 2007 Can we, Dallas, try to focus on appointing Board & Commission members who have the requisite qualifications? Playing the race card solely has kept this city divided for far too long. Appointments based on politics perpetuated by threats and ostracism only serves the interests of those who perpetuate such behavior, and such politics does nothing in any tangible form in support of a qualified transportation policy process (which is the real work of the DART Board). City Board and Commission appointments should evaluated on the qualifications and experience and background of each appointee, along with (if they are an incumbent) their effectiveness on the Board they have served. DART has serious and mission critical and financially complicated work to do on behalf of the citizens of Dallas and the DFW region. Appointments for such Boards should be based on merit and subject matter expertise, and the Council appointments should reflect the diversity of our city (which makes sure you have proper representation of interests and resources). All Board members have a sworn duty to uphold and protect the interests of ALL the citizens of Dallas - and not their own interests. Good governance demands nothing less. Perhaps it is time for the city to do professional governance training and set better standards.
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written by Shawn Williams , July 17, 2007 I'm not sure that "the Black community would descend upon city hall to protest her not getting the appointment," but it is a pretty bold claim if Ms. Foreman made it. One that I can't see at this juncture. This is exactly what we don't need in Dallas and in the Black Community. I agree with Rufus when he said "I am a firm believer that confrontational political tactics are sometimes necessary." But each time these tactics are used (rightly or wrongly) takes away from the next. I got my eye on this one.
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written by me and mine , July 17, 2007 to perfect voter and shawn williams this is not a fight in the black community. No one is going to converge upon the city to protest joyce foreman, especially DART bus riders and employees. She may have a few friends to come but i doubt even that because this is purely a personal issue among black politicos and even her friends will not risk being on the wrong side Frank was right spoils go to victors This is an attempt by rufus shaw to get his wife appoointed chair of the DART board. Only the minority contractors looking for favors are concerned with having a black chairman. Let's get real this a political appointment perfect voter and all of the mess that goes with it. It is only being made public to get shaw's wife in a beeter poistion to take foremans' bid for chairmanship.
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written by Michael Davis , July 17, 2007 I doubt Rufus has some agenda about reporting this topic. Unlike most reporters, he always does his disclosures upfront. He didn't make the issue, he just wrote about it...and there's no reason he can't report on it.
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written by very concerned , July 18, 2007 To all you J.Foreman doubters, please look at the work she has done for the community,the transit riders,and the public she serves.No one complained when Joyce stood up and was fighting for equal representation on the transit agency 2030 plan,fare increases,support ing the disable, and elderly that depends on public transportation.So please ask yourself why is Ms. Foreman a issue all of a sudden,when she has not been an issue in the past? Politics as usual.Be careful of what you believe
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written by Voter , July 18, 2007 No one is disputing the record of past of Joyce Forman, what is in question is her tactics. Are the tactics necessary? I do not know Ms. Shaw, however, I can probably safely say her record speaks for itself. And knowing the background of Mr. Shaw and the community he arises from its a clear indicator she is a for real individual. In conclusion, I agree with Mr. Davis, Rufus does indeed do his research before putting his column in print.
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written by bettyculbreath , July 28, 2007 When will Black people realize when the Power change, people change. Joyce Foreman's candidate lost the election that was her key to reappointment. The new Mayor and Council can and should appoint who they want to any Board and Commission. Joyce Foreman's history of using race for everything wrong in Dallas , time has passed. The Lancaster DART Station has crime and killings minority on minority crime/DART police out of control there are more issues at DART then minority contract. I know Joyce and Lynn Flint Shaw both women and have worked in this community. However Lynn Flint-Shaw would make the best Chair of the DART Board because she is open to the general public does her homework and is out and about in the Community when there is no election. She and I went head to head in debate during the Strong Mayor election and at the end of the night she always had a smile and hug.Lynn is a person that can separate issues from personal feeling's we need more people like Lynn to make 14-1 work ,she understands that it takes all people with different ideas and political backgrounds to make Dallas and DART work. Write comment
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