| This Is Interesting |
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| by Rufus Shaw | Fri, Jul 20, 2007, 01:12 PM |
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Political watchers are usually interested in anything relevant about the future of former mayoral candidate, Don Hill. I have the latest update on Mr. Hill and his new business venture. There is also a surprising development in the behind the scenes Black power battle over the appointment of DART Board member, Joyce Foreman. Together both stories will hopefully give us all some insight into Don Hill’s new business venture is called FOCUS, LLC. This is not a law practice but a consulting firm specializing in everything having to do with southern sector politics and economic development. Many of us felt that Don Hill would accept a lucrative law partnership while he pondered his political future. Instead, Mr. Hill chose this venture so he could keep the political team together that handled his mayoral run. This new firm will face some very stiff competition from other mayor political players who do the same thing in the Black community. First, there are those political players who do their own consulting and promotion. The best at that is probably Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway who was a consultant before being elected. Mr. Caraway is already off and running by hosting a crime prevention and intervention function for area youth at city hall on July 28th. Caraway has police and former gang members lined up to tell their stories at 10a.m. Saturday. This is precisely the kind of activity companies like FOCUS, LLC will hope to get paid for doing. Then there is the Willis Johnson Group. This is the Black consulting group who successfully handled Mayor Tom Leppert’s southern sector campaign. And then of course, the John Price group that features Kathy Neely as their paid consultant is still in business and competitive as long as Mr. Price is the commissioner. With Don Hill out of office, FOCUS, LLC has no major political benefactor. Granted, Mayor Leppert may help Mr. Hill’s group some, but the Willis Johnson Group will probably get the bulk of Mayor Leppert’s southern sector consulting largess and they should. Mr. Hill’s best early bet is probably to get the southern sector political piece for City Councilwoman Angela Hunt’s Trinity Referendum vote. Mr. Hill, as of this writing, is still the only major Black political player supporting Ms. Hunt’s effort to remove the toll road from the Trinity River Project. This would be a nice test for FOCUS, LLC. Last week, I reported on the battle DART Board member Joyce Foreman is waging to keep her seat on the DART Board. According to Black City Council members, Ms. Foreman has attempted to intimidate members of the council into supporting her re-appointment. However, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and a number of City Council members are leading the charge to replace Ms. Foreman with Black corporate executive, Eddie Reeves. Historically, Black corporate executives are frowned on by the Black community when it comes to representing the Black community’s interest on city boards. In the past Black executives were more concerned with their jobs and what white folks would think of them if they were outspoken on behalf of the Black community. Although Mr. Reeves is not near as well known in the Black community as Ms. Foreman and this appointment is not a Black district appointment, if appointed Mr. Reeves has promised to be a strong advocate for the Black community. In order to counter Mr. Reeves’ growing acceptance at City Hall and the negative publicity Ms. Foreman has gotten for her scare tactics, I have been told by people inside the negotiations that Joyce Foreman has now enlisted the help of former Mayor Laura Miller! I find that incredible and a sign of political desperation if it is true. I mean even the white mayoral candidates would not ask or accept Laura Miller’s help in a hotly contested mayor’s race because of the fear of a backlash from the Black community. So, how could Joyce Foreman accept the help of Laura Miller and not alienate the legion of community activists and Black political players she has asked to help her? How does Laura Miller explain her involvement in a campaign where Ms. Foreman has threatened racial unrest as one of her campaign promises if she is not re-appointed? For the record, I am not anti-Joyce Foreman. But I don’t agree with her divisive tactics especially when we are all supposed to be giving the new mayor and city council a chance to put the city on a world class course. At least that is how I see it from South of the Trinity.
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Comments (9)
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written by Roger H , July 21, 2007 Mr. Shaw, you speak of "Black" power, during the recent mayoral campaign, I only saw GREEN power. At least that's the way I see it looking at the Trinity, minus the Alford burned down warehouse.
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written by Voter on the Southern Side , July 21, 2007 Roger H; it apparent your focus and your perceptions about what happens in the Black Community are so distorted one wonders where you are from. Money is in the Souther Sector believe me when I tell you that. Also, good move by Mr. Carrawy to appoint Mr. Reeve. Also, it is indeed a desparte move by Joyce seeking Laura in a Covert manner to put in a word for her. Is'nt this the mentality from the historical institution of slavery, sell out? Um.. Mr. Shaw I applaud the works of the Carraway consulting group, however, I cannot recall any community work by the Price group other than now being supportive of Republicans and probadly taking their money. Nevertheless, Mr. Price time has run dry. Mr. Hill will be back and prehaps take a stronger approach to replacing Eddie Bernice Johnson or on a smaller scare unseating Mr. Price. Michael Davis was doing a decent job writing whatever happen to him?
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written by Michael Davis , July 22, 2007 Voter, I'm still around...I've just been working on behind the scenes on various issues to southern Dallas with a focus on District Four. I'm just 33 so I prefer to get in where I fit and respect those who are on the frontline. I've seen first hand how Dwaine has worked through his entire Council vacation; Carolyn Davis in District Seven has also. Things are going to improve in the southern sector and all of Dallas. I believe it.
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written by Sharon Boyd , July 22, 2007 It is encouraging to see the new sophistication of Southern Dallas politics. We've been waiting for this generation to step up to the plate. For too long, a handful of geezers held onto their power base with a grip that choked the life out of any optimism for real change south of the Trinity or in Pleasant Grove. I am more optimistic about this new council than about anything at City Hall in a long time. When we vote down the Trinity Toll Road in November, we can focus on the real world where we all live, which needs serious attention. Agree with Mike about Dwaine's potential. Dwaine lost several hard council races, but kept working to make his community better by keeping heat on hot sheet motels down there.
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written by Roger H , July 23, 2007 I meant no disrespect. I wanted to communicate that Don Hill came in third, and Mr. Opka came in last, and they are both very qualified. The Dallas Black political community is divided. I welcome the political advancement of Blacks. I think Judge Hill and Dep Mayor Pro Tem Caraway, and the other new council members, will serve our city well.
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written by asmith , July 23, 2007 Mr. Shaw, I wouldn't exactly call Willis Johnson's southern sector effort on the campaign successful. They did make Oakley fight for every vote. I think Staubach did more for Leppert than Willis Johnson. I think they are getting way to much credit for Leppert. But maybe more development along I-20 will happen.
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written by Henry , July 25, 2007 As an black resident in Oak Cliff, I am not impressed with the "new guard" in terms of representation of our interests in Dallas. I long for the day when we have some truly fresh, progressive ideas and perspectives in City Hall. We need independent thinking, not group-think. Enough of the "Black political player" talk -- it is 2007 -- we need to get our acts together. There is a wealth of intelligent, forward-thinking, well-educated black folk who could make a positive difference for our side of the Trinity. Let's encourage those people to get more involved.
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written by me and mine , July 27, 2007 interesting that the black men have not asked for equity with three black women on the board. I have no problem with corporate blacks serving on city boards at least reeves choose to live in dallas as opposed to many of his contemporaries who move to the burbs and turn their backs on the poor black community that they left. plus pamela gates the one black female that you do not hear of on this blog was the last appointed and should be the one who has to go instead of giving up the seniority that foreman has achieved. are any of you tired of rufus tactics using laura miller as the boogie man? if anything laura is out helping shaw get rid of joyce because the two queen bees never got along. rufus, the queen is dead so come up withsomething else1 isn't everybody for me and mine
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written by Shawn Williams , August 02, 2007 We have got to "recruit" more educated black middle class types back to Dallas. I don't think it is a popular stance, but it is a necessary one. The worst culprits are native Dallasites. So many of my friends went to Skyline, Kimball, and Carter, yet they live in Grand Prairie, Cedar Hill and Flower Mound. There are plenty of undeveloped spots in southern Dallas where these families could get the big houses and backyards they crave, especially in Districts 3 & 8. I'm talking $200-$350K type housing. Mr. Davis and I are an exception as far as moving into Southern Dallas. My wife and I have been here almost 2 years. For it to get better we need to get more families down here (or will we get more families down here when we make it better?) BTW, Mike and Dwaine are doing the thang! Keep it up. Write comment
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