| I Thought They Were Better Then This |
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| by Rufus Shaw | Fri, Oct 26, 2007, 11:57 AM |
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Thursday, my wife and I went to vote at the Oak Cliff Sub-Courthouse, our regular early voting location. As we were about to vote, a nice young African-American woman gave us a handout that urged us to vote “yes” on Proposition 1 which is the anti-toll road position. When I looked at the hand-out, I was stunned at its contents. With a picture of Laura Miller at the top, the handout said: “Laura Miller’s toll road has delayed flood protection and economic development in the southern sector for almost 10 years. Laura Miller says we have to have this toll road. We say she’s wrong.” Hold on! I have been writing about the lack of southern sector economic development that was promised to the Black community in this The hand out goes on to say the following: “Vote Yes for flood protection Now. Vote Yes for economic development Now. Vote Yes to stop eminent domain Now. Vote Yes to stop Laura Miller’s toll road Now.” Throughout this campaign, the “Vote Yes” people were supposedly taking the high ground. Some of us begin to wonder just how high their ground was when Roy Williams showed up at City Hall Wednesday praising Angela Hunt and the “Vote Yes” cause. Mr. Williams then went into his regular political theatrics; this time with Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway as his co-star. What had to trouble white north For the “Vote Yes” folks to declare that voting for their park will start southern sector economic development is not only a lie, but also a callous attempt to manipulate the Black electorate. I have been in the forefront of exposing the broken promises the white business community has made to the Black electorate regarding southern sector economic development. And if the Black community does not show up to vote either way in this election it will be in protest of that neglect by the Citizens Council led business community who are supporting the toll road. But the “Vote Yes” people have done nothing to be considered friends of southern sector economic development either. For the “Vote Yes” people to call the toll road “Laura Miller toll road” in their southern sector hand out is disingenuous when you consider that former Mayor Ron Kirk is equally involved in selling the toll road to voters. I say that when many of you know full well I am no fan of Laura Miller. What Angela Hunt and her forces have done in this instance is an attempt to manipulate Black voters in an insulting and degrading manner similar to attempts used by disingenuous white folks in the past. I bet this same handout was not given out at north What this “Laura Miller” hand out in the southern sector tells me is that Angela Hunt and the “Vote Yes” forces are no better then the Citizens Council led business community who the “Vote Yes” folks claim are manipulating the Black electorate to serve their own political ends. By the way, the results of a close inspection of the Black folks involved with the “Vote Yes” effort in the southern sector may surprise north Dallas voters who are supporting the “Vote Yes” cause. At least that is how I see it from South of the Trinity. 
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Comments (29)
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written by David , October 26, 2007 Rufus, The Vote NO! team has been criss-crossing Oak Cliff, telling folks that the road will be an economic boon to the community, and that without it, we'll see no development. That's a lie. The Morning News has said so, and the city's own consultants said so. They are lying to the people of South Dallas to get that toll road. As an Oak Cliff resident myself, I find that far more insulting than the Yes! team invoking Laura Miller, who is very much behind the toll road project.
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written by Gehrig Saldaña , October 26, 2007 Jim Schutze's Tom Leppert Keeps Delivering One Shocker After Another (DallasObserver.com, UnFair Park, 10/25/07) brings up a topic related to the Trinity River Toll Road Referendum on November 6th I have yet to read about in The Dallas Morning News or for that matter, on any televised coverage on this issue. Jim Schutze states: 'In southern Dallas, the Trinity project is one big Laura Miller deal. I was on KHVN-AM ecently with Dwaine Caraway, and I tried, whenever possible, to describe Pave the Trinity as the Laura Miller Laura Miller Laura Miller team. Laura. Miller. Couldn’t resist. It’s just so funny and so weird that they’ve got Miller locked up in the attic of her North Dallas castle like Rochester’s first wife in Jane Eyre. They’re terrified that if black people remember it’s her deal, they’ll turn out in droves to vote against it. That’s what that whole explosion at the city council was about. The subtext beneath Roy Williams’ diatribe against Caraway was: “Dwaine and Laura, sittin’ in a tree…” I confess that I love that.' You know, Jim Schutze brings up an interesting point. I worked in the City of Dallas Park Department & Dallas Police Department for over 33 years in mostly West Dallas and Oak Cliff. I have had many conversations recently with several citizens who live in South Dallas, South Oak Cliff and in the Woods area located west of Duncanville close to the Park in the Woods Recreation Center. When the topic of the Trinity River Toll Road Referendum comes up, you see pained facial expressions on these citizens when they tell you they are not going to vote for the toll road because they know it's a vote for what they describe as "Laura Miller's Deal". I have heard that or similar comments on several occasions. Jim Schutze just might be on to something here. If hiding Laura Miller's accomplishments on the Trinity River Project is part of the Vote No! Pave The Trinity campaign strategy, I say it is not working. The Genie uncorked that bottle a long time ago and the damage is mounting. Equally troublesome are those multiple FBI indictments which netted former black Dallas city council members and several Dallas black community leaders. As to what effect those indictments can be attributed to anticipated low voter turnout projections of 8% or lower by the Dallas County Elections Department is yet to be determined. On another note, my first introduction to toll roads resulted in sad memories. I was born and raised in Dallas in what used to be a vibrant Hispanic community close to downtown Dallas known to many Hispanics and Dallas' citizens as "El Barrio" or "Little Mexico". That vibrant community along with my school (St. Ann's ) from kindergarten up to the 8th grade was demolished to give way to what is now the Dallas North Tollway, which begins on the west entrance to downtown Dallas. Ironically, my neighborhood where I was raised since childhood was destroyed to make way for a toll road that was supposed to relieve traffic congestion for Dallas' citizens who lived just north of Dallas. Now, over 40 years later, here we are again trying to build a toll road inside the Trinity River levees that is supposed to relieve traffic congestion for what seems like the entire North Texas Region. Incidentally, most of the toll road users will not pay their fair share in taxes for the Trinity Toll Road because most of those users will not live in Dallas. The anticipation of yet another Downtown Dallas Toll Road along with the aforementioned sidebar developments reminds me of what my granddaughter used to say when she was younger: 'You Get What You Get And You Don't Throw A Fit'
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written by Nathan , October 26, 2007 Rufus, Two things: 1. Laura Miller was the chief proponent behind the 'Balanced Vision Plan.' Of course you know that Ron Kirk had been gone over a year since this plan was sponsored by Miller and passed by the city council. This plan resembles very little of what Kirk sold and what voters approved in '98. 2. How are the 'yes' people guilty of not providing economic development to the southern sector. Most of us are not business owners or members of the Citizen's Council. the 'Yes' folks have just pointed out that this toll road had held up the project. This project has only two interests for the southern sector; better flood control for those who live near the flood plain and economic development centered around a great public park. A toll road that cannot be developed around because it is in the middle of a flood way will provide neither better flood protection or economic growth. No which side of the Trinity do you live on again?
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written by LH , October 26, 2007 "By the way, the results of a close inspection of the Black folks involved with the “Vote Yes” effort in the southern sector may surprise north Dallas voters who are supporting the “Vote Yes” cause. At least that is how I see it from South of the Trinity." Rufus, could you elaborate on this?
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written by Wylie H. , October 26, 2007 I'm confused. The City's own economic study of the Trinity River project confirmed that the park would deliver economic benefits to South Dallas whereas the Tollroad would not. In other words, it sounds like you're completely off base.
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written by Wylie H. , October 26, 2007 Last I checked, Roy Williams does what he wants and isn't beholden to anyone. I doubt very, very, very seriously that Mr. Williams is being employed by the Vote Yes folks.
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written by El Rey , October 26, 2007 The tollroad is not going to bring economic development to South Dallas. It will create yet another physical and psychological barrier between South Dallas and the folks up North. As one of those people that live South of I-30, I would rather have some actual development and job creation rather than more empty promises from the Dallas Citizens Council and their accomplices. If the money spent on the Vote No campaign was spent rehabilitating just one neighborhood in South Dallas (Frazier, Turner Courts, Joppa, Dixon, Bonton, etc.) we would be moving in the right direction. When are the voters in South Dallas going to get tired of the carrot and stick routine? Remember, the carrot is held out in front to coax the mule forward, but the carrot is always just out of reach. I say Vote Yes to slap the DCC down. I say vote against anything endorsed by the DCC until we see real change in South Dallas!
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written by Sharon Boyd , October 27, 2007 Rufus, Roy Williams is not part of the TrintyVote Yes campaign. Joyce Foreman is part of the campaign. The current configuration of the proposed Trinity River Toll Road is most certainly Laura Miller's road. She brought in the experts and got the road moved to the East side of the river, rather than split running along both levees. It never made sense to put the road inside the levees, whether on one side or both sides. Ron Kirk may be supporting the toll road, but he had nothing to do with the change that puts all lanes on the east side. Laura Miller gets all the credit or blame, depending on your perspective -- but the current configuration is most definitely her baby. I am proud of Joyce and Angela for taking the campaign right back in the face of the suits and chamber of commerce zombies who have been lying through their teeth about the consequences of a YES vote. No one in the TRINITY VOTE YES campaign has anything to gain monetarily or politically from this fight. It is refreshing to see this kind of passion in Dallas, to see citizens working their rears off to keep Mayor Leppert from paving the Trinity.
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written by RB , October 27, 2007 Yes, Wylie - it's the park without the tollroad that brings us together and that brings economic development to South Dallas - there is virtually no question about it. And yes Rufus, I would like to take the high road as well but it is the vote no folks that took the fight into the gutter and I don't want to loose because I am unwilling to take the fight where ever they go
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written by Brown Bess , October 27, 2007 Rufus - what else is in play here? This "Yes" flyer seems totally reasonable to me for all the reasons everyone else has listed plus more. So what's your outrage really about?
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written by Rufus Shaw , October 27, 2007 The handout falsely states that "Laura Miller's tollroad has delayed flood protection and economic development in the Southern Sector for almost 10 years." That is a lie designed to mislead the Black electorate into voting yes for the wrong reason. Yet, I don't see any of Angela Hunt's followers willing to comment on that fact and take responsiblity for it being misleading. I have been very critical of the Vote No! folks who claim southern sector economic development will come with the toll road. I am equally critical of Vote Yes! people who claim that a vote yes will bring southern sector economic development. I am surpirsed and disappointed that Angela Hunt has not denounced the handout as misleading. By not doing so, she appears to be no different then any other white politician who wants the Black vote but who has nothing to offer the Black community in return. The Vote Yes! forces have campagined all along on how much the Vote No! people have misled the public on this issue. Now when it comes time to vote, the Vote Yes! people are using the same misleading tactics to misinform the Black community. But none of you who write in on blogs vigorously defending Angela Hunt and your cause seem to care what the cause does to get the Black vote. I will say this again. Before you start blindly endorsing the get out the vote actions of the Vote Yes! forces, you had better take a look at the Black folks running their southern sector campaign and what they are doing in the name of Vote Yes!
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written by Sharon Boyd , October 27, 2007 Rufus, The toll road has delayed the entire Trinity River Project. They can't figure out a way to do it, so nothing else significant is being done until they have a firm toll road plan. It's been 10 years for heaven's sake. It's OK for you to be for the toll road and supportive of the VOTE NO! pavers, but just come out and say it. Unlike the Mayor and the other Chamber of Commerce zombies, people on the VOTE YES side believe in democracy and independent thought. We don't begrudge you and Lynn supporting the Mayor. He's been very supportive of Lynn. It's pretty to lame to make an issue of this flyer after all the outright lies the Mayor stands up and spews at every debate. The VOTE YES team is not only having to fight against all the ODB (Our Downtown Betters) money, but this Mayor and council have forced city employees like Rebecca Dugger to campaign against Prop 1. If you are against Prop 1, just state your case and try to change someone's mind. That's what you do best.
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written by Wylie H. , October 27, 2007 OK, I'll bite... so who are these "Black folks running their southern sector campaign and what (are they) doing in the name of Vote Ves!"
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written by Southern Sector Observer , October 27, 2007 A quick reminder, Ed Oakley grabbed more votes in the southern sector recently by sending out exploitative mailers. The recent post on the Observer by Matt Pulle is a little more insightful. Why should Ms. Hunt stand and take sucker punches from Leppert and his paid souther sector vote mercenaries? They shouldn't take it, unless they are more worried about offending Rufus Shaw! Tom Leppert certainly isn't! Say Rufus, didn't you way that this was not Tom's fight, that it was Miller's and Kirk's? Rufus, why is this vote about extorting something from the white community on behalf of the black community? Either there is going to be a toll road in the southern sector or there isn't. It's going to be either yes or no. If you think Angela Hunt has something tangible to offer your side of town you are crazy, regardless of what your her mailer says. If you think Tom, Laura, Ron and whoever the hell else is giving us this toll road is going to altruistically bring good fortune upon southern neighborhoods, you are crazy , regardless of their mailers say! In short, and I know this is hard for Dallas voters of all races and backgrounds to get into their cerebral goo, we need to vote on what is best for our community. Remember, Tom Leppert did not want you to vote to begin with.
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written by Rufus Shaw , October 27, 2007 Sharon, I have been consistently upfront in calling out the Vote No! folks for misrepresenting the economic benefit of the toll road for the southern sector. So, now that I am critical of the Vote Yes! people for having an equally misleading handout about the supposed economic benefits to the southern sector by voting yes I am now all of a sudden supposed to be a supporter of the Vote No! cause? I am disappointed in the Vote Yes! people who refuse to admit that this handout is a mistake. Instead you all continue to point fingers and denigrate anybody who does not agree with you. If I was supporter of the Vote NO! cause you or nobody else would have to remind be to say so. I am certainly not bashful. To suggest that Angela Hunt and Joyce Foreman are taking it to the streets in the southern sector is laughable. The only reason they are even able to hold meetings in the southern sector is because the major Black political players are bascily ignoring them. I personally think that is a mistake but I am not involved in the Vote No! campaign effort. To suggest that I am is an insult to me. Had I been with them, you and everybody else would certainly know it.
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written by David , October 27, 2007 Mr. Shaw, Vote No! is lying about the economic benefits of the toll road in southern Dallas. They are selling folks South of the Trinity a bill of goods. Vote Yes! is saying that because of this ridiculous toll road, other parts of the project have been held up. That is true. It's also true that any economic benefit will come from the park and, hopefully for the southern sector, a low-speed park road.
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written by joseph raines , October 27, 2007 Rufus, one can read through all that you write and it seems that you have given the Vote No folks a walk yet seem outraged at the Vote Yes side. As one person wrote earlier, if you are a Vote No person, just 'fess up to it and move on! Joseph "Vote Yes" Raines
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written by Branden Helms , October 28, 2007 Rufus, allow me to give you some facts on the issue. First, some of the city's own economists and consultants have said that there is no economic development stemming from the tollroad, except for a small portion near 183 and 35. (BTW, that is property owned by the Stemmons and Hunt family, some of the biggest players in the Citizens Council) Those same experts did say the greatest economic generator comes from the park, up and down the Trinity on both sides. Second, you can't design anything until the road design is complete. If we decided to build our lakes 5 years ago, which is impossible for a reason given in a moment, while waiting for the road, we would be screwed today. The Army Corps of Engineers moved the road off of the levees two years ago. If the lakes had been built prior, it would have been money and time wasted as they would have likely needed to move. Until that road design and alignment is finalized, most of the park is in a state of limbo. Elements like the equestrian center and the chain of wetlands that do not border the turnpike are moving forward today starting the economic stimulus the park promises. Third, like the park elements, flood control can not move forward until the road design and alignment are finalized. The reason is simple. How are we going to raise the levees and extend them when we don't know how it will tie in to the road? Also, where will the dirt come from? If the road is voted out, the dirt shall come from the lakes. If it is not, it will have to come from somewhere else. The uncertainty is killing a lot of things in this entire project. So yes, the road is holding back economic development for the southern sector, but the other side of the river as well. And yes, the road is delaying flood protection down the river. While I may not be in favor of calling it the Laura Miller tollroad, it was her prompting that produced the "design" of the current proposal.
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written by Roger Herrera , October 28, 2007 The same old thing year after year. It's time for a real change at City Hall!
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written by Pappa 1 , October 29, 2007 Who is Joesph Raines? A GAY POLITICAL ACTIVIST with no Power?
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written by Richie Sheridan , October 29, 2007 Laura Miller brought in "World Class" planners with PRIVATE FASCIST MONEY to create the proposed Tollway Highway. From Schutze "Road Rage" article: 'Well, this week she admits it. Last week, not so much. Since Hunt announced her referendum campaign, Miller has insisted in speeches and a radio debate that the current design is perfect, created and endorsed by experts "from Harvard" and from Seattle, whom she hired under a private, undisclosed contract to design the biggest public amenity in the city's history." According to Sandy Grayson, former city council transportion chair, Miller & Co. forced these experts, over their objections, to make the Tollway inside the levee "work" so it could be sold to the voters. It is common knowledge that Laura Miller is a LIAR, and the Trinity River Plan is the BIGGEST LIE TO BE MADE TO THE DALLAS PUBLIC! Tom Leppert is continuing the lying tradition. Remember, fascism is when government gets together with big business, with the monied interests, and they work against us, against we the people.
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written by joseph raines , October 29, 2007 Pappa 1, I am in fact a gay man and proud of it. As for power, one does not have to have a position in city government in order to voice an opinion. I happen to like Laura Miller -- I just don't agree with her and the Vote No Pave the Trinity folks. Why don't you all focus on the message, not the messenger?
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written by chippy , October 29, 2007 "I personally think that is a mistake but I am not involved in the Vote No! campaign effort. To suggest that I am is an insult to me. Had I been with them, you and everybody else would certainly know it. " That isn't what you were accused of, Rufus. You were accused of supporting it, not "being involved in it." Can you unequivocally say you don't support Vote No? It would help everyone understand where you're coming from.
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written by Joey McIntire , October 29, 2007 Hey Rufus, http://www.ci.dallas.tx.us/cso/camp-fin/Friends-of-Tom-Leppert-STA.pdf Will you now acknowledge your true bias since your wife is the TREASURER for FRIENDS OF TOM LEPPERT? No wonder you wanted Foreman out as DART chair -- so your wife could take her place. Any credibility you had just flew out the window.
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written by Neal K , October 29, 2007 Richie Sheridan - I think you might be more comfortable at a little website called democraticunderground.com. It's more your speed.
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written by john k. , October 29, 2007 When it all shakes out Joyce, Lynn, Angela, Sandy, Rufus, and Roy will get together over at Marvin's house and blame it on the new Mayor or the Old Mayor. That is, after the election in November. Remember, free bus rides on DART on Election Day, November 6th.
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written by Ken Olberman , October 30, 2007 Richie.. "Private facist money"? Sounds so Rovish. Ken Olberman Write comment
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