Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

One of the most interesting, and what has turned out to be close, elections is now exactly 8 weeks away.

If you need to register to vote, do so. If you have recently moved and your voter registration card has not been updated, you can now do that ONLINE and the information will be forwarded to your county’s election office and they will mail you a new voter registration card. All you need is your Texas Drivers License and your current voter registration card.

Since it takes about 30 days for the new/updated voter registration card to get to you, act fast so that you can take advantage of that special option we get in Texas to vote early!

>>>>>Click here to Register or Update your voter registration card!<<<<<

Kudos to the group that has put together the initiative to save Ross Avenue.

A group of Hispanic activists demanded that Industrial Boulevard be renamed for Cesar Chavez - an activist that did good for California farm laborers; however, Chavez was NOT from Dallas let alone Texas.

The Dallas City Council opted to not rename Industrial for Chavez so now the activists are demanding that Ross Avenue be renamed. You know Ross Avenue? That major street between Live Oak, crosses Greenville Avenue, DISD headquarters, major high rises, the entire Arts District down to the West End. Yeah, that little no name street is the one that the activists fancy that the time has come to rename. To hell with Dallas history. To hell with the Ross Brothers who the street was named after. Let’s name it after some guy that isn’t even from here.

For far too long, those of that are natives of this city have stood by while newcomers, politicians, activists, etc., have tried to rewrite our history. Well, we’ve had enough.

Let’s support the group that is working to ensure that Ross Avenue will remain Ross Avenue for a very long time.

Save Ross Avenue Website
Sign the Save Ross Avenue Petition

The Dallas County Commissioners have issued a warning to Sheriff Lupe Valdez: stop all plans for documentary filming in the jail or face a legal injunction.

The Commissioners unanimously agreed to issue a temporary restraining order against the Sheriff and The Discovery Channel. The cable operation planned to film a documentary on the operation of the county jail.

At a Tuesday afternoon news conference, the sheriff stated that she conferred with her legal advisors and that the shooting was green lighted. She signed a contract without the approval of the Commissoners Court and, according to state law, she is within her rights to do so since the taping would not intefere with the public or the running of jail business.

Valdez has been under a firestorm of criticism regarding her running of the jails and she felt that Discovery’s shooting would help document the improvements that have happened on her watch. And to note, this is her first term and she’s Dallas’s first woman / lesbian sheriff who was elected under the landslide of Democratic appointees in the last elections.

Dallas County already faces legal fights regarding the condition of the jail and treatment of inmates. They have prohibited access to other entities and apparently had no knowledge of the documentary plans.

Stevie Ray Vaughan is the pride & joy of Dallas. He was born here, raised in Oak Cliff and his final resting place is at Laurel Land Cemetery.

After much uproar over Industrial possibly being named for Cesar Chavez, a man who is not a Texan, the feedback has been amazing from the local community asking for Stevie Ray Vaughan to be honored.

You are welcome to sign the petition also and let your friends know that their signatures are needed ASAP!

The petition asking for the City of Dallas to implement designated motorcycle/scooter parking is still going strong.

With more than 860 signatures in less than 3 weeks, it is still going strong with a decent amount of media attention and the City of Dallas is beginning to pay attention to this situation BUT more signatures are still needed.

So please take time to sign the petition and let your friends know about it as well!

http://www.petitiononline.com/dallasbp/petition.html

The state of Texas will pay the US Bowling Congress $693,000 from the Texas Enterprise Fund to spur it to relocate its headquarters from Greendale, Wis., near Milwaukee, Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s office announced.

The enterprise fund award was the last hurdle stopping the organization, which sets the rules and keeps records for amateur bowling in the United States.

The group is expected to set up headquarters near the HQ of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, which is on Six Flags Drive in Arlington.

Its new headquarters, is expected to house 200 employees and a 12 to 16-lane bowling facility for testing equipment and training.

Though the property sale of the site hasn’t cleared, the agents involved in the transaction on behalf of the Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors Association of America say the competitive real estate market in North Texas helped clinch the deal.

Besides the enterprise fund incentives, Arlington’s proposal included:

* a 50% tax abatement on property improvements made to the building site;
* work force training;
* a cash rebate of some money generated through Arlington’s hotel tax as a result of Bowling Congress-related events.

The bowling deal brings North Texas one step closer to becoming a sports hub, in light of Dallas being home to the Mavericks and the Stars, and Arlington being home to the Texas Rangers and the future home to the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium.

Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.

Will Rogers