Ephesians 4:11

God’s plan for the church and his people.

Find what you l…

Think about it.

Tony Brown Faire's Blog

Find what you love and then do it with a passion.

View original post

Find what you l…

Find what you love and then do it with a passion.

Making history: DeSoto ISD’s youngest school board member

By TONY BROWN FAIRE
The Dallas Examiner

There is a new voice in DeSoto Independent School District. On May 9, history was made in as 20-year-old Warren Seay Jr. became school district’s youngest school board member ever.

Seay, who is a Political Science student at Southern Methodist University, started his campaign with a donation of $5 and the belief that change was needed to win the election.

He pulled down 776 votes to earn a decisive win over Susan Bryza and Amed Clinton in the race for Place 6. Incumbent, former Trustee Don McKinley did not seek re-election, “leaving a wide open race,” according to the Best Southwestern Citizen.

The Institute for Responsible Citizenship stated, “Warren Seay is a Ray and Nancy Ann Hunt Leadership Scholar at Southern Methodist University, where he majors in Political Science. Warren serves as a big brother in the north Texas area and has earned Big Brother of the Year honors. He also volunteers as a mentor for the Dallas Community Lighthouse, a non-profit geared toward assisting at-risk youth.”

“I was always involved in education. I went back to school for Alumni Return Day. Many people were frustrated with the school. It frustrated me and I decided to offer my services from a student’s perspective,” says Seay, who graduated from DeSoto High School in 2006. He has a brother who attends DeSoto Middle School, which gave him additional motivation to make a difference.

Seay’s initial supporters were fellow alumni and current high school seniors. His parents were also immediately supportive of his decision to seek political office.

Seay’s faith gave him the confidence he needed to run for the seat. “I never doubted I’d win because I prayed about it a lot. I was, however, apprehensive as to how people would act, but I knew I had to do something,” said Seay, who is a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church where the Rev. Paul E. Walker is Pastor.

And the other trustees were happy to have him on board. “I was accepted very well by the other school board members,” he said. “I think they understand it takes various ideas to be successful. It enhances our ability to represent our students.”

However, Seay says some are not quite ready for his perspective. “People say I am too naive and optimistic. [But] there is no reason our school should not be excelling. I want to change the idea that when a district becomes a majority minority, the quality of education declines. We can change this in the next couple years,” stated Seay. He believes he can and will make a difference by bringing new ideas to the board.

Although he is a full-time student, he does not have a job that takes a lot of his time, so he is able to devote all of his time to the School Board and being a student. This allows him to put in the time required to focus on the needs of the district.

“I am extremely humbled by the opportunity to serve and I am looking forward to great things in the district over the next couple years,” he says, adding, winning the election has not changed him; he still does the things that other college students do. He also has the same friends he had before. Only, he recognizes that he does represent the school district at all times and is always mindful of that.

Seay says he is looking forward to making a difference in the Desoto ISD, helping to transform it into a stellar school system under his watch. And he says he has no other political aspirations.

Collegiate accomplishments according to SMU: SMU Hunt Leadership Scholars Program, SMU National Pan-Hellenic Council and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. vice president, president-elect. High school accomplishments include: National Honor Society, Senior class president and Academic decathlon member.

Comment on this story.

Garland’s first Black mayor in second term

By TONY BROWN FAIRE
The Dallas Examiner

On June 16, 2007 the citizens of Garland made history by electing its first African American mayor. Mayor Ronald Jones is now serving his second term as mayor in the 10th largest city in Texas and the 83rd largest in the United States, with a population of 215,768 people, according to the 2000 census. According to the mayor, in his first bid for office he won the election with 54 percent of the vote; however, in this last election, he won with a landslide victory of 83.17 percent of the vote.

When asked if race was a factor in the election, he stated “many people tried to make it an issue, but I focused on my qualifications”. Jones was in city government for 29 years before he was elected mayor. He worked as an Assistant City Manager. Part of his job during his tenure as Assistant City Manager was to train new city council members on parliamentary procedure so that the government could operate smoothly.

Garland, under the leadership of the Mayor, was named the 67th best city to live in the United States by CNN Money Magazine. “That was quite an honor,” said Jones, who stated his platform when he ran for office was for “Garland to become the city of choice.”

He boasts quite a track record during his time in office in terms of economic development. “40 new businesses have located in Garland despite, a down turn in the economy,” says Jones. The Eastern Extension George Bush Freeway /Highway 190 has also been a major concern of the mayor. He says it is vital to Garland’s business development and is scheduled to be completed by November 2011. According to the Mayor the extension of the freeway will help Garland by bringing in new business which is vital to Garland’s tax base as it will keep the city from raising taxes.

Jones is also happy to announce that as of 2007, the city of Garland has gone green. This environmental protection program helps decrease Garland’s carbon foot print and lowers harmful emissions into the air. Many of the city’s vehicles are now hybrids that help keep the environment clean and safe. He says that because of certain needs, that police and emergency vehicles have not gone green, but he hopes that one day in the future, all of the city’s vehicles will be hybrids. The city also has a Leadership Energy Environmental Design building that is an environmentally friendly building that houses the city of Garland’s Power and Light Administration. Garland also owns its own electric company and has four generation plants, says the Mayor.

Additionally, Jones has worked to pass key ordinances in Garland. Garland also passed a Diversity Resolution that recognizes their diverse population. He also stated that Garland passed a tougher sex offender law that made it illegal for sex offenders to gather anywhere children in Garland gather. This law was passed unanimously. Garland also accomplished a feat that even the federal government could not do and that was to pass their budget unanimously. While accomplishing so much in Garland, Jones was also elected to the office of President of the Metroplex Mayor’s Association, which is an association of Mayors within the DFW metroplex. He will assume the post September 2010.

Yet with this busy schedule, he still takes time out for his constituents. Jones holds a “Mayor’s Evening In” every third Thursday of each month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. so that anyone who wants to see him for whatever reason can. He also takes his forum to the public once a quarter at different locations in Garland that can seat at least 100 people. “This is a public system and public forum” says Jones.

“Public safety is my number one priority,” says Jones. Garland, according to the Mayor is ready for the emergencies they may face as a community. As a matter of fact, Garland currently trains personnel in 19 counties in First Responder’s training.

Mayor Jones is excited about his opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Garland and says his primary aim is, “To continue economic development and neighborhood stabilization and to keep Garland as a ‘Top 100 Cities’ to live in.” And this busy mayor is well on his way toward achieving these goals.

Comment on this story.

West Dallas: Pick your poison

By TONY BROWN FAIRE
The Dallas Examiner

The citizens of West Dallas have battled for years to get justice after being exposed to dangerous levels of lead released over a period of 50 years by the RSR lead smelter. However, lead may not have been the only deadly chemical released by the smelter and other companies located in West Dallas, as reported in the Case Study of the West Dallas, Texas Soil Cleanup and Remedial Program by Michael L Medias, P.E. Professor Joe G Moore Jr., George J Putinicki, PE., Marie R. Silver, Soil Cleanup and Remedial Program. According to this study, the following were found in the soil samples taken one mile from the RSR smelter site (See Elements found at Trinity River bed at http://www.dallasexaminer.com)

“The area originally chosen for the replacement soil site was located within the Trinity River Levee System on the flood plain of the Trinity River that runs through the middle of the city of Dallas,” states Case Study of the West Dallas, Texas Soil Cleanup and Remedial Program. The site they wanted to retrieve clean up soil from was only one mile from the RSR lead smelter. According to the study, all of the hazardous chemicals found at the lead smelter where in the proposed replacement soil. In this report, the level of Cadmium was deemed too high by the Texas Department of Health and could not be used. This soil, filled with dangerous pollutants, was in proximity of the Trinity River. This would put citizens in contact with all of the hazardous chemicals listed. These tests were taken after RSR smelter had been closed and even after its closing, the levels found in the soil near the river were extremely high.

Despite the numerous hazardous chemicals found in the river, the main lawsuit against RSR was for lead poisoning despite the fact that the citizens of West Dallas Citizens were also exposed to the other harmful and possibly deadly pollutants.

This would also mean that other factories may have contributed to the health problems of the citizens located in West Dallas. Yet, the main test by the city of Dallas was for lead and not the other deadly pollutants.

Many West Dallas citizens believe they have cancers and other problems related to lead poison when in fact there are other chemicals that could make people sick. Among them is Helen Hunt who lived in West Dallas and has cancer and severe bronchitis had believed, until recently, it was caused by lead and now wants to know what really may have caused her illnesses. Lena Hayes also believed that lead caused her problems which are diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, tumors, and cyst in her kidneys, and wants to know the truth.

The following is a chronological list of events until the shutdown of the RSR smelter according to the Institute of Environmental Sciences 1985 proceedings manual:

• 1934 Murphy Metals begins operation in West Dallas

• 1952 City of Dallas annexes area now called west Dallas

• 1955-1965 Amelia Earhart School, Child Care Dallas, Public Housing, and Boys Club open

• 1968 City enacts local lead ordinance

• 1971 RSR acquires Murphy Metals and continues operation

• 1970-1973 RSR and Dixie Metals violate city lead ordinance

• 1974 City files lawsuit against RSR for exceeding emissions.

• 1975 RSR builds its tallest smoke stack. The city settles lawsuit: companies pay fines and agree to install pollution abatement equipment

• 1976 City amends local lead ordinance

• September through October 1981 City of Dallas conducts a blood-lead screening program on a non-scientific basis (no data collated or controls initiated) and over 12000 people participated.

• June 1983 Dallas Alliance Task Force publishes its Final Report and finds that the City, along with the EPA, did not act quickly enough and that a Dallas Environmental Health Commission should be appointed.

• February 1984 RSR shuts down most of its major operations

For over 50 years, the smelter operated in West Dallas exposing the community to many different contaminants and only lead poison drew the most attention. However , according to the document titled RSR Corporation Superfund Site Operable Unit 5 Subarea 1 Ready for Reuse Determination by the EPA, “Arsenic contributed most to the cancer and the non-cancer risk…” Yet, in soil samplings, many other potentially damaging chemicals were found after the site it had been closed and was being cleaned up, once it had been determined a superfund site.

During the operation of the RSR smelter, many people worked at the smelter and were exposed to lead and other chemicals. One of them is 91 year old Jeffie Wilson of Dallas who worked at the RSR smelter for 30 years. Never having lived in West Dallas, his exposure came from working in the smelter. He has medical reports that state he was exposed to lead on several occasions while employed at the smelter. He also has had a history of chronic stomach pains, nervousness and other symptoms over the years and feels he has not been taken care of after all of his years of exposure while working at the RSR smelter.

However, he is only one of many who feel that they have not been taken care of by the people who were supposed to keep them safe. Hunt lived in George Loving housing complex from 1963 until 1987. The property line was only 50 feet from the RSR smelter and was in constant exposure to the RSR smelter, according to Ronald Robinson, author of West Dallas Versus the Lead Smelter. When reviewing her lease, section 7b states, “Management agrees that it will maintain the buildings and common area of the grounds of the Project in decent, safe and sanitary condition in accordance with local housing codes and HUD regulations. In 1974, the city of Dallas filed a lawsuit against the RSR smelter for exceeding its emissions. The city of Dallas did not protect its citizens knowing the dangers of the emissions.

“City officials were informed as early as 1972 that lead was finding its way into the bloodstreams of children who lived in two mostly African American and Latino neighborhoods.” stated Robinson.

Hunt feels the city’s lack of action was racially motivated. “They moved White people out and left us there.” She said. According to Hunt, the public housing in which the Whites lived was evacuated, leaving Blacks living in the segregated public housing developments behind.

Robinson says, “In general, people of color and the poor are disparately affected by industrial toxins, dirty air and drinking water, and the proximity of noxious facilities such as municipal landfills, incinerators, toxic wastes dumps, and lead smelters.”

For years, Blacks have known they experienced suffering based on their exposure to lead. But According to the Trinity River soil samples, government officials knew the Citizens of West Dallas had a lot more to worry about than lead. Based on the table of the pollutants that were found in the soil, the people only needed to name their poison.

Elements found in Trinity River bed:

• Arsenic – According to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) “Arsenic is known to cause cancer in humans.” “Acute poisoning may cause renal failure.”

• Barium – According to ATSDR, “has been found to potentially cause gastrointestinal disturbances and muscular weakness when people are exposed to it at levels above the EPA drinking water standards for relatively short periods of time. Some people who eat or drink amounts of barium above background levels found in food and water for a short period may experience vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, difficulties in breathing, increased or decreased blood pressure, numbness around the face, and muscle weakness.”

• Cadmium –ATSDR states you can be exposed to cadmium by “Living near industrial facilities which release cadmium into the air.”

HealthLine.com states, “When a person has exposure to cadmium in low doses, over a long period of time, symptoms may include loss of sense of smell, cough, shortness of breath, weight loss and tooth staining. Chronic cadmium exposure may cause damage to the liver and kidneys.”

• Chromium-ATSDR states that “The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the EPA have determined that chromium(VI) compounds are known human carcinogens.”

• Copper- According to Lenntech.com, “Long-term exposure to copper can cause irritation of the nose, mouth and eyes and it causes headaches, stomachaches, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea. Intentionally high uptakes of copper may cause liver and kidney damage and even death. Whether copper is carcinogenic has not been determined yet.”

• Lead- The Mayo Clinic stated, “Initially, lead poisoning can be hard to detect – even people who seem healthy can have high blood levels of lead. Signs and symptoms usually don’t appear until dangerous amounts have accumulated. Although lead can affect almost every part of your body, it usually targets the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells (hemoglobin) first. In time, it attacks your nervous system. “

• Manganese- ATSDR states, “Studies in children have suggested that extremely high levels of manganese exposure may produce undesirable effects on brain development, including changes in behavior and decreases in the ability to learn and remember.”

• Mercury- Lenntech states, “Mercury has a number of effects on humans, that can all of them be simplified into the following main effects:

– Disruption of the nervous system

– Damage to brain functions

– DNA damage and chromosomal damage

– Allergic reactions, resulting in skin rashes, tiredness and headaches

– Negative reproductive effects, such as sperm damage, birth defects and miscarriages

Damaged brain functions can cause degradation of learning abilities, personality changes, tremors, vision changes, deafness, muscle incoordination and memory loss. Chromosomal damage is known to cause mongolism.”

• Nickel- The California Air Resources Board and the Department of Health Services stated in a report called, Initial Statement Of Reasons For Rulemaking Proposed Identification Of Nickel As A Toxic Air Contaminant, stated, “Three types of adverse health impacts can occur as a result of exposure to nickel: cancer, acute health effects, and chronic non-cancer health effects. Acute health effects generally result from short term exposure to high concentrations of pollutants. Chronic non-cancer health effects may result from long-term exposure to relatively low concentrations of pollutants.

The major route of exposure to nickel is inhalation and the staff of the DHS finds the overall evidence for development of respiratory cancer in humans due to inhaled nickel compounds is strong. This is based on epidemiological studies, carcinogenicity studies in animals, and information on the mechanism of toxic action by nickel compounds. Nickel and nickel compounds are localized in the smallest particles (i.e., those less than 2.5 microns), a size which penetrates deepest into the human pulmonary tract. The OHS was unable to determine if nickel is carcinogenic when ingested.

Acute and chronic non-cancer effects have been observed after exposure to elevated levels of nickel. Acute health effects include irritation and allergic sensitization. Chronic non-cancer effects from exposure to nickel include asthma and other respiratory effects. Acute and chronic non-cancer effects are not expected to occur at statewide ambient population-weighted exposure levels (7.3 nanogram per cubic meter)

• Selenium – The EPA says that selenium “is a naturally occurring substance that is toxic at high concentrations but is also a nutritionally essential element. Hydrogen selenide is the most acutely toxic selenium compound. Acute (short-term) exposure to elemental selenium, hydrogen selenide, and selenium dioxide by inhalation results primarily in respiratory effects, such as irritation of the mucous membranes, pulmonary edema, severe bronchitis, and bronchial pneumonia. Epidemiological studies of humans chronically (long-term) exposed to high levels of selenium in food and water have reported discoloration of the skin, pathological deformation and loss of nails, loss of hair, excessive tooth decay and discoloration, lack of mental alertness, and listlessness.”

• Zinc – ATSDR says, “Zinc is an essential element in our diet. Too little zinc can cause problems, but too much zinc is also harmful.

Harmful effects generally begin at levels 10-15 times higher than the amount needed for good health. Large doses taken by mouth even for a short time can cause stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Taken longer, it can cause anemia and decrease the levels of your good cholesterol. We do not know if high levels of zinc affect reproduction in humans. Rats that were fed large amounts of zinc became infertile.

Inhaling large amounts of zinc (as dusts or fumes) can cause a specific short-term disease called metal fume fever. We do not know the long-term effects of breathing high levels of zinc.

Putting low levels of zinc acetate and zinc chloride on the skin of rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice caused skin irritation. Skin irritation will probably occur in people.”

Comment on this story.

RSR Lead Smelter Site

The poisoning of West Dallas Communities Did the local government officials know?

Did the local government officials know?

By TONY BROWN FAIRE
The Dallas Examiner

According to a report by Carol Countryman of The Progressive, in May 1993, the Clinton Administration stated that the people of West Dallas lived in the largest lead-contaminated Superfund Site in the United States. In November of the same year, Sepulveda accused the City of Dallas of trying to cover up the lead contamination problem in West Dallas. According to the article, Sepulveda and his family suffered from various ailments. Likewise, his relatives complained of nose bleeds, bone and joint pain whenever they visited. However, when he went to government officials with his health concerns, they denied there was a problem, telling him they needed to keep their houses.

But it is clear that the city of Dallas and other government agencies knew about the dangers of lead poison. Dr. Robert Doyle Bullard, author of Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class and Environmental Quality, states in his book that the toxicity of lead has been known since the Roman era. This would suggest that those in charge knew of the danger of lead. In fact, the City of Dallas successfully sued the RSR lead smelter in 1976 and again 1983 for failing to comply with lead ordinances designed to protect the environment, despite the fact that it was in their power to shut the smelter down.

According to Bullard, known as the father of environmental justice, “It is ironic that in its fifty years of operation the smelter had not obtained all of the necessary use permits for operating in the West Dallas neighborhood. The city not only had the legal means of forcing the company to comply with its lead emission ordinance but had the legal power to close the smelter for violating its zoning ordinance.”

But the city of Dallas has historically disregarded the well being of West Dallas residents. Bullard also states in his book, that “Blacks and other economically disadvantaged groups are often concentrated in areas that expose them to high levels of toxic pollution…” This appeared to be the case with residents of West Dallas as well, even influencing land use and property values.

West Dallas was annexed by the city in 1952. Despite the known dangers of lead poisoning, Dallas Independent School District also allowed Thomas Edison School, located across the street from the smelter, to continue to operate. In 1956, the City of Dallas built a housing project by the RSR lead smelter that housed 3,500 people.

A Nov. 27, 1992 interview with Steve Curwood on the radio program, Living on Earth, Jim Schermbeck, a community organizer for the group Texans United, alleges that officials intentionally disregarded the dangers of building the housing projects in that location. Schermbeck stated, “…if you look back at the documents of the time, when they’re starting to build the housing project in West Dallas, you’ll see statements like, ‘You know, there’s a lead smelter over there and we probably shouldn’t put people over there, but we’re gonna do it anyway.’ As they knew more and more about the problems of the lead smelter, they moved White elderly folk out of that West Dallas project and into other locations around the city and left behind primarily African American, some Hispanic residents there.”

There are continuing accusations by West Dallas residents that the City of Dallas and other agencies knew of the danger and did not react in a timely manner. EPA stated in a Reuse Determination document that the “…TNRCC began receiving complaints [by residents] alleging that slag and battery chips had been disposed of on their properties.” The complaints prompted the EPA to begin soil sampling in 1991. According to the EPA, the, “removal action in the residential area (OU1) was completed in June 1994.”

But many residents complain that battery slag continues, causing them to question the efficacy of the superfund cleanup. They have their own story to tell. Among this group are the three brothers who currently live together in West Dallas, Don Miller, Doug Miller, and Larry Jones. The brothers live in their West Dallas home with no water, electricity, and many nights, no food.

They believe they have suffered, and continue to suffer, due to neglect by the city and other agencies of government that were supposed to protect the people of West Dallas. They claim the EPA came and tested their soil in the 90s, testing only the drive way and one side of the yard, but not the entire property. They also claim after the workers came out in protective suits and dug up portions of their property, their mother became ill and died.

Adding insult to injury, the government’s cleanup efforts seemed to be inadequate as countless battery fragments can still be found in the brother’s yard, both on the surface as well as buried deep in the earth.

Don, who used to work in the RSR Lead Smelter, stated he holds an Associate of Applied Science, but has not worked in many years. “I cannot stay focused to find a job. A lot of times I am just depressed,” Don said with tears in his eyes. Don said that in the department he worked in, they received pay bonuses for keeping their lead levels down.

Larry, his brother, also used to work at the RSR lead smelter, but did not have the same level of exposure to the lead. Both believe that much of their health problems came from being in contact with the contaminants on a daily basis.

They are the last three of 10 siblings. The others Jimmy, the third brother, said died of cancer, kidney disease, and other ailments. “We have lost so many people around here. Every night I dream of my dead relatives,” Jimmy said.

Because the brothers have not been able to work, their home is scheduled to be sold at a sheriff auction in June 2009 for back taxes. “We don’t have any place to go,” Don simply said.

Don and his brothers are not alone. West Dallas residents who continue to complain that the superfund cleanup was not sufficient also find themselves looking for some place to go, someone to turn to that will ease their suffering due to what they believe to be the residual effects of lead poisoning in West Dallas.

Comment on this story.

‘By the way, thank you’ Residents grateful as city restores order to Redbird neighborhood

By TONY BROWN FAIRE
The Dallas Examiner

A swarm of police cars filled the Surrey Row Apartment complex two weeks ago. Dallas police officers went door-to-door, serving warrants and making arrests. An apparent gang had become squatters, having planted themselves inside several vacant apartments within the complex.

Alleged gang members and other criminal elements located within the complex were receiving a police escort to the Dallas’ police department, as tenants looked on. Upon the completion of his duties, one officer, who also provides security for a nearby retailer, was greeted by two residents of the complex.

“Hello,” he responded, returning his attention immediately to his duties.

“Wait a minute,” the woman replied. “We asked you how you were doing, that means you have to respond. A smile covered the officer’s face as he replied that he was doing fine.

As both resident and tenant prepared to go their separate ways, the tenant added, “And by the way, thanks.”

Dallas City Councilman Tennell Adkins is serving notice to the drug dealers and gangs who have all but taken over a small portion of District 8 in the Redbird area of Oak Cliff. For years, the area, bounded by Camp Wisdom Road, Bainbridge Avenue, Cliff Creek Crossing Drive, Kirnwood Drive and Chaucer Place had become a hotbed of drugs and violence. And the convenience store on the corner of Camp Wisdom and Chaucer Place had become a central spot for loiterers, apparent drug dealers and addicts who swarmed the parking lot.

Then things began to change. Dallas Police officers became a regular fixture in the Redbird community. The corner convenient store, once littered with what appeared to some to be drug activity, now a frequent site for drug busts. The heavy police presence followed into the apartment complex where warrants were served and arrests were made, almost on a daily bases.

“Getting rid of crime was the number one priority when I got on city council. I had to fight with city government and the police to get more officers into the district,” said Adkins.

The convenience store, located on the corner in a strip mall called Chaucer Place, became a focal point. The store is open 24 hours a day. Adkins said the owner of the store could also ask for more help in clearing out the loiterers. Unfortunately, once inside the store you can see items such as pocket scales being sold. Although it is not illegal to sale pocket scales in Dallas, such items are likely to attract a certain type of clientele to the store.

Adkins also said the Dallas Police Department is more than willing to help businesses and apartment complexes with their security systems as well.

The cleanup couldn’t have come at a better time. Some business owners at Chaucer Place are not happy about the current condition of their community and they are ready for action.

“I think something needs to be done about the youngsters,” said Mike Lowe, or Big Mike, a barber stated. Lowe has been working at The Total Image Barber Shop for over six years and claims that his clientele has declined because of the violence and crime in the area.

Adkins understands the concerns of business owners and residents in the community and is working to clean up the area. On the corner is a security camera that the City of Dallas has installed. Adkins said he had to fight to get the funding for that camera. However, even with the camera crime continues.

A worker at the barber shop, who preferred to be known only as Ms. Jackie isn’t convinced the city is doing all it can. “If they are watching the cameras, shouldn’t they be making more arrest? We are fed up.,” she said.

Lowe agrees. “I do not feel safe here. They should come out at night if they want to catch criminals” he said. When asked how he felt about the police, Lowe stated, “I’d rather have a pistol than the police.”

However, Attorney Mitzi Willis, the Community Prosecutor for Dist. 8 stated, “The police work very hard to get solid arrests and I work hard with them.” The problem that District 8 faced when Adkins became a city councilman was that there was not a community Prosecutor assigned to the district, she explains. Adkins was very instrumental in making this happen.

According to the City of Dallas, “The Dallas Community Prosecution Team uses Strategic Code Enforcement and creative strategies to address the most complex issues facing neighborhoods across the City of Dallas. The CP Team serves fourteen target areas with seventeen attorneys and partners with seven certified code officers. Community Prosecution manages and operates two community courts and a program specifically designed for offenders re-entering neighborhoods in the City of Dallas. The CP Team focuses resources on three main priorities: the first being to improve the Community’s Quality of Life using Criminal and Civil Legal Strategies, the second to increase the Public Safety through specialized initiatives and strategic code enforcement and the third to empower Communities and Strengthen Neighborhoods through ACTION Teams and engaging the Community in problem solving and strategic planning”

In short, a community prosecutor is housed in a specific neighborhood and is dedicated to the improving the quality of life of the community they are specifically commissioned to serve. Addressing crime, code and other issues threatening that specific community becomes that prosecutor’s first priority. Otherwise, the community must vie for attention, competing with the entire city to have its legal needs addressed in court.

Willis said, “Councilman Adkins’ first priority was to get a Community Prosecutor. He demanded it.”

Willis grew up in South Dallas and is a long time Dallas resident. When asked how she felt about her job, she replied, “It is both rewarding and at times, ‘wow.’ I cannot believe it has gotten this far.” Willis feels it is critical that the city and community find a way to get the younger generation involved in the community.

Adkins has also worked aggressively to increase the attention the District receives from the Dallas Police Department. They now have police walking the streets, as well as on bikes and horses in the southern sector of Dallas. He said it took a year and a half to get this type of police visibility in District 8. Chief Cheryl Scott, who was recently assigned to the Chaucer Place and Camp Wisdom area, has not responded for the request of an interview.

Adkins sat down with the apartment owners and they are now allowing the Police to come in and help with the security of the apartments. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, senior pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church, was also very instrumental in helping this to come about. Adkins says that Haynes has been working tirelessly in the community for many years. The citizens are now seeing more patrols in the apartment communities.

When asked about the patrols, residents were fearful to go on record, but each stated they are happy to see it, often adding, “It is about time.”

Councilman Adkins said a teenager was beaten for $20 when he came out of the corner convenience store after buying a soda. “This is why we have police in the parking lots and on the street,” he said, adding it is also up to the citizens to report crime. “It is a community effort and we must all work together to keep our community safe,” Adkins says. “As long as I am councilman, I am going to work to keep my community safe.”

Comment on this story.

Tony Brown Faire

Ku Klux Klan, hate groups attack churches across U.S.

By TONY BROWN FAIRE
The Dallas Examiner

Immediately after the election of President Barak Obama, many felt the country was going in the right direction in terms of racial relations, but attacks of terror and hatred have only intensified. Within 24 hours of his election, Nov. 5, 2008, Benjamin Haskell, Michael F. Jacques Jr. and Thomas Gleason Jr., all whom are White, set fire to the Macedonia Church of God In Christ, which is located in Springfield, Mass. According to the Boston Globe, Haskell was asked by an associate why they set fire to the church. Haskell replied, “Because it was a Black church.” A CNN report stated that on the day of the election of President Obama, a 55-year-old man by the name of Don Black, former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard, stated that more than 2000 people joined his website. Statistics suggest KKK and other hate groups are gaining strength because of the election of President Barak Obama.

In the state of Texas, there have been many reported hate crimes that have occurred within the last 12 months and many more that may go unreported out of fear of the Klan or other hate groups retaliating. An alarming amount of Black churches have been targeted in Texas by the Klan and other hate groups. In May 2008, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in the Marshall area had White KKK Power painted on its walls. Also in June of 2008, Center Hill Free Will Baptist Church of Nesbitt, Texas had KKK propaganda painted on its walls. The church is 107 years old. There have been at least four churches targeted in Texas within the last year by racial violence and intimidation.

Bob Lydia, the 1st vice-president of the Texas NAACP and a national NAACP Board Member, stated, “There is a rise in the Klan. There is a movement of folks who never had interest in the KKK until Barak Obama became President Barak Obama.” The Anti Defamation League listed over 18 known hate group activities in the state of Texas for 2008. These groups include the Klu Klux Klan; America’s Promise Ministries; Crew 38, a skin head group; Neo Nazi’s and more. On Nov. 15, 2008 and Dec. 20, 2008 paramilitary training was even conducted by the Texas Militia.”

However, Texas is not alone in racial hate group activities, because there were racially motivated acts within the last year that sprung up nationwide. On Oct. 1, 2008, in Oak Harbor, Washington, an Oak Harbor thrift store, owned by Unity Fellowship Church, was vandalized and the statue of a Black mother was decapitated. According to the Whidbey News Times, Pastor Fannie Dean has also been getting threatening letters from the KKK.

In April, the Bible Way Church in Sumter County, S.C., a predominately Black congregation of 110 people, had an upside down cross, swastikas and racial slurs painted on the church. The sheriff’s department stated it had no plans to charge anyone with a hate crime.

On May 8, in the Rapides, La. Area, a man named Jeff Duncan was arrested by the local sheriff’s department on weapons and narcotics charges after a raid on his home. At the time of his arrest, he had a Confederate flag with KKK on it, a homemade bomb, several fire arms and various types of drugs.

There is a trend across the United States of open aggression and displays of racially motivated violence toward African Americans and other minorities. According to Lydia, “This is fueled by the Skinheads and the Ku Klux Klan as well as copy cats, and the hatred is just now coming out.”

Yet these acts of racial intimidation are not only in the form of burning crosses, nooses, or swastikas. Now people had never been thought of as being racist are striking out across the nation, in places never suspected. Lydia says he is getting many reports of such activities.

“People are saying mean spirited things,” Lydia said. One such case was in Marshall. On March 20, Artabus Driver filed a lawsuit against Felderhoff Brothers Drilling Company. The complaint stated that the crew leader had distributed leaflets for the KKK and confederate flag stickers that other workers put on their hats. Driver further complained that he was not allowed to use the White workers restroom or sleep in the same quarters with them. Driver said he was concerned about his safety.

The statistics are, in fact, alarming. It appears that, as President Obama continues to reach across political, socio-economic and racial divides in the U.S., as well as around the world, the KKK and other hate groups are mobilizing across the United States.

Comment on this story.

Tony Brown Faire

Ku Klux Klan invites community to join

Tony Brown Faire

By TONY BROWN FAIRE
The Dallas Examiner

Dallas has an ugly history of racism, one city leaders are not so eager to share with visiting tourist. And yet, tourists find themselves unknowingly at Dallas’ historical center of the South’s most egregious brands of “justice.” Not far from the steps of the old Red Court House, hate groups lynched African Americans without the due process of law. Among those lynched was an elderly man named Allen Brooks. On May 3, 1910, vigilantes administered justice, Texas style.

Brooks, a 68-year-old Black man on trial for allegedly molesting a 3-year-old White girl, was seized from the courtroom, bound, thrown out of the 2nd floor window of the courthouse, knocked unconscious and lynched in the courtyard before thousands of witnesses. The crowd brutalized his body and took parts of his clothes as souvenirs.

It is here, at this place of injustice that Black leaders have gathered to state their case about the modern terror tactics of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups and to serve notice to them, “Enough is enough.” Recent acts of overt racial intimidation cause it to appear that shameful legacy of the south is indeed rising again in North Texas.

On May 12, almost 100 years after Brooks’ lynching, several local groups, led by Claudia Fowler, the Political Chair of the Dallas NAACP, met on the steps of the Old Red Dallas Court House to say, “no” to racial hatred and violence. Those groups included the Dallas Commons, The New Black Panthers Party, Texas Alliance of the Formerly Incarcerated and Victims of Racial Hate and Intimidation.

On Oct. 12, 2008, Ministers Ernest and Debbie Walker, who have a home in Ovilla, Texas out of which they operate a home based Christian ministry, were victims of vandalism. The words, “no n——rs” were spray painted on the door of their home. Mrs. Walker said the word does not personally offend her because she knows what it means, but stated, “I think it was meant to scare us. I am not angry at the people who committed this act of racism. I am more sorrowful that someone could disgrace God’s house like this”.

Fowler, who is calling this a hate crime, said she has contacted the Department of Homeland Security. “There is a new uprising of racial tensions and hatred and we must be diligent in protecting our children,” Fowler stated. “I think they are border line terrorist.”

Olinka Green of The New Black Panther Party gave a passionate plea for people to take this threat serious, saying, “Me and mine we are going to be vigilant.”

“This type of racism is not new to me. I deal with this type of racism all over Texas,” stated Rev. Ronald Wright of Dallas Commons. Wright said he does not believe there is an increase of racial hate in the United States because of the election of President Barak Obama. In fact, he believes it has always been here and is now coming out of the shadows into the light. “They have traded in their sheets for suits and uniforms.” Wright said.

However the statistics based on a Southern Poverty Law Center report on May 7, 2009, titled The Year in Hate, would beg to differ with Rev. Wright. The report proves that hate group membership and activity has grown at an alarming rate in the US since the election of President Obama. The report states that hate groups grew by 54 percent since the year 2000 and identified 926 existing hates groups in the United States. There are 38 more hate groups in 2008 than in 2007 that are now active in our country. A CNN report that gave these statistics also said that California has the most hate groups of any state in the US with a total of 84. The same article by CNN says the FBI crime report showed that there were 7,624 hate crime incidents in 2007.

The Rev. Cedric Malone, Pastor of The Church at Grand Prairie, was also present at the courthouse because he and his congregation were victims of racial hatred on May 5, 2009, when the church van was vandalized. The words are too vulgar and sexually oriented to print and the N-word was also used. Rev. Malone says he has taken the high road, which is fueled by his faith. He states, “We still believe in our community. We will overcome this, not only as African Americans, but as Americans and Christians.”

Fowler stated it couldn’t be proven that the KKK was involved in the incidents of vandalism recently occurring in the DFW Metroplex. However, the Klan has reared its ugly head in a local suburb, having passed out fliers in Forney. The KKK No. 66 is responsible for leaving the fliers on the doors of numerous citizens in Forney, and some of the homes were those of African American citizens. The flyers read, “Save our Land Join the Klan,” and gave information with a phone number urging people to call and join. When interviewed by Fox 4, many of those residents stated they were outraged by this event.

The Klan has also initiated similar recruitment efforts in Marshall. An image of a Klansman riding on a horse, brandishing a torch is displayed on the flyer. A second page is reported by a local paper to have contained harsh criticisms of President Barak Obama, characterizing his administration as Socialists and stating, “Americans, the time to take a stand for our great nation is now. Our new president has been out downing our economy and stating he wants to remake America. Socialist leaders are not going to openly announce their intent; they mask it and sell it as progressive.

“Remember, no country has ever been bettered by socialism so why try it? Let’s all band together, stand up and be heard.”

Fowler called the number on the flyer and invited the KKK to this news conference and asked if they would bring applications for membership, but the Klan refused. When she suggested some Blacks wanted to join the organization, the Klan stated that people who are not White cannot join the their organization.

Comment on this story.

Residents Speak Out