Black Neighborhoods are Pawns in Dallas Budget Proposal

• Almost 50% of the Dallas budget is going to overpaid DISD bureaucrats who trap Black children in failing schools

• Dallas needs 4,000 public safety officers, not more DISD administrators.

• Black communities in Dallas deserve school choice and public safety, and we refuse to settle for less

We find ourselves grappling with a Dallas City Council that seems to be playing a dangerous game with the lives and safety of its citizens. The stakes? Nothing less than the well-being of our communities, the futures of our children, and the sanctity of decency of life on life terms.

Gun violence is skyrocketing, reaching an unprecedented peak, with people of color tragically accounting for nearly all fatalities. Crime is surging in places we once considered safe havens, leaving residents in a perpetual state of fear and uncertainty. Yet, amidst this chaos, Dallas leaders like DA John Creuzot and Judge Clay Jenkins seem to be turning a blind eye, leaning on progressive platitudes that do nothing but allow criminals to roam freely, ready to strike again.

The Dallas Police Department is stretched thin, working tirelessly within the community, clocking in overtime hours beyond the call of duty. Yet, their efforts are stifled by a lack of reinforcement from those who hail from the very neighborhoods they are striving to protect. The glaring need for public safety officers rooted in Black communities cannot be overstated.

Meanwhile, nearly half of the Dallas budget is funneled into the pockets of overpaid DISD bureaucrats, who seem more interested in trapping Black children in failing schools than fostering education and growth. It’s a vicious cycle that sees no end, with the Black community demanding - and deserving - both school choice and public safety, refusing to settle for the crumbs thrown their way.

The numbers speak volumes. A mere 3020 police officers are left to safeguard Dallas, a number woefully inadequate to provide safe and effective coverage. The city cries out for 4,000 guardians of peace, not more bureaucrats with questionable agendas. Yet there seems to be a sense of facetious contentment to propose a budget that barely scratches the surface of what is required to maintain law and order.

With a staggering budget of 4.6 billion and operating costs soaring to 1.3 billion, the Dallas City Council seems more interested in lining their pockets than ensuring the safety of their constituents. A paltry provision for 290 new police officers, offset by the expected retirement of 250 seasoned veterans, leaves the force undermanned and overwhelmed, relying on unsustainable strategies that do nothing but burn out our brave officers and expose the community to escalating crime and violence.

The repercussions are dire, with Black families bearing the brunt of this negligence, becoming primary victims of blight, crime, and degradation. The overworked police force, teetering on the brink of exhaustion, represents an unseen yet palpable threat, more prone to errors and grappling with the silent demons of mental health struggles. To address the crime spikes, we have witnessed Mayor Eric Johnson and Chief of Police Eddie Garcia commit themselves to a game of wak-a-moli by waiting for the crime to spike and then assigning more officers to deal with the crime in that area. The cruel joke is that eventually, the criminals will learn where these new assignments have taken place and change their strategy accordingly.

We stand at a crossroads where rhetoric meets reality. This administration may wax eloquent about public safety, but their actions betray a shocking indifference to the safety and security of all districts in Dallas. They are opting out of doing what it takes to keep us safe because they can’t hire so many responsible, respectable police at any given time, which is not necessarily true. They could hire older, more experienced veterans and station them in areas where they were most familiar.

The fact that the DISD has somehow systemically lodged itself to take in almost half of all the property and sales taxes yet still has so many schools with poor outcomes cannot go unnoticed. That is the first part of the budget that should be scrutinized because public safety is the priority due in part to the memory of the victims who are no longer with us due to crime.

While we cherish the sanctity of our libraries and the diverse tapestry of our community, we cannot turn a blind eye to misplaced priorities that divert funds to projects centered around gender ideologies and orientation pride at the expense of universal public safety.

Furthermore, the dysfunctionality of our criminal justice system, under the stewardship of functionaries like Judge Jenkins and DA Creuzot, is nothing short of a travesty. Our jails are bursting at the seams, understaffed and mismanaged, becoming breeding grounds for injustice and lawlessness. Even as we speak, people are languishing in jail who probably should not be there, while there are felons who walk among us, free to choose their next victim.

Dallas, it’s time to wake up. It’s time to hold our leaders accountable for their reckless dance with public safety. It’s time to demand action, justice, and a future where every citizen can live without fear in a city that truly values and protects all its residents.