Proposed Dallas Budget Puts Black Neighborhoods at Risk
- The proposed Dallas budget does not provide the public safety resources needed to create safe communities.
- Black Dallas residents overwhelmingly want more police protection to address record high murder rate
- City Manager TC Broadnax and City Council don’t care about Black voices or Black lives
The proposed Dallas budget for the upcoming fiscal year reveals a jarring disconnect between the needs of Black communities and the city’s priorities. This budget, which inadequately addresses the public safety concerns of our most vulnerable neighborhoods, not only sidelines the concerns of Black Dallas residents but also speaks volumes about where City Manager TC Broadnax and the City Council’s allegiances lie. City data paints a cruel portrait that depicts 53.6% of the city’s murder victims in 2023 were Black, and 34% were either Hispanic or Latino, while Black families represent 25% of the population. Several survey’s taken in neighborhoods at risk state the sense of urgency in acquiring more police due to the sincere desire to have safe neighborhoods where people aren’t committing any range of crimes, like drag racing, acts of violence or vagrancy.
Safe communities are the bedrock of any thriving city and the foundation for our families. For a neighborhood to flourish, its residents need to feel secure, both in their homes and on their streets. The proposed budget glaringly overlooks this foundational requirement. Rather than reinforcing public safety in the areas that need it the most, the budget seems to turn a blind eye to the urgent needs of Black neighborhoods. Where are the resources and plans for community policing, youth engagement programs, and crime prevention strategies that these areas so desperately need? Many feel as though the idea of hiring only 290 additional police officers is simply inadequate when we have to factor in the wait time on 911 emergency calls is up to 2 hours or more in several districts as well the officers who are leaving due to retirement or who choose to work in other areas.
It is a distressing irony that while there are nationwide calls for police reform, residents find themselves in the peculiar position of demanding more police presence. This is in contrast to the social media menagerie of defunding police and giving their budget to civil services. While many on the city council feel as though crime is on the decline, it is obvious that in order to say that, one must be well insulated from how it can persist in unserved areas. This is a direct response to the record high murder rate that has left many Black families in anguish. These families aren’t just statistics; they are our neighbors, friends, and relatives, who seek the basic right to safety.
We cannot afford to delude ourselves with the ideo that defunding the police or engaging in half measures with do what it takes to have a safe community. It is also essential for city officials to understand that the plea for more police protection does not negate the parallel call for police reform. It is entirely possible—and necessary—to have a police force that both respects the rights of its residents and ensures their safety.
If this is the approach taken by City Manager TC Broadnax and the City Council then it sends a clear message: the concerns of the Black residents of Dallas are secondary. It is one thing to say our communities have value, it is another thing to do what it takes and to make sure law enforcement has the budget to recruit officers from all levels of society, especially at a young age. When we are dismissive of that, it translates to a dangerous narrative that Black lives are not valued.
We deserve a police force that is well funded and has enough coverage to where officers don’t feel forced to accept overtime, let alone feeling apprehensive about requesting it. We also deserve a well rested police department that doesn’t have to deal with emotional strain of being overworked or relying on equipment that is worn out. Our lives, stories, and concerns are every bit as important as any other community’s. The city’s leadership has a responsibility, both moral and civic, to address these concerns with the urgency and seriousness we deserve.
It’s a critical juncture for Dallas. As the city charts its future, it’s essential to ensure that the safety and well-being of all its residents, especially the Black community, are at the forefront of its decisions. A budget is not just a financial statement; it’s a reflection of a city’s values. Right now, Dallas has an opportunity to show that it genuinely values its Black residents and their well-being. Let’s hope the city rises to the occasion.
