Who will fill the void?

Over the last few years the city of Dallas has witnessed African-American politicians succumb to corruption at an alarming rate. The current FBI investigation of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price is the latest in a long list of Federal probes directed at local officials. It's been suggested that the government unfairly targets African-American elected officials, but perusal of the FBI website quickly dispels that myth. Here are just a few of the cases made by the FBI in June alone:


-Robert Cordaro and Anthony Munchak, White County Commissioners in Philadelphia, were found guilty of conspiracy, bribery, extortion, money laundering, racketeering and income tax evasion.

-Jovana Samaniego Deas, a Hispanic special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was charged with illegally accessing, stealing and transferring sensitive U.S. government documents to family members and associates who have ties to drug trafficking organizations.

-Ronald Clifton, a white former mayor and councilman in South Daytona, Florida, was charged with bribery and making false statements.

There are currently more than 2000 FBI corruption investigations in process involving public officials around the country. I feel confident in saying not all of those investigations involve African-Americans, so let’s put the selective prosecution argument to rest.

The real issue is much greater than the guilt or innocence of any individual.  The true challenge to leadership in Southern Dallas are the “gatekeepers” who seem more concerned with personal gain than the economic well being of the community they have been charged with representing. 

These “gatekeepers” exist in both the public and private sectors.  They tout themselves as “community leaders" who have to sign off on anything or anyone that is to prosper south of downtown. Their leadership often comes with a price tag and at the expense of progress.

Southern Dallas leadership, or the lack thereof, is a constant topic of discussion at the barbershop, around the dinner table and on Facebook. I could argue that leadership in Southern Dallas is not real but imagined. The lack of economic development in Southern Dallas and the current state of DISD would serve as proof of that claim.

Of course leadership for Southern Dallas isn’t relegated to the political arena but can also be found in the pulpit. Some of the most dynamic and charismatic ministers in the nation are right here in Dallas. The question is can any one of them provide the collective vision, direction and ethics that Southern Dallas leadership seems to lack? That remains to be seen. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” Who in Southern Dallas can model that kind of leadership?

I believe there needs to be a cultivation of young, visionary leaders who don’t aspire to be gatekeepers but instead seek to be bridge builders to economic development. Young leadership that understands being a public servant really does mean serving the public. Leadership that has genuine passion for the well-being of their constituency. What we’ve had historically is a lot of rhetoric that has produced an excess of low-income housing, a couple of fast food restaurants and a slew of FBI investigations. That is not the formula for revitalizing a community.

Dallas’ city council salaries are also a hindrance to leadership as well as an embarrassment.  The $37,500 paid to council members doesn’t help when trying to convince our most gifted to pick up the mantle of public service. A study issued in February of 2011 by the Philadelphia Research Initiative examined the salaries of city council members in 15 major U.S.cities. 

Los Angeles ranks No. 1 with an average annual city council salary of $178,789.00. Houston pays it's council members $55,700 per year, and though not on this list, the Austin City Council receives $57,736 each.   Dallas ranked next to last on the list, ahead of only San Antonio who pays their council members $1,400 per year (that's not a typo).  As recently as 2001 Dallas City Council representatives were taking home a whopping $50.00 per meeting! Serving on the city council is a full time job and in order to attract the next wave of leadership the salaries must be competitive. African-American leaders generally enter office with less wealth than their Anglo counterparts.  That fact doesn't excuse ethical lapses, but does make them more susceptible to the advances of shady dealings.

Another barrier to developing quality leadership in Southern Dallas is the exodus of the African-American middle class from Dallas to the suburbs. It’s happening at such an alarming rate that it will eventually have an adverse effect on the number of African-American city council seats. Dallas has to find a way to attract this group back to the city. Accomplishing this changes the political landscape in Dallas, and boosts the educational and economic climates as well.

Has leading Southern Dallas become so unappealing and unrewarding that our brightest young minds don’t even consider that path? On the surface that appears to be the case. One thing is for certain, we are at a crossroads and a rudderless ship is doomed to drift aimlessly.

Mayor-Elect Mike Rawlings Addresses Group at The Trinity Center

Mayor-elect Mike Rawlings was the guest of honor at a “Meet and Greet” hosted by The Trinity Trust at the Trinity Center near downtown Dallas.  This invitation only gathering attracted an influential group of Dallas’ business and political leaders.
The backdrop for the event was the ongoing Trinity River Corridor Project and the potential impact the project will have on the future of Dallas.  The project may not be top of mind these days with most Dallas residents, but those in attendance, were well aware that the most ambitious public works project in the nation could transform the city of Dallas forever.
“Think about how the Trinity Project is going to redefine Dallas in the 21st century,” said Rawlings.   “The Trinity River project will have more impact on commercial real estate and development than any other project in the history of Dallas,” he said.

During his address to the intimate crowd of less than 100 people the mayor-elect stated that economic development (especially in Southern Dallas) and improving education will be two of his top priorities as Mayor.   “I think amazingly, the Trinity Project accomplishes these objectives. The Trinity Corridor offers unimaginable development opportunities now and for years to come ,“ said Rawlings.
Rawlings also believes the Trinity Project presents endless educational opportunities. “This is a laboratory, this is an economics class, this is a science class, this is a social service class right here in our backyard,”  he said.
Dallas has struggled to develop the Trinity River Corridor and the 20 mile stretch of land that runs down the middle of the city for years.  But Rawlings is confident that the project can be completed during his term, if  city leadership can work together.  “This project is not too big for all of us, but if all of us pull in opposite directions it will be,”  he explained.
The mayor-elect is convinced that three factors will determine whether the Trinity Project will finally become a reality. “We must believe it’s doable, we must break the project down into small pieces with manageable objectives and we must have a sense of urgency to get it done,” Rawlings told the group.
For sure, the Trinity Project is long overdue, but Rawlings made it clear that helping bring it to fruition will be a priority for him.  “This is one of my first jobs as mayor.  This project touches all communities,” he said.  “This is something we will be giving to future generations for years to come. One of my main goals as mayor is to ensure that people know that the Trinity Project will be done.”