Leading Off (02/10/09)
1. Texas faces an increasing shortage of well-qualified math and science teachers for a number of reasons, not the least of which is they earn on average $23,000 to $40,000 less than their peers in the private sector. Not surprisingly, the children who need the most help in these areas have the worst teachers. Also not surprisingly, the kids most affected have a more short-term outlook: “Sweet,” they said.
2. A NorthPark cleaning crew worker is in fair condition after a 5 a.m.-ish shooting at the mall. A car rolled by the entrance near Kona Grill and opened fire through the doors, and the worker, who was cleaning the escalator, was hit by a stray bullet. No motive or suspects yet, although police do anticipate a general “we’re going to hell in a handbasket”-style overreaction on this blog’s comments. Let’s not disappoint.
3. Haven’t broken this one out in a while: If you haven’t seen the forecast for tonight, er, uh, DUCK!
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I blame the proliferation of Tin Star taco huts, Swatch, OrangeCup and Barneys.
Everything was fine until they came along.
This is way, way too early to call for a duck. Remember, this is Texas and the forecasters rarely get it right.
Maybe all the NorthPark gun-fire is a publicity stunt.
Like the Galleria saying, “you wanna 40% off sale? huh? You try, NP, just try it. “
OMG….. “Spring Storm 2009″
Quick, to the store for water and batteries.
My guess is that crowds at NorthPark today will consist primarily of people who don’t read/watch the news.
WE’RE GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!
Does this mean the new spring stuff at Neiman’s will go on sale early?
I have a friend who went to see a movie this weekend at Valley View instead of NorthPark because she felt safer at Valley View. That says a lot.
I don’t have anything other than anecdotal evidence, but every time I’ve seen a security guard outside, it has been near the Tiffany’s entrance.
I’ve never seen them anywhere else outdoors.
So if you don’t want to get shot, park by Tiffany’s.
@ Troll Doll:
Good advice. But is that security guard a Tiffany’s guard or a general NorthPark guard?
I think the 5:00am NP shooter definitely intended to inflict injury. Otherwise they would have waited until 1:30pm when the mall is empty.
RayRay – a golf cart driving, general NorthPark guard. The kind that are finer than hen’s teeth, and up until a few days ago, I didn’t think actually existed.
Yes, it’s the elusive outdoor guard, thought to be a myth at NorthPark.
By this time next year, there should be a large of of former TI engineers that may be able to go into teaching.
I park on the Tiffany’s side because it’s the high-scale side and therefore much more safe.
Northpark now equals Red Bird Mall due to the benefits of Dart rail.
The people at Northpark mall should be the people who are escaping the rain and don’t want their car getting dented by hail.
At least that’s where I would be if I didn’t have to do this thing called “work”.
Uh, Geronimo – both instances, shooters DROVE OFF, I believe. And at any rate, who in the hell wants to commit a crime and then run across the highway to the DART rail, and WAIT FOR A TRAIN?
Time for D Magazine to do an update on its feature of many years ago: “Fair Park is safer than North Park”.
Living on the edge of Lakewood, I hear gun fire and tejano/rap around 2:15am most nights. Personally, it rocks me to sleep.
The outside guard at Northpark is an elusive fellow, even during working hours…
http://dallasprogress.blogspot.com/2009/01/northpark-center-securitya-farce.html
Troll doll. Not referencing this particular instance, just the appearance of the mall from time to time.
I park my crappy mid-priced car with the valet outside Tiffany’s. I get some of the wife’s jewelry polished and I get my ticket validated. It works out great for me in so many ways- cheap valet parking, short walk in the shade to get to and from my car, and my wife gives me a kiss and thinks I’m thoughtful – all because I went to catch a movie.
OMG, it’s starting to sprinkle!!! Head to the tornado shelter!!!!
Why isn’t Jane Ann McGarry doing something about this????
I heard that Neimans also had 3 shots fired into their windows.
I can’t wait to teach the leaders of tomorrow.
I wonder whe’s window they will have to shoot to get police and cameras in the parking lots? Even Target (Medallion location) has cameras- surely this is not an economic situation.