Articles for September, 2010
How Not to Get an Internship at D
My mom (love her dearly!) is a helicopter mom. And, quite frankly, from years 13-18, I thought she was the helicopter mom. I’ve since grown up and realized there are those who are worse. And I feel sorry for their kids because I understand what they’re going through. But, ladies and gentlemen, I do believe I have found the queen of helicopter moms. I’ll give you a sneak peak at a little convo I had with said helicopter mom, and you let me know if I’m correct.
HM: Hi. I’m calling on behalf of my daughter, a student in high school. I was wondering if she could have an internship at D Magazine.
Collin County Judge to Collin County DA: I See Your Special Prosecutor and Raise You a Grand Jury
DA John Roach, who has called himself the “most powerful man in Collin County,” is a veteran fighter, used to getting his own way. But he may have met his match in freshman Judge Suzanne Wooten, who can get down in the mud and fight with the big boys.
The DA has been trying to indict Wooten for over a year over what he claims are campaign law violations. Wooten claims that the DA is on a vendetta on behalf of ex-judge Charles Sandoval (whom she beat at the polls).
This spring Judge Wooten won a skirmish against Roach when Judge Ray Wheless ruled in her favor over recalling an already dismissed Grand Jury who the DA and an Assistant Attorney General wanted to use to indict her.
She’s now got her very own grand jury, and her Grand Jury has asked for and received a special prosecutor to investigate the DA.
Yesterday, Wooten filed a motion before District Judge Mark Rusch demanding that he either confirm and make public his rumored appointment of a special prosecutor to take over the DA’s investigation of Wooten, or publicly deny that he did so.
Some will remember that it was Judge Rusch who signed a search warrant targeting the defense attorney in a capital murder case. For the last several months the DA and Judge Rusch have squabbled over who lost some of the evidence seized in that raid. The DA and Frisco PD blame the judge, and the judge blames the Frisco PD.
Abortion Clinic in For Long 40 Days
As I cruised Upper Greenville Avenue yesterday afternoon, it seemed to me that rush hour on a Tuesday was an odd time for a band to be performing in Harry Moss Park. The shindig I spied was apparently a precursor to the 40 Days For Life vigil that begins today. Similar vigils are happening nationwide, but this one targets the Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center.
Leading Off (9/22/10)
1. Yesterday Jim Schutze of the Phoenix-based Dallas Observer reported that unnamed sources have told him that unnamed people at City Hall have told them (the unnamed sources) that the Trinity levees will need a “concrete curtain” installed along its entire length, a process that might require demolishing the levees. That’s what you’d call a bombshell, the sort of news that I’d like to see squared away a bit more before it’s released to the internet.
2. I thought we already went over this. The Morning News runs another story about how DA Craig Watkins has spent his campaign funds on, among other things, a tuxedo. His opponent, Danny Clancy, says Watkins has spent his contributors’ cash on “jet-setting around the country.” But all these expenses are, we know, legitimate. Seems like a great opportunity to issue a solid smackdown in your rebuttal to Clancy, but all campaign spokesman Eric Celeste can muster is this painfully dull quote: “They are just trying to create an issue where there is no issue.” Come on, Celeste! Earn your paycheck!
3. If you live in a $150,000 house, you’ll be paying about $18 more in taxes every year. No, you didn’t miss the Dallas City Council’s vote on whether to raise taxes. That was the county commissioners that jacked up your taxes. I expect at least $18 worth of outrage in the comments section. Don’t disappoint me.
4. A Highland Park guy named Charles Nearburg broke the 45-year-old land-speed record with an average speed of 414.4 mph. That’s fast.
Angela Hunt Weighs In On Tax Increase
Basically, she explains, it costs more in the long run to continue to make cuts without increasing revenue.
Zac Crain’s Magic Number Just Changed to 9
For those scoring at home.
Race and Ethnicity in Dallas
Bill Rankin caused quite a stir when he made this map showing how racially divided Chicago is. It’s almost hard to believe a city could be that divided along racial lines. But what about Dallas? Eric Fischer generated a similar map for us. Not nearly as striking as Chi-Town but still interesting.
Atkins Says Mayor’s Tax Poll Is Hooey
Here’s the deal: It seems like half the city council wants to increase property taxes so they can pay for stuff. Only, Mayor Tom Leppert doesn’t. So he sent out this mailer asking people to pass this note on to their council member, only it doesn’t even have postage paid, so you know, why didn’t he just use interoffice mail?
And then he says he has all this polling that says nobody wants the council’s stupid tax anyway. Only today council member Tennell Atkins says (and I’m summarizing here, not directly quoting, because that takes too long), ”Oh, that poll was totally rigged, because it only asks people if they want their taxes increased or not and anybody with a lick of sense is gonna push no, but I pushed yes, so there.”
Atkins says a good poll would mention that you’ll have to give up swimming in pools and using the Internets for free in the library and driving on roads in your cars if you don’t want your taxes raised. In other words: No new taxes = everyone’s Amish.
I don’t want to be Amish. Hold me.
Mark Cuban Ain’t Done Yet With That Insider Trading Case
An alert FrontBurnervian points us to news that an appeals court today ruled that a lower court erred in throwing out the SEC’s insider trading case against Mark Cuban. On the steps of the courthouse, Cuban told reporters: “We are going to be really deep this year, and I think Roddy B will give Jason Kidd some needed rest.” (Man, I don’t know. I’ll workshop that.)
What to Do in Dallas Tonight: Sept. 21
Your first order of business today: sign up for a defensive driving course at a location that’s convenient for you. I don’t know whether this is due to a failure on the part of drivers ed programs or something else, but “right of way” is apparently a foreign concept in the greater Dallas area. Yield, people. It isn’t rocket science. And while you’re at it, stop tailgating me.
Ahem. Moving on. The Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and ZZ Top concert happens tonight at Superpages.com Center. If you find yourself screeching along to “Refugee,” “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” and “She’s Got Legs,” I’m confident you won’t be the only one. If you prefer your music with a tad less gray, however, you might want to check out Far East Movement at Aura. This should be a high-energy show, if “Like a G6” is any indication, and you’re likely to be surrounded by a lot of overly groomed dancing folk, so be sure to load up on Red Bull and hair gel before you go. And if you’re wondering whether you can wear your white patent-leather hot pants tonight, the answer is yes!
More in the mood for a subdued evening that involves the chewing and swallowing of food? Check out Mi Piaci’s Candoni wine dinner. All that pasta and wine should help you sleep like a baby.
Not so much? Browse these other great things to do in Dallas.
Local TV Recaps on FrontRow
While Laura deliberates about which shows she will devote herself to this season (my vote is with the Jimmy Johnson Survivor), Jason Heid suffered through Chase and the Houston-based, Dallas-shot Lone Star so you can know whether or not to waste your time with either show.
Rich Connor Hates America, Ctd.
After my post yesterday about Rich Connor, the former Star-Telegram publisher, an alert FrontBurnervian passed along a link to Connor’s interview on On the Media. Poor Connor. First he takes heat from the right for not respecting 9/11 and instead giving page-one coverage in the Portland Press Herald to Ramadan — then he takes it in the shorts from the left for apologizing for that transgression. Listen to the end of the interview for some good tension and then Connor hanging up on Bob Garfield.
Rich! Stop apologizing and giving interviews! Go eat some fried clams at the Lobster Shack at Two Lights!
Getting Up Close With Glenn Close
I’m a proud graduate of the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, as are my wife and my two brothers. Alas, none of us has been invited to meet Glenn Close at Wednesday’s fundraiser for our alma mater. I haven’t seen Ms. Close since 1994, when I appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman during my internship there. But I did see quite a lot of her during said appearance. Glenn, if you’re reading this, call me at 214-739-2244. I’d love to catch up.
Leading Off (9/21/10)
1. Dallas County commissioners are set to vote on a budget that has already filled their quota of public screaming matches this year. Just in case that wasn’t enough, John Wiley Price is also trying to kick off Chris Luna from the board at Parkland. Good times!
2. Just as I suspected: auto dealers are crooks.
3. The Texas Rangers magic number is still six. Mine, if you were wondering, is eight.
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