The Tardy Bell Chronicles

 

This morning, Dallas Independent School District Police, together with Dallas Police, Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police, and the Downtown (Dallas) Safety Patrol descended on DART’s West Transfer Center to catch any truant in sight.  The Downtown Patrol seemed to be the unit charged with the responsibility of catching truants getting off trains at DART’s nearby West End Station (A popular hangout for school-aged teens during school hours).  Once caught, the teens were herded. . . uhhmm humm. . .escorted to a parking lot immediately North of DART’s West Transfer Center.  There, the truant students were questioned, then cuffed with plastic wrist bands, awaiting a fate only few people know.

The City of Dallas recently passed a daytime curfew for school aged children in an effort to address the widespread truancy problem affecting DISD.  Under the new law, parents, students, and businesses that welcome these kids will be given two warnings before citations with fines, up to $500.00, are handed out.

My question is:  “where do the police take these children after publicly humiliating them with arrest?”  I hope they’re escorted to school, and not some juvenile detention center.  After all, isn’t that what the law is partially aimed to achieve?. . . . keeping more kids in school?

copyright © (including all photographs) 2009 Raimundo Mbala

Margaret Hunt Hill "Bridge Fair" Excludes Dallasites

While citizens and taxpayers of the City of Dallas continue to wait for the erection of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge (and rest of the Trinity River Project), the only people who seem to be involved in celebrating the bridge's impending arrival are people who probably don't live in Dallas.  Why would Certain people hold a "Bridge Fair" on a public thoroughfare, and charge a minimum of $150.00 to attend? This will exclude ninety eight percent of the people who actually live in Dallas. . .Won't it?  Is this just another example of

On September 25, 2009, the Trinity Trust is putting on the "Bridging The Trinity Party."  The event will be  held on the Continental Street Bridge which connects Downtown Dallas/Industrial Boulevard area to Southwest Dallas.  Acording to their website, the event will be attended by:

"Special guests including bridge architect Santiago Calatrava with Mayor Tom Leppert and National Honorary Chairs U. S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. Also joining the party will be Honorary Event Chairs Mary McDermott Cook, Lyda Hill, Al Hill Jr. and Alinda Wikert."