By:  Jackie Hardy, NDG Contributing Writer

A recent press release from the U.S. Census Bureau reported between 2000 and 2010, Texas joined California, the District of Columbia, Hawaii and New Mexico in having a “majority-minority” population, where more than 50 percent of the population was part of a minority group.  According to U.S. Census Tract 2000, the City of Dallas has over a 50 percent minority population (see graph).

Since the human landscape of Dallas has changed, the mayoral candidates recognize they must be able to relate and understand the issues facing the minority communities.   Candidates Mike Rawlings (former businessman and Homeless Czar for the City and current Dallas Park and Recreation Board President), Edward Okpa, III (real estate consultant and serving on the Dallas Development Fund), Ron Natinsky (Dallas City Councilman for District 12 and Chair of Dallas City Council’s Economic Development Committee), and David Kunkle (former Dallas Police Chief) are all vying for the minority vote.

All four candidates have been hitting the campaign trail in the hopes of convincing voters they are the best candidate to address the major issues facing our City.  But the question that still remains, are citizens in the minority communities buying their campaign promises?

Recently, three of the four mayoral candidates attended a forum hosted by the Park Cities/Central Dallas Democrats held at the Oaklawn Public Library.  Former Dallas Police Chief, David Kunkle was not present due to having a conflict in schedule according to his proxy, Honorable Harryette Ehrhardt and former Texas State Representative. 

One issue that has become a talking point among candidates at these forums is the overwhelming disproportion of City funding in the southern sector, better known as the North-South Divide.   

During the forum Rawlings adds, “Everybody wants the same thing strong, clean neighborhoods and access to things that give them opportunity and it is through economic development that we are going to have the money to make this City accessible for every citizen.  Economics is the lungs of the City and we must bring in that oxygen for everyone. We must have a customer-service leader to make sure that oxygen flows in all parts of the neighborhoods.”

Okpa also expressed the need to focus on business opportunities in the southern areas of the City.  During the forum, Okpa spoke on his campaign platform of “No Neighborhood Left Behind.”

“The southern sector is devoid of the most basic amenities, it is a ‘must’ action to bring that sector into the fold and enhance the overall city tax base. No doubt some sectors/pockets in the northern sector need revamping but the greatest opportunity is south of the Trinity,” Okpa explains in a written statement.

A respectable business leader like Ronald Hay, Chairman of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce and founder of ALL Temps 1 Personnel, knows the potential for economic success in the Southern sector, but feels until city officials put actions to words and commit to investing in the economic development for the Southern sector than there will be no real change on this issue.

“There are reports that show 80 percent of the tax base from the City of Dallas comes from North Dallas, so consequently a majority of the efforts are focused on North Dallas.  The problem I have is if there were more effort made to truly develop South Dallas than that tax base would swing and depending on the swing of that tax base it would become more balance, but if you leave South Dallas underdeveloped there is no way it can generate the same type of tax base as in the Northern sectors,” states Hay.  

“We need to attract business to the southern sector of the city where opportunities for growth and employees are abundant.   I believe in organic growth.  Bishop Arts and North Oak Cliff are examples that I hope to see duplicated across the city,” adds Kunkle in a written response.

In a January budget briefing with the City Council, Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm advised the City could face a budget shortfall of $41 to 96 million.   According to The Texas Tribune, a non-profit news organization in Austin devoted to state government and public policy, the State faces a budget shortfall exceeding $27 billion.

 “Cuts will be made of programs and services that are duplicated and considered wasteful. But before any cut, I will inform and educate the citizens as to why the cuts must be made. And it must be done in such a way so it is not seen as favoring some and denying others” Okpa explains.

“As Mayor I will work aggressively to roll back last year’s tax increase. I will use my business and civic experience to identify ways for the City to operate more efficiently so we can provide high-quality, basic services to residents at a reduced cost,” advises Natinsky.

Rawlings believes the key is to use this economic downturn as an opportunity to re-engineer city government to make it smaller and more efficient. He recommends establishing budget priorities that are funded before dollars go to non-essentials.

The issue with the levees alongside the Trinity River is another issue that if not addressed could have an enormous impact on minorities.  The Army Corps of Engineers rated the integrity of the levees unacceptable meaning the levees cannot handle the level of flooding they were originally designed to hold back, thus the fear of having a situation similar to Hurricane Katrina is a looming issue the new Mayor must face.    

FEMA has given the City a deadline of December 2011 to resolve the matter or the areas where the levee problems exist will be deemed flood plains mandating homeowners with federally backed mortgages on structures that are drawn into the flood plain to carry flood insurance, which could ultimately be a requirement affecting many minorities.  Neighborhoods like Cadillac Heights, a predominately Hispanic and African American community, is one of the neighborhoods apart of the Army Corp of Engineers Dallas Floodway Extension Project to provide overbank flowage capacity for flood waters along the west side of the Trinity River from the Dallas Floodway to Loop 12.

“Our first priority as a city must be to not only upgrade the levees but also to build new levees (the Dallas Floodway Extension) to protect the citizens, neighborhoods and businesses in the flood plain.  This is an urgent need; the entire Council understands that, and this issue will stay top of everyone’s’ mind until it is completed,” explains Natinsky in a written statement.

Education and public safety are other issues important to many minorities.  Recent local news reports have reported Dallas Independent School Districts (DISD) will have to make massive budget cuts.  Schools housed within minority communities could potentially loose several programs that so often are needed and important to their overall academic success. 

Rawlings has publicly vowed his promise to use the Mayor’s office as a bully pulpit to raise awareness and launch and execute a public-private partnership to improve the City’s public schools. 

On public safety, Kunkle stands on his accomplishments as Dallas Police Chief, pointing out six consecutive years of total crime reduction, as well as a 32 percent decrease in violent crimes during his tenure.

The economy is the encompassing concern shared among all Dallas residents.  Many residents would agree when the economy is strong, schools are stronger, crime is lower and the overall quality of life is better.  However, where Dallas residents tend to differ is whose the right candidate capable of doing the job.