Monthly Archives: March 2009

Transportation Enhancement Stimulus Funds Awarded to Woodall Rodgers Freeway Deck Plaza

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Landmark Dallas Project Moves Forward

Press Release

DALLAS (March 26, 2009) — The Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation will receive $16.7 million in federal stimulus funds toward constructing a deck plaza over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway in downtown Dallas. The Woodall Rodgers deck plaza is a “shovel-ready” transportation enhancement project that will create approximately 1,000 immediate jobs and will stimulate additional economic development and job growth in the future.

The project will provide a vital pedestrian and bicycle connection between both sides of the existing freeway, connecting Downtown Dallas, the Arts District, and the Uptown and Victory residential districts. The Woodall Rodgers Park will be a 5-acre urban park built on top of the deck plaza structure.

“The stimulus money will go towards a project that will be central to the Dallas’ identity for generations to come,” said Linda Owen, president of the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. “We are excited and grateful for the boost in funding that will help us achieve even more of our goals for the Park.”

The stimulus funds were awarded by the Texas Department of Transportation Commission with a vote to approve a list of projects selected for transportation enhancement funds. The funding for highway and bridge construction under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stipulated that three percent of those funds be set aside for transportation enhancement projects.

Since its completion, the Woodall Rodgers Freeway has served as a barrier between Uptown and Downtown Dallas. The deck plaza mitigates the harsh environment and will re-knit the urban fabric to enable safe, useful pedestrian connections across and along the freeway. A bridge structure will be constructed across the freeway between existing bridges on St. Paul and Pearl Street.

“The pedestrian and bicycle enhancements will serve as a major catalyst for improved mobility, safety and economic development,” said Owen. “The project will transform our city’s geography and quality of life.”

The Woodall Rodgers Freeway Deck Plaza is funded and developed through a public, private partnership including the Texas Department of Transportation, the City of Dallas, the North Central Texas Council Of Governments and the private sector’s Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. It has been in the planning stages since 2004.

Utility construction began last month providing the infrastructure necessary to begin work on the deck plaza. The additional stimulus funding is expected to accelerate the deck construction which is slated for late summer or early fall 2009.

About Woodall Rodgers Park

The Woodall Rodgers Park is a 5.2-acre, $80 million deck park that will create an urban green space over the existing Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul streets. Like the Washington Mall in D.C., the park will provide connectivity to the city’s flourishing Arts District, bringing world-class cultural offerings together as a central gathering space for Dallas and its visitors to enjoy.

Plans for the park include jogging trails, a dog park, a children’s playground, a restaurant, a performance pavilion, a water sculpture, an area for games and much more.

The park is being designed by The Office of James Burnett in conjunction with the engineering firm of Jacobs Carter Burgess. Bjerke Management Solutions is the project manager.

For more information, visit www.woodallrodgerspark.org

John Hope Franklin, scholar and historian dies at the age of 94

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Historian John Hope Franklin passed away on Wednesday in North Carolina at the age of 94.  Franklin was born in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, in 1915.  He spent his career studying the subject of race and its effect on individuals and society.

Franklin earned a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University in 1935, and his master’s and doctorate degrees from Harvard in 1936 and 1941.  I tend to link Mr. Franklin with his thoughts on the Tulsa Race Riots and the tragedy of Black Wall Street in 1921.  I’d like to share some of his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in 2007 from the Legal History Blog.

My father was born in the Indian territory and grew up in Oklahoma. He lived through the Tulsa race riot in 1921. I moved to Tulsa when I was ten years old, just four years after the Tulsa riot, and witnessed first-hand the impact the riot had on Tulsa….

I observed and have concluded the 1921 riot had a devastating impact on Tulsa that lasted for decades. In my public statements and published work, I have recounted my view that a culture of silence and official negligence descended on the white community of Tulsa in the years after the riot, and persisted for several decades, and my view that in Tulsa’s black community in the ensuing decades, after the economic and physical destruction of the riot, the difficulty of rebuilding, and the indifference or worse of the white community, a public silence among blacks also settled in, even while they privately remembered and feared the riot and its aftermath.

Some of the titles written by Franklin include The Color Line: Legacy for the Twenty-first Century, Three Negro Classics, and The Negro and the New Deal.  Read more on the life of Mr. Franklin from The Associated Press, and John Hope Franklin: No Soft Spot for Media by Ron Prince of the Maynard Institute.

Biographical sketch from John Hope Franklin Center.

Thursday on Shawn P. Williams Show: Is 2009 the end of media as we know it?

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Join Kristin and I Thursday night as we talk about the state of media in general and what that means for Black Media in particular. Kevin Ross broached the subject on Dallas South and after spending a week at the Poynter Institute with some of the top minds in new media, I think we need to  explore the topic on  Blog Talk Radio.

Link to Shawn P. Williams Show

Check us out tonight at 9 PM Central.

How To Tell People They Sound Racist from Jay Smooth and Ill Doctrine

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At the conference today, Latoya Peterson of Racialicious.com shared this video from Jay Smooth of IllDoctrine.com.  In this 3 minute video Jay Smooth sums up a point I’ve been trying to get across on this blog for 3 years: there is a difference between racist behavior and a racist person or attitude.   Check out this work and let me know what you think.  And make sure to visit Racialicious and IllDoctrine.

2nd Annual Dallas Pottery Invitational

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Artists across the county showcase their ceramic art

Dallas, Texas – Join some of the most recognized functional ceramicists in the nation on April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Janette Kennedy Gallery in South Side on Lamar to kick-off the second annual Dallas Pottery Invitational. The opening reception will include complimentary hors’ devours and music by Greg Ray Combo. The invitational will open throughout the weekend for guests to enjoy the original handmade works and purchase pieces from the artists.

This year’s event will showcase eleven nationally recognized artists and their diverse contemporary styles and pieces created from earthenware, stoneware and porcelain clays. Participating local ceramicists include: Daphne and Gary Hatcher, Lisa Orr, Amy Halko, Louise Rosenfield and Liz Lurie. In addition to last year’s exhibitors there will be five new national artists: Charity Davis-Woodard from Edwardsville, IL; Brenda Lichman from Denton, TX; Robbie Lobell from Coupeville, WA; Diane Rosenmiller and Nick Seidner from Middletown Springs, VT.

For more information visit www.dallaspotteryinvitational.com

What:    Second Annual Dallas Pottery Invitational

Where:           Janette Kennedy Gallery

South Side on Lamar

1409 S. Lamar

Dallas, TX 75215

When:            Friday, April 3

7pm to 9 pm – Opening Reception

Saturday, April 4 – 10 am to 5 pm

Sunday, April 5 – 12 pm to 5 pm

Cost:              Free

If you are interested in making a donation to the event please contact Louise Rosenfield at 972.898.1725 or inca1@airmail.net.

VIDEO UPDATE: President stands tall in face of tough economic questions during prime time press conference

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Tuesday night, President Barack Obama held his 2nd prime time press conference. The President started the press conference with a 7 minute statement where he spoke directly to the American people, seeking to assure them with regards to the economy and his budget plan. Then he took questions.

The reporters were very focused on asking questions about the budget, whether or not the President’s deficit spending would spiral out of control, and of course AIG. The White House Press Corp. repeated a few questions, an excessive amount of time on Republicans who have been critical of the President’s budget and deficit spending.

“First of all, I suspect that some of those Republican critics have a short memory, because as I recall, I’m inheriting a $1.3 trillion deficit, annual deficit, from them,” Obama said in response to claims that his budget was the most irresponsible in American history. “…there’s a interesting reason why some of these critics haven’t put out their own budget. I mean, we haven’t seen an alternative budget out of them,” he went on to say, “…the reason is because they know that, in fact, the biggest driver of long-term deficits are the huge health care costs that we’ve got out here that we’re going to have to tackle.”

My favorite part of the press conference was when the president snapped on Ed Henry from CNN. Ed started out fine by asking about his “anger” with regards to AIG and the executive bonuses. But then Ed tried to press the President on the timing of his anger.

“So on AIG, why did you wait — why did you wait days to come out and express that outrage?” Henry asked, “Why did it take so long?” Obama snapped back at Henry, “Well, it took us a couple of days because I like to know what I’m talking about before I speak….all right?”

The response garnered laughter in the press room, and excitement amongst my Twitter Followers. Some of my favorite Tweets from the evening:

PoliticalDivaRT @HopeChat: RT @roadkillrefugee MSNBC cam pans press corp: a sea of aging vanilla & gray looking down at notebooks

MonroeAndersonIt took days to speak on AIG comeback was a smack in the reporter’s face.

cristalbubblin“Cuz i like to know what Im talking about BEFORE I speak *smirk*”- President Obama *SHOTS FIRED* I love it LOL

oshunj#Obama got it right! He speaks re: #AIG bonuses when he knows what he is talking about…#CNN reporter got an ear full! Luv it!!

GEM2001You that was coming when he gave him the” President Obama Pursed Lip”

PoliticalDivaSomeone got their face cracked….

shawnpwilliams Not sure what CNN dude was hoping to accomplish, but I’m sure it wasn’t being snapped on by the POTUS.

It took a while, but it was nice to see Kevin Chappell of Ebony ask a question at the press conference. I enjoyed the direction he took his question, focusing on the people (homeless) who are affected by the economy. The President also spoke up on how veterans have been hit harder by the economy at higher rates than the rest of the country. I also thought the last question on the Israel/Palestinian conflict.

The questions were tougher this go around, but the President had a good showing. His next step will be working with Blue Dog Democrats to get behind is efforts with energy and health care.

Your best $10 fitness investment

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BY JASON JOHNSON

This $10 piece of exercise equipment will give you a better workout than a $2000 treadmill and won’t take up any space.

A jump rope! Jumping rope or skipping rope, as it’s sometimes referred to, is an excellent form of total body conditioning. I’m always a fan of getting the biggest bang for your buck in your workouts. Your goal should always be to work the most muscles and engage as many muscle fibers within the 1 exercise: enter the jump rope.

Buy Jump Rope, Look Like This

Jumping rope is a true form of TOTAL BODY conditioning. It works everything from your shoulders, chest, back, arms, abs, legs and all the way down to your calves and Achilles tendons. Ladies listen up: some suggest jumping rope is the best exercise to tone up your glutes. By working so many muscles within the 1 move, your heart rate and metabolism skyrockets and you burn more calories both during and after the exercise session. Again, this is our goal.

To get the most efficient workout. According to exercise research, a 10-minute jump rope session can be as effective as 30 minutes of jogging on a treadmill. According to the National Institutes of Health, you can burn between 750-1000 calories in 1 hour of jumping rope. Also, jumping rope is generally a safer form of cardio vs. running. With proper form, it’s much easier on your joints, specifically it’s much easier on your lower back and knees.

You probably haven’t jumped rope in a long time. Some probably haven’t done it since P.E classes in school. Some haven’t done it since they were a kid playing double dutch in the streets. Give it a try for your next form of exercise! It’s actually fun.

And brings out the kid in all of us. It might be a little frustrating at first, but with practice you’ll be able to skip without tripping up. In addition to burning a ton of calories, your overall balance and coordination will improve over time. If you’re the person constantly tripping over your own feet just walking to the mailbox, try jumping rope in your routine for about 3-4 weeks. You will notice better overall coordination.

Interesting, odd factoid: Jumping rope actually dates back to early human history. It has been said the ancient Egyptians used vines to jump over for various forms of exercise.

Let’s recap all of the benefits of jumping rope:

  • Spend $10 and get a better workout than a $2000 treadmill
  • Won’t take up any space. Where is your current treadmill. In your garage taking up space? In the guest bedroom being used a coat rack?
  • 10 min’s of jumping rope=30 min’s of jogging
  • Low impact. Is safer for your lower back, knees and ankles
  • Works your entire body: shoulders, chest, back, arms, abs, legs, glutes, calves and Achilles tendons. Skyrockets your heart rate and metabolism.
  • Great for improving your balance and coordination

So in the words of Kriss Kross you need to “Jump Jump” or as House of Pain said it, “Jump Around!” It’s great cardio!

Until next time.

Stay healthy and stay active,

Jason M. Johnson, ACE-CPT

JMJ Fitness

www.jmjfitness.com

First Day discussion focuses on values & excellent presentation by New York Times City Room Blog

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The Poynter Institute has assembled an amazing group of new media mindsfor their “Sense Making” seminar that’s designed to help identify the new course of media and journalism. Some of those include Drew Curtis of Fark.com, Latoya Peterson of Racialicious.com, Chris Rabb from Afro-Netizen, Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of reddit.com, and many others.

Day 1 started with the group coming up with a list of values to associate with whatever it is that we all do. Some of the words ascribed to our passion for new media/citizen journalism included:

FAIRNESS

EQUALITY

EMPOWERMENT

TRANSPARENCY

ACCOUTABILIBY

HELPING

After an e-presentation by Jim Kennedy, Vice-President/Director of Strategic Planning for the Associated Press, our group broke for lunch. The afternoon session began with an energetic and informative presentation by Sewell Chan, editor of the New York Times City Room Blog. The Times has been in the blogosphere for a couple of years now, which is an eternity in internet terms compared with a lot of other major newspapers.

Sewell shared an insightful interactive tools the Times is using on the web, including a narrative series they’re running called One in 8 Million, which uses the voices of New Yorkers to tell their own story. Please click this link to hear the story of Ra Ruiz as told to the New York Times.

At the end of the day, we went back and came up with questions that we had at this particular junction of journalism. Some of those included:

Who is a journalist?

What new sources of revenue are out there?

What are the ideals of journalism as a practice that benefit a democratic network?

How do you encourage people from marginalized backgrounds to go into journalism?

Today we received a couple of articles to review that talk about this new shift. They’re worth the read.

Old Growth Media and the Future of News

2020 Vision: What’s Next for News

Build Something or STFU

Game Sold Not Told: Madoff’s $65 Billion Ponzi Scheme

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BY JAMES “BIRD” GUESS

Wall Street investor conman, Bernie Madoff, made off with billions of investor’s money and on December 10, 2008, he confessed to orchestrating an estimated $65 billion “ponzi scheme,” that is considered the largest act of investor fraud ever by a single person. On March 12, 2009, Madoff appeared in court and pled guilty to 11 felonies. He faces a maximum sentence of 150 years in prison, and will also have to pay mandatory restitution and fines estimated at $170 billion.

After prosecutors froze Madoff’s accounts and seized his business and personal assets, they accounted for only $830 million. Prosecutors are expected to investigate members of Madoff’s family as well. Former investors who contributed to Madoff’s investment funds, who profited and cashed out, may be asked to return some of their “false profits” to remaining investors in order to make them whole.

Despite the billions in losses, fines, and public outrage, Madoff did not implicate any other person who may have known or helped him pull off this sophisticated scam, instead he went out solo. What!! Are you telling me one man pulled off the largest investment scam in history by himself? Yeah right!

Federal investigators definitely have their work cut out for them, but I would not be surprised if some of them profited from it and knew the music would stop playing sooner or later. Beginning in 1992, The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) responsible for regulating the stock market and investment products, investigated Madoff’s firm eight times over 16 years, and his firm was cleared or paid small fines each time.

In 2005, financial analyst Harry Markopolos sent a detailed 17-page report to the SEC, accusing Madoff’s firm of operating The World’s Largest Fraudulent Hedge Fund. He even sent his report to the Wall Street Journal but editors declined to run the story. So lets not rule out that Madoff was aware of Markopolos’ report and could have compensated SEC investigators and editors of the Wall Street Journal to perpetuate his ponzi scheme.

What is a Ponzi scheme? It’s a scam named after Italian immigrant Charles Ponzi who in 1920 promised people 50% returns on their money in 45 days, and 100% returns in 90 days. The scheme operates by taking beginning investor’s money and using new investor’s money to pay off the beginning investors. For example, lets say I promised you that if you invested $100 with me, I would return $200 back in 30 days (100% profit).

Now all I ask is that you encourage more people to invest with me. Well, after you told your friend, he comes in one week later with his $100, and I will now use his $100 and the $100 you originally gave me to pay you the $200 I promised you in the beginning. Got it? I will encourage your friend to advertise for me as well and when new investors come in, I will use their money to pay him. Everything works so long as new cash continues to flow in, but eventually the music stops playing and the people who invested last will lose.


I can only imagine how the victims of Madoff’s ponzi scheme feel. So when it comes to your money, I strongly encourage you to always ask questions and continue reading and studying business, and finance so that no one can financially take advantage of you.

What’s going on at SOC?

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I have maintained for quite some time now that I feel the South Oak Cliff Boys Basketball Team has been unfairly and excessively disciplined for grade changing accusations made by former employees to WFAA 8.  My support for Coach James Mays has not been altered by the two championships that DISD has voluntarily decided to forfeit.  I don’t believe any of those accusations would stand up in a court of law, but DISD made their decision based on court of public opinion.

That stands in sharp contrast to the recent developments involving supposed “cage fights” at South Oak Cliff that reportedly took place a few years back.  What is worse is that I hear very few people speaking out either way on the subject, which leads me to believe that something bad is lying beneath the surface.

I doubt that I’m pulling back the curtain here, but there are times when black men decide to let boys settle their differences with fisticuffs.  I’ve heard of this happening when boys have been having problems with fighting and are encouraged to take their aggression out under the eyes of adults rather than to handle it in the street.  And in the instances where that may have happened, boxing gloves were usually involved.

The SOC allegations don’t sound nearly that well thought out or well intentioned.  It’s hard to say because there has been very little in the way of denials (unlike with the basketball problems).  There is no excuse for a school to run an underground fighting organization, for the pleasure of staff, administrators, or anyone else.

But it’s what the community will and will not tolerate that really matters when it comes to solutions and positive outcomes.  Very few people from the African-American community had an opinion -one way or another- about the grade scandal.  And there have been few voices from the community who have spoken up about the fighting allegations.  The silence is deafening.