City Hall News

Dallas City Council sets bad precedent with vote do-over on Reverchon Park

City Council member David Blewett initiated a flip-flop on Reverchon Park.

Photo by Conner Howell

When the Dallas City Council passed District 14 council member David Blewett's deal to redevelop a significant part of Reverchon Park, they set a dangerous precedent for the city.

The decision, which was a second run at getting a deal done with a private LLC, tells anyone with business before the council that failures can be undone. It tells developers that they can see who voted against their project, lobby the hell out of them, and perhaps get a second shot. It tells them failure doesn’t necessarily mean you have to start over.

Shades of Lincoln Katy Trail
On December 4, 2018, I wrote about how the contentious Lincoln Katy Trail project would be returning to the City Plan Commission (after failing 7-5) for a vote to reconsider. This happened when newbie commissioner Christopher Lewis from District 8 had been convinced by former council member Angela Hunt, then representing Lincoln, to ask for the reconsideration.

When Lincoln came back for the vote to be reconsidered, plan commissioners voted 12-1 (Lewis) against letting it back in. At the time, I noted one other instance when the council had faced a reconsideration vote (when, in 2013, fracking in the Trinity was on the docket – of all things). Council, including then-council member Hunt, said no to a reconsideration.

It’s called integrity when both sides agree that a vote stands. To do otherwise sets a dangerous precedent.

With the reconsideration of Reverchon and ultimate same-night wham-bam passage, the city announced that any vote might not stand. Imagine if this “two bites of the apple” con were allowed in criminal cases where defendants could simply lobby the jury to get the verdict changed.

If there’s reason to rehear either a municipal or criminal case from scratch, that’s called a retrial or a resubmission.

Negating Roles of Commissions and Boards
There’s another, specific reason this musn’t happen with the city council. It negates any denials by departments before them. In a zoning case, it negates plan commission’s role. I would say that in the case of Reverchon, Blewett’s reconsideration overstepped on the Parks board, but they’re so hot to get the deal done, I doubt any change would have concerned them.

This is more than an esoteric argument. Lincoln Katy Trail is staging its comeback and making the rounds in City Hall with the same awful project that failed over a year ago. Let’s recall, it ultimately:

failed Oak Lawn Committee
failed plan commission
failed reconsideration by plan commission
and failed at city council.

Why now? A new city council and associated plan commissioners. Former District 14 council member and Lincoln roadblock Philip Kingston has been replaced by Blewett. And the statute barring council members acting on cases involving campaign contributors has expired. Lincoln executives and their wives donated at least $4,000 to Blewett’s campaign.

Blewett certainly is starting his first term with a bang while sitting on a city council where the second time around is as good as any.

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A version of this story appeared on Candy's Dirt.

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Animal News

Wills Point, Texas man charged with cruelty for abandoning 18 animals

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Lucas Wayne Penrod, charged with animal cruelty

Another animal cruelty case has emerged from Van Zandt County, resulting in the arrest of a Wills Point man: Lucas Wayne Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

It began on Friday, October 24, when the Wills Point Police Department performed a welfare check at a mobile home within the city limits. Officers became concerned when they heard multiple dogs barking along with a foul odor of animal waste.

On October 25, after obtaining a search warrant, Wills Point PD and the SPCA of Texas ACI Unit entered the residence and found multiple animals living in deplorable conditions.

The mobile home was filled with trash and animal feces. The team discovered a total of 8 cats, 2 guinea pigs, 4 adult dogs, and 4 puppies, cruelly confined to the unsanitary living conditions on the property.

Two dogs were confined to filthy crates with no access to water.
Three puppies were in a small bathroom covered in urine and feces; one of the puppies was deceased and decomposing.
The guinea pigs were found in a cage without access to food or water.

Most of the animals showed signs of long-term neglect and were in dire need of urgent medical intervention. The animals were seized by the SPCA of Texas and transported to the organization's Dallas location for veterinary care.

Dog in cage Wills Point Lucas Wayne Penrod Dog abandoned in Wills Point by Lucas Wayne Penrod.SPCA

On October 26, Lucas Wayne Penrod, the owner of the animals, contacted an SPCA of Texas Investigator regarding the animals. The Investigator determined that Penrod had unlawfully allegedly abandoned the animals, failing to provide them with proper care, resulting in the death of one of the puppies and the critical state of the surviving animals.

On October 28, the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit obtained an arrest warrant for Penrod, who was apprehended by Tyler Police Department and booked into the Smith County Jail with a $50K bond. Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

On November 1, at a civil custody hearing at the Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 courthouse in Wills Point, Penrod relinquished custody of the 18 allegedly abandoned, cruelly treated animals to the SPCA.

"The squalid conditions these beautiful animals were living in were abhorrent--locked in spaces without food or water, in their own excrement," said SPCA of Texas ACI Unit Chief Investigator Courtney Burns, CAWA. "This is some of the worst mistreatment of domestic animals I've seen in my extensive career in animal cruelty investigations. In no small part, these pets owe their lives to the Wills Point Police Department. If it wasn’t for their quick thinking to involve us right away, I don't think the animals would have made it."

"This case perfectly illustrates the team effort that investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty cases in Texas is," Burns added. "We are extremely thankful to the Tyler Police Department for their efficient assistance in apprehending Penrod so that he can be brought to justice in the timeliest manner possible. And we are especially grateful to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and court system with whom we continue to partner to get justice for abused animals in their jurisdiction."