City News Roundup

Toll road debate summons famed tennis match in this set of Dallas news

Dallas city news this week was loaded with entertaining thrills, all of it surrounding the Trinity toll road. The back-and-forth was like a tennis match, if the anti-toll-road crowd were tennis ace Billie Jean King and the pro-toll-road crowd were the buffoonish Bobby Riggs. On to the volleys and lobs.

Guy from Arkansas likes toll road
The Dallas Morning News set the week off by publishing an opinion piece applauding the toll road written by Al Petrasek, retiree, resident of Hot Springs and former president of the Trinity Commons Foundation, the organization pushing the toll road.

Petrasek's column was silly, but the real action lay in the the comments, which eviscerated the column and the newspaper's failure to note that, as a former executive at HDR Engineering (which has a vested interest in the tollroad), Petrasek stands to benefit via his former employer's profit sharing program.

Induced demand
Reinforcing the theory of "induced demand" often stated by urban designer Patrick Kennedy — that building more freeways ultimately increases traffic — the DMNdetermined that the toll road will increase congestion on roadways currently used by commuters in South Dallas.

Although the toll road is anticipated to reduce the number of drivers using the Canyon and Mixmaster, it will increase congestion on portions of I-45 and US 175.

"When analyzed, the data in the federal documents makes clear what for years has hardly been talked about: Trinity Parkway isn't just a traffic reducer, it's a traffic creator," says DMN writer Brandon Formby.

Dream Team time!
Mayor Mike Rawlings announced that the Dream Team hired to study the toll road will finally deliver its report, not at a public forum, but instead at a $125-a-head Trinity Commons Foundation luncheon on April 14, with an address by Dream Team foreman Larry Beasley. The Dallas City Council will then have a special meeting on April 16 to debate the toll road. Set your Twitter to Philip Kingston.

Rawlings also identified the folks who funded the Dream Team: Dallas Citizens Council chairman Clint McDonnough; Richard Knight, a contractor and former city manager; Ambit Energy founder Jere Thompson Jr.; Peter Beck, of Beck Group design and construction firm; arts board members Deedie Rose and Mary McDermott Cook; and organizations such as the Dallas Citizens Council, Trinity Commons Foundation, Real Estate Council and Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce. There are also two entities who wish to remain anonymous; oh to know who they might be.

Larry Beasley Day
April 14 will continue to be Larry Beasley Day in Dallas, as the Dream Team foreman will participate in an intimate conversation at the Trinity Center at 5:30 pm, which the unwashed public can attend. RSVPs are encouraged: Email amber@thetrinitytrust.org or call 214-740-1616.

Toll road thumbs down
Another group came out against the toll road, this time the Greater Dallas Planning Council, whose stated mission is to advocate for a creative sustainable future for Dallas. A 10-member committee concluded that "Toll Road Alternative 3C does not contain elements that will contribute to enabling a livable urban core. ... Alternative 3C is likely to create physical and social barriers between and among communities. Therefore, the GDPC does not support construction of the proposed Trinity Toll Road Alternative 3C."

In March, AIA Dallas came out against the toll road, calling it "an outdated approach from the past [that] will not solve the current or future mobility needs of our region."

Toll road debate = tennis match.

Photo courtesy of imgarcade

Toll road debate = tennis match.

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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."