War of Words

Parkland says Dallas Morning News misinterpreted $156 million figure

Parkland Memorial Hospital and the Dallas Morning News have had a contentious relationship for years. Although there's no love lost between the two storied institutions, Parkland has taken its ire to a new level by issuing a press release impugning the paper's journalist integrity.

In a story appearing in the May 8 edition of the DMN, staff writer Sherry Jacobson reported that Parkland's construction costs for a new hospital campus "had swelled $156 million beyond budget." Jacobson also said this information had been intentionally shielded from the public.

But Parkland maintains that astronomical number was simply a projection of the potential cost to move all hospital operations to a new location and was never seriously considered by the board.

"The new Parkland Hospital project is not now nor has it ever been $156 million over budget," said Parkland interim CFO Ted Shaw in a statement. "And far from hiding information from the public, the option of moving all Parkland facilities across Harry Hines at a cost in excess of $100 million was discussed and rejected during public meetings of the Board of Managers’ Facilities Committee at which the Dallas Morning News was present."

In an email to CultureMap, Parkland director of communications April Foran said the story's online headline, which reads "New Parkland Memorial Hospital $16 million over budget," is accurate but incomplete.

"The projected cost is now $16 million above currently available resources. But Parkland has not authorized any expenditure above currently available resources," Foran said. "It is our intention to get back within budget."

Jacobson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Homeless News

Downtown Dallas homeless service Stewpot lands bigger better space

The Stewpot

It's official: The Stewpot, a community program that serves the homeless, has a new home. According to a release, First Presbyterian Church of Dallas — the organization that oversees the Stewpot — has acquired the CitySquare Community Center building at 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. where the StewPot will soon reside.

“This new facility will allow us to better deliver our programs and continue to support the 12,000 people served annually by CitySquare’s Neighbor Resource Center and Food Pantry programs,” said Brenda Snitzer, executive director of The Stewpot.

The Stewpot is a community ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. Established in 1975, it began with a concerned group of church members who started preparing lunch for the congregation's homeless and hungry neighbors.

It serves those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Its programs have tripled in size in recent years, and the ministry has outgrown its current space at 1835 Young St. across from the church.

When CitySquare announced earlier this year that it would cease operations and sell its property by the end of the year, First Presbyterian leaped in to make a bid on the space. Members voted on Sunday, December 8 to approve the acquisition. The closing is scheduled for Friday, December 13. The Stewpot will begin moving into the new space later this month.

As a part of the acquisition, The Stewpot will continue two of CitySquare’s core programs: its Food Pantry and its Neighbor Resource Center, which helps people with housing options, SNAP, WIC, healthcare, financial assistance, and mental health services.

The property is a mile from The Stewpot’s current facility on Young Street, across the street from the church. With this acquisition, The Stewpot will move its operations and offices, while continuing to serve more than 1,000 meals daily at The Bridge downtown.

charity downtown