City News

Dallas authorities say they'll crack down on downtown street racing stat

Street racing incident on Live Oak Street in April, 2020.

Street racing has been a growing epidemic across Dallas, especially during COVID-19, most recently hitting downtown's Central Business District. Now authorities say they're going to crack down, starting ASAP.

According to a city of Dallas release, the Dallas Police Department (DPD) is collaborating with downtown Dallas' business partners to curtail street racing, beginning with an enforcement of the juvenile curfew and an accompanying increase in manpower.

They're also going to be shutting down lanes at midnight, so if you're driving through downtown or Deep Ellum, something to keep in mind.

Enforcement of the juvenile curfew ordinance will begin on Friday September 4 and will continue for the next three weeks, in these inner-city areas:

Deep Ellum
West End
Farmers Market
Uptown Dallas
Victory Park
Central Business District

These are all areas with very busy Facebook pages logging lots of complaints.

The ordinance applies to juveniles under the age of 17 who are in a public place from 12:01 am-6 am Friday and Saturday, and from 11 pm-6 am on Sunday.

Juveniles found in violation will be detained by officers until properly identified, then either released to a guardian or parent or transported to the Letot Center, a facility for runaway youth at 10505 Denton Dr.

Public Works and Transportation are coordinating street closures and traffic calming devices in speeding hot spots downtown. Street racers and spectators are subject to a citation, fine, and/or jail.

This is not the first time that authorities have vowed to get tough on street racing. Back in April, following a series of street racing incidents in Dallas that resulted in one death, the DPD said they would start arresting spectators as well as participants.

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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.

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