City News Roundup

City Council rescues park from private hands and more Dallas news

Pretty part of Reverchon Park.

Photo by Conner Howell

With 2019 wrapping up, a big vote on a city park took place, and another vote on an Oak Cliff grocery got postponed. The mayor decided crime is a big deal, after all, and the Dallas City Council had its last meeting of the year.

Here's what happened in Dallas this week:

Reverchon Park vote
The Dallas City Council voted against a proposal to hand over a city-owned park to a private entity. A proposal by Don Nelson, general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, would have turned Reverchon Park, located in the Turtle Creek area, into a 3,500-seat stadium which would have hosted sporting events such as soccer and concerts. Those voting against it were concerned about the lack of input from the community, and the lack of studies done on traffic, parking, or environmental impact. Council member Adam Bazaldua made a motion to delay the deal for 60 days to allow for community engagement, but Nelson and company said that they'd walk if there were a delay.

Crime in Dallas
Mayor Eric Johnson has called on Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax to produce a plan to reduce violent crime in Dallas. During the 2019 mayoral election, Johnson didn't view crime as a priority but in his first "State of the City" address, he said that rising violent crime has made the situation urgent. In August, he appointed a task force and now he's putting it in the hands of the city manager and police department. Broadnax issued a polite statement, stating that he shares the community's concern and frustration, and that he'll work on a plan with DPD Chief Renee Hall. According to CBS DFW, the task force is "weeks away" from presenting its own non-police recommendations to prevent violence.

New VisitDallas CEO
VisitDallas has a new boss: Craig Davis, currently President and CEO of VisitPittsburgh, has been appointed the organization's new President and CEO by a special VisitDallas Board of Directors selection committee led by outgoing chair Mark Woelffer and incoming chair Joyce Williams. Davis' first day on the job will be January 6, and he will reside in Dallas. Davis replaces Philip Jones, who was forced to resign in May after some of his spendy habits were revealed.

Royal Blue Grocery in OC
A decision re: Royal Blue Grocery, which is seeking subsidies to help it open a location in Oak Cliff, has been postponed to January. The grocery wants a $350,000 economic development grant and a $350,000 low-interest loan to open a store at 635 W. Davis St., in the space where Bolsa Mercado used to be. City Council member Chad West, who represents District 1 where the store would go, postponed the decision so that Royal Blue Grocery can meet with community members first.

DART student passes
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has renewed its student pass program with Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) for another three years. It gives transportation to more than 100,000 students for $2.7 million in annual revenue. The arrangement began in 2017 as a pilot program to provide DART GoPass to all eligible DCCCD students after transportation was identified as one of the top enrollment barriers; it was set to expire next month. DART has similar partnerships with other colleges in the area, such as SMU, UT Dallas, and El Centro. Since 2017, DCCCD saw a seven percent increase in campus enrollment and a 263 percent increase in DART passes issued, or more than 23,900.

DART Mockingbird Station
The DART board gave the go-ahead to Trammell Crow Company to execute development at SMU/Mockingbird Station. DART selected the developer in January 2018 after reviewing proposals from multiple developers. Trammel Crow's plan is to construct an underground parking garage and residential and commercial towers on surface parking lots at the station.

Dallas Public Library homeless series
Six new episodes of the Dallas Public Library’s Street View podcast about life from the perspective of people experiencing homelessness have been released. The podcasts feature conversations between homeless library customers and Suzanne Glover, Dallas Public Library’s homeless engagement coordinator. The staff hopes to bring greater awareness to the stories of homeless people, and touch on issues of mental health, surviving extreme temperatures, being in a relationship, and other personal experiences.

politics city-news-roundup

Animal News

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

Facebook

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."