Ash Creek Mobile Home Park, a controversial mobile home community in the White Rock Hills area of East Dallas has been a matter of much discussion and political machination over the past year or so. Some neighbors and neighborhood groups have portrayed the park as a blight on the area, a hotbed of innumerable City Code violations and a haven for crime. Some of those folks have taken legal action and have the park on the verge of extinction, or at least a radical downsizing. Residents and supporters say the Park is a longstanding home of hardworking low-income salt-of-the-earth folks, and that they are the victims of wanton gentrification of the neighborhood.

Steve Crossett, the Austin-based absentee owner of the park (he inherited the 57 year-old property from his father) faces a deadline of tomorrow to provide the City with an acceptable plan for getting the park in compliance with city code. Based on prior delays and the costs involved of doing so, it seems highly unlikely that will happen. And even if it does, bringing the park into compliance will mean meeting city occupancy standards-- The park currently houses 52 families, and it will need to be reduced by 24 units in order to be in compliance.

At last night's meeting of the Ferguson Road Initiative (FRI), the consortium of neighborhoods in the White Rock Hills area, supporters of the park spoke passionately, as did the leaders of the legal action against the park.There was a sense of futility to the conversation, as the die is already shaken and rolling, and the only man who can really do much to change its course -- Crossett -- was not present.

A Stroll in the Park

If you have neither lived in trailer park nor known anyone who has, your perception of one might fall victim to stereotypes and other pre-conceived notions. These notions are not really ‘wrong’ nor really ‘right,’ as trailer parks range from little more than gravel pits of wood and rusted metal that house delinquents and derelicts, while other trailer parks are merely affordable, lower-quality housing for high-quality people who simply can’t afford anything else.

Despite views from contrasting sides, the trailer park at Ash Creek falls more towards the second category, and through an initial (though superficial) inspection, raises uncertainty to those who deride it as if it were something out of Dante’s Inferno.

The first thing that might catch your eye while passing by the park is a tamped-over sofa set, groaning under heaps trashbags, waiting for someone to take mercy upon it and send it off to the dump. Tread a little ways inside and almost every five-foot wooden porch is faded and strewn in children’s toys caked with dirt. Dust kicked into the air daily by cars treading the community’s gravel streets have, in time, yellowed the bases of even the newest homes. And a few unkempt yards are peppered with junk—bits of broken bicycles and slabs of wooden fencing.

But what should you expect? Home sites that rent for around $200 per month are going to be torn and worn and unpleasant to the eyes of those who can afford better. The dirty front yards are nothing worse than the various crap that covers my parents’ backyard; the only exception being that my parents have a fence while the Ash Creek residents do not. And the heap of garbage out front that nearly touches Highland Road is hardly worse than what you’d see at any apartment complex dumpster, the difference once again being that this unseemly side-effect of living is not hidden by a brick enclosing.

As for the trailers themselves, there are definitely structural and plumbing problems; it seems one unfortunate but industrious resident in particular was compelled to mummify his rusted pipes with duct tape to keep them flowing properly. The most run-down trailers were little more than 12’ x 12’ wooden crates with their windows boarded up, implying (hopefully) that no one actually lives there.

According to Ash Creek residents Pedro Hernandez and Jack Lougheed, a good number of the trailers here were built as far back as ‘60s and ‘70s, which explains a lot. But because it wasn’t possible to venture inside strangers’ homes in the middle of the day, the true nature of any internal repairs is a question left for Ash Creek manager, Steve Crossett.

--Chad Jones

This is not the first discussion I'd heard about Ash Creek. I am a member of FRI, and my wife and I just volunteered to lead our neighborhood crimewatch in the area. Ash Creek has been a fixture on the FRI agenda for the past year or so, and the matter has been written about extensively in the Dallas Observer, the Dallas Morning News, on blogs, and on this site (see sidebar). One thing that has been absent from the meetings I've attended in the past has been participation from park residents. I'm familiar enough with the operations of FRI that I don't believe claims made by Ash Creek supporters that they have been heretofore shut out of the conversation. In fact, there were many claims made last night that the Ash Creek residents have been in the dark on the matter until recent weeks -- claims I find hard to believe given the broad media coverage that includes stories and pictures of park residents fighting eviction.

Marty Ray, an FRI member and nonresident supporter of Ash Creek Park, led off last night's discussion/debate/shouting match with an impassioned but rational plea on behalf of the park's residents. (Ray started a blog on the issue.) She picked up on a theme from earlier in the meeting, saying that like many people, Steve Crossett was having trouble with mixed messages and poor communication from the City. Her voice quivered, but she maintained control as she described Crossett's plight: an SUP request from the city that she said had inadequate explanation; continually changing demands in terms of improvements; and finally, a dealkiller: A demand for a concrete driveway to enable fire truck access at an estimated cost of $150,000. That alone, she said, would force Crossett to close the park rather than comply.

Ray claimed a waning support for removal of the park from the neighborhood, pointing out that the petition advocating it had originally been signed by leaders of 14 neighborhoods, but that four had dropped out. She said that of the three neighborhoods physically closest to the park, only one was on the petition. She citied frustration that Ash Creek had not been the subject of a broad community meeting and rejected the idea that last night's meeting filled that purpose.

Ray also said that by leading the charge against the park, FRI, which has led a Weed and Seed effort with great successs, had "gotten a bad image" as a bully. She said that many of the claims made about the park, particularly its crime levels, during the process had been proven to be untrue.

In the end, she said, "The lawyers have won." Ray said that the legal fees Crossett incurred in fighting the city's injunctions had depleted funds that he might have spent improving the park.

Ash Creek resident Jack Lougheed spoke next. He seemed angriest about claims of crime in the Ash Creek area, brandishing a listing of crime reports that had been attributed to the park that he said took place at residences outside the facility -- the implication being that they were called in, but not committed by residents of Ash Creek.

"There is no crime in Ash Creek," he said. "I bought a mobile home and placed it in Ash Creek to get away from crime in apartments." Lougheed said he pays $169/month in rent for the land he uses at the park and that he owns his trailer outright. He said that moving that home would cost $5,000. (Although I haven't seen the specific trailer, I doubt that figure given some quick research I did online -- seems to be $2,000 - $3,000 for a longer haul move.)

He said that he had never heard of FRI or the movement against the park until two weeks ago.

"We're just like y'all," Lougheed told the gallery. "We're just homeowners." He said that the residents of the park were very upset and stressed, citing a couple with severe medical problems about whom he was concerned.

Dolores Wolfe, the FRI member and local attorney who has led the charge against Ash Creek spoke after Lougheed, hitting on themes that I had heard in prior meetings where she spoke.

"This is not a case of the haves versus the have-nots," she said. "The park simply falls below neighborhood standards."

Wolfe said she was not insensitive to the plight of the residents, citing pro bono work she had done to support a group called "Tenants in Crisis." She moved away from the debate over validity of crime statistics in Ash Creek saying, "We're not moving forward because of crime. We're moving forward because of egregious code violations."

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Violations that have been cited include sewer problems, electrical lines exposed, illegal additions, units too close together, plumbing repaired with electrical tape, unsafe heating, standing water, failure to maintain lots, lack of certificates of occupancy, lack of fire engine access and fire hazards. Wolfe said that in an agreed order signed by Crossett's attorney, the owner acknowledged these problems.

Wolfe rejected the idea that landlord Crossett should be cut slack over the finances of bringing the park into compliance, saying that his gross revenue from rents exceeded $100,000 per year. She also said that Crossett had claimed that "99.9%" of the code violations were the fault of individual tenants -- following up by saying that she didn't believe him.

The plans the City needs to see to avoid shutting down the property include fixes for all of these problems, plus fencing, a playground and other amenities.

Two weeks ago, Crossett told the City and FRI that he was in negotiations to sell the property to a townhome developer. However, those negotiations appear to have stalled and he now says that he does not have the funds to comply with the agreed order.

As Wolfe spoke, supporters of Ash Creek (who did not live in the park) began to interrupt. One woman from the Claremont neighborhood who was particularly agitated was concerned about the tenants in the park. "Are y'all gonna help the people!?" she cried out repeatedly.

Ash Creek Resident Jack Lougheed provides photos of the community. (8 images)

Jack Lougheed sent these photos with the following message: "Here is a view of some of the homes in Ash Creek that don't fit in with the tone of your article."

(Click photo to see entire gallery)

"When I was born, that park was there!" she exclaimed.

She was angry that her neighborhood had been included on the petition against Ash Creek, a sentiment repeated by a couple others in the crowd. One, Carol Lyyons, said that although her neighborhood board voted to sign the petition, "The people weren't informed."

"The fear," Lyons said, "is that my street is going to be next ... Y'all scare me a little bit. I'm getting the image of a horribly elitist group ... This group talks a lot about community building, so why wasn't their outreach before going the legal route?"

Lyon went on to say that there should have been a plan for the residents displaced.

FRI President Bill Coleman took the floor and pointed out that the organization and City Councilman Leo Chaney were working to find ways to help the displaced residents, using city programs and private orgainzations. He said that a commitee would be formed to reach out to the Ash Creek residents. He said that there had always been a desire to help the residents but that Crossett had blocked the flow of information.

For me, the toughest part of this conversation was that there was no one in the room who could, at this point change in either direction, the fate of the park.

Ash Creek Mobile Home Community (20 images)

(Click photo to see entire gallery)

I was troubled last night by the statements of the Ash Creek supporters, as they did not fit with my personal impressions of Ash Creek or the effort to bring it up to community standards. So, I dispatched two of our staffers this morning to check it out firsthand and without preconceptions. Laura Evans shot photos of the park (see gallery) and Chad Jones talked to some of the residents. You can judge what they found for yourself, but my take is this:

The Ash Creek Mobile Home Park is not in compliance with City codes -- and we're not talking about technicalities. It is unsafe, and is detrimental to the neighborhood. That unfortunately means it is detrimental to the people who live there too, whether they realize it or not. I don't really blame the residents for the conditions -- that hangs on the landlord's head. And as I've said before: when you actually live in the neighborhood, benign negligence and malicious lawbreaking look pretty much the same. Ash Creek needs to be brought to code, which looks to be financially unfeasible. So, sad to say, it needs to go. It isn't a toss-up; it's a fact.

Editor's note

This is obviously outside the scope of our usual music coverage. We are currently preparing for the launch of our broader news service, Pegasus News, next week. We have started our newsroom workflow, and are keeping much of that behind the scenes until the launch. However, the timeliness and importance of this story convinced us to go ahead and post it publicly.

Much was made last night over debating crime statistics. I suspect that both sides have used the statistics to advocate their point. But, in the end, the crime figures are irrelevant. It is a matter of bringing the park above third-world standards. That's NOT to say that individual homes there are not very nice -- but the landlord's part, the infrastructure, is not up to snuff.

Much was also made over the idea of displacing residents during the holidays. The same sentiment was brought up almost a year ago by Jim Schutze (and yet some claim that this issue snuck up on them). But, I agree with the sentiment, and with giving the mostly innocent residents of Ash Creek time to make arrangements to move to (hopefully) better quarters. I don't claim to know city ordinance on this point, but in an imperfect but kind world, if the park can not be brought to code, I'd like to see the City give the residents until mid-January to move. With the landlord incurring any additional expenses caused by the delay.

Mike Orren is a member of FRI and is not holding himself out as an unbiased commentator on this matter. User comments are encouraged. Laura Evans and Chad Jones contributed to this story.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Mike Orren, says:

One note after looking at Laura's photos: My Grandfather rented mobile home property in rural North Carolina, and I would say solely based on the photos that this park looks substantially below the standard that would be acceptable. However, many of the trailers look extremely well-kept and decorated. The problem looks to be with infrastructure and common area upkeep. This is a shame, indeed.

Staff

3 years ago
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miked950ns, says:

They should've fined the hell out of the landlord from the beginning to make him fix it up...if these people get displaced because of Crossett (the owner), HE should pay for it.

I bet you all didn't know that he lives on Lake Travis while his residents live in substandard conditions.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

I am outraged by the many inaccuracies in the above story.

The photo shown, in this story, is our monthly bulk trash pick-up-pile for 52 families. The City of Dallas, up until now, has mandated that it must be placed in front of the Park, for easy pick-up by Dallas Sanitation trucks.

This hatchet-job of a story, has renewed my commitment to continue my Dallas Community Television (DCTV) show, “When McMansions Attack Dallas,” which is now on hiatus.

My show (so far a total of 22 thirty-minute weekly episodes) has focused on the plight of Ash Creek Mobile Home Park and the social injustice being perpetrated upon it by lame duck Dallas City Council Member, Leo Chaney Jr., Enclave at White Rock activist/provocateur, Linda Madeley, Ferguson Road Initiative ramrod/enforcer, Vickki Martin and Cowles & Thompson, P.C., attorney, Dolores G. Wolfe.

SACH highly suspects that “all” of the above mentioned, are in concert with land developers to FORCE their common agenda on the White Rock area and its residents.

One thing is for sure: SACH is on the trail of TRUTH. We deal in VERIFIABLE TRUTH; unlike Mr. Orren’s article.

“Tread a little ways inside and almost every five-foot wooden porch is faded and strewn in children’s toys caked with dirt. Dust kicked into the air daily by cars treading the community’s gravel streets...”

The above quote is almost total fabrication, which I will prove in my next DCTV show.

For one, ALL of the streets in the park are asphalt.

I was about ready to throw in the towel but these outrageous claims against us have renewed my determination to bring the TRUTH to the public.

Ms. Wolfe’s documents, also signed by certain Homeowners’ Associations , filed with the City of Dallas Board of Adjustment, are heavily loaded with outright falsehoods and misleading statements.

Members of Save Ash Creek HOMES (SACH) are presently preparing these PUBLIC DOCUMENTS for submission, in the correct format, to the Dallas District Attorney’s Office.

Filling false and misleading documents with the City of Dallas is a CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Ash Creek Mobile Home Park’s days may be numbered but at SACH, we are committed to demanding JUSTICE be brought to deserving individuals; regardless of how long it takes or where we are force to move.

Very Sincerely, Bill Ashe information verification Save Ash Creek HOMES (SACH) saveashcreekhomes@gmail.com c-noah.blogspot.com (214) 868-7247

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

Bill:

If you have your TV shows available in a digital format or on a DVD, we will be happy to run them here, unedited, for all to see.

I think the issue of what is a street is a semantic one. There are clearly gravel driving areas in the pictures.

You say my story is full of untruths, but other than the gravel mention, I can't tell what you think we got wrong. As you can tell, we're open to hearing all sides of the story, and if you want to write your own analysis of the matter, we'll be happy to run it.

Thanks for responding. I hope we hear more from you.

Staff

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

One other note on the bulk trash -- We did not pick a specific day surrounding heavy trash pickup to visit Ash Creek. We simply went the day after the meeting reported in this story.

It is certainly possible that the trash was there as a part of bulky trash pickup, but I live less than a mile away, and our bulk trash date for this month is long past.

UPDATE: Looks like Ash Creek is a week 2 bulky pickup http://maps.dallascityhall.com/index....

Staff

3 years ago
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Chad Jones, says:

To Bill:

If you would please read the description in the margin carefully, which was written by myself and not Mike, I am not suggesting that the couch and garbage are anything but garbage. If you would please read it again, you will see that I actually suggest it is no big deal and that it is exactly what you have said, Bill——a place where the trash goes for pick-up. The only reason I mentioned it in the first place was precisely to show that the majority of the supposedly unseemly qualities of the park have valid explanations.

I'm sorry, maybe it wasn't clear enough.

Verified

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

part one - “It is certainly possible that the trash was there as a part of bulky trash pickup, but I live less than a mile away, and our bulk trash date for this month is long past. UPDATE: Looks like Ash Creek is a week 2 bulky pickup”

Yes. Your “UPDATE” is correct. This month, week 2 for our Dallas bulk trash pick-up is Monday, Nov. 13.
The city has until the following Thursday (Nov. 16, today) to pick it up and that has been one of the problems. The city is sometimes slow in picking up the bulk trash and we, the residents, agree that it looks terrible out on Highland for everyone to see.

“If you have your TV shows available in a digital format or on a DVD, we will be happy to run them here, unedited, for all to see.”

Yes. My show is archived in digital format on DVD. Although, I am confused. Do you have a way to run 30 minute shows on a your website? If so; yes I will take you up on that offer.

“I think the issue of what is a street is a semantic one. There are clearly gravel driving areas in the pictures.”

Maybe, it’s someone’s driveway. Some of us do have gravel driveways. But there are no gravel roads in the Park. Could you be assuming the road that runs along side the railroad track, is part of the Park?

“As you can tell, we're open to hearing all sides of the story, and if you want to write your own analysis of the matter, we'll be happy to run it.”

This is to your credit and certainly more than others offer to do when they provide inaccurate information about us.

“... lower-quality housing for high-quality people who simply can’t afford anything else.”

Or for those of us choosing to live in an economical, unofficial extension of the flora and fauna of White Rock Lake.

Until this vicious attack by the sinister underbelly of the FRI, we lived peacefully, in the best kept secret in Dallas.

Don’t get me wrong, the FRI has done good work. But their rogue warriors need to be checked and dismissed.

We certainly are not a “detriment to the community,” as the BOA ruled based on their assumption that Dolores Wolfe’s documents and testimony were truthful. Her documents and testimony were not factual; to say the least.

“The first thing that might catch your eye while passing by the park is a tamped-over sofa set, groaning under heaps trash bags, waiting for someone to take mercy upon it and send it off to the dump.”

Sure makes it seem like this is a thumbnail of the look of the entire Park.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

part two - “And the heap of garbage out front that nearly touches Highland Road is hardly worse than what you’d see at any apartment complex dumpster, the difference once again being that this unseemly side-effect of living is not hidden by a brick enclosing.”

Yes. The info is located in a sidebar, that is not seemingly connected to the photograph.

And, this is the “only” photo you ran (besides the duct taped water hose”. We are rough around some edges but we also have many beautiful gardens, yards, etc.

http://c-noah.blogspot.com/2006/03/ho...

“... it seems one unfortunate but industrious resident in particular was compelled to mummify his rusted pipes with duct tape to keep them flowing properly.”

This is certainly, “unfortunate.” and should not be tolerated by management. But it by no means typifies the condition of the majority of the the Park.

“The most run-down trailers were little more than 12’ x 12’ wooden crates with their windows boarded up, implying (hopefully) that no one actually lives there.”

I know of, not one, “12’ x 12’ wooden cratelike structure” on the property. Please enlighten me.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

part three - I also have a question about your earlier story, “Ash Creek:Three sides to every story.”

“People who have lived in a nonconforming but grandfathered trailer park for decades shouldn't be forced to move just because the neighborhood has gotten all uppity. That's a populist sentiment that I can buy into. BUT, how many of the residents are in that boat? Most of the people I've seen down there don't look like they've been alive that long. I live in this neighborhood. And the one time I found myself on a bike with a flat tire down by Ash Creek, it wasn't old grannies who were circling me like vultures.”

I have been a resident of Ash Creek Mobile Home Park for sixteen years and know of no one that would threaten you by circling like vultures.

How long ago was this? Please describe these “vultures” to me and I will personally confront them.

Could they have been from the apartments, up on the hill, close to Ferguson Road (not the new one)? One of these apartment complexes is filled with crime and has three sexual predators; one listed as high risk.

We are primarily a family park with many children.

FYI: We have no sexual offenders in our mobile home park. Please feel free to check me on this.

By the way that apartment is one of the places Dolores Wolfe suggested that we be relocated.

She said this during out first Board of Adjustment hearing. This can be confirmed by the BOA transcript and by video I shot at the hearing and aired on my show. You can hear her suggest this in her own words.

also: Here’s the content of an email I just receive from Marty Ray:

“Bill, Jack was a great representative! Wish you could have been there! Glad you are back.

Jack certainly DID NOT say he knew nothing about all this - just that the residents are not well informed on many things that concern them in particular!”

Most Sincerely, Bill Ashe information verification Save Ash Creek HOMES (SACH) saveashcreekhomes@gmail.com c-noah.blogspot.com (214) 868-7247

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Chad Jones, says:

Bill, you don't seem to be aware that we posted an entire gallery of photos of Ash Creek.

In the above article, underneath the picture of the couch, there is a link that says "view thumnails." That link takes you here: http://www.texasgigs.com/photos/galle...

Once viewing the gallery, you will find one particular picture, which looks to me like a 12' long, boarded up crate. (And there is more than one of these in the park). Here is that link, though you'll find the picture on your own if you view the gallery: http://media.texasgigs.com/img/photos...

You will see that the gallery is not a series of disgusting images. In fact, we strove to show both sides of the park: the unkempt conditions of some of the trailers as well as the festive and quaint homes of Ash Creek residents.

On a final note, you are right. Looking at it now, it does seem misleading that the initial picture is the one of the couch. But the reason this picture is posted first, and is therefore displayed on the site, is because it was photographed first. Upon entering Ash Creek, this is the first thing that Laura Evans (the photographer) and I decided to take a picture of. And this is because it is the first thing you see when you enter the community.

Verified

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

Bill, we can run your full length video on our site. All I need is a copy of the DVD and you to fill out our content contributor form giving us permission to run it. If you can mail or drop off the DVD here, we'll get it up post-haste: http://www.texasgigs.com/places/peg/

I have been a resident of Ash Creek Mobile Home Park for sixteen years and know of no one that would threaten you by circling like vultures.

How long ago was this? Please describe these “vultures” to me and I will personally confront them.

This was about a year ago, and I had a flat by the trailer park. There were several men who came walking out of the trailer park, one of whom begged me for money; one of whom insinuated that I should comply since there were more of them than of me; and another who came up and handled my bike and acted as though he wanted to ride it off, flat and all. I have no idea where they actually lived, but they came from inside the park.

To Marty's note, my verbatim notes from the meeting quote Jack as saying: "We were not aware of FRI and what they were doing until two weeks ago." Perhaps he misspoke-- It was a very emotional meeting for all involved.

Staff

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

“Bill, you don't seem to be aware that we posted an entire gallery of photos of Ash Creek. In the above article, underneath the picture of the couch, there is a link that says "view thumnails."

You are correct. I was not aware of the thumbnails in your gallery.

“... you will find one particular picture, which looks to me like a 12' long, boarded up crate. (And there is more than one of these in the park).”

I do not recognize this structure. I am in San Antonio and will be back tomorrow night. Possibly, management gathered some old lumber and fiberglass to board up the windows to protect against vandalism. I will check it out and get back to you.

IT LOOKS VERY BAD !

Management should NEVER let any mobile home in the Park look like this.

“Bill, we can run your full length video on our site.”

Cool ! Give me a couple of days and I will get them to you. Thank you for the opportunity.

“This was about a year ago, and I had a flat by the trailer park. There were several men who came walking out of the trailer park, one of whom begged me for money; one of whom insinuated that I should comply since there were more of them than of me; and another who came up and handled my bike and acted as though he wanted to ride it off, flat and all. I have no idea where they actually lived, but they came from inside the park.”

I know of no one living in the park that would do this to you.

But, there are homeless people living down by the railroad track, beside the golf course, that may have cut through the Park.

I showed footage of the area, where they stay, on my show and will make sure you get a that copy also.

We run them out of the Park when we catch them. But, I am saddened that this happened to you.

Sincerely, Bill

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

I've got a question, Bill (or anyone involved with Ash Creek):

One thing that strikes me is that the people speaking out on behalf of Ash Creek all seem to be directing their ire at FRI. That's not surprising, I suppose, given that FRI has been at the front of this effort.

But how do y'all feel about Crossett's role in all of this? While there is much debate about crime in the area, but I don't think that there is any debate that there are rampant code violations. My understanding and perception is that the lions share of those do not relate to individual homes, but to infrastructure and common areas that are the landlord's responsibility.

It seems to me that directing the ire at FRI is like a person getting mad at a cop who comes to arrest their abusive spouse. You might not want the cop to do so; you might suffer economically because your spouse is in the poky and can't work, but it is the fault of the abusive spouse-- not the cop.

I see FRI as the cop and the landlord as the abusive (or at least neglectful) spouse. Where do y'all stand on that?

(And, I've heard the argument that Crossett isn't making big bucks on the park, but there's been testimony that he pulls in over $100k/year in rents and I don't see how anywhere near that is being spent on upkeep/repair.)

And you have no reason to apologize for my biking incident. It's just that when my personal, albeit limited, experience jives with what I'm hearing from a group that has done great things for my neighborhood it's hard to find a persuasive counterargument...

Staff

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

Well...

Your analogy:

To make your analogy work, the “police” would have been working, behind the scenes, for two years preparing a Shermanesque attack based on a mixture of mainly false information, combined with a bit of true information; just to hold the rationalization for attack, together.

The “police” would then hit the “spouse” like a ton of bricks; without being called or needed by anyone.

In addition to that, the “police” are not what you deserve and have a right to expect.

They turn out NOT to be professional peace offices (a blessing to the community) but a band of thugs... bad cops.

These thugs also have an ulterior motive. They want to make a fortune by facilitating the transfer of the family’s home and property to big land developers.

So, after they hammer the “spouse” they turn their wrath on the family! They pillage and destroy the home and family.

My analogy:

The FRI has a band of warriors and sends them out to help save and liberate the community.

The warriors are successful and facilitate many good works for the FRI.

They are hailed as heroes.

Then... the FRI allows them to plunder and turn their rapiers on the innocents: those on low fixed incomes, the working poor, the disabled and those with health problems, the elderly and families with children.

The many good people in the FRI accept the rogue warriors carnage by looking the other way.

“Well, After all ‘our’ warriors have have done so much good work in the past.”

When good people look the other way, they may be afraid of their own warriors, but that does not leave them without blame.

Bill

P.S. I will answer your questions (to the best of my ability) about the Crossetts later, but I am running out of time, right now. Today, I will be on the road, returning home from San Antonio.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

I've added a photo gallery resident Jack Lougheed sent as rebuttal to the one we shot. I will point out that our gallery is a mix of the good and bad of the park.

Staff

3 years ago
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miked950ns, says:

I hope Mike Orren's question about the Crossets gets answered. This guy is so getting a free ride

" ...ow do y'all feel about Crossett's role in all of this? While there is much debate about crime in the area, but I don't think that there is any debate that there are rampant code violations. My understanding and perception is that the lions share of those do not relate to individual homes, but to infrastructure and common areas that are the landlord's responsibility."

Mike Davis Dallas Progress

Anonymous

3 years ago
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jackl, says:

When Delores Wolf, and the FRI first set out to eliminate Ash Creek Park, their main weapons included some City of Dallas crime reports which Mrs. Wolf submitted to the Board of Adjustments as proof that the residents were criminals and that the park was a high source of crime. This as well as the rest of the false and missleading exhibits she submitted were taken as absolute undisputed truth by the Board which then voted to remove the Park's grandfather clause immediently without discussing it. Bill's tapes of the meeting clearly show this. The paper that I was brandishing at the FRI meeting was a copy of one of these crime reports submitted by Mrs. Wolf with the actual locations of the crimes (outside the Park) circled.

Now that the fabulous crime statisticts have been exposed as frauds Mrs. Wolf and her allies have come up with another falsity to turn opinion against the park and create new calls to evict the residents and buldoze their homes. The issue of the supposed rampant code violations. Let's take a closer look at this. In the City of Dallas when a home owner is found to be in violation of a city code a citation is written and a notice of the violation is left with the home owner. The home owner is given a period of time to fix the problem before a fine is issued. There is no law that says that the house or the entire neighborhood where the home is located has to be razed to the ground as the opponents of Ash Creek are demanding. Would it be fair to demand the same for the Clairmont neighborhood if five houses were found to have code violations? There have been four code inspections of the park in the last six months. Quite a lot for a city that was involved in the scandle involving it's code inspectors falsifing and creating non-existing violations just a year ago. After those inspectors were fired the city was left with too few inspectors to properly cover the city as a whole. Why four inspections of Ash Creek in six months? When was the last time every house in one of the Enclaves, Forest Hills, or Clairmont was subjected to a close scrutiny code inspection such as Ash Creek has been four times in six months? And what might be found wrong in a few of those houses? Let's examine some these numerous code violations. First I will start with my home and the violations I was given six months ago. Rotten wood around the windows. I removed, replaced, and repainted all rotten wood on my home. I removed an unsightly wooden fence. No hand rails by porches. (How come fixed houses are not cited for this one?) I paid to have hand rails installed and I painted them. Although not cited, I caucked all cracks and painted the rest of the home. High weeds. I mowed them and continue to do so.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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jackl, says:

I have not been cited again. Whenever myself, my neighbors, or Mr. Crossett have been cited for code violations we fix them. There is no reason to raze my home to the ground as some wish. Mr. Crossett has been fixing his. If some of my neighbors don't fix theirs, the law has a remedy. Fines, not closing down the whole park and razing it to the ground. Some of the things Mr. Crosset was cited for last week: water puddles on pavement left after previous storm, high grass (mowed the next day), 2 uncapped sewer clean outs left by residents who moved last week (immediently capped). What if the fixed housing neighborhoods were subjected to the same scrutiny and then efforts were made to shut them down and raze them to the ground? There are many, many homes and neighborhoods throughout Dallas that look even less pretty and have many code violations. I know of one in particular in Forest Hills and I'm sure others exist in the FRI Zone of Influence. No one has sugested that these neighborhoods be shut down and their homes razed to the ground. Yet... (One FRI member at the last FRI meeting did state that the FRI had become a group of elitists and that she was afraid that they would push for her home and neighborhood to be razed next.)

If things in the park were as bad as all of these people who don't live here (and thus can't say for sure) say they are, I would not be opposing them and their efforts to close the park down and raze our homes to the ground so passionately. I certainly would not like to live in a place such as they portray. The truth is that Ash Creek is not perfect, neither is Mr. Crossett a perfect landlord. I don't think that there is a perfect place to live nor a perfect landlord. I know that it is better here for me than many apartments that I've lived in. It is certainly better in Ash Creek that in the apts. at Highland and Ferguson where Mrs. Wolf and and allies have stated they would like to have us all herded over to after our homes have been razed. (These apts. are where all of the fabulous crimes Mrs. Wolf submitted to the Board actually took place.) I just ask that all of you that are so bent in bulldozing down our homes LEAVE US ALONE. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. We just want to live our lives unmollested as I'm sure you do. When, if ever the conditions in Ash Creek ever become as bad as some people say they are I and other residents will use proper legal means to address them and Mr. Crossett. Or we will exercise our right to sell our homes and move.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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jackl, says:

About the infamous bulk trash pile in front of the Ash Creek Mobile Home Park

This one is cited by those who wish to see the park closed more than any other. First, many houses in the surrounding neighborhoods put out bulk trash. Once I walked around and shot two rolls of film of bulk trash piles at both Enclaves (with a telephoto lens of course, as they have gates preventing tresspassers, unlike Ash Creek), Forest Hills, and Claremont. That's at least forty eight signifigant piles of bulk trash. Something that is never mentioned and couldn't be known to the people who don't live here is the fact that many people from outside the park dump their trash in this pile also. On three occasions I have caught someone who remodels apartments dump his trash here. This month someone dumped many tree limbs from a species of tree that doesn't grow in the park. So, if they do succed in getting the park closed, they will still have this monthly bulk trash pile to contend with.

Anyway, today Nov. 18 the trash pile is gone. Picked up by the City of Dallas. I guess those who wish for our homes to be razed will have to wait another month to use this one.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Chad Jones, says:

Hello, Jack.

Just so you know, I'm one of the two people (Laura being the other) who came to Ash Creek and spoke with you last Tuesday afternoon. Anyway, I would like to clarify the deal about the couch. Here is exactly what I said, in the above article in the left margin, about the trash out front of the park:

"The first thing that might catch your eye while passing by the park is a tamped-over sofa set, groaning under heaps [of] trashbags, waiting for someone to take mercy upon it and send it off to the dump. . . And the heap of garbage out front that nearly touches Highland Road is hardly worse than what you’d see at any apartment complex dumpster, the difference once again being that this unseemly side-effect of living is not hidden by a brick enclosing."

The trash, to me, was and is not a big deal. I only mentioned it in order to dispute what I imagined (correctly so, it seems) was one of the various problems the average person, FRI member or not, would cite against Ash Creek.

Anyway, I'd like to know how we could obtain a list of all the violations the park has committed.

Verified

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

Hello Chad,

My problem with the bulk trash photograph is NOT what you wrote.

My complaint is that it ‘was’ the ONLY image depicting Ash Creek MHP placed on the front page of the story.

Thus, in my opinion, visually implying: This is a TRASHY place

Bill

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

Hello again Chad,

CODE COMPLAINT REVIEW AshCreek Mobile Home Park – Jan 2002 thru July 2005 A TRUTHFUL accounting of the154 listings from City records

The 154 code related entries (used as evidence in the application from Ms. Wolfe and 13 Neighborhood Groups) were from records of the Dallas Customer Service Request System. All 154 entries were counted as ”code complaints” or violations against the MHPark.

Over 40% of these listings (66 or more of 154) are not code violations of any form This unfair, dishonest and over exaggerated information related to Code Violation Claims was used in a legal filing against the Mobile Home Park to the Dallas Board of Adjustments in August 2005. The over exaggerated claims swayed leaders of the community to sign on to the petition against the Mobile Home Park – it is doubtful that Ms. Wolfe or any of the groups who signed the petition took time to see that: (1) All 154 calls to City Services were not Code Violations at all (2) All “real” code violations were dealt with and “closed” in a timely manner (3) Almost all “real” code violations were very minor in nature! (3) Of the 88 “real” code complaints left over – 71 – are from 2002/03 – see below - all cases closed 17 - are from 2004/05 - see below - all cases closed

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

continued-

So here is the TRUTH about the 154 CODE Complaints in Ms. Wolfe’s Application:

Duplications and city service requests (should not be part of negative code evidence) 24 - Duplicated listings, some marked as “duplicates”, others same date/same request 15 - Requests for City Services – not “code complaints or violations” 5-20-02 – Request to City, Low hanging limbs obstructing alley 7/29/02 - Oil/Chemical Spill “oil gathering upstream near St.Francis”, TrailerPark not faulted

5-21-03 – Plumbing report “no violation found…vacant lot….city property”
2003     -   (2) requests for garbage roll carts
6/7/04   -  Manager reported outsiders dumping in MHPark BulkTrashArea
6/12/04 -  Manager again reports outsiders using Bulk Trash Area
8/24/04 – (2 calls) from Manager about trash not being picked up by city
6/7/04 – Manager reported city trash truck snapped elec. line
8/24/04 – Resident requested replacement of street lighting
2005     - (4) requests for estimates to pay for extra bulk trash pick-up

3 – Requests to Animal Control to pick up a dead animal at front of MHPark, 2002 & 2004 1 - Request to Animal Control to bring animal trap to trap “strays” in park

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

continued-

6 - Request to Animal Control to pickup trapped (confined) stray animals (incl possum) 17 - Requests to Animal Control to catch stray animals, wild dog packs (not Park animals) 66 – TOTAL listings that ARE NOT CODE VIOLATIONS

Remaining MINOR Code Issues (calls) within City records: 2 – Plumbing Issues (2002 only, no other Plumbing issues in the 154 City code calls 1 - Illegal Dumping (2003 only) 1 – Oversized vehicle (2003 only) 5 – Bulk Trash violations (putting trash out too early) 11 – High Weeds (2002-03 only) Notices posted to individual homes 18 – Illegal outside storage (all in 2003 posted in a 2 day period to individual homes) 25 – Litter (all in 2003 posted in a 2 day period to individual homes) 5 - Junk Motor Vehicles (all posted on one single day in 2003) 8 – Litter (all posted in a 1 day period in 2004, posted to individual homes) 2 – Prohibited roosters 1 - Case reported to Animal Control of too many cats at 1 residence 7 - Reports to Animal Control about resident pets being loose 2 – Other misc. Animal related violations 88 Total minor Code complaint issues (not 154 as alleged in application against MHPark)

¬71 – Code Complaints are from 2002/03 – all cases closed ¬17 - Code Complaints are from 2004/05 - all cases closed

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

continued-

Does anyone care that the Code information as provided to the Board of Adjustment by Ms. Wolfe and the other 13 Neighborhood groups was presented dishonestly and distorted? Do all the signers of the Application against the MHPark realize they were given exaggerated and skewed information to base their decision on in joining this application?

The Crime Complaints filed also are suspect and will be reviewed for distortion and exaggeration of facts as well.

Prepared by Marty Ray, January 10, 2006 Review of these findings welcomed!

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

I'd like to address the issue of the trash being the picture appearing in the story as an interesting lesson for us to remember in the future.

One of the reasons we can do so much news here with so few people is the excellent publishing platform we use. Among many other things, it makes it easy to do a "photo gallery" and drop that gallery into a story.

Laura's gallery was ordered chronologically based on the pictures she shot the day I sent her to Ash Creek. And the garbage pile was at the entrance, so-- First picture.

When we place a gallery in a story, its first picture becomes the preview (see above).

But when you click on enlarge or view thumbnails it takes you to the whole gallery, in this case a story-like walk through Ash Creek.

http://www.texasgigs.com/photos/galle...

And although that seems readily apparent to all of us who use these tools every day, it is not clear to all who hit these pages. We should find some tweaks in presentation to make that clearer.

I'm going to make some edits on the gallery to that end.

I realize this next bit is self-serving, but I'm identifying another villain in this story -- and that's the local media who find it more important to cover big fires and sweeps-weeks sensationalism than it is to cover neighborhood news that affects everyone's daily lives. I'm hoping we can contribute to solving that problem. I'd like to think that these issues would have gotten a more widespread vetting under our system of neighborhood news pages (which we're launching in the next week.)

Staff

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

About the Crossetts...

I think it is best to explain my feelings in an open letter to one of our heroes: Marty Ray of C-NOAH.

Hello Marty,

Crossett let us down. Big talk at every hearing, but he didn’t transform his rhetoric into something, real.

Whether he is unable to... or won’t... or both...

Terrible communication with his pubic supporters...

Insensitivity:

Failure to deal with an iconic pile of trash.
Sue Crossett heavily wearing, expensive jewelry at the first hearing.
Steve Crossett dropping around here in his flash car: a brand spanking new Corvette, while we struggle to survive. (there’s nothing wrong with owning a new car or jewelry; it’s just the circumstances that makes it seem that they are rubbing our nose in it)
Continuing to STEAL $20 extra, a month, from each renter, for excessive water usage (even during times of water restrictions by the city), when there are/were many (not just one repaired leak, as Crossett claims) unrepaired water leaks, that are/were the Park’s responsibility. That comes to about $1000 a month; just about the same amount as a payment for a new Corvette.

Please watch this one minute, twenty-six second video, “WATER USAGE SHAKEDOWN”: click link below-

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

continued-

Is it: Incompetence? Lack of ability? Arrogance? Indifference?

I don’t know.

I think I am, better in battle, than in defeat. So... it’s time to face the facts and move on... plan strategy for the battle:

The Battle to bring JUSTICE to all that have earned it, in this struggle.

It’s as cliché as, “It’s now a matter of principle (and law).”

And it’s as complicated and honorable as (something Marty Ray says), “Speaking Truth to Power.”

It’s time for us to stop defending the Crossetts.

Yes, they are EXTREMELY tight with the money and did not maintain the Park while they sucked more than a 100 grand a year, out of here for a half a century.

... putting almost no money back in here.

They are what they are; the Crossetts.

We should not help them conceal their true colors any longer.

I’m thinking that now the argument/focus should be that, because the city is placing extreme amounts of improvements and requirements, on the Crossetts, over a short period of time. It is just another way to defeat us.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

As I have heard you say, Marty, “Why did the city not keep the Park up to code over the years?”

Good question.

All of these huge expenses, all at once, are unreasonable.

How about trying to come together in a meeting with those at the city code department and try to negotiate something out, something that is fair to everyone, including the residents.

Maybe, letting the Crossetts do the improvements over a longer period of time...

The Crossetts may deserve to endure the wrath of the city, but we don’t.

And another reason to continue the battle is to help our friends at C-NOAH, and the community, defend against the onslaught of inappropriate housing being forced on the White Rock area by big land developers in collusion with the uppity/bullying/debasing “gentry” and the City of Dallas.

Bill

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

For those who don't like clicking through to get video, here's Jack's vid:

Staff

3 years ago
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Laura Evans, says:

Before going out to photograph Ash Creek on Tuesday I read various articles covering the topic and I must say I was a bit nervous about photographing there -ie."Ash Creek is in the highest-crime reporting area in our 'hood and has a third more reported crime than the surrounding reporting areas."

However, I found that once I entered the community and talked to the homeowners I felt quite at ease and safe, and so it SEEMS as though the high crime rate reported is somewhat misleading and inaccurate. The people in the community, although I only talked to a few, seemed to be very sincere and kind, with homes and a community that they deeply cared for.

With that said, I must agree with others in saying that the homes and the area in general are in need of major maintenance, ie plumbing, dilapidated homes, etc...most of which seem to fall under the responsibility of the landlord, and I too am very interested to know how the community views Crosset's role this.

As for the photo GALLERY (which contains over 20 photographs of the community), I photographed exactly what I saw, and in the order that I saw them. My assignment was plain and simple (photograph the good and the bad) which is exactly what I did. I have no biases in the matter, nor had I had any pre-notions or expectations of what I would find at the community (before Tuesday I had never even heard of Ash Creek). What I found and photographed depicted a community with homes that were quite unique and full of personality, but were surrounded by dilapidated homes in an area that needed major repairs and upkeep.

As for this trash pile up photo on the main page – Like Chad said before in his comments, it was the very first thing I saw, and so is the first photograph in the chronologically ordered gallery. If you CONTINUE on through the gallery you will find several photographs of homes that are quite nice and full of life, and you will also find homes that are quite rundown and not up to code.

I would, however, like to say that one huge benefit of what we’re doing here at PegasusNews/TexasGigs gives us photographers the opportunity to display entire galleries of an event or topic, not just one, in order to give the public a full and balanced depiction of the scene. I as a photographer I know that photographs can be quite misleading, so I ask for readers to look at the ENTIRE gallery of Ash Creek, mine and Jack’s, to get a more accurate understanding of the current state of Ash Creek.

Sincerely, PegasusNews/TexasGigs Photographer Laura Evans

Staff

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

An update:

http://www.texasgigs.com/news/2006/no...

Staff

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

It is my opinion that, any information provided by Dolores G. Wolfe of Cowles & Thompson, P.C., should be THOROUGHLY vetted.

Her track record on providing “facts” is VERY poor, indeed.

Wolfe: “The CPC had previously granted the owners re-signing application "subject to the submission of an acceptable site plan." The owner made about 5 attempts to submit an acceptable site plan, failing each time.”

Is this because the City keeps adding an INCREDIBLE amount of improvements to the requirements?

Wolfe: “Consideration on the application was "held under advisement." There is no expectation that the owner will try again.”

She surely makes is sounds as if it’s all over for us. Wolfe and her cohorts have been trying to “HELP” us move out... almost since this whole thing began; more than a year ago.

We have warned our residents that if any of these entities approach you, the best response would be, “No thank you. My soul is not for sale today.”

Even if the CPC route is still back at the drawing board...

We have faith in the Courts that are hearing Crossett’s appeal of the Board of Adjustment rulings that says Ash Creek Mobile Home Park and its residents are a “Detriment to the Community.”

The two board of Adjustment hearings were little more than KANGAROO COURTS.
Robert's Rules of Order were frequently used as weapons against us.

The Vice Chair, Alice Cox, slept through most of the hearings allowing an illegal/illegitimate member of the board, Taylor Brannon to run the hearing.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

They all listen to what Wolfe had to say as if it were based in facts. They treated our truthful testimony as total fiction.

The BOA seems to have their ruling decided before the hearings began.

The assistant city attorney, assigned to the BOA, called Wolfe by her first name, Delores, on at least one occasion.

They all seemed to know, Wolfe’s husband, who struggled to run an overhead projector. They explained from the stage, to the room, who he was.

They all knew each other.

It certainly seemed as if they were all in this together and worked in concert to “railroad” us.

When the BOA’s specious ruling is overturned on appeal, that leaves us where we were when this siege began: operating as a nonconforming use.

A nonconforming use is not an illegal use.

Mike how can I post an icon or something to direct the readers to an attachment... the injunction filled by the city, so they can judge for themselves if this 14 page document is excessive in volume.

I am filing a DCTV Program Release Request to air my show (which contains footage of the BOA hearings) on your site.

Then everyone can judge for themselves.

Was the BOA directed by Dallas City Council Member, Leo Chaney, to vote against us?

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

He has refused to talk to us and has remained in the shadows but we at Save Ash Creek HOMES are very aware of his puppet-master-like involvement.

Something was SO FISHY at the BOA hearings that the smell comes right through, and off the video.

Bill

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

If you send me the document, I can post it. Email it to us at documents@pegasusnews.com

Staff

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

Another concerned reader sent a couple documents that might be of assistance.

There is apparently law that may have been violated regarding Ash Creek leases that might allow them to collect relocation damages from Crossett: http://media.texasgigs.com/misc/manuf....

And, a list of legal and other local resources that might be useful to Ash Creek residents: http://www.texasgigs.com/ashcreek/res...

Staff

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

The documents keep coming. Courtesy Bill Ashe:

The agreed temporary injunction in the suit between the City and Crossett: http://media.texasgigs.com/misc/Court...

The judge's signature page: http://media.texasgigs.com/misc/Signa...

Staff

3 years ago
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miked950ns, says:

I knew I was right about Crossett. Another slumlord. I wish that good people didn't have to be exploited and subject to this type of mistreatment.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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jackl, says:

About the code violations. First everyone needs to remember that each resident in the park owns his own home. Mr. Crossett does not own any of the mobil homes in his park and he cannot do anything to bring an individuals personal property up to code. Except evict them. He owns the land that the mobil homes are situated on. He should not be held responsible for any code violations that are related to a renter's home itself. That is the renter's responsibility. As an example read my e-mail above about some code violations that were assesed to me personally. I did what any homeowner should do. I repaired and resolved the problems and brought my home up to code. In all fairness we need to seperate code violations that individual home owners own and those that Mr. Crossett owns. His would include things like fences, streets, utilities, ect. What the city needs to do is break down any code violations and issue citations to the persons responsible. Then if they don't fix it after the proper amount of time the city should fine them. If it is not fixed after that, maybe Mr. Crossett should evict them from the park.

In any case just as if this were a fixed housing neighborhood with some code violations, this proceedure should be followed instead of calling for the closing of the neighborhood and all it's homes just because a few people choose to be irresponsible homeowners.I'm sure that if another neighborhood, take Claremont for example, was subject to a high scrutiny code inspection such as Ash Creek has been four times in six months, at least a few code violations would be found. Should we then call for the closing and razeing to the ground of the Claremont neighborhood?

Anonymous

3 years ago
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(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Anonymous

3 years ago

Mike Orren, says:

Jack, we're an open forum for any facts you want to present about the situation. And, to a healthy dose of opinion. But some of the characterizations you made in that last one were over the line, which is why I suppressed it.

Let's keep it clean, OK? That kind of over-the-top rhetoric does nothing to help your cause.

Staff

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

Hello miked950ns,

“I knew I was right about Crossett. Another slumlord. I wish that good people didn't have to be exploited and subject to this type of mistreatment.”

Regardless of what you think of the owners, justice and fairness calls for the same rules of law and society; the SAME TREATMENT (especially under law) whether it be Crossetts or Mother Teresa.

The type of dishonest attack being leveled against Crossetts, would shame the sensibilities of any reasonable person.

I urge all members of the Ferguson Road Initiative, to look into the truth, by reading the PUBLIC facts in PUBLIC documents.

I feel sure the majority of you, would be appalled at what is being done, to all concerned with Ash Creek Mobile Home Park, in your name, by the FRI.

Bill

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

Jack Lougheed supplied some more documents, which I've linked below. They appear to be the same ones he had at the FRI meeting I attended. They are a list of crime reports with addresses circled, presumably showing that they did not take place in Ash Creek?

Jack, can you provide some more context?

http://media.texasgigs.com/docs/Ashcr... http://media.texasgigs.com/docs/Ashcr... http://media.texasgigs.com/docs/Ashcr... http://media.texasgigs.com/docs/Ashcr...

Also, I'm curious: We're hearing a lot from Jack and Bill, and I saw Jack and Marty at the FRI meeting. How do the other residents in the park feel about this?

Staff

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

There were only 4 people with internet access in the Park.

That number has pretty much dwindled down to two: Jack and me.

Do you want my take/opinion about what other people, in the Park, are concerned about?

Bill Ashe information verification Save Ash Creek HOMES (SACH) saveashcreekhomes@gmail.com c-noah.blogspot.com (214) 868-7247

Anonymous

3 years ago
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jackl, says:

Yes Mike,

First let me appologise if my previous comment was inappropriate. This time I will state my point without mentioning anyone by name.

Those documents were submitted by the Attorney who has been spearheading the effort to close down Ash Creek MHP to both the Board of Adjustments, and the Planning Commission. Those documents were taken as fact by the BOA and were part of what they said was their reason to remove the Grandfather Clause which Ash Creek had been operating under for over forty years. I have circled the entries where the crimes actually occured. The Attorney had stated that the documents showed that the crimes listed had occured at Ash Creek MHP. As you can see, none of those addresses where the crimes occured, which I circled in red are the address of Ash Creek MHP, which is 1802 Highland Rd. These exhibits are false and missleading. These papers are not only the basis of the removal of the Grandfather Clause but are also the source of the false belief that Ash Creek MHP is a source of high crime. All they show is that the apartments down the street where the aforementioned Attorney and the FRI have stated numerous times that they would like to see the residents of Ash Creek MHP hearded to after the park has been closed down and our homes "razed to the ground." (the quotation is from the Attorney stating that she was quoting a key member of the FRI; spoken at the last FRI meeting).

I would like to now submit as further proof that the false illusion of high crime at Ash Creek as fabricated by the aforementioned Attorney the following quote taken from Marty Ray's website c-noah.blogspot.com from Dallas Police Department Officer Sgt. R.C. Dillon #4535, Northeast Patrol Division: "A review of criminal offenses and calls reported occuring in the Ash Creek Mobile Home Park over the last three years revealed nothing unusual or any excessive number of criminal offenses."

One thing that has had the biggest impact on me as a result of this effort to shut down Ash Creek MHP, raze the resident's homes to the ground, and put us out in the street is how a person is able to take false documents, create a total false image - such as the Ash Creek MHP is a hotbet of crime fantasy and get so many people to buy into it and believe in what is without question such a mockery of the truth. I know that the people who wish the park shut down are no longer using the high crime angle; now the code violations are their weapon of choice.

I would also like to mention that Mr. Crossett has filed a federal lawsuit concerning the ruling of the BOA, including not just the false crime documents, purgerous statements by the Attorney, but also the fact that one member of the BOA was not qualified to serve on that Board at that time due to unpaid fines owed to the City of Dallas. When this suit comes before the judge, things might just change in this matter.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

I've wondered for a while about the disputed crime reports. While the docs posted above are compelling, I'd wondered if they made up the entire universe of reports.

An anonymous user threw this over the e-transom - I haven't had time to thoroughly analyze, but it APPEARS that these are other crimes actually occurring in the park.

http://media.texasgigs.com/pdf/Scan00... (URL fixed!)

The user also claims to have backup for these summary pages and record of convictions in some of these cases.

Staff

3 years ago
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jackl, says:

You know Mike, I'm getting tired of this seemingly fruitless game that I am playing with your mystery source but since her crime statistics are so obviously flawed I'll go at it one more time. First note that all of the reports date from 2004. It is 2006 now, almost 2007, doesn't she have any current data? The first two pages are domestic disputes that occured again, in 2004. I can't deny them. Some people rich or poor do have fights with their spouses. That is no reason to close down a neighborhood, take away everyone's homes, throw all the residents out onto the street, or herd them all off to Auschwitz, Dachau or some such high crime apartment complex against their wills. The page with all of the names on it: this one is a listing of calls that were made over a ONE YEAR PERIOD by the residents of the park and is almost three years old. There is no law that says that people can't call the police, or other city services when the services are needed. The last pages: Those are the exact pages that I waved around at the FRI meeting (some of which you have already posted). The crimes on those pages occured outside the Ash Creek MHP and I had circled the actual locations where those crimes occured in red. You can check them out on my previous posting. SHE GAVE ME THAT ONE!

Anyway the issue here is what a land owner wants to do with his land and what a group of home owners want to do with their homes. There is no law stating that a land owner run a background check on prospective tenents, nor is there a law that says that someone with any kind of former legal entanglements can't rent or purchase property. In fact, felons can now vote! Mike, I would like to refer you to what our hero Jim Schutz pointed out about crimes in upper crust neighborhoods.

Mike, since I believe that you screen these posts, I'd like for you and any other readers to tell me how you would feel if you were in the same boat as me and the fellow residents. I know it's hard; you don't have an organized group of people who have stated that among other things they want to take your home away from you and shuttle you off to an apartment complex, but please try. It seems that every time I check out certain blogs, I see things written by those people pushing to take my home away from me. And yes Mike, my dingy little mobile home that I have fixed up to code standards, (which keep changing every month) is just as valuable to me as your home (whatever and wherever it is) is to you. And I'm sure if you asked them most of the other residents would say the same.

I am working on another pictorial submission for the Pegasus News and I hope to have it ready soon. I would rather be submitting positive things to this blog that argueing with people who want my home and the land under it and wish to shuttle me off to an apartment complex against my will.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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Mike Orren, says:

We don't screen any posts on our site before they go live. I have only removed one post which was a personal attack on an individual that violated our terms of use.

I wish I had time to go through all these docs one by one and referee this argument, but I don't. But if you think you're getting a bad shake from us, you're welcome to find another local news service that will, without editing, post virtually everything you send to it.

Staff

3 years ago
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edteach, says:

Mike,

I've seen these types of crime reports before and I think Jack read the crime documents incorrectly. He said he circled the locations in red, but numbers he circled in red actually represent a time of day ("time called cleared"), not a street number. The street numbers follow the street name on the 4 pages he posted above. If "1802" follows "Highland Rd" on the chart, the call relates to the Park in some way (a crime may not have occured there). These chart entries are easy to find since "1802" is already circled in black.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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saveashcreekhomes, says:

Hello Mike,

“I wish I had time to go through all these docs one by one and referee this argument, but I don't. But if you think you're getting a bad shake from us, you're welcome to find another local news service that will, without editing, post virtually everything you send to it.”

SACH made a decision to communicate with your news site exactly because you were giving us an uncensored forum to get the facts/truth out there to the FRI and the rest of the world; but mainly the FRI.

I can’t quite get a handle on all the animus directed towards us. How can that be understood?

You have tried to be fair but your personal opinion has not been swayed.

And that’s the point. We live here in peace for 56 years and all of the sudden the Dallas Board of Adjustment rules that Ash Creek Mobile Home Park is a “detriment to the community.” Everybody believes that, regardless of the truth.

I have lived here since Christmas ‘89 - coming up on 17 years. We are not perfect. We have crime - just like the rest of the city.

When Mrs. Wolfe started on her crusade to strip the land of Ash Creek Mobile Home Park, I read some of her descriptions of this place.

The place she was describing was not where I have lived for almost 17 years. She was describing a place I didn’t know.

What a beautiful place this is... if you look at everything here. Are people jealous that we are living in such a pleasing area? Big trees, sunrise and sunset, up and down the creek - just a great place.

Now, folks want to give us a helping hand... just like the American Indians?

Bill Ashe information verification Save Ash Creek HOMES (SACH) c-noah.blogspot.com (214) 868-7247

Anonymous

3 years ago
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jackl, says:

To Vikki Martin, Doloris Wolfe, and the FRI

I just would like you to know that your diligent efforts to eliminate the Ash Creek Mobile Home Park and it’s residents has been a very successful campaign for you. I can say for myself that you have made my life miserable for the last year and I know that that is the sentiment of the forty to fifty families that your actions have affected. Even if some miracle allows us to keep our mobile homes, which we paid for, and even if the city zoning people which you have influenced were to leave us alone; the stress of not knowing if we will be able to continue to own and live in our homes has been an unbearable burden. Doloris we are people. Just like you. And we have needs for security and self esteem just like you. When you tell lies and accuse people of being criminals and then take actions to take people’s homes from them it hurts. I hope that some day you learn that. You can call me a criminal in front of the City of Dallas Board of Adjustments and the City of Dallas Planning Commission but I reserve my value as a human being. Doloris, Vikki, and the rest of the FRI that is one thing that you can’t take from me, or the residents of the Ash Creek Mobile Home Park. You may not know what it means to love and respect your neighbor, but I pray to God that you never have to go through what you have put us through. I would also like to make a request to the FRI that from now on that you put your ever-increasing resources to help the people of the Ferguson Road area, instead of repeating what you have done to us.

Anonymous

3 years ago
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jackl, says:

I’m sure if asked, the FRI would state that the reason behind their campaign to close down the evil Ash Creek MHP, displace all of it’s residents (causing approximately sixty or seventy people to become homeless, and/or become dependent on government welfare programs) is to benefit the “White Rock Hills” neighborhoods and the FRI.

I think that one needs to take a little closer look and discern what their actions are really going to do. Abandon the zeal and thrill they have with “socking it to” that Great Satan Steve Crossett and the sixty or seventy poor people who have benefited from the cheap rent he provided for the lots that their Mobile Homes occupy and take a close look at what will happen if the park is closed.

As I have mentioned in a previous posting, the Great Garbage Pile that appears in front of the park (an item that Doloros Wolfe and others have gone on complaining ad nausaem about) is primarily composed of trash dumped there by people from outside the park. Trust me, I’ve caught then at it, and it is a well-established thing that was going on before I moved here over six years ago. This dumping of trash will continue even if you eliminate the park and all it’s residents. So what has the FRI gained on this one? Nothing. But the sixty or seventy people, the families whose lives have been made miserable because of this will be homeless. Is this what the FRI’ purpose for? Make people homeless?

The next great campaign of the FRI. Stop the imaginary rampant crime that the residents of the park have been continually accused of committing. I’m not going to waste any effort arguing about crime here at the present. That is a moot point. But I am going to tell you what will happen when the park and the homes are vacant. Apparently unbeknownst to the FRI, there is a group of homeless people who camp on the other side of White Rock Creek. The train engineers often park their trains with the engines idling at night beside the park. Quite noisy, and full of diesel fumes. They say that they park their trains by the park instead further back because they are afraid of the “hobos” on the other side of the creek. With the park abandoned, these “hobos” will move into the park and the abandoned homes. Then you will have a real crime problem. They don’t come around the park now because it’s occupied. So I ask you, how has what the FRI is trying to do to us going to reduce the real crime? It looks to me that they are going to make things much worse.

Also, the rumor is that if Steve Crossett is forced to close the park he won’t sell it to anyone. Perhaps because of how he has been treated by Doloris Wolfe and allies he will just leave it as it is. I’m sure that weeds will move in, people might start driving motorcycles, setting off fireworks, shooting guns, maybe strip some stolen cars on the empty lot. We won’t be here to exert the kind of influence that families and homeowners exert to prevent this kind of thing from occurring. Steve Crossette will be living in Austin and thus he can ignore any citations from the City of Dallas . So I ask you, how has this situation which Doloris Wolfe, the FRI, and allies are bring about going to help anybody with eliminating crime?

I’m sure that the FRI has done a lot of good. But in this case I fear they have gotten out of control and are doing more harm than good. Maybe somebody in the FRI should have talked with Steve Crossette and the residents first and allowed us to fix our own problems instead of going about things in such a forceful and inappropriate manner.