Learning, hope, and frustration at Turner Courts in Dallas

by Michael Davis of Dallas Progress

Yesterday, we had our first "official meeting" in Turner Courts. Turner Courts is part of District Four. I have been there multiple times, but this is meeting we like to do in which we really get to work on various issues. Janet Morrison talked about it on her blog as well.

I learned that such a meeting hadn't taken place in Turner Courts in over 8 years. If that happened to you, how would you feel? I don't blame them one bit for their frustration.

The strangest thing I learned is that Rochester Park is part of multiple council districts. How crazy is that? I guess that's how the districts have been gerrymandered all of these years.

One thing that I told the neighbors is that I don't expect them to believe a word we're saying. These residents have been promised things year after year with no results. I think they realize that we are serious and genuine, and are eager for change. They are some of the most courageous people we have in our district. They have decided to mobilize and organize to make their neighborhood safer and to create more opportunities.

What really angered me was the corner grocery stores in the neighborhood. I look forward to when the health department follows up on the pictures taken of the brown (!) meat which was 5 days past expired. These same store owners also let drug dealers congregate around the stores.

I love these people, and believe they feel the same about us. We won't let them down. In fact, our follow up meetings are already set up (when you have super assistants like Stephanie and Esmeralda that are always thinking one step ahead of you, that's how it goes down!!!). The appreciation, hugs, and warm wishes I get every time I go to Turner Courts remind me why I do these things in the City. It's why comments from haters that have their own issues don't affect the mission. It's easy to go into an area during election time, but the work starts the day after you're elected and never ends.

It's also easy to to throw rocks at people from your comfy perch or radio show when you don't have the guts to go into the hood and tell store owners and thugs what will have to change. That's what WE do. With or without the TV cameras.

I appreciate all of the people that came out to our Turner Courts neighborhood meeting, from the residents to the city staff and various departments. We are fortunate to have them in our corner.