Friday, April 24, 2009 , Updated
Discrimination against Dallas’ poor and homeless must be fought
Discrimination is much like Jason and Friday the 13th. Just when you think it's dead, here comes another nightmare sequel. The result is stalemate and the continuation of social injustice.
When I watch the Dallas City Council meetings online (Feb. 25 & March 25th) debating whether to allow Social Service agencies to apply for Federal tax-credits which were created to encourage investors to develop low-income and other types of housing, it is absolutely crystal clear that the City leaders are failing in their duty to ensure that Federal guidelines and laws are adhere too.
Neighborhood Associations cannot dictate how Council Members or the Mayor votes when it comes to tax-credits by law. Tax-credits are fairly overseen and applications are allowed without prejudice to protect the rights of those protected under anti-discrimination laws including the the Fair Housing Act. Neighborhood Associations must show concrete evidence of negative impact to have consideration. Fears & ignorance are not concrete.
Discrimination is a stain on Americas' moral fabric and Oxyclean will not remove it. Advocates have been trying this for the last 16 years here in Dallas. The sad truth is that every type of discrimination in our Country has had to seek relief from the justice system eventually.
Dallas has had a long storied sordid history of Federal intervention in cases of discrimination. From Judge "Barefoot" Sanders having to ensure that Dallas schools were segregated, to Walker vs. HUD and another current lawsuit following that same path and it seems to me having lived and fought from the trenches these last eight years, it is time for the Federal Government to step in and protect the rights of the disabled. It is time for a Federal Judge to oversee every single Federal penny the City gets to ensure that people's rights under Federal law are not being violated.
No one wishes to put soldiers in the field. The best fight is the one avoided but when the rights of people are continuously laid on the alter of sacrifice for the peace of one side and not for the mutual peace of both, the time comes to stand before the foe and take whatever punches they can throw your way for the dignity of self and the perseverance of justice for all.
The only way to ensure that 700 units of permanent supportive housing for the disabled without a home will be completed in the time line adopted by City Hall is now to move forward to ensure nothing ever happens again such as the Plaza deal. (Keeping our eye on the Lifenet Project) It is also time for the State of Texas to change it guidelines to ensure every citizens right is protected under the laws and that neighborhood mob mentality based on discrimination will not be rewarded but instead discarded.
The battle will be joined.
James K Waghorne - Dallas Homeless Neighborhood Association
