Unwanted Oak Cliff Motel Denied Permit and is soon to be Closed
Submitted by History on Wed, 11/16/2005 - 13:28.
News Release
Date: November 10, 2005
Contact: Dwaine Caraway; Michael Davis; Floyd Lee
Release: Immediate
The City of Dallas Planning Commission denied the renewal of the Special Permit for the Interstate Motel at 107 W. Overton at Beckley in Oak Cliff.
This motel has plagued the community for years with rampant crime, drugs, violence and prostitution.
The Nolan Estes Center and three schools (two elementary schools and a pre-K Head Start school) are directly adjacent to the motel. A GED center is across the street from the motel. A hospital, South Oak Cliff High School, and two churches are within a one block radius. In January, more students will be in the area due to the temporary relocation of the Arts Magnet High School. In addition, this motel is directly across from homeowners who are subjected to random crime because of its existence.
We look for the motel to be shut down as soon as possible.
The events leading to this action included the protest of the motel by members of the community as well as communication from the neighbors which indicated that the majority of nearby residents wanted the motel to cease operation.
We will continue to close motels and other establishments that have proven to be scourges of the community, which will in turn make the Southern Sector a safer and better place to live, rest, and conduct business. This is a message to delinquent and inattentive motel owners that a new day has dawned and we will no longer tolerate motel owners that are enablers to crime in our community.
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Addition by subtraction?
I applaud the community enforcing its will and shutting down the motel. But, I must continue to remind you of the law of unintended consequences. You have moved the problem, not solved it, and created a new problem, a vacant store front. Which will be a magnet for the homeless and lawless, a greater threat for random crime.
The real enemy is poverty, but you refuse to recognize, or are unaware that it is the number one cause of crime. People want to have money, and when they don't have it, they will get it any way they can. Money puts food on the table, keeps the lights on, and a roof over ones head. If you close a business, you put people out of work. The crime will only move somewhere else. Have we put in place a job training program for the whores and pimps? I am pulling your leg, a bit.
It seems you are more interested in making life good for you, than you are improving the lives of the people your life effects. I missed your voice screaming injustice when NEP was used to house the "alternative" elementary program, and when Village Fair chose a location less than a half mile away from the NEP, there was no inkling of outrage.
I guess I do not live in your two world way of living. I read in the Dallas Morning News that students from poverty tend to do better when spread out among students from more affluent backgrounds. Is this new world order you are creating going to be an ownership society or a sharing society?
Education, oppurtunity, and enforcement. They must all work in harmony to bring about the social change you are after. Education is in place, you are bringing enforcement. Now bring the oppurtunity. I looked at the crime stats as you asked me too, it seemed to be in a crime sea crime around the Motel you have shut down. Is the sea of crime a reflection of the character of the people in the neighborhood or failed social policies?
Why not build something good instead of tearing something you see as bad down?
I pick my own battles
You didn't miss anything - I decide where I will apply my energies. You are free to eradicate buildings that you feel are a nuisnace, and correct injustices.
Don't worry about what I do - just worry about what you do to affect change.