How often do you update the salaries for DISD and Dallas? Why not get Dallas County as well?

[Ed Note: Though we received them last Fall from most organizations, I usually wait until March to request updates. That way, we get the most recent tax year's gross figures. We'll drop Dallas County into the mix next time.]

If you want to report or waste taxpayers money on "stories" that really aren't then why don't you ask the new DA office why they are sending good people packing!

They are letting the majority of prosecutors and clerical staff go.

Anyone with experience is looking for jobs right around Christmas. Sad!

For what? Seems like the staff would have some experience that the new guy would need. Its our tax dollars funding the County employees being crapped on.

[Ed Note: Welcome to politics! Since the D.A. is elected, he's going to have jobs for his friends. When the tables turn, again, the other side will be writing stories just like this one. That being said, it will be interesting to see how Watkins replaces all the talent he's cutting loose.]

This assumes that what he cut loose was actually "talent."

One person he cut loose worked for me in the past, and I beg to differ with that description.

[Ed Note: Point well taken!]

For the editor: I would submit to you that he simply cannot replace the talent he is "cutting loose."

I would also propose that, although the DA is an elected official and must run as a member of a political party, that this position - as the top law enforcement officer in the county - should, ideally, be committed to one purpose - dispensing justice.

I can only hope for Dallas County that Mr. Watkins realizes that his position should be approached with a sense of making sure justice is done - not with a sense of political payback to those who helped him. The citizens of the county cannot afford otherwise.

With respect to the firings, I am afraid of what Mr. Watkins' actions are telling us about him as an individual.

Approximately 3 weeks ago Mr. Watkins said something similar to the following at a press conference he held on the steps of the Frank Crowley Courthouse: "There will be no major shakeup in the DA's office."

Also, he had many opportunities in the approximately 7 weeks since the November election to meet with prosecutors and let them know that they should be looking for a job as of January 1, 2007.

Now, as stated above, those prosecutors who worked for justice for many years (and who were assured that they would be keeping their jobs) are looking for jobs due to Mr. Watkins 'not shaking up the office'.

"Happy Holidays - good luck finding a job to support your family."

Pray for Dallas County.

[Ed Note: As I say, "them there'z politics." There will always be "bloodbaths" when an administration changes. But, again, it will be interesting to see where he gets replacement talent.]

The District Attorney is just as competent as his predecessor, the only thing is he is not in the good ole boys network.

[Ed Note: He's different. We'll see what he does after he's been there awhile. Personally, I'm going to give him a chance and then judge him on his results.]

Even though you do pay taxes, the costs incurred by open records requests are usually passed on to the requestor, per the same legislation that makes the information available.

The cost is usually only for time spent gathering materials, copies made or technological assistance needed to gather the data (i.e., computer programming to gather disparate data). The usual form letter used to request information often includes a statement that any costs over a specified amount must be itemized and provided in an estimate prior to work being completed.

I, for one, appreciate Dallas.Org's efforts to keep our government honest. It's nice to see that occassionally government employees do the right thing.

Bidding for supplies and small items is more expensive and cumbersome than it's worth. Also keep in mind that many companies don't come back for repeat business with the City. The City takes too long to pay it's vendors. Some of these companies, like the ones that supply police cars, struggle to stay afloat while the City cogs of the payment machine grind slowly forward. Often, these vendors lose money on a profitable contract because of slow-pays by the City of Dallas.

It is the sad fact of government that to stay under budget is to guarantee that next year's budget will be smaller. If you needed that money, you'd have spent it, right?

[Ed Note: Oh, and just for the record, in 2005 and 2006, we paid over $4,000 for all open records requests we filed. I also spend countless hours putting these databases together. Thanks for the vote of confidence.]

You can hide behind the Texas Public Information Act but it really is sad to see someone just throw a database online and question purchases by the retailers name.

The name means nothing. Where will it stop?

Your going to make this personal and regardless of the city's response to you this will continue until you find your needle in the haystack.

DISD spent over 20m a year and the city is spending peanuts compared to them.

Give them some credit for controlling spending with something that each and everyone of us use everyday for convienience.

[Ed Note: The information I put online was the information the City furnished me after months of wrangling. Perhaps you should direct your vitriol at them for failing to provide useful information! With respect to the rest, I suggest you go back and read the last post a little more carefully. By the way, you sound suspiciously like someone I've had this argument in the past with. And, by the way, we do pay for the information we receive as required by law. I just wanted to see where you were going with your argument!]

As someone that works for the district I want to know where the money is going. My school is vastly UNDERSTAFFED and we can't get any new employees yet other schools can hire like crazy.

We went two months without supplies and yet we get a a bunch of USELESS video cameras that don't work or that the student play with.

The district has the money, our school board needs the guts to go get it.

1) Why do we have vendors? Why have a vendor that works on computers (and makes 70 grand a year) when the district has computer techs that makes 30 grand. That 40 grand wasted.

2) Why bother posting jobs when many are already filled before they are posted? That's a waste of paper and money.

3)Why are the sprinklers at Ross on during the winter? There was ice everywhere at the building.

4) What about parents that ruin the school district by school hopping? All they do is jump from one DISD school to another. I know kids that changed schools SIX times in one year. Do you know how much paperwork that is?

5) What about flyers that are made for parents that just throw it away since most of them WON'T read them?

[Ed Note: What does everyone think about having a "topic of the week" that we can all chew on?]

I like that idea

Michael Davis
Dallas Progress

The comment about the DMN was due to your info about DISD over a year ago and then the DMN articles this last Summer.

I just don't see what good it does to just throw info out there if you are not going to take the time to investigate.

It kind of reminds me of sensational journalism without alot of substance. At least the DMN asks questions.

[Ed Note: Ahh, I see where you're going with this. Don't make the mistake of assuming I'm not asking questions! I have my notepad opened and am, at this very moment, jotting down names/charges to request through open records. I like posting things like this early because people come out of the woodwork to explain some of these things--and tip you off on others! There is, my friend, method to my madness!]

You mean it didn't take 18 layers of hiding or press secretaries? Kudos to Suhm for directly addressing it, and in quick fashion.

Michael Davis
Dallas Progress

One of the expenses mentioned BRIEFLY on WFAA's report was that the Police department had jewelry appraised for an investigation.

Granted it was a legitimate expense, but this site and the researcher wish more 'fraudulent activities' were related to this expense and many others.

Keep digging.

[Ed Note: Huh? I'm afraid I've completely missed your point here.]

I have heard this rumor and it looks like everyone believes it.

Carter is supposed to be closed down and those students will get sent on Kimball and Molina.

Does anybody know where this rumor got started?

[Ed Note: This is interesting, but I just can't see the District closing Carter High School. Somebody remind me that I said this a year from now!]

That would make the trip way too long for a lot of kids, and I don't think Kimball & Molina could absorb all of those kids.

I know Kimball can't with its staff shortage and I know Duncanville High School will hate it with those school hopping parents that plauge Kimball, Duncanville, Molina and Carter already.

The last time DISD closed a school down in 2002, about 300 students remained unaccounted for.

[Ed Note: I was about to say--other schools are at capacity. Carter is a prime piece of real estate! I'd probably rate this rather low in terms of probability.]

There are no plans to close Carter HS. The only high schools struggling for enrollment are Madison and Roosevelt. They lack students for their size due to the lack of adequate family housing in their neighborhoods.

Also, more people would voluntarily send their kids to those schools if they offered a special program, something unique. I wish they would invest money in VOCATIONAL EDUCATION at those schools. Not all kids want to go to college, and it is a sham to plan your curriculum around it. Those Ph.D's don't teach these kids. To be a mechanic or a plumber is nothing to be ashamed of--and they make more money than teachers do!