An interview with Mayor Eric Johnson just before Saturday’s election brought me back to Dallas City Hall for the first time in more than a year. The building was eerily silent, as it has been since COVID-19 turned the world upside down and sent staff and elected officials home to do the city’s work.
But not even a pandemic can cut into the noise that emanates from 1500 Marilla St. and from the many people connected to it in one way or another. While loud, provocative and often juicy to insiders, the drama du jour of petty politics and thoughtless texts and tweets almost never matters to Dallas residents.
Dallas City Council Approves Violence Interrupter Contract
YAP, key part of mayor’s public safety agenda
DALLAS The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a contract with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) to hire and train violence interrupters in the city’s underserved neighborhoods.
The violence interrupters program is a key part of Mayor Eric Johnson’s public safety agenda. The Mayor’s Task Force on Safe Communities recommended the program in its January 2020 report. In September 2020, the City Council voted to allocate $800,000 in funding to hire violence interrupters during the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
“We cannot and should not rely on police alone to stop the violent crime increases in our city,” said Mayor Johnson. “Violence interrupters, which were highly recommended by my Task Force on Safe Communities, will stop conflicts before they become violent and can help our people and our neighborhoods to grow and thrive. That is why we are thrilled to p
What Dallas can learn from Oakland’s experience in lowering violent crime
What Dallas can learn from Oakland’s experience in lowering violent crime
The Bay Area city used a strategy known as Operation Ceasefire, which doesn’t focus as heavily on law enforcement. Dallas’ chief says he is interested in trying a similar strategy.
Davoria Williams of Oakland, Calif., holds a photo of her son, Clifford D. Snead, who was shot and killed in Oakland in 2012, the peak of the crime epidemic in that city. Since that time, the city has used focused deterrence strategies like Operation Ceasefire to help lower the crime rate. Dallas is considering similar strategies as homicides spike.(Rod Lamkey / Getty Images)
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San Jose police Chief Edgardo “Eddie” Garcia is coming to take the lead at the Dallas Police Department. City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced his pick for the city’s 30th chief of police early Wednesday afternoon. Garcia will be the first Hispanic police chief in DPD history.
“It’s an honor to be welcomed into one of America’s greatest cities for the second time as chief,” Garcia said. “I’m truly humbled by the thought of wearing the DPD uniform and working alongside such an amazing group of committed men and women.”
Garcia will be leaving his department of 28 years for one three times the size. According to