Dwaine Caraway's 20 Point Plan for District 4

www.dwainecaraway.com

 

I appreciate you living in District 4.  My allegiance is to you, and to those that want a better quality of life. I want you to have a strong and vocal advocate for the people of District 4. I am that person.

 

For too long, we have been reactive to the issues regarding crime, economic development, and quality of life. The time for vague plans with no concrete ideas has passed.  With this election, we will be proactive and provide solutions to problems. 

 

If you know me, you know that I am always "among the people."  Your conversations, home visits, and neighborhood meetings have inspired me to develop a 20 point plan for District 4.  I will work toward completing this plan as soon as I am elected. 

 

This plan cannot be achieved overnight.  I need your help to make this vision a reality. With your support, we can improve District 4 "One Block at a Time."

 

 

Crime – Making Safety First in District 4 (4 points)

We will not be able to attract good retail and economic development until we reduce crime.

Our neighborhoods belong to the residents, not the drug dealers and criminals.

 

  • Gunshot-Detection Systems
    • These systems can tell officers the exact location (up to 1 ½ miles away) of a shooting within seconds and report it to the police department via dispatch, pager, or cell phone
    • Does not require 911 call by residents
    • Used in Chicago, Minneapolis, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Oakland and other cities.
    • Funded by grants and foundations

 

  • More Officers on the Streets
    • Give desk jobs back to civilians, to free up experienced officers to do what they do best: protecting the citizens of Dallas. Moving as many officers as possible into patrol will increase police presence and reduce response time

 

  • Enforce loitering and panhandling ordinances in front of stores
  • Work to enhance community-policing relationships
    • Helping Police Officers live in the area they serve; creating a bond with the community while providing a visible crime deterrent
    • Encourage our parents to play a more active role in raising their children, and provide enhanced support services where necessary

 

 

 

 

 

Economic Development (3 points)

District 4 needs economic development, but it must be the right type of development. We must demand high-quality developments that are worthy of the residents of District 4.

  • Revitalize Major Shopping Centers and Corridors
    • Lancaster-Kiest, Glendale, Crest Shopping Center, Deer Path, and Minyard’s at Marsalis & Illinois
    • Samuell Boulevard, Buckner Boulevard, Jim Miller Road
    • Beckley Avenue, Illinois Avenue
  • Focus on Transit-Oriented Development
    • Locate retail and office space around transit stops. A variety of housing and shopping options should be located within a close distance, reducing negative effects on the environment and improving options for residents without cars
    • Lancaster-Kiest Station, Morrell Transit Center, Illinois/Monroe Shops Station, Dallas Zoo Station
  • New Shopping and Entertainment Options
    • Focus on bringing a movie theatre and new quality supermarkets to District 4
    • “Good Growth Initiative” - Better uses, better variety and mix of stores

Quality of Life (4 points)

  • Motels, Illegal Bars, and Unlicensed Strip Clubs
    • We will seek to close all illegal hot-sheet motels, nuisance bars, and illegal strip clubs in District 4
    • A fund will be established for neighborhoods to utilize the Board of Adjustment process to close unwanted uses (motels, clubs, etc)

 

  • Dangerous Stray Dogs
    • Reduction in pit bulls and other strays via increased animal control resources
    • Owners must register dangerous breeds with the City, and purchase liability insurance for each dangerous dog that they own
    • Dangerous dogs must be tagged and muzzled when on City streets.

 

  • “Terrible Twenty” Program
    • Working with neighborhood groups, I will identify the twenty most run-down houses (highest and oldest citations, etc) and fast-track their demolition
    • These lots will then be available for community groups to maintain gardens/open space or to resell for permanent housing
    • Funded within City budget and then with revolving funds from sales
  • "Take Back Our Community" Program
    • Improve quality of sidewalks, curbs, and streets
    • Work with power companies to fix broken streetlights
    • Reduce negative advertising – cigarette ads, gun shows
    • Improve maintenance of parks and recreation facilities
    • More wheelchair ramps
    • Drug houses will be seized and fast-tracked for demolition and/or sale
    • Establish grant writing internships, so neighborhood groups can raise more money for community improvement
    • Increased fines and enforcement to curb illegal dumping and 18-wheeler parking on City streets
    • Expand the “lot beautification” ordinance to shopping centers and parking lots across District 4 and the City of Dallas
      • Parking lot owners are required to keep lots properly paved and landscaped.

Jobs and Opportunity For All – (4 points)

 

Achieving is believing! Let's help those that want to be helped.  More opportunity reduces crime.  Opportunity also reduces the dropout rate.

 

We must ready our citizens via education and experience to take advantage of upcoming opportunities that we create.

 

Crime must be reduced before large-scale economic development can occur.  Economic opportunity during these difficult times means creating jobs and an environment that invites new investment in our City. 

 

I will work to make sure that District 4 residents get their fair share of opportunities, but I will also work hard to create new opportunities within our district.

 

  • Improve Opportunities for Ex-Offenders
    • Increase funding for job training, counseling, and follow-up to ensure ex-offenders stay on the right path
  • Training
    • The City should be creating as many opportunities for self-sufficiency as possible
    • Increase funding for training in construction and other vocational fields
      • BuildDallas – Training in construction trades and include hiring pool for City construction contractors
    • Help citywide to expand opportunities for struggling students and out-of-school youth
    • Create database to make people aware of job training and "earn and learn" programs            
  • Enforce diversity in all City contracts and bidding process
    • Companies and contract performance will be monitored to make sure that “front companies” are not used to gain City business
  • Strengthen the connection between school and work by offering a Job Experience and Incentive Program
    • Encourage partnerships with DISD and other schools
    • Monthly meetings for students at City Hall to tour and learn about government
    • Encourage companies to participate in internship programs for deserving youth

Housing (2 points)

 

  • Encourage quality middle-income housing
    • We must attract more middle-income residents to stabilize neighborhoods

 

  • Quality affordable housing
    • Less focus on apartments and more concentration on attractive single-family housing to stabilize and improve neighborhoods

 

Open Access (3 points)

  • Make City Council more responsive to constituents
    • Treat attendees of City Council meetings with the proper respect
    • Require Councilmembers to turn off and halt use of all electronic equipment during the public comment period of Council meetings

 

  • Improve distribution of important information
    • Make sure all neighborhood groups feel like a part of the District
    • Make certain that all residents and neighborhood groups know about important zoning changes and other issues, not just a few select groups.

 

  • District Needs – work to have Council offices located within the District All residents do not have the resources and physical ability to travel to City Hall to voice their concerns
    • All residents do not have the resources and physical ability to travel to City Hall to voice their concerns
    • A district office needs to be within convenience of rail and bus lines, and wheelchair-accessible