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Following a damning whistleblower report on the inhumane conditions for juveniles at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center, the Dallas Black Clergy has called for an emergency press conference to address the community.

The press conference aims to shed light on the reported abuses, demand action from Dallas County officials, and mobilize community support for systemic changes.

The press conference comes as former and current employees came to local news outlet WFAA to expose the conditions at the facility.

The conference will take place at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center on Sunday, June 30, at 3 p.m.

Speakers  from the Dallas Black Clergy include:

·  Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III: Founding Member of the Dallas Black Clergy; Senior Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church

·  Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters: Founding Member of the Dallas Black Clergy; Founder and Lead Pastor of Abundant Life A.M.E. Church

·  Sha Smith: Impacted Individual by the Henry Wade conditions

·  Mr. John Fullinwider: Co-Founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality

·  Rev. Dr. Irie Session: Founding Member of the Dallas Black Clergy for Safety, Equity and Justice; Co-Pastor of The Gathering: A Womanist Church in Dallas

·  Minister Dominique Alexander: President and CEO of the Next Generation Action Network

·  Rev. Virzola Law: Senior Minister of Northway Christian Church

The conference comes in the wake of a September 2023 report by the Lone Star Justice Alliance’s Reimagine Justice Coalition.

The coalition highlighted severe violations of state juvenile standards at the facility.

Key findings include:

• 15 violations of state juvenile standards.
• Juveniles isolated in cells for up to five days.
• Inadequate daily showering for detained children.
• Failure of guards to conduct regular checks, especially for those on suicide watch.
• Disparities in case processing times, with White (including Hispanic) children facing shorter waits compared to Black children.
• High rates of deeper system involvement for children, despite being reported as low or medium risk.

In Nov. 2023, John Wiley Price, ranking member of the Dallas County Commissioner’s Court, sat down with The DeSoto Tribune to discuss the standards of the Dallas Juvenile Detention Center.

The post Dallas Black Clergy to address Conditions at Juvenile Center appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

The DeSoto Police and Fire Departments have released their call volume reports for the week of June 9-15, detailing a wide range of emergency responses and community services.

The DeSoto Police Department reported a total of 2,380 calls during this period.

The majority of these calls were neighborhood patrol calls, totaling 762.

Directed patrol followed closely with 430 calls.

Business calls accounted for 280, while animal-related incidents resulted in 75 calls.

Additionally, there were 53 calls regarding suspicious activity and 266 traffic-related incidents.

The DeSoto Fire Department responded to 239 emergency calls for service within the same week.

Of these, 180 were medical calls, highlighting the department’s crucial role in providing medical assistance.

The fire and rescue team handled 59 calls, which included 10 major vehicle accidents, 1 structure fire, 2 car fires, 1 RV fire, and 12 fire alarms.

71 of the 180 medical calls required additional assistance or manpower from a fire engine.

Both departments encourage residents to stay informed about safety protocols and to reach out in case of emergencies or suspicious activities.

For more information, residents can contact the respective departments through their official communication channels.

The post DeSoto Police and Fire Departments Weekly Call Volume Reports appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

Desoto Residents’ Comment on Latest Mayor Pro Tem Vote

DESOTO – Citizen’s comments took up most of the time at the most recent DeSoto City Council meeting.

Shanitta Cleveland began the comments with a thorough discussion of the May 21 Mayor Pro Tem vote. While she spoke for three minutes and then had her microphone turned off, she had an issue with the recent voting for the city’s Mayor Pro Tem. Cleveland felt, as did others who spoke after her, that Place 5 Dinah Marks had originally won and not current Mayor Pro Tem Letitia Hughes, who is serving her second Mayor Pro Tem term.

She felt the Marks vote, which was originally 4 – 3, was a win for Marks, but then she stated, “There was a second unlawful vote that stripped her of that title. She started to dissent, but” Cleveland said after that current Mayor Pro Tem Letitia Hughes said she did not vote correctly, and the vote started again, this time with Hughes keeping her Pro Tem seat.

“You guys have corruption in the city, and it is going to continue, and it is not going anywhere,” Cleveland said to the mic, which had been silenced as she walked away with no time left to speak.

Rachelle Jones spoke as a concerned citizen, educator and former city employee. She said she has a concern for the city, and she is not happy with the safety in the city and the lack of security.

Bernadine Harrison said she was speaking out because she does not like the way DeSoto is headed.

“Nothing seems to get better in this city other than the fact that everything seems to get more expensive,” Harrison told the city council. She had an issue with the short three minutes residents are allowed to speak at the council meetings and added, “They can talk to you forever when they are out there looking for votes.”

Harrison also brought up the ISD $7 million missing money, “but we can’t take care of the needs of a child who has been molested.”

Harrison went on to add “it is time for change” and she is going to try and make change happen. She said she is starting a website and asks, “We the People, all you need to do is take one day out of your busy day, and I wish the council would remind people regularly you can get this meeting online so we can do something about it.”

Mary Bonaparte, a 34-year DeSoto resident, said she is challenging the city council to do the right thing.

“This is not the city I moved into 34 years ago, this city has declined as you have allowed developers, investors, Airbnb, and rental property owners to run this city down while they make big money on the backs of us taxpayers.”

Bonaparte, too, mentioned the Mayor Pro Tem election and said, “After Marks had given her speech, Mayor Proctor said there was a voting mistake by Hughes.”

So, Marks’ win was taken away and given to Hughes. Bonaparte insisted Marks won the Mayor Pro Tem nomination, adding, “ignorance of the law is no excuse, which is what the judge tells everybody downtown. You cannot start a meeting using Roberts Rules of Order and then change the rules to benefit your own agenda. I am going to ask you to put your differences aside and honor the initial Mayor Pro Tem vote by confirming Councilmember Marks as the new Mayor Pro Tem. And be reminded this city belongs to every citizen in DeSoto and not the nine individuals sitting on this dais. If we, the citizens, must put our differences aside and rally together to get change in DeSoto, that is what we are going to do. I am asking ya’ll to do the right thing.”

Anna Williams, a 33-year resident, said, “I stand before you in shame and disbelief in what our morals have adapted to. We have allowed personal feelings and greed to ruin our once-beautiful community and city. We have allowed investors, developers, and slumlords to disturb the peace of our once-quiet community. We, the residents of DeSoto, say no more. You are putting $10,000 worth of tires on a $1000 city.”

She sa

DeSoto city officials have announced a new initiative offering senior citizens discounts on essential utility services, including water, sewer, drainage, and refuse services.

The initiative aims to provide financial relief to elderly residents by reducing their monthly utility expenses.

Residents aged 65 and older are eligible to receive these discounts when they submit a completed application and proof of age.

Once approved, the discounts will be applied to future billings.

The discount structure includes a reduction of $3.00 on the monthly charges for both water and sewer services.

For drainage services, the monthly charge is reduced to $2.50, down from $6.00.

The refuse (garbage) service fee is reduced to $27.07 from the standard $29.99.

To apply, residents must submit their application along with a copy of their driver’s license or photo ID as proof of age.

Applications can be faxed to 972-230-5795 or delivered in person to the Utility Billing office located at 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto, Texas.

For more information or assistance with the application process, residents can contact the DeSoto Utility Billing office.

The post DeSoto Announces Utility Discounts for Senior Citizens appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

74,000 Square Foot “ARC” In DeSoto’s McCowan Park Will Create A Vibrant Sports Center & Multi-Generational Destination

The City of DeSoto broke ground Monday morning for a 74,000 square foot Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) which will become the central hub for DeSoto’s Curtistene S. McCowan Park and a citywide venue for fitness and multigenerational recreation. This $53 million project represents a major milestone in the life of DeSoto and is welcome addition that has been the subject of active community engagement and discussion for more than a decade.

DeSoto’s new “ARC” is one of the key components for the City of DeSoto’s Parks Master Plan and will anchor the broader park complex. It will include a full-scale indoor competition pool and observation decks on the second level to allow for competitive swimming events.

A 400-foot fitness track for cardio workouts will be suspended above the facility’s first level. A fully equipped fitness area will include a leisure pool, gyms, strength training equipment, meeting rooms, and a social gathering space for group activities such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. With the grounds of McCowan Park surrounding it, the entire area will be transformed into a multi-sport layout experience that will stand out in a region already known for athleticism.

The new facility is designed to offer health and fitness support to young families and provide a physical and social venue for active seniors through year-round senior activities.
Located in Curtistene S. McCowan Park, the facility is being realized as part of a larger master plan, which includes other public and sports-related amenities, including additional sports fields, an amphitheater, a sculpture garden, water features, and surrounding trails.

The post DeSoto’s $53 Million Aquatic & Recreation Center Has Begun Construction appeared first on Focus Daily News.