Thanks for visiting our  web-site. Take a good look around. I hope you enjoy your time here. We will be gathering a team to meet and discuss the issues that face District 2 and Dallas as a whole. Please sign up as a volunteer and get involved in your City.

Sincerely,

‎”Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

I believe in limiting government regulation of business.  Imposing Special Use Permits when they are unnecessary and discrimatory is bad policy.  District 2 needs a Councilman who has run his own small business and knows what is like to be on the other side of public policy.

City Hall can do more to help District 2 residents who want to start their own small businesses.  I will find ways to help small businesses responsibly grow into medium size businesses and assist them when they need when they grow again. I will take the steps necessary to review the Dallas tax codes to see how we can modernize our tax policies to help business thrive.

District 2 needs a City Councilman who can reach out to help small business owners immediately but who also has the ability to lobby on their behalf in both Austin and in Washington.  I have the ability and the desire to fight for the future of business owners in the District. When I am elected I assure you that can do more and will do more to improve the financial future for the entire district.

Bullying is an endemic problem in American schools and Anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying is one of the most pervasive forms of bullying and often the weapon of choice for bullies, regardless of the bullied student’s sexual orientation. Yet many schools have not effectively addressed anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment.

The Dallas City Council may not control Dallas Independent Schools but they do have a duty to speak up on issues which are important to their constituents. When I am elected I will be a vocal leader on the Dallas City Council. I will shine a spotlight on this issue and  will bring a message for positive change to every DISD School Board Member.  I will lobby for an immediate change in policy and immediate enforcement of the policy they do have.

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. and they recommend  four approaches that schools can implement now to address anti-LGBT bullying and make schools safer for all students. I support these recommendations.

1. Adopt a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that enumerates categories such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender expression/identity. Enumeration is crucial to ensure that anti-bullying policies are effective for all students. Policies without enumeration are about as effective than having no policy at all when it comes to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment, according to GLSEN’s 2007 National School Climate Survey.

2. Require staff trainings to enable school staff to identify and address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment effectively and in a timely manner.

3. Support student efforts to address anti-LGBT bullying and harassment on campus, such as the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance or participation in events such as the National Day of Silence and Ally Week.

4. Institute age-appropriate, inclusive curricula to help students understand and respect difference within the school community and society as a whole.

The Dallas Independent School District must adopt a stronger anti bullying policy! No child can focus on school work when they are fearing for their safety. This is a life and death issue and these children deserve a courageous leader at Dallas City Hall to be their voice on the Dallas City Council.  Every child deserves leader that will deliver a safe place for them to be educated.

When I am elected to Dallas City Council I will be the leader who offers vocal support to an issue that the DISD has largely been silent on. It is time for a change at Dallas City Hall, please click on volunteer and join our quest to unify District 2.

There are many companies who will provide turnkey on-grid solar power electric solutions to a broad range of customers in both the public and private sectors. These public private partnerships can  help  Dallas  reduce or eliminate city owned and operated facility’s electric bills by installing a commercial solar electric system. A significant portion of the commercial solar system’s cost is paid for by taking advantage of state rebates, incentives and the generous 30 percent federal solar tax credit combined with  grant and accelerated depreciation in the long run this type of system will increase City revenue. This type of initiative will  give Dallas commercial business  owners an example to follow. This type of initiative will show the nation that the City of Dallas is serious about sustainability and smart  about addressing it’s budget shortfall.

Taking small steps, we can still have change happen quickly.  I propose we find a partner in the Solar Industry to install solar panels on City Hall. Public and private partnerships like this can jump start a City wide program that would install solar panels on all City Buildings. This can be done with zero cost to the City. Every kilowatt of electricity  stored which is not used can be sold back to the electric company and I believe a project such as this will make the city a profit. I propose making recycling pickup available to everyone in Dallas, including apartment buildings. I propose a plan to allow for multifamily residents to have recycling. Again, this will not cost the city,  it will make the city money.

District 2 needs a green minded leader in office who can create a sustainable place to live. I plan to green this city with more trees and more money.  This can all be done with policy change at City Hall and leveraging local resources. I plan on  introducing green job training programs, developing innovative new community greening programs, encouraging community gardens, and I plan on creating new environmental education programs at all of our City Parks. Sustainability is the future and unfortunately we are way behind the curve.  This has negative quality of life impacts and financial impacts that will only be reversed by electing a leader willing to make a green lifestyle a priority.

I will propose adding new green space in the urban areas of the District where there is little if any places for children to enjoy being outside. This can all be done at zero cost to the City if City Hall learns to forge new partnerships between local businesses and government. There are people and businesses in the community who are willing and able to fund and build these projects. However, no one has tried to champion or take on the green projects District 2 actually needs to make it a better place to live.  Preservation of green space and community members coming together will make life better for today and for generations to come. When I am elected your Dallas City Councilman.  I will be the leader District 2 requires to preserve our environment and our way of life.

Dallas, Texas:  A Dallas Morning news story recently given to me reports that emergency assistance checks paid by a Dallas anti-poverty agency to help poor tenants avoid eviction were issued for rents at vacant lots, non-existent property and were deposited into the personal back accounts of Pauline Medrano and her brother Robert.

Rental assistance checks being distributed from the Dallas County Community Action Committee wound up in a bank account of Pauline Medrano the sister of former Dallas school board member Robert Medrano.  Pauline Medrano is reported to have deposited a total 19 checks into her own personal bank account totaling $6300.  Robert Medrano is reported to have also deposited $1600 worth of checks into his own account.  It was a family operation. These checks were meant to help poor residents of District 2 pay their rent to avoid eviction.

See the incredible full story here:

Dallas Morning News Investigation: Rental assistance checks from the Dallas County Community Action Committee wound up in a bank account of Pauline Medrano

To find the original story you can go to the Dallas Morning News Archives at this link: http://www.dallasnews.com/arch…

SEARCH :  AGENCY PAID RENT ON VACANT LOTS :

Neither Pauline Medrano or her family was ever held to account for this behavior and it is no surprise that this investigation came directly on the heels of another investigation where Pauline Medrano was involved in allowing phony ballots,official  misconduct and negligence while serving as an election judge at Precinct 3303 all while working for her brothers reelection campaign.  You can also see that Dallas Morning News Investigation article on my website.

It seems like Pauline Medrano got away with stealing Federal money away from poor District 2 residents right after getting away with stealing votes for her brother.

I am asking all Public Officials and Non-Profit Organizations endorsing Pauline to withdraw their support for her campaign until she makes a public comment on these  stories.  The residents of Dallas deserve to know the truth.

Go on the Record Pauline.  Explain this behavior to the people in District 2.

“No Comment” is not an acceptable answer anymore.

In 1988 the Dallas Morning News published an extensive news investigation about vote fraud and the Medrano political machine which directly linked Pauline Medrano and members her family to phony ballots, negligence, and misconduct in Oak Lawn Precinct 3303.  Pauline Medrano was ultimately removed as election judge.  The article has since been removed from the Dallas Morning News archives. I have been given a hard copy.

I am firmly on the record on this issue: I believe that Dallas voters (indeed all voters) have the Constitutional Right to participate in free and fair elections without fear of  intimidation or election manipulation. To accomplish this end it has become obvious to me that I must educate people to the brutal and devastating truth of the matter.  I recently have learned that my opponent has been directly linked to a past voter fraud investigation in which she was personally implicated as being involved and for which she was removed as an Election Judge. Given the current news here in Dallas this is incredibly damaging information.

I was recently given a copy of a Dallas Morning News Investigation which reported the brutal truth about voter fraud. The investigation was focused directly on the Medrano Family and their finding led directly to my opponent Pauline Medrano who served as the Election Judge at the precinct in question during her own brothers election.  I agonized about how to handle this information but I chose to hold back publishing and instead provided a copy to all local media outlets.  Recent news articles of vote fraud allegations only tell of recent felony charges and allegations of vote fraud.  It now seems  clear that history is repeating itself.

The Dallas Morning News investigated The Medrano Family’s ties to voter fraud in 1988 and you will find eerie similarities to the stories you have recently read about. In 1988 Pauline Medrano was an Election Judge in Precinct 3303. Her brother was the candidate. This exhaustive Dallas Morning News Investigation discovered that in that election  “1 in 10″ votes were fraudulent and reported that Pauline Medrano was “negligent” in her duties.    The story reports that Pauline Medrano neither prevented the fraud from occurring nor reported the irregularities after she learned of them; due to this investigation Pauline Medrano was ultimately removed as Election Judge in the Oak Lawn Precinct 3303.

Here is the article, you be the judge:  Medrano Voter Fraud Article

I understand that this Dallas Morning News Investigation is dated, but the definition of insanity firmly applies here.  The City of Dallas, Dallas County, and voter in District 2 simply cannot continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. This investigation shows that there was more that a shadow of impropriety back in 1988, the investigation detailed that their was impropriety and explained how it happens.

A grand jury is convened as I type in Rockwall and Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbot has already issued one indictment for felony voter fraud against a member of the Medrano family.  What is it going to take to get people to wake up to the fact The Medrano Family will do anything and everything to get a friend or family Member elected?

In an open letter to the Dallas City Secretary and Dallas County Elections Administrator I have asked that they immediately intervene to: 1) Move the polling location to Sam Houston Elementary School or any other location in the precinct other than Medrano Elementary School and 2) Immediately take steps to appoint an independent Election Judge to oversee voting at your chosen location on election day.

I have spoken to Dallas City Secretary Deborah Watkins today, she has met a number of times with the Dallas City Attorney Tom Perkins, and I have provided them both with this  information because of my concerns.  I am told that the decision should be made and announced sometime tomorrow.   I  hope for the sake of our democracy that these honest and hard working public servants will not let history repeat itself. I have asked them to act quickly and boldly to  make the only just decision, the Dallas City Secretary must move the polling location and appoint an independent election judge to oversee voting at the location they choose.

My opponent must end her silence on this issue and make a public statement.  I demand that she go on the record to address this issue and take the appropriate steps to remove the shadow of impropriety that looms over District 2.  She is an “elected” official and voters deserve to know whether she believes in free and fair elections or not. Pauline Medrano’s continued silence on this issue is seriously troubling.

Dallas voters indeed all voters deserve free and fair elections and I am willing to stake my life on it. Today I may have done just that, and so be it.  I my world, you don’t mess with democracy and get away with it.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail,  April 16, 1963

Questions Submitted 3/28/2011 by Mr. Anonymous Oh Really

Mr. Anonymous: Billy, how much money you raised for your neighborhood association?

Billy MacLeod: Sir, I am not a professional fundraiser,  I am an advocate for real people.  Neighborhood associations raise money primarily through dues, special events and to some extent charity.  I CAN say that I have raised more than money;  I have raised awareness and I have shed blood.   I have raised my voice and though many times all I could do is raise my fist in solidarity, at least I was there.   Over the past 10 years I have invested hundreds of  hours of my personal time working on behalf of neighborhoods. I have spoken to the Dallas City Council (in chambers ) over 60 times since 2003 (when I ran against you).  In recent years I have met with dozens of City Council members privately to fight for all  neighborhoods in District 2 not just the select few my opponent services.  Sir, and I said above I have raised more than money.  I would attend Dallas City Council Meetings weekly when I worked nights and I would report my findings back to my neighbors. I have spent full days up at Dallas city hall waiting to speak on behalf of dozens of neighborhood associations across District 2, this is not lip service this is action.  I am a candidate who has been a vocal advocate with a dedication to neighborhoods, and unlike my opponent, you cannot buy that.

Mr. Anonymous: How much of your professional time and money have you volunteered or donated to the Deep Ellum Association?

Billy MacLeod: The Deep Ellum Association is financed entirely by the Deep Ellum Foundation. They manage the Deep Ellum (PID ) Public Improvement District) and they have the keys a  vault of cash.  Barry Annino, the President of the Deep Ellum Foundation, pays himself over $30,000 to manage a public improvement district in which he owns property.  Isn’t that a trip?  Anyway, back to your question. I have contributed and volunteered dozens of my own personal and professional time and I have consulted and advocated on behalf of their small business members in front of Dallas City Council literally dozens of times. Sadly, Deep Ellum residents meet away from the association (wink) and they meet as the Deep Ellum Enrichment Project.  I have attended numerous DEEP meetings and events and I volunteer my time to help whenever I can.  I have also attended dozen of Deep Ellum Association Meetings and they were always cool because each week they were at a different small business in Deep Ellum.  I have attended some Deep Ellum Foundation Meetings but that’s a whole different deal. I have worked booths, stuffed gift bags for the Deep Ellum Art Walks and I have chalked the sidewalk for Deep Ellum Art Fest. I have raised on behalf of the attended dozens of deep uhave raised awareness  I don’t raise money for my neighborhood association.

I’ll tell you a quick story about the Deep Ellum Association/Foundation: When I dropped out of the 2007 Mayors Dave Levanthal wrote some nice thing about me in the paper. That same day then candidate Tom Leppert called me and asked to me come work on his campaign. I told him I wasn’t looking for a job and even if I was that I couldn’t take one. I didn’t want the perception that I was getting bought out of the race. I told him that I would be willing to volunteer. but I that I thought Carol Reed would never allow me anywhere near the campaign., he said he’d work on that, and I agreed that if Carol Reed personally called me and asked me to come on board the campaign in a grassroots volunteer I would listen. He thanked me and said give me a minute I’ll call you back and hung up. One minute later Carol Reed called me ’the next day we met at 8AM, and I went to work that distributing signs for the St. Paddy’s Parade the next day started working the back table at events that night. I had gotten to know Tom on the campaign trail and I genuinely liked him and one day asked for two things in return for my volunteerism .I asked him to come to The Resource Center behind Dallas City Hall and feed the homeless with me on Thanksgiving Day and I asked him to meet with the leadership from the Deep Ellum Association after elected. He agreed to both and followed through.

Mr. Anonymous: Billy, be honest what have you really done for economic development and as a follow up on what committee did you serve?

Billy MacLeod: That’s a good question and so precise. Well,  I was asked to serve on the Public Affairs Committee at the US Chinese Chamber of Commerce and  I introduced their leadership to new Tom Leppert for very the first time. I set up a meeting for the at City Hall after Tom was elected, that meeting led to another, and those meetings forged a partnership that led Tom Leppert and a City Council delegation to make a trip to China to forge other relationships. The Inland Port  will drive international trade directly through Dallas and China is the engine that will drive our city into the future. This is where my opponent and I differ. I have supported expansion of the inland port while my opponent has supported Commissioner John Wiley Price’s efforts to capitalize on the massive project, limiting the scope of the project itself and slowing it down to a crawl. I am a networker and a connector, I connect people who together can do great things. I create synergy and. I have been and advocate for Economic Growth while my opponent sat silent. She has no plan for the District. No website, no platform to speak on, no Facebook page to interact with people and get feedback, she has no Linkedin page to interactively network with influencers, she has no twitter to follow the most up to date ideas and to send her ideas out for the world to see.

That being said this election is about what I WILL DO for Dallas. This campaign about future economic development, and I have a plan where my opponent has none

Mr. Anonymous: I understand that the DISD School System has nothing to do with Dallas City Council but I have to ask you a fair question…What have you ever done for our schools? Please be specific.

Mr. MacLeod: There are no stupid question right? Personally, I have always started with my own High School and I think that is where every person should start. I graduated from WT White which is a DISD school in North Dallas. I talk to student athletes at WT White 3 or 4 times every year and I have done so since I got out of the Navy in 1993. . I always meet with my old friend legendary Baseball Coach David Shepherd and I just chill at their practices and give some input along the way.

I also joined with parents and spoke before Dallas City Council for student’s rights against a poorly conceived Daytime Curfew ordinance. I helped point parents and concerned residents in the right direction (though they has talent to begin with) on how to best fight the City Hall Monster and get the message out along the way. We rocked the Council Chambers and convinced council members to re-write the ordinance. I have marched alongside DISD high school students when they walked out of schools and marched on Dallas City Hall to protest Federal immigration law, then I called my contacts in the media and got them coverage. I have demonstrated and rallied with El Centro College students when they planned and organized a campus wide walk-out protesting cuts in education funding at the Dallas County Community. District And in recent weeks I have strongly advocated for teachers and students to protect our Magnet Schools budgets from bring cut.  All that being said Dallas City Council members have very little to do with Dallas Schools. DISD even has their own private police force. My job as a City Councilman will be to be an advocate and to raise the red flags. That is my talent.

Mr. Anonymous: What have you specifically done for crime?

Billy MacLeod: Again, thank you for the smart and fair question. To address crime you must at least openly admit that the cause of most crime is overt poverty and a lack of resources for homeless, helpless, and addicted residents of Dallas. In 2001 I started a project to help the homeless population in Downtown Dallas to find themselves and jobs with only a pen and paper. The plan was simple. I wanted to help convince and coach every homeless person in Downtown fill out a master job application. I thought if they could perfect one master job app that was true, they would remember themselves and they could make multiple copies and carry them around at all times. They could say, I am looking for work this is me. It was a great program and I got lots of great success stories.

I was also involved in the start up of a pioneering prisoner reentry program named Freedom Release Reentry Services. I served as the Community Ambassador and the Development Program Manager for this spirit driven non profit pilot program. I was entrusted with educating people in the community about the need for a holistic and effective faith based pre-release and re-entry program in Texas prisons and I was the lead all of Freedom Release’s corporate and individual fundraising campaigns. This is where I met my good friend local photographer Dylan Hollingsworth. He is a success story from a program associated with ours.

My job was to spread the word locally,  to get our founder in front of as many influencers and public officials as I could, and to raise money. I met with Jack Hammock and Gary Griffith of .Safer Dallas Better Dallas,  I met with Tom Dunning and Tom Leppert, I met with Chief Kunkle and his entire leadership team all fighting for prisoners to get the education. For months we hit the town to sell the program. Every donor wanted the cities blessing. I got a very nice letter from Tom Leppert to send to potential donors but when the city finally did get involved they took the idea, tied the program up in red tape, and passed out parts of the program to numerous different entities trying to distribute the wealth. Donors had to choose between the supporting City endorsed program or our start up…we lost that battle.

Many people don’t realize that 600 men and women hit the streets from Dallas jails every week and 400 and are back inside within a month. The term is recidivism and it is a plague in our society. We must stop the endless cycle of incarceration.  Recidivism cost our city in police manpower, it cost our county money and it creates crime.  Freedom Release was a program which taught life skills on the inside the jail cell so when they got out they would stay out. I was responsible for being the voice for the individuals that were served, students and graduates from the prison system to the community at large.

My opponent has laid silent on this very important issue for 6 years even though one of her neighborhoods, MY neighborhood, The Cedars and our zip code (75215) is the number 3 zip code in the state for prisoner reentry address’ in the entire state. When I am elected I pledge to put my focus back on creating a quality and effective prisoner reentry program in Dallas that will cut through the red tape and money grabbing and focus on the goal of reducing recidivism.

Mr. Anonymous: This may sound like a stupid question to a private citizen running for office but I just gotta ask it. What you done for travel and tourism?

Billy MacLeod: Well…I am not a travel agent and I do not have any affiliation with the tourism…that is kind of strange question bro.  I do have 5000 Facebook friends most of which are local and they each have an average of 200 friends each based on national statistics. I sell our city every day online and millions of people have access to that message. I use Twitter to move a message and those messages fly all over the country and I send out a positive message to my followers. Compared to my opponent I am a freaking PR firm for Dallas and I do that in my spare time.

Mr. Anonymous: Billy, what is your experience to market and promote neighborhoods or entertainment districts?

Billy MacLeod: I have been promoting the Dallas Entertainment areas in District 2 for 10 years, in fact, for about six years I managed and promoted my own events. District 2 needs someone with sales and marketing experience, but also someone who has actually managed a P & L and who understands the problems and pitfalls of the service industry, Dallas needs someone like me on the council to fight for samll business on the Dallas City Council. District 2 needs a leader who is both promotionally minded but who can also go out in the scene who has the ability talk to the business owners personally. The cool thing is I have done exactly that for 10 years. I have spent countless hours talking to these small business owners at their storefronts and for the most part, with very few exceptions, they all believe in their heart that City Hall does not give a rats ass about their business. I have spoken dozens of time at Dallas City Hall to fight new ordinances and unnecessary fees ant that experience working hard for the industry in front of the council will bode well for me when I am on it.

I have fought for small business owners in Deep Ellum, on Lower Greenville, and at Expo Park when the City of Dallas started using SUP ordinances started as a new source of revenue and when the poorly planned Dallas City Council smoking ordinance sent people into the streets because of  slow moving permitting for pattio’s.  I was at the City Council meetings when they delayed  votes, moved dates of hearings and failed to educate our hospitality industry on process and procedure by which to appeal decisions. I met with owners and provided them with information dates and deadlines they needed to protect themselves and. I moved the message forward. We filled the Dallas City Council Chambers may times at Dallas City Council to defend these small business’ and neighborhood from government intervention and added taxation .I spoke on their behalf against these regulation at these large gathering but also at individual hearings and assorted votes along the way. That is the way of the Council…they may come out once but we will wear them dome. I was there from the beginning to the end and I am still here, We saved many bars from being forced their doors and yes. we lost a few.  I have been an advocate for small business and for the entertainment/service industries for 10 years and I want to be a public servant. I plan to add to add to the entertainment experience of Dallas not regulate it and tax it like my opponent has.  It is time our generation to elect a Dallas City Councilman who stands up for the service industry and took our proper seat at the table. I am the entertainment candidate in this election…along with Shamrock Keith McPhail that is…He works in the business.  He’s a good guy too.

I will no longer be giving diversionary interviews to Mr. Anonymous.

Read the full story here:  http://goo.gl/j5lNX

Mrs Deborah Watkins Dallas City Secretary

Mrs. Sonya Jones, Dallas City Elections Administrator

Mr. Brian Frankin Polling Location and Election Judge Manager

Mr. Toni Pippens-Poole Dallas County Elections Administrator

Open Letter to Dallas City and County Elections Officials:

This letter is being written after conversations on Friday March 25 with Brian Franklin, Polling Location and Election Judge Manager, and Sonya Jones Dallas City Election Administrator.

I am a candidate for Dallas City Council in District 2 and this is a formal complaint in regards to the polling location and the election judge in Precinct 3007.  I am formally requesting that you move the 3007 General Election Polling location from Medrano Elementary School and immediately appoint an independent election judge for that precinct.

Precinct 3007 is (by votes cast) the third largest voting precinct in District 2. My opponent is Pauline Medrano, The polling location for 3007 is Medrano Elementary School, the Election Judge for Medrano Elementary School is Ricardo Medrano, and the Precinct Chairman for 3007 is also Ricardo Medrano. I find it highly suspect that when Mr. Medrano did finally recues himself from his election judge position, he did so in favor of a Mr. Armando Cruise, who was then recommended by Councilwoman Pauline Medrano’s office and appointed to the position.  All this smacks of nepotism and lends itself to the possibility of accusations of impropriety. Today I am asking that you take immediate action to eliminate the shadow of impropriety that this situation creates.

It gets worse. Precinct 3007 has been singled out in published news articles as one where accusations of irregularities have occurred. No less than two independent grand jury investigations are underway about this very same subject involving members of the Medrano family. A grand jury is convened as we speak in Rockwall and Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbot has called another grand jury in McKinney to investigate whether members of this same family were involved directly in voter fraud. You have the power to eliminate any and all appearances of impropriety and I am asking for immediate action on your part.

I was informed by both Brian Franklin and Sonya Jones this past Friday that it is within your purview to immediately move the polling location and also take steps to appoint an independent election judge.  This appearance of impropriety in precinct 3007 is unacceptable.  Maintaining the status quo goes against the fundamental principals of democracy and brings into question how free and fair this election can be. Therefore, I am asking that you to immediately intervene to: 1) Move the polling location to Sam Houston Elementary School or any other location in the precinct other than Medrano Elementary School and 2) Immediately take steps to appoint an independent Election Judge to oversee voting at your chosen location on election day.

Dallas voters deserve a free and fair election and only you have the authority to ensure it.

Please inform me of any decision you ultimately make.

Thank you in advance..

Respectfully,

I do not have all of the answers  which I need to make a final decision but my research showed that most cities will not allow natural gas drilling within their limits because of groundwater contamination and it seems like they have done so for very good reasons.

The possible devastation and danger to the community is not worth the short term gain of revenue.  The air, soil, water, environment, and health of residents would have to be shown free of any possible threat in order to allow natural gas drilling within city limits. If natural gas drilling could be proved to be 100% safe, I would support a measure to allow it.  Once this happened, I would pay special attention to the fine print in the contract to ensure that the city was getting the most financially beneficial arrangement.  At this time there are safer, cleaner ways to raise revenue and maintain a positive quality of life without allowing oil and gas corporations to benefit from a community resource.

When I am elected I will look forward to being in the center of the discussion listening to the experts and talking to my district, but today I have to say that I am not comfortable with allowing gas drilling within Dallas City limits.

Billy MacLeod

Dallas Stonewall Democrat Candidate Questionnaire

1.     What is your opinion of occasionally scheduling Council meetings in the evenings and/or on weekends in consideration of constituents who have 9-5 jobs on weekdays?

I am the very person you refer to in the question. I work from 8-5 and it is difficult enough getting off work when you are ill much more so when you admit you were simply participating in democracy. I have experienced the difficulty in explaining to superiors why I had to take time off. I have personally spoken at City Council meeting dozens of times.  I believe speaking at a City Council meeting is a right of all residents.  I am 100% in favor of having evening meetings, but I would not want them to be merely ceremonial watered down.

2.     What level of support would you lend to monthly or quarterly town hall meetings in the evenings and/or on weekends?

Again, I am 100% in favor of town hall meetings being scheduled monthly. Simply put, I will make it happen. I would even go one step farther suggest having impromptu meetings whenever necessary to gather, mobilize, and discuss pressing issues. This is the hallmark of local government and it is sorely lacking at Dallas City Hall. I pledge to be the most accessible candidate that district 2 has seen in a decade. Furthermore, believe in communicating with my district daily through social media. In this digital world we live in people deserve to have access to their elected officials. My opponent has no web-site, no Face book page, No Linkedin profile, and she does not use Twitter. I have no idea how this is even possible in but I will say that District 2 deserves more from an elected official than zero social media presence. She may have an open door policy but online she is closed.

3.     What is the single most important action Dallas has yet to do or do well enough to improve the quality of the air we breathe and how would you propose such action be properly funded and supported?

Our primary focus should be on the reduction of air emissions. We must increase public awareness of specific opportunities for residents and business owners to reduce emissions. The Dallas City Council needs a Dynamic Leader who can work directly with The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). We need a leader on the council who has the communications skills to convince Dallas residents that we need to make clean air choices. We must promote clean air programs and grants and when I am elected I will focus on this issue very closely and pledge to work with groups such as Air North Texas, Sustainable Skylines- Dallas and Take Care Texas to lobby for change.

As a growing area, Dallas faces many environment-related challenges. As a way to address these challenges the City of Dallas must have a vocal and dynamic leader who can clearly communicate these challenges to Dallas residents and business owners but who also has the diplomatic ability to build partnerships with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). We can improve air quality in Dallas but there is no quick fix. We need to a number of things to happen simultaneously if we are going to make any progress.

I look at the primary goal in improving air quality as implementing sustainable best practices across the board to help improve Dallas’ air quality. This cannot only be done through voluntary projects. We must seek to achieve measurable environmental benefits not simply recite political platitudes. In these situations any true leader must trust but verify while always being mindful that any effort to help should add to the vitality of the Dallas economy and the quality of life of Dallas’s citizens not subtract.

In the long term, there are some other examples of programs which I believe will yield measurable results such are the Green Taxi program, the Green Building project, the greenhouse gas strategy, focusing on renewable energy/energy efficiency outreach, the Site Assessment Visits Plus (SAV+) program, and the small off-road equipment replacement and retrofits. These programs were supposed to yield quantifiable benefits within three years but 4 years later these programs have not yet proven successful.

4.     Please provide clear examples and explanations of both appropriate as well as inappropriate applications of eminent domain by a municipality.

Appropriate application of eminent domain by a municipality is when it benefits the community as a whole.  For example, the dart rail system had the city use some of its eminent domain rights to use land to build Dart Rail.  This has helped increase the property values of homes close to a rail station and give residents a cleaner inexpensive way of traveling in the city.

Inappropriate use of eminent domain is when the city takes a portion of a homeowner’s land that has no true benefit to the community as a whole and puts undue strain on the homeowner.  For example, the city wanting to cut down 100 year old oak trees to put in a sidewalk would not benefit the community or the homeowner as much as rerouting the sidewalk or integrating the tree into the street plans.

5.     What priority should it be to the City to identify and contact the owners of stray dogs and cats to avoid the inadvertent euthanasia of a beloved pet?

As a proud parent of an SPCA adopted Chihuahua mix, Rocky, I can think of few events more devastating than finding out he had been inadvertently euthanized.  Yes, a top priority should be made to not only ensure that pets are not euthanized but also develop task committee to assist animal shelters in leveraging resources so stray cats and dogs don’t have to be euthanized in the first place.  There are several non profits which exist to rescue strays and I would work towards uniting them in efforts by creating social networking site where they can meet together and exchange information and build support.  This is just one of many ideas I have to use my city council seat as a platform to launch education, information, resource sharing, and fundraising to unite efforts on a local political, social, and business front to make our city a better place to live, work, and play.

6.     What recourse should City employees have against workplace harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression?

City employees should have immediate assistance and justice for any workplace harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.  There needs to be a zero tolerance policy.  I will be a strong supporter and advocate for prompt action when these complaints are put forth.

7.     What reasonable recipient criteria and procedural safeguards should be applied to the awarding of the Key to the City?

Keys to the city should not be given out like Mardi Gras beads.  However, my opponent and incumbent Pauline Medrano was one of the first to begin treating this award like  Halloween candy.  In 2006, she awarded the captains of club America and Chivas de Guadalajara keys to the city.  Actually, one of her staffers awarded the keys on her behalf.  There were not any reasons given for the award and the informal manner that the awarding took place encouraged other council members to start handing out keys like candy as well.  This kind of disregard for standards, criteria, or protocol is just what frustrates residents.  I want to bring back more structure and specialness to the award.  This is supposed to be one of the biggest commendations that can be bestowed on a person.  However, it has turned into one of the biggest jokes on the city.

I propose setting forth the following criteria when awarding the Key to the City: A significant economical, intellectual, or artistic contribution by a citizen or visiting guest that improves the city of Dallas in a measurable way.  The measurement could be based on financial or reputation improvement as determined by a committee designated to review and evaluate proposals for the award.  The procedural safeguards should be enforced by the committee.

8.     What specific City of Dallas LGBT Task Force’s accomplishments would influence your opinion for or against turning into a Commission?

The Anti Bullying task committee was a great success but we now need to enforce the policies they created at DISD.   Once a policy is created, there needs to be follow up in order to make it effective and I pledge to offer the dynamic leadership necessary to make better enforcement a reality.  Turning the task force into a commission is the next logical step to making sure the findings of the force are put into place and can be enforced and I will support doing so completely.  My website is perfectly clear on my stance on anti-bullying policy while my opponent has remained silent, this will continue whether I am elected or not. I will be a leader and vocal advocate for making sure the commission is not only formed but that it will also be given the resources and attention it needs to be successful.

9.     Please explain how/if the benefits of the current City of Dallas Police Department Diversity Training Program are sufficient to expand the program to include the Fire Department.

The City of Dallas Police Department Diversity Training Program is a good beginning point for diversity training and education that all city employees, including the fire department can find benefits from.  Being a public employee has special responsibilities and duties to make sure no one is discriminated against or harassed.  Public officials like city council persons have extra responsibility to act when charges of harassment or discrimination are put forward.  Unfortunately the current city council person for district 2 has little drive or action to show her commitment for seeking justice when legitimate claims are presented.  I promise to lead by example and continue to devote my time and efforts to bring light to LGBT issues and concerns.  Because the issues that concern LGBT community are issues everyone in the community should be concerned about.  If there are children being bullied, or same sex couples being discriminated against, it goes against everything previous generations have fought for in civil rights reform and just common courtesy.  I find it appalling that the cases brought to the attention of the city have gone unprosecuted.  Ignoring, delaying, or putting off addressing the incidents will only cause more incidents to occur.  I walked in the parade for Human Rights equality, supported Taste of Life, Life Walk, and other events where I made it a point to reach out and listen as well as speak with people in the community to find out what was important to them.  This issue of anti discrimination was at the top of their lists.  Diversity Training is just the first step.  Help me take the additional steps needed to improve the action of the city of Dallas and consider endorsing me for Dallas City council District 2.

10. What would the minimum regulatory restrictions need to be in order for you to vote in favor of allowing natural gas drilling within city limits?

I am torn on this issue because of our $100,000,000 budget shortfall and the potential huge revenue gain to the City of Dallas. I have closely studied the City of Pittsburg Pennsylvania who outlawed all gas drilling after years of allowing it. I am greatly troubled by what I have read about the problems with water contamination near gas wells. Admittedly I do not have all of the answers I need but my research showed that most cities will not allow natural gas drilling within their limits and it seems like they have done so for very good reasons.

The possible devastation and danger to the community is not worth the short term gain of revenue.  The air, soil, water, environment, and health of residents would have to be shown free of any possible threat in order to allow natural gas drilling within city limits. If natural gas drilling could be proved to be 100% safe, I would support a measure to allow it.  Once this happened, I would pay special attention to the fine print in the contract to ensure that the city was getting the most financially beneficial arrangement.  At this time there are safer, cleaner ways to raise revenue and maintain a positive quality of life without allowing oil and gas corporations to benefit from a community resource. When I am elected I will look forward to being in the center of the discussion listening to the experts and talking to my district, but today I have to say that I am not comfortable with allowing gas drilling within Dallas City limits.

Billy MacLeod for Dallas City Council     One of Us – Working for You