Well, the winter has now come and gone for the most part. I hope each of you enjoyed our brief snow days and are ready for the spring. There has been some real progress made in our multi-family clean up efforts during the last six months.

A new inspection code for all multi-family housing in Dallas was passed by the City Council in March. The new code really tightened the inspection regulations in the city and made it a very expensive proposition to be a slumlord in Dallas. I have worked very closely with senior city staff, Dallas Police Department personnel and officers of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas to come up with the changes.

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Every citizen of the city deserves a clean and decent place to call home. More than 60 percent of the Dallas population lives in multi-family housing. But we as homeowners also deserve to be able to enjoy our homes without fear and a loss of value in our investment because a multi-family complex owner and management team fails to keep up their property or monitor to whom they rent. Being poor is not a crime; preying on others’ conditions without concern for the laws the rest of us exist and rely on is, in my book.

Many of you will have joined me in welcoming back our beloved library by now. If you have not been in, please go and enjoy our newest Lake Highlands treasure at the southwest corner of Church and Audelia. I can say the same thing for the new Dallas Children’s Theater on Skillman just north of Northwest Highway. How fortunate we are to have captured that wonderful place for Northeast Dallas. Also, give yourself a real treat this month, and throughout the summer, by visiting the most beautiful place in town, the Dallas Arboretum.

“The Dallas Cup,” an International Youth Soccer Tournament, returns to Wildcat/Ram Stadium Easter week. Teams from all over the country and around the world have come to Dallas over the week of Easter for the past 26 years for this fantastic soccer championship. Take in a match or two this year. You will not believe the color and pageantry.

Keep the faith, dear folks. And again, thank you for allowing me the honor of representing you on the Council.