Now that school has started again I would like to express a deep concern of mine. We have all read about the problems Plano faced with drugs over the past year with some major arrests made this summer. I am very pleased that Plano was able to make these arrests and I hope it will have a dramatic effect on the drug usage among school-age children.
My concern is that we need to be more aware than ever that we are just as much at risk in our neighborhood as Plano. We could actually be more at risk because drug trafficking does not seem to go away, but just moves around. Drug traffickers have taken a hit in Plano but I fear they will move to another neighborhood. I do not want them to think that ours would be a good alternative.
As we listened to the stories of the kids who were sucked into drug usage in Plano, the same theme kept playing over and over: Parents suspected but did not pursue. The way we can keep drugs out is by being good parents. Nosy parents.
We started this school year with Chief Ben Click and a number of his officers representing gang enforcement, drug enforcement, as well as other areas to come and talk with the faculty of the high school about what to look for and be alert for. But we have the opportunity to see and talk with our kids more than anyone. We have a great neighborhood and the hardest-working people in the City. We wonÕt have it any other way.
I will not be sad to say good-bye to this summer. It has definitely been a hot one, but so far the City of Dallas has performed very well with making sure our water needs have been met. They say you cannot build a church for Easter Sunday, but when it comes to our water system we are fortunate to have a system made for the extreme conditions of drought.
Our City was faced with drought conditions in the Õ50s and did face serious shortages. We can thank City Councils after that time for making sure that our system would perform better in the future.
The City of Dallas will continue this with another $140 million planned in water system enhancements and rehabilitation over the next three years. We hope that these continued upgrades can be achieved without increases in water rates but if not we must continue to make this investment.
We may have another drought next year or maybe not for many years, but we do not want to face an inability to service the citizens of Dallas with water.
City Councilman Alan Walne represents District 10, which includes Lake Highlands. To reach him, call 214-670-4068.
