Things kicked off with the prayin' and the pledgin', as they do, after which came the public comment portion of the morning. First up was a representative from the Local 100 sanitation workers' union, who begged them to authorize a living wage for workers who do a pretty gross job in all kinds of weather: "I feel that the service that these guys are doing behind that truck is very, very valuable." Current pay is $8.88, which he noted is well below a living wage for a family of four.
But most people here to speak are coming out in favor of the tax increase -- Dallas Area Interfaith representatives are very visible, as well as two homeowners who said that despite their own economic hardships ('twas a widow and a woman working two part-time jobs), they're prepared to pay higher taxes to keep libraries and other public services open. The arts community is here with a strong showing, as usual, to support the tax increase, making up most of the chamber's left side. One rep: "Our local artists are starving artists, and they're dedicated to the city."
The director of a Latino theater company asked for funding from the tax
increase for small arts groups, as well as large ones. With the
projected skyrocketing of the Hispanic population in Dallas, he said the
city would need more than just one Latino theater company -- in fact,
we'll need several. But groups like his need help from the city to stay
alive.
And then came the white property- and
business-owner to the microphone, and Mayor Leppert looked dreamily at
his ally, and you could see the warm fuzzies welling up inside him and
you just knew in his heart he was all, "I know! I am saying!" But there
was just one lone clap echoing out from the back of the room after he
spoke, because this tax increase is happening, y'all, sweet goodness just give it up.
Oh,
but it wouldn't be given up -- there may be more anti-tax folks here than
it seems. Two women spoke to complain about government waste and
keeping taxes low, with one particularly concerned about wasteful money
going to fund programs like The Bridge, which she felt gave out
unnecessary medications to its residents.
But the pro-tax group
rallied back with a loud and long-running speech from an older gentleman
in an extremely fun fedora, who shouted over the red blinking light
signaling his time was up: "You don't have to back down! You don't have
to back down!" he said, addressing, the eight council members voting to
raise taxes.
