Ron Natinsky

Ron Natinsky Votes For Mike Rawlings

Photo by Patrick MichelsRawlings happily accepts Natinsky's endorsement​Patrick's at the Adolphus Hotel for the noontime showdown between David Kunkle and Mike Rawlings, their first debate since Saturday's elections results sent the two into the June runoff. But before the fireworks, or whatever, ... More >>

It's Still Very, Very Early, But Scott Griggs Has To Be Feeling Good Right About Now

Back in the day, the former Pizza Hut CEO used to refer to his stache as the "Saturday Night Special." Seems fitting in retrospect.​Back when we covered the '07 mayoral election we had a small army of writers out and about, because who doesn't like drinking at a watch party and calling it "work." ... More >>

Kunkle Also Wants to See Someone (City, DPD, DA's Office) Investigate Happy Trails Contract

Photo by Patrick MichelsPark and Rec director Paul Dyer, second from left, watches as Jake Schroepfer makes his Happy Trails presentation last Thursday at City Hall.​I've left messages and sent emails all over Dallas City Hall -- to City Manager Mary Suhm, Assistant City Manager Forest Turner (who ... More >>

Yeah, Because It'd Be Just Awful If Dallas Were More Like Chicago or Detroit

​Wilonsky just knows how to push my Yankee carpetbagger buttons. He keeps calling to jab me about the charges that Dallas mayoral candidates Ron Natinsky and Mike Rawlings are trading today, each one accusing the other of wanting to make Dallas like Chicago or Detroit. Being a native of that end o ... More >>

I Ask the Candidates: What Do You Think of People Who Keep Chickens in Their Backyards?

​Last night Wilonsky and I co-moderated the GLBT Chamber's mayoral debate forum, a rather tony affair, as these things go, at the Cityplace Conference and Event Center. It so happened the day before I had attended the "A Peep at the Coops" tour in East Dallas, so I had chickens on my mind. Confess ... More >>

Unethics Reform: Would the Author Please Stand Up? (We'll Bring the Tomatoes.)

​Oh, now the city council has decided it needs to revisit its vote weakening the ethics rules on donations to city council members. Maybe they've decided to have themselves re-virginized. We pointed out here a thing that seems to have slipped past most media eyes: The council voted two week ... More >>

Mayor Dwaine Caraway Refers to Mike Rawlings As "Payday Loan King" in New Radio Ad

Photo by Sam MertenCaraway and Natinsky at the candidate's endorsement press conference last month​Moments ago, during Robert Ashley's show on KHVN-AM, an ad ran attacking mayoral candidate Mike Rawlings and his ties to Ace Cash Express -- though it never mentions Rawlings by name. The speaker: no ... More >>

Mayoral Candidate David Kunkle Explains Why He's No Longer Fan of Verified Response After Advocating For It as Dallas Police Chief

Photo by Sam MertenDavid Kunkle​Repealing verified response quickly rose to the top of Tom Leppert's to-do list shortly after he become mayor in June 2007. The controversial program required business owners to have someone at the scene of a burglar alarm to verify that a break-in had actually ... More >>

Dallas's Mayoral Candidates Give Love to the Arts, But How Will They Fund Them?

The latest addition to the Nasher's collection. The artist calls it Platitude Adjustment.​The four candidates for Dallas mayor took the stage at the Nasher Sculpture Center last night for what had to be the most relaxing forum of campaign season: a debate on the role of arts and culture in Dallas. ... More >>

At Last Night's Debate, David Kunkle Wasn't About to Let Mike Rawlings Steal His Script

Photo by Sam MertenLeft to right: Mayoral candidates Mike Rawlings, Edward Okpa, Ron Natinsky and David Kunkle​Former Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle came out swinging at Tuesday evening's mayoral debate at the Fairmont Hotel, with most of his barbs aimed at ex-Pizza Hut CEO Mike Rawlings. Th ... More >>

Ed Okpa on the Trinity River Toll Road And Why He's Never Mentioned in The Dallas News

Edward Okpa​Since last week's piece in The News about David Kunkle, Ron Natinsky and Mike Rawlings's thoughts on the Trinity River toll road is behind the pay levee, allow me to summarize: Natinsky's still very much for it; Kunkle's ain't at all interested, and Rawlings is taking the ol' wait-n-se ... More >>

Rawlings Nabs Top Spot as Mayoral and City Council Candidates Pick Ballot Positions

Photos by Sam MertenThe selection of the top spot by mayoral candidate Mike Rawlings turned out to be anticlimactic because it was the only envelope left.​City Secretary Deborah Watkins and her staff oversaw the selection of ballot positions this morning in the Flag Room at City Hall, as mayor ... More >>

Mayor Dwaine Caraway's Records and Tapes Are Private? Not By a Long, Smelly Shot.

​Yesterday a commenter wrote in to Unfair Park in reference to an item about Dallas Mayor Dwaine Caraway and the legal action he has brought against his own city to prevent the release of an embarrassing police tape. The commenter said, "It's hard to imagine the tape shows anything other than ... More >>

What Qualifies As "a Relatively Small Public Investment"? Let's Take a Look Downtown.

400 N. Akard​This morning, the council's Economic Development Committee will take up whether or not to give Dean Foods a $250,000 economic development grant (and $1,673,964 in tax abatements) for that new factory in the southern sector, which Ron Natinsky mentioned last week.At the same time, the ... More >>

Carol Reed Dodges Tom Leppert's DOMA Tweet, Predicts Runoff Between Leppert and David Dewhurst and Defends John Wiley Price

Photos by Sam MertenCarol Reed​Political consultant Carol Reed answered questions about the battle for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Dallas mayor's race, the 2012 Republican presidential primary and an assortment of local and state issues last night at a meet ... More >>

Trifecta of Dallas Mayoral Candidates Offers Little Substance at First Forum

Photos by Sam MertenThe three announced mayoral candidates -- Ron Natinsky, Mike Rawlings and David Kunkle -- squared off for the first time last night in North Oak Cliff.​Although he typically exhibits a dry temperament, former Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle nabbed some much-needed laughs f ... More >>

Natinsky Gets Dallas Police Association Nod

Peter CalvinGlenn White​It's probably not the most surprising press release of the week: "Dallas Police Association PAC Unanimously Votes to Support Ron Natinsky For Dallas Mayor." After all, as we noted way back in September 2004 -- two months into David Kunkle's tenure as Dallas Police Departmen ... More >>

Sandy Greyson "Seriously Considering" Running For Her Old Far North Dallas Council Seat

Photo by Sam MertenSandy Greyson (far left) and Angela Hunt debate Tom Leppert and Veletta Forsythe Lill at Rosemont Primary School in September 2007.​In yesterday's item about the District 14 candidates, we mentioned how strange it is that three-term incumbent Angela Hunt has drawn four oppo ... More >>

Dwaine Caraway Says He's Quite Ready to Take Over as Mayor If Tom Leppert Resigns

Photo by Sam MertenTom Leppert, Ron Natinsky and Dwaine Caraway​The probability that Mayor Tom Leppert finishes his term before launching a U.S. Senate campaign is about the same as Jerry Jones relinquishing his role as general manager. In other words, it ain't happening. Clearly, Leppert want ... More >>

Seems Like Old Times, as Pete Schenkel Signs On as Natinsky's Mayoral Campaign Treasurer

​I've already seen council member Ron Natinsky's for-mayor website -- though, at the moment, it's little more than an under-construction placeholder. But says here that on Thursday, he filed with the City Secretary's Office his official paperwork naming his campaign finance treasurer, which makes ... More >>

It's a diary of a mad year as Buzz recalls a P.O.'d 2010.

So, You Want to Know Who's Paying for The Mayor's European Vacation? Well, Then ...

Remember when I said you'd never see this picture again? Apparently, I was wrong.​Right about now, Mayor Tom Leppert, council member Ron Natinsky, state Rep. Rafael Anchia, Office of Economic Development head Karl Zavikovsky and a few other folks on the Dallas trade mission to Europe are probably ... More >>

Some Days You Gotta Sit Through Council Meetings. Some Days You Go To France, Spain.

Last November, Mayor Tom and the missus went to Korea. This fall: Europe. I formally announce my candidacy for Dallas mayor.​I hope you don't need a face-to-face with Mayor Tom Leppert, council member Ron Natinsky, state Rep. Rafael Anchia or Karl Zavikovsky, head of the Office of Economic Develop ... More >>

The More Things Change: Yesterday's Council Walkout Brings Back Fond (?) Memories

​Fine print alert! When Mayor Tom Leppert tells you that yesterday's agenda item vote on the city tax rate didn't mean anything, he's got his hand deep in your pocket. It may be fine print, but ask Leppert why the vote was required by state law if it didn't mean anything. Yesterday's council walko ... More >>

Mayor Leppert Just Stopped Checking His E-Mail to Chime In on the Love Field Concessions

Sam MertenMayor Leppert, five minutes into the presentation.​Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano began this afternoon's Love Field Concession Committee meeting by letting folks know why the committee was formed -- to clear up "perception issues reported by the newspaper" -- and what the groun ... More >>

Dallas Public Libraries Finally Getting Into the Digital Download Bidness This Month

​So says a memo from Assistant City Manager Forest Tucker to the city council sent last night: On May 11, the Dallas Public Library will go into OverDrive, the Cleveland, Ohio-based company that builds Web sites for libraries and allows users 24/7 download access to, so far, about 100,000 audioboo ... More >>

Public Safety Committee Shuns Preservationists, Approves New Historic Demolition Ordinance

Sam MertenYup, Dwaine. This briefing was way over the collective heads of your committee.​Baffled and outraged preservationists quietly vacated Monday afternoon's Public Safety Committee meeting after the city council committee voted unanimously to adopt a new historic building demolition ordi ... More >>

Dallas May Get Soaked by Soaring Insurance Premiums if the City Keeps Dawdling on Fixing the Levees

Natinsky Suggested Closing Main Street to Cars. To Which One Man Says, "Unh-Unh."

This framed picture of downtown Dallas in 1945 is actually available for purchase on eBay -- right now, for the low, low price of $7.​Rudy Bush directs our attention back to the musings of Patrick "Car Free" Kennedy, whose "perfectly happy workout" we interrupted on Monday when Kim returned from D ... More >>

Leppert: Asian Trip "Will Translate into Economic Investment, More Jobs in Dallas"

Chris Heinbaugh/Office of the MayorPretty sure the woman at the far right is Linda Kao, the SMU Cox School of Business Assistant Dean of Global Programs and daughter of Buck Kao. Which reminds me: Royal China for dinner.​Mayor Tom Leppert and council member Ron Natinsky are wrapping up their trade ... More >>

On a Trade Mission to China, Mayor Tom Leppert Takes "the Correct Approach"

Chris Heinbaugh/Office of the MayorMayor Tom, somewhere behind a protective mask, tours a wind-turbine blade-making plant in China. Naw, you'll never see this photo again on Unfair Park. Can't imagine.​Mayor Tom Leppert, council member Ron Natinsky, Economic Development honcho Karl Zavitkovsky and ... More >>

If You Think Ethics Reform at City Hall Was All Mayor Tom's Idea, Pass That Pipe, Willya?

Patrick Michels​In an editorial today The Dallas Morning News gives all the credit for better ethics at City Hall to Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert because, "In the end, Tom Leppert didn't blink." They must have sent a greenhorn over to cover the city council's straw vote on ethics reform last week. An ... More >>

You Are Aware the City Council Is Likely to Increase Your Atmos Energy Bill, Right?

​Just when the budget process couldn't get more interesting ...Yesterday we noted that some on the council, and City Manager Mary Suhm, have pointed out that at the end of the year, the city's franchise fee contract with Atmos Energy is set to expire. Suhm notes, on Page 24 of today's budget amend ... More >>

See, That Wasn't So Hard: Council Committee Comes Up With Parking Boot Ordinance

​After months of discussion and debate and occasionally contentious meetings with parking lot operators and downtown business owners, the members of the city council's Transportation and Environment Committee appeared today more than ready to bring to a close the saga of the parking boot. And so, ... More >>

Council Doesn't Want to Raise Taxes, Cut Key Services to Trim Budget. Good Luck With That.

Sam MertenThe city's budget is $190 million in the hole because of "revenue erosion," according to CFO Dave Cook.The Dallas City Council yesterday afternoon wrapped up a lengthy discussion on how best to tackle the city's $190-million budget deficit by agreeing that a tax increase and making cuts to ... More >>

Leppert Pokes Holes in Charter Amendment, Responds to Anti-Hotel Group's Ads and Much, Much More From the Campaign Trail

Sam MertenMayor Tom Leppert made two stops on his tireless convention center hotel campaign tour Tuesday as he dropped by for "coffee and conversation" with the Dallas County Council of Republican Women shortly before squaring off with anti-hotel group leader Anne Raymond at the Westin Galleria. Le ... More >>

Old Red Bird Mall's About to Get a Fresh Look from the Urban Land Institute

View Larger MapMoments ago, the Dallas City Council approved spending $120,000 in economic development grant money so the Urban Land Institute can "assess redevelopment options" at Southwest Center Mall. As we noted earlier this week, the council's Economic Development Committee took a peek at the p ... More >>

Surrounding Development Sold As "Key Component" to Convention Center Hotel Project, But What Do We Know About It?

We know we're getting this. But what else?When the Dallas City Council started the process of selecting a site for the convention center hotel in August 2007, it was stressed that the location "foster economic development in the downtown core through retail and entertainment establishments." Sure, ... More >>

Look Out, Maker of Black & Mild Cigars -- Dwaine Caraway's Coming For You

The city council won't take up Dwaine Caraway's proposal to outlaw single-cigar sales in the city of Dallas today. But if you think this is the end of it, you're dead wrong. Caraway vowed today during the council's meeting to take the issue to "Mr. Obama, to Ms. Hutchison, to whoever it takes." Inde ... More >>

Hey, Look, They've Already Built the Convention Center Hotel -- In Miniature!

When It Comes to the City's Budget, Mitchell Rasansky's More Than a Little "Disappointed" in Mayor Tom

Mayor's Pro-Hotel Group to Make Its Bow Tomorrow at City Hall

Kicking a Dead Horse: Just Why's the City Council Trying to Save Reunion Arena, Anyway?

Everyone Knows That Hotel's a "Risk." Which Ain't Stopping Anyone.

Fairfield and Square: We're 'Bout Done Here, More or Less

Headache Hotel and Other Dallas City Council SUPs and WTFs

Look, You Don't Need to Know Jack Squat About the Convention Center Hotel, K?

Tom Leppert: Predictable and Classy

Expenses Sure are Expensive

Port of Call