Scott Griggs

Dallas Really Doesn't Care About City Government and Other Takeaways From Saturday's City Council Election

There was a City Council election on Saturday and, if you're like the vast majority of Dallas, you didn't notice. But whether you were paying attention or not, some important things were decided and some interesting trends emerged. Here's what you need to know: Angela Hunt's legacy: Saturday's mos ... More >>

City Council Likely to Pass Gay Marriage Resolution, and Mayor Rawlings Isn't Happy

The Dallas Voice broke the news Tuesday that Councilman Scott Griggs had won the support from a majority of his colleagues for a resolution supporting marriage equality and would be putting the item on the City Council agenda for a vote. "It's timely, and it's relevant," Griggs later told the Morni ... More >>

Angela Hunt and Scott Griggs Want a Vote On Trinity East Drillsites in 30 Days

Before term limits and elections change the complexion of the Dallas City Council in unknowable ways, Scott Griggs and Angela Hunt want an up-or-down vote on proposed natural gas wells along the Trinity River. Last month, the Dallas Plan Commission voted down the permits for drilling outfit Trinity ... More >>

Dallas Will Ask the State for $7 Million to Fund Cycling Infrastructure and Education

A couple of weeks back, we stumbled upon the city's campaign to educate drivers about its new cyclist-protection ordinance. It consisted of a single, poorly designed brochure posted to the Dallas Police Department's website that was more concerned with admonishing cyclists to behave than anything el ... More >>

Scott Griggs on Drilling: There Was "Systemic Failure," and No One Asked "Tough Questions"

On Wednesday, we watched together as the Dallas City Council sort of, kind of, attempted to ask City Manager Mary Suhm and City Attorney Tom Perkins a couple of questions. Namely: Why did Suhm quietly sign a side deal with energy company Trinity East, pledging to help it drill on parkland even as se ... More >>

Mary Suhm Signed a Secret Side Deal to Push for Drilling on Parkland as She Told Council It Would Be Banned

Documents released yesterday evening by the city reveal that Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm signed a side deal with a gas-drilling company five years ago to help the company win drilling rights on city parkland, even though she had assured the City Council and park board that drilling on parkland wou ... More >>

Missing Money at the Landfill is Just Part of the Trashy Way City Hall Handles Your Money

Hey, before the moment passes, let's make sure we know exactly what was at stake in Scott Griggs' remarks about the dump last Monday morning. City Council member Griggs called out city staff on the question of exactly how much money really gets stolen every year by city employees at the landfill. S ... More >>

The Lies Keep Rollin' on the Trinity River Toll Road

While I was away on vacation The Dallas Morning News published an editorial saying Angela Hunt, Scott Griggs and Sandy Greyson, our three brainiacs on the City Council, are stupid, don't know how to add and came up with all the wrong conclusions about the News' favorite project, the idea of building ... More >>

On the Trail of a Greener City, Hope Lives

Years ago. How many? I don't know. When was the time before the time we started fighting about the Trinity River toll road? Was there such a time? I first talked to City Council member Angela Hunt about the Trinity River before the Trinity River was a brawl. So it had to be 2005. She had just been ... More >>

Hunt, Griggs Announce $6 Million Network of Hike and Bike Trails Between the Trinity Levees

Last June, Angela Hunt and Scott Griggs went to the Trinity River Overlook and gazed down at the empty floodplain below. Wouldn't it be nice, they thought, if there was a network of trails down there that came up and over the levee and connected with all of Dallas' other trails. It was a thought, b ... More >>

Even Land John Wiley Price Sold is Controversial, at Least for Neighbors and City Council

View Larger Map Remember a few weeks ago when the FBI said that John Wiley Price had sold the vacant land 7001 Grady Niblo Road as part of a massive money laundering scheme? The property was at the center of another, less sensational but probably related debate over at City Hall this afternoon. Co ... More >>

The Power of Lobbying: Trinity Levees Are Unsafe SUPER Safe, the Corps Says Now

OK, wait, wait, before we start the party, can I ask a couple questions? Could we maybe just try to put ourselves in a global context first? In July, 2011, the city of Copenhagen was ravaged by the worst flood in recorded history, rated by scientists as a "1,000-year" flood, meaning it could be ex ... More >>

TxDOT Calls BS on its Own Figures Showing Benefits of Project Pegasus

Last week, when Mayor Mike Rawlings announced he had hedged his support for the Trinity toll road after receiving additional data, it seemed like a victory for City Council members Scott Griggs, Angela Hunt, and Sandy Greyson, the project's opponents. The figures Griggs rustled up from the Texas De ... More >>

Trinity Toll Road Decision Could Have Dire Consequences? Like What? Stoning?

Dallas is a weird little speed-trap town in its own way. I often wonder what visitors think. What they need to think is, "I've got to be really careful and keep my mouth shut until I get out of this burg safely." These musings come to me after reading a dire little piece in today's daily newspaper ... More >>

The Bogus 'Detour' Argument for the Trinity Toll Road is Finally Dead

Wait. Click the pause button. Freeze this. There's a huge point here that some people do not want us to notice. In the last 24 hours, the entire debate about the Trinity River toll road has completely shifted ground. I was just now on the phone about it with City Council member Scott Griggs. He poi ... More >>

The Trinity River Toll Road is Now an (Almost) Unstoppable Force

With Mayor Mike Rawlings' support, only deep pockets can thwart the $2 billion river-ride.

Scott Griggs Thinks The City's Being "A Little Misleading" About Its Power to Regulate Boarding Homes

Immediately after Mayor Mike's extremely non-surprising show of support for the Trinity River toll road yesterday, the city council members retreated into executive session to continue talking about how to regulate the city's boarding homes . After more than an hour off-camera, they came back and ... More >>

The Ongoing and (Slow-Moving) Fight to Regulate Boarding Homes in Dallas

The city of Dallas has been grappling for years with how to better regulate boarding homes for the elderly, mentally ill and disabled , which are currently subject to very little oversight. About three weeks ago, the city council's housing committee was told that licensing and regulating the homes c ... More >>

Texas and OU, Count Your Money: The Cotton Bowl's $25 Million Facelift is a Lock

The backdrop, the pageantry, the Fried Everything: There are plenty of reasons the folks at Texas and Oklahoma wouldn't mind keeping the schools' annual rivalry at the Cotton Bowl. But these are college football guys we're talking about, so you can't underestimate the Big R. The schools split $10 ... More >>

The Call for Tighter Fracking Regulations in Dallas Got a Little Louder Last Night

Councilman Scott Griggs kicked off last night's festival of shared discontent over the possibility of drilling in Dallas under the ordinance changes recommended by the drilling task force. Two city drilling task force members, a former member of the Fort Worth drilling task force, members of environ ... More >>

The Anti-Drilling Set And City Councilman Scott Griggs Will Discuss The Future of Drilling

The city of Dallas has a bit of an issue with gas, one that anti-drilling activists call potentially silent but deadly and hydraulic fracturing proponents call a huge economic relief for the city -- one that would provide an whopping amount of energy. The issue seemed to briefly and temporarily subs ... More >>

Thar She Blows: A Great Idea Rises at City Hall. Fetch the Harpoons.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. A huge idea turned up at City Hall yesterday. Huge. This is like a Blue whale beaching itself on the banks of the Trinity River. I'm afraid City Hall is going to send a crew out there and chop it into cat-food. We need to stop and take a big look at this ... More >>

Assistant City Manager Answers Scott Griggs's Questions About Saving, Selling City's Water

​A couple of weeks back, during those water conservation and watering restriction briefings, council member Scott Griggs had a few questions for Dallas Water Utilities Director Jody Puckett that she wasn't prepared to answer, among them: Is the city presently selling water to gas drillers, and, be ... More >>

Drink In the City Council's Discussion on Conserving (And Selling) Dallas's Water Supply

I was in the middle of watching the city council briefings on water conservation and the Stage 1 watering restrictions yesterday when I got pulled away -- and just when it was getting interesting too. So this morning I started going back to review the tape, beginning just as Sandy Greys ... More >>

Race to the Finish: After Ugly Redistricting Meeting, Council (Barely) Settles on Map

​Yesterday afternoon, around 5:30, as a tiny audience sat in the city council chambers, former Mayor Dwaine Caraway came by and declared to Unfair Park, "I think we got something." That's right. A final redistricting map. Finally.Caraway spoke about three hours too soon, though. Last night at 8:30 ... More >>

All The Sound and The Fury From Yesterday's City Council Debate Over Redistricting

Below, Anna told you all about how fugly it got 'round the horseshoe Wednesday afternoon and evening before the council finally voted, 9-6, to send a new map of districts to the Department of Justice. But many have asked to see the whole debate -- or, at least, what happened after Mayor Mike Rawling ... More >>

Tune In Now For Today's Redistricting Fight

​Anna, of course, is at today's council briefing, where, Mayor Mike just said, they're going to spend the next 90 minutes or so fighting over the three council-submitted redistricting maps. She'll recap later today -- the mayor said they oughta wrap the chat at 11:30, though it could go longer. Bu ... More >>

M.I.A.: Angela Hunt Goes With the Flow, and Jim Schutze Vows a Rescue

Angela, I was there. I saw everything. I know what they're doing. I am on my way. One way or another, I will get there, and I will exert myself and do whatever it takes to rescue your husband, even if it means waking up the next morning with extreme muscle soreness. I will not let them get away with ... More >>

Council Members Wrestle Over Park Clean-Up, Pothole Fixing and Cleaning Up After TxDOT

Scott Griggs and Jerry Allen at this morning's meeting​A little after 9 this morning, the city council just took up those budget amendments we mentioned Saturday morning. First up was the slam dunk: the en masse suggestion, led by Mayor Mike Rawlings, to eliminate one more city-worker furlough day ... More >>

This Week in Council Memos: Members' Budget Wish Lists, Flow Control and Looking Ahead

​Those in need of a little light reading this Saturday morning will find on the other side the stack of heads-ups sent to the city council last night, the highlight of which will probably the proposed budget amendments offered by council members before Monday morning's briefing and straw vote. And ... More >>

As Council Was to Take Up L.B. Houston Gas Drilling, It Retreated Behind Closed Doors

From today's council agenda​Council just wrapped discussing that police helicopter sale; Sandy Greyson, concerned about terrorist what-ifs, wanted it pulled from the consent agenda for further discussion, but the sale sailed through. This item's about something a little further down the agenda. As ... More >>

Well, At Least One Council Member's Ditching the Mayor's Dinner Tomorrow Night

Photo by Patrick Michels​Still having a hard time figuring how Mayor Mike or his staff could schedule a dinner with the council tomorrow night -- the same night as one of only two gas drilling task force public hearings. A couple of council reps think it's important enough to mention to their cons ... More >>

Angela Hunt Is "Pleased" With Make-Up of Council's Ad Hoc Gas Drilling Task Force

​Yesterday Leslie recounted the Dallas City Council's vote on the membership of the ad hoc gas drilling task force -- during which rookie Scott Griggs's attempt to add Mountain Creek resident Ed Meyer to the roster was met with a deafening silence. Angela Hunt has posted to her website her thought ... More >>

Scott Griggs's Request for Change in Drilling Task Force Make-Up Falls on Deaf Ears

Photos by Leslie MinoraMayor Mike Rawlings and city council members pose for a photo op after their first meeting.​The post-inauguration celebration didn't last long, as Mayor Mike Rawlings and city council members new and old got straight to work at a 2 p.m. meeting. After a few housekeeping ... More >>

Gas Drilling Committee Trims List of Task Force Applicants to Nine Slated For Council Vote

Photo by Leslie MinoraLinda Koop, seated next to outgoing council member Dave Neumann, chaired yesterday's meeting.​After postponing last Thursday's meeting so council members could ride in the Dallas Mavericks' parade through downtown, the city council's Ad Hoc Gas Drilling Task Force Nominating ... More >>

Scott Griggs Makes His Debut at City Hall to Ask for Delay on Stevens Park Conservation District

Dave Neumann has some advice for you, Scott Griggs.​For as long as anyone can recall -- at least six years, right? -- there's been an attempt to create a Stevens Park Conservation District intended to preserve the neighborhood around the Oak Cliff golf course. Most of the homeowners in the area ar ... More >>

Behold: A Trinity River Park Plan That Actually Makes Sense

How do you actually make an impact on the Trinity River? Make it small, cheap and fast.

Mayor Caraway to Push Back Vote on Gas Drilling Task Force Till Griggs Is Sworn In

Photo by Patrick Michels​Patrick's heading down to City Hall shortly -- not just for the noon-thirty all-star press conference on the plaza, during which the mayor and police chief and council members will fill in every last blank concerning Thursday's 10 a.m. Mavs parade, but for today's meeting ... More >>

Griggs Begs Council to Hold Off On Picking Gas Drilling Task Force Till He's in Office

Photo by Sam MertenDave Neumman was ousted by Scott Griggs, who can't fathom why Neumann's involved in selecting the gas drilling task force. Good question.​The city council's last big day before going on summer vacation is June 22, when the agenda will be action-packed. On the hefty to-do list: v ... More >>

Scott Griggs Ousts Dave Neumann

From Jason Roberts's Facebook pageMoments ago, Still-Mayor Dwaine Caraway mazel-tov'ed Scott Griggs on taking District 3.​It was awful hard to hear Scott Griggs over the phone from the watch party that turned into a victory party. But with all but four out of 56 precincts reporting in from Distric ... More >>

Kunkle and Rawlings Say That As Mayor, They'd Push for Gas Drilling Moratorium

Photos by Patrick MichelsDistrict 3 City Council candidates Dave Neumann and Scott Griggs joined all four mayoral candidates in a forum with Mountain Creek neighbors last night at Harmony School of Nature and Athletics.At a campaign forum in far western Oak Cliff's Mountain Creek neighborhood last n ... More >>

Not Even The News Can Endorse Neumann

​The Dallas Morning News has just endorsed attorney Scott Griggs over incumbent District 3 council member Dave Neumann in the May election. If Neumann were a high school quarterback, this would be like his parents going across the field and cheering for the other team. Switching metaphors, for yea ... More >>

Natural Gas Drilling Continues to Define Council Battle Between Dave Neumann and Scott Griggs

Photo by Sam MertenDave Neumann (left) and Scott Griggs (right) at their first debate in late February.​From the beginning of last night's forum at the Avalon at Kessler Park, questions from the crowd of nearly 100 District 3 residents focused squarely on natural gas drilling and incumbent cit ... More >>

Neumann and Griggs Clash Over Gas Drilling, Walmart, Cliff Manor and Trinity Toll Road

Photos by Sam MertenTwo-term incumbent city council member Dave Neumann and political newbie Scott Griggs at last night's debate in North Oak Cliff.​Following the mayoral forum held last night at Methodist Hospital's Hitt Auditorium, District 3 city council candidate Scott Griggs and incumbent ... More >>

Ron Natinsky is the Chosen One? What's Our Second Choice, Then?

In the Shadow of Cliff Manor, Scott Griggs Formally Announces His City Council Run

Patrick MichelsScott Griggs announces his run at Dave Neumann's city council seat, with Cliff Manor in the background. Last week, Robert passed along the news that omnipresent North Oak Cliff lawyer and activist Scott Griggs would be stepping up to challenge Dave Neumann for his city council seat in ... More >>

DHA's Decision to Move On-Site Services Out of Cliff Manor Sparks Fresh Concerns

​Last week, the Dallas Housing Authority presented 17 people, once homeless, with a new place to stay in Cliff Manor despite earlier assurances that it would hold off till a task force figured out how to ease their transition into the neighborhood. The mayor has said he hopes to use the ruckus ove ... More >>

Tonight at City Hall, the Public Debut of the High-Concept Dramedy Riverfront Boulevard

From the April 20 council briefing titled "Riverfront Boulevard Design From Continental Avenue to Cadiz Street"​Several weeks ago we directed your attention to plans that would turn IndustrialRiverfront Boulevard into a so-called "complete street." Two days later, Bike Friendly Oak Cliff called bu ... More >>

Why's City Messing with Farmers Markets When There Ain't Many to Begin With?

​On Monday, Daniel went to the council's Transportation and Environment Committee meeting where council members couldn't agree on how to regulate neighborhood farmers markets -- as in, how much it ought to cost, how many permits vendors would need and how many other roadblocks City Hall could thro ... More >>

In West Dallas Yesterday, Yet Another Argument Over How the City Remakes Itself

Rebecca Dugger, director of the Trinity River Corridor Project, was out and about on Thursday afternoon, selling the citizens on the need to redo the N. Beckley Avenue-W. Commerce Street intersection. But Belmont Hotel owner and developer Monte Anderson wasn't buying."I'd rather have nothing," he sa ... More >>