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Connecting You With City Information, News, and Resources
Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn

Mayor Eric Johnson has announced appointments to city council committees. Most work on the city council is done through committees. I am honored to serve on:

Current Council appointments:
*Chairman, Government Performance and Financial Management
*Chairman, Ethics and Investigations Ad Hoc
*Vice Chairman, Public Safety
*Housing and Homeless Solutions
*Transportation
*COVID-19 Ad Hoc
*Legislative Ad Hoc
*Regional Transportation Council

Other city-related appointments/elected positions:
*National League of Cities Youth, Education, and Families Council
*Board of Directors, National League of Cities Women in Municipal Government
Happy Summer!

The July heat is here and city council is on recess for the month. Council meetings will resume in August and the first big item to tackle is the next fiscal budget. The City Manager presents a draft budget, council members share information and seek input. Reducing the property tax rate, funding and staffing for public safety, and investments in infrastructure (streets, traffic signals, etc...), maintaining city assets, and assuring the availability of effective homeless services are my top priorities. Virtual and in-person meetings for District 12 residents are scheduled and I hope you'll participate and share your budget priorities. Additionally, there are topic-specific town hall meetings scheduled to address homelessness/panhandling, storm water, and a DART meeting that is being rescheduled.

The progress of DART's Cotton Belt/Silver Line and the status of poker rooms in Collin County are two big issues that are specific to District 12 that need an extensive update. The updates will be combined in a special edition enews, which will be sent Saturday night.

Accessory Dwelling Units, Short-Term Rentals, removal of parking minimums, and panhandling are all policy discussions coming soon to the city council. I invite you to stay engaged on these important issues.

In addition to the District 12 meetings listed below, there are other opportunities to make your voice heard and serve the residents of Dallas. Please participate in the surveys below and consider applying for an appointment to a board or commission (more info below).

Stay safe, Cara Mendelsohn

PS- as COVID-19 cases rise again, please encourage anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to do so and continue using common sense and good hygiene practices.
Vehicle Crashes in D12
If you've driven through an intersection and thought, "Wow, there are a lot of accidents here," you may be right. Here is a district map of top intersections for vehicle crashes.

You can see the most are along the tollway. The City of Dallas has submitted and won funding to redesign the NW intersection at Frankford to improve safety and traffic flow.

On Midway, you can see the darkest circles are at Frankford and PGBT. All along Midway, the City of Dallas is installing additional street lights, has just added 5 new signs, additional road markings are being added, and Oncor has agreed to add reflective tape to their poles. Many thanks to Betty Oliver, Regency Park HOA president, for her help in identifying solutions with the transportation department.

The darkest circles are at Frankford and Coit and PGBT and Coit. Both intersections have been approved for upgraded traffic signal controllers and traffic heads.

More than anything, the easiest way to reduce accidents is to slow down and be courteous.
District 12 Virtual Town Halls
Join the D12 Virtual Town Halls. If you've already signed up for a previous town hall, we'll automatically send you the link around 5 pm the day of the event. If you haven't signed up yet, register here so you'll receive the link:

We've scheduled budget town halls in person, virtually, and by tele-townhall. Come share your priorities for next year, including the tax rate and how tax dollars should be spent on funding public safety, street and traffic signal maintenance, alley and sidewalk repair, parks and libraries, panhandling and homeless services, sanitation services, etc... It's your time to speak up!
Dallas Animal Services
District 12 is lucky to have the Dallas Animal Services Everyday Adoption Center within Petsmart at Coit and Campbell. It's a satellite location for the main shelter near downtown. Dallas Animal Services is sheltering more dogs than they've had in 3 years, and adoptions are FREE. They also have lots of kittens and cats! If you aren't ready to commit to adopting, they also have fostering programs, and right now they're especially looking for folks to take in kittens. You can view the animals available for adoption on their website www.Dallas90.org or go to the Petsmart location (limited hours/call before you go) to meet the animals sheltered there.
The FIRST <official> EVENT at Hillcrest Village Green Park!
Congratulations to the Be the Difference Foundation for the Wheel to Survive event recently held at Hillcrest Village Green Park! The event raised awareness and funds to Be the Difference in the fight against Ovarian Cancer. The foundation was formed by 4 ovarian cancer survivors, including District 12 residents Julie Shrell and Jill Bach, who experienced first hand the services needed but not available. You can learn more about the non-profit at www.bethedifferencefoundation.org. (side note: they have another event being planned on City Hall Plaza in September)

If your organization would like to reserve space at Hillcrest Village Green Park, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department ir visit www.dallasparks.org.
Attention Parents of Teen Drivers!
There is nothing scarier than seeing your teen driver pull away for the first time! Help prepare your teen before they drive or make sure your new driver learns these important safety lessons so they can make safe decisions. CAR CRASHES ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR TEENS! Please share this online event with other parents and teens. The session was developed and is coordinated by City of Dallas Municipal Judge Julie Clancy.
Campbell Green Recreation Center & Park
Plans are underway to improve Campbell Green Park and Recreation Center! We've got tree plantings, five new shade coverings, repaving the tennis courts, and new pickleball courts in the works.

The Recreation Center building is one of the smallest in the city. It is dark, outdated, and not meeting the needs of the community. When camps open, they fill in one day. Families that would like to sign up their children for after-school care find it is full. There is limited space for activities and meetings. The exercise area is small and cramped with outdated equipment. And both the men's and women's bathrooms have facilities that are not in working order and need to be updated. Even the entrance is best described as, "not welcoming."

So far, Park and Recreation Department staff, Lane Conner, District 12 Park Board member, and I have been learning about what is possible in expanding and remodeling the building to better meet resident needs. Below are photos of the exercise room, the original plans for the building, and a moment of laughter from our meeting. So what would you like to see? Please share your interest in what should be improved with the poll below.
What amenities you would like to see at Campbell Green Recreation Center?
Additional meeting and program space
Enhanced exercise facility
Additional programming for youth
Additional programming for seniors
Improved bathrooms
Indoor Pool
Welcoming entrance
None - leave it as it is!
District 12 - Resident Spotlight!
Local Hero! Nobody better to have behind you in a grocery store if you need help due to a medical issue.

Thank you to D12 resident Brandon Siemasko for assisting an elderly customer at just the right moment!
July 4th in District 12
Thank you to all the HOAs and groups that came together to celebrate freedom and America with festive neighborhood Independence Day celebrations. Here are a few photos of some of the fun festivities around the district. These celebrations from Estates West, Prestonwood East, Highlands North, and Bent Tree West are examples of what makes District 12 such a great place to live for all!
When You Call 311...
Have you ever considered how many calls go to 311? Here's a snapshot of how this important department is doing. You can see many calls are for services from the Sanitation Department. By making sure this department is well functioning, we'll improve service and reduce the number of calls to 311.

If you have a city issue to report, 311 is usually the right place to start. Please write down your service request number. If you don't get the service expected, or you run into some other type of problem, please email Luis or Madison at district12@dallascityhall.com, luis.delgado@dallascityhall.com or madison.johnson@dallascityhall.com so they can help follow up.
Quick Updates & News
  • Have you noticed the traffic counters/rubber hoses on streets near the Cotton Belt/Silver Line? The City of Dallas Transportation Department put them out to create a baseline of what traffic looks like before any work begins. The goal is to understand what is "normal," so if the volume increases greatly after construction begins in any one area, adjustments can be made. There is an acknowledgement that traffic is lighter right now all over because it is summer and many people are still working at home due to COVID-19.

  • Please be aware of any standing water and remove it so it does not breed mosquitos. The City of Dallas maintains traps all over the city to test mosquitos to see if they carry the West Nile Virus. When mosquitos test positive, the city comes to spray. There is usually only one day notice, and you can find the notices here: https://dallascityhall.com/departments/codecompliance/consumer-health/Pages/mosquito-control.aspx and I post them on NextDoor, Facebook and Twitter. Please keep pets inside when your area is being sprayed. If you do not wish the spray to be released in front of your home, you can sign up for the no-spray list on the 311 app by selecting Mosquito - no spray list or by calling 311. You must sign up for this list each season and it only applies to ground spraying.

  • Volunteers needed for the Senior Source Friendly Visitor Program where volunteers write a quick note of encouragement to older adults in nursing homes. Contact Marsha Evans at 214-525-6131 or mevans@theseniorsource.org for more information.

  • See a homeless encampment? Please report it to 311. The Office of Homeless Solutions prioritizes their response based on resident reports.

  • Panhandling at an intersection you pass? Please report it to 311. Again, the Office of Homeless Solutions prioritizes responses based on resident reports. The intersection of Frankford and the tollway is not in the top list of panhandling locations in the city, although residents know there are panhandlers at multiple corners daily. Please call or report through the 311 app called Our Dallas, available in the App Store.

  • You know what is going on in Dallas? Lots!! One of the improvements I am proud of is the city calendar. You can now find a listing of council meetings, programs from the library, parks department, and office of arts and culture, as well as environmental and economic development listings all in one spot. Just go to the city's main webpage, www.dallascityhall.com, and in the middle of the page select City Calendar. You'll see three tabs to get to all the different events happening in the departments.
Dallas Startup Week Aug 1 - 5, 2021!
Every year, Dallas Startup Week brings together entrepreneurs and change-makers for a week-long experience, described as the largest entrepreneurial event in North Texas, where they exchange ideas, collaborate, and grow alongside the 10th largest startup ecosystem in the US.

This year Dallas Startup Week will be hosted in person at SMU Cox School of Business and online through Brushfire. As an attendee you will have an opportunity to customize your conference experience by reserving your spot in your favorite sessions and special events through Brushfire.

During Dallas Startup Week, you will be able to view sessions at your fingertips, connect with attendees and easily access the schedule all in one with our Dallas Startup Week app. Visit www.dallasstartupweek.com for more information
July Field Trips
July is council recess from committee and full-council meetings, so the District 12 office took some time to go on field trips and ride-alongs to learn more about city operations. Here's what we've been up to:

  • DPD Crimes Against Children Division. Thank you Lt Carrie Wise, DPD and Irish Burch, CEO Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, for a sobering look at what it takes to help our youngest and most vulnerable victims and remove the criminals that harm them from society.
  • Sanitation Neighborhood Collection Ride-along - Thank you Marlon and all the other Sanitation staff members who showed a whole other side of District 12 and garbage collection! There is a lot of information to share and it certainly changed my perspective on missed trash collection.
  • Dallas Water Utilities Drinking Water plant - great tour of something we take for granted every time we turn on the faucet. It's both old fashioned and cutting edge, and one of the most fascinating departments in the City of Dallas. It has approximately a $1 billion budget.
  • The Dallas Landfill - it's bigger (2000 acres) and less smelly than expected! There are 500 methane gas wells on the property and the city receives approximately $2 million annually from the sale of the gas.
  • The Bridge Homeless Shelter - great presentation on how they adapted during COVID.
  • DART exploration day - train & streetcar!
  • DPD middle of the night shift taking prisoners to the City Detention Center and Lew Sterrett Justice Center (the jail).
Your Trash Service May Change - Give Input!
We Won't Forget... 7/7/16
To commemorate 7/7, District 12 decorated the North Central police station, Jack Evans central police station, DPD training academy, and the 3 main police associations with blue ribbons. For the North Central officers, a short meeting was held with every shift to express appreciation, receive input, and answer questions. Morning shifts got a delicious meal from Norma's Cafe and afternoon and evening shifts got yummy BBQ from Sonny Bryant's to eat while we met. Two surviving spouses of officers were able to join in serving the food, along with a couple of residents, and this was really meaningful for the officers. Below are some photos that include a storage closet with items sent from Amazon Wishlists set up by resident Kimberly Bowman and some of the daily goodies they put out for the officers. Your support and appreciation means a lot to them! If you see an officer when you are out, they love it if you stop to say hello!
I-345 Feasibility Study
This may sound boring, but YOU WILL complain later if you don't make your voice heard now. There is a piece of highway that connects Central Expressway to I-45, called I-345. You drive on this if you go downtown via Central, if you are going to the State Fair of Texas, or if you are going to Houston. It's the raised piece of highway that cuts through the eastern part of downtown. There is a public discussion happening about tearing down this part of the road and either 1) rebuilding it as-is, 2) rebuilding it in a trench (like Central Expressway), or 3) removing it altogether and having the highway merge into local street traffic. This will have long-term implications for Dallas development and transportation. Please join this discussion.

I support the trench option as a way to reconnect sections of the city with downtown, use the excess land for economic development and oppose removing the highway and having it merge onto local street traffic.

If the highway is removed and routed to local streets, expect the Tollway to have additional traffic at rush hours (Do you already sit on the tollway without it moving in the morning and many evenings?), a longer commute to destinations off I-45, problems for Southern Dallas workers to get to employment in North Dallas and northern suburbs. The study done by TXDOT only considered vehicles who began their journey south of 635/LBJ, so District 12 residents and half of District 11 residents weren't even considered. It also didn't consider residents of northern suburbs that work downtown. There are billions of development dollars at stake and many voices trying to sway this discussion for their own financial gain, and they have no concern for the long-term consequences of your driving experience in or through Dallas. Many think everyone should ride DART or a bicycle. They don't seem to understand that there are very limited public transportation options in D12 and it is 20 miles to downtown. As Dallas residents, you deserve a voice in this decision.
What do you think? Speak up now... this is your time to give input. You can watch the virtual meeting through (new deadline) August 22 and send an email to 345study@txdot.gov with your input. If you send an email, please give your name and home address. If you have a friend in North Texas who works downtown, please encourage them to voice their opinion by email or by participating in the meeting. Thank you.
Lessons from the Sanitation Collection Ride-Along
  1. Big basics - The trucks are really big, the alleys are really narrow.
  2. It's a thankless job because if you do it perfectly, that is just what people expect, but if you mess up even a little bit, people become enraged.
  3. There is no rear-view mirror. Don't ask the truck to go backwards!
  4. There are two steering wheels in the automated trucks. When driving on the highway or main roads, the driver sits in the usual spot. When driving in the alleys for pickup, the driver sits on the right side of the truck to control the robotic arm.
  5. The robotic arm is very powerful - and if it hits anything, it will damage it!
  6. Sanitation trucks are not supposed to pick up your trash can if it is within 3 feet of your recycling can, fence, car, gas meter, or communication box. Sometimes they do it anyhow. Sometimes they don't, because they are concerned they will cause damage (which goes on their record). Please make sure your can is away from everything! This is actually in the city code.
  7. If your pool or lawn service or contractor are blocking the alley, the truck has few options. It is dangerous to backup (no rearview mirror, and they're probably sitting on the wrong side), plus they won't be able to pick up the rest of the route. Take a minute to make sure you talk to these folks if they are at your home on trash day. If they won't move, DPD must be called and it can take a long time for them to arrive. There will be many people who do not get their trash picked up on the correct day when that happens. And the driver can do nothing but sit there while your pool is being cleaned.
  8. If your can is broken, meaning the metal bar, lid, or the sides are split, please call 311 to get a new can. The robotic arm doesn't work right when the can is in bad shape.
  9. The truck shakes so much it is nauseating. Yes it is bumpy, but the robotic arm literally shakes the truck as it extends, lifts, and then the arm shakes the can (and truck) to get the trash out, then jars the truck some more as the can is set down. And then the truck lurches forward to the next home, slams back to stop at the next can. All this shaking is like a bad 6 Flags ride!
  10. There is an app that tracks when the driver was at each home and cameras in the cab of the truck that can see what the driver does. If you forgot to put out your trash, please do not call and say the driver missed it.
  11. If your can is sticky on the bottom, and even after the shaking some of the trash won't come out, please take a moment to clean your can enough that things don't stick. Please do not demand the driver stop the truck, climb down, and fetch items from the bottom of the can. This job pays way too little for the job they do, and keeping the can clean enough that things don't stick is actually the resident's job.
  12. Do not put anything in front of the can (like bricks), build a platform for the cans (it doesn't fit the arm), or put your can in front of the gas meter. If they don't see the gas meter or the arm (which is imprecise) hits the gas meter, you're going to have a much bigger issue with Oncor and the fire department, and the driver will get penalized.
  13. The driver I was with worked 70 hours last week. And more than 60 for the last several months. He really wants to get all of the cans on the route on the day they are expected to be picked up, but he is also doing routes for drivers that don't show up.
  14. If you're one of the people who hear the garbage truck and run outside with your kids, with water bottles, or a friendly waive, you have no idea how much this means to the driver. It's EVERYTHING! Thank you!!!!
  15. Most garbage cans in D12 are picked up by the automated arm, and it's really important where the can is placed on the driveway/alley/front. Most recycling is picked up by a rear-loader, with men grabbing the can, so the placement is less of an issue.
  16. The recycling cans weigh a lot less than the garbage cans.
  17. If you come home and your can is in a very different place than you set it out, it is because the driver had to manually move your can. Please put in in the middle of your driveway.
  18. If your garbage can is missed, please call 311.
  19. Due to staffing shortages, the Sanitation department is prioritizing garbage pickup and recycling may be delayed a few days. If it is more than 2 days late, please call 311.

ALL THE PHOTOS BELOW ARE CANS THAT SHOULD NOT BE PICKED UP BY THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT - THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TO FENCES, CARS, GAS METERS, TELEPHONE POLES, COMMUNICATION BOXES, THE RECYCLING CAN, THEY ARE BROKEN ON THE SIDE/TOP OR MISSING METAL BAR.
Welcome New D12 Businesses!
Welcome to Asorock African Market selling fresh produce, meats, specialty items, and a little cafe on the SE corner of Frankford and Midway. It's got a fresh appeal with great music and friendly staff.

Welcome Texas Family Fitness on the SW corner of Coit and Campbell. It's a giant space with lots of equipment, classes/studios, babysitting room, and a few special perks like a water massage chair! There is special pricing happening now if you're interested in joining.
Dallas Jewish Security Collaborative
With growing antisemitism across the nation, Dallas has its eyes open and plans in place to do everything possible to keep the Jewish community safe from hateful attacks. Thank you to Mayor Eric Johnson, the Dallas Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and the Dallas chapter of the Anti-Defamation League for meeting to share important information, ideas, and priorities for continued collaboration and partnership. District 12 has the largest Jewish community in Dallas.
Need help, got a question, or want to give input?

Email: Cara.Mendelsohn@DallasCityHall.com
Office phone: (214) 670-4067
Text phone: (214) 490-1036