See related story - Delayed rape incident notification raises questions about LGNA's nonchalant attitude, DPD procedures

It's not unusual for the so-called Lower Greenville NA Crimewatch to hold back crime information from those not part of their little clique.

But it gets really bad when the DPD Central Division's ICP (Interactive Community Policing) officer holds back really important information from all the crimewatch groups and residents.

BD participated in the City's Community Emergency Response Team training session the past two weekends at the Dallas Fire/Rescue Training Center out on Dolphin Road. If you want to be part of a growing and exciting volunteer service opportunity, this group should be on your list.

After 16 hours of classroom training, 50+ students participated in a disaster simulation exercise with almost 30 more volunteers decked out in their bloodiest going to church clothes on Sunday morning. The girls in this photo are Puppettes #3 (left) and #2 (right) with one of their friends (center).

We went to Wendy's on Upper Greenville after the exercise for lunch. The other patrons had no sense of humor, however, and pretty soon we had the center tables to ourselves.

You can see more disaster simulation exercises photos on BD's flickr page. If you are interested in helping build a CERT unit in the Lowest Greenville area, send a note to BD here.

by MONIKA DIAZ / WFAA

Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:56 PM

DALLAS - Troy Parker thought he hit the jackpot when he found a parking spot on Allen Street in Dallas' Uptown neighborhood, but he soon noticed the new signs posted on the popular strip.

"5 p.m. to 2 a.m. - We are right in that window, aren't we?" Parker said. "I will be looking for [the signs.]"

One said of the 2300 block of Allen made the switch last December after homeowners on the street took their concerns to the city. The section is now zoned residential parking - permit required, from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m, every day of the week.

Click here for the complete story

One month ago, after a lengthy discussion, the Dallas City Council voted not to give a late-night specific use permit to a bowling alley being proposed for the old Lucky's Roadhouse space, next to Good Records on Greenville Avenue. Pauline Medrano -- who, with Angela Hunt, co-wrote the Planned Development District ordinance that makes SUPs necessary for anyone wishing to stay open till 2 a.m. -- said she was casting a nay because "Lowest Greenville deserves a more balanced neighborhood -- more shopping, more community retail." The rest of the council followed suit, echoing the City Plan Commission's recommendation to deny the permit.

But Susan Reese, who owns the property, refuses to let the council have the final word on the subject: On Tuesday she sued the city in Dallas County District Court, claiming in court documents that follow that the ordinance is "unlawful" -- a downright "conspiracy against bars in Lower Greenville," per the writings of Jackson Walker attorney Michael Knapek.

Click here for the full story on Unfair Park

Click here to read a copy of the lawsuit