Let There Be (Expensive) Light

I was asked by our webmaster, Josh Hixson, what I thought about UP charging more for cell phone violations than does HP (with HP only issuing warnings at the beginning of the school year while UP writes real tickets).  I didn’t really have any thoughts on the subject until it hit me in a “Eureka” moment.  UP must pay for its new chandelier somehow. 

And, furthermore, here we go again.  The old “light fixture” was insufficient; now we must graduate to an expensive “chandelier.”  When “carpool lines” are replaced with “queue lines” and “light fixtures” with “chandeliers,” watch your wallet.  Although I’m sure it’s quite stylish.

Kaufman v. Highland Park

Our kind and talented society editor, Tierney Kaufman, just informed me she has to trek to the municipal court of HP at 1:30 p.m. today just because she wants to take defensive driving for a ticket she got going down Armstrong Avenue a few weeks ago.

Is that right? You can only ask HP to let you take defensive driving at an appointed time? You can’t just drop by the old town hall any old time to get permission?

Leadership in Highland Park

Merritt, you want to attend this class too?

The Highland Park Community League and the staff of the Town on Highland Park are proud to announce the third annual H. P. Leadership Program to begin September 9, 2008 from 7:00-8:30pm in the Town’s Public Safety Training Room above the fire station. The program will continue once a month on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, except for the final meeting which will be at the Town Council meeting on Monday, April 6, 2009. The class size is limited to 22 participants. We are seeking an interested body of citizens who want to learn more about the Town and who may be willing to volunteer their time for the betterment of the Town and our community. To register for the program contact Carrie Covert at 214-522-1095 or scovert@sbcglobal.net to request a Leadership Application. The program cost is $50.00. I hope that you will be able to join us this Fall to learn more about our Town

Re: HPV Signage

This story from Aug. 8 discussed the request for signs, which Highland Park apparently did give the OK to shortly after.

UP to Lower Tax Rate (Not Taxes)

Despite rising costs, the staff of UP last night proposed to the City Council that the tax rate be lowered again, for the 14th year in a row, to 26.5 cents per $100. How can the city afford this? Thanks to the Dallas Central Appraisal DIstrict, of course. From Cassie Clark’s story, to appear in this week’s Print Product:

But because of rising property values, the tax bill for the average UP homeowner would be $2,513, up $227 from last year’s $2,286 average bill.

Time to Join the Mustache Club?

So first the Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi starts hitting again, after he grows a mustache. Yankees fans have embraced it.

Now comes this photo (at left) featuring three of the big names down at Highland Park Town Hall. On the left is town secretary James Fisher. In the center is the newly hired town administrator Bill Lindley. On the right is outgoing, longtime town administrator George Patterson. They’re laughing it up at the Monday ceremony during which Lindley signed his new contract. What do they all have in common? That’s right.  (You can also see intrepid reporter Cassie Clark in the back, talking to the mayor. But she doesn’t have any facial hair, at last report.)

I’ve thought you could only pull off the lip fur if you’re Magnum. But I’m beginning to think that I’ve been wrong.

Anyway, photo caption contest in the comments below: Example: “My town pension plan includes free mustache combs for life.”

Rasansky: Strippers Need Criminal Background Checks

I just got back from an afternoon chat with District 13 Councilman Mitchell Rasansky. The topic of discussion was his long awaited budget amendment proposal. He’s well known for his penny-pinching budget suggestions.

Among the various proposals is one that would require dancers, and all other employees of sexually oriented businesses, to pay a $100 annual fee for a permit and go through an outstanding warrant search and health check for sexually transmitted diseases.

Rasansky said even if it doesn’t raise the $200,000 he projects it will, it should still be on the books. Jump for the money quote. (more…)

Kuby’s Clock Update

The University Park City Council is sending the matter to the sign committee to discuss allowing Karl Kuby’s dream to become a reality. Apparently the rules say that no sign can have parts in motion, or display the time and temperature.

Sounds to me like the city is going to end up giving the restaurant the OK. We’ll see.

Cassie Clark: Knife-wielder?

Ace Park Cities reporter Cassie Clark is working on a story about the controversy surrounding Officer’s Elwonger former television aspirations, something Elwonger’s none to happy about. (more…)

Re:Ace Real Estate Editor Austin Kilgore Not Guilty…

I think I need to clarify a few things about today’s court experience.

First off, I wasn’t found not guilty, but the judge did dismiss my case because the prosecutor’s lack of evidence [aka the cop didn't show up]

(more…)

Today in the Park Cities…

The University Park City Council is meeting with city staff this afternoon to discuss ways to make the city’s operations more “green.” I’m sure our loyal Overheardians will have plenty of suggestions for them.

Crossing Guards Out of Work

We mentioned this a couple weeks ago, but check out the story Cassie Clark got about why some crossing guards at Bradfield and Armstrong elementary schools may not be back in the fall.

Should there be an age limit?

Mockingbird Lane Tolls

In case you’re not tired of reading about it, after Belo and Channel 5 took a crack, Cassie Clark delivers the straight facts of the matter in this week’s paper — soon to hit subscribers’ lawns.

Re: HP Says No to Toll Road

I hereby withdraw my acknowledgment that the Dallas Morning News beat us to this story. What writer Ian McCann refuses to acknowledge in his veiled retraction in today’s paper is that town administrator George Patterson made it clear at last night’s Town Council meeting that there was no serious consideration of tolling by the town leaders after last August.

In other words, this was a story from a year ago, which was decided against a year ago, but that DMN apparently decided to put on page 1A in order to exploit negative stereotypes against Highland Park. Meran Dadgostar, the town engineer who served as the primary source for McCann’s original story, told our own Cassie Clark that he had his conversation with the reporter about the possibility five months ago.

Something’s fishy about the way this story was put together

Re:Mockingbird as a Toll Road

Not only will tolling Mockingbird drive thru traffic onto the side streets, but what about students at SMU, who use Mockingbird to get to the Highland Park Village, get to and from campus, etc? Any plans that would not toll residents should, in all fairness, include SMU students. Like it or not, they’re part of the community.

I wholeheartedly disagree with HP town engineer Meran Dadgostar when he says this idea merits consideration. This is probably one of the worst things town leaders could do from a PR standpoint. They need to kill this idea ASAP.

Reader Favors More Chickens

While some Overheardians have seen enough chickens in the Park Cities, one reader wrote in to let us know how much she appreciated seeing this story by Cassie Clark:

To Whom It May Concern: I wanted to pass along compliments on Ms. Clark’s article covering Mr. Stener and his pet chickens that ran in your May 16 issue - what a wonderful example of good things in action. I appreciated reading about such an enterprising young person, and I appreciated even more that you chose to run it on the front page.