Racism alive and well

It saddens me to see racism alive and doing well. Here's a couple of recent stories highlighting one of our national tradgedies.

Both Council members sited in the DMN story are black. I'd be willing to bet a jillion dollars that niether will be even remotely punished for their violation of the LAW. You can also bet that if they are prosecuted, it won't be because they're guilty, it'll be because they're black. Unfortunately, it's about all you can expect from Dallas politics anymore.

Council member clears outstanding liens
Dallas City Council member Maxine Thornton-Reese on Thursday paid more than $1,000 to clear up outstanding liens that should have made her ineligible for re-election in 2005. Also Online11/17/05: Liens should have made 2 council members ineligible The payment came the day after news reports about the liens, which resulted from code violations at South Dallas properties owned by Dr. Thornton-Reese and Council member Leo Chaney. Mr. Chaney, whose violations dated back to 1995, paid his fines early this month. "I went looking for it after people said it," Dr. Thornton-Reese said Thursday. "I've paid up the lien. That's all I have to say." Under the City Charter, council candidates are not eligible to take office if they owe the city money for taxes or other liabilities. Mr. Chaney and Dr. Thornton-Reese have both said they were unaware they had outstanding liens at the time of their re-election in May, and that the city made no effort to notify them. City records indicate notices about the fines were sent to both council members. City Manager Mary Suhm and City Secretary Shirley Acy said the liens did not surface during routine eligibility checks, the result of database complications. Until he paid this month, Mr. Chaney owed the city $515.15 for mowing, cleaning and interest. Dr. Thornton-Reese owed $1,063.84 for three separate clean-ups of her property in 2004. If Mr. Chaney or Dr. Thornton-Reese's campaign opponents had learned of the liens within 30 days of May's election, they could have filed an election challenge. But City Attorney Tom Perkins said the only recourse now is for the Texas attorney general or the Dallas County district attorney to initiate a "quo warranto" proceeding to remove a council member who they believe is unlawfully holding an office.
E-mail eramshaw@dallasnews.com

The next story is about a hate crime that will never be prosecuted. In this case, two black guys happened to rob, beat, and then drag a white guy behind his own truck. You can bet a jillion dollars that if the colors were shifted, this would be all over the news.

Sad, really, that we haven't reached the point in our society where you can call a scumbag a scumbag without regard to what color he is.