Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 13m

I heard statements from protestors (including ardent death penalty supporters) who described this as a miscarriage of justice.

It gave me a little hope that, in a brutal state that still lacks air conditioning in most prisons, there is a line somewhere before "fry 'em all and lot God sort 'em out".

The Dallas Morning News @dallasnews.com · 29m

The state’s highest criminal court granted Robert Roberson III a stay Thursday morning — exactly one week before his third execution date.

Texas court grants Robert Roberson stay of execution, week before scheduled date

In addition to seeking any opportunity to present new evidence in court, the appeals also included allegations of judicial bias and misconduct during Robert...

www.dallasnews.com

Reposted by Nathaniel Barrett

Robert Wilonsky @robertwilonsky.bsky.social · 17h

This would include Dallas, too. What in the absolute hell.

dallasvoice.com/the-rainbow-...

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 17h

Dallas wants to recoup its $6.5M it spent on the not-really-that-old hospital in Oak Cliff. I saw the rough property condition report from years ago and the roof has probably been leaking ever since. Work cut out for you on this one.

www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...

Vacant Oak Cliff hospital in Dallas once tapped for homeless services is now up for sale

The City Council voted in June to put the property up for sale. However, the city will sell only if it gets the minimum price it sets and is able to recoup...

www.dallasnews.com

Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 17h

Absolutely, it was barely a year ago that the Council stripped out $28M of maintenance for City Hall from the bond program. Leaks don't go away for ignoring them.

Txnewsprincess @txnewsprincess.bsky.social · 17h

Like I wrote last week, the real story is how much money the city wastes by waiting until a building has catastrophic needs before addressing its maintenance.
We could build a new City Hall, but in 50 years would it need to be torn down too?
www.dmagazine.com/micropost/ci...

City Hall’s needs may bring on its demise

Earlier this week, the Dallas Morning News published a story about the ever-increasing costs of maintaining Dallas City Hall, a brutalist building and

www.dmagazine.com

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 18h

"The average nightly cost per individual averages $91"

So...$2,700 a month to house folks in a city where the average rent for a studio apartment is $1,249?

KERA News @keranews.org · 18h

The Dallas Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee held a special called meeting to go over tiny home community options for people experiencing homelessness.

Tiny homes in the Big D? Dallas explores options to address homelessness

The Dallas Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee held a special called meeting to go over tiny home community options for people experiencing homelessness.

bit.ly

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 18h

All respect to you: you're just reporting on Dallas' nonsense. Keep up the good work!

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 18h

I love Dallas and Dallas City Hall. I continue to believe this is real-estateurs trying to will demolition into being with a credulous press as it makes no economic, cultural or any other kind of sense.

ghostly gwen howerton @kissphoria.bsky.social · 19h

NEW: I wrote about Dallas City Hall. Designed by I.M. Pei, it's an incredible feat of architecture that was meant to embody progressivism and a new start after the JFK assassination. At the end of the month, city leaders could vote to tear it down: www.chron.com/culture/arti...

One of Texas' architectural masterpieces could soon face demolition

The building was designed by foundational architect I.M. Pei.

www.chron.com

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 20h

I came across the pauper's cemetery while doing industrial leasing. I thought it was so wild to find this nestled among some of the seedier Dallas warehouses.

I'm so glad there is someone who takes time to honor the lives and history of the least of our society's past.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 20h

I'm a fan of the project (mostly) and Ablon and Hoque, but hearing from Cothrum on this is like asking a real estate agent if it's a good time to transact.

Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 21h

CEO of firm that services large developers praises large developer's plans. News at 11.

www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...

Cothrum: Redeveloping Bank of America Plaza can redefine downtown

Developers Mike Ablon and Mike Hoque are trying to redevelop the Bank of America tower. The city should support them.

www.dallasnews.com

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 21h

CEO of firm that services large developers praises large developer's plans. News at 11.

www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...

Cothrum: Redeveloping Bank of America Plaza can redefine downtown

Developers Mike Ablon and Mike Hoque are trying to redevelop the Bank of America tower. The city should support them.

www.dallasnews.com

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 1d

Not really a podcast person, but for the first time, I have enjoyed one so much that I actually became a paying subscriber...what have I become?

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

Yuck. Love to add parking garages on top of my parking garages (there are 1,500 underground spaces there already).

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

The biggest skill I picked up working as an auditor: how to persistently, but nicely, ask for things you have to have to do your job while gradually ratcheting up the pressure.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

I have been working with a fresh college graduate and enjoying teaching valuable job skills like "making uncomfortable phone calls to people who owe you stuff".

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

It seems most (all) council members view convention center spending as "free" since it comes HOT dollars that allegedly can only be used only on convention centers (and Fair Park now).

Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

The whole web of council member / developer / state legislator connections would be a great read. I can't even begin to unravel the conflicts of interest: there are too many layers to fully understand.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

They want to build an 1,100+ space parking garage in one of the most overparked downtowns in America which btw spent over $5B building one of the nation's largest light rail systems that all converges on Downtown.

Council leadership on downtown is really and truly rudderless.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

Speaking of public funds for private benefit, big-time developers wants $103M of TIF money for their $409M plan.

TIF dollars are supposed to be used on public improvements, but they want to use the money on Tenant Improvements and leasing commissions.

www.dallasnews.com/business/rea...

Bank of America Plaza redesign narrowly avoids stalemate as it seeks incentives downtown

An ambitious redesign of Dallas’ tallest tower got a thumbs up from key stakeholders Tuesday — but not without making some concessions. Mike Hoque and Mike...

www.dallasnews.com

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

This is pretty important, because HOT money in Dallas typically gets wasted on big money pits (like the convention center).

They'd be an excellent source of money to make Downtown into a place people would actually like to be.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

Find someone who loves you as much as city councils love spending public funds for private benefit.

Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

I missed this story about the new $55M Dallas Wings practice facility. Looks like we're using HOT which I recall hotel owners SWEARING could only be used on convention centers/downtown/hotel benefits.

How many hotel nights are we getting from a PRACTICE Facility?

www.wfaa.com/article/spor...

Dallas Wings break ground on new $55 million practice facility in Oak Cliff

The practice facility is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026 WNBA season.

www.wfaa.com

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

I missed this story about the new $55M Dallas Wings practice facility. Looks like we're using HOT which I recall hotel owners SWEARING could only be used on convention centers/downtown/hotel benefits.

How many hotel nights are we getting from a PRACTICE Facility?

www.wfaa.com/article/spor...

Dallas Wings break ground on new $55 million practice facility in Oak Cliff

The practice facility is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026 WNBA season.

www.wfaa.com

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 2d

Weird, I don't find the words "clawback", "default", "return of control", "bonded", "guaranty", or "guarantor" anywhere in this editorial about a grandly mismanaged city asset.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 3d

Someone should develop the shaded, clear, refrigerated pumpkin display for the Texas market.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 3d

Seasonal mug season is upon us.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 5d

That is what our school does: Grades 1-3 stay with same teacher as do grades 4-5. We are big fans of that element as it seems to really build the teacher/student/parent connection.

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