561

A LITTLE ABOUT DALLAS

A BRIEF HISTORY Dallas has evolved over the years, growing from a small settlement to a major city covering nearly 390 square miles (343.56 square miles of land and 41.37 square miles of lakes).

900s (or earlier) to 1800s

North Texas, including the land that eventually became Dallas, is populated by American Indian tribes, including the Caddo, Wichita, Kiowa, and Comanche people.1

DID YOU KNOW? Caddo tribes lived along the Arkikosa River for thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in the 1600s. Alonso de Leon renamed the river La Santísima Trinidad—the Most Holy Trinity—in 1690.2

1821 Mexico declares independence from Spain. The area of present-day Dallas becomes part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas.

1836 Republic of Texas declares independence from Mexico and remains independent for almost 10 years.

1841 John Neely Bryan establishes a permanent settlement near the Trinity River on the future Preston Trail, a trail used first by American Indians that eventually became part of the first official Texas military road.

1845 Republic of Texas is admitted to the Union as the 28th state on December 29, 1845.

1856 Dallas is officially incorporated. By 1859, the population reached 775, including 97 enslaved Black people.

1875 The first Jewish congregation in Dallas, Temple Emanu-El, is founded, and members build their first synagogue on Commerce Street the next year. In 1957, Temple Emanu-El relocated to its current location on Hillcrest Road.

1888 The Dallas Zoo opens with two deer and two mountain lions in City Park, making it the oldest and largest zoological park in Texas and the second-oldest in the U.S.

1889 Juliette Peak Fowler dies at age 52. Her will designates $4,000 and 15.5 acres of land in East Dallas for a home for widows and orphans, which eventually becomes the site of the present-day Juliette Fowler Communities. Fowler becomes known as Dallas’ first major philanthropist.3

1 https://dallastrht.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DTRHT-Report.pdf 2 Ibid. 3 https://fowlercommunities.org/about-us/history/

562

A LITTLE ABOUT DALLAS

DID YOU KNOW?

Captain Jefferson Peak, Fowler’s father, built the first brick house in Dallas at the current intersection of Peak and Worth. He ultimately divided his 200 acres into one of Dallas’ first subdivisions and named several of the streets after his 12 children and their spouses, names you can still see today—Worth, Junius, Carroll, and Flora are just a few.

1908 Dallas experiences the worst flood of the Trinity River in its history. The river reaches nearly 53 feet deep and a mile and a half wide, and Oak Cliff is completely cut off from downtown. Five people died, 4,000 people were homeless, and property damages were estimated at $2.5 million (more than $69 million in 2019 dollars).4

1913 May Forster Smith, a private-duty nurse, and her fellow nurses convince the Graduate Nurses Association to open a “Baby Camp” to treat sick infants, the first in the southwest and third in the country. Originally housed on the Parkland Hospital grounds in four tents supplied by the American Red Cross, the Dallas Baby Camp relocated twice before coming together with Bradford Hospital, Children's Hospital, and Freeman Clinic in 1947 as Children's Medical Center of Dallas, one of the largest pediatric providers in the nation.

1922 WFAA goes on the air in June as one of the earliest radio stations in Texas.5

1927 The world’s first convenience store opens, now known as 7-Eleven.

1931 Paul Laurence Dunbar Branch Library opens in the predominantly black neighborhood of “North Dallas” (now known as Uptown). It is the first library in Dallas to welcome and serve the African American community.

1936 Dallas hosts the Texas Centennial Exposition at Fair Park.

1954 Adelyne Dransfield, the sole female member of the jury on which she was serving, is elected as one of the first female jury "foremen" in Dallas County.

4 https://blog.smu.edu/offtheshelf/2013/10/25/trinity-river-flood-control-depicted-in-miscellaneous-aerial-views-of-dallas-1930s-1940s/ 5 https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ebw03

563

A LITTLE ABOUT DALLAS

DID YOU KNOW?

Although the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920, they weren’t permitted to serve on juries in Texas until 1954. The amendment to the Texas Constitution requiring that women serve on grand and petit juries was finally approved by voters on Nov. 2, 1954.

1956 Dallas native Bette Nesmith Graham invents Liquid Paper, which she called Mistake Out when she began selling it in 1956. Graham sold Liquid Paper to Gillette in 1979 for $47.5 million.6

1957 Calvert Collins, a philanthropist and advocate for education and health care, becomes the first woman elected to the City Council. She served two terms from 1957-1961.

1957 In February, Essie Reed becomes the Dallas Public Library’s first Black librarian at P.L. Dunbar Branch Library. Reed went on to open and manage three other DPL branches: Park Forest, Forest Green, and Skyline. She retired in September 1983 after 26 years of service.7

1958-62 The invention of the integrated circuit at Texas Instruments and founding of data processing company Electronic Data Systems make Dallas a technology leader.

1963 U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes, a Dallas native, administers the oath of office to Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22. Judge Hughes is the first and only woman to administer the oath.

1968 George L. Allen becomes the first Black City Council member, serving from 1968-1975. Allen played a role in the desegregation of Dallas' schools and public facilities and pushed for important open housing and public accommodations ordinances. The George L. Allen Courts Building is named for him.

1969 Anita Martinez becomes the first Hispanic member elected to the City Council, serving from 1969-1973. She fought to build a recreation center for West Dallas and pushed for numerous improvements, including library branches and street repair in low-income neighborhoods.

1971 Mariano Martinez invents the frozen margarita machine at his Dallas restaurant after seeing the Slurpee machine at 7-Eleven.8

6 http://www.women-inventors.com/Bette-Nesmith-Graham.asp 7 https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/dallas-tx/essie-reed-8186003 8 http://americanhistory.si.edu/food/resetting-table/frozen-margaritas

564

A LITTLE ABOUT DALLAS

1978 Designed by renowned Chinese American architect I.M. Pei, Dallas City Hall opens to the public.

DID YOU KNOW?

Pei also designed the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, which opened in September 1989, as well as three modernist skyscrapers in downtown Dallas.

1980 The all-time high temperature of 113˚F is recorded on June 26-27.

1984 Inspired by Star Wars, George Carter opens the first Laser Tag location, initially dubbed “Photon,” in 1984 on Northwest Highway.9

1987 Annette Strauss becomes the first elected female mayor, serving two terms from 1987-1991. After her tenure and in large part because of her humanitarian efforts, she was appointed “Ambassador-at-large” for Dallas, an honorary position she retained until her death in 1998.

1990 The largest permanent model train exhibit in the U.S. is completed and put on display in the lobby of Dallas Children’s Medical Center.

1995 Ron W. Kirk becomes the first Black mayor, serving nearly two terms from 1995-2002, before resigning to run for U.S. Senate. In 2009, President Barack Obama named him to the position of U.S. Trade Representative, where he served until 2013.

1996 Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) begins operating the first light rail system in the Southwest.

1999 The Dallas Stars win the Stanley Cup championship.

2012 Peggy Larney, former director of DISD’s American Indian Education Program and full-blooded member of the Choctaw Nation, co-created American Indian Heritage Day for the state of Texas. HB 174 was signed into law on May 10, 2012, establishing the last Friday in September as American Indian Heritage Day.

2019 In partnership with the GLBT Chamber of Commerce Foundation and on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion, the City Council approves 10 rainbow crosswalks in the Oak Lawn neighborhood to celebrate and commemorate the LGBTQ community in Dallas.

9 https://www.dallasnews.com/business/technology/2016/08/12/laser-tag-inventor-turns-game-anywhere-anytimeiphone-sport

565

A LITTLE ABOUT DALLAS

NOTABLE LANDMARKS Dallas is more than just famous skylines and government buildings. Here are some lesser-known historical landmarks that made Dallas what it is today. You can find information about these structures and more on the City’s Historic Preservation website. St. Paul United Methodist Church 1816 Routh St.

In 1873, several inhabitants of Freedman's Town met with Methodist ministers Rev. H. Oliver and Rev. William Bush under a brush arbor to organize the area's first African Methodist Episcopal Church. Dallas postmaster Anthony Norton donated the first church site, which was also used as a school for African American children. In partnership with SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, the church provided training for African American ministers. According to oral history, the congregation began constructing a new brick-clad building in 1901, based on designs by William Sidney Pittman, Dallas’ first black architect and Booker T. Washington’s son-in-law. It took 26 years to complete the sanctuary, and tradition holds that the facade has five different shades of brown brick because congregants brought bricks for the offering.10 10 https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5507017802/

566

A LITTLE ABOUT DALLAS

Trinity Farms/Rancho Grande Cemetery 1723 Briarcliff Rd. This cemetery represents the last remaining physical reminder of the community of people who worked and lived on a vast commercial farm—about 3,000 acres—known as the Dallas County Trinity Farms, or Rancho Grande, from about 1915 to 1946. Farm laborers consisted mostly of Mexican citizens, many of whom arrived during the Mexican Revolution, and a

sizable number of African Americans. The children of Hispanic and African American laborers who worked on the farm attended separate schools. Similarly, the cemetery contains separate Hispanic and African American sections. The earliest recorded burials occurred in the early 1920s, and the last known burial occurred in the early 1940s. The cemetery is maintained by descendants of the families interred there.11 Pike Park 2807 Harry Hines Blvd.

The City purchased this site in 1912-13 for a neighborhood park. Developed as Summit Play Park, it served a predominantly Mexican-American community by the 1920s. The park name was changed in 1927 to honor a former Park Board member, Edgar L. Pike. During World War II, Pike Park was an important gathering place for Mexican-American servicemen, both residents of "Little Mexico" and those visiting the city. It has since become the focal point of the community's cultural, recreational, and political interests, and annual festivities, including Cinco de Mayo and Diez y Seis de Septiembre, reflect a proud heritage.12

11 https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5113006901 12 https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5113006817

567

568

YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

Dallas operates under the council-manager form of government with 14 single-member districts and a mayor elected at-large. Every odd-numbered year, Dallas residents vote for members of the City Council, who represent their district for up to four two-year terms. The Mayor serves up to two four-year terms. The Mayor and City Council:13 Set policy Approve the annual budget and plans for capital improvements Determine the property tax rate Issue and sell municipal bonds Purchase and sell property Establish City departments Approve City ordinances Determine City services Appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Auditor, City Secretary, municipal court

judges, and resident boards and commissions

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS

13 https://dallascityhall.com/government/Pages/councilresponsibilities.aspx

569

YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

Back Row (left to right)

Adam Bazaldua

District 7

Chad West

District 1

Paula Blackmon

District 9 David Blewett

District 14 Carolyn King Arnold

District 4 Omar Narvaez

District 6 Casey Thomas, II

District 3

Front Row (left to right)

Jennifer S. Gates

District 13 Jaime Resendez

District 5 B. Adam McGough

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, District 10 Mayor Eric Johnson

At-large Adam Medrano

Mayor Pro Tem, District 2 Tennell Atkins

District 8 Cara Mendelsohn

District 12

Not pictured: Lee Kleinman, District 11

570

CITY MANAGEMENT

Your elected officials, the Mayor and City Council, appoint the executive leadership of the City, specifically: City Manager T.C. Broadnax, appointed in February 2017 Interim City Attorney Christopher J. Caso, appointed in September 2018 City Auditor Mark S. Swann, appointed in May 2019 City Secretary Bilierae Johnson, appointed in April 2018 Municipal Court judges The City Manager appoints an executive leadership team that collectively oversees the City’s approximately 13,000 employees and more than $3 billion budget.

Top row, left to right: Assistant City Manager & Chief Resilience Officer Nadia Chandler Hardy, Chief of Equity & Inclusion Liz Cedillo-Pereira, Assistant City Manager Michael Mendoza, Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth Reich, and Assistant City Manager Joey Zapata

Bottom row, left to right: Assistant City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry, Chief of Innovation Laila Alequresh, City Manager T.C. Broadnax, Chief of Staff Kimberly B. Tolbert, and Assistant City Manager Jon Fortune Additionally, the City Manager appoints all department directors except: The Director of Civil Service, who is appointed by the Civil Service Board The Director of the Park and Recreation Department, who is appointed by the Park and

Recreation Board

571

572

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

Effective October 2019

DALLAS CITYCOUNCIL

JUDICIARY CITY SECRETARY

CITY MANAGER

Chief of Staff

Aviation

Human Resources

Mayor/Council Office (Resource

Center)

Public Affairs & Outreach

Office of Strategic Partnerships &

Government Affairs

Office of Business Diversity

Chief of Equity & Inclusion

Office of Ethics & Compliance

Office of Equity

Office of Fair Housing & Human

Rights

Office of Welcoming Communities &

Immigrant Affairs

Chief of Economic Development & Neighborhood

Services

Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization

Office of Economic Development

Planning & Urban Design

Chief Financial Officer

City Controller's Office

Communication & Information Services

Equipment & Fleet Management

Office of Budget

Procurement Services

Risk Management

Assistant CityManager & Chief

Resilience Officer

Code Compliance

Dallas Animal Services

Office ofCommunity Care

Office of Homeless Solutions

311 Customer Service Center

Assistant CityManager

Dallas Police

Court & Detention Services

[Marshal's Office][Security Services]

Dallas Fire-Rescue

Office of Emergency Management

Assistant CityManager

Building Services

Convention & Event Services

Office of Cultural Affairs

Library

Sanitation Services

Park & Recreation

Assistant CityManager

Dallas Water Utilities

Public Works

Sustainable Development &

Construction

Transportation

Office of Environmental

Quality & Sustainability

Office of the Bond Program

CITY ATTORNEY CITY AUDITOR

Liaison

Management Services

Civil Service Office of Innovation

573

574

BOARDS & COMMISSIONS

Civic participation in government is a cornerstone of representative democracy, and boards and commissions offer residents an opportunity to actively participate in their local government. The Mayor and City Council appoint community members to serve in various capacities throughout the city on the boards and commissions below:14

Animal Advisory Commission Automated Red Light Enforcement Commission Arts and Culture Advisory Commission Board of Adjustment Building Inspection Advisory, Examining, and Appeals Board

Charter Review Commission

Citizen Homelessness Commission City Plan and Zoning Commission Civil Service Board Civil Service Board Adjunct Members

Community Development Commission Dallas Area Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness Local Government Corporation

Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board Dallas Central Appraisal District

Dallas Citizens Police Review Board Dallas Housing Authority Board—Housing Solutions for North Texas

Dallas Police and Fire Pension System Board of Trustees

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Board

Employees Retirement Fund Board Ethics Advisory Commission Fire Code Advisory and Appeals Board Housing Finance Corporation Judicial Nominating Commission Landmark Commission Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center Board Municipal Library Board North Texas Education Finance Corporation Park and Recreation Board Permit and License Appeal Board Redistricting Commission Senior Affairs Commission South Dallas/Fair Park Opportunity Fund Board Trinity River Corridor Local Government Corporation

Youth Commission

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARDS Cypress Waters Municipal Mgmt. District North Oak Cliff Municipal Mgmt. District Reinvestment Zone 3 Board (Oak Cliff Gateway) Reinvestment Zone 4 Board (Cedars Area) Reinvestment Zone 5 Board (City Center) Reinvestment Zone 6 Board (Farmers Market) Reinvestment Zone 7 Board (Sports Arena) Reinvestment Zone 8 Board (Design District) Reinvestment Zone 9 Board (Vickery Meadow) Reinvestment Zone 10 Board (Southwest Medical) Reinvestment Zone 11 Board (Downtown Connection)

Reinvestment Zone 12 Board (Deep Ellum)

Reinvestment Zone 13 Board (Grand Park South) Reinvestment Zone 14 Board (Skillman Corridor) Reinvestment Zone 15 Board (Fort Worth Avenue) Reinvestment Zone 16 Board (Davis Gardens) Reinvestment Zone 17 Board (Transit-Oriented Development)

Reinvestment Zone 18 Board (Maple/Mockingbird)

Reinvestment Zone 19 Board (Cypress Waters) Reinvestment Zone 20 Board (Mall Area Redevelopment)

Reinvestment Zone 21 Board (University) Trinity River West Municipal Mgmt. District

14 https://agency.governmentjobs.com/dallasboards/default.cfm?action=agencyspecs

575

576

THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS

EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS! With an estimated population of more than 1.3 million residents, Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest city in the nation.15 A quick review of U.S. Census data shows nearly a 60 percent increase in population in the last 50 years.16

Dallas is a diverse city, with about 42 percent of residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino, 29 percent identifying as non-Hispanic White, 24 percent identifying as Black, and 3 percent identifying as Asian. We have slightly more self-identified women (50.4 percent) than men (49.6 percent), and we have a wide range of ages throughout Dallas, as shown in the chart to the left.17 Dallas’ population growth includes people migrating from all over the world. In fact, nearly 24 percent of Dallas residents were born outside the U.S. 18

15 2018 U.S. Census estimates 16 https://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/CityPopHist%20web.pdf 17 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dallascitytexas/PST045217 18 https://datausa.io/profile/geo/dallas-tx/

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2018

Po

pu

lati

on

Year

Under 58%

Age 5-1718%

Age 18-6464%

Age 65+10%

577

PUBLIC SAFETY

AT YOUR SERVICE To meet our residents’ needs, Dallas Fire-Rescue maintains 58 fire stations and 43 full-time ambulances. At the end of FY 2019-20, we plan to have 1,942 fire and 3,053 police personnel to enhance public safety.

THEN & NOW

Dallas' first African American police officers, Lee G. Brotherton and B.J. Thomas (c. 1946), courtesy of Dallas Public Library

Fire station on East Grand Avenue with firefighters and fire truck in drive (1927), courtesy of Dallas Public Library

578

MOBILITY SOLUTIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE, & SUSTAINABILITY

MILES AND MILES Dallas maintains 11,796 paved lane miles, 64 bike lane miles, and 9,022 miles of water and wastewater mains, not to mention stormwater and drainage infrastructure.19

UP, UP, AND AWAY! 15,597,576 passengers traveled through Dallas Love Field last year. That’s like the entire population of Dallas going through the airport more than 11 times!

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE This year, Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) provided 142 billion gallons of water to Dallas residents, plus 23 other cities, an area of nearly 700 square miles. DWU also treated 62 billion gallons of wastewater.

19 https://dallascityhall.com/departments/waterutilities/DCH%20Documents/pdf/DWU-FactSheet.pdf

579

ECONOMIC & NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY

ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE The Dallas economy is strong and healthy. Dallas businesses have access to a workforce of almost 3.4 million, and 32 percent of regional workers have at least a college degree. Dallas is also home to 16 Fortune 1000 companies, including AT&T at number 9. Others include Southwest Airlines at number 142 and Jacobs Engineering Group, which climbed 89 spots

to number 208.20 The DFW unemployment rate of 2.7 percent (as of May 2019) is also well below the national average of 3.7 percent.21

Top 10 Property Taxpayers22

Taxpayer Assessed Valuation % of 2018 Total

Assessed Valuation Oncor Electric Delivery (Utility) $835,141,000 0.83% Northpark Land Partners (Developer) $700,213,000 0.70% Texas Instruments (Manufacturing) $602,986,000 0.60% Southwest Airlines (Transportation) $578,256,000 0.58% AT&T Corporation (Utility) $518,661,000 0.52% DCI Tech Infomart LP (Telecom) $508,215,000 0.51% FM Village Fixed Rate LLC (Developer) $494,727,000 0.49% SPUS7 Galleria LP (Developer) $375,827,000 0.37% Walmart Stores, Inc. (Retailer) $340,575,000 0.34% Galleria Mall Investors LP (Developer) $333,145,000 0.33% Total $5,287,746,000 5.27%

20 http://fortune.com/fortune500/ 21 https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.tx_dallas_msa.htm 22 https://dallascityhall.com/departments/budget/financialtransparency/AuditedFinancials/CAFR_FY2018.pdf Chart: https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/news-release/areaemployment_dallasfortworth.htm

580

ECONOMIC & NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY

Top 10 Largest Employers in 201823 Company Total Local Employment* Baylor Scott & White Health 24,088 Lockheed Martin 20,500 University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 18.666 Medical City Healthcare 17,000 AT&T Inc. 15,000 City of Dallas 13,283 Parkland Health and Hospital System 12,857 JPMorgan Chase 12,400 Southwest Airlines Co. 10,694 State Farm 9,400 Total 153,888

* Includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise counties

23 https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2019/07/26/dallas-fort-worth-largest-employers.html Chart: https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/news-release/areaemployment_dallasfortworth.htm

Other Services3.5%

Mining, Logging, and Construction

6.2%

Manufacturing7.7%

Financial Activities8.4%

Leisure and Hospitality

10.9%

Government12.2%

Education and Health Services

12.5%

Professional and Business Services

17.3%

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities

21.5%

DFW Non-Farm Employment by IndustryMay 2019

581

HUMAN & SOCIAL NEEDS

ON THE EDGE Despite high job growth and low unemployment across the region, many families in Dallas are financially insecure. In 2017, for example, 23 percent of families with children under 18 were living below the poverty level. Also, about 38 percent of households paid 30 percent or more on housing costs, known as “cost-burdened.” Households paying more than this on rent or mortgage payments have less disposable income for other necessities.24 The median household income in Dallas was also lower than in other cities in DFW, as noted in the table below.

City Median Household Income Arlington $55,562 Dallas $47,285 Fort Worth $57,309 Frisco $120,701 Garland $55,637 Grand Prairie $62,589 Irving $58,196 Mesquite $52,167 Plano $88,578 Richardson $76,719

GROWTH OPPORTUNITY To combat these statistics, the City is investing in workforce development efforts, such as hosting T.E.A.C.H. sessions, where Civil Service staff guide candidates through the job application process step-by-step. Additionally, the Office of Community Care leads the FreshStart program, which supports the return of formerly incarcerated individuals to the community through full-time employment with the City. Once participants become employees, program caseworkers meet with them for at least six months to help ensure a successful transition.

24 2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (data.census.gov)

582

QUALITY OF LIFE

THE GREAT OUTDOORS The City of Dallas maintains and operates six golf courses, five tennis centers, 29 aquatics facilities, 43 recreation centers, and more than 23,400 acres of park land. The City also provides financial support to the Dallas Arboretum, Texas Discovery Gardens, Trinity River Audubon Center, and Dallas Zoo.

HISTORY LESSON Established in 1873 by freedmen, Deep Ellum has become one of Dallas’ most historically significant neighborhoods. Its name comes from a local pronunciation of “Deep Elm” (for Elm Street), and it was one of the first commercial districts for African Americans and European immigrants. The area was home to the Continental Gin Company, the largest cotton-processing equipment manufacturer in the U.S., and to one of Henry Ford’s earliest automobile plants. But Deep Ellum has always been famous for its arts scene, particularly its music. By 1950, Deep Ellum boasted 20 nightclubs, cafes, and domino parlors, and many famous jazz and blues musicians started their careers there, including Blind Lemon Jefferson, Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter, T-Bone

Walker, Ma Rainey, and Bessie Smith. Today, Deep Ellum is home to more than 30 live music venues, as well as street murals, art galleries, art-driven businesses, and the annual Deep Ellum Arts Festival.25

25 https://deepellumtexas.com/history/ Photo 1: Dallas Historical Society. Legacies: A History Journal for Dallas and North Central Texas, Volume 16, Number 2, Fall 2004. University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth35093/m1/15/)

583

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

WHAT’S MY CREDIT SCORE? Just like individuals have credit scores, local governments receive credit ratings for their municipal bonds based on the economic well-being of the city. To learn more about the City’s financial status, visit our new Financial Transparency website. Credit rating agencies recognize Dallas’ strong economy and solid financial management practices. The City’s long-term general obligation debt has the following ratings as of July 8, 2019.

BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE government With about 13,000 employees, the City is one of the largest employers in Dallas. As we strive to deliver excellent and equitable service to our residents, we recognize the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Diversity increases our ability to serve residents of all backgrounds and experiences and leads to more equitable policy outcomes. One way the City promotes a culture of acceptance, appreciation, and inclusion is through our Employee Resource

Groups (ERGs), six of which are currently active and open to all City employees. Association of Asian American City Employees (AAACE): An organization of Asian

American City employees, retirees, and supporters established for networking, personal development, and to support the City in serving the residents of Dallas

Credit Rating Agency General Obligation Debt Moody’s Investors Service A1 (stable outlook) Standard and Poor’s (S&P) AA- (stable outlook) Fitch Ratings AA (stable outlook)

584

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

City of Dallas BEST (Black Employees Support Team): Serves as a resource, advocate, and partner with the City’s leadership team and its members to identify, nurture, and promote excellence at all levels within the City’s workforce through professional development, mentoring, cultural programming, and communication

FUEL (Focus. Unite. Engage. Lead.): Designed to bridge the gap among generations within the workplace and create a framework for success to support the development of young professionals

Hispanic Association of City Employees for Results (HACER): Provides a network for results-oriented Hispanic City employees who are ready, willing, and able to serve the needs of the community while providing professional and social networking, support, coaching, and mentoring opportunities

LGBT Employee Association of Dallas: Raises awareness of equality issues in the workplace to foster an organizational culture that is inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ City employees, promotes professional and personal development, and breaks negative stereotypes through education

Veterans ERG (VERG): Created for active duty, reservists, veterans, and spouses of military members; cultivates professional development of military members and spouses who are employed with the City

0.77%

2.91%

34.03%

27.87%

0.13%

1.05%

0.67%

32.57%

0.10%

3.30%

24.00%

41.70%

0.00%

0.20%

1.60%

29.10%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

American Indian and Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino

Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander

Some other race

Two or more races

White

Race/Ethnicity of City Employees vs. the General Population

City employees Dallas residents

585

586