Activist, residents clash with Irving on apartment closing

01:53 AM CDT on Friday, September 5, 2008
By BRANDON FORMBY / The Dallas Morning News
bformby@dallasnews.com

A Hispanic activist and a crowd of more than 40 Irving residents displaced during a recent abrupt apartment closing clashed with Irving police and city officials at an Irving City Council meeting Thursday.

Carlos Quintanilla tried to speak out about Irving's recent closing of the Vista Del Lago apartments during the citizens' forum portion of the meeting. But Mayor Herbert Gears abruptly adjourned the meeting without explanation after Mr. Quintanilla stood near the podium before his turn as another resident spoke about an unrelated matter.

"Carlos was attempting to disrupt the meeting," Mr. Gears said late Thursday. "It seemed like the best move to make."

But as City Council members left the chambers, angry former residents of the complex yelled and chanted in Spanish. Mr. Quintanilla rallied the crowd and vowed to protest at City Manager Tommy Gonzalez's home at 6 p.m. today, despite an Irving police officer's warning to take any protests to City Hall.

The Vista Del Lago apartments were closed last month after city officials said they found dangerous conditions that threatened residents' safety, including raw sewage, exposed wiring and broken ceiling joints.

City officials have blamed the apartment owner for not taking care of his property despite collecting rent from residents. But Mr. Quintanilla said city officials should have given residents more time to move out. He also said officials should have told residents that city-tapped developer Delbert McDougal has a contract to buy the property.

Code Enforcement Director Teresa Adrian said the city was looking out for residents' safety. She said all properties receive the same scrutiny.

Mr. Quintanilla said the city is financially backing Mr. McDougal, but officials said the money Mr. McDougal uses to redevelop is loaned to him by Comerica Bank. The council approves Mr. McDougal's loan amounts because Irving has the option to take over any loan the developer defaults on, though it is not required to do so.

The council earlier in the evening was scheduled to vote on whether to raise Mr. McDougal's loan amount from $24 million to $40 million, but Mr. Gears said the item was postponed because of misconceptions about the financial arrangement. The city will have a public hearing before voting on the matter, he said.
This felon is trying to make a living from the illegals in Dallas .

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