Thread: Activist, residents clash with Irving on apartment closin

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 .

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 65b18.html

Wow sounds like some conditions I'd want to live in.
NOT

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.

So who was the apartment building owner taking advantage of his residents? Could it be this owner was also Hispanic taking advantage of these people since their protests were in Spanish?

the good mayor was on a local radio show today explaining his views and why the place was shut down. all those mentioned in the story are reasons. another reason is that in the attic the firewall between apartments was not up to code and was also falling apart.

A caller mentioned the name of the owner, and i forgot what it is off hand, but the two hosts also wondered if this might be hispanic taking advantage of illegals.
The mayor also said there are 4 more in the Irving area that are targets of the city because these other places are also not kept up. Its not known if the owners are the same groups or people

as for carlos quintanilla, he is the dallas equivilant to racist al sharpton, jesse jackson and others like that. Anything to get his name in the paper and his face on TV to scream racism when he KNOWS its not true. especially in this case. The mayor said there are people of all walks and all colors who were thrown out of this complex

i just noticed on the dallas news sight, under the replies there appears to be messages left by carlos quintanilla himself.
claiming to want investigations from all sorts of federal agencies.
claiming hes going to take back irving and turn it back into a single member district and other stuff. dont know how since he dont live there