Pulse OF THE City

Scenes from the Squalor Squad

An hour on the front lines in the war against topless clubs.

THE BATTLE BETWEEN NUDIE-BAR BOSSes and anti-exotica activists is heating up, and the fighting has moved from City Hall to the streets. Or the sidewalks, to be more specific. The North Texas Leadership Council, representing the residential sectorof the declining neighborhood near Love Field, is employing tat-tletale tactics in an effort to chase away the topless clubs-recording license plate numbers and sending notices to the vehicles’ owners, or more preferably their wives, that warn of the potential risks of “AIDS.” “Marital Infidelity” and a host of other social ills for those who frequent sexually oriented businesses.

On the Squalor Squad are about 20 volunteers who patrol the parking lots armed with camcorders and high-powered photography equipment. On July 3 Bill Simpson, the executive director of the Leadership Council, is on patrol with Mel McCoy, a retired postal employee, and this reporter. We hop out of a minivan, position ourselves on a Northwest Highway sidewalk and step into action:



5:55 p.m.-The temperature is 96 degrees. McCoy resembles a tourist-Hawaiian shirt, wide-brim hat and clip-on sunglasses. He aims his Sony video camera at cars parked outside The Fare and begins his narrative. “JMR-77Y.”

5:59p.m.-After recording about a dozen license plates, the Squalor Squad is spotted by some unsettled parking valets. “They know we’re here,” says McCoy, squinting into the camera. “Sometimes the girls will come out and put on a show.”

6:05 p.m.-The taping continues outside Baby Dolls. A rotund man. who later identifies himself as the Baby Dolls manager, approaches. “What are you doing?” he inquires. McCoy seems unshaken. “Taking pictures. It’s my free right as an American.” The manager growls, “Not any more! You need to get out of here now. I’ll sue you. This is private property.” Simpson snaps back, “It’s a public sidewalk.”

6:07 p.m.-A crowd gathers. Three men wearing shiny blue tuxedo vests emerge from Baby Dolls. The manager gets more aggressive, backing Simpson onto the grass between the sidewalk and Northwest Highway. Mutual body bumping ensues.

6:10 p.m.-The manager steps back, pulling a tiny cell phone from his pants pocket. Both sides threaten to call the police. Simpson retreats to a pay phone.

6:16 p.m.-A cop car pulls up. Simpson addresses police. “We’ve got some guys prohibiting the public right-of-way, officer.” “You are lying!” hollers the manager. “You came onto our property.” Simpson points to a crack separating the sidewalk from the parking lot. “We never crossed that line.” A second cop arrives and announces, “We’ve got a supervisor headed out here.”

6:25 p.m.-The manager grows boisterous. “We’re filing a lawsuit.” Simpson screams back, “I’m filing assault charges. You pushed me into traffic.” “Oh yeah?” rejoins the manager, “I’m filing assault charges on you.”

6:28 p.m.-A police sergeant arrives. McCoy looks disappointed that the scene is calming down. “Usually the girls put on a show before all this happens.” Cars honk.

6:35 p.m.-The police explain that Simpson and McCoy can take ail the video footage they want, as long as (hey don’t step over the crack. Anyone wanting to file charges will have to do so with the city attorney. “We will take your names and information,” says one cop, “but beyond that, we’re staying out of it.”

6:55 p.m.-Crowd disperses. The manager and bouncers head back into the club. “I think that’s good enough for today,” says Simpson, soaked in sweat. “I’ve got some ice-cold root beers in the car,” says McCoy. “I thought for sure the girls would put on a show for us.”-Dan Michalski

UNCHAIN MY ART!

Henry Moore sculpture gets six-figure face lift.



Caged behind two chain link fences, Henry Moore’s City Hall masterpiece had spent the first seven months of this year in protective custody, the victim of statue abuse. Twenty years of touring high schoolers carving their initials into its bronze base and urinating homeless folk using the public art as a means of self-expression had laid waste the sculpture. But on July 15, the restraints finally came down after a valiant community effort restored the “Dallas Piece” to its former glory.

City fathers had scrambled for funds to refurbish the statue, which is now valued at $3.5 million. The Dallas Foundation, a community concern dedicated to county causes, agreed to split the costs of repair with the city. Artisans from the Henry Moore Foundation came from England last November to perform the face lift. One month and $300,000 later, the sculpture once again sparkled, but the fences kept the public at bay for the next six months. The delay resulted from a glitch in the delivery of the sophisticated security system.

Three video cameras now sit atop lighting poles and record all suspicious activity. Although some might find the beefed-up security intimidating, city officials only have one word for those who come to view the restored masterpiece: Behave! -M.D.

Bad Reviews Won’t Stop Judge From Running

Candidate waiting in the wings to fight for Candace Tyson’s bench.

THOSE IN-THE-COURTHOUSE-know weren’t surprised to learn that state District Judge Candace Tyson received the lowest approval rating of any Dallas judge in the biennial Dallas bar poll published in July. It’s the third time in a row that Tyson has placed dead last.

Among those who expected Tyson to receive failing grades was attorney Margaret Keliher, an associate with Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue and a Republican Party activist. Keliher is currently campaigning for Tyson’s spot on the bench. She’s had her eye on a judgeship for several years and figures it’s time that Tyson, with her rule-at-a-whim reputation and her high reversal rate, was ousted.

Of the 139 Dallas judges rated, Tyson provoked the greatest number of responses. Only 13 percent of the 836 lawyers who chose to critique her approve of her performance. The same number say she applies the law incorrectly, while only 17 percent believe she is impartial. With competent judges boasting a 90 percent or better approval rating, Tyson has garnered some of the lowest marks in the 22-year history of the bar poll. “I’ve never heard of anything like this,” says Dallas attorney Fred Baron. “This is really a sad commentary on our system when someone that low stays in action.”

Tyson’s political consultant, John Doner, doesn’t hold much stock in the poll, however, and argues that she disposed of the second highest number of cases in Dallas County last year. Yet Tyson was considered “hardworking” by only 15 percent of the attorneys polled.

Evidently, stories of her biased rulings and her discourteous courtroom demeanor are spreading. Last June, the Texas Young Lawyers Association branded Tyson the most despised judge in Texas.

If local attorneys had their way, Candace Tyson-Dallas’ first female Republican judge-would have hung up her robe years ago. But with name recognition being one of the strongest factors injudicial elections, voters have kept Tyson on her bench since 1986. However, Tyson’s name was barely enough to keep her in office in 1994 when she narrowly defeated Suzanne Bass by a scant 500 votes in the Republican primary.

The latest buzz in the legal community is that Tyson will not seek another terni as a district judge. Instead she will try to climb the judicial ladder, seeking a seat on the Texas Supreme Court in Austin.

Baron and other attorneys say they wouldn’t be surprised if Tyson wins the Republican primary in March. “She’s got a lot of friends in high places,” says Baron. Many people hate her in the courtroom, he says, but “when she is vote-getting, she can really turn it on.”

Political consultant Doner confirmed that Tyson has officially filed to run for the high court, but made it clear that she has until the January deadline to opt to run for re-election instead. His best advice to local voters? “Elect her to the Supreme Court- that’ll get her out of Dallas.”

-Sara Peterson

HARBINGER OF HOCKEY DOOM



The big question about self-proclaimed Dallas millionaire John Spano, who was charged in July with bank and wire fraud in his failed bid to purchase the N.Y. Islanders hockey team. Is why nobody saw the red flags that indicated he was not who he appeared to be. Maybe Islanders owner John Pickett should have read a March 1996 article in Texas Business Magazine which mentions John Spano’s abortive attempt to purchase the Dallas Stars. Like many a purported con man, John Spano became what other people needed him to be:

The art of the deal fell to John Spano.

At 31, Spano represented exactly what Green [Stars’ owner] desired most He was a partner who lovod the game. Hecould put up 40 million for a SO percent Interest-leaving Green the chance to stay in control. Chief of the Bison Group, Spano was well known for making money by leasing heavy equipment, including aircraft.

The chemistry of wealth, love of sport and respect for each other appeared to give Green a last minute victory.

But It slipped away. Spano was not able to close on his contract to buy the team.

It is difficult for the principals to say exactly what stopped the deal. Spano had the money, they insist, and the will.

Fielding Decides He Is Innocent After All

Former city councilman blames his former lawyer for his former plea



WHY IN THE WORLD DID Paul Fielding ask Sherman Judge Paul Brown last July to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea on federal charges of fraud and extortion? In his April trial, hadn’t Fielding seen the handwriting on the wall when he changed his plea to guilty? A jury had heard a damaging tape recording of him plotting with Councilman Al Lipscomb to set up a minority front business. How could he be as innocent as he now claims? As innocent as he claimed to be during the nine months prior to trial when he said the charges against him were politically motivated?

Fielding has based his most recent change of heart on the alleged incompetence of his lawyers, Chad Richardson and Murray Bristol, claiming they gave him bad legal advice concerning the severity of the punishment Fielding faced if found guilty on each of the eight counts against him.

Fielding may be right on one count. His lawyers seemed in over their heads, lacking the sophistication for high profile, complex federal litigation. Although Chad Richardson comes from good legal stock, (he is the son of the feisty Tulsa litigator Gary Richardson who represented former Waco DA Vic Feazell and won a large libel verdict against The Dallas Morning News), Chad is only a toddler lawyer with four years trial experience under his vest. Co-counsel Bristol also became a licensed attorney in 1993 and was a frat brother of Chad’s at Baylor. Fielding at first believed he had retained the more tenacious elder Richardson, but wound up with his son instead. Chad says Fielding had no problems with him taking the lead-at least not until the deck got stacked against him. Still, the Lipscomb tape took young Chad by surprise. “Had I been prepared to deal with that,” he later told the local press. “We would have handled the case differently.”

Which only begs the question: Why wasn’t Chad prepared? Liberal criminal discovery rules in federal court grant the defense access to incriminating statements, recorded or otherwise. Why hadn’t the defense learned about the Lipscomb tape long before trial, copped an early plea and worked a better deal for Fielding from the get-go?

The prosecution did turn over the tape to the defense long before trial, but the tape was “inaudible,” says Chad. ’We tried to have it specially enhanced but that didn’t work. Besides, Fielding told us there was nothing on it to worry about.” The FBI had more success cleaning up the tape and by the time it was introduced in trial, it was too late for Richardson to control the damage caused by the bombshell.

Post plea. Fielding fired Chad and hired two highly regarded criminal lawyers: Tim Evans of Fort Worth and Gerald Goldstein of San Antonio. Goldstein’s first order of business was to claim that Richardson had coerced Fielding into pleading guilty and he did so without fully understanding its repercussions. Richardson claims Fielding decided to change his plea after he realized he would be facing a harsher sentence because he refused to cooperate with the government. “I believe they [the government] wanted him to flip Al Lipscomb, but he didn’t want to do it.”

Judge Brown ruled on Fielding’s motion without delay, refusing to allow him to withdraw his plea. Essentially, he said that the former councilman was a “sophisticated businessman” who should have known better.

Of course, that’s what got him into trouble in the first place. -M.D.

THE WIT AND WISDOM OF CHARLES HALEY

The following are excerpts from a proof copy of the forthcoming autobiography of former Cowboy defensive end Charles Haley entitled: All the Rage. The Life of an NFL Renegade. The ever-controversial, two-time All-Pro hung up his cleats in July after playing 11 seasons in the NFL. Andrews McMeel Publishing is releasing the book this fall.



Charles Haley, the writer:



on forgiveness…

“One thing I’ve learned about myself is that I have a lot of hate in my body, and sometimes it just builds up to where it has to be released…. Part of it. I guess comes from not being able to forgive people.” (pp. 9-10)



on higher education…

“To me. the most incredible thing about college was the fact that you could get all the food you wanted.” (p. 35)



on psychology…

“That attitude led to my first encounter with a psychologist…. People have been forcing me to visit shrinks and psychologists all my life, and most of them have been crazier than me.” (p. 36)



on literature…

“The next day Barry [Switzer] gave me an autographed copy of Bootlegger’s Boy, his autobiography. So I read it right away. Man. I’ll tell you…it was pretty f deep.” (p. 126)



on romance…

“But I did all kinds of crazy stuff to get her attention. I’d send her flowers, write poetry, call her up all the time. Eventually she gave in and we went out on a date-to McDonald’s. I think….” (p. 39)



on feminism…

“I do not treat my wife as property…. Plus. I was raised by a skirt. I . learned at an early age to respect the skirt. And I still do.” V (p. 123)



on adultery…

“I believe that most men are tempted to commit adultery. They think about it, fantasize about it. all the time. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Dallas Cowboy or not.” (p. 215)

I Owe My Soul to the Company…School?



Intel forms alliance with rural schools to train technocrats of the future



You won’t find metal detectors at any of (he schools in Northwest Independent School District (NISD). Gang violence isn’t a problem. This is the domain of second generation computer nerds, the sons and daughters of employees who work for the techno-giants near Alliance Airport, where the only turf war is whether PCs are better than Macs. Well, that issue has recently been settled. PCs with Intel processing rule!

July 14, 1997, not only heralded the ground-breaking ceremonies for the Intel Corporation at Alliance, but it marked the long-term commitment of the computer conglomerate to a unique partnership with the struggling NISD. Last April 28, the two reached an agreement which gave Intel a $45 million abatement of its school property taxes over the next five years. In exchange, Intel is pumping $2 million a year into NISD tax coffers and donating another $2 million annually in state-of-the-art Intel computers, educational and support services. In August, the district reaped the first benefits of its association when Intel contributed an additional $1.4 million by installing 600 new computers.

Although this agreement will serve as a benchmark for public/private partnerships in the generations to come, it arose-at least in part-out of fear that this mostly agrarian community would be aced out of the high stakes game of corporate relocation.

Before Intel agreed to the move, Tarrant County realtors were steering Alliance’s executive clientele to nearby Col-leyville and Southlake for their blue-ribbon Carroll ISD schools, keeping the cities served by NISD (Trophy Club, Roanoke, Justin, Haslet, Rhome and Newark) from seeing their fair share of the development boom. Adding insult to injury, the city of Fort Worth formed a non-taxing Sports Authority to ink its deal with Texas Motor Speedway, cutting N1SD completely out of property taxes on the 1,000 acre facility, a loss of $1.84 million per year. Because that kind of money buys a lot of erasers, N1SD has sued the city of Fort Worth and the racetrack.

In [992, before the fighting started, the city of Fort Worth began to woo Intel to Alliance and asked NISD to participate in moving the negotiations forward. By 1996, Superintendent Dr. John Brooks and several school trustees had hooked Intel with the allure of tax abatement. Intel had an additional motivation: the need for an educated, trained work force. It knew that the best way to acquire technology-savvy workers was to assist the schools adjacent to its fabrication sites and help rewrite their curriculum to meet the needs of business. Says Steve Grant, Intel plant manager, “Northwest ISO’s new curriculum is designed to improve math, science and technology skills, while advancing the instruction of foreign language, English and communication skills. These skills are needed in all businesses, not just high tech.”

Although Intel will not produce a single microchip until it goes online in mid-1999, its gifts to NISD are unconditional. “We are fully aware that many of the other employers in this area will benefit as much as we will,” says Grant. By pumping money into NISD, Intel is taking a gamble that many of its future employees will be products of the school system it has helped partner. Of course, those tax abatements make it worth the risk.-Blanche Evans

How Much for a Cup of Joe at the White House?



Want to down a shot of espresso with Hillary? Share a latte with AI Gore? Or maybe your generous political contributions have entitled you to spend an entire night in the Lincoln Bedroom. No matter whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, access is the name of the power game inside the Beltway, and Dallas donors play it as well as anyone. Gleaned from a list of the 400 biggest U.S. political contributors are ten of the heftiest hitters from this area:



#45 Craig and Cathryn Hall, Dallas. $231,050. Party: Democratic. Hall Financial Group, real estate



#82 D. Andrew Beal, Dallas. $190,000. Party: Republican and Libertarian. Beal Financial, bank holding company



#91 Frank L and Debbie D. Branson. Dallas. $175,304. Party: Democratic and Republican. Law Office of Frank L. Branson



#116 David Bonderman, Fort Worth. $157,750. Party: Democratic and Republican. Runs Texas Pacific Group (controls Continental Airlines)



#138 Jack R. Anderson, Dallas. $142,290. Party: Republican. President. Calvert Corp.. health care consulting and investments

#193 Forest E. Hoglund, Dallas. $124,320. Parly: Democratic and Republican. CEO, Enron Gas



#247 Marcos A. Rodriguez Jr., Irving. $114,000. Parly: Republican. President. KLTY-FM, Christian Radio



#292 Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Wyly, Dallas. $104,417. Party: Democratic and Republican-Director. Sterling Software



#309 Raymond D. Nasher, Dallas. $102,700. Party: Democratic. CEO. Raymond D. NasherCo. (NorthPark)



#358 T. Boone Pickens, Irving. $90,500. Party: Republican, Former CEO. Mesa Petroleum

SOURCE: MOTHER JONES MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE ’97