I would like to express my heart felt gratitude for the support you showed me for the first edition of The Advocate. My heart was full as I read the responses from so many of you.
My brother and other family members from Louisiana thought that I was featured in an article in the Baton Rouge Newspaper, "The Advocate." Calls were coming to my parents like, "Cher, may Brandi was featured in the paper, yeh?"
Some wanted to know the reason that I created such a vehicle. It was primarily to give voice to the awesome Young Professionals that I see each day... some patiently waiting for their shot, others taking it by wit and maneuver, but all with passion, exuberance and skill. Besides, I wanted someone to advocate for me.
Here are some of the comments that I received...
"Brandi,I think that this is absolutely awesome! I commend you on your advocacy of spreading information that young professionals need to know. Great idea...and you're doing a good job of presenting it! If I can be of any assistance, please let me know."
"Greetings Brandi,Very nice and very well put together. Congrats, I am proud of your accomplishments. I would love to support in some way."
"Just wanted to send you a note letting you know that this was put together well and very informative."
And yes I did get a constructive comment:
"when mixing politics with business you need to make sure you're on the same side of table before mixing.Private business, hotel and tax payer's money isn't a good mix for me.."
Unfortunately, politics, business, tax payer's money, etc. are all a part of my life as a Young Professional and I have to call it like I see it in whatever combination.
Now I've got to start working on the sequel. :)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Dallas Convention Center Hotel - The Issue of Creditability
After having worked with the Mayor of Dallas, Tom Leppert, for the last year on a community task force, I would say that he is a very smart guy, engaged when he speaks to you, passionate about the work that he does and willing to work long hours performing his duties as Mayor.
So initially when he explained the importance of a convention center hotel for the city of Dallas, I thought... cool. Knowing him, I was confident that he had commissioned studies to determine whether or not it made sense and fleshed it out with the numerous community groups that he meets with on a regular basis. Besides, he didn't stop the discussion with the hotel, he also discussed the need for an improved school district, code enforcement and increasing sustainable minority businesses in the community. (We talked about improving the sustainability of diverse art institutions, but I'll save that for another blog.) Most of all, I was impressed by his desire to respond to our toughest questions with what always felt like an honest answer and his challenge to us to participate in the change we sought in Dallas.
So when I saw my first Vote Yes ad, I was taken aback. Were they talking about the same person that I had so many conversations with? The person who though I was the youngest person at the table, always thanked me for my input. I mean really. But even more so than that, who were these people. They couldn't be the citizens of Dallas. Up until this, I'd heard wonderful things about his donating his salary for scholarships among other things.
Do we not believe that he would do research prior to bringing this to the people? Or are we all just afraid that the dip in the economy will keep us from recouping the financial outlay? My entrepreneurial spirit says that times of recession are times to prepare for the upturn, because it will come. And while there are many other areas to focus on, bringing conventions and tax revenue back to the city could promote business in downtown Dallas. We need more tax revenue to supplement Dallas homeowners with kids taking their children and their tax money to the suburbs in search of better schools.
So, I would say a few things about the Convention Center Hotel. I'm for bringing conventions, revenue and opportunity to the city of Dallas. If you don't want it, what is your plan to improve our school district and/or increase our tax base? And can you disagree without annihilating a mayor who has heretofore been well liked by the community? Or is that not even the people of Dallas, but Mr. Crow?
So initially when he explained the importance of a convention center hotel for the city of Dallas, I thought... cool. Knowing him, I was confident that he had commissioned studies to determine whether or not it made sense and fleshed it out with the numerous community groups that he meets with on a regular basis. Besides, he didn't stop the discussion with the hotel, he also discussed the need for an improved school district, code enforcement and increasing sustainable minority businesses in the community. (We talked about improving the sustainability of diverse art institutions, but I'll save that for another blog.) Most of all, I was impressed by his desire to respond to our toughest questions with what always felt like an honest answer and his challenge to us to participate in the change we sought in Dallas.
So when I saw my first Vote Yes ad, I was taken aback. Were they talking about the same person that I had so many conversations with? The person who though I was the youngest person at the table, always thanked me for my input. I mean really. But even more so than that, who were these people. They couldn't be the citizens of Dallas. Up until this, I'd heard wonderful things about his donating his salary for scholarships among other things.
Do we not believe that he would do research prior to bringing this to the people? Or are we all just afraid that the dip in the economy will keep us from recouping the financial outlay? My entrepreneurial spirit says that times of recession are times to prepare for the upturn, because it will come. And while there are many other areas to focus on, bringing conventions and tax revenue back to the city could promote business in downtown Dallas. We need more tax revenue to supplement Dallas homeowners with kids taking their children and their tax money to the suburbs in search of better schools.
So, I would say a few things about the Convention Center Hotel. I'm for bringing conventions, revenue and opportunity to the city of Dallas. If you don't want it, what is your plan to improve our school district and/or increase our tax base? And can you disagree without annihilating a mayor who has heretofore been well liked by the community? Or is that not even the people of Dallas, but Mr. Crow?
Monday Night Politics: The Convention Center Hotel
Dallas Convention Center Hotel Debate - Proposition 1
No means yes to the hotel.
Yes means no to the hotel.
Mayor Leppert - "If Mr. Crow is being demonized..."
"Who Supports the Convention Center Hotel"
No means yes to the hotel.
Yes means no to the hotel.
Mayor Leppert - "If Mr. Crow is being demonized..."
"Who Supports the Convention Center Hotel"
Opposition - "3,000 jobs will only last..."
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