6 January 23 - 29, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Both Mace and Crockett often use their social media accounts to spread their mes- sages, and this of course, warranted posts from both. After the confrontation, Mace wrote on X “If you want to come at me for going off - yeah - here I am going the f*ck off on Jas- mine Crockett to protect women, particularly rape survivors. I will always hold the line.” Crockett also took to X to address her perspective on her latest viral feud. “Nancy Mace loves the ‘uneducated’ as Trump calls them,” she wrote in part. “Please explain to me how the same damn Karen that called Cap Police on a child who shook her hand wanted to act like she wanted to fight me?! ME… the same person who has represented real killers in court.” ▼ PUBLIC SAFETY THE FIRE OUT WEST DALLAS FIREFIGHTERS DISPATCHED TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRES. BY ALYSSA FIELDS N orth Texas firefighters and medics have joined the legions of first re- sponders racing to beat the fires that have engulfed Los Angeles. Six members of Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) make up the hun- dreds of Texan frontline firefighters assist- ing in containing fires rapidly devouring the City of Angels. “We stand in solidarity with the teams of firefighters working to protect lives and property,” said Interim Fire Chief Justin Ball in a press statement. “Dallas Fire Res- cue Department is always ready to step in to support our fellow firefighters, especially in these extremely challenging conditions.” The city sent a Type 3 fire engine, which is designed to battle wildfires and is equipped with four-wheel drive to navigate rough terrains. The engine is staffed by four wildland firefighters and two medics who will work to provide critical medical support for fire crews. DFR is a part of the strike team composed of crews from Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen and other area fire departments. The departments sent their firefighters west on Jan. 11, following an or- der from Gov. Greg Abbott. Earlier that day Abbott deployed the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Texas A&M Forest Service in response to requests from CAL FIRE. The Texas governor sent 135 firefighters, emergency management and medical per- sonnel and more than 45 emergency re- sponse vehicles to Southern California. The long-distance dispatch comes after Califor- nia tapped its resources as the fires contin- ued to grow. The strike teams were sent for 14 days with the possibility of an extension based on need. “Our hearts grieve with the entire Los Angeles community as they continue to re- spond to these destructive wildfires,” said Abbott in a press statement. “Texans know all too well the devastation wildfires can cause to our communities, and our country is stronger when we come to- gether in times of crisis.” Several other states have joined in the battle against the flames as part of the Emergency Manage- ment Assistance Compact, a national mutual aid program that allows states to share re- sources in response to natural and man- made disasters. “California’s always been there for other regions of the country in their time of crisis,” U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said in an interview with NPR. “And now it’s time for the country to be there for California, no strings attached.” Four large wildfires are spreading across Southern California, the two largest of which, the Palisades and Ea- ton fires, are sandwiching Los Angeles from the east and west sides. The fires have con- sumed over 40,000 acres and caused billions of dollars in damage to the greater Pasadena and Santa Monica residential areas. The rapid growth of the wildfires is at- tributed to the aridity of the region in con- junction with the naturally occurring high-speed Santa Ana winds. The Palisades fire, predominantly hitting the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, tripled in size within four hours on Jan. 10 as 60-mile-per-hour winds carried embers that ignited the community. The Eaton fire, smaller yet more deadly, surged through the Eaton Canyon and into Pasadena and Altadena, leaving little in its wake. The most recent estimated death toll is 27, and many others have been reported missing. California Gov. Gavin Newsom told NBC News he expects that number to grow. Early on, heavy winds prevented air- borne efforts to extinguish the fires, and the rough terrain of the San Gabriel Moun- tains made ground coverage difficult. In addition, the Los Angeles Fire Department recently faced $17 million in budget cuts that significantly limited its abilities to con- trol large fires. To boost the community, President Joe Biden has announced $770 payments to those affected by the fires. The payment program comes after it was revealed that State Farm Insurance had canceled fire pro- tection for tens of thousands of homeown- ers in California. “Our hearts ache for the 24 innocent souls we have lost in the wildfires across Los Angeles,” said the president in a press statement. “Jill and I pray for them and their loved ones. We are deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the unprece- dented ongoing wildfires across Southern California.” ▼ EDUCATION IN SESSION WHAT NORTH TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT FROM THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. BY ALYSSA FIELDS I n the face of million-dollar budget defi- cits, several North Texas school districts put funding at the top of their legislative priorities ahead of the 89th legislative ses- sion. Local districts are strained under the pressures of a public school system that has failed to find answers for dwindling enroll- ments while leaving certain crucial school services underfunded. General funding, teacher retention, school safety and special programs are some of the most common pressure points for school districts across the region. The Legislature will be in session in Aus- tin for the next 140 days, voting on thou- sands of measures, many of which deal with the problems facing educators across the Lone Star State. Lawmakers have already filed bills that would provide solutions to some of the grievances listed by school dis- tricts. Here’s are some of the most popular legislative priorities North Texas school dis- tricts have announced: Increasing the Basic Allotment Districts across North Texas agree funding is an issue in every classroom. Every district cites inflation as the cause of drastic budget pitfalls. Operational costs have increased year-over- year since 2020 but the system by which indi- vidual schools receive their funding hasn’t changed. Each school receives a basic allot- ment per student, $6,160, an amount that hasn’t increased since 2019. Schools are indi- vidually responsible for allocating these funds to a variety of costs, ranging from basic neces- sities to special programs. But with rising costs, schools are strapped, and a growing number are forced to shutter their doors. Dallas Independent School District eliminated 250 staff positions over two years but is still burdened by a $186-million deficit. Denton ISD is asking the state for an increase of $1,340 per student to cover a variety of issues facing the district. Both chambers of the Legislature are aiming to increase the basic allotment. Rep. Vikki Goodwin, a Democrat representing Austin, filed House Bill 1770, which calls for an increase in the basic allotment to $7,500. Sen. Royce West, a Democrat of Dallas, filed his own bill, Senate Bill 597, that would in- crease the basic allotment to $7,564. Before the session, lawmakers filed over 45 bills re- lating to school funding and reform. Compensating Teachers Increased reports of behavioral issues and serious learning loss prompted by the pan- demic have helped to drive teachers out of schools. Across the nation, teacher vacan- cies plague schools, and retention rates re- main low. Now, districts are requesting increased funding to properly compensate their remaining teachers. Denton ISD says its proposed increase to the basic allotment would allow for an addi- tional $5,000 in compensation for each teacher. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is fo- cused on providing its teachers with post- career compensation by prioritizing an increase in the government-funded pension, the Teacher Retirement System. Without significant increases to general funding, Dal- las ISD has been able to offer only 2% raises to teachers in the last two years. Bills to increase teacher salaries have failed in the past. Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat from Travis County and a former educator, filed a bill that would set the mini- mum salary for teachers at $70,000 per year. Securing Schools Following a national surge in school shoot- ings that include a number of devastating at- tacks in Texas in recent years, lawmakers and districts have scrambled to secure campuses. Mass casualties perpetrated by gunmen on campuses shed light on the inadequacies of school resource officers. Those charged with protecting schools failed to prevent the mass murder of students on numerous occa- sions. Following the Uvalde school shooting, the deadliest in Texas history, Rep. Tracy King, a Democrat from the shattered com- munity, authored a bill during the last session that required schools to have one armed offi- cer present on all school campuses. House Bill 3 was signed into law by Gov. Abbott and requires those officers to com- plete quarterly active shooter training, but many districts don’t have the funding to comply with such mandates. Dallas ISD spends $257 per student for school safety but receives only $10 from the state, and the district has concerns about providing competitive wages for officers. Denton ISD is $4.4 million over its safety and security budget. Plano ISD is calling for the state to fully fund the requirements set by last session’s landmark bill. Each session a plethora of bills emerges at- tempting to ensure the safety of students. This session is no different; North Texas lawmakers are urging the state to increase the security budgets so schools can meet the requirements of prior bills and keep students safer. Sen. West also filed Senate Bill 598, which would require the state to provide schools with $100 per student and an additional $60,000 per campus for security measures. Special Resource Funding For students who require more resources, the state uses a weighted system that allo- cates funds on a need basis. Students en- Unfair Park from p4 Kurtz Frausun, owner of Studio Local firefighters are helping fight the massive blazes in Southern California.
