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Biking in Dallas
April 23, 2013
Lee M. Kleinman for City Council District 11
Due to redistricting I now live in District 11 which has been represented by Linda Koop for several years now. Koop is well known to cycling advocates for her work in transportation and support for a better cycling infrastructure. Note that District 11 is home to the Preston Ridge trail, Cottonwood Creek trail, White Rock Creek trail, and Northaven trail. Hike and bike trails matter and District 11 is a shining example of what can happen when a community works together in this respect.
Lee M Kleinman – photo credit Far North Dallas Advocate/ Can Turkyilmaz
Koop’s term expires next month and voters in District 11 will be choosing between Lee Kleinman and Ori Raphael. Both are business guys. Raphael is a former Pete Sessions staffer, yes that Pete Sessions. Kleinman has been knee deep in local politics for years. This is an easy choice for me: Lee Kleinman gets my vote and endorsement.
I met Lee for coffee a few years ago. I had some concerns about some of the trail construction in what was then District 12. As a member of the park board I thought he would be a good person to get to know.
He was very helpful and I was impressed with his dedication and commitment to our hike and bike trail system and Dallas as a whole. He’s a good person to know and has made numerous contributions to our city as a citizen and also member of many volunteer boards. He can be spotted now and then riding a tandem bicycle around town with his wife, Lisa.
I’ve linked to each candidate’s official web site where you can learn more about where they stand on pressing issues. Since this is a cycling blog I want to highlight some of Kleinman’s contributions that affect or interest our world:
- Dallas Park and Recreation Department – Board Member
- Dallas Zoological Society – Board Member
- Dallas Zoo Long Range Planning Committee
- Trinity Commons Foundation – Board Member
- White Rock Centennial Host Committee – Finance Chair
- Center for Non Profit Management – Judge – Awards of Excellence
- Dallas Bicycle Plan Steering Committee
- Temple Emanu El – Board Member
- Temple Emanu El Pre-School – Board Member
- Temple Emanu El – Ba’al Tekiah
- Greenhill School – Capital Campaign Committee
- St. Marks School of Texas – Class Reunion Committee
- Friends of Northaven Trail – Founding Board Member
- Friends of White Rock Creek Trail – Founding Board Member
- YMCA Indian Guides Wappinger Tribe – Chief
- OrgSync, Inc – Advisory Board Member
- National Recreation and Park Association
- Habitat for Humanity
- Dallas County Grand Jury
- CEO Netweavers
- Metroplex Technology Business Forum
- North Texas Crime Commission
I got a kick out of reading about a recent a District 11 forum at the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce in the Dallas Morning News City Hall blog. The two candidates were invited to share their vision for the district, Tristan Hallman wrote,
“Kleinman, a former Park Board member who earned Koop’s endorsement, said he supports theCotton Belt Corridor, bike trails, pedestrian access, mixed-use developments — think Mockingbird Station — and a Trinity River toll road.“
Kleinman added, “Streets and highways are always important, but options are important, too”. Raphael was having none of that: “Let’s go back to basics,” Raphael said. “People spend their time getting around in their cars. That’s where our focus should be.”
Kleinman suggested Raphael was stuck in a “Detroit mentality” meaning drive there now. Raphael was quick to accuse Kleinman of being the candidate who’s “using my tax dollars to pay for bike trails”.
Goodness.
Tax dollars for bike trails, the horror…
Imagine that: a city using bond and county/federal grant money to fund hike and bike trails.
Oh the horror…
I mean practically everyone knows bike trails are a gateway drug. Today it’s bike trails, tomorrow it’s city parks, and later still: county nature preserves! Who will stop this madness?
For those new to Dallas politics, a bond fund must be approved by the voters, and sometime voters approve of projects that not every single voter is thrilled about. That’s what we call democracy. Old Abe had it right when he said you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Color me crazy but I don’t think the Tea Party mentality of “it’s all about me and my tax dollars” will serve this district or the City of Dallas very well.
In closing I’m looking forward to voting for Lee Kleinman and I think he’ll do an exceptional job for District 11 and Dallas as a whole. If you live in the far north Dallas area be sure to look at the latestdistrict 11 map. I was previously in district 12 and now I’m in 11, you could be too. I encourage you to visit both candidate’s web sites and learn more about where they stand on numerous issues and then make an informed decision. I did.
