Farmers Branch Is Now Being Sued for Being Too Soft on Hispanics

[TexasTowelie]

Farmers Branch has spent a remarkable amount of time, money and energy over the past several years battling to limit the influence of Hispanics. It's infamous rental ban on people living in this country illegally cost the city seven years and $6 million in legal fees before it was struck down as unconstitutional last week, probably for good this time.

The fight to keep its at-large system of electing City Council members, which a number of Hispanic residents challenged in federal court, fared no better. In January, a judge ordered the city to adopt single-member districts, which led to the election of Ana Reyes as the first-ever Hispanic council member. The city quickly appealed the decision but, at a meeting on July 16, the newly elected council voted to drop the challenge.

Farmers Branch is now being sued over that decision, which leaves the city in an awkward, not to mention ironic, position. After years of battling in court to defend its efforts to repress Hispanics, it's now facing a lawsuit for doing the opposite.

The litigation is being brought by Mark Baker, a civic-minded but otherwise ordinary Farmers Branch resident who accuses the City Council of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. The City Council, he says, "concealed from the public" the purpose of their July 16 meeting and met illegally behind closed doors in in violation of state law.

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/07/farmers_branch_is_now_being_su.php .

[AndyA]

1. I've heard some horrific things about Farmers Branch

Police brutality apparently runs rampant there. I know people who drive out of their way in the DFW metro area just to avoid going through Farmers Branch.

You couldn't pay me to go there.

[TxDemChem]

2. Sadly, I get paid to work at the border of FB and Dallas

It is pretty bad for minorities, especially Hispanics. The cops tend to racially profile my minority coworkers and some white residents there make racist comments out in public, as if everyone around them agrees. My boss, who lives in FB, makes comments like that at work. It's gotten worse since the 2008 election. I try not to spend any time (or money) in FB when possible.

[ashling]

3. This article makes an allegation in the headline and in the text

which is not backed up in the article. The suit was for "violating the Texas Open Meetings Act." If there was more in the suit that indicated Baker was alleging or implying that FB was "being too soft on Hispanics," then it should have detailed those allegations or implications. If there is something in Bakers background or "civic" activity indicating that, then, again, they should have indicated that.

On the flip side, I originally read the article as saying that Baker was an ornery citizen . . . which I don't doubt.