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[email protected] From trash Quick Look to cherished: 6 Dallas Doings 7 Around the Town The Junkluggers, p.6 8-13 Meet the Candidates 14 Arts & Culture / Simchas 16-17 Columnists 20 Jewish Foodie Thursday, April 22, 2021 • 10 Iyar 5781 • VOLUME 75 NO. 16 • tjpnews.com $1.00 In Service to Their Cities North Texas Jewish candidates cite enduring values of community and tikkun olam as they seek office Story begins on p.2 Light Shabbat candles: SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: MEET THE CANDIDATES 7:45 p.m. Friday, April 23 Early voting through Tuesday, April 27; Election Day is May 1, pp.8-13 Shabbat ends: 8:55 p.m. Saturday, April 24 2 | April 22, 2021 Jewish candidates seek office across North Texas Keeping the Faith founder of his own real estate property tax base of all the Council investment firm, Burk said his districts in Dallas,” Burk said. “We The famous passage from business and finance experience have the worst streets, and we Jeremiah 29:7 is often described as a will help him guide Dallas through deserve to have the best streets.” call to action for civic engagement: the difficult times the city has Burk and his three children “Seek the welfare of the city...for in experienced due to COVID-19. celebrated their b’nai mitzvah its prosperity you shall prosper.” “I’ve been investing in the at Temple Emanu-El. His father With Judaism’s emphasis on community for the past 35 recently celebrated his second bar taking care of the community and years,” Burk said. “I’m the only mitzvah there at age 83. making the world a better place, [candidate] with 35 years of “Being a member of the Jewish the six Jewish hopefuls all point to finance and business background, community has been woven their faith as a guiding principle in and Dallas is a 4-billion-dollar-a- into the fabric of our lives for decision-making. District 13. year business... We need business generations,” Burk said. “For me, during her first term in office was The fourth-generation Texan and finance on this Council now one of the most powerful principles “helping move the city forward Dallas City Council and lifelong resident of the district more than ever.” of Judaism is an appreciation for through very challenging times,” said he’s running for Council If elected, Burk, who is both the gifts and sacrifices of especially problems arising from Leland Burk because he has a “heart for the endorsed by the Dallas Police past generations, as well as our the COVID-19 pandemic. Her community” and wants to serve its Association and Dallas Firefighters responsibility to future generations greatest accomplishment in District Dallas businessman Leland residents. Association, said his highest of Jews. Being Jewish also comes 12 was securing a second fulltime Burk is seeking election to the As the co-founder of First priority would be public safety. with a special sensitivity to ambulance, which has reduced Dallas City Council representing Independent National Bank and Dallas ended 2020 with its persecution and dehumanization emergency response times, she highest murder rate in 15 years, of vulnerable people, and I will said. Observing Covid-19 Best Practices a statistic Burk hopes to combat fight discrimination wherever I see “I dig into the briefings and the through many strategies, including it as a member of the Dallas City proposed programs and contracts Rug Mart | SmithCo Flooring community-based and crime Council.” and I ask the questions that help Full Service Commercial & Residential Flooring Company prevention initiatives. In addition Burk is running against four first- shape better policy, to form more to reducing the crime rate, Burk time Council candidates: Da’On effective programs and to spend Hardwood • Carpet • Tile • Stone • Vinyl • Installation said he wants to increase public Boulanger-Chatman, Ryan Moore, our taxpayer dollars more wisely,” safety funding and hire more Mac Smith and Gay Donnell Willis. Mendelsohn said. Mention this ad and we will make a $100 donation to the Jewish police officers. —Nicole Hawkins Mendelsohn said she is also organization of your choice* for all projects of $1,000 or more. “I am a firm believer that all of “very proud of [her] work and our opportunity and prosperity in Cara Mendelsohn leadership in expanding homeless Call today to schedule your Dallas begins and ends with public services and sheltering in Dallas, FREE CONSULTATION safety,” Burk said. Cara Mendelsohn is seeking especially as our homeless Burk was appointed by reelection for a second consecutive population is rising locally and Joe Kboudi 972-243-0973 current Council Member Jennifer term to the Dallas City Council across the nation.” 14073 Proton Rd. Staubach Gates to serve on the representing District 12 in Far Mendelsohn previously worked Northwest Highway and Preston North Dallas. in the nonprofit sector, including “You can stand on our reputation” Road Area Plan Advisory Task Mendelsohn, who was first as director of The Samaritan *Upon project completion and payment. Force and as a commissioner on elected to office in 2019, says she is Inn homeless shelter, executive the Arts and Culture Advisory running for a second term for the director of Rebuilding Together Commission of the City of Dallas. same reason she ran initially — to North Texas and chair of the Collin He also plans to push for repairs to represent her district while serving County Homeless Coalition. This the city’s streets and other aspects the entire city of Dallas. work prepared her for serving of infrastructure. Mendelsohn said her biggest constituents, she said. “District 13 has the highest contribution to the city of Dallas Leon Jacobson, a Dallas resident, business owner and campaign volunteer, first met Mendelsohn Rosemarie’s Cleaning Service when he was looking for nonprofits to support. Mendelsohn put Jacobson in contact with the CEO of Austin Street Center, one of Dallas’s • Angie’s List rated “A” overall largest homeless shelters, Jacobson • Earth-Friendly Products donated 10% of the profits from his apparel company, GuudWEAR, to • Excellent References, 15 Years Experience the shelter. (benefitting area Veterans & their families) Jacobson described Mendelsohn Rosemarie Schaefer, Owner/Operator 214-597-3732 as nonpartisan in her mindset. “She really just cares about helping people all over the city and Tina Davidoff doesn’t put politics in the way of Realtor, GRI that,” Jacobson said. Mendelsohn said her Jewish Thursday & Friday, faith has played a role in her April 29 & 30, 8am-5pm (469) 751-2678 work as a council member. [email protected] “When you serve, it’s a reflection 637 Downing Drive www.tinadavidoff.com of who you are, and my Jewish Richardson, TX 75080 faith and education mean I was Co-Chairmen: Shelly Byers & Renee Elsner raised learning about ethics and For more information call: 972-479-9856 compassion, service to others and hard work,” Mendelsohn said. April 22, 2021 | 3 These values are also present in Texas at Arlington. involved at the community level. social challenges that could occur. supporting CityLab High School, her campaign platform, which is Running for council may not She wants to also focus on Five years ago as part of an agreement one of the schools in the DISD’s focused on “ethics, leadership and have been on her agenda in high creating strong ties with city staff with the Rockefeller Foundation, Choice program. accountability.” school, but is the culmination of her and the community, as well as Theresa O’Donnell was named Chief During the 2020 elections, many Mendelsohn, who grew up in professional life, one she described as among Council members. “We Resilience Officer. That role is now candidates did not block-walk and District 12, said she has a long dedicated to community building. worked hard on Planning to create held by Genesis D. Gavino. instead relied on digital and other history of service in the district To digest all the issues facing a collegial culture. That’s what I Schultz stresses the need to focus forms of campaigning allowing for and is thankful for the widespread the Northern Dallas district, she’s want to bring to Council,” she said. on resilience now, in light of the social distancing. Schultz has chosen support she has received in her reached out to neighborhood “I loved Planning, even when it was ongoing pandemic and February to block-walk while wearing a mask. reelection campaign. associations about their needs. contentious.” winter storm that nearly knocked But she misses one part of the usual Mendelsohn is running against “Our district has incredible She stressed the need out the state’s energy grid. campaign: group events. first-time City Council candidate leadership and I want to build on for collaboration and open Another goal is to strengthen “The hardest part is there are Elva Curl. Curl previously served that,” she said. communication at City Hall, connections between the city no gatherings,” she said. But she’s in the Dallas City Manager’s She also wants residents to which has experienced its share of and school district. They may adjusted and has been able to do office, the Department of Aviation become more involved. One goal infighting between elected officials be structurally different silos, as some community work, such as a and the Department of Public is to develop a district leadership and staff, as well as between Council required by state law, but “there’s COVID-19 vaccine drive for seniors Works. development program similar to one members. “I talked then and still nothing saying we can’t collaborate.” and those in affordable housing. —Nicole Hawkins at the Jewish Federation of Greater do now about the importance That’s how she got involved “Everything I do is about building Dallas.