Common Sense Caring

04/01/2014

It looks as though the violence and cover ups have continued at The Bridge city sponsored homeless shelter located at 1818 Corsicana.
One homeless man beat to death another homeless man at The Bridge. It looks as though DPD had the address on the report changed from 1818 Corsicana to 1900 St. Louis to avoid negative press for this abysmal failure of a homeless program.
Please share your concerns about the violence, cover ups, and waste of tax payer's money with your city council members.
Again, if you want to truly help a homeless person send them to the Dallas Life Foundation. They are the best program to help get people off the streets in a positive long term way.

03/08/2014

The ACLU is being contacted to assist in bringing a lawsuit against The Bridge and DPD for attempting to cover up a possible hate crime committed against a homeless man by a Bridge employee.
Maybe the public will finally get the truth about the failure that is The Bridge. The citizens are having their tax dollars wasted on a failing, corrupt entity, that does far more harm than good.

Perhaps the mayor should also be brought to the mat for all his lies and strong arm tactics used to cover up and advance this horrible place...there is an election right around the corner.

03/08/2014

Just when I thought The Bridge couldn't sink any lower...It appears they are working with DPD brass to cover up the assault of a homeless man by one of their employees. First DPD reclassified the possible hate crime as a minor crime thereby ensuring that the incident would not be fully investigated. Now, the officer that viewed the video evidence to make the report has been reassigned and The Bridge filed a harassment complaint on the officer for asking that a copy of the video be collected for evidence.
The mayor, DPD, and a The Bridge are lying to the public about the harm being caused by The Bridge and the tax payers are footing the expense of these lies.

02/25/2014

Does anyone know of a tough lawyer that would be interested in representing a homeless man that was assaulted by an employee of The Bridge homeless shelter in Dallas?
The man filed charges and there is video evidence of the assault but DPD has refused to investigate the assault any further says that it was only a misdemeanor C assault, the lowest level, instead of a misdemeanor A assault (possibly a felony if the hate crime portion is proven) that the offense report clearly describes.
The Bridge has refused to submit the video evidence viewed by the reporting officer to DPD to be placed into evidence. They are doing everything they can to make this go away. The victim needs help in getting justice.
Abuse of the homeless can not be tolerated!

Please help

02/13/2014

Update on the racially charged beating of a homeless man by an employee of The Bridge, the city sponsored homeless shelter at 1818 Corsicana.

I have sent the information about this incident to numerous reporters. I have explained that the DA and DPD classified a felony assault as a class C misdemeanor due to "policy changes", thereby allowing the suspect and The Bridge to bury the incident with no repercussions. Absolutely no response.
Since they won't do their job, I'll do it for them. They can not be allowed to abuse the homeless regardless of their connections...a big money church, and the mayor.
I plan on submitting an open records request on the report and I will post it on my web page. Then, with the information available for all to see, maybe we can finally get justice for this battered homeless man.

02/11/2014

Street feeding is less about the individual being feed than it is about the individuals doing the feeding. Most feeds are about "selling" a religion or helping make the wealthier of us feel good about themselves. If you truly want to help someone, get to know them with no strings attached...then you'll see the real person and perhaps gain a more meaningful understanding.

https://www.facebook.com/john.gault.92754/posts/1407279922856431

https://www.facebook.com/john.gault.92754/posts/1407279922856431

02/05/2014

The Bridge is the main source of these issues. Time for tax payers to stop footing the bill for that place to hurt the homeless.
https://www.facebook.com/john.gault.92754/posts/1405564116361345

01/22/2014

I found out something disturbing today. The Bridge (the city's homeless shelter) is controlling who is allowed to volunteer for the survey taking. If they are controlling that, what else are they controlling? Perhaps the results of the survey as well? Maybe that is why they claim homeless numbers are down yet every shelter is full and turning people away nightly when I call around to try to get people shelter for the night. This place is out of control!

01/22/2014

If you have ever wanted to assist the homeless in Dallas you might want to volunteer with the 2014 homeless survey this Thursday night. We go out and survey the homeless in their environment to get an accurate count of the population but to also gather information on what services they need most. You will be es**rted by police so it is safe and it is a good way to develope your own sense of the homeless plight in Dallas. I will be there...4:30 pm city hall L1F. I get there early as it fills up quickly. There is training then it's off to the streets.
I'm going to see if I can snag officer S.R. Owens to es**rt my group. He is brutally honest and seems to known the homeless population pretty well. Hopefully he won't think I'm stalking him as he has only met me once before. lol.
If not him, perhaps officer Williams.

01/17/2014

I have great respect for Jan Langbein and all she has done for not only the homeless but for all of Dallas. I truly wish she could become involved with The Bridge and fix it the way she fixed Austin Street Shelter. She is a very smart, logical woman and may very well be one of the few people able to fix the mess that is currently known as The Bridge homeless shelter at 1818 Corsicana.

01/17/2014

The Bridge at 1818 Corsicana is failing...and they are spending your money to do so.

What I saw tonight not only frustrated me but also broke my heart. The homeless downtown are being subjected to needless hardships due to The Bridge not keeping their promise it made to the citizens of Dallas and police responding to complaints from area property owners.
The Bridge accepts millions of tax payer dollars each year to take in homeless persons in the downtown area yet large numbers are turned away because The Bridge does not receive funding for those not receiving services. Those that get turned away end up sleeping in front of area businesses. The businesses are frustrated because they have to clean up the litter and f***s left behind by the homeless and that environment is hurting their livelihood.
The Bridge complained to police about homeless sleeping in front of their business, yes it is a business, so CBD made the homeless move from that sidewalk to the sidewalk in front of Hines Nut company. Hines asked that the homeless not be allowed to stay there because it was hurting their business due to the strong smell of human waste and litter left behind. Central officers told the homeless to sleep by Millet the Printer's property as they are big supporters of The Bridge as evidenced by a quote from them stating so much on The Bridge's website. Well, it appears he is a big fan until the homeless turned away from The Bridge end up in front of his business. He complained to city council and police about the homeless. Now, police are pushing the homeless back to Hines property thus starting the cycle over again.
The Bridge is paid by the tax payers of Dallas to do a job...and they are not holding up their part of the bargain. The homeless are being shuffled around and suffering due to The Bridges' policies and indifference to them and the neighborhood surrounding The Bridge. I was able to take a few pictures of the events unfolding and will try to take more to post. I try to take them discreetly as not to draw the ire of police as it is hard enough to get them to speak openly to me as it is.
Either do the job you are paid to do, or admit that you are unable to handle it and allow the city to find a better way to help the homeless.
Every tax payer in Dallas should be up in arms about the failure that is The Bridge and be demanding an audit of the entire program.
Don't take my word about the numerous issues with The Bridge, ask any business or resident there that isn't on their payroll or benefiting financially from them and you will hear the truth that the city and mainstream press will not share with you.

I hate to continue with all the negativity about this place but the more I work with the homeless the more frustrated I become about the lies and the hypocrisy I see.
Again, I will continue to work with Dallas Life and Austin Street, programs that actually work.

01/14/2014

An interesting PR bit came across my desk today...It looks as though The Cedars, Farmers Market HOA, and Deep Ellum are creating a political coalition.
This will be huge in changing the dynamics of politics in the downtown area.
It looks like the city will be held accountable by residents and business owners in those areas and downtown with that kind of clout. A voting block such as theirs could completely change city counsel member and mayoral elections.
Not to mention the great neighborhood projects that could be generated by this group.
Power to the people indeed!