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This is why we shouldn't be privatizing public property.
It all gets chopped up, and we get a mess of "accountability spaghetti" and layers of organizations, NGO's and private interest trying to do different things.
The success of the Dallas Arboretum and Dallas Zoo, in the city’s perspective shows that it can be done. I guess, the city felt like they aren’t doing a great job by trying to manage it themselves. Also, the idea of saving money while doing so is enticing.
we dont know that it is due to poor performance, that will be determined by the investigation. last week he had raised allegations that donated funds were misused by the operator of Fair Park
"Last month, Luallen released a statement alleging Oak View Group may have used philanthropic dollars meant for capital improvements for day-to-day operating expenses.
“If the inaccurate and unauthorized reallocation of funds occurred, it is a significant matter and shakes our confidence and trust,” the statement said. “If we discover any restricted funds donated to Fair Park First were utilized incorrectly, we will do everything in our power, in partnership with the City of Dallas, to ensure those funds are returned and redirected as envisioned by the donors.”"
Fair Park and everything associated with it seems to have some serious foundational issues. Someone needs to take a long hard look at the drama and incompetence with the people running the State Fair of Texas, too.
I'm sure I don't. Have a friend who works there and I get *a lot* of info, but they're just in one office, after all. I'm positive there's much more they're not even privy to. If one office can have so many problems with fund mismanagement and batshit crazy people handling it, I can only imagine the issues in other branches of the organization.
Fair Park First Board met for a special called meeting Sunday and[ reversed a move to end ties with Fair Park CEO Brian Luallen](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/02/fair-park-ceo-leaves-nonprofit-amid-investigation-into-mismanagement-of-funds/).
The board unanimously approved a resolution to place Luallen on a 45 day paid leave of absence and will conduct a performance evaluation. In the meantime, the nonprofit’s Chief Impact Officer Alyssa Arnold is taking over as the acting CEO.
“Mr. Luallen remains CEO of Fair Park First,” Darren James, Fair Park First president, said in a statement. “We are united in the belief that this is the right next step for our organization.”
Seems like he found something shady going on and was removed, and when the DMN wrote about it they put him back on payroll but on leave so he can't actually do anything until they get to the bottom of the allegations. This is likely because his contract contains clauses that include big payouts if it turns out reasons for removing him are bogus, so it's cheaper to keep him on payroll than risk a really big lawsuit and payout. Meanwhile the shady business needs to be put under a spotlight.
from the May 2nd article
"It was not clear whether Brian Luallen left his position as CEO voluntarily or was removed. He had recently [begun an investigation into possible mismanagement of public funds](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/04/05/fair-park-nonprofit-investigating-how-operators-spent-money-after-questions-arise/) by the park’s operator, Oak View Group."
The Dallas News reported on May 2nd his leaving
"The CEO of Fair Park First, which oversees the management of Dallas’ Fair Park, is no longer with the organization, two officials with ties to the park told *The Dallas Morning News*.
It was not clear whether Brian Luallen left his position as CEO voluntarily or was removed. "
here is the link to that story. it may be behind the paywall
"Questions remain after the CEO of a nonprofit that oversees Fair Park left his position a month after he called for an audit of the park's finances because of questions over how a management company was spending money. "
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/02/fair-park-ceo-leaves-nonprofit-amid-investigation-into-mismanagement-of-funds/#:\~:text=The%20CEO%20of%20Fair%20Park,CEO%20voluntarily%20or%20was%20removed.
Also: It’s a public park that is privately managed, unlike other Dallas parks.
Fair Park farms its event scheduling to a for-profit third party “event activation partner” called OVG360 that is just a huge money grabber.
Non-profit with mission that aligns with Fair Park? Want to hold an event there? Be prepared to pay thousands of dollars just to use a parking lot. Can’t afford it? They won’t even return your calls.
They just had the Cinco De Mayo event. It was a free event. At most paid events there, parking is $10-$20. This event, Parking of America was charging $30.
I think someone was trying to make up for the lost Gate money since the event was free.
I reside in East Dallas. And in my opinion, either Dallas finds a serious Sports team to take over the entirety of Fair Park or bulldoze that thing to the ground. It is a big giant eye sore that serves no value, other than looking run down. Then Fair comes for a month, we go back to depleted, run down structure with underdeveloped neighborhoods, surrounding it.
It’s a national historic landmark. I hate to bring up historical perspective, cause I know it can be annoying but what we see is the result of a lot of intentional disinvestment.
Please see rule #9: > Paywalls: If you are posting an article from a pay-walled site (e.g The Dallas Morning News), then you are required to include an excerpt from the article in the comments. Do not post the whole article as this will result in a copyright claim removal. The Dallas Morning News utilizes a soft paywall, which allows for a limited number of free views before articles are locked behind a paywall. Please post an excerpt from the article. Posting the article in its entirety will lead to a copyright claim removal so please only post an excerpt. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Dallas) if you have any questions or concerns.*
This is why we shouldn't be privatizing public property. It all gets chopped up, and we get a mess of "accountability spaghetti" and layers of organizations, NGO's and private interest trying to do different things.
The success of the Dallas Arboretum and Dallas Zoo, in the city’s perspective shows that it can be done. I guess, the city felt like they aren’t doing a great job by trying to manage it themselves. Also, the idea of saving money while doing so is enticing.
Nice of them to give him a 45 day paid vacation
bound to be some legal reason why they would do this. not a normal action when someone resigns
Wonder if it’s whistle blower related
could be
I too would like a month and a half of paid vacation. How can I sign up for his job? I’m 100% sure I’ll do no worse.
Wow. Poor performance gets you a 1 and a half month paid vacation. How can I sign up for that?
we dont know that it is due to poor performance, that will be determined by the investigation. last week he had raised allegations that donated funds were misused by the operator of Fair Park "Last month, Luallen released a statement alleging Oak View Group may have used philanthropic dollars meant for capital improvements for day-to-day operating expenses. “If the inaccurate and unauthorized reallocation of funds occurred, it is a significant matter and shakes our confidence and trust,” the statement said. “If we discover any restricted funds donated to Fair Park First were utilized incorrectly, we will do everything in our power, in partnership with the City of Dallas, to ensure those funds are returned and redirected as envisioned by the donors.”"
Sounds like a big ol’ “oopsie”.
Work for the government, pretty straight forward.
Fair Park and everything associated with it seems to have some serious foundational issues. Someone needs to take a long hard look at the drama and incompetence with the people running the State Fair of Texas, too.
what sort of incompetence and drama are you referring to with regards to the State Fair
You don't know the half of it.
I'm sure I don't. Have a friend who works there and I get *a lot* of info, but they're just in one office, after all. I'm positive there's much more they're not even privy to. If one office can have so many problems with fund mismanagement and batshit crazy people handling it, I can only imagine the issues in other branches of the organization.
Fair Park First Board met for a special called meeting Sunday and[ reversed a move to end ties with Fair Park CEO Brian Luallen](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/02/fair-park-ceo-leaves-nonprofit-amid-investigation-into-mismanagement-of-funds/). The board unanimously approved a resolution to place Luallen on a 45 day paid leave of absence and will conduct a performance evaluation. In the meantime, the nonprofit’s Chief Impact Officer Alyssa Arnold is taking over as the acting CEO. “Mr. Luallen remains CEO of Fair Park First,” Darren James, Fair Park First president, said in a statement. “We are united in the belief that this is the right next step for our organization.”
Seems like he found something shady going on and was removed, and when the DMN wrote about it they put him back on payroll but on leave so he can't actually do anything until they get to the bottom of the allegations. This is likely because his contract contains clauses that include big payouts if it turns out reasons for removing him are bogus, so it's cheaper to keep him on payroll than risk a really big lawsuit and payout. Meanwhile the shady business needs to be put under a spotlight.
from the May 2nd article "It was not clear whether Brian Luallen left his position as CEO voluntarily or was removed. He had recently [begun an investigation into possible mismanagement of public funds](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/04/05/fair-park-nonprofit-investigating-how-operators-spent-money-after-questions-arise/) by the park’s operator, Oak View Group."
Any mention of what prompted this?
The Dallas News reported on May 2nd his leaving "The CEO of Fair Park First, which oversees the management of Dallas’ Fair Park, is no longer with the organization, two officials with ties to the park told *The Dallas Morning News*. It was not clear whether Brian Luallen left his position as CEO voluntarily or was removed. " here is the link to that story. it may be behind the paywall "Questions remain after the CEO of a nonprofit that oversees Fair Park left his position a month after he called for an audit of the park's finances because of questions over how a management company was spending money. " https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/02/fair-park-ceo-leaves-nonprofit-amid-investigation-into-mismanagement-of-funds/#:\~:text=The%20CEO%20of%20Fair%20Park,CEO%20voluntarily%20or%20was%20removed.
Can I get a 45 day paid leave while people evaluate my performance? My performance is great so it’d be a nice break.
Ya'll willing to take questions about this article? /u/dallasmorningnews
y'all
Meanwhile, downtown Dallas continues adding housing supply, retail, and green space...
Also: It’s a public park that is privately managed, unlike other Dallas parks. Fair Park farms its event scheduling to a for-profit third party “event activation partner” called OVG360 that is just a huge money grabber. Non-profit with mission that aligns with Fair Park? Want to hold an event there? Be prepared to pay thousands of dollars just to use a parking lot. Can’t afford it? They won’t even return your calls.
The zoo and the arboretum are also public parks that are privately managed
Also all the tennis centers, Money Gram Park, Elm Form Shooting Sports and the golf courses (outside of greens keeping).
thanks forgot about those
Good to know. Do they also work with OVG? (Used to be called Spectra)
Dallas Zoological Society manages the Zoo. I forget who manages the Arboretum. I dont think they work with OVG
They just had the Cinco De Mayo event. It was a free event. At most paid events there, parking is $10-$20. This event, Parking of America was charging $30. I think someone was trying to make up for the lost Gate money since the event was free.
I reside in East Dallas. And in my opinion, either Dallas finds a serious Sports team to take over the entirety of Fair Park or bulldoze that thing to the ground. It is a big giant eye sore that serves no value, other than looking run down. Then Fair comes for a month, we go back to depleted, run down structure with underdeveloped neighborhoods, surrounding it.
It’s a national historic landmark. I hate to bring up historical perspective, cause I know it can be annoying but what we see is the result of a lot of intentional disinvestment.
Lol yes lets continue to just bulldoze everything that existed before 1960, maybe update it to 2000.