Interesting 'observation'. I'd almost be interested in knowing if it's based on personal experience, media influence or something else. I said almost.
Where are all these gangbangers when I or one of my friends (many of whom are not 'ebony', female, or youthful) are in that area?
Anywho, I live in one of the south Dallas county suburbs and when I was actively advertising, I had no problem getting a room near here if it was convenient for my date, but now I prefer to work from Garland or North Dallas when I do see someone.
Oh, and you can get to my area without going through Oak Cliff.
Originally Posted by EbonyBabeUTR
Hmmmmm...where to start....
1. Had a rather scruffy Oak Cliffian kick in my back door (must've thought nobody would be home at 2PM on a Wednesday) about 15 years ago when I was home ill and living near Ledbetter. Guess the distinctive sound of a pump shotgun round being made ready to blow his punk ass to Hell got his attention long enough to command his exit stage left. That guy could run like the wind!
2. Knew the owner of the McDonalds franchise that used to be on Camp Wisdom near Hwy. 67. He closed it up after he lost two employees to robbers that thought it easier to earn a living by robbing annd killing than getting a job where they'd have to keep regular hours.
3. One of my former business partners lived in Oak Cliff for 25 years and finally sold out and left 2 years ago when she was held up in the Red Bird Mall parking lot after sunset. Lesson: Don't be anywhere near Red Bird Mall once the sun goes down unless your carrying some pretty lethal protection.
4. Take a look at Red Bird Mall. Does it look vibrant? Are merchants clamoring to move there? What happened ot the movie theater? The IHOP? The McDonalds (see above)? The Chili's? It's a growing waste land.
5. How's that car dealership doing on the northbound side of Hwy. 67 at Camp Wisdom? What about the one up near where 67N and 35N merge? Ummmmm...they both closed because of (a) lack of business; (b) vandalism (mainly grafitti..guess what...gang tags!); and (c) theft. You can only beat up on a merchant for so long before their spirit and bank account is broken and they head to greener pastures.
The great thing about the slow migration of business out of Oak Cliff is that the better businesses are relocating further South to an oasis called "Cedar Hill" where there's a heavy police presence that keeps things running smoothly and the punk ass trouble makers under control. I'm not saying that there's zero crime in Cedar Hill but at least it's kept to a minimum. Oak Cliff has been a raging inferno of felonies for decades. That wildfire isn't going ot be put out any time soon. I''ve heard that the Macy's f/k/a Foley's is preparing to move there and Sears (which owns the land upon which the store sits so it's felt tied to the location) has finally decided to consider leaving too.
It's really a damn shame since Oak Cliff is the largest (basically undeveloped) land mass in North Texas adjacent to a major economic center (i.e. downtown and N. Dallas). The best thing that could happen to Oak Cliff is what happened to Chicago after that cow kicked over the lantern. Not being anything other than observant and telling it like it is.
Whether it is currently accurate or not doesn't make a lot of difference in the impression many people have of the region.