VOL III ISSUE 24 July 1, 2015 www.texasmetronews.com
INSIDE
Texas Metro News
COMMUNITY EYESORE Black Jack Pizza owner apologizes to customers
Actress Angela Robinson and WFAA-TV’s Demond Fernandez were the high celebrity bowlers at the 21st annual Cheryl Smith’s Don’t Believe the Hype Celebrity Bowl-athon held recently at USA Bowl. This year’ s event honored the memory of Joyce Ann Brown, the local activist and author who spent nine years, five months and 24 days in prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Ms. Brown, who was an avid supporter of DBTH and a past three-time high celebrity female bowler, died on June 13, 2015, after suffering a massive heart attack. There was a full-house of celebrities at this year’s event including: noted author, activist and comedian Dick Gregory; actress T’Keyah Crystal Keymah; Comedian/actress Phyllis Yvonne Stickney; actress Virlinda Stanton; Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, Hon. Derick Evans and Dwaine Caraway; Judges Kim Cooks, Andrea Martin, Stephanie Mitchell and Shequitta Kelly; Deputy Constable Tracey Gulley; reality TV star John Beckwith, journalists Ellen Bryan, Amanda Fitzpatrick, Dareia Tolbert, personalities Ken Bell, India, Teresa Gilbert, Holly Red, and many more. Volunteers were from the Emmett J. Conrad Leadership Program sponsored by Sen Royce West (D-TX), Lankford Avenue and the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority - Psi Chapter. Major sponsors were Evans Engraving, LDI Holdings, Golden Gate Funeral Home, Heroes House, Black McDonald’s Operators , Public Enemy, Ash Britt Jene and Mocca Cosmetics. Media Sponsors: Black Business Directory, North Dallas Gazette, Elite News, Dallas Weekly, and NTheKnow.com.
“I’ve always been grateful for the long-term support I’ve enjoyed from my customers and the City of Dallas over almost three decades in business,” she said. “ I try my best to do my part and help keep South Dallas clean.”IME Despite being pillars of the community by employing many locals, donating money, items and products and giving back in every way imaginable, black businesses in America still tend to have problems garnering the same respect as other businesses. Dorothy Johnson Jones, owner of Black Jack Pizza – a fixture on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in the South Dallas community for years is finding that out. Despite proof of paying the monthly bill… her trash and dumpsters behind her business were not being picked up. The result? An unsightly mess and smell and flies, lots of them. The Health Department was called and things grew worse as her business was affected. I want to apologize to the whole South Dallas community for the unsightly trash and smell during this time,” she said. “I fully understand my customer’s concerns. No one wants to see that (trash). This whole situation with Republic
Service (Dumpsters company) has hurt my business. They were very unfair to us.” Known as having the “best pizza” and hamburgers in Dallas, by many of her customers, Jones prides herself on quality service, a clean facility and good food. She wants to let her customers know that she appreciates their longtime support and promises the best is yet to come. “I’ve always been grateful for the long-term support I’ve enjoyed from my customers and the City of Dallas over almost three decades in business,’ she said. “ I try my best to do my part and help keep South Dallas clean. “I have the best customers in the world and I want to encourage them to hang in there with me. Things will get better,” she promised.” “I’ve got a new dumpster company and we are going to take measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”