Dallas has been hit by a number of disasters over the past year and, as a result, there are many residents who are in a very bad place right now. Mayor Johnson has requested that donations be made, locally, that will actually get to the people who need them. You can donate at The Dallas Foundation by clicking here.

Depending on the news outlet, Dallas has a "skyrocketing" murder rate. Murders “shot up 108%” in July as compared to a year earlier as 529 of us found doom at the hands of a criminal. Out of a population of 1.3 million Dallasites, however, the number is comparatively small. This certainly is not intended to minimize the horror of these crimes. Victims, their families, and friends are all deeply affected. While there are obviously horrible crimes, that garner much attention, there are other crimes committed on a daily basis that never make the news.

While most of us have not been murder victims, it is likely that most of us have been the victim of a burglary, a robbery, an assault or a theft--hence our acronym: "BRAT." It could be argued that these crimes deeply affect everything from our overall safety, to property values, and perhaps even our ability to find affordable food nearby. 

[UPDATE 8/21: The Apartment Tax Visualization Tool is online (see below)]

Apartment renters pay taxes too. Did you know that? Apartment renters are usually unaware of the tax impact on the rent they pay. In fact, renters tend to pay more tax on smaller square footages than homeowners.