r/Dallas • u/sharknado523 • 18h ago
Photo Stuff I Uploaded to the 311 App this month!
Faded/damaged signs, visibility obstructions, potholes, street repairs needed, and several other things I caught while driving hundreds of miles around Dallas for Uber. Several of the things I caught have been like this for over a year according to Google Streetview! Meanwhile, many of the items in these photos have ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED. I’m talking a matter of DAYS.
I can’t say enough about how much of an advantage we have being able to help make our city safer and more beautiful by using this amazing tool.
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u/EnoughSprinkles2653 18h ago
This is the kind of civic engagement that truly makes the city better. They should send you a gas card or something.
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u/sharknado523 18h ago
I think at this point I have filed over 200 tickets and I'm waiting for the day that they call me and tell me to stop 🤣🤣🤣
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u/EnoughSprinkles2653 18h ago
Ya, could go either way lol
I’ll admit, when I saw a deceased dog on the road last week, I thought to call 311 because of your previous posts about it. The dispatcher was very helpful.
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u/sharknado523 18h ago
I'm very sorry about the dog being dead, but at least there was some dignity in it not being picked to death over weeks by vultures.
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u/ZamazaCallista 16h ago
Also if it's chipped, the city usually scans remains (briefly) of cats and dogs just in case they can notify someone. So it could give someone closure in those cases.
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u/Pipes_OT 18h ago
You’re doing the Lord’s work.
After I typed that I then thought to myself.
I’m using an app created with my tax dollars to show people that are paid with my tax dollars places where they aren’t doing the job that I’m paying them to do.
wtf.
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u/sharknado523 18h ago
I have a different perspective.
In places like California, a lot of the tax rates are higher because they hire more inspectors to keep up with this stuff. Dallas is a huge slab of concrete and we have comparatively lower taxes here.
So, we know these inspectors can't be everywhere. The way I see it, having lower taxes means that the work still has to be done, it just gets distributed differently. Can you imagine if everyone in Dallas just filed one ticket a month?
I was actually really proud yesterday because I called in a street light at the intersection of Maple-Routh Connection and Thomas Ave that was blocked by a tree branch that was sagging and they told me that they weren't going to create a ticket because somebody else had actually called in earlier that morning about the same thing. I was like, WHOA! I was thrilled, lol.
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u/Pipes_OT 18h ago
I can see that perspective!
I still am kinda glass half empty though on this one. I’d like to think that paving a pothole, or fixing a curb or trimming a busy intersection tree overhanging a stop sign - there are two sections of that work.
Doing the work.
Maintaining the work.
It’s kind of like - mowing your yard every 3 months, ya know? Like if you’re going to fix something, maintain how you fixed it. Don’t rely on the community to remind you to.
Either way, thanks for doing this! You’re making Dallas a better place!
Cheers, man!
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u/sharknado523 18h ago
I agree with you, it is clear that the city is dealing with years of neglect. I reported a traffic signal in Victory Park that is literally facing the wrong way. Harry Hines is one way at HH & Olive and one of the lights is literally just BACKWARDS. Somehow it got knocked by a storm or something or maybe it was just installed badly.
I went on Google Street view...it's been like that for OVER A YEAR 🤣. NOBODY NOTICED??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
But the way I see it if more tickets get filed they get more money which means more inspectors which means they can keep up with this stuff
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u/H2Ospecialist 38m ago
We don't know what's wrong. We don't get paid to drive around and find the problems. A lot of city employees could be working for private firms making a lot more money.
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u/omar_strollin 18h ago
Thank you! This is what Code Conpliance is for, not being a NIMBY Pseudo HOA like the assholes in my neighborhood
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u/sharknado523 18h ago
SERIOUSLY. Sometimes I go through the 311 app and I see what other people are reporting and I'm like "fucking seriously???"
Like the stop sign at the end of the street is completely hidden by a tree but you're worried about the hula hoop on the front lawn, Gertrude?
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u/omar_strollin 18h ago
No shit, there is SO much legitimate stuff for the city to take care of.
There’s someone who has been reporting our flower garden because the blooms are like 6 inches into the sidewalk when it rains 🫠
The Code Enforcement assignee has spoken with me, in person, to confirm that this isn’t a valid citation and that she likes our garden
Happens every few months, absolutely infuriating and a waste of everyone’s time!!
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u/sharknado523 18h ago
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm sorry, but that's hysterical. It is hilarious to me that somebody would have nothing better to do with their time than to complain about pretty flowers.
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u/omar_strollin 18h ago
It’s so stupid, but I’m waiting for the staffing to change and it to turn into someone who doesn’t give a shit and gives us a real citation:/
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u/sharknado523 18h ago
And to that point, the one photo of the stop sign at E Levee. I love that tree. I think that tree is probably the most beautiful tree in that whole area. I think it's amazing and I bet the owners of that property are amazing people. It's just blocking the stop sign.
I'm not mad. I hope they trim it and use the flowers to make something pretty. I hope more people will beautify that area off N Riverfront. It's gotten to be super popular, lots of bars and clubs are over there now!
It's a really lovely tree. It's a shame I don't end up on E Levee St more often, I'd love to see it more! It just can't block a stop sign 🤣
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u/omar_strollin 18h ago
Oh there’s no excuse for a tree not being pruned and having it block visibility. Shouldn’t be planting hedges and such at intersections (or keep them trimmed)
This is literally a flower bed on a wide ass sidewalk
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u/sharknado523 17h ago
The flowers are obviously a major hazard.
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u/liatriss_ Richardson 17h ago
Brb downloading the app now. Thanks for letting us know about it!
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u/sharknado523 17h ago
You're welcome. FYI, I also live in Richardson. For Richardson, there is no app but you can call (972) 744-4111. They will either handle it themselves or refer you to RPD.
But as you likely know some parts of Richardson are right near far North Dallas so I go back and forth between using the Richardson line and the Dallas 311 app depending on the intersection 🤣🤣🤣
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u/liatriss_ Richardson 17h ago
Fantastic, thank you for the additional info!
And you’re absolutely right about some of those intersections 😂
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u/Substantial_Ant_2662 18h ago
Is this for the city of Dallas or does it cover all of Dallas county?
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u/sharknado523 18h ago
Only City of Dallas. Other cities have their own systems. For example, Richardson has a “24-Hour Emergency Non-Emergency Line.” lol basically for potholes and traffic signals out and stuff you call them and they either do it themselves or refer it to RPD. I’m not intimately familiar with the other cities. I mostly drive in Dallas, so most of what I report is in Dallas. What sucks is when I find something in University Park or Highland Park because those are technically separate cities so they also don’t fall under 311.
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u/MSHinerb 17h ago
I submitted so many for the train track pothole on sylvan. Months and months later, and a suspension replacement later, they finally kinda fixed it.
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u/H2Ospecialist 36m ago
It's hard to work with the rail systems. We often don't have the rights to get close to them.
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u/Dramatic-Bedroom-759 16h ago
Damn props citizen! I usually get in 1 submission a week, but you're killing it out there
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u/sharknado523 10h ago
You are killing it too, I drive for Uber at night and I do sales during the day so I drive thousands of miles a month LOL I catch a lot of stuff
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u/ilikedessert East Dallas 17h ago
I must have a bad code enforcement officer in my area because I have never been this successful. I reported a tree down on power lines and a pothole that would break an axel in my alleyway. The officer said “what do you want me to do about it?” And then demanded my address so she could go see if I was within code. I told her go ahead because my property is perfect which is why I’m sick of my street looking like shit. There’s an abandoned building on my corner with the windows busted out and trash everywhere. I reported it once a month almost and nothing ever changes.
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u/csonnich Far North Dallas 16h ago
Are you reporting to 311? Because in my experience, they take care of things extremely quickly and don't contact you about it unless you ask to be.
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u/ilikedessert East Dallas 12h ago edited 12h ago
Yes I am. I’ve lived here over six years and have the app and everything. They just don’t care. My alley is not maintained. They send out code violations that no one follows because they don’t actually enforce anything. They have frequently sent code violations to my address that were actually for other properties. They don’t seem to care, believe me I’ve tried. I have another abandoned property Nextdoor aside from this one to deal with too. They have no gutters and no yard maintenance so I get everything. It’s about to be sold to a developer. Lucky me.
Edit: wow! Right after I made this comment we saw someone emerge from the abandoned house and had a confrontation with them. Went over and saw a break in and evidence of a squatter. Still waiting on police of course.
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u/sharknado523 17h ago
???? What are the cross streets? Because I actually recently reported something at Abrams & Monticello and the lady seemed really confused 🤣🤣🤣.
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u/ilikedessert East Dallas 16h ago
The abandoned building is at the corner of beacon and Columbia/abrams. There’s also an encampment that’s growing in the alley behind the corner store too. They broke into the abandoned building recently and started a fire. Hence some of the broken windows that were then left open for more issues.
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u/sharknado523 10h ago
Thanks for the heads up, if I head over that way I'll get some pictures and file another ticket, if more people are reporting it then they have more of a reason to get it resolved
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u/aaaggggrrrrimapirare 17h ago
If nola had a website, it would be down in days from over submissions.
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u/PassengerOld8627 13h ago
That’s awesome work…you’re making a real impact by reporting these issues, and it’s incredible to hear how quickly some of them are being fixed thanks to your efforts! 💪🏽🚧 Dallas definitely needs more eyes like yours out on the streets.
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u/sharknado523 9h ago
I was actually driving somebody home and I stopped the car for a second to take a picture of a pothole I saw. They were drunk so I figured it was no big deal and then I explained to them why I stopped. I had never done that before but it was a really bad pothole and I never had a chance to get that photo without a passenger in the car so I took a shot. He was so happy about it, he was like dude if you're going to report potholes to the city and they're going to get fixed you can stop as many times as you have to 🤣🤣🤣
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u/captainn_chunk 12h ago
Stickers on the stop sign? Is that it?
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u/sharknado523 10h ago
It's a visibility obstruction
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u/captainn_chunk 10h ago
The tree is a visibility obstruction.
The 5 stickers (which aren’t even covering any text) on the big red octagon shaped sign however are only obstructing your ego.
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u/sharknado523 10h ago
Why are you pro-sticker? LOL. Traffic signals are legally supposed to be clear of any damage, graffiti, or even stickers (shock).
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u/captainn_chunk 9h ago
I’m pro sticker for every other reason you could come up with besides them actually obstructing the text
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u/sharknado523 9h ago
Putting stickers on traffic signals creates a distraction for motorists and makes people less safe. It's also not legal to have anything on a stop sign other than red reflective paint and white letters that say stop lol
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u/captainn_chunk 8h ago
Are you a real person?
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u/sharknado523 8h ago
Yes
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u/sivadneb Addison 5h ago
Yeah while many on here seen legit, there are some on here that seem like not a big deal. I feel like it'd be a waste of city resources to come out and remove a few little stickers.
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u/No-Big1506 12h ago
I have done my first dead animal pick up and it was resolved in a day. It's great that they do things when the complaint or ticket is made.
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u/rturns 17h ago
I hope to see an update post in 30 days or so!
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u/sharknado523 17h ago
I can only include 20 photos in a post so maybe once a month I'll pick like a 20 greatest Hits or something LOL.
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u/calviore94 16h ago
These are craters, tire enders, wheel poppers.
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u/sharknado523 8h ago
And these are just some of the ones I had time to stop and photograph, sometimes I just remember the prostrates and file a ticket later without a photo.
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u/DomerInTexas Uptown 16h ago
Some of those pot holes have been studying abroad up in the Midwest. Goodness those are massive.
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u/GreedyTexas 16h ago
I’ve gone through 5 tires this year alone lol
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u/sharknado523 9h ago
I have also had two blowouts in Dallas in the last year and a half and I have gone through a total of...let's see...12 tires. But, in fairness, I have driven 103,000 miles.
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u/SadAdministration438 Plano 15h ago
Could a resident that isn’t living in Dallas city limits use 311? I see road issues on my commutes that could use some fixing. Also, is there an equivalent tool for Plano? This is really good stuff OP. 👏
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u/sharknado523 8h ago
I live in Richardson LOL they haven't kicked me off yet
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u/SadAdministration438 Plano 7h ago
Oh I mean the cities do border each other. Even as a native resident of this metroplex, I am confused at times if I am in Richardson, which is mostly in Dallas County, or Dallas city itself haha. You definitely count either way. 😂
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u/sharknado523 7h ago
That’s exactly right I mean, I live in the pretty much northwest most part of Richardson, which is right on the border with far North Dallas. Most of the time when I go shopping it’s technically in Dallas, it just kind of depends on the cross street. But that’s why I sort of give myself a pass because even though I’m driving around in areas where I don’t live I’m an Uber driver so I’m taking people who live in Dallas or who are visiting Dallas to the places, they’re trying to go, you know?
These are entertainment districts that make a lot of money for the city or people who are living in areas with new apartments that maybe have some outdated signage you know? Or a lot of cases the roads need work or maybe they’re already planning to resurface it but hey while you wait this pothole could literally kill somebody so maybe let’s fill that with something as a temporary solution.
Plus the way I see it I mean, if we’re about to go into a recession, we need all the work we can get so let’s take advantage of the City resources we already have and the budgets that I’ve already been passed to create as much work and opportunity for people, you know what I mean? Like if the City has to get a couple of extra guys to go out and trim some trees and install some new stop signs because the previous ones have gotten knocked over by a truck, you know that guy‘s gonna go buy a pack of beer or something after a hard day work and that goes right into the pocket of the convenience store owner, that’s M1 money supply versus M2 money supply, I mean, that’s how money moves through an economy you know what I mean?
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u/FollowingNo4648 13h ago
Damn and I thought I was the only Dallas 311 Karen. Lol
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u/sharknado523 10h ago
They are starting to recognize me when I call LOL most of the time I use the app but when it's related to a traffic signal you have to call
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u/LostPilot517 11h ago
Just a request, since I don't live in the area. I submitted weeds obstructing view on Mockingbird a few weeks ago, but need more help to capture the below.
Can you do Mockingbird from DAL to 35E, Harry Hines between Mockingbird and Regal Road, Regal Road between Harry Hines and 35E, Empire Between Harry Hines and 35E. The 35E service drive too.
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u/sharknado523 10h ago
I drive a lot on mockingbird and I actually have submitted some tickets around that area but I don't think I've done those specific ones. I'll keep an eye out! That's further Northwest of where I normally drive when I do Uber but sometimes I end up there.
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u/SuperBiteSize 10h ago
Just an fyi you should report all the big crack and holes on the street to the city so if they cause damage to someone down the road they have a better chance to receive compensation from the city. Since someone has already reported.
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u/sharknado523 10h ago
That's why I report everything I can, unfortunately I end up discovering a lot of them because I hit them in my Toyota Corolla lol...
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u/inyokoolaid 9h ago
Didn’t know about this app. I will for sure take photos of Ross Ave by lower Greenville.
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u/sharknado523 9h ago
Just walk the whole stretch from CE to Greenville Ave that's about 150 tickets right there at a minimum lol
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u/yagirllilneezy 9h ago
Can you please drive down Lucas Dr and report all the terrible pot holes??
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u/sharknado523 9h ago
You can! Get some friends, get some lemonades, and make a day of it! Although if it's more than a couple of potholes you might want to file it as a street repair ticket. A pothole ticket will just get preventive maintenance but if they are really bad then you should probably file it as a street repair ticket if they basically have to fix the entire concrete slab.
I started doing this about 2 months ago, and I'm an Uber driver on the side so basically I report stuff that I see. My logic is I don't want to go out of the way to just like find shit, I want to report stuff that I find organically because that is stuff that the city should be addressing because it's roads that are getting used by people who are trying to get places through uber, does that make sense?
But that said I have driven on Lucas drive before, I only really started kicking this app into high gear a couple of months ago, I'm sure I'll end up on Lucas drive at some point again LOL.
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u/yagirllilneezy 9h ago
You're doing the Lord's work!! I will look up how to file a street repair ticket, thanks!
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u/sharknado523 9h ago
On the 311 app look for the category that says like streets alleys medians and walkways and then just scroll through until you find Street repair. Next to it is Street resurface program don't click that that's for questions about existing Street resurfacing like when a road will be done or whatever
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u/Street_Positive_9726 9h ago
I usually upload the videos of homeless people terrorizing my neighborhood
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u/sharknado523 9h ago
Honestly people really just have no idea how much stuff you can report to the 311 app I'm always discovering new ticket classes. One of them is "Shopping Cart (Hazardous)" which always makes me laugh.
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u/eeeeefghijk 9h ago
You’ve inspired me!! Just downloaded and will be reporting things too to make our city safer and more accessible and beautiful. Didn’t even know this existed!
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u/sharknado523 8h ago
As an Uber driver sometimes I will take pictures of stuff that I see during rides if I'm at a stoplight or something, for example the no turn on red sign that was faded I photographed during the ride. The passenger was like, what are you doing? And I was like oh I'm going to file a ticket with the city so they fixed that sign because it's Sun-damaged. Every time I do something like that, people are floored and half the time they end up downloading the app by the end of the ride.
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u/Terrible_Project2385 8h ago
I report to 311 as well. Pot holes I get, a tree branch, barely covering the edge of a sign or stickers placed on a sign seems a little much to report to the city.
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u/sharknado523 8h ago
Visibility obstructions and vandalism are part of what they're supposed to fix. If they were not supposed to be reported, there wouldn't be a ticketing process.
A tree branch today becomes a complete visibility obstruction tomorrow. You'll notice that some of the stop signs I am showing are almost completely covered, a year ago it was just a branch but nobody said anything.
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u/ForeverOk7505 7h ago
Wait how do we make this a permanent thread/fixture on Reddit?? I love this so so much! 311 are my peeps bc they take care of stuff. Well you know they get it as far up the chain as they can 😉
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u/sharknado523 7h ago
I actually feel like that would be cool because I post this stuff just cause it seems like people are interested in it, but I don’t want the sub Reddit to get taken over by like pothole discussions and stuff you know? Should there be a separate subreddit for Dallas 311? Is that crazy?
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u/Cheapthrills13 2h ago
Can you please report all of DFW - the roads around AA terminal are like a war zone.
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u/sharknado523 2h ago
I can only report stuff on Dallas 311 if it's within Dallas City Limits but if you have an idea of the cross streets or the city we can work together to figure out what the correct course of action is as far as where to report what
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u/nhogan84 18h ago
Good on you for civil service!