There is plenty of blame to assign for the generations of neglect in southern Dallas.

The patchwork of neighborhoods that stretch from West Dallas to Oak Cliff and Mountain Creek, from the Cedars to South Dallas and Pleasant Grove has been corroding for decades before our eyes.

Political leaders crafted policies that ensured the north would prosper while often ignoring even basic services in the south. The business community sold developers and corporations on northern locations – at the south's expense. As the rich neighborhoods in North Dallas grew richer, southern Dallas got poorer.

This newspaper, too, was complicit in the benign and not-so-benign neglect of the city's southern half.

But not anymore.

The divided city we collectively created has institutionalized injustice and done a disservice to residents. While the moral argument should be sufficient motivation, simple economics also argues for action.

With the north reaching build-out, southern Dallas and its undeveloped land represent untapped potential. Bolstering this area will enhance the North Texas economy, ensuring that this region has a vibrant center in Dallas – not a hollow core.

But ingrained negligence cannot be undone by a single newspaper section, a single ordinance or even a single mayor. While some good work is under way, months and years will be needed to make improvements large and small.

So, today is only a beginning. Going forward, this newspaper pledges to:

Advocate for overinvestment to put southern Dallas on more equal footing.

Highlight success stories, as well as struggling areas.

Draw distinctions between the varied neighborhoods that too often are lumped together.

Most important, we pledge to be persistent. Southern Dallas needs a new advocate, and we are committed to that role for the long-term.