Big money interests from inside and outside Texas have found a new target this year: our biggest cities.
We could debate what’s motivating this new attack, or why billionaires seem so hell-bent on destroying the rest of us. But, in the face of what’s effectively impending doom, we’ll get right to the point: We need your help.
These extremists are using the ballot question process here in Texas to sow chaos and destruction, to gut city budgets, and leave millions of Texas families without crucial services.
Their first target (of many, if we don’t stop this): The City of Dallas.
Dallas Ballot Propositions S, T, and U are a poison pill for the City of Dallas, and for all of us who live here.
Like all truly evil incarnates, Propositions S, T, and U aren’t what they seem. While they claim to promote accountability and oversight, they’re actually deeply misguided and ill-intentioned changes that would weaken Dallas City’s ability to govern effectively.
(I know, we’re all shocked — a billionaire-backed proposal isn’t good for the rest of us? Never would have guessed).
But even more worrying than the deeply alarming consequences these three ballot propositions would have for the people of Dallas is that these initiatives are simply part of a larger playbook, aimed at ruining Texas cities for good. Make no mistake, they’ll be coming to a city nearest you… unless we can defeat them right now, in Dallas.
Here’s what we need y’all to know:
• Proposition S — Gives residents license to sue the City of Dallas for perceived violations to the city charter, ordinances, or state law.
If enacted, Proposition S would crack open a legal quagmire of epic proportions, opening the door for countless frivolous lawsuits the City of Dallas would then be forced to defend against, all at the taxpayers’ expense. We already have strong mechanisms in place to hold Texas city officials and City Halls accountable, and frankly Proposition S is preposterous.
• Proposition T — Use a public survey to compensate or fire the City Manager
Of these three, Proposition T is the one the Dallas Morning News Editorial Board finds the most troubling, as it aims to centralize power and limit checks and balances within local government. If passed, the initiative would turn Dallas’ City Hall into a playground for lobbyists, big money developers, and special interests, while the rest of us suffer the consequences.
• Proposition U — Mandates the hiring of hundreds of additional police officers
Proposition U isn’t even supported by Dallas’ police top brass — and for good reason. If passed, the proposition would strong-arm the city’s police department, effectively forcing them to hire unqualified recruits and rush them through training. It allocates half of the city's new revenue to improving police and fire pensions, would drain essential resources from critical services and projects across the city, and will erode the very foundations that make Dallas so attractive to hardworking Texas families. In short, Proposition U won’t make the City of Dallas any safer.
Every single living former mayor of Dallas is opposed to these amendments, along with all 14 city council members who recognize the threats they pose to our city. And so is the absolute best Senator serving in the Texas Senate — Senator Nathan Johnson.
Please join us in getting the word out: Vote NO on Propositions S, T, and U.