[Editor’s Note: Candy Evans is the founder and publisher of daltxrealestate.com and is now running for Dallas City Council in District 11. The opinions expressed in this column are her own.]
Reclaiming Dallas: A New Vision for District 11 and Our City’s Future
Dallas, a city celebrated for its dynamic economy, rich cultural tapestry, and vibrant community spirit, has recently found itself under an uncomfortable national spotlight. Not long ago, while in New York City after Thanksgiving, I was confronted with a concerning reality: two of the world’s most influential media outlets, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, were openly discussing our city’s precarious financial situation. The primary focus of these discussions? Our alarming police and fire pension problems, frequently accompanied by the unsettling whisper of the “B” word – bankruptcy. To hear Dallas compared to cities like Detroit was not merely an insult; it was a profound wake-up call and a powerful summons to action.
This negative national perception isn’t just a fleeting media narrative; it mirrors a deeper array of challenges that have gradually undermined the very foundation of our cherished city, and particularly my home, District 11. Over the last four years, instead of witnessing tangible improvements, we’ve observed a concerning decline across several critical sectors. The time has come to squarely address these issues and chart a definitive course toward a more secure, prosperous, and accountable future for every resident of Dallas.
The Erosion of Public Trust: Questionable Decisions and Misguided Priorities
At the core of Dallas’s current difficulties are a series of decisions that appear to prioritize immediate gains or external interests over the long-term prosperity of our citizens and the strategic growth of our city. These choices have not only depleted our valuable resources but have also fostered a growing sense of disillusionment among our hardworking taxpayers.
Fair Park: A Missed Opportunity for Southeast Dallas’s Growth
A prime example of these questionable decisions is the handling of Fair Park. I firmly believe that the support for what essentially amounted to a fiscal giveaway for Fair Park represents a significant strategic error. This ambitious near billion-dollar plan, rather than fostering genuine, community-led development, threatened to squander the immense potential we possess for real estate development and private sector job creation in southeast Dallas. Imagine the vast opportunities lost when such a substantial investment is not meticulously aligned with the genuine needs and aspirations of the local community. Fair Park should serve as a dynamic catalyst for economic revitalization, generating concrete benefits and sustainable jobs right here within our city, rather than becoming a platform for speculative ventures that offer little lasting value to our residents.
Undermining Dallas’s Cultural and Economic Fabric: The Dallas Film Commission
Another bewildering proposal was the ill-conceived attempt to abolish the Dallas Film Commission. This move was justified by labeling a modest $200,000 annual grant as a “waste.” However, this seemingly small investment was far from wasteful, yielding approximately $475,000 in annual tax revenue and, perhaps more importantly, providing invaluable branding benefits for our city on a global scale. Can we truly overlook the international recognition and significant economic boost brought by iconic shows like Dallas? Supporting our local film and television industry isn’t merely about cultural prestige; it’s about actively attracting productions, nurturing creative talent, generating jobs for local crews, and proudly showcasing Dallas on a global platform. Severing such a vital lifeline demonstrates a profound lack of understanding regarding how smart, strategic investments can yield substantial returns and significantly enhance our city’s profile and economic vibrancy.
Prioritizing Suburban Needs Over Core City Infrastructure: The Cotton Belt Corridor
The consistent inclination to prioritize suburban development over crucial urban infrastructure further underscores a misalignment of priorities. The unwavering support for the Cotton Belt Corridor commuter rail alignment is a prime example. While acknowledging the importance of regional connectivity, prioritizing this specific project above a much-needed subway line reliever route in downtown Dallas raises serious questions about whose interests are truly being served. The Cotton Belt project, while potentially offering convenience for our northern neighbors, provides significantly less direct benefit to the everyday residents of Dallas itself. Our bustling downtown core is in desperate need of enhanced transit solutions to alleviate crippling congestion, improve accessibility for workers and visitors, and sustainably support continued urban growth. Investing robustly in our city’s heart should be a paramount concern, ensuring that daily commuters and businesses within Dallas receive the critical infrastructure improvements they require to thrive.
The Alarming Decline in Public Safety and Basic City Services
Beyond the realm of fiscal and developmental priorities, the fundamental responsibilities of city government – namely, ensuring public safety and meticulously maintaining essential services – have also experienced a troubling decline. These are the foundational issues that directly impact the quality of life for every single Dallas resident.
Rising Crime and a Demoralized Police Force
The statistics paint a grim picture: crime has been consistently on the rise across Dallas, and disturbingly, within District 11 itself. This alarming trend is exacerbated by critically low police morale and the looming shadow of a billion-dollar shortfall in the Police and Fire Pension fund. Our city currently deploys only 3,252 officers, a significant and concerning deficit from the target of 3,500 personnel deemed necessary to adequately protect our diverse communities. A short-staffed and undervalued police force simply cannot effectively combat rising crime rates. This isn’t just about abstract numbers; it’s about the very real safety and security of our families, the vitality of our businesses, and the peace of mind within our neighborhoods. We must actively cultivate a working environment where our first responders feel genuinely supported, deeply valued, and fully empowered to execute their vital duties, ensuring their pensions are secure and their ranks are robust.
Diminishing Returns: Higher Taxes, Lower Quality Services
Perhaps one of the most disheartening aspects for residents is the frustrating paradox of paying more in taxes yet consistently receiving less in return. Property taxes continue their upward trajectory, placing an increasingly heavy burden on homeowners and businesses alike, while the quality and accessibility of city services simultaneously decline. This imbalance is utterly unacceptable. Residents deserve to see their hard-earned tax dollars visibly translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives, not into a continued deterioration of essential services. From inadequate maintenance of public parks to inconsistent trash collection schedules, the pervasive signs of neglect are regrettably evident throughout our various districts.
The Neglect of Core Infrastructure: Fix the Damn Streets!
While grand-scale projects often dominate headlines and political discourse, the most pressing, indeed fundamental, need for Dallas is undeniably the comprehensive restoration of our crumbling infrastructure. We frequently obsess over ambitious, often abstract, urban plans when the basic necessities of our daily urban environment are literally falling apart. The deplorable condition of our streets is a city-wide embarrassment, a source of daily frustration for countless commuters, and a direct threat to vehicle longevity and public safety. But the problem extends far beyond just our streets. Our public parks are decaying, vital drainage systems are failing (leading to entirely preventable flooding during rain events), crucial traffic signals regularly malfunction, and public buildings are in a state of disrepair. These are not mere minor inconveniences; they represent critical failures that profoundly impact safety, hinder economic activity, and diminish the overall livability of our city. The once-held promise that “all of this was supposed to get better come May” now feels like a distant, unfulfilled memory, replaced by a cycle of continuous delays and deferred maintenance.
A Failure of Leadership: Postponing Progress and Ignoring Constituents
The prolonged inaction surrounding the proposed bond election stands as a potent symbol of leadership failing to address these urgent and fundamental needs. The decision to indefinitely postpone this crucial election, specifically intended to secure funding for vital repairs for our rotting streets, dilapidated parks, inadequate drainage, and other essential infrastructure, was a profound and deeply disappointing misstep.
Kicking the Can Down the Road: The Bond Election Delay
This postponement was not merely another delay; it was a clear and concerning instance of “kicking the can down the road,” a common political maneuver that invariably burdens future generations with present-day problems. Even more troubling, this unilateral decision was reportedly made without a single iota of input from the very people it directly affects: the hard-working residents of District 11, the constituents whom our city council representative is elected to serve. Such a singular decision on one of the most critically important issues facing Dallas voters – the urgent need for street repair – clearly demonstrates a profound disconnect that is simply unacceptable in a truly representative government.
Ignoring the Voice of the People: Canceled Meetings
The gravity of the situation was further exacerbated by the inexplicable cancellation of not one, but TWO scheduled public meetings that were specifically organized to discuss the bond election and gather essential feedback from the community. When a representative actively avoids direct engagement and transparent dialogue on such a vital public topic, it inevitably raises profound questions about their true commitment to their constituents. Does he even genuinely know what the people he represents truly want and need? More importantly, does he genuinely care? This concerning pattern of disengagement, coupled with the apparent prioritization of personal agendas over pressing community needs, unequivocally demands a significant and immediate change in leadership.
A Path Forward: My Vision for a Respectful, Transparent, and Accountable Dallas
I am running for the Dallas City Council seat in District 11 because I profoundly believe that our city deserves unequivocally better. My aspiration is to usher in a transformative new culture at Dallas City Hall—a culture that genuinely and consistently places us, the hardworking taxpayers and dedicated residents, first in every decision. My comprehensive vision for Dallas is meticulously built upon the enduring principles of respect, unwavering transparency, and absolute accountability at every single level of city government.
Prioritizing Our First Responders and Ensuring Public Safety
Instead of turning our backs on our incredibly dedicated police force, we must actively foster a positive, collaborative, and genuinely supportive working relationship. This commitment translates into actively listening to their critical concerns, engaging in constructive and meaningful compromise, and absolutely rejecting any form of bullying or disrespectful treatment. Our law enforcement officers are undeniably vital to our collective safety and well-being, and they unequivocally deserve leadership that champions their efforts, diligently secures their hard-earned pensions, and ensures they possess all the necessary resources required to protect our communities effectively. We must, with urgent intent, restore morale and reinvigorate commitment within our public safety departments.
Strategic Oversight and Efficient Use of Every Taxpayer Dollar
Accountability is far more than just a political buzzword; it must form the absolute bedrock of our financial governance. We urgently need stringent, comprehensive oversight at every level of city government to guarantee that every single tax dollar is utilized with maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Our overarching goal should be to meticulously maximize the return on taxpayer investment, conscientiously directing funds towards projects and services that genuinely benefit the entire community and unequivocally contribute to our city’s long-term prosperity, rather than towards wasteful initiatives or questionable fiscal giveaways. This imperative includes the immediate development and rigorous implementation of a robust plan to finally fix our crumbling infrastructure – particularly our streets, parks, and drainage systems – elevating these fundamental repairs to a top priority.
Open Communication and Accessible Leadership for All
A truly effective representative must be consistently available and genuinely accessible to the people they are elected to serve. This means engaging in regular, transparent, and proactive communication with all district residents, diligently utilizing modern communication channels to ensure that information flows freely, and that feedback is not only sought but genuinely heard and acted upon. Unlike those who compile a “list of haters,” I firmly believe in fostering an inclusive and respectful dialogue where all voices are valued, and all concerns are addressed with genuine effort and utmost respect. Our City Council must fundamentally transform into a vibrant forum for authentic community engagement, not a disheartening barrier to progress.
Join Us: Building a Better Dallas, Together
I invite you to join me in this critical endeavor to usher in a respectful, transparent, and accountable vision for our truly great city. Dallas possesses the boundless potential to genuinely have it all – a thriving and inclusive economy, safe and vibrant neighborhoods, excellent and responsive city services, and a government that unequivocally works tirelessly for all of its people. This campaign is fundamentally about active listening, collaborative problem-solving, and the shared commitment to building a stronger, more resilient, and more equitable Dallas for every single resident. Every Friday, we will provide you with a comprehensive report directly from the campaign trail as we delve even deeper into the issues that matter most to you and work tirelessly, together, to find lasting, impactful solutions for District 11 and our entire beloved city. Let us unite to build a brighter, more promising future for Dallas, together.