Dallas has the capacity to be a world-class city. We can realize our full potential by ensuring our city is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. A core responsibility for councilmembers is to bring that vision to life through economic development initiatives. I am committed to improving the city’s current levels of service while lowering our property taxes, which have skyrocketed over the last several years. The best way to reduce our reliance on single-family property taxes is smart development that increases our revenue without harming established neighborhoods.

I listened carefully to neighbors on all sides of the issue before it ever came before the City Council. There was broad agreement that blight and decline are not acceptable. The space must be active 24/7 to reduce crime and homeless camping. That’s why I supported mixing in some residential with the commercial use, but I urged the current councilmember to push for much lower density than what was ultimately approved. Council decisions are meant to be well-informed, well-reasoned, and definitive. There are rare cases when they may need to be challenged in the courts. There is currently a lawsuit preventing Pepper Square redevelopment from moving forward. If it results in renegotiation, I will get the local neighborhoods involved on day one. I will stay engaged in the process, but my personal opinions will not drive the end result for this or any other development.I believe we will be able to find a compromise that benefits both the developer and the community.

This is an incredible opportunity to breathe new life into North Dallas, and it should have happened long ago. The goal is to create a vibrant space where families can live, work, shop, and relax, all in one place. To get this project moving, we can learn from successes like Preston Hollow Village and Legacy West, which just sold for $785 million. There have been astonishing delays at Valley View, but we will commit to a deep collaboration with a new developer to help us make meaningful and long overdue progress. While serving on the Parks and Recreation board, I helped secure purchase of land towards a new signature International Commons Park. This green space will fill a major need for safe park space where kids can play and families can gather together, similar to the success we’ve seen at Hillcrest Village Green, but on a much larger scale. The park is expected to bring in businesses, create jobs, and raise property values—good news for homeowners and the local economy. To succeed, we must to stay connected and focused. That means developers, city leaders, and the entire community. As soon as new ownership of the old mall site is confirmed, we’ll negotiate a new funding plan to keep the project on track. Smart tax incentives tied to specific goals can encourage builders to stay on schedule and keep costs in check. And I want to be clear: I’m 100% against any casino at Valley View, even in the unlikely scenario where gambling becomes legal in Texas. The City Council has no power to allow a casino—any claims otherwise are simply not true. Legalization of gambling is exclusively a decision for the Texas State Legislature.

I am committed to bringing HEB to North Dallas - but only in the right location. I have concerns about the currently proposed location, because of problems with traffic, flooding, access, and the impact on nearby neighbors. Before any rezoning would ever be considered, I would work closely with HEB to identify a more optimal location for the grocery chain. HEB has not filed for rezoning to date.

On May 14, Dallas City Council passed a compromise parking reform by a 14-1 margin. I would have voted in favor of this plan as well. I do not support a one-size-fits-all approach to parking reform. Different approaches to parking are appropriate for different parts of town, based on the unique interests of each area, and that is exactly the plan the council passed. In the dense areas near Downtown and Uptown, I would support a reduction of parking minimums to encourage more pedestrian and bicycle traffic. That approach would not be appropriate in less dense areas of the city, including most of District 11. Especially in and around single-family neighborhoods, parking minimums are essential to prevent overflow, street congestion, and the safety problems that would result.

ForwardDallas 2.0 is just a guide, not a binding document. It is meant to inform decisions of the City Planning Commission and the City Council when considering new zoning cases, but it does not outweigh other factors. City staff research and input from residents are essential and should always be strongly considered before any zoning changes are made. I have no problem with ForwardDallas 2.0 as a planning tool. It is never meant to override other factors.