Dallas City Council Sets Goals For 2023; Public Safety And Housing Are Among Top Priorities

Twelve of the 14 Dallas City Council members are vying to hold onto their seats in the May 6 election, but Wednesday offered a rare opportunity for the group to set goals and talk about the future away from the horseshoe and a large public audience. 

A “Vision Alignment Session” was held at Thanks-Giving Square, facilitated by consultant Jim Copple, who specializes in public policy strategic planning. 

“A goal is something you should be responsible for, to have some ownership,” Copple told the group, which included City Manager T.C. Broadnax and a few city administrators. 

It was clear the council members who were present were ready to take action rather than talking about what they’d like to see happen.

“I don’t know how much longer we can keep coming to these vision meetings talking about vision, talking about Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz,” said Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold, stressing the need for a deeper discussion on racial equity. 

Mayor Eric Johnson, who is running against write-in candidate Kendal Richardson, did not attend the retreat. 

Here’s what council members said about their goals for the districts they represent. 

District 1 

Councilman Chad West is seeking re-election in the May 6 election, challenged by political newcomers Mariana Griggs and Albert Mata.

West talked about his goals for the city as a whole, including walkability, housing options, and overcoming the “Not In My Backyard” mentality. 

He said he wants to bring urban planners, not just traffic engineers, into all discussions that involve roadways.

West’s top three goals for District 1 include seeing through five authorized zoning cases that came out of the West Oak Cliff Area Plan, renovation of the North Oak Cliff Library, and expansion of streetcars in Oak Cliff and through downtown. 

District 2

District 2 Councilman Jesse Moreno is running against political newcomer Sukhbir Kaur. 

Moreno said Wednesday his top goals include extending the streetcar from Deep Ellum through East Dallas and Lakewood, flood and storm mitigation, and building a natatorium. 

When it comes to transportation, Moreno said the city works closely with the Texas Department of Transportation, but TxDOT’s priority is moving vehicles rather than addressing things like loitering and trash near the overpasses. 

District 3

Councilman Casey Thomas is not seeking re-election due to term limits. 

In one of the most contested races on the ballot, Zarin Gracey, Joe Tave, August Doyle, John David Sims, and Denise Benavides are vying for the seat. 

Thomas said Wednesday that his area of South Dallas faces a negative perception that isn’t accurate. 

“District 3 goes against every single stereotype,” he said. “We have one of the lowest crime rates. It’s the perception because it’s South Dallas.” 

His top priorities are public safety, economic development, recruiting quality retail businesses, and addressing the infrastructure deficit through American Rescue Plan Act funds. 

District 4

Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold represents District 4 and is running against Jamie Smith. 

Arnold said her priorities include public safety, economic development, and racial equity. 

“If I say too much about public safety, it might be misinterpreted,” Arnold said. “We have some of the highest numbers … probably because of the lack of investment in our communities. We see murders, we see burglaries, we see crimes against persons.”

She said she wanted to listen during the retreat and “see where people are.” She later mentioned that residents in her district want a grocery store and asked how she could get support from a majority of council members to make that happen. 

“Sometimes you don’t know what to do and your pride is in the way because you don’t want to ‘fess up,” Arnold said. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I need help. I need the right staff to help me.”

District 5

District 5 Councilman Jaime Resendez is running against Yolanda Faye Williams and Terry Perkins. 

Resendez said his priorities for District 5 include public safety, infrastructure, and housing.  

The councilman said he’s pushing for more for-sale, single-family homes “on the higher end of the affordability spectrum.”

“We need the housing stock to be there or they’re going to keep moving to East Dallas and Uptown,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who are willing to live in the district and build generational wealth.”

District 6

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Omar Narvaez is running against Tony Carrillo, Sidney Robles Martinez, and Monica R. Alonzo . He did not attend Wednesday’s retreat.

District 7

Councilman Adam Bazaldua is facing Okema Thomas, Tracy Dotie Hill, and Marvin E. Crenshaw. His top priorities for District 7 include the South Dallas streetcar on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, economic development, grocery stores, and execution of the Fair Park Master Plan. 

District 8

Councilman Tennell Atkins is running against Subrina Brenham and Davante “Shawt” Peters. Atkins did not attend Wednesday’s retreat.

District 9

Councilwoman Paula Blackmon is running against Kendra Madison for the District 9 seat. 

When addressing walkability, Blackmon pointed out that Dallas was built around vehicles. 

“You’re going to have to undo a lot of that and create better connectivity,” she said. 

Blackmon’s top priorities are White Rock Lake, safety around public highways and Garland Road, and connectivity via streetcars. 

“The common thread that guides all this is connectivity throughout the whole district but linking it to the rest of the city with sidewalks, trails, a street network, and micro-mobility,” she said. 

District 10

Councilman Adam McGough is not seeking re-election due to term limits. Brian Hasenbauer, Kathy Stewart, Sirrano Keith Baldeo, and Chris Carter are vying for the seat. 

McGough said Wednesday his priorities include public safety — particularly technology, cameras, lights, and license plate readers — infrastructure, and economic development along the Skillman Corridor. 

“As we look at these bond projects, the Skillman Corridor is a big piece of the puzzle,” McGough said. “We want to get people of the district equipped with an area to start businesses and develop small business space.”  

District 11

District 11 Councilwoman Jaynie Schultz said her goals include positioning North Dallas as a regional player by moving forward the International District, addressing high poverty in the Esperanza area and activating a master plan there, and developing neighborhood leadership. 

She also emphasized streets and infrastructure and economic development. 

Schultz is running against CandysDirt.com founder and publisher Candace Evans. 

The Dallas Police Association Political Action Committee announced Wednesday it has endorsed Evans, saying she “understands a high quality of life starts with neighborhoods and schools free of criminal activity and will bring a fresh and responsive vision focusing on better basic services that include smooth roads, clean parks and the appropriate funding and tools for first responders.”

District 12

District 12 Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn is running unopposed. She did not attend Wednesday’s retreat.

District 13

Councilwoman Gay Donnell Willis is facing Priscilla Shacklett in the May 6 election. 

Willis mentioned the importance of “missing middle housing” early in the visioning session and later said her top priorities include public safety, streets and alleys, stormwater, development of three large contiguous American Rescue Plan Act tracts, economic development, and quality of life. 

“I think I’m behind District 14 with the most lane miles,” Willis said. “We had a discussion two years ago about improved alleys, but they were improved 30 years ago. It’s a daily reminder of the city breaking down. I think we need to dedicate funding to that, and also streets and stormwater. They’re not sexy things to talk about, but they’re very meaningful in people’s day-to-day lives.” 

District 14

Councilman Paul Ridley is running against Amanda Schulz and Joseph Miller for the Place 14 seat. 

Ridley said his top priorities for the district include a new recreation center, maintenance of the arts district, and completion of a two-way conversion at Cole Street and McKinney Avenue.

Ridley talked earlier in the day about the need for infrastructure and his desire to replace city vehicles with electric vehicles.