District 13 Candidate Q&A With Priscilla Shacklett

Editor’s Note: This is the fifth in a series of responses to CandysDirt.com questionnaires issued to all candidates running for office in the May 6 Dallas City Council election. We’ll be revealing their responses over the next several days. Candidates in the races for Districts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 did not respond to the questionnaire. Early voting begins April 24.

Candidate: Priscilla Shacklett

Opponent: Incumbent Gay Donnell Willis (did not respond)

Why do you think Dallas continues to attract corporate relocations and new residents at a greater frequency than the rest of the nation?

Dallas metroplex continues to attract corporate relocations and new residents because of the reputation Dallas has for sensible, conservative politics. It also has a reputation for lower home prices than other major cities. 

What areas in your district could see a housing boom in the next few years?   

It seems appropriate for private developers to buy older apartment buildings in the western part of my district, where they are aging, and need renovations and/or new construction. The area is a good transportation area.

What is occurring in your area that could poise your district for growth, and how can you support that?

District 13 is seeing an increase in homeless encampments. I believe that crime reduction and the removal of encampments will improve the growth in D-13. Once this situation is cleaned up, there are shopping centers that will feel safe again which I think will bring back growth and vitality.

How can the City of Dallas improve the redistricting process, and how would that positively impact your district? 

The City Council Districts can focus on community problems in a more comprehensive, efficient way when the District, as a whole, shares commonality. I am not saying it is more positive to have either an overserved or underserved area. It is a matter of being able to identify and unify a district based on the more common issues everyone shares, that can be addressed more economically and efficiently with the same agencies and construction projects unique to that area’s overall needs.  

How would you vote on the matter of allowing or restricting short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods?  

Short-term rentals are currently legally operating in single-family residential neighborhoods as per the Texas Supreme Court. The criteria is that the residence is used as a residence, if only for one day at a time.  Having lived next door to an STR, I know firsthand the anger you feel when you carefully buy in a non-commercial area, only to have a hotel operating right next door.  At the present time, since the state considers them legal, it is important for the city to work with the district attorney to work out any legal way to have all STRs registered with the city.  

A City Department needs to be created to oversee the registration of all STRs in Dallas. Owners would pay annual operating fees, pay hotel taxes, and be responsible for all tenant activities.  The ordinance would state that a certain number of legal infractions, depending on the level of crime, could cause the operation to be closed permanently. Neighbors would be able to call this City STR Department with questions and concerns.  STR owners would also use the Department as a reference point.  

City police would enforce all laws against the violators and, ultimately, the host/owner would also risk losing his business if the STR exceeded the infractions limit.  If the state were to change its overriding law, then cities or homeowners associations might want to take steps to limit or eliminate them altogether in certain neighborhoods.  Giving the government too much control over private property rights is a slippery slope and I would carefully examine any and all regulations limiting personal property. 

 Two main concerns of mine are:

1. STRs where a homeowner rents out rooms in a house. Sometimes rooms must be rented for financial or health reasons and an overreach by government could cause great financial harm to the homeowner by preventing the owner from affording the house by renting out a room or obtaining live-in care. 

2. For an entire house being used as an STR, Government overreach could take the form of an ordinance that prohibits rentals for under a year, could require owners to get government officials’ approval for the right to rent out a personal home for any length of time due to a limit on numbers of rentals within a certain area, and government could demand to control who the property owner selects as a tenant. Governments love control and I can picture it getting out of hand without careful consideration before banning STRs altogether.

How do you feel about the Public Facility Corporation financing structure for multifamily development? 

The Public Facility Corporation provides tax-exempt mortgage bonds for multi-family housing built for families earning 60% or below area median family income. Whatever the City Council does needs to benefit the city overall to enhance business growth and quality of life for the citizens. On the surface, this plan sounds like it could be beneficial in an area providing entry level jobs where low cost, quality housing allows those people the opportunity to work and live in a home they can afford. Location, zoning, and neighborhood approvals of any zoning variations are all important considerations for such housing.

How do you plan to engage with the public and local media?

I hope to have a column in local news outlets about weekly council meetings and the types of legislation that is passed, ideas that are being considered, and my own personal opinions about them.  If I can have a weekly column, that would be ideal.  I would call it “Is This Best for Dallas? – My Opinion”  I plan to  increase my presence on social media with the same comments.  I would also make sure organizations like clubs and homeowners associations have an easy way to communicate with my office to set up speaking engagements and informal meetings.  Most of all, a top priority will be to communicate with my constituents with a guaranteed response time that they can depend on, should they call my office and staff. 

How do you feel about using historic and conservation districts to preserve a neighborhood’s character? 

I am 100% behind efforts to preserve historic neighborhood areas.  The general continuity of the neighborhood or area must be maintained.  If the buildings are occupied, there must be provisions to maintain the unique and original elements while hidden plumbing, electrical and similar repairs are done to keep the buildings safe and functional without changing the look or character.  I believe such areas should be given a city, county or state historical status that has penalties for violating the historic nature of the defined area. 

What is the role of a developer in providing affordable housing? What is the role of the city in providing affordable housing?

The role of the city in providing affordable housing is to justify it.  The usual criteria is that there is a housing demand and that there are jobs  both present and future within a reasonable commute from the housing.  

The City Planning Department should examine carefully the long term prospect of the area in which the housing is located.  It should observe the zoning in which the building is to be constructed and take all steps to get the surrounding neighborhood’s majority  to agree.  The Developer’s role is to insure that the building meets code requirements and brings value to the residents and neighborhood.  

The developer should present comprehensive plans for long term needs, especially if the neighborhood needs mixed use buildings to promote a revitalization of the neighborhood.  It’s important for the Developer to look beyond immediate profits or needs and make sure the development will provide potential revitalization for the area as a whole, where people can live, work, shop and be entertained in a community atmosphere.  

What projects/needs in your district should be given priority in the 2024 bond? 

The biggest demand in my area that would be covered by the $1bil 2024 bond is street and alley repairs. I have been made aware of one alley that has been closed off since 2016 because of needed repairs. Other alleys are in desperate need of repairs so that trucks and police cars can safely navigate them.  Streets are currently also filled with potholes and sinking manhole covers, even immediately after utilities have made repairs and supposedly patched streets properly.  First, I would put out a notice that all underground utilities should schedule and coordinate their maintenance during the time the streets are open to avoid another immediate road construction. Then every roadway will be resurfaced, street lines repainted, crosswalks painted, and sidewalks belonging to the city  repaired or rebuilt.  

At the same time it would be necessary for all street repair contractors to obtain permits so that the work in progress would be inspected and the project would be officially finaled by the city after a proper finish inspection.