Cara Mendelsohn

Short-Term Rental Operators Have Unanswered Questions As Enforcement Deadline Looms

By April Towery / August 18, 2023 /

Dallas short-term rental operators were told in June that enforcement of a residential ban would begin at the end of the year, but confusion abounds and a lawsuit is likely on the horizon.  City Manager T.C. Broadnax revealed his recommended budget Aug. 4, proposing nine code enforcement positions and $1.4 million for a new short-term…

Dallas Spends $3M on ‘Master Leasing’ Program to Move Homeless Into Permanent Housing 

By April Towery / July 4, 2023 /

The Dallas City Council last week authorized the city manager to execute a $3 million, one-year contract with Housing Forward for master leasing services for the Office of Homeless Solutions.  While council members agreed that the idea was a good one, Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn argued that the resolution — a 180-page contract that no one…

Dallas Council Reluctantly Agrees to Accept Reduced Amount in DART Sales Tax Revenue

By April Towery / July 3, 2023 /

It was evident months ago when Dallas Area Rapid Transit officials began arguing with Dallas City Council members over how much excess sales tax revenue was due the municipality that the discussion wasn’t going to end well.  The matter went into mediation and an agreement was reached that the city would receive significantly less than…

Dallas Voters, What Would You Do With $1 Billion? Pick Your Projects For 2024 Bond Election

By April Towery / July 1, 2023 /

Street and drainage projects aren’t sexy, Dallas leaders can agree, but they’re prepared to give the people what they need in the $1 billion 2024 bond election next May.  The Dallas City Council heard from a small sample of residents (about 100 per each of the 14 council districts) in a community survey that infrastructure…

With Inflation And Property Taxes on Their Minds, Dallas City Council Weighs in on Proposed Budget

By April Towery / June 27, 2023 /

The proposed City of Dallas budget won’t be unveiled until Aug. 8, but a 72-page Dallas City Council presentation is giving penny-pinching taxpayers plenty to digest in the interim.  Chief Financial Officer Jack Ireland reviewed the 2023-24 and 2024-25 budget and responded to general questions during a June 21 briefing. The City Council adopted a…