| After years of police shortages and mounting public pressure to finally act on public safety, Dallas City Hall had the opportunity this week to take bold action. Instead, they settled for a compromise. The debate over how many new officers to hire this year quickly turned into another example of City Hall lowering expectations instead of addressing the issues. |
| On Monday, the public safety committee debated raising the hiring goal to 400 officers. But Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins immediately moved to slash it to 300, claiming, “We cannot get 400 officers.” Atkins wasn’t alone—Gay Donnell Willis backed the cut too. Months ago, council blamed funding for the police shortage. Now, even with money available, they claim hiring more isn’t possible. So what’s really stopping them from fixing this crisis? Interim Police Chief Igo resisted, claiming training over 300 recruits would strain patrol resources. But Mendelsohn countered, noting staffing has grown in admin and civilian roles. The city has options—leadership just won’t prioritize hiring. After debate, the committee settled on a 325-officer hiring goal—better than Tennell Atkins’ weak 300, but still far from enough. Mendelsohn pushed for more, proposing civilian staff reallocations and targeted recruitment, but City Hall once again opted for excuses over real action. |
| The real question: Will City Hall follow through, or is this just another half-measure that won’t fix the problem? Hiring 325 officers sounds like progress, but with DPD losing nearly as many as it hires each year, Dallas will stay stuck in the same crisis—treading water while crime rises. We’ve broken down the full debate and what happens next in our latest X thread—check it out here: |
Police Hiring Debate: Follow Our City Hall Breakdown
| Press Highlights: |
| Mayor Johnson Defends Rigged Hiring—Who’s He Fooling? Mayor Johnson is standing by the city’s hiring process, but let’s be real—Kimberly Tolbert was always the predetermined pick. City Hall calls it “thorough,” yet residents were shut out while deals were made behind closed doors. When will Dallas leadership stop serving themselves and start working for the people who actually pay their salaries? |
| Dallas Expands Surveillance—But at What Cost? Dallas just installed Flock Safety surveillance cameras in the southern sector, but the company has faced lawsuits over privacy concerns. In fact, Texas even sent them a cease-and-desist last year. Should the city really be expanding this program without full transparency and public input? |
| Gov. Abbott Was Right—Dallas Has a Squatter Crisis Dallas has one of the highest squatting rates in the country. Gov. Abbott is right—squatters should be removed and prosecuted immediately. Homeowners shouldn’t have to fight criminals just to keep their own property. When will Dallas start protecting law-abiding residents instead of trespassers? |
Tracking Illegal Camps:
District 7, Councilman Adam Bazaldua
“Fenced-In Filth“
This massive encampment beneath IH-45 in The Cedars has become a full-blown village, complete with makeshift structures, scattered debris, and zero enforcement. A fence meant to deter camping is now just part of the scenery. Anyone driving by can see the problem—except, apparently, Councilman Adam Bazaldua. When will District 7 residents see real action to clear these camps and reclaim their community?
District 2, Councilman Jesse Moreno
“Sidewalk Settlement“
Right on the corner of Gaston Ave, this encampment spills into the sidewalk and street, forcing pedestrians to step into traffic just to get around it. Tents, tarps, and shopping carts have turned this intersection into a permanent campsite. Meanwhile, the city does nothing as businesses and residents deal with the consequences. Councilman Jesse Moreno, how much worse does it have to get before something is done?
District 14, Councilman Paul Ridley
“Stoplight Solicitor”
At one of the busiest intersections in Dallas, panhandlers have staked out prime real estate, weaving between cars and lingering at stoplights. This isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a safety hazard for both drivers and the individuals risking their lives for spare change. While the city claims to have ordinances against this, enforcement is nowhere to be seen. Councilman Paul Ridley, when will you address the growing panhandling problem in District 14?
