For years, Dallas city leadership has dismissed concerns about rising crime, economic instability, and failing public safety policies in Downtown. They’ve insisted that things aren’t as bad as they seem. But now, their own commissioned research tells a completely different story. A newly released report, conducted by Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI) in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), confirms what KDS has been saying all along—Downtown Dallas is in decline, crime is rising, businesses are on the verge of leaving, and the city’s response is failing.
Crime in Downtown is Rising—While Leadership Claims Otherwise
One of the biggest narratives pushed by the city is that crime in Dallas is improving. They’ve used broad citywide crime data to make this claim, but the reality is that crime in Downtown is worse than ever. According to the DDI-BCG report:
- Overall crime in Downtown has increased by 34 percent since 2019.
- Violent crime in Downtown is up 42 percent.
- 69 percent of all violent crime arrests in 2024 involve homeless individuals, nearly doubling from 2019 when it was 37 percent.
- Property crimes make up 79 percent of all reported Downtown crime.
- Arrests have dropped by 12 percent despite crime continuing to rise.
So why is the city claiming crime is improving? The report shows that while Downtown is getting worse, Uptown has seen a 200 percent decrease in crime. Because Uptown’s crime has dropped so dramatically, it has offset Downtown’s increase, making it seem like crime across the city is stabilizing. This is misleading at best and outright dishonest at worst. The reality is that Downtown Dallas is in crisis, and city leadership is doing everything possible to avoid admitting it.
Businesses Are Leaving—And AT&T Might Be Next
For years, Dallas has been warned that rising crime and poor city policies would drive businesses out. Now, it’s happening. The report confirms that AT&T is considering leaving Downtown, a decision that would be catastrophic for the area. If AT&T pulls out:
- $2.7 billion in property value would be wiped out overnight.
- The city would lose $62 million in annual tax revenue.
- 5,500 fewer workers would be spending money at Downtown businesses every day.
- A ripple effect would likely cause other companies to follow, leading to an economic collapse.
This isn’t speculation. The same thing has happened in other cities. When General Motors and Chrysler left Detroit, property values dropped 50 percent. When AT&T pulled out of St. Louis, property values dropped 15 percent. Now, Dallas is on track to repeat those mistakes.
Downtown Property Values Are Tanking—While Uptown is Thriving
The city has tried to downplay Downtown’s decline, but the numbers don’t lie. The report shows that Downtown property values have dropped 11 percent since 2019, while Uptown has increased by 200 percent. Investors are avoiding Downtown, and businesses that remain are forced to spend millions on private security because the city refuses to enforce public safety laws.
The study also confirms that businesses in Downtown are paying over $12 million annually for private security because they don’t trust the city to keep them safe. Meanwhile, leadership continues to ignore the problem, focusing on “revitalization” projects like landscaping and pedestrian zones—solutions that do nothing to address the root cause of the crisis.
The City’s Failed Approach: Moving Crime Instead of Stopping It
One of the most damning admissions in the report is that the city’s approach to crime isn’t about reducing it—it’s about shifting it around. The study specifically states that the city’s focus is on “de-magnetizing crime hotspots,” which essentially means moving crime from one part of Downtown to another instead of actually stopping it. Instead of cracking down on repeat offenders, the city is expanding community courts and mental health teams—policies that have done nothing to curb rising crime.
Meanwhile, 34 percent of all crime in Downtown happens in public parks, transit stops, and plazas, making these areas dangerous for families, workers, and tourists. Yet the city’s response is to invest in public art and sidewalk improvements as if these aesthetic changes will make people feel safe.
What This Means for the Future of Dallas
The city is at a crossroads. This report confirms that crime isn’t just a public safety issue—it’s an economic issue. If leadership doesn’t act now, Dallas will face an irreversible decline. If AT&T leaves, other businesses will follow. If crime continues to rise, investors will abandon Downtown. If enforcement remains weak, taxpayers will continue to pay the price while criminals operate freely.
KDS has been warning about this for years. We’ve said crime was out of control. We’ve said the city’s policies weren’t working. We’ve said businesses would leave. Now, the city’s own data proves we were right.
The Time for Action is Now
This can’t be ignored any longer. Public safety must be the city’s number one priority. More policing, not more excuses. More enforcement, not more empty promises. Businesses and residents must demand action before it’s too late.
Dallas is at a breaking point. Either we take action now, or we watch Downtown collapse.
