MRT (free): TX House GOP Caucus to Convene Sat to Select Speaker Nominee // Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson Gives State of the City Address // TEA to Appoint New Conservator for HISD

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak

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THURSDAY || 12/5/24

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• TOP NEWS

“'City Hall must listen': Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson assesses city,” Dallas Morning News' Devyani Chhetri — “In the council chambers on Thursday, flanked by 14 of his peers on the Dallas City Council, Mayor Eric Johnson began his assessment of the city’s track record with an emphasis on 4 P’s: public safety, parks, potholes and property tax relief.

“These four pillars are essential to Dallas remaining a city of opportunity for everyone,” Johnson said.

He also announced he will release the city’s “first-ever comprehensive public safety policy” in the coming months — though it’s unclear what that entails.

Johnson’s state of the city address, a tradition mandated by the city’s charter, echoed much of what he’s said before. The speech is generally a roadmap of what the city government has accomplished and wants to accomplish.

This year’s edition comes exactly a month after the November elections, where the passage of propositions S and U was widely seen as a “wake-up call” for municipal government

The passed propositions waive government immunity and open the city up to lawsuits if it doesn’t adhere to the charter. They direct half of any new revenue year after year to the police and fire pension system and other public safety initiatives and also mandate the city figure out a way to hire nearly 900 more police officers.

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“These calls from our residents for greater public safety and stronger government accountability could not be more clear,” Johnson said. “And City Hall must listen.”

The opposition to these propositions came from a big bipartisan coalition of former mayors and council members. Several saw these amendments as legal mandates that could negatively affect city operations.

Almost immediately after the propositions passed, Moody’s Ratings, a top credit rating firm, downgraded the city’s debt outlook from “stable” to “negative” due to the passage of Proposition U. The firm said the proposition lowers the flexibility the city has when it comes to its expenses and in the world of stocks and bonds, that type of an assessment can impact a lender’s confidence in the city’s management of its debt.

Johnson was absent from the public effort.

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A man of few words, his opinion on the propositions came as an op-ed in The Dallas Morning News, where he and council member Cara Mendelsohn asked voters to reject all 18 charter propositions, despite months of work by the charter review commission, a volunteer group tasked with coming up with the majority of the amendments.

Still, on Thursday, Johnson referenced the commission’s work as a milestone.

So what’s next for the city?

Dallas, he said, needed to keep investing in first responders to continue its streak of lowering violent crime, he said. The city needed to maintain its focus on the parks system and fix crippling potholes, a clarion call apparent in the passage of the $1.25 billion bond program earlier this year, he continued. This comes as Dallas is expected to host thousands of visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the new Texas Stock Exchange and two professional sports teams in the Dallas Wings and the Dallas Trinity FC." DMN ($)

HOU CHRON: “TEA to name new districtwide conservator for HISD in early 2025” Houston Chronicle ($)

HOU LANDING: “Federal judge refuses gag order on Dallas doctor accused of taking patient data on trans care” Houston Landing

SAEN: “Texas State plans renovations, expansions to San Marcos campus” SAEN ($)

USA TODAY: “TD Jakes sued man for defamation after sexual assault claims made on YouTube” USA Today

SAEN: Editorial: “Push for raw milk flouts science, public health” SAEN ($)

SA REPORT: “Mayor Nirenberg accuses Councilman Whyte of promoting 'conspiracy theory' over undocumented migrants” SA Report

HOU CHRON: “Houston mayor pulls funds for Montrose bridge streetlights” Houston Chronicle ($)

AAS: “Texas House GOP to convene Saturday to debate pick for next speaker” AAS ($)

TX TRIB: “Texas Senate to pursue ban on THC products next year, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says” Texas Tribune

TX TRIB: “Houston Rep. Gene Wu to lead Texas House Democrats through GOP-dominated legislative session” Texas Tribune

WIRE SERVICES: “Southwest, American upgrade forecasts heading into crucial holiday season” DMN

THE HILL: “Secret Service leader erupts at GOP lawmaker over 9/11 questioning” The Hill

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

> TX TRIB: "If Trump makes cuts to Medicaid, Texas officials could seize the opportunity to further slash the program" TX TRIB
> AP: "Man convicted of killing and dismembering 3 people in Texas is sentenced to death" AP
> DMN: "How do North Texas meth offenders end up imprisoned for so long?" DMN
> FWST: "‘A Texas town in the making.’ New Metroplex development promises 50,000 residents" FWST
> DMN: "Dallas teachers among those being investigated for certification fraud" DMN
> DMN: "North Texas’ long meth sentences cost taxpayers millions every year" DMN
> TX TRIB: "Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges" TX TRIB
> HOU CHRON: "ERCOT meteorologist warns 'conditions are there' for extreme cold this winter" HOU CHRON
> FWST: "‘Metallic blue’ creature that does handstands discovered in Texas. It’s a new species" FWST
> DMN: "Portuguese man o' war sea creatures are washing up on Texas beaches" DMN
> FWST: "Jury determines cannibal serial killer who burned bodies in Fort Worth dumpster should die" FWST
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Austin leaders promote HOME policy, recent land-use reforms to Boston City Council" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> HOU CHRON: "Houston attorney charged with murder after allegedly shooting, cremating son, authorities say" HOU CHRON
> KXAN: "Texas Gov. Abbott threatens to pull funding from hospital after doctor’s TikTok" KXAN
> FWST: "Another Dallas-Fort Worth restaurant honored: Steakhouse makes U.S. ‘best new’ list" FWST
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Lewisville ISD trustees discuss school closures ahead of December decision" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Texas could experience ‘another Uri’ this winter, but ERCOT says it’s better prepared" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> KXAN: "Dairy Farmers Invited to Apply for $7 Million Incentive Pool to Implement Climate-Smart Practices" KXAN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Prosper ISD receives ‘A’ for financial management from state" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> THE TEXAN: "Texas Files SCOTUS Brief in Pornographic Website Age Verification Lawsuit" THE TEXAN

• EXTRA POINTS

Last night's Texas sports scores:
> NHL: LA 3, Dallas 2
> NCAAM: Texas 63, N.C. State 59
> NCAAM: Texas Tech 76, DePaul 62
> NCAAM: Texas State 97, Arlington Baptist 49
> NCAAM: Abilene Christian 78, New Mexico State 70

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 6pm: NBA: Dallas at Washington
> 6:30pm: NCAAM: Stephen F. Austin at UT-RGV (ESPN+)
> 7pm: NBA: Dallas at Washington
> 7pm: NCAAM: East Texas A&M at Houston Christian (ESPN+)
> 7pm: NCAAM: Lamar at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (ESPN+)
> 7pm: NCAAM: Northwestern State at Incarnate Word (ESPN+)
> 7pm: NCAAM: Xavier at TCU (ESPN+)
> 9pm: NCAAM: Chicago at San Antonio

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys right guard Zack Martin to have season-ending surgery, Mike McCarthy says" DMN ($)

DALLAS COWBOYS: Cowlishaw: "Joe Burrow, Bengals pose threat Cowboys haven't yet faced" DMN ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Texas vs. Georgia: Steve Sarkisian gives update on Kelvin Banks, Jr." AAS ($)

UH FOOTBALL: "UH football: Cougars QB Zeon Chriss undergoes surgery" Houston Chronicle ($)

TEXAS MEN'S BASKETBALL: "Texas basketball v North Carolina State: Kadin Shedrick block helps preserve road win for UT" AAS ($)