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* **2025**

**“The “Inherent Tension” Between Taxes and Affordability – Plus a Look at Campaign Contributions in the Prop Q Election,” **The Austin Independent’s **Daryl Slusher **-- “As the election on a City property tax increase (Prop Q) nears, opponents are beginning to hammer the point that the increase will affect the “affordability of Austin” — particularly for residents already on the verge of not being able to afford to live within the City limits. Let’s take a look at some points that a particularly cogent and well-informed person put together on that issue.

For instance there’s this: “We can’t ignore that collecting taxes, rates, and fees—even for important items—impacts Austin’s affordability.” That’s about as clear and straightforward statement as you’re going to find, although I personally have never accepted using impact as a verb in that manner.

Then there are forays into specific numbers:

“Over the past ten years, the typical Austin homeowners tax bill has grown over two-thirds, from $4,950 to $8,301, an increase of over $3,350 or 67.7%. Last year alone, the typical homeowner’s combined property tax bill rose by almost $1,000, or 13.4%.”

A key word there is “combined,” by which the writer means the combined tax rates of all governmental entities that have the authority to charge property taxes in Travis County. The author next drives home that point by giving the total increases last fiscal year, by taxing jurisdiction: “In the last fiscal year, Austin raised the typical ratepayer and taxpayer’s bill by $361.92 a year. Travis County raised taxes on the typical taxpayer by $203.00, and AISD raised taxes by $515 a year. Central Health raised taxes by $43, and ACC raised taxes $29.” (There are parts of the City limits that are in Williamson and Hays Counties. Also, some City of Austin residents are not within the boundaries of the Austin Independent School District. For people in these categories, their tax rates would be somewhat different.)

The same writer continues, “Some of Travis County and AISD’s increases were voter approved. But they add up— jurisdiction on top of jurisdiction and year after year. They impact the cost of living.”

Now we’re going to quote at length:

“Increased taxes and rates impact Austin’s affordability for all who pay them, but some arguably get hit harder than others.

About half of Austin’s people are renters who can’t claim homestead, senior, or disability property tax exemptions. Those exemptions are for homeowners. Landlords, who also don’t get those exemptions for rental property, most likely just pass increased taxes and rates through to the renters.”

The writer continues, “Someone is ‘rent burdened’ or ‘cost burdened’ if the household spends more than 30% of its income on housing costs, including rent and utilities. When a household spends more than 50%, it’s considered severely rent burdened.

Last December, Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies said that over half of renters living in the Austin area were cost burdened.

That’s up about 4 percent from 2022. Those Harvard folks also found that low- and middle-income renters are now spending a larger share of their income on housing. In 2019, around 64% of people earning $30,000 to $75,000 were cost burdened. That number grew to 77% in 2024.

According to our city demographer, ‘about 1 in 5 Black and Hispanic households have extreme housing cost burden.’ This is likely at least part of the explanation for why Austin is losing Hispanic and African American population as a percentage of total population.”

Wow, that is really hard hitting and has some solid figures. I really appreciate that, but I better talk to someone from the pro-tax side and get their views on the affordability issue.

Oh, wait a minute. I think I made a mistake. That statement and those numbers didn’t come from someone urging Austinites to vote no in the upcoming (property) tax rate election. No, all that was from Mayor** Kirk Watson** in a late July 2025 “Watson Wire,” the email newsletter that the mayor sends to constituents and anyone else who signs up to get it.

My bad.

**Decision Making Amidst the “Inherent Tension“**

This particular Watson Wire, titled “The Budget, Taxes & Affordability,” came out shortly before Watson and the Council were scheduled to vote on the budget and potentially call for a tax rate election. Watson was evidently trying to walk the tightrope of acknowledging that higher property taxes affect the cost of living i.e. affordability for Austinites while at the same time hinting that he and the Council might ultimately decide on a tax increase beyond what City Manager **T.C. Broadnax **recommended in his proposed budget.

Watson reports (as we quoted him last [week]([link removed])) that under Broadnax’s proposed budget “the typical city ratepayer and taxpayer will pay an additional $268.23 a year.” Broadnax’s proposed budget maxed out how much a City is allowed, under state law, to raise taxes in a single year without an election, 3.5%.

Watson and the Council ultimately approved the maximum level of property tax increase proposed by Broadnax, then added a tax rate election for an additional five cents per $100 valuation. In his Watson Wire post, the Mayor wrote “If Austin has a TRE, every 1 cent increase in the tax rate will increase the typical taxpayer’s bill by another $40.26 per year.”

According to Watson’s figures, Broadnax’s budget increased property taxes by $268.23 a year. Then the tax rate election proposed by Watson and the Council will add $201.30 ($40.26 x 5).

So the total property tax increase on the “typical taxpayer” will be $469.53 if the tax rate election is approved; $268.23 if voters turn Prop Q down.

Watson also added in his Watson Wire statement, “Each cent also will generate around $21.6 million to fund services.”

This was all to illustrate the tough choices that the Council faced. As the mayor explained, “There’s an inherent tension between collecting the public’s money to pay for our needs and adding t

Watson, Fuentes and Vela all contributed to the Love Austin So Much Campaign; respectively through a PAC, their campaign and individually. The Watson photo reads “I’m putting affordability first.”

I realize that ending homelessness is a noble cause. And, ECHO may well do good work on that cause. Also, some might argue that there is nothing wrong with contributing to a cause you believe in, even if fighting for that cause is the way you earn your living. Nonetheless, as a journalist I feel obligated to report it when a group contributes $25,000 to a campaign focused on persuading voters to increase property taxes, when that group would likely receive a considerable portion of the proceeds. The same is true for the items that follow.

The Other Ones Foundation, Inc. — another local service provider in the homelessness field — contributed $10,000 to the Love Austin So Much PAC. They are one of four vendors on a $16 million [contract]([link removed]) for “homeless encampment cleanup.”

Likewise the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center on Menchaca just south of Ben White Blvd, whose services are currently the subject of a very controversial potential move to Oltorf and IH 35 — contributed $5,000 to Love Austin So Much. A recent _Austin American-Statesman_ [story]([link removed]) reported that “the city has provided about $3.8 million in grants to support Sunrise’s services in recent years.” A [link]([link removed]) to City documents in that story sets the overall figure at $4.6 million.

Groups and corporations involved in the City’s affordable housing efforts also contributed significantly to Love Austin So Much. For instance Foundation Communities gave two contributions, totaling $25,000. Foundation Communities has built several successful affordable housing projects in Austin. But many of those were done with considerable City of Austin help.

Other organizations and corporations involved in providing affordable housing contributed as well. They included SGI Ventures Inc. which gave $5,000 and Capital A Housing, Inc. and the Austin Housing Coalition who each contributed $1,000 to Love Austin So Much.

Once again these organizations do important work, and, in chores like encampment cleanup, work that almost no one else wants to do. Still, they are organizations contributing to a campaign from which their organization will likely receive considerable City funds, if the Prop Q campaign is successful.

On the labor front AFSCME (American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees), which represents many City employees contributed $25,000 and the Austin Travis Co. EMS Employee PAC “pledged” $25,000. It is particularly difficult to fault the EMS group, whose employees — many would agree — are overworked, underpaid and performing a critical service. Nonetheless they would likely benefit directly from Prop Q so the contribution is worth noting.” [Austin Independent]([link removed])

» **RELATED**: I strongly recommend all of our readers to become PAID subscriber of The Austin Independent. You can do so [here]([link removed]).

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* **2026 **

**“Cornyn heads into fall with big cash advantage over GOP primary challengers Paxton, Hunt,” **Texas Tribune’s** Gabby Birenbaum **-- “Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story. See our [AI policy]([link removed]), and give us [feedback]([link removed]).

Sen. **John Cornyn** has nearly double the war chest of Attorney General **Ken Paxton** in Texas’ Senate GOP primary after the third fundraising quarter of the year — though in the latest flare-up between the two, neither can agree on which funds count.

Cornyn’s campaign reported a $3.36 million haul from July through September between his official campaign account and his two joint fundraising committees, vehicles that allow candidates to raise money alongside other candidates or organizations and split the profits. Through these committees, Cornyn’s official campaign account raises money alongside supportive PACs and groups like the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

About one-quarter of Cornyn’s fundraising — $910,000 — went directly to his campaign account, with the remaining $2.45 million going to his joint fundraising committees. A portion of that money is ineligible to be transferred to the senior senator’s campaign account because it came from donors who had already given the maximum amount to Cornyn’s campaign allowed by federal contribution limits.

Still, the excess funds could be used to benefit Cornyn’s campaign under a recent strategy — [pioneered]([link removed]) by Senate GOP leadership’s campaign arm — of using joint fundraising committees to buy television ads at discounted rates typically reserved for individual candidates. The loophole allows committees to run campaign ads on behalf of allied candidates as long as the ads are presented as fundraising pleas, effectively allowing Cornyn’s joint committees to pay for TV ads promoting his candidacy, using money ineligible to be transferred to his campaign account.

Paxton, meanwhile, raised $1.3 million during the third quarter, outpacing Cornyn’s direct six-figure haul. The attorney general accused Cornyn of lying about his fundraising by counting the entire joint fundraising total toward his overall amount.

“Cornyn’s campaign continues to either be really bad at math or really obsessed with trying to deceive Texans,” Paxton said in a statement.

Still, Cornyn had a decisive advantage in the size of his official campaign war chest, reporting about $6 million on hand to Paxton’s $3.2 million. He also outspent Paxton during the third quarter, even without factoring in the more than $660,000 spent by his joint fundraising committees.

“Senator Cornyn is soaring in all available public polling after Ken Paxton’s summer from Hell,” **Andy Hemming**, Cornyn’s campaign manager, said in a statement. “We are grateful for the generous support of so many patriotic Texans and Americans who strongly believe President Trump needs John Cornyn fighting for their agenda in the U.S. Senate.”

Paxton said his campaign “continues to be powered by grassroots supporters and a growing movement across the state ready for change,” pointing to the more than 13,600 people who donated last quarter.

“I’m continuing to raise historic sums for a primary challenge to a sitting Senator because John Cornyn is a historically bad incumbent, plain and simple,” Paxton said in a statement. “No matter how many tens of millions he spends to deceive voters, Texans won’t forget his failed record, his efforts to stop President Trump’s border wall, and his betrayal of our 2nd Amendment rights.”

Rep. **Wesley Hunt**, a Houston Republican who [launched his Senate bid]([link removed]) last week, raised about $366,000 during the latest quarter, all of which came before he entered the primary fray. He spent some $1.87 million during the three-month period, leaving him with just over $1.5 million in his campaign account.

Hunt’s joint fundraising committee raised an additional $377,000.

Both Cornyn and Paxton’s fundraising totals fell behind what they raised in the second quarter — which began close to their respective launch dates. The Cornyn campaign raised $3.9 million in the second quarter, though only $2.7 million went directly to his campaign between hard dollars and transfers. Paxton raised $2.9 million in the second quarter.

Before his launch, Paxton [told Punchbowl News]([link removed]) he would need to raise $20 million — between his campaign account and supportive PACs — to defeat Cornyn. Thus far, his campaign has raised $4.2 million, while Lone Star Liberty PAC, a super PAC supporting him, had raised about $1.9 million through the end of June. Fundraising typically picks up as the election date approaches, giving Paxton more time, though he would need to raise larger sums of money in the next two quarters to meet his stated goal.

Cornyn, Hunt and Paxton are competing in a contentious Republican primary, with a Dec. 8 filing deadline rapidly approaching and the March 3 primary less than five months out. Cornyn and Hunt allies have been flooding the airwaves with positive messages about their preferred candidates and — in the case of pro-Cornyn groups — attacks on Paxton. But the Paxton campaign has yet to make any significant ad buys.

The two Democrats competing in the Senate primary far outpaced their Republican counterparts. State Rep. **James Talarico** raised $6.2 million in the first three weeks of his campaign, with his launch coming at the tailend of the quarter, while former U.S. Rep.** Colin Allred **brought in $4.1 million over the full three months.

Rep. **Jasmine Crockett**, D-Dallas, who has not announced a bid but whose name has been floated for Senate, outraised both Paxton and Hunt as well, with a $2.7 million haul this quarter.”“ [Texas Tribune]([link removed])

**“Texas Democrat Gina Hinojosa enters race for governor,” **AP’s** Sean Murphy **-- “Texas Democratic state Rep. **Gina Hinojosa** entered the race for governor Wednesday, criticizing Republican Gov. **Greg Abbott **as beholden to big donors in an uphill bid to become the first Democrat to hold the office since 1995.

Hinojosa, who represents Austin, joins a race that has been without big-name challengers and overshadowed in Texas by [a competitive U.S. Senate contest]([link removed]). She was a fierce critic of a $1 billion [private school voucher program]([link removed]) in Texas and joined [Democrats’ walkout]([link removed]) this summer that temporarily delayed the passage of redrawn U.S. House maps sought by President **Donald Trump**.

Abbott, who is seeking a record fourth term, has won each of his last three races by double-digits and his campaign is sitting on more than $80 million, underscoring the tall task facing any challenger.

“Our fight right now is against the billionaires and the corporations who are driving up prices, closing our neighborhood schools and cheating Texans out of basic health care. That’s who Greg Abbott works for,” she said in a video announcing her candidacy. “I’m running for governor to work for you.”

Hinojosa was set to kick off her campaign with an event in her hometown of Brownsville along the U.S.-Mexico border, where Republicans have been making [fast inroads with Hispanic voters]([link removed]).

Abbott’s campaign manager, **Kim Snyder**, criticized Hinojosa as being out of step with most Texans.

“Time and again, Gina Hinojosa chooses woke, extreme ideologies over the safety and security of Texas families,” Snyder said in a statement. “Texans deserve a governor who will continue to secure the border, fight for safer communities and uphold family values — not someone who supports failed, radical policies that hurt hardworking Texans.”

Other Democrats in the race include** Andrew White**, who is the son of former Texas Gov. **Mark White** and is running again after narrowly losing the Democratic primary in 2018.” [AP]([link removed])

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* **STATE GOVERNMENT **

**“USDA slaps down Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller over New World Screwworm,” **Texas Tribune’s** Kate McGee **— “Texas Agriculture Commissioner **Sid Miller **is trading barbs with the Trump Administration over its response to a parasitic pest that continues to make its way north in Mexico, and could potentially threaten the state’s $15 billion cattle industry if it crosses the border.

This week, in an interview with a Nashville television network that focuses on rural issues, Miller expressed frustration that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was not using a synthetic bait that he has promoted to combat the New World Screwworm, a fly that infects warm-blooded animals and recently has been spotted less than 100 miles from the border.

“I still haven’t gotten buy-in from the USDA to do a fly bait,” Miller told RFD-TV. “If we put out the fly bait, we can wipe out the screwworm in Mexico in 90 days, but for some reason, they’re very reluctant to do that.”

On Tuesday, the USDA responded accusing the elected agriculture commissioner of “blatantly disregarding tried and true [New World Screwworm] offensive strategies in favor of clickbait publicity stunts.”

In the statement, which was first reported by RFD-TV and provided to The Texas Tribune by the USDA, a spokesperson said the agency deployed and tested Miller’s “infamous traps” and they were found to be “ineffective.”

“In one month, USDA’s traps in Panama caught thousands of New World Screwworm flies – Commissioner Miller’s traps

“They tell me that it’s environmentally unsound because it will kill the good flies,” Miller said. “Good flies, is that like a good fire ant? I don’t know what a good fly is. I don’t know if they’re afraid to kill house flies or stable flies, but I’m ready to kill the screwworm fly.”

The USDA has announced a variety of methods to try and stop the fly from entering the United States and infecting cattle. In June, Secretary **Brooke Rollins** [announced a plan]([link removed]) to combat the threat of the parasitic insect that includes investing $8.5 million to build a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg. In August, USDA announced [a $750 million facility]([link removed]) in Edinburg that will produce about 300 million sterile screwworm flies per week.

By mating with sterile female flies, the intent is to produce non-viable eggs so that the population will eventually die out.

Miller, who was once reportedly in contention for Rollins’ job leading the U.S. department, has issued multiple public statements and press releases about the state’s efforts to combat New World Screwworm, stating that the Texas Department of Agriculture is the “tip of the spear” in partnering to combat the fly.

In June, Gov. **Greg Abbott** ordered the Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to establish a Texas New World Screwworm Response Team to help coordinate and share information on efforts to stop the spread of the parasite.

“The mission for the Response Team is clear: to lead Texas’ prevention and response efforts and ensure that Texas remains informed, prepared, and aligned to prevent the re-emergence of this destructive parasite,” Abbott wrote in a letter to the agency heads in June.

Immediately after RFD-TV published USDA’s statements, Texas agriculture groups, including the Texas Farm Bureau and Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, signaled on social media their support for the federal agency over Miller.

“The proven way to eradicate screwworm is through sterile fly production, not traps & bait,” wrote the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association on X. “TSCRA stands with the Trump Administration,[ @SecRollins]([link removed]) and USDA. We cannot afford distractions from unproven methods.”” [Texas Tribune]([link removed])

**“Texans could begin applying for school vouchers in February,” **Texas Tribune’s** Jaden Edison **— “Texas families wanting to participate in the state’s upcoming school voucher program could apply as soon as February, while the application process for private schools hoping to join is set to launch before the end of the year.

Those details were revealed in the state’s $52 million contract with New York-based finance and technology company Odyssey, which Texas’ chief financial officer [recently hired]([link removed]) to help design and manage the voucher program. The Texas Tribune and ProPublica reviewed the contract after filing an open records request following Odyssey’s appointment.

Odyssey agreed to a “project work plan” that sets a tentative date of Dec. 2, 2025, for schools to register to become one of the options where families can spend funds awarded by the state. The agreement also set Feb. 4, 2026, as the date when it will start receiving parent applications; that window would remain open until mid-March. The company will design those processes, as well as the system parents will use to shop for educational products and pay tuition.

The state could end up paying Odyssey up to $52 million for its services over the next four years — $26 million for the first two and an additional $26 million for another two if the contract gets renewed. [Texas law]([link removed]) allows the state to pay Odyssey up to 5% of the program’s $1 billion in funding, or $50 million, each year. That number could skyrocket over the next five years, when legislative budget experts[ predict]([link removed]) the program’s funding to reach nearly $5 billion.

Texas’ voucher program will allow families to apply for thousands of dollars in public taxpayer dollars to fund their children’s private or home-school education. The comptroller’s office, which oversees finances for all of the state government, is responsible for oversight of the program.

According to the documents obtained by the Tribune and ProPublica, the bidding process for Texas’ voucher program came down to three finalists: Odyssey, [ClassWallet]([link removed]) and [Student First Technologies]([link removed]). ClassWallet and Student First Technologies offered their services to the state at a price tag of $79 million and $93 million, respectively. State law allows the comptroller to select up to five organizations to help manage the program, but it chose to only hire Odyssey.

The company’s website says Odyssey was created to assist states in creating education savings accounts, [a type of voucher program]([link removed]). Its work has not come without scrutiny, including an audit in Idaho that [identified]([link removed]) up to $180,000 in ineligible, taxpayer-funded purchases that the company had to pay back.

A contest founded by the Yass family [awarded $500,000]([link removed]) to Odyssey in 2023. **Jeff Yass**, a Pennsylvania billionaire investor, donated[ a state record $6 million]([link removed]) to Gov.** Greg Abbott’s **campaign last year during his effort to unseat the Texas Republicans who helped derail an earlier voucher proposal from becoming law. After winning the half-million-dollar award, **Joseph Connor**, Odyssey’s founder and CEO, [applauded]([link removed]) the Yasses for starting “an incredible movement to push for school choice and education freedom nationwide.” Odyssey has also hired three subcontractors — [Steel Digital Studios]([link removed]), [Vianovo]([link removed]) and [Outschool]([link removed]) — to help Texas spread awareness about the program. That campaign is expected to launch at the end of the month.” [Texas Tribune]([link removed])

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* **LOCAL GOVERNMENT **

**“Austin officer on restricted duty in connection to 6th Street incident,” **KVUE’s** Morgan McGrath **— “Court documents have revealed more information about an incident involving an Austin police officer who [allegedly struck a person on Sixth Street on Friday night.]([link removed])

According to documents obtained by KVUE from the District Court of Travis County, Austin Police Department (APD) officer Leger has been named in connection to the incident that has since gained social media attention.

The documents state that Leger was working in Downtown Austin when he heard a radio call reporting a “physical altercation” outside the Voodoo Room, a nightclub at 419 E. Sixth St. Leger and Officer Garcia responded to the scene, where two men were reportedly fighting.

Once there, Leger attempted to break up the fight when he was struck in the back of the head, according to the documents. He then “executed a controlled takedown maneuver” on one of the men, who allegedly resisted. The documents reveal Leger struck the man in the face several times in response.

A crowd reportedly formed around the officers and people began throwing objects and pushing and kicking, documents state.

The man accused of attacking Leger was identified as 19-year-old **Johnny Acuña-Jacobo**. He was arrested on a charge of assault on a peace officer, a second-degree felony, and booked into the Travis County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Meanwhile, the officer involved in the incident has since been placed on restricted duty and was removed from patrol.

APD Chief **Lisa Davis** said the department plans to review camera footage, and that an investigation is currently underway.

**Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis and Mayor Kirk Watson issued statements about the incident**

Davis released an updated statement on Monday:

_“I understand that our community is seeking more information regarding the incident that occurred on Sixth Street, where an individual was struck by an officer during a crowd control incident. I want to assure our community that I take these matters very seriously and remain fully committed to ensuring a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation. The officer involved has been removed from patrol and placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of the investigation. Like in any case, due process must be followed, which includes a comprehensive review of all camera footage, interviews with the officer, witnesses, and others who were present, followed by a hearing._

_“APD’s investigation has identified more body worn camera, and we are investigating another use of force incident. The same process will be followed-review of camera footage, interview officers, witnesses and others present. This incident is still an ongoing investigation until a thorough review has been completed._

_“I do want to stress; both incidents are being reviewed in their entirety. As these investigations move forward, we will continue to share updates with our community. I encourage anyone who may have additional information related to either incident to contact the APD Special Investigations Unit (512) 974-6840._

_“Our community’s trust is built through transparency, accountability, and open communication, and that remains my commitment throughout this process.”_

Austin Mayor **Kirk Watson** also shared a statement:

_“I have seen the video of an Austin Police Officer on 6th Street last night. The action is inexcusable and indefensible. There is no room in APD for such violent behavior or for someone who claims to be a public servant and acts that way. _

_“I know that Chief Davis will take appropriate action, including action that leads to termination._

_“Again, there is no room for such offensive, ridiculous action.”_

**Austin Police Association responds**

Austin Police Association President **Michael Bullock **said he was disappointed in the mayor’s response and cautioned others to wait for a full investigation to take place before rushing to judgement.

“[The mayor] has injected politics into all of this instead of just allowing an unbiased review to happen, and that’s all that needs,” said Bullock. “We’re not saying what the outcome should be one way or the other; we’re just saying it needs to be an unbiased review.”

Bullock said he saw the videos that have been shared online and argues there are only snippets being shown. KVUE asked whether he believes excessive force could be seen in the video, and he said the use of force applies to different situations.

“It’s not a bright line that exists because every situation is different, and that’s the challenge of policing is that each use of force is going to be different ... and [where] that line is may move,” said Bullock.

KVUE also reached out to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office to follow up on Acuña-Jacobo’s case, but the DA’s office had no comment at this time.” [KVUE]([link removed])

**“Dallas police exceed council-set recruiting goal, adding 330 to their ranks since October,” **Dallas Morning News’** Chase Rogers **— “Dallas police officials said Tuesday the department had surpassed its recruiting goal set by City Council members earlier this year, hiring more than 300 recruits since last October.

Deputy Chief **Jordan Colunga** told members of the city’s Public Safety Committee — the body of City Council members overseeing police, fire and emergency management operations — the department hired 330 recruits and officers between October and the end of September. The committee roundly celebrated the milestone, calling it a sign the department’s stepped-up marketing and hiring strategies are beginning to pay off.

Their praise came against the backdrop of a police and fire [pension funding crisis]([link removed]) and two [charter amendments]([link removed]) — Propositions S and U — approved by voters last year that changed how city government operates.

Proposition U requires the city to hire a police force of up to 4,000 officers — the department said it had 3,280 officers and recruits as of Sept. 30 — and move half of any new revenue year over year to the pension system and public safety initiatives. It also mandates that starting pay and benefits be among the most competitive in North Texas.

Proposition S requires the city to waive its governmental immunity and allows any resident to file a lawsuit alleging the municipal government isn’t complying with the charter, local ordinances or state law.

Dallas HERO, the nonprofit that backed the amendments, has said it may sue to compel the city to meet the requirements, threatening to do so in March for the city not taking “immediate action” to comply with all of the requirements of Proposition U. **Damien LeVeck**, the nonprofit’s executive director, declined to comment on the city exceeding the council-set hiring goal when reached Tuesday.

In February, after debate over the figure, the City Council voted 12-2 to set the 300 hiring goal through the end of September. Council members **Cara Mendelsohn** and **Jesse Moreno**, the Public Safety Committee’s chair and vice chair, respectively, voted against the measure and argued for a goal of 400 — a figure then-interim Chief** Michael Igo** and Dallas’ largest police association worried would have strained the department.

Mendelsohn represents District 12, which spans Far North Dallas, and Moreno represents District 2, which includes Deep Ellum, Old East Dallas and parts of downtown.

The department adopted several measures to bolster recruiting, including eliminating its college credit requirement to widen the applicant pool, raising starting salaries, holding off-site applicant testing events like the one held at the State Fair of Texas earlier this month and offering tiered referral bonuses that reward officers for recruits who remain with the department over time.

From October 2024 through September, the department processed more than 1,200 police applicants, Colunga told the committee. The department reported that the top three draws were the city’s website with 22%, officer referrals with 19% and social media with 19%.

The fiscal year saw an increase in the number of applicants from referrals, which Colunga attributed to the tiered referral bonuses available to current officers. “That’s never been above 10%. So DPD officers are actually putting the word out, ‘Hey, come hire with us,’” the deputy chief said.

The six recruit classes since November 2024 have brought in between 38 and 76 recruits each. The class of 76, which started on Sept. 24, is the second-largest in the department’s history.

Mendelsohn praised those results, commending former Dallas police Chief** Eddie García** and current Chief **Daniel Comeaux** for making what she called “fundamental” changes to how the department markets itself and draws applicants.

City Council member** Adam Bazaldua**, who represents District 7, said he saw the hiring totals as proof the department’s current salary offerings and state of the pension system have not deterred recruiting efforts.

“These numbers you have brought,” Bazaldua told police officials during the meeting, “have really cut to the bottom of the fact that when we’re strategic and intentional, we’ll see results.”

Attrition for the past fiscal year fell to 176 officers, marking the lowest figure in the past five years, according to materials presented to council members. That’s a decrease from 192 officers lost in fiscal year 2023-24 and the over 230 officers lost in previous cycles.

Retirements accounted for the largest share of departures for the last fiscal year at 63, followed by resignations for “personal reasons” at 37 and transfers to other public safety agencies at 19.” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

**“Houston council punts vote on $16M ‘super hub” for unhoused after outrage from facility neighbors,” **Houston Chronicle’s** Abby Church **— “Houston officials punted their vote on Wednesday to spend $16 million on a [“super hub” for up to 225 members of the city’s unhoused population,]([link removed]) following an outcry from residents around the site concerned about the lack of community input.

Council was set to vote to buy a property east of downtown, but the item was pulled from the council agenda. It’s unclear when the item will be placed back on a future council agenda for a decision.

The development was pitched as a part of Mayor** John Whitmire’s “**housing first” [plan to end street homelessness]([link removed]). The property at 419 Emancipation Ave. used to be home to a shelter for migrant children until it lost funding and its lease expired in August. Before it became a migrant shelter, it was a homeless shelter operated by Star of Hope.

The proposal would create a low-barrier center that welcome anyone who comes through its doors, or whoever is dropped off by local law enforcement. There will be space for between 150 to 225 people, and health care, psychiatric support, substance abuse and housing and diversion services – a combination housing officials say will be a first of its kind for the city.

The Emancipation property is valued at around $6.7 million, according to appraisal district records. The shelter is anticipated to cost $10 million to $14 million a year to operate.

**Larry Satterwhite**, the mayor’s director of public safety and homeland security, said the location was the one that received the fewest resident concerns when they were weighing properties.** Mike Nichols**, the city’s housing director, told the Houston Chronicle Tuesday that the property was chosen because the city wouldn’t have to pay a lot to renovate it to make it fully operational.

**Facility sparks scrutiny**

A Tuesday night community meeting at Settegast Park brought a packed room of angry neighbors to the potential superhub site. Satterwhite and Nichols came to explain how the facility would work and provide clarity to concerned residents, but the meeting ended up being less about answers and more about conundrum and frustration.

City officials at the meeting struggled to answer questions, and residents often yelled and screamed over them to ask more questions.

At one point during the meeting, as people relayed public safety concerns, Satterwhite assured residents that their neighborhood would be among the most controlled because of its proximity to the facility. Everyone immediately groaned.

“Bulls**t!” shouted one resident.

“Forget it,” yelled another.

The issue at hand had multiple prongs – residents, by and large, liked the idea of the facility, but were angry about its location, partly because they felt the city often dumped undesirable projects in their neighborhood. They were also upset about the lack of notification on the project and how they weren’t able to provide feedback, and they were concerned about the price the city was paying for the property.

Officials, meanwhile, argued the facility had to be placed at “ground zero” of the problem to help get people off the streets, and they chose the east side of downtown because of its historically large homeless problem.

Nichols disputed the claim that there wasn’t a chance to provide feedback, and said Tuesday residents had opportunities to speak out, particularly during housing department meetings.

The complaints at Settegast also found themselves inside the walls of City Hall Tuesday afternoon hours prior during the council’s public comment session, where numerous residents came to voice their concerns and fears about the facility and its residents.

The facility wouldn’t be the first agency set up to help the city’s unhoused population downtown. The area is also home to homeless nonprofit The Beacon and the sobering center. But even those facilities have sparked concerns, with one resident with quality of life concerns suggesting moving all homeless services away from downtown.

Council Member **Twila Carter** defended the facility and told one resident the city had to go where the problem was in order to solve it. Houston’s downtown and East End historically have the largest numbers of unhoused individuals in the city.

“This proposal is not a shelter, it’s a navigation center. It’s a compass for people to find their way,” Carter said. “To try to direct people to where they need to be to seek help.”

Whitmire told the same resident she would likely appreciate the outcome from the effort to get people off the streets and get them help. He said there were “disruptors” who were hired to come and spread misinformation about the facility.

The Tuesday evening community meeting was preceded by a news conference by **Wayne Dolcefino**, a former ABC13 reporter who has his own media company that contracts with residents, law firms and private businesses to [look into and expose issues]([link removed]), according to its website. Dolcefino said Tuesday he was paid by nearby residents at Stanton Lofts to look into their public safety concerns with the facility, and he stressed the facility could bring the “worst of the worst” of the area’s unsheltered population into the neighborhood.

“They’re the people that are really messed up, and you would not want to walk out your door if you knew some severely mentally ill person was wandering behind the front door. Nobody would again,” Dolcefino said. “Should we put them somewhere? Maybe. I say, buy ‘em a place in River Oaks.”

He continued: “Sure, did some people hire me to help? Yeah, because, you know, I issued a press release, and I have strong opinions about this,” Dolcefino said. “But if that makes me a disrupter, then call me a disrupter.”” [Hou Chron]([link removed]) ($)

**“Spurs arena proposition faces ‘uphill battle,’ UTSA poll shows,” **San Antonio Express-News’** Molly Smith **— “A majority of Bexar County voters still aren’t sold on the idea of using county tax dollars to help the Spurs build a downtown arena, even as the franchise [spends millions of dollars]([link removed]) to convince them to back the measure in the Nov. 4 election.

Proposition B would provide up to $311 million for an NBA arena to be built at the former Institute of Texan Cultures site at Hemisfair.

Pro-Spurs arena supporters gather for a news conference outside City Hall in San Antonio on Wednesday morning, Aug. 20, 2025. San Antonio business owners, hospitality workers, and others came together to advocate for the city council to approve the Spurs arena term sheet when they meet on Thursday.

SA new University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Public Opinion Research poll found that 40% of likely voters support Prop B, with 46% against this use of the county’s so-called venue tax.

“It’s fair to say that the effort to secure venue tax funding for a new Spurs arena faces an uphill battle,” said Bryan Gervais, a professor of political science and the research center’s director.

The money would come from raising the county’s so-called venue tax, which can be tapped to build sports or arts facilities. The county would keep its tax on rental cars at 5% and increase its tax on hotel rooms from 1.75% to 2%, bringing in a total of $503 million.

Proposition A would dedicate the remaining $192 million to renovate the Frost Bank Center, Freeman Coliseum and surrounding grounds for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo to expand its programming year-round — a bid to prevent the county-owned facilities on the East Side from becoming a wasteland if the team leaves for downtown.

About 44% of likely voters support Prop A, with 41% against the measure.

The city and Spurs are looking to build a $1.3 billion, 18,500-seat arena, which would be publicly owned.

The county’s share is the only part of the arena financing plan that requires voters’ approval. City officials have said the deal will fall apart if voters reject the county funding on Nov. 4.

Under the deal, the city would commit up to $489 million in tax revenue and spend around $60 million to acquire the land where the arena would be built. Spurs Sports & Entertainment would kick in $500 million for the arena and cover any cost overruns. It would also give $75 million to the city over the 30-year lease term to spend on “community benefits,” such as pre-K programs, and $30 million for property acquisitions.

The Center for Public Opinion Research surveyed 660 registered Bexar County voters who said they were likely to vote in the Nov. 4 election. The poll was conducted from Oct. 1-3, and its margin of error is plus or minus 3.8%.” [SAEN]([link removed]) ($)

———————————————————————————

* **NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE**

> TX TRIB: “**The feds are cutting off public money for all Planned Parenthoods, following a playbook that began in Texas**“ _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Thousands of Texas voter registrations in limbo as counties process applications**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Exclusive: Texas school voucher program to launch in February, documents show**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Texas troops were sent to Chicago on a lie. Bring them home, Abbott. | Editorial**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Here’s how much each HISD trustee candidate has raised before November elections**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Houston officials consider legal action as Gov. Abbott fights rainbow crosswalk**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “**Public input sought for Smithville’s Resilient Communities Comprehensive Plan**“ _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**Fort Bend County Commissioners Approve Mid-Decade Precinct Redistricting**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> FWST: “**Fort Worth mayor asked churches to get more involved, state lawmaker says**“ _[FWST]([link removed])_

> DMN: “**Is Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson considering resigning from office? Speculation is swirling**“ _[DMN]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**Texas Agriculture Commissioner, USDA Scrap Over New World Screwworm Response Strategy**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**Ripples: Keeping Texas Transparent**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> DMN: “**Grapevine basketball coach sentenced to 40 years in prison for producing child pornography**“ _[DMN]([link removed])_

> FWST: “**Former Grapevine Faith basketball coach gets 40 years in child exploitation case**“ _[FWST]([link removed])_

> MRT: “**In Dallas, 6,700 women rally for culture war battles after Kirk’s death**“ _[MRT]([link removed])_

> SA REPORT: “**‘Too expensive for the average person’: Bexar County dives into affordable housing**“ _[SA REPORT]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**Texas Sues to Stop Loving County Man’s Free Home Plan, Government ‘Takeover’**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> DMN: “**A Southlake mother is accused of sex trafficking, shocking a wealthy and gilded suburb**“ _[DMN]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**Texas Attorney General Nears Lawsuit Against East Plano Islamic Center Over ‘EPIC City’ Development**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> FWST: “**Flies and bugs swarmed neglected bodies decomposing in mortuary, Texas cops say**“ _[FWST]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Leaked documents reveal scope of St. Thomas exposure during massive data breach**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> DMN: “**Are Cowboys’ frustrations aimed at the wrong person after Week 6 stumble at Carolina?**“ _[DMN]([link removed])_

> DMN: “**Why Jerry Jones, Cowboys could be ready to gamble again as NFL trade deadline nears**“ _[DMN]([link removed])_

> DMN: “**Texas trial lawyer: ‘No jury in America will hold Camp Mystic responsible’**“ _[DMN]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**Houston Methodist Probed on Alleged Organ Transplant Vaccination Discrimination**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> FWST: “**Woman fell ill and passed out, then 4 dogs in the house killed her, FL cops say**“ _[FWST]([link removed])_

> MY RGV: “**Crime Archives**“ _[MY RGV]([link removed])_

> FWST: “**After federal layoffs, Fort Worth families worry about special education rights**“ _[FWST]([link removed])_

> KXAN: “**Jarrell residents voice concern over plans for proposed data center**“ _[KXAN]([link removed])_

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “**Oriental Phoenix Arts blends martial arts, belly dance to promote healing and inclusion**“ _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_

> MY RGV: “**Version 2 of Starship retired following Flight 11 at Boca Chica Beach**“ _[MY RGV]([link removed])_

> TX TRIB: “**Harrison vs. higher ed: How one lawmaker is weaponizing social media to eradicate LGBTQ+ curriculum**“ _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_

> DMN: “**Constitutional amendments top November ballot in Texas. Here’s what they all mean**“ _[DMN]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Obama slams Abbott’s Texas Guard deployment, noting past GOP criticism**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Conroe ‘mass gathering’ ordinance draws concern from public**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “**A new vision: Harris County restructures 2018 bond projects and funding**“ _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “**Jersey Village voters to decide on $21.6M city campus bond**“ _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_

> MRT: “**Texas camp owners want more flexibility in meeting safety, licensing requirements after drownings**“ _[MRT]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**Texas House and Senate Create July 4 Flood Disaster Investigation Committees**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> TPR: “**Gov. Abbott orders ‘political ideologies’ removed from Texas roadways**“ _[TPR]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**Abbott Directs TxDOT to Ensure Localities Remove ‘Political Ideologies’ From Road Decorations**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> DMN: “**Do Texans in Congress get paid during a government shutdown?**“ _[DMN]([link removed])_

> SAEN: “**Obama slams Abbott’s Texas Guard deployment, noting past GOP criticism**“ _[SAEN]([link removed])_

> SAEN: “**Far fewer Americans support political violence than recent polls suggest**“ _[SAEN]([link removed])_

> EP TIMES: “**Photos of Camp East Montana, controversial ICE facility in El Paso**“ _[EP TIMES]([link removed])_

> EP TIMES: “**ICE’s Camp East Montana immigrant detention facility expands, new photos show**“ _[EP TIMES]([link removed])_

> EP TIMES: “**‘What has happened to our heart?’: Bishop Seitz calls for care of poor, migrants in address**“ _[EP TIMES]([link removed])_

> SAEN: “**Most key municipalities in Kosovo are headed to runoffs, local election results show**“ _[SAEN]([link removed])_

> TPR: “**Right-wing influencers promote National Guard troop deployment to Portland**“ _[TPR]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**DOJ Official, Gun Groups Clash Over Claim That Pam Bondi Sought Membership Lists in Lawsuit**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Pit bulls attack and kill owner, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office say**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> THE TEXAN: “**Competing Evidence and Unlikely Allies: The Robert Roberson Saga Reviewed**“ _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Late night walk near a bayou? I’d think twice.**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> MRT: “**After big win, Texas QB Arch Manning shrugs off critics with a smile and notes freedom of speech**“ _[MRT]([link removed])_

> MRT: “**Texas seeing an increase in kindergarteners who don’t meet state requirements for measles shots**“ _[MRT]([link removed])_

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “**Bastrop County Collaborative for Housing and Health seeks public feedback**“ _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_

> MRT: “**Nation’s only enriched uranium supplier at work in Permian Basin**“ _[MRT]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: “**Astros roster analysis: Second base. Questions of defense and Jose Altuve**“ _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

———————————————————————————

* **EXTRA POINTS**

Recent Texas sports scores:
Sat
> NCAAF: #5 **Texas A&M **34, Florida 17
> NCAAF: #9 **Texas Tech **42, Kansas 17
> NCAAF:** Texas **23, #6 Oklahoma 6
> NCAAF: #24 USF 63, **UNT** 36
> NCAAF: **Houston** 39, Oklahoma St. 17
> NCAAF: **SMU **34, Stanford 10
> NCAAF: Kansas St. 41, **TCU** 28
> NCAAF: **UTSA **61, **Rice** 13
> NCAAF: Troy 48, **Texas St**. 41
** NCAAF: Bye teams: **Baylor**
> NHL: **Dallas** 5, Colorado 4 (OT)
> MLS: LA Galaxy 2, **Dallas** 1
Sun
> NFL: Carolina 30, **Dallas** 27
> MLS: **Austin **1, LA FC 0
** NFL: Bye teams: **Houston**
Mon
None.
Tues
> NHL: **Dallas **5, Minnesota 2

Tonight’s Texas sports schedule:
None.

Tonight’s Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: Vancouver at **Dallas** (ESPN+)

---

TEXAS SPORTS HEADLINES / LINKS:

**TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL**: “Florida faces tough test against undefeated No. 5 Texas A&M after snapping losing streak” [AP]([link removed])

**DALLAS COWBOYS**: “Why Jerry Jones, Cowboys could be ready to gamble again as NFL trade deadline nears” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

**DALLAS MAVERICKS**: “Dallas Mavericks give coach Jason Kidd another multiyear contract extension” [AP]([link removed])

**HOUSTON ROCKETS**: “Rockets have new star in Durant as Southwest Division adds a phenom in Flagg to go with Wembanyama” [AP]([link removed])

**DALLAS STARS**: “Stars 3-0 in coach Glen Gulutzan’s return after 5-2 win over Wild in home opener” [AP]([link removed])

**TEXAS RANGERS**: “Rangers free agency: Will Texas build on its talented group of right-handed pitchers?” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

**SMU VOLLEYBALL**: “Meet Natalia Newsome, the SMU volleyball player with a higher vertical than Cooper Flagg” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)


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