TREC supports Proposition L, which would create an independent Office of the Inspector General to investigate accusations of corruption and unethical behavior at City Hall.

The Real Estate Council voted to join a coalition comprising current and former elected officials, civic leaders, and business organizations to oppose Propositions S, T, and U on the November ballot. Following a thorough evaluation, we have determined these three petition-proposed amendments to the Dallas City Charter would be detrimental to the commercial real estate industry and harmful to our city.

You can read TREC Chair Mike Geisler’s letter to the Board about these propositions here.  To learn more about how they will appear on the ballot, click here. Below are summaries of these propositions.

• Proposition S: This proposition permits residents to sue City Hall for perceived failures in the charter or ordinance enforcement. Developing a reputation for excessive litigation could concern businesses and investors, harm future economic development, and deter corporate relocations. ​​​​​​​
• Proposition T: This proposition links the City Manager’s employment and bonus compensation to an overly simplistic performance survey. This amendment would dissuade experienced candidates from considering the city manager position in Dallas because a survey of 0.1% of Dallas residents could lead to their automatic termination.
• ​​​​​​​Proposition U: This proposition mandates the diversion of half of all new revenue – including from hotel taxes, public increment districts, and the Enterprise Fund – to public safety initiatives. While public safety is paramount, this requirement would constrain the City’s ability to allocate resources effectively and respond to evolving needs and trends. Additionally, some of the public safety objectives, such as increasing the total Dallas Police Department force to a minimum of 4,000 officers, exceed the hiring and training capacity of DPD and is not recommended by current or prior Chiefs of Police.

For more information about the Vote No Dallas coalition, click here.