Local Government

Based on notes by Dallas Documenter Brianna Patt  Dallas City […]

The road to saving $2.6 million from the Dallas Public […]

Dallas residents have been struggling to access home repair assistance through the City of Dallas since 2020, and the Dallas Free Press is working to update a resource guide to help them navigate the shifting system.

The City Plan Commission voted to remove deed restrictions on […]

The proposed Sunny South Dallas PID would assess an additional annual fee to non-homestead properties within the district, with nearly half of the budget dedicated to public safety and community outreach, and requires City Council approval and majority landowner support by February 2027.

The Dallas Free Press and the League of Women Voters of Dallas hosted a voter information session to address confusion around changes to the voting process in Dallas County, and provided resources to help voters cast their ballots with confidence.

On Election Day, Dallas County voters must find their specific polling location, preview their ballot, bring a photo ID and a paper guide, and take advantage of free rides from DART to make their voice heard.

Eula Wilson arrives with a red folder tucked under the […]

The City of Dallas is revamping its approach to home repair programs, outsourcing the programs to Volunteers of America Texas, Inc. and launching a new application process this spring.

The City of Dallas has a long history of home repair programs, which have evolved over decades, and are currently being redesigned and relaunched by Volunteers of America Texas.

South Dallas residents and Fair Park First leaders urged the City Council to "get the dirt moving" on the long-promised community park within Fair Park, citing delays and urging the council to take action to complete the project before funds are lost.

Dallas and Williamson counties in Texas are switching to precinct-level voting for the primary election, which will require more election workers and may confuse voters who are used to countywide voting sites.

Dallas ISD staff presented their preliminary 2026 bond plan during a […]

City of Dallas, Dallas College, and Dallas ISD have voted to move their elections from May to November of odd-numbered years, in order to increase voter turnout and participation.

In November, West Dallas residents attended a public meeting to […]

Scottie Smith II, who co-chaired the South Dallas Fair Park […]

Cynthia Rogers-Ellickson, a West Dallas native, is retiring after 19 years in the City of Dallas housing department, where she rose to the position of director, and her legacy will continue in the newly formed office of housing and community empowerment.

From notes by Dallas Documenter Drew Emrich A policy for […]

The Dallas Free Press has created a visual story to simplify the complex South Dallas Fair Park Area Plan and a roundtable discussion between three of South Dallas' new arts leaders, both of which can be found on their YouTube channel.

The Dallas City Council voted unanimously to move city elections from May to November in an effort to increase voter participation and save money.

James Armstrong has been appointed as the City of Dallas Deputy Director of Housing and Homelessness, giving him the power to implement the changes he has been advocating for at Builders of Hope and to bring a neighborhood perspective to City Hall.

A zoning request for an apartment development along a single-family […]

Cynthia Rogers-Ellickson, the City of Dallas' Director of Housing and Community Development, reflects on her life and legacy of working to provide affordable housing and home repair services to the people of West Dallas.

Written by Dallas Documenter Jenna Stephenson The Dallas city manager’s […]

Elsie Faye Heggins led the charge to reshape South Dallas in the image of its Black residents, proposing to rename several streets and eventually succeeding in renaming Forest Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in 1981.

The City of Dallas has terminated the contract of Fair Park First, a nonprofit overseeing the 277-acre Fair Park, and plans to create a new nonprofit to care for the community park and work with donors and partners.

Laura Cadena won the Dallas City Council District 6 race with 50.43% of the vote, despite a recount requested by the second-place finisher, while Byron Sanders won the Dallas ISD District 5 trustee race with 65% of the vote, both with low voter turnout.

Incumbent Council Member Adam Bazaldua won the election for District 7 in South Dallas, receiving nearly 57% of the votes and avoiding a runoff, despite low voter turnout.

Texas legislators are pushing for a charter amendment to move Dallas' local elections to November, which could lead to increased voter turnout and cost savings, but faces political hurdles.

This content originally was a newsletter Dallas Free Press emailed […]

South Dallas residents can cast their ballots today to elect a new District 7 city councilmember, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and a valid photo ID required.

Only 395 people have voted early in West Dallas — out of more than 17,000 registered voters. With low turnout deciding local elections, your vote carries serious power. Here's what candidates know (and don’t) about who’s voting — and how to make your voice count.

In the upcoming Dallas City Council and school board elections, voter information is publicly available, but the actual votes cast are not, making each vote a powerful power play.

Six candidates attended a forum to discuss public safety, affordable housing, economic growth, and more, with four of them declaring their support for a historic district in the Queen City neighborhood and an authorized hearing for the South Dallas/Fair Park Area Plan.

Nine candidates are running for the District 6 city council seat in Dallas, and eight of them attended a forum to discuss public safety, gentrification, affordable housing, and more, with candidates proposing policies such as reducing property tax values for West Dallas residents, preserving neighborhoods, and addressing environmental issues.

Dallas County has implemented the Countywide Polling Place Program, which has increased voter convenience and reduced the number of poll workers needed, but voter turnout in the county has decreased since 2019.

Natashia Gerald, a 42-year-old Dallas resident, is running for Dallas ISD District 5 trustee to advocate for effective programs and practices that meet the diverse needs of students in West Dallas.

Byron Sanders, a 20-year education leader and former CEO of Big Thought, is running for Dallas ISD District 5 trustee to ensure that Dallas ISD becomes a model of innovation, equity, and excellence for all students.

The Dallas Free Press has released a Voter Guide to help residents prepare for the May 3rd election, including information on registration, polling locations, candidates, and early voting.

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

Leading up to the May 3 election, Dallas Free Press […]

The Dallas Free Press Voter Guide is available to help Dallas County residents prepare for the May 3rd election, providing information on registration, polling locations, candidates, and early voting locations.

Fair Park First has announced an $8.65 million federal investment for the 10-acre community park, which will replace a portion of the parking lots in Fair Park, and has pledged to include amenities such as a 1-acre playspace and a historical marker, while also providing easy access to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Dallas residents have until January 19th to submit proposed amendments to the city charter, which will be decided on by the Charter Review Commission and voted on in the November election.

Minutes after a TribFest interview promoting nonpartisan local governance, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced his switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.

West Dallas has been busy — and our events calendar shows it. Over the past 10 days alone, neighbors gathered at meetings, planning sessions, and community conversations that speak to housing, infrastructure, and the future of the neighborhood. Here’s a quick look at what we heard, where we showed up, and what’s coming next.

The historically Black working-class neighborhood of Gilbert-Emory in West Dallas is facing gentrification due to the influx of new, much larger homes and the sale of the land where the segregated Black Fred Douglass School once stood, leading to frustration among longtime residents.

Dallas Free Press has launched a pop-up newsroom at the MLK Food Park in South Dallas to listen to neighbors' stories, provide wooden nickels for food vendors, and highlight the importance of civic journalism and government transparency.

The $2 million set aside solely for seven census tracts in the 75212 zip code comes from funds City Manager T.C. Broadnax pulled together from former city bond packages.

Parts of South Dallas and Fair Park are using self-imposed tax dollars to improve the community by cleaning up streets, fixing infrastructure issues and increasing public safety and security.

Co-published by our media partner, The Dallas Weekly Mayor Eric […]