City council District 6 candidates discuss public safety, gentrification, GAF at West Dallas forum

Nine candidates are running for the District 6 city council seat during this year’s May 3 election. Eight of them attended a forum at the Dallas College West Dallas Center this month to make their case to West Dallas residents.

The forum focused on public safety, gentrification, affordable housing and more. A full livestream and set of Dallas Documenter notes of the forum are available here. Below, we’re highlighting three topics from the forum.

Early voting for Dallas City Council races runs from April 26 to April 29. Election Day is Saturday, May 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit Dallas Free Press’ voter guide for more information.

Property taxes

Candidates were asked what they would do to address the property tax values of people who belong in West Dallas and want to stay in their homes.

Displacement has been a concern for longtime West Dallas residents as new developments contribute to raising property values.

Current property tax safeguards include a Property Tax Appeals Program launched by Builders of Hope and the Wesley-Rankin Center. The organizations partnered for the property tax assistance program to help West Dallas residents with free technical assistance and representation. 

The candidates said….

Gabriel Kissinger said the city is in a lot of debt and does not believe in government subsidies. He said that growth and development are good.

Quincher Morgan said the new development in West Dallas is affecting the property taxes for residents who already have homes and said she wants to bring grants for West Dallas communities.

Linus Spiller would like to use existing money in the city for home repairs, especially for West Dallas seniors.

Machelle Wells said she would like to increase tax deductions for West Dallas seniors and up the cap on the homestead exemption by $50,000.

Monica Alonzo said despite all the new developments, there is a space for affordable housing. Monica hopes that people are aware of the homestead exemption program.

David Blewett attributed the affordable housing crisis in West Dallas to supply and demand. He proposed a cap on taxes for residents over 65. 

Laura Cadena said the city has managed to reduce taxes in the past. She mentioned several programs already in place that aim to make housing in West Dallas more affordable. 

Tony Carrillo would like to implement higher restrictions on new development. He said taxes of established West Dallas residents should not be the same as incoming new residents.

Preserving neighborhoods

Candidates were asked what one thing they believe needs to be preserved in District 6/West Dallas, and what they’ll do to preserve that.

The candidates said….

Cadena said there are sites throughout West Dallas that should be preserved.

Carrillo said illegal removal of sites is being performed on weekends and that the protection of these sites is not being enforced.

Kissinger said he is for whatever the people want and emphasized public safety.

Morgan said she believes in taking care of the seniors in West Dallas and protecting the history and stories they have.

Spiller said he wants the district to focus on preserving the housing that the residents already have and keeping housing affordable.

Wells said there are old churches, homes, and multi-generational families in West Dallas that she would like to preserve.

Alonzo mentions the La Bajada neighborhood, where she said preservation efforts are currently not being respected.

Blewett describes a tension between multi- and single-family unit households in West Dallas. He partly attributes this to tax rates and proposes reducing tax rates.

GAF

Candidates were asked what policies they would like to see implemented to help address environmental issues, such as the GAF shingles factory. 

GAF has continued to receive demands from residents to be removed from West Dallas sooner than its July 2029 shuttering date. West Dallas residents’ most recent efforts include opposition to an air permit renewal. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality held a public meeting on October 24 to hear public comments. The commission has yet to decide on the permit renewal.

The candidates said….

Carrillo described the effects of pollution in West Dallas on its residents and the toll it’s taken on their health. He also mentions unused land that is contaminated by the pollution that the city needs to fix.

Kissinger said the city pays $500,000 on the water fluoride system, and he recommends that the city look at these things and manage them better. He emphasized that the GAF situation is a mess.

Morgan said her family suffered from lead poisoning in West Dallas. She said the issue got swept under the rug, and she wants to be active and productive on this right away.

Spiller said West Dallas has faced a decades-long history of environmental injustice. He said the city does not enforce environmental measures in West Dallas and tends to skirt around the issue. Linus hopes to be a voice for the people.

Wells said she is against the GAF factory and said she intends to get rid of it. She wants proper testing of air quality and water to take place in Dallas.

Alonzo emphasized following policies and procedures. If any changes need to be made, she suggests going “back to the table” to discuss the environmental issues with GAF.

Blewett said the GAF factory poses a threat to West Dallas residents, but once the city allows certain businesses into residential areas through zoning, it’s difficult to get them out. He wants to focus on preventing these businesses from operating in residential areas.

Cadena said West Dallas was incorporated into the City of Dallas in the 1980s, and a lot of the stuff that City Hall is dealing with is from that time. She said the city needs to do more for environmental issues.

Watch the April 9 forum here and read the full notes of the meeting by Dallas Documenter Ashley Valeriano here.

Brenda Hernandez contributed to this report.