Dallas-Fort Worth

This is awesome!

A brief view of the changes:

• Eliminating parking mandates downtown and within half a mile of light rail and streetcar stations

• Eliminating parking mandates for offices and most retail

• Eliminating parking mandates for residential uses, while maintaining one parking space per unit for developments over 200 units

• Reducing parking mandates for bars and restaurants while removing mandates completely for establishments under 2,500 square feet

• Eliminating parking mandates for designated historic buildings

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/27465188

It was a tough night for MAGA-aligned candidates in Texas. In the May 3, 2025, local elections, voters across the state decisively rejected far-right candidates, particularly in school board and city council races. From Tarrant County to Collin County, and from San Antonio to Dallas, communities chose leaders who prioritize public education, inclusivity, and pragmatic governance over culture wars and partisan agendas. This widespread shift signals a growing resistance to extremist politics at the local level.

This is great news for the area. Though it is probably covid related, this was good to hear:

TEXRail, which runs from downtown Fort Worth to downtown Grapevine and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, has seen a 90% increase in recent ridership, Richard Andreski, president and CEO of Trinity Metro, told conference attendees at the Hurst Conference Center.

Caused by the distemper virus, but this now appears to be under control.

I haven't kept up much with this since moving, but I first read about Synagro and their biosolid fertilizer when it started causing problems in Johnson County, Texas.

Long story short,

This company has been selling a biosolid fertilizer that people have been using in their fields, which has led to incredibly high levels of PFAS contamination in nearby ponds and animals. A couple in Grandview lost a good portion of their cattle mysteriously at the same time.

This actually led to an investigation in Johnson County, but since counties can't regulate PFAS levels and the state (at the time, I'm not sure about now) hasn't regulated it either, there wasn't much that could be done.

Following the county’s investigation, Woolley led the charge to pass a local resolution urging farmers to stop using biosolids on their land.

The resolution called for Fort Worth to stop sending its biosolids to fertilizer companies until the TCEQ tests them for the presence of PFAS and asked the EPA to set limits on PFAS in biosolids. The resolution also called on state lawmakers to regulate the application of biosolids-based fertilizer on farmland or give power to counties to do so.

“That’s the hard part,” Woolley said. “We don’t have authority to ban biosolids.”

The city of Fort Worth has now contracted their contract with Synagro "over contract requirements".

Johnson County, Texas declared a state of disaster in February of this year.

• Investigation reveals "stunningly" high toxin levels near Grandview , Cleburne Times Review Feb 19, 2024

• Texas farmers say sewage-based fertilizer tainted with “forever chemicals” poisoned their land and killed their livestock Cleburne Times Review Dec 5, 2024

• Suits filed against biosolids companies , Cleburne Times Review Dec 12, 2024

• Fort Worth sewage sludge fertilizer leads Johnson County to declare ‘state of disaster’ KERA News, Feb 18, 2025

• Fort Worth ends 10-year contract with fertilizer company accused of water, land contamination KERA News March 26, 2025>

• Johnson County declares disaster over land contamination, asks Gov. Abbott to seek federal aid CBS News Feb 12, 2025

*The Cleburne Times Review has a very stingy article limit. I apologize.

From the story as written, it seems locals see this as a temporary win, knowing that Las Vegas Sands will keep trying to get a casino approved until they get what they want.

It seems that this company is full of Dallas Maverick people, leading some to wonder if the team will be moved from the American Airlines Center to this new development in Irving.

Las Vegas Sands first entered into an agreement to buy the land in 2022, and the purchase was finalized in 2023, months before primary Las Vegas Sands shareholder Miriam Adelson acquired a controlling stake in the Dallas Mavericks.

Patrick Dumont, governor of the Dallas Mavericks, was also recently named the next chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands.

The Sands’ attachment to the project raised additional concerns about whether Mavericks ownership would move the team from the American Airlines Center in Dallas to the new Irving location — something Birkenheide neither confirmed nor denied at Monday’s planning and zoning commission hearing.

How do you guys feel about having a local casino? Would this really be something for the locals or people coming from out of town?

I will admit that I haven't been back to downtown Arlington since I graduated from UTA in 2014, and even then there was some movement on making downtown more dense, like the new library complex and some apartments, but this is nice to see.

Arlington has a real gem with UTA sitting right next to downtown and it blows my mind that it took so long to be capitalized on. College Park Center and the restaurants/apartments across the street were a great start from the school side of things.

Finally, PLEASE join DART and add a train station downtown. It is criminal that you can't take a train to the ballpark, Six Flags, or ATT Stadium.

I no longer live in the area, but I took DART every day when I lived in Dallas. I'm glad to hear about this reversal. I think DART needs more funding, not less, though I doubt it will get a substantial amount in this environment.

Every station that I've been too has been damaged in some capacity. It would be great if DART could have a bigger budget for upkeep.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/25806106

Summary

An investigation by the Texas Observer identified ICE Assistant Chief Counsel James Rodden as the operator of "GlomarResponder," a white supremacist X account.

The account, active since 2012, has posted racist, xenophobic, and pro-fascist content, including support for mass deportations and anti-immigrant violence.

Rodden's identity was confirmed through biographical details, court records, and social media activity. ICE has not confirmed his employment but is investigating.

Legal experts warn that his views compromise his ability to fairly represent the government in immigration proceedings. Rodden declined to comment.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/25717730

Summary

The Dallas Police Department (DPD) announced it will not participate in ICE immigration raids, instead launching outreach meetings to reassure immigrant communities.

Led by the UNIDOS Latino Community Outreach Program, the initiative aims to dispel misinformation and encourage crime reporting.

Interim Chief Michael Igo emphasized that DPD focuses on public safety, not immigration enforcement. However, individuals with outstanding warrants may still face arrest and possible deportation.

Additional meetings, including legal guidance sessions, are planned in Dallas and neighboring areas to support and inform migrant residents.

Yes it’s FAKE. Pretty hilarious though lol

Consider subscribing to this community to help out the AskUSA posts.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/7979443

Good list of everything that passed and by how much.