City News Roundup

Dallas makes list for possible Trump hotel and more city news

It really needs a Trump.

Courtesy of 5G Studio Collaborative

Dallas' new city manager has punched in, and has already hired some new help. Meanwhile, Dallas may get a hotel from Donald Trump. Here's what happened in Dallas city news this week:

New boss
T.C. Broadnax began his job this week as Dallas' new city manager with two appointments: chief of staff Kimberly Tolbert, and new assistant city manager Majed Al-Ghafry.

Tolbert comes from the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) where she worked on strategic planning, business diversity practices, human resources process, communications, and community outreach efforts.

Al-Ghafry has more than 28 years in municipal government, with emphases on public works, transportation, operations, land development, and economic development. His experience includes serving as public works director for the city of San Antonio; Broadnax worked there as assistant city manager.

Trump Tower
The Trump Organization is working on a deal with developer Mike Sarimsakci to build a hotel in downtown Dallas, on St. Paul Street between Wood and Young. Sarimsakci is the developer behind such downtown renovations as 1401 Elm and the Butler Brothers Building, which is one block away and across the street from Dallas City Hall.

The hotel would be part of a new chain of small hotels under the Scion brand — sorry, no "Trump" on the Dallas skyline — and is geared toward younger, cost-conscious travelers, with room rates at $200-$300 per night. Sarimsakci told the DBJ he's been in talks with the Trump group for more than a year.

Dwaine again
Even though he promised he wasn't gonna, former Dallas City Council member Dwaine Caraway is running again in District 4, the seat currently held by Carolyn Arnold. Caraway is fully on board with the "wreck park" they're trying to build over I-35 and is also pro-shrimp cocktail. "Who would not want quality restaurants where we can sit down and have a shrimp cocktail and a steak with a tablecloth in our own community?" he asked.

Save this building
The Dallas Morning News is relocating its operations to the former Dallas Public Library, but has not sought out historical designation for the building it currently occupies at 508 Young St. — despite the fact that the Dallas Morning News has so diligently covered other preservation issues.

The Dallas Observer gently suggests that "a hint or a suggestion that battles are being chosen carefully would be nice, not chosen simply for the joy and self-gratification of the battle itself, for the delicious opportunity to wag a long finger of sanctimony at someone else."

Coffee with Cornyn
Fun travel idea: Texas Senator John Cornyn hosts a coffee session every Thursday that the Senate is in session, and he's invited Texans to stop by if they're in the D.C. area. Coffees begin at 9:30 am; it is recommended that you arrive 15-20 minutes early. To RSVP, call his Washington, D.C., office at 202-224-2934 or RSVP online. There's also a Facebook page where you can connect with other coffee klatchers.

hotels politics city-news-roundup

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

politics