While Dallas has thrived, elsewhere Democratic policies have exacerbated crime and homelessness says mayor Eric Johnson in a WSJ op-ed.
Mayor Eric Johnson: America’s Cities Need Republicans, and I’m Becoming One
Please consider America’s Cities Need Republicans, and I’m Becoming One
I have been mayor of Dallas for more than four years. During that time, my priority has been to make the city safer, stronger and more vibrant. That meant saying no to those who wanted to defund the police. It meant fighting for lower taxes and a friendlier business climate. And it meant investing in family friendly infrastructure such as better parks and trails.
After these wins for the people of Dallas—and after securing 98.7% of the vote in my re-election campaign this year—I have no intention of changing my approach to my job. But today I am changing my party affiliation. Next spring, I will be voting in the Republican primary. When my career in elected office ends in 2027 on the inauguration of my successor as mayor, I will leave office as a Republican.
The future of America’s great urban centers depends on the willingness of the nation’s mayors to champion law and order and practice fiscal conservatism. Our cities desperately need the genuine commitment to these principles (as opposed to the inconsistent, poll-driven commitment of many Democrats) that has long been a defining characteristic of the GOP.
Unfortunately, many of our cities are in disarray. Mayors and other local elected officials have failed to make public safety a priority or to exercise fiscal restraint. Most of these local leaders are proud Democrats who view cities as laboratories for liberalism rather than as havens for opportunity and free enterprise.
Too often, local tax dollars are spent on policies that exacerbate homelessness, coddle criminals and make it harder for ordinary people to make a living. And too many local Democrats insist on virtue signaling—proposing half-baked government programs that aim to solve every single societal ill—and on finding new ways to thumb their noses at Republicans at the state or federal level. Enough. This makes for good headlines, but not for safer, stronger, more vibrant cities.
In the coming years, I will continue to pursue my three-pronged goal for Dallas: to become the safest major city in America with the best park system in Texas and the lowest taxes in our fast-growing North Texas region.
That’s an excellent, well thought out position.
Of the top 10 US cites, only one has a Republican mayor. That happened today when Eric Johnson switched parties. It’s a start.
The rest all all caught up in woke madness and virtue signaling.
Why are Republicans considered the party of fiscal conservatism ? Both parties are not conservative when it comes to spending. They just spend on different things. Neither party is really effective at governing because of this.
You are correct.
Republicans simply talk about being fiscally conservative, so the title is bestowed upon them.
The madness continues and WILL continue if WE all get wrapped up with the ideas that seemingly sway people one way or the other.
GIVE ME EXAMPLES of how Past Admins, One or the other Party, has SOLVED PROBLEMS and made them stick?
GET REAL FOLKS: we have a UNIPARTY SYSTEM and they all smoke Cigars in back rooms, and back slap every time we acknowledge this madness by voting.
VOTING for one of two evils is STILL EVIL.
California just committed over 1/4 billion dollars to find, prosecute, and stop shoplifters. So woke.
Are you referring to Bill 553? Lot of confusion with that bill. Not sure it’s been passed. Maybe you would know.
Anyway, if it’s not Bill 553 (with the 250, 000, 000 Million you mentioned) can you provide a few more details and point me in the right direction. Thanks.
There’s no bill, the governor directed previously allocated money to combat shoplifting. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/09/14/california-makes-largest-ever-investment-to-combat-smash-and-grabs/
Thank you.
Mayor, it’s not an experiment, it’s a plan.
With an experiment, you evaluate and change course accordingly. The plan has different criteria.
Yes, he’s definitely a republican. So many contradictory statements and of course most of it is empty rhetoric or platitudes.
“Fighting for lower taxes” and “investing in family friendly infrastructure” are contradictory statements.
“..make public safety a priority or to exercise fiscal restraint.” Once again contradictory
How will public safety become a priority if exercising fiscal restraint and lowering taxes? Let me guess, spend more money on trigger happy cops shooting unarmed people and that will fix everything! That’s already been tried and it ended in riots and burned out cities. I assume he means to cut programs for the homeless which will just send them out to the streets to commit crimes increasing the needs for more cops. The republican doom loop.
Social security and medicare are the largest government spend but no one will touch it and all republicans advocate is more tax breaks. How is that going to fix anything?
And no, Dems aren’t any better, it’s a clown show to keep the sheeple distracted while the politicians fleece the public.
WSJ had a great article on boomer homelessness climbing exponentially, it’s a warning about what is to come and explode in 2030.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/why-more-baby-boomers-are-homeless-2d2b913b
““Fighting for lower taxes” and “investing in family friendly infrastructure” are contradictory statements. ”
It is possible to spend less and direct a portion of the remaining budget to a specific objective that was not targeted previously.
That isn’t to say a politician would follow through with that, just that the statements themselves aren’t in opposition.
54 unarmed ppl shot by police in a nation of 330 mil ppl is hardly a trend
Your bias is showing
Bidonvilles are everywhere and is going to get much worse. Take a paruse through Portland or Seattle.
Only solution it appears is to move away from these zombie cities. Which is exactly what is happening.
Public safety should not be a partisan or political position.
Should all, who live in this country’s 50 major markets, conclude their living environments are for the most part safe —well, talking point problem, dismissed.
But, even for those on this board that may find public safety or other societal issues, to be in the “noise” category as they focus exclusively on ROI objectives, crime and lawlessness are real factors in societal degradation –and by the way, ROI impact.
A society can be properly “patrolled” if the percentage of hoodsters, criminals and non-law abiding types represent a very small subset of society. Should those numbers increase, the ability to protect the safety of all…decreases exponentially.
So, how far away are we in this country to be facing The Red Zone of concern?
Im in Chicago, I pay lots of taxes, I hate it, and Im staying. I like having people nearby to call and come out and fix problems. Guns and gold are not gonna stop a heart attack. Yes, the boomer retirements $$$$$$$$$ will stretch everyone, but we will continue to have immigrants and more (non-white) babies all of whom will pay in. Prob with Repubs is that everything they say and think works just great .. till the real world arrives. Why do you think they keep losing every “government shutdown” battle? Dreams are not reality.
lol
Very few of the non white babies will pay in. Yes a portion will, but most will not as they will join the working poor who pay less taxes than their benefits. Or they will join the welfare class who cost far more than what little they provide.
Guns won’t stop a heart attack but they will stop those who would harm you. How many killings in Chicago are done by whites? Less than 5%
And before you play the raciss card at me I’m in a mixed race marriage with 3 biracial kids.
Does it count that I am German, Welsh, and British & AMERICAN by blood. Does that make me Quad-racial?
People who think like you are the problem.
The problem with Republicans is that they very rarely do what they say they’re going to do. The “why” is because they’re owned by the same people who own the Democrats.
You have no basis for claiming their policies don’t work because we haven’t and never will see them in action.
As for Democrats, the problem with them is that they do exactly what they say they’re going to do, using every tragedy as an excuse to double-down on failing policies.
You must live in a well to do area, gated and all, where police actually respond to your calls.
I do agree with you on your Republican comment however.
The single item that keeps Phoenix from slipping into the hell hole Chicago is? Guns. The ability for anyone to conceal carry. Criminals have no idea who is carrying. Also, the Castle Doctrine.
Continue to enjoy the privilege you possess in Chicago – it will eventually be consumed.
Wow. You say you hate living in chicago because medical is near you, and then you essentially say Republicans are delusional. Think about that.
I happen to know Mark Glennon, Ted & John who run wirepoints website. Check it out and meet the real world.
PS: Clearly you didn’t fully grasp this great article on zerohedge by mish, and the clarity of Dallas Mayor Johnson’s comments.
PS Scott:
Mish gave us a terrific article on Dallas’s amazing Mayor Johnson.
Your Comment was OFF-POINT.
I am, right now, signing up to pay if necessary for subscribing. I do hope there are not many Commenters as OFF POINT as you are/were, Scott.
PSS: Start reading wirepoints site, which focuses on YOUR city & state, and the plethora of horrific policies by Democrats in power for over half a century—policies that have ruined the city & state for its lawful citizens who work and pay taxes, and who are not govt ees or retirees.
Oh joy, the two-party system wins!!! Meet the new boss!!!
It takes a lot of courage to say “No” to peer pressure.
How is top 10 identified? Says who and by what criteria? That’s where Republicans are missing the boat, if they make the states great, the Federal Government is screwed.
population. I posted the chart
Having difficulty with edits today. That chart was supposed to go out with the post
Clearly not Metro population because there is no way Austin is the 10th biggest city in America ahead of places like Boston, Miami, San Fran etc.
Suburbs are outside of the mayors domain, so it makes sense to only look at city population.
City population only.
Austin city pop. larger than Boston, Miami and SF.
Late in this day, so you probably already knew this, but if not —now you do.
As an aside, I’ve occasional asked people what city is the largest in square miles (or land mass). Most choose NY or LA. Very few have no idea how large the Houston city limits are.
So explain to me the beauty of Trenton, St. Louis, Baltimore, NYC in its current form, Rochester, Detroit, Albany, Oakland. for starters
…………………….
Rush Limbaugh foretold the future failure of liberal policies back in the 90’s. Everything he said has come true, this country is a freight train of public policy disaster. Shame on liberalism!
The irony of this is he basically was addicted to pain medicine. The lax regulation at FDA directly contributed to his death. He probably would have died a lot sooner if there was no regulation on drugs and pharma.
Rush died from lung cancer. Oxycontin caused his hearing loss. He was an effective evaluator of the political class. That was why they hated him so.