10 February 29 - March 6, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents not safe for them to be at home.” One 18-year-old woman at the welcom- ing center that day in February had fled Guatemala partly because of a lack of secu- rity. She looked like she could burst into tears at any moment. A young Salvadoran woman in her 20s said she’d suffered physical and psychologi- cal abuse at the hands of authorities because of her tattoos. (In their sweeping crackdown on violent gangs, El Salvador’s authorities are treating anyone with any such marking as a terrorist, The Intercept reported.) Marvin, 33, said he’d made the excruciat- ing decision to come to the U.S. from Hon- duras, leaving behind his wife and two young kids. He had a business back home but feared for his family’s safety after rogue “groups of people began asking for money to serve as security there.” He already strug- gled to make ends meet and couldn’t afford to pay nefarious actors on top of that. Marvin’s goal was to receive asylum and start working in the U.S. to provide for his family in Honduras. Eventually, he said, he’d bring them here so that they could attain le- gal status. Standing in the hallway of the cacopho- nous welcoming center, Marvin processed a mix of emotions. “I am happy that I’m here: that I have hope, that I have a new way to protect my family and that I escaped the threats,” he said, speaking Spanish, as a serious expres- sion crossed his face. “But on the other side, I am sad because I left my family behind, my children. I don’t know when I’m going to see them again.” Unlike most of the other asylum seekers at the center that day, Marvin’s final destina- tion was Dallas, where he’d reconvene with friends. A short time later, a black truck pulled up to the church. Marvin walked out of the bus- tling building and into the warm embrace of the sun. His worried expression had by then melted away, and he allowed himself to smile as he settled into the passenger seat. The truck crawled out of the parking lot and onto the streets of Marvin’s new home. Staff member Kevin Chavez provided transla- tion services for this story. ▼ CITY HALL SECRET SEVERANCE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REACT AFTER SURPRISE RESIGNATION OF CITY MANAGER. BY JACOB VAUGHN T he sudden resignation of Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax seemed to come as a surprise to nearly all but himself and eight City Council members. According to WFAA, the process of get- ting Broadnax to resign had been going on in secret for about a week before his resigna- tion was announced on Feb. 21. It was kept secret, according to council members who spoke with WFAA on background, so that Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson couldn’t hijack the narrative and make it seem like Broad- nax was getting fired. In an emailed statement, Johnson said he found out about Broadnax’s resignation the way many did, via a memo. “TC was tough — he often knew what he wanted for Dallas and would fight hard for it. And I would do the same,” Johnson said. “We did not always see eye to eye, but we still worked together to help move this city forward. After his seven years of working for our city, I want to wish him well on what- ever comes next.” Now, Dallas will appoint an interim city manager and embark on a search for Broad- nax’s full-time replacement. “I will have more to say about a national search for the next city manager in the days ahead,” Johnson said. “I am excited about the future for my hometown. Dallas contin- ues to move in the right direction — some- thing that is not true of many other major cities. With the right team in place in the years to come, we can work together to make our bustling city stronger, safer and more vibrant.” WFAA reported that Broadnax first ap- proached City Council member Jaime Re- sendez about his potential resignation. The two agreed to keep their conversation se- cret, with Broadnax directing Resendez to find seven other council members who would ask him to resign. With eight council members, a majority of the City Council, asking Broadnax to resign, he could leave on his own terms. This would allow him to choose his final day with the city, get a sev- erance, and work for another city without any restrictions from Dallas. Some have speculated online that the se- cret resignation is a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act and that the process should have played out in open meetings. However, local attorney and former City Council member Philip Kingston disagrees, claiming that the process falls under the personnel exception laid out in the Open Meetings Act. A section of the Texas Open Meetings Act labeled “personnel matters” says that a municipality ned not hold an open meeting “to deliberate the appointment, employ- ment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, dis- cipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee; or to hear a complaint or a charge against an officer or employee.” Technically speaking, Kingston said, Re- sendez should have held a closed executive session over the matter. “The issue becomes what is the harm in doing this in private if the public never has a right to participate,” Kingston said. “So, the [attorney general] or the [district attorney] is unlikely to care.” He added, “The best and safest way would have been for TC to make the rounds himself, which is unquestionably legal.” In an emailed statement, Broadnax said it has been an honor and privilege to serve as Dallas’ city manager. “I am proud of what I have accomplished and am grateful for the support I received during my tenure,” he said. He said he hopes his resignation will al- low the City Council to reset, refocus and transition to a new city manager who con- tinues to move Dallas forward, and allow for a more effective working relationship with the mayor and council members. “During this transition, I am committed to working with the City Council and lead- ership team to ensure the continuity of pro- grams, projects, and services to this community are not negatively impacted,” Broadnax said. “I wish Dallas ongoing suc- cess.” It’s uncertain which eight council mem- bers asked Broadnax to resign. However, one was likely Resendez and another was Paula Blackmon, something she confirmed for the Observer. We reached out to several other members for more details about how the resignation went down. Only some re- sponded, mostly with parting words for the outgoing city manager. “While it’s difficult to part ways with our city manager, I’m optimistic about the fu- ture, confident in the City Council’s ability to navigate this transition smoothly,” Resen- dez told the Observer by text. “I’m grateful for the excellent work done by T.C. Broad- nax, recognizing the need for a fresh start and new leadership to propel us forward. I’m truly hopeful about the exciting oppor- tunities that lie ahead for our city.” In a statement to the Observer, Blackmon thanked Broadnax for his seven years of ser- vice to the city. “In our council-manager government, the City Manager is the one who runs the city, and he did an admirable job in very challenging times, including helping navi- gate the city through the COVID epidemic,” Blackmon said by text. “As we seek a succes- sor, we aim to find an individual committed to Dallas’ growth and prosperity. I’m confi- dent we will find a new leader who shares our vision for our thriving city.” She added: “He’s an admirable man, smart, and really knows how city govern- ment should function but also the frustra- tion kicks in when things aren’t working properly. It’s just a natural way of things happening I think. The bottom line is TC is a city administrator and he does a fine job. It doesn’t mean that you will always agree but I do think that the city is in a better place.” Dallas City Council member Chad West, one of the eight who asked the city manager to resign, wished Broadnax well with his fu- ture endeavors. “During his tenure, he worked with council to move the ball for- ward on many matters important to our res- idents,” West said by text. “With his upcoming departure, we must and will keep the city’s momentum going in our housing, economic development, environmental, and parks and trails efforts. Dallas is a city on the move, and I look forward to working with whomever steps up to the plate in the com- ing weeks.” Broadnax’s last day will be June 3. ▼ EDUCATION CAPTAIN VOUCHER TEXAS DEMOCRATS SLAM GOV. ABBOTT FOR POST ON HEBRON TEACHER WHO WORE DRESS TO SCHOOL. BY SIMONE CARTER A fter a conservative influencer’s post went viral recently, a dress-wearing Carrollton teacher was placed on leave. Internet trolls have since emerged to take jabs at the beloved educator — includ- ing Texas’ top politician. Gov. Greg Abbott railed against Hebron High School in a Feb. 17 post on X. The Re- publican harnessed the ongoing Lewisville ISD controversy for more momentum in his never-ending quest for school vouchers. “No parent should be forced by the state to send their child to this school. I’m fighting for the right of parents to send their children elsewhere,” Abbott wrote. “Parents deserve school choice in Texas. The candidates I am backing will deliver that school choice.” Some context: Libs of TikTok, a Stephen Young Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax will serve until June 3. Unfair Park from p8 >> p12
