Yesterday morning, two families woke up in Frisco excited for their kids who had UIL Championship Track Meet at Kenkuydall Stadium. Neither family had any clue or saw coming that by the end of the day one family would lose a son, and the other family would have a son facing murder charges. This should not be happening in Frisco, Texas.
Today, it is compounded by the fact that America (yes America, this has gone viral) has an opinion on what happened. Rumors are being crafted, hate is being spread across social media calling this racial because of the colors of the boy’s skin tones, accusations are being hurled. People are digging through these two teenage boy’s social media accounts looking for the “worst of the worst” to post and they will find it – but how does that change this now? The end result is spreading more hate and divide in a time when we should be waiting for answers.
Believe me when I say this is a parent’s worst nightmare come true on both sides. The parents had no clue as their kids went out the door, neither of them would be coming home. The father of Austin Metcalf, the victim who died in his twin brothers’ arms, spoke out and said, “I want to clarify something right off the start because I have already heard some rumors and gossip. This was not a race thing; this is not a political thing …this is a human being thing! This young man made a bad choice, and it affected his family and our family forever. It is a very unfortunate thing.” He went on “I forgive this boy, not for him but for me, as a father to have peace. His life is destroyed, my life is destroyed; it is an unfortunate, tragic event that will affect us for the rest of our lives. I want to get the word out to other parents so they will talk to their children, so this does not happen again. Senseless acts of violence have become more acceptable, and we have become more callous to them. That needs to change.”
He is an incredible father to have faith over fear today! My wife and I would like to follow in his father’s footsteps and send our thoughts, prayers and condolences to both families. We will be lifting them all up in prayer as well as for our community to heal from this. Last night, Austin Metcalf was called home. Last night Karmelo Anthony spent the first of many nights in jail. Nobody Wins!
Part of that healing is asking legitimate questions that we expect investigators to find answers to:
1. Why did a young man bring a knife to a track meet?
2. At what moment, did he loose control and make the decision to stab him in the chest?
3. When did the first call to 911 get logged?
4. What was the dispatch time, enroute time, and arrival time of the first arriving unit, and was the clear time?
5. Were there any medical personnel for the school on-site at this track meet? If no, why not?
6. Did the revitalization construction happening downtown directly affect the response time of EMS units. What was the time frame delay between him being stabbed and receiving life saving measures by police and fire including CPR and the administration of blood?
7. Is the school offering mental health services to the kids involved and around?
8. Is the city offering mental health services to the first responders who had to watch this young adult die?
9. Were there any warning signs in the young adult’s life or history that would have led the school to believe that he could become a dangerous offender or be carrying a weapon?
10. How could this have avoided? What security measures did the school district have in place at this event?
Both families have to live with Karmelo Anthony decision for the rest of their lives. These questions will tell us who dropped the ball and at what level because a kid does not wake up and say Today, I am taking a knife to a track meet. We need to know where, how, and when the failures happened to keep all the students safe in our schools. One young man made a decision that would affect both families’ lives forever yesterday. We need to stop and talk to our kids and make sure they understand that it doesn’t matter if this was over a seat, a cellphone, or a simple exchange of teenage verbal words — none of those reasons, or any reason, is acceptable to take a person’s life. That is the conversation parents should be having today with their kids. The other day, I took my wife to HEB, and she is in a wheelchair. I had a hard time getting it up over the curb. A group of kids laughed and snickered – no one offered to help and that is what is wrong with our country today. It is time to reteach our kids about humanity and being good stewards. We need to ask ourselves, “What is happening to our town, to our community, that this would be how an otherwise normal day ends?”
This should not have happened in Frisco, Texas …. Yet it did!
The conversation around FCFA (Frisco Center for the Performing Arts) is like watching a hockey game. Fans focus on the puck, darting across the ice at breakneck speed, while the real action—the jabs, the shoves, the outright brawls—unfolds around it. In this case, the puck is the FCFA debate, and the players? Several players have come forward offering wisdom and insight like George Purefoy, Shono Sowell, Jared Elad, Jerry Spencer, and Burt Thaker.
Mayor Jeff Cheney has decided to be both the referee and the enforcer, throwing punches at anyone who dares question his grand vision. His online meltdown is documented in his trolling comments of citizens, council candidates, previous city employees, and future mayoral candidates. We call him the digital reincarnation of American Cult Leader, David Koresh. Cheney views Frisco residents as his personal Branch Davidians, expecting—no, demanding—blind loyalty. He envisions himself as the all-knowing prophet of Frisco’s future, leading his followers toward his Broadway-sized promised land, whether they like it or not.
Just like Koresh, Cheney loves the sound of his own voice. His strategy? Talk incessantly until his opponents are too exhausted to argue. History has shown that when Cheney gets his panties in a wad or feels his grip slipping, he shifts into attack mode, labeling residents “ignorant,” “unaware,” or “misinformed.” It’s almost comical—except for the fact that he genuinely believes he’s the smartest person in the room. As my mother used to say, the proof is in the pudding.
Why the Obsession with FCFA?
Why is Jeff Cheney and his sidekicks Tammy Meinershagen and John Keating fighting so hard for a Frisco Center For The Arts?
For Meinershagen, it’s personal. She has had a lifelong love affair with the arts (she plays the violin), and she has served on the Frisco Arts Boards and Commissions. One could wonder, has her love for the arts possibly clouded her judgment. Is she advocating for the entire city or just her arts community?
Keating has a twofold motivation: 01: He wants to be mayor, and winning this battle gives him a nice “dog whistle” for his next campaign boost. 02: He owns a house in The Preserve, which Cheney has said is the most exclusive community to ever be built in Frisco, as it sits next to the PGA. A luxurious neighborhood near the proposed arts center —a fancy arts venue next door = only increased property values.
And Cheney? Well, he wins in real estate—again. Let’s be honest, a massive arts venue will drive up property values along the 380 corridors, directly benefiting the real estate that the Cheney Group represents in Fields Residential Developments. Just as he has done in the past, Cheney will say there is no conflict of interest and that he doesn’t use his position as Mayor to benefit his business. Coincidence? We think not.
The Social Media Meltdown
Why is Cheney on a social media overdrive to sell this project to the public? To understand you must look at the comments on the March 8th post by the Smart Frisco PAC on their Facebook page. Former City Manager, George Purefoy, who is a very respected individual in our city and many value his opinion since he “built Frisco,” openly stated he was against the measures on the ballot relating to the Frisco EDC and did not like the fact that residents were being misled that it would cost nothing. On the same post, several other well-respected names in our community spoke out. Political candidates such as Jerry Spencer, Jared Elad, and Burt Thacker have also come out against the measures.
On March 22, Shona Sowell, who previously served as a city councilwoman for many years, giving her access to the spatial studies and feasibility studies done regarding a performing arts center. She has also been involved in city conversations related to a PAC and published an informed opinion on her Facebook page, Shona Sowell for Frisco Mayor. That is when Cheney lost it and his performance backfired!
First, Cheney uses a set of cabal minions to question Purefoy and Sowell. In this case, that would be Jake Petras and David Bickerstaff. When that doesn’t work, he dives right into the media fire himself, replying to several comments on Sowell’s page and her post.
Resident Jeff Jacobs thanked Sowell for her breakdown of the facts. Cheney responds, “this a 50-year decision for Frisco. Please do your due diligence apart from political alliances and evaluate this project on what it will truly mean for the future of our community.” How does Cheney know that Jacobs has not done his own due diligence? Why does he assume his support is solely out of a political alliance with Sowell? Where does Cheney, OUR MAYOR, get off making those assumptions or talking to a resident like that. Keep in mind Cheney knows Jacobs is well informed as he is a well-respected Realtor in the Frisco community.
Jacobs commented later on in the comments on Sowells post with a meme about Frisco ISD arts center. Cheney obviously does not pay attention who he is talking to or he would have realized he already responded to Jacobs once, so he responds again with the same exact copied comment he left for Jacobs the first time around.
Next Bowers makes a comment thanking Sowell for taking the time to break it down and a short time later Cheney responds, “I count on you to do your homework on this project. I disagree with all the information presented in this post and hopeful Shona will actually meet with city staff to learn more.” In response George Purefoy responds to Bowers with his concerns on the project and you can guess that did not go over when Cheney read it. AGAIN…why does Cheney, OUR MAYOR, assume that Bowers has not done her homework? Why is Cheney “cut and pasting” his comment that he disagrees with the whole post to Bowers. Was Bowers on Mayor Cheney’s page asking him for his two cents? Nope!
Another resident named Annette responds that nothing is free in government and that Frisco needs to focus on infrastructure and stop ignoring the east side which looks sad. Mayoral Candidate Sowell responds that she, too, lives on the east side and understands her pain and wants the whole city to look great for residents. Minutes later, Cheney responds with the same “cut and paste” comment about how he hopes she does her homework and that he disagrees with all the information presented in Sowell’s post. HELLO MR. MAYOR – YOU CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT WHAT RESIDENTS WANT, SO DID YOU EVEN READ HER COMMENT? No!!! You couldn’t care less that a resident feels the east side has been forgotten about in your master plan, and that she expressed a concern. Nope, you only respond about the performing arts center because THAT IS ALL YOU CARE ABOUT! Remember, we said proof is in the pudding, stop and listen and respond to residents – NOT WHAT YOU WANT!
Several more residents’ comment in support of Shona’s post and you can bet minutes later Cheney responds (no trolls) again with the same “cut and paste” comment as he did all the others asking her to do her homework on the project and he disagrees with all the info presented.
Want more proof in the pudding that this is not about Residents but about Cheney and what he wants? Resident Brewer responds to Shona’s post with “Hmm…our mayor’s explanation differs significantly from this.” Without hesitation, Cheney and his minion Bickerstaff respond, attacking Shona as “not credible,” and then, when Resident McCarley responds, asking “What’s incorrect in Shona’s explanation? What is she misinformed about? What facts did she get wrong on this project?” MAYOR CHENEY and Mr. Bickerstaff – this was your time to answer the question and explain your claims that you posted repeatedly, calling “misinformation” with the facts, but did you? Nope!!! Crickets …. Proof again of the pudding, it is not about communication to residents, it is about TELLING THEM what they need to believe.
In another section Cheney is asked if the city is responsible for the cost overruns as Shona stated? Did Cheney respond? NOPE!!!
Then David Bickerstaff (who has a political alliance with Cheney – his own words) posts on Sowells page in the comments for people to read Mayor Cheney’s posts with the real facts. Cheney then responds, “We’ve met with multiple candidates to address questions and concerns, and most have changed their positions after learning more. We invite you to do the same. I would have hoped you would have attended a single public meeting prior to posting such inaccurate information. As a candidate for Mayor the public should expect this, and it is disappointing you have not attended a single informational meeting. I know we would love to meet with any candidate in this race or future to understand the scope and give them the facts to discuss with the public.” Whistleblower responds to Cheney asking him why the city is fighting their PIRs by sending it to the attorney general on the preforming arts center if they have been trying to be so transparent. Cheney never responded to that question, because he probably didn’t see it since he blocked us from his Mayoral page which is illegal by the way.
MR. CHENEY IF YOU READ THIS: What “multiple candidates” have you met with to address their concerns who changed their positions on the project? How many meetings was Sowell involved in with all the other performing arts centers? Why are you insinuating a woman CAN’T READ THE CITY’S SLIDES and decipher with intelligence what they mean, especially when that woman has years of council experience? You said you would love to meet with any candidate in this race to discuss the facts but then why did you try to shut down Burt Thacker at this week’s council meeting when he spoke about the performing arts center? Is the council supposed to respond to folks at citizens’ input, or better yet, cut them off while speaking? Nope, I don’t think you can do that, but we all know you make your own rules.
Whistleblowers Opinion on the Social Media Debacle: Mayor Cheney’s antics, trolling another politician’s page, is classless and disgusting. Going through her posts and commenting on them the way he did not only makes our city look bad, and it makes him look pathetic. He repeatedly assumes that every person is uneducated and not smart enough to make their own decision. If they ask a question, he doesn’t answer it and ignores them. He accuses them of making their decisions based on political alliances when his own political alliances come onto the page to cause disruption. In one post, the Mayor of Frisco – Jeff Cheney, summed up how he sees most of us residents… as stupid idiots who can’t make informed decisions. Only the Great Cheney Klan knows what is best for us. As for Ms. Sowell, we don’t know her personally, but we have watched her for years at council meetings, and she came across in her post the same way she did in those meetings with class and professionalism. She took time to answer anyone’s questions and generally seemed to care about people’s opinions. We are not supporting anyone for Mayor yet as that race is to far out, but she could be a tough one to beat if she continues to put residents first.
Censorship and Control
Cheney’s next move? A post on his own mayoral page. Unfortunately, we can’t link it—he’s blocked us. (Illegal, by the way, but details, details.) His post sounded like it was written by ChatGPT, filled with self-aggrandizing nonsense like, “I am here to discuss the details that I believe…”
A clinical psychologist will tell you that if you look closer at the context written by a narcissist, it has elements of exaggerated sense of self-importance and a need for admiration. What is Cheney saying? To Cheney, this isn’t just an arts center—it’s his magnum opus. The ambition, the “halo effect,” the relentless drive—it’s all part of his self-made mythology. “Only I, Jeff Cheney, have the courage to take on this challenge, to climb the mountain, to lead Frisco into this bold new era.”
Cheney then lays out the details in his post, which you can read for yourself if you are not blocked. A few points of concern for us #4 that reads, in the coming weeks, we’ll lock in an LOI with a world-class operator under an “operator-at-risk” model. That means as of today, as you are reading this, we do not have an LOI with an operator, and we don’t have an operator at risk model. A letter of intent is not a contract, it is a preliminary agreement, generally non-binding.
He also states that “they will inject upfront capital,” but he does not say how much and in return “we’ve” meaning the City has allocated up to $6 million for startup costs (capped there), with any further deficits falling on the operator annually throughout the contract.” What that means is if we vote for this and something goes wrong and we can’t get a contract (past the LOI) worked out, who is holding the purse? The city! He is asking us to put all our chips in on a “risk” that it will work out. This is the same man who made promises about Universal, and the night of the final vote changed numerous things in the contract to be more beneficial for NBC Universal than the residents who lived right next to it. Changing the operating times, height of roller coasters, etc. He wants us to trust him again.
In #6 Cheney talks about “Halo Effect” and the impact on Frisco. He has been using the Halo Effect now for years as his talking point as to why we will do things. When the PGA was approved that project sparked the Halo Effect, then he used it Universal will create a Halo Effect and now the theater. MAYOR CHENEY, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THE TERM HALO EFFECT FROM YOU FOR YEARS AND GUESS WHAT WE ARE STILL SHELLING OUT MONEY LEFT AND RIGHT FOR COMPANIES WHO SHOULD WANT TO COME HERE BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY GREAT! When does it end?
He closes with every great Frisco project that has come our way has come with risks and unknowns – yes but they had better money backing it. The PGA, The Cowboys, are billion-dollar operations. Is this partner a billion-dollar partner? No! While there was risk it was not as great as this one. This operator does not have near the same capital as previous ones.
Whistleblower Opinion: Cheney’s post is a direct response to Shona Sowell and George Purefoy. Why does he block people from his page who may have questions? Why does he delete comments that don’t align with his agenda? If you are serious Mr. Mayor, why do you and the rest of the council unblock us and the others you have blocked and allow the same community engagement that Shona Sowell did on her page. That’s right you don’t care about the opinions of residents which is why you trolled her page in your meltdown, and you didn’t answer any of them. The ego and self-centered attitude you have, that you are the only who you can make this happen, is the problem here and will ultimately be while residents vote against it.
The Dallas Morning News Debacle
Do you still want more proof in the pudding? The DMN is the same paper Mayor Cheney has praised in the past. Cheney didn’t agree with their opinion and stated the DMN has “written some uneducated stuff in the past but this may be their worst. It is completely nonsensical.” Were any of these articles UNEDUCATED AND NONSENSICAL?
Then he immediately talks about how they don’t understand the project. He admits in the closing that “Of course we only have LOI’s now, but formal agreements will be executed following the election.” WHAT DID THEY GET WRONG MAYOR?
And so, we’re left with a burning question: Is this the leadership Frisco signed up for? A mayor who spends his time trolling opposing candidates online, throwing tantrums at newspapers that dare to question his grand vision, belittling anyone who doesn’t fall in line, and assuming that anyone who dares question his Broadway dreams just isn’t smart enough to get it?
At what point does passion for a project turn into arrogance? At what point does civic leadership turn into online heckling? One has to wonder, does Mayor Cheney keep a special alert set up for any slight against his pet project, or does he just have that much free time? Mayor Cheney should spend less time policing Facebook comments and more time listening to the very people he was elected to serve. Because for a guy who’s always questioning everyone else’s intelligence, he sure seems to be struggling with the basic concept of professionalism. Maybe instead of scolding residents, journalists, and fellow politicians like a frustrated theater director dealing with amateur actors, he could take a step back and consider that disagreement isn’t the same as ignorance. Either way, watching a sitting mayor spiral into social media meltdowns over dissenting opinions is certainly… a choice.
Or, you know, he could just keep rage-commenting. That’s always a good look. He did have to take a break from commenting to attend the 100th Anniversary of the Music Hall at Fair Park and success with Broadway Dallas. Guess he likes the perks already before we get our theater. Think the city will have us of a box at the new theater too to view all the shows?
(The lights flicker, and the performing arts center goes dark. The drums begin to rumble like a storm and then with grand fury the curtains rise for the play to begin!)
ACT I: The Magnificent Mogul (The lights come up on a grand stage.) Center spotlight, Mayor Jeff Cheney, dressed in regal attire, surveying his domain—the kingdom of Frisco. The backdrop is a glittering real estate billboard for the “Santa Barbara in The Preserve at Fields.” A chorus of Realtors hums disapprovingly in the background. King Cheney (booming voice): Citizens of Frisco, behold! A paradise unlike any other! Luxurious living, exquisite homes, and of course, no conflicts of interest whatsoever! Just because I, the humble servant-mayor, also run The Cheney Group, doesn’t mean I would ever dream of using my influence to benefit my business! (The crowd murmurs)
ACT II: The Great Arts Debacle (The scene shifts to the Frisco City Council Meeting, where they are about to vote on the Frisco Center for the Arts.) Tammany Hall takes to her microphone to welcome a band of concerned citizens, each holding a scroll of grievances to read at citizens’ input. King Cheney, now looking slightly less majestic, listens from his throne, pulls up his phone, and his fingers twitch over his social media apps. Citizen 1: Your Majesty, why must we fund this expensive arts center when other needs go unmet?
Citizen 2: Will this benefit the people of Frisco, or just serve as another jewel in your town?
King Cheney (flustered, stands up): How dare you question my wisdom? Do you not see my vision? Only I know what’s best for Frisco! (Suddenly, a transformation begins)
Before the eyes of the audience, King Cheney shrinks, his voice becoming higher, more desperate. His regal robes stripped away, leaving him in a striped shirt, suspenders, and racoon hat.)
Tammany Hall (played by Tammy Meinershagen): Mr. Mayor, you are starting to look like a certain childhood bully – Scut Farkus. Cheney (looking for a mirror): Scut Farkus? Who… I demand to know who that is?
Tammany Hall responds: You know Mayor, the notorious tormentor from A Christmas Story.
ACT III: The Meltdown Scut Cheney—er, King Cheney—now frantically types away on social media. His fingers fly over his phone, leaving a trail of desperate comments across every Frisco Facebook group and post related to the Frisco Center For The Arts. The doors from the back of the chamber open abruptly and running down to the stage is Steve Cone holding an article published in the Dallas Morning News.
Cone (shouts): “Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, you have to read this, right now!” It’s so bad, Mr. Mayor, so bad! What do you want me to do Cone asks?” Scut Cheney (frantically points to the audience): Listen to me! You’re all wrong! I know best! The arts center is my dream! You just don’t get it! WHYYYYY!?
(The citizens watch in bemusement. A few chuckles ripple through the audience. A small child tugs at their mother’s sleeve.) Child: Mommy, why is the mayor crying and having a tantrum on the internet? (The mother shrugs. The citizens shake their heads. The lights dim as Scut Cheney’s tantrum echoes into the void of the digital realm. The curtain falls to thunderous applause.)
Epilogue: As the audience exits, they are handed a complimentary “Cheney Group” brochure, because no matter how the play ends, the sales must go on. The End… or is it?
Back on May 14, 2024, we filed our first PIR related to a performing arts center. We asked for all the studies and documents related to those reports from consulting groups or third parties like Frisco ISD or Hall Group.
On May 24, 2024, we got a tip from an inside source and we released breaking news in a Facebook Post that Craig Hall backed out from the Performing Arts Center at Hall Park. Today we ponder, did he know something about the project, or how the scope of the project was changing that we didn’t at the time? Possibly, but looking back we think he was a smart man for getting out along with Frisco ISD at the time.
On May 30, 2024, we received a letter from the city secretary that, due to confidentiality issues, the City has chosen to seek a ruling from the Attorney General regarding a portion of the responsive documents. We were not surprised! Now we want you to STOP AND THINK ABOUT … what did they not want the public to see it? For a city telling you this FCFA project is the cherry on top of the city, why do they continue to delay and withhold information? As a voter, if that does not concern you, it should!
At the February 7thCity Council Meeting future candidates took to citizens input under Agenda Item 38 (starting at the 2:25:00 mark).
First up, Jared Elad, candidate for City Council Place 4. Elad stated he had been a resident for 11 years, and he first became aware of this project when he learned the city’s partnership with Frisco ISD fell through due to disagreements over the scope of the project. Frisco ISD is moving forward with a 55-million-dollar facility as we speak to serve its students.
Elad stated he was concerned about Frisco residents maintaining and operating this project in perpetuity. He said it had been stated that this project could cost up to $6 million per year to maintain and he asked the council and the city if they had really done their analysis to make sure it won’t go higher than that? He finds it even more concerning that we are in a partnership with Prosper ISD, which limits the location options since it will have to be within Prosper ISD boundaries. He said that boundary limitations will make the project less accessible to most Frisco Residents. Elad asked why the city was unable to reach an agreement with Frisco ISD, and why it could not have been reworked to serve the Frisco residents better. Now we are left with not 1 but 2 Frisco Performing Arts Centers that the Frisco residents will have to support.
Another concern of his was the city signing a letter of intent with Broadway Access – he noted that a letter of intent is not binding. Without a signed agreement, there is no guarantee that this partnership will come to fruition. That could leave Frisco residents with a facility to maintain and a facility that won’t meet its projected potential revenue. Elad went on to say it has been reported that the Dallas Performing Arts Center is struggling financially as we speak, due to the pandemic and the nature of consumers’ habits changing. He looked at the council and asked, “What makes us think we can do better?”
As for the jobs, he said it will only create a minimum number of jobs, other than the construction phase. While he appreciates the other public-private partnerships like The Star and Frisco PGA, he believes this one will go too far with the potential cost burden it will put on Frisco residents. He closed, asking the council to reconsider the priorities for Frisco and to make sure we are fiscally responsible.
Next up was Burt Thakur, candidate for City Council Place 2. He said he absolutely loves the arts, supports the arts, and believes in the power of the arts to change people. He talked about how when he was in the military, he would use the power of books to transform himself in other places, giving his mind some peace. He said the question of whether we like or support the arts is not what is in front of us at this moment.
The question before us today is are we being financially responsible, and do we have the right priorities in line. Are we good stewards of taxpayer dollars? Thakur went on to say that on Friday the proposed number was $360 million, then a few days later the number was adjusted to $340 million. Then he pointed out, if you take the graphic in the presentation, that ads up to $380 million. Why are we being given vague ranges with an 80 million dollar variance for the cost? Where are the specifics?
Thakur brought up his concern regarding the yearly O&M (operational/maintenance) costs potentially facing Frisco residents. Can we justify this when we, as a city, have other pressing needs that are unfunded? He also touched on the Frisco ISD theater and said, with one already in progress, how is there not a way to find a potential to combine the two and mitigate risk? Thakur mentioned how police and fire have all asked for additional staffing, which costs a fraction of the yearly operational costs, yet the city can’t find the money for that. We don’t have a proper animal shelter, nor do we have a building for our Veterans. We need a space for the local VFW and other Veteran organizations to meet. Thakur said he loves the arts, but he believes in responsible governance, and he asked the council to work smarter, take a step back, and make sure we are funding our needs first. Thakur closed with; We owe it to the people of Frisco to prioritize wisely.
Next up Josh Meek, candidate for City Council Place 4. Meek started by voicing his support agenda item 38 & 39. With the amount of time, money and resources invested in this project we need to reach an answer. He then said that answer needs to come from no one else but Frisco citizens. He hopes that the council allows citizens to vote sooner, rather than later because prolonging it could have increased costs.
Meek went on to say Frisco is ultimately a destination location and he thinks that it would be a far, far oversight to not explore the potential we have when it comes to partnering with Broadway. Meek said he has two boys and when Hamilton came out, they looked at traveling halfway across the country to have that experience so why would he not allow this to be in his own backyard. When you start to break it down a big part of what has made us successful is that we have created these areas for people to visit and experience. He believes that this should go to the ballot. He said we have four districts that cover Frisco so while many are asking why we not partnered with Frisco ISD, maybe we should be asking why we have not partnered with the other ISDs and should we more in the future (Lewisville ISD, Little Elm ISD, Prosper ISD). Meek said he is on the CDC Board, and he has had the opportunity to see the benefits we will have from this.
Besides the council meeting we got an email from another candidate, Jerry Spencer, candidate for Frisco City Council Place 4. He wrote; I am opposed to the Arts Center in its current form. I especially do not like taking money from economic development and community development. I want to get away from this sports/tourism obsession and go after emerging technology/medical research, etc., with the sales tax money. Instead of Sport City USA, we need to re-brand ourselves Brain City USA! I have no problem with a REGIONAL Arts Center. Let’s do one with Plano, McKinney, Allen and Denton. It will take some work, but with effort it can be done. Then, we spread the costs over 1 million people, rather than the 235,000 in Frisco. The per capita costs would come way down. In closing, my website will be up in a few days
Lastly, while he is not running now he did run in 2024, we want to recognize that John Redmond spoke at the council meeting in early February. He said, in theory, he liked the idea of the Performing Arts Center. However, he feels we have spent tons of bond for a community theater and spent the last focused on a highly commercial, very large-scale performing arts center. Redmond went on to say he believes these decisions have been made based on the input of a very small select group of people and not based on the voice of Frisco residents.
Whistleblower Opinion Time: While many will say Whistleblower hates the arts, that is simply not true. My son was in community theater since middle school. We had to take him to other cities to do community theater shows. What we support is a community theater venue for our residents and nearby visitors. We don’t support a monstrosity theater built for Broadway shows and concerts. I asked my son the other day what do you think about this Broadway thing in Frisco? He said dad Broadway isn’t just about the performance it is about New York, the lights, the theaters, the city itself creates the experience of Broadway. Seeing Lion King in Dallas or Fort Worth doesn’t elicit the same response as you traveling to New York and encapsulating the entire experience of Broadway. We agree with him!
We appreciate hearing from the candidates because we believe they will be the future of this city. We believe if residents rise and vote for change, we could see different things coming from the council pulpit. One thing never escapes us, why did Frisco ISD and Craig Hall backout? What did they know or what did they see change that they didn’t agree with? We have analyzed this project in every way we can and a few points keep popping up:
1. Frisco has a lot going on right now with the Frisco PGA, Fields build-out, Universal, Toyota Stadium overhaul, downtown revitalization, Grand Park, and more. So many of these things have not been finished, and now we are going to start another project. Are we overextending ourselves and soon to hit a bubble of sorts?
2. Where is the HEART of Frisco? Every city has an area that is the original heartbeat of the city. Where is that for Frisco? We lost the heartbeat of our rich history that dates back to the late 19th century. Initially, a railroad stop, and hub for the railway, we lost that cultural historical heritage instead of building around it and putting it into everything we do. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could take the local railway as our public transportation from downtown up to the PGA for dinner, then over to the theater for dinner?
It could have been awesome, but instead we just set up a museum to hold pictures of our heritage and how many people actually visit that each year. The reason some of these cities the Chamber visited on their “Leadership Travel” were so great is because they built around their history. Instead, Frisco just built over it!
3. The location of PAC being at 380 and the DNT, so it is in Prosper ISD boundaries, which does limit the access to Frisco residents. How could we not have solidified a deal with Craig Hall, who was offering the land as a donation? The land they are proposing we use today for this project was purchased years ago by the city with the intent to sell it one day. Why? They knew it would be worth millions along the 380 / DNT corridor. Taxpayers paid for that land! It was not free to the city! We spent money back then to make money today to help pay off our debt obligations.
4. EDC & CDC: Where did that money come from? Sales Tax! They want you to believe this is not your money, it’s all those tourists who come here. Do you grocery shop here, eat here, buy gas here? If you do, then you are paying for it!
What was it designated for? Community Development and Economic Development – it was not originally intended for a Performing Arts Center. If you read the slide about the Frisco Model vs Venue Management Model you will see the private partners in the sports model operate these partnerships without on-going operational funding from the City. These are partners like the PGA, Omni, The Cowboys all with strong financial backing.
In the Frisco Center For Arts model we have no idea who the Private Operator will be. The financial model is DEPENDENT on overall financial milestones for fundraising. What happens if the economy goes to crap and people are not donating – who covers that cost then? You…and me! It also states the private partner operates with LIITED ON-GOING OPERATIONAL FUNDING from the city. We agree with the candidates why so VAGUE – where is the CERTAINITY? Why are you asking us to vote on so many “What If’s?” Words like dependent, limited, don’t make me feel comfortable.
Lastly, will it deplete the CDC and EDC money for other potential projects? Okay it brings construction jobs here during development – are you in construction? It will have a few salary jobs to run the theater but will the hourly jobs to clean it, be an usher or attendant help you pay for your million-dollar house? What jobs will this bring to Frisco that are viable economic jobs that people can live on in Frisco? None! What happens if we ever faced another Pandemic? During that time a survey showed that the Dallas Arts suffered a $67.7 Million dollar loss. Who will pay for it then?
Mayor Cheney and his protégés Tammy Meinershagen, Bill Woodard, John Keating, and Laura Rummel must have every project be so great, so grand! It’s like they all suck on the same bottle of whiskey every night and pass the blunt until they have the same stories lined up. Time to say enough, otherwise we might be setting ourselves up for some hard times ahead in Frisco. Slow down, smell the roses! Fix the infrastructure and stop lying to citizens. Life would be so much better.
If you thought the drama of Frisco’s so-called Future Performing Arts Center was confined to city hall meetings and backroom deals, think again. Mayor Cheney has taken the battle to the digital streets, launching an all-out social media war against anyone daring to question this multimillion-dollar boondoggle on the May ballot.
Like a conductor leading an orchestra of outrage, the mayor isn’t just defending the FPAC—he’s aggressively silencing critics, painting skeptics as enemies of “progress,” and doubling down on the same vague promises that have fueled public distrust. Dissenters? Blocked. Tough questions? Ignored. Concerned citizens? Branded as obstructionists.
Honestly, at this point, who needs a performing arts center? The Frisco drama unfolding online on Mayor Cheney’s Facebook page is almost better than a Broadway show and IT’S FREE! Between the plot twists, the villain arcs, and Mayor Cheney’s keyboard warrior antics, the entertainment is free—no ticket required. As long as someone questions the FCFA, Mayor Jeff Cheney will get ants in his pants so cancel the theater plans and let the social media circus continue.
One thing we can tell you, as Frisco teeters between vision and vanity, one thing is clear: This isn’t just about the arts anymore. It’s about power, control, and the lengths our leadership will go to in order to suppress scrutiny, questions, and concerns. In the spirit of giving Cheney something to talk about, we want to continue with more public statements made by community members that many hold in high regard. Curtain up, folks—because this show is just getting started.
In Her Words: Shona Sowell – Former Councilwoman and Running for Frisco Mayor
In a Facebook Post on Shona Sowell for Mayor she posted some of the following details. “Spending $160MM in your taxpayer dollars by changing the use of the funds of Economic Development Corporation, which exists to attract businesses to Frisco, plus adding $7MM a year in operational costs to the City for a performing arts center makes no sense. It is not how we do deals in the City of Frisco.
In Frisco a performing arts facility has long been an issue of research and discussion. Whether you are an arts supporter, performer, casual partaker, or a minor player, one must weigh the costs of a decision that will impact our city budget for decades to come. Previously, I fully supported the joint arts facility in partnership with Frisco ISD and Hall Park. Like other successful public/private partnerships we have done in Frisco, this one had strong partnerships responsible for the operations of the facility. The city was not responsible for cost overruns and was not responsible for the yearly maintenance and operations costs (M&O) for the facility. This approach would have only cost Frisco one tenth of this current proposal. Our financial obligation was limited and spelled out in the agreement. This is how Frisco has been successful with public private partnerships, and it is the same process for The Roughriders, The Dallas Cowboys and The Star, PGA Golf Course, & FC Dallas and Toyota Stadium. However, the current elected officials did not want to partner with FISD and Hall Park on this approach and decided not to move forward. Now they want to spend 10 times that amount on a deal where you the taxpayers own the risk.
The current proposal of a much larger facility in partnership with Prosper ISD and private donations (that do not even exist yet) with an operator who is not well capitalized is a terrible financial decision for the residents of Frisco. This proposal is NOT THE FRISCO WAY and puts Frisco taxpayers at risk.
She went on to give her thoughts on the challenges and risks of what is being suggested, and if you click here you can read them all. We have summarized them here for you:
Frisco taxpayers are paying for this through “Sales Tax” and Frisco residents voted for those funds to go to the EDC to be used for roads, infrastructure, and to attract corporations. Second, unlike other private partnerships, Frisco taxpayers are paying twice through the general fund, the taxpayer will be responsible for the annual operational expenses of the facility and filling the funding gap.
Third, the proposed land which is the site for this project, was purchased by tax dollars and the debt on the land was paid for tax dollars and is owned by EDC. Now the city wants them to just give it away (instead of selling it to a development at fair market value). That means taxpayers paid for the cost of the land. Fourth, elected officials have not disclosed how they will handle parking, and it is not in the cost of the project today. A garage could cost $50 Million that taxpayers will have to pay for. Fifth, Sowell noted per the presentation takes 5 years for donations to come in projects like this so if they delay construction taxpayers can expect the cost to go up by almost $100 million by the time we build it. The city would have to take that funding from other departments like police and fire.
She went on to say, public private partnership cannot legally sign contracts to build until the funds needed are in the bank. The bonds must be sold from both entities, and the private donations must be in the Frisco bank account. She pointed out that the consulting group maintains in their presentation from the January work session that the funds will come in more as the building gets closer to opening. Shona asks, do you as a resident want to be holding the bag and double the city cost when the pledges are not fulfilled? (Slide #2)
Her other concerns include if phasing of the project was an option. Yet, no plan of phasing has been presented to the residents to fully educate their vote. And if phasing is the method current councilmembers intend to use, how do we ensure the taxpayer is not left holding the bag on a project that stalls and cannot be fully completed? She also notes the agreement suggests Prosper ISD would control 84% of the dates in the smaller “community” theater—leaving very few dates left for our community groups such as the Frisco orchestra, chorale, theater groups, etc.—to use the “community theater”. The 2015 Bonds of $10million were sold for the “community groups to have a place to perform.” That means our own community groups lose big in this facility. They won’t be able to afford it, and there won’t be many calendar dates for them to use.
The annual costs to run the facility are going to be forever subsidized by the taxpayer. The projections from the consultant show a LOSS of over $6million annually for each year, a funding gap that YOU the TAXPAYER will have to cover for the first 5 years. Back in 2017, most art facilities across the country showed an annual loss of more than $10million. If we adjust for inflation—we are probably talking about at least $15-20million.
Even with a “operating partner”—if that partner were to be unable to pay for the costs of keeping the facility open, (see the Winspear, Raleigh Theater and others) the City of Frisco assumes the risk for ALL M&O expenses. Our other operating partners are large, well known, well-funded entities such as the PGA of America, the Dallas Cowboys, the Jerry Jones Family, The Hunt Family, and Bob Rowling. This is not the case here. We continue to tell our small businesses along Main Street and our public safety officers that we cannot afford 4 men on trucks, increased wages, or support for those businesses going under. But current leaders say we can afford this project? It’s a matter of priorities. While many will tell you Frisco NEEDS this project, it’s simply Frisco CANNOT AFFORD this project. It puts our tax rate, our entire city budget, and our financial future at risk.
In His Own Words: Brian Livingston – Current Council Member
Brian Livingston posted about the performing arts project on his Facebook Page. He started by sharing the post from Shona Sowell for Frisco Mayor. He went on to say it is a great conversation starter and something that should be shared as much as possible. For those that aren’t aware, I voted against putting the Frisco Center for the Arts on the ballot and will vote NO to Proposition A & B in May. My vote has nothing to do with my support for the arts and believe my history shows I have supported the arts community in Frisco. I voted NO for the following reasons:
1. I disagree with the statement that there is no risk to the Frisco taxpayer. If the operations do not generate sufficient revenue to cover expenses, the Frisco taxpayer will be the ultimate backstop. The “at risk operator” will be a newly created entity that will have limited financial capacity.
2. If capital improvements/repairs exceed the reserves in place, the Frisco taxpayer will again fill the void.
3. There are opportunity costs with using EDC funds for purposes other than what voters have previously approved. There will be economic development opportunities we will miss out on and that will result in fewer high paying jobs in Frisco. For years I have been criticized for supporting legislation and seeking ways to use EDC funds to support the city operations, first responders and capital improvements. What changed?
4. Finally, I fundamentally believe that if the demand for this center was actually as high as stated that private donors would be driving this project not the government.
Livingston closed by encouraging everyone to attend public hearings and email questions to every member of the Frisco City Council. He also stated he was glad to meet with anyone who wants to discuss my position.
In his own words: John Allen Redmond – Former Candidate For City Council & Resident
Redmond ran for council last year so its not surprising to see him being vocal about what he wants for the great city of Frisco. Redmond stated online “In general, when a private entity spends its money…it is careful. As we see every day, when someone spends govt (OUR!) money…the spigot is open wide. The same small group of vendors and individuals seem to benefit…that is a universal truth…whether here in Frisco, Austin or Washington DC. Trust but verify. There is an operator coming…there are large philanthropic gifts coming…Broadway wants to be here…ignore other venues around the country that are struggling, because we are Frisco…and we will get it right or our citizens will pay for it and it doesn’t matter. I am simply not convinced.”
He also stated “I will say that it is hard to be all things to all people. My objection to this project is based on economic viability and the narrative on which it is being ‘sold’. The reality is that this is a 10+ year old “argument”. We have already spent millions of dollars on this and to-date, and the answer has continually been ‘no’. Now, if a private entity, like Jason Young, wants to build it…go ahead. But, to gaslight the citizens of Frisco…I am not down for that.”
Lastly, Redmond said, “If this bond (meaning Prop A & B) passes…mechanically they will have the funds to execute the project. So, despite the language that has been used to-date, whatever discovery and/or evaluation they claim is over…this is a done deal.”
In his own words: Will Sowell – Former Frisco City Council
We told you about the Smart Frisco post claiming “It’s Free, It’s Free!” Reading through the comments we noticed Will Sowell; Former City Councilman spoke up. Sowell said “I appreciate anyone that advocates for their beliefs in what they want the city to become. But to say this does not cost any city tax dollars is disingenuous.”
Sowell continues, that the debt being proposed here is debt from the EDC, not City of Frisco debt. So, there is the concept of opportunity cost. If a large employer were considering coming to Frisco, financing would not be available to attract a large employer, which is the mission of the EDC. That is why (referring to the proposition on the ballot) we have to vote on the EDC use of the bonds because it is not consistent with the charter of the EDC.
Sowell continued, the EDC debt is repaid through sales tax that Frisco residents pay, so there’s first way that Frisco residents pay for this through taxes. Sowell then pointed out the city Frisco Model vs Venue Management model slide from a presentation and talked about the third way residents will be paying for the PAC. “Third, during the first 5 years, it is estimated by the City of Frisco that $5MM of budget funds will have to be used to cover maintenance and operations.
Fourth, the city of Frisco has to cover any overage on the building and on operations. There have been overages on every public private partnership the city has done. The difference here is that the city and thus the residents and not the partner pay for the overage per the city slide.
In The Words of The Whistleblower Team:
We enjoy reading everyone’s perspective on the future performing arts center. We develop new questions, learn new things and that is how people grow to make good decisions. We enjoyed hearing the different perspectives from current and former council members, the former city manager who built this city, and many more. Like everyone else when we saw Mayor Cheney’s post today, we had to stop and read it and follow the drama in the comments. We plan to publish it in its entirety tomorrow for everyone to read (who has not seen it of course). Don’t worry, we will not forget to publish the comments because that may be the best part!
We also plan to publish what the candidates think about the Frisco Center For The Arts as we are sending each of them an email to explain their position. For us, no matter what anyone says we constantly go back to one thing, why did the Performing Arts Partnership with Frisco ISD and Hall Group fall apart? What was it that made FISD say, nope not our bag of chips! What made the Hall Group, a huge supporter of the Arts, step back and withdraw the donation of the land for an Arts Center? Something tells me we should be asking bigger questions, diving for deeper answers.
Lastly, we continually go back to why they are asking for us to vote to change the use of the EDC funds? Why are we rewriting the rules? What about constructions costs and the unknown costs? Simply put, that is what Cheney does! He voted against a PAC under Maso and Pat Fallon when he was on council. Maybe he did that because he wanted all the glory and recognition for himself. Why are they trying to sell it to us so hard? All of those things make feel like we are being led to drink water in the desert that just isn’t there.
Stay Tuned for The Final Act of Curtains Up, Community Divided.
When I was a boy, I learned an important lesson on my family’s winery: if you mix the wrong barrels together, you don’t get fine wine—you get a mess. Turns out, the same principle applies to city finances, though some folks in Frisco’s leadership seem to have skipped that life lesson.
Frisco’s new Performing Arts Center has sparked a debate over the methods and madness with which the city is trying to fund the project. Half the city is applauding, marching in lockstep with the mayor and city council, trusting them like a magician who promises he didn’t just make your wallet disappear. The other half? They’re watching this financial sleight of hand and calling foul, led by former city leaders who actually understand the difference between Economic Development Corporation (EDC) money and Community Development Corporation (CDC) money—a distinction that apparently gets a little fuzzy when a big, shiny building is on the table.
The Great Money Shuffle
In our last blog, Frisco’s Bond Ballet, we gave you a civics lesson about how EDC funds are meant to attract businesses and create jobs—you know, the kind of things that keep a city economically stable. CDC funds, on the other hand, are for quality-of-life projects—parks, libraries, and yes, performing arts centers. Two separate barrels, two separate purposes.
Frisco’s Cultural Civil War
Now, I love the arts. I really do! I’ve been to my fair share of performances and appreciate a well-done production. But let’s not pretend that “The Great EDC Heist” is just an innocent case of creative accounting. On one side, you have the true believers, the ones who think this Performing Arts Center will turn Frisco into the next Broadway. They trust the mayor and city council like a cult waiting for the mothership. To them, any skepticism is just negativity. “Why don’t you want Frisco to have nice things?” they ask, as if wanting accountability is the same as being anti-art.
On the other side, you have the cynics (or as I like to call them, the realists). These are the people pointing out that raiding the EDC fund to pay for a performing arts center isn’t just bad policy—it’s a dangerous precedent. If we’re playing fast and loose with money now, what’s next? A city-funded theme park? A mayoral gold statue? Maybe we’ll just rename Frisco to “Vanity Project, Texas.”
It is time to pay attention and speak against the moves by the city when it comes to treating EDC funds like their personal arts-and-crafts budget, shifting money around with the confidence of a three-card monte dealer on a New York sidewalk. But every time I hear current leadership speak, I hear “Don’t worry, this is totally above board.” Right. And I’m the Pope.
Former city leaders—the people who helped build Frisco into the powerhouse it is today—are stepping forward and saying, “This is not how we do things.” And instead of listening, the current administration is waving them off like cranky old men shouting at clouds. But let’s be clear: these aren’t just some bitter retirees whining about change. These are the people who made Frisco what it is, and they’re telling us that this funding scheme smells fishier than a back-alley sushi joint. Let’s see what they have to say:
In His Own Words: George Purefoy, Former City Manager – aka “The Man Who Built Frisco”
In a recent Facebook Post by Smart Frisco, Former City Manager, Purefoy stated his concerns about the proposed project. He said, “Unlike the other major Public Private Partnerships (P3), this proposal does not have a private partner on board agreeing to be responsible for all construction cost overruns and for the annual cost for operations and maintenance. Unlike the other Frisco P3 projects, this project does not project to have all of the funding in place for the construction of the project by the award of bid for construction, thus it is projected that the project will be built in phases, thus cost containment will be even more difficult with inflation.
Purefoy continued, “currently there are no costs for parking included in the projected budget. I estimate that there will be a need for approximately 1200 spaces which will require an additional 12 acres of land if it is surface parking at an estimated construction cost of $7 million (plus land), or if it is structured parking, an estimated $50 million.”
Purefoy went on to say, “To say that there is $0 Cost to Frisco Taxpayers for this project is about as erroneous as anything I’ve seen in political advertising. Then he said, “Without the need for an election, the Economic Development Corporation funds currently can be used for the cost to build major thoroughfares and utility projects, and the Community Development Corporation funds can be used for both of the above projects plus many others which benefit the City and would lessen the impact on Frisco property taxpayers.”
Purefoy also has “major concerns about what will happen during economic downturns.To add this project to the list of annual budget needs of the Citywill result in other city departments being negatively impacted in order for the City to fund the performing arts center.”
George continued by saying he was told that the proposed 300-seat community theater included in this project will be used primarily by Prosper ISD. If that is true he continued “then the primary facility for most of our local arts groups will be extremely limited for their use.” In his opinion, this effort needs to be led by a local group of private citizens which raises private funds from individuals and companies for both building, operating, and maintaining the Arts Center. The city can then be approached to provide supplemental funding for the construction. Purefoy closed his comments by saying, “With all of the needs Frisco will have to keep up with the aging infrastructure in the not-too-distant future, the City does not need to create another major city obligation to fund on a continued basis.”
After making these statements Purefoy went to one of the Open Houses and updated his statements above. We also had an implant to attend the open house and several of the statements matched what Purefoy had said but we want to share them with you because these were comments by CITY STAFF.
In The Words of City Staff:
Public Private Partner & Construction Costs and Overruns: “City staff: It is accurate to state that the proposed project does not have a private partner that agrees to be responsible for all construction cost overruns. The city is in the process of selecting a venue operator through an RFP process. While it is accurate to say that to date, we don’t have a private operational partner in place,the city is pursuing an operator-at-risk model for the operation of the venue. This means the selected venue operator would assume financial responsibility for the ongoing operations of the facility without the City of Frisco providing financial guarantees for the day-to-day operations of the facility. Having this type of agreement in place is an important component of moving forward with the project.” Our implant was told they hoped to have it in place by May and Purefoy was told “It is anticipated that an LOI for an at-risk operator will be in place prior to the May election.”
Whistleblower Questions: Why is the city putting this project and proposition on the ballot for May, when it is incomplete? The city wants residents to “TRUST THEM” … NEWSFLASH FRISCO: WE DON’T TRUST YOU! You have given us no reason to trust you based on previous projects. Maybe instead of saying the city saying we hope, we anticipate, we want they need to say we have confirmed, we have signed contracts, we will once you have put the project together in its entirety. Right now, you are asking residents to vote blindly on items that are not final and cannot guarantee for your own personal shit’s and giggles.
When our whistleblower asked city staff about the “phasing” of this project we were told the city plans to update the FAQ’s and will not be going forward with that option. Then George Purefoy posted “The consultants at the open house for the Arts Project told me that the current plan is to hold construction costs to $200,000,000 or less, hold fees for design to $70,000,000 or less and go forward with bidding and make whatever changes are needed to hold costs to no more than $270,000,000 for the project.” Whistleblower wants to know HOW WILL YOU GUARANTEE THAT? IS IT WRITING? ARE THE DEALS INKED AND LOCKED IN?
When our whistleblower asked about cost escalation contingencies and parking from city staff we got a lot of hum, uh, oh, well, look at this big photo. However, George Purefoys updated comments after the open house read, “City staff: It doesn’t appear that cost escalation and/or contingencies are included in the numbers above. As should’ve been part of Gena’s explanation, the project budget is still in the rough order of magnitude stage. Our public presentations have stated a project budget up to an estimated $340 million. The direction to date is to plan for a budget that does not exceed $300 million. The project budget incorporates standard percentages for contingencies, cost escalations, and soft costs. As our project planning progresses the costs will be refined as the concept design aligns with a project budget not exceeding $300 million. The soft cost calculation of 35% should be applied to the escalated construction costs, and contingencies should be included as well.” Whistleblowers, until the city finalizes an RFP, signs an actual deal (NOT A LETTER OF INTENT) for Broadway, and has guaranteed cash in the bank from donors…someone will be holding the bag if things go south.
On the same Smart Frisco post in response to George Purefoy’s statements, local businessman Jason Young responded. Young said “Based on my meetings with some of the players (including private donors). I know of at minimum $50 million ready to go from private folks.”
Mr. Young, what meetings have you had with city leadership and what role do you play in these discussions regarding the FCFA? Are you willing to be it all on your own words that you know “of a minimum of $50 million ready to go by private donors?” Where is the money, Mr. Young? They could donate now or sign commitment letters. Better yet they could put the money in a trust for good faith to help voters feel better about voting for this. Instead, why are we being asked to blindly trust our city leaders and you that, these donors and plans exist. Once again, we ask who will end up holding the bag if those donors you claim “are ready to go” don’t come through. WHO WILL IT BE? FRISCO RESIDENTS? If something falls through the cracks, we will HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE IT! Lastly, to the city how in the hell do you NOT INCLUDE cost escalations and contingencies in the numbers WHEN YOU ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO VOTE ON IT?
Parking: As for parking, we were told they were looking at options, however Purefoy was told that the current estimated need is 1300 parking spaces and the cost for this is included in the not to exceed $200,000,000 construction budget. Structured parking is preferred and if adequate private funding comes in, the structured parking will be constructed, rather than surface parking.”
Purefoy was also told at the open house that the local arts groups will have approximately 50% of the use of the small theater. However, the city’s FAQ states “Prosper ISD is anticipated to be the predominant user of the Community Hall.” It just happens to leave off the percentage of that use and we were told they would have 80% of the use of the small theater. WHICH ONE IS IT? WHY ARE THE ANSWERS NOT CONSISTENT?
We are glad to see George Purefoy speak out! While we have not agreed with every decision he made as City Manager we do agree on this that the burden and risk far outweigh the benefits to resident’s long term. In our next blog we are going to share with you the thoughts by Will Sowell, Brian Livingston and Shona Sowell who just announced she is running for Mayor. Stay Tuned
Again, thanks for the ongoing information on this ridiculous project. Vote NO for props A and B!
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