In our last blog, we looked at Mayor Cheney “in his own words.” And one thing became painfully clear: residents and business owners have more questions than answers. We pointed out that our very own Mayor somehow became the “Official Realtor” of the Rail District and proudly used this in his marketing. Not sure how that happened? Neither are we. Seems like a convenient title to slap on it when you’re the guy with the gavel and the guy with the yard signs. But here’s the question that really matters today:
Who’s knocking on Main Street’s doors right now?
Not the shoppers looking for a boutique candle. Not the residents grabbing tacos or a cup of coffee. Not the neighbors wanting to support local businesses. Are businesses in The Rail District getting visits from investors, developers, and opportunists? Folks who see dollar signs where you see memories. They’re not coming with a smile and a handshake — they’re coming with contracts and cash offers. Are property owners being pressured to sell?
Are these small businesses — the ones who fought through COVID shutdowns, construction dust, and skyrocketing rents — now staring down the possibility of being bought out, flipped, and priced out. Let’s call it what it is: cashing in on a revitalized downtown.
We received this email, which left us with numerous questions. It takes a lot for businesses in Frisco to reach out, because many fear retaliation for speaking up. We commend Randy for speaking up and after reading his email, we are alarmed! We are publishing the entire contents as we received it.
Dear Whistleblower,
My name is Randy Burks, and I own Randy’s Steakhouse in downtown Frisco. Someone suggested I reach out to you regarding an experience I had that raises serious concerns.
Recently, I attended a meeting between Frisco city staff and downtown merchants about the ongoing Main Street construction. During the meeting, one merchant stated that 14 businesses had already closed due to the project. A city staff member laughed and asked whether those businesses closed because of the construction or because they were “bad operators.”
At that moment, no one in the room knew that I was facing severe financial difficulties—bouncing checks, draining my wife’s and my savings, and borrowing from family just to keep the doors open after 32 years in business. I stood up and told the group that Randy’s Steakhouse maintains 4.7 stars on OpenTable and 4.4 stars on Google, ranking among the top restaurants not only in Frisco but across the Metroplex. I asked if they thought I was a “bad operator.” It was humiliating to be forced to share personal financial struggles in front of both city staff and fellow merchants.
Other merchants then spoke up, saying their businesses were down 60–65% due to the construction. Just a few hours later, I received a text message from Jason Young asking if I was interested in selling my restaurant. While I’ve always been open to retirement discussions at a fair price, the timing felt far from coincidental.
We arranged to meet at 8:30 PM that evening, though he did not arrive until 9:00. He brought with him a man he introduced as Mark Hill, an attorney who he claimed worked with the CDC. Instead of discussing a purchase, Jason asked personal questions about my wife and daughter, while Mark Hill walked around the restaurant taking photos. After a while, I excused myself, angry that my time had been wasted.
The next day, Jason texted me an offer of $2 million for my restaurant. I replied that I would not sell for less than $4 million. Since then, I have heard—but cannot confirm—that his restaurant group includes investors such as Mayor Cheney and Donny Churchman.
I feel compelled to share this because of the sequence of events—the city staff’s dismissive remarks, Jason Young’s immediate outreach, and the potential involvement of city leadership—raises serious concerns of conflict of interest.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am prepared to provide additional details, messages, or documentation if helpful.
Sincerely,
Randy Burks
Randy’s Steakhouse
“Déjà Vu: Same Block, Different Spin”
While many love to believe we are biased here at Frisco Chronicles, we do try to be fair! We reached out to Jason Young with some of our questions, and he quickly responded. His comments are intertwined with our questions below.
1. What city staff member would laugh when a merchant says 14 businesses have closed already due to this project and after laughing ask if the business closed due to construction or because they were “bad operators?” We talked to a source inside that meeting, and allegedly that staff member was Ben Brezina, Assistant City Manager. Currently, we have no confirmation from the city Brezina was the staffer with the horrible attitude.
2. The timing of Jason Young’s text message to Randy Burks – is it strategic? Is it coincidental? Hours after Randy pours his heart out at a city meeting, another local business owner who happens to also be a developer is reaching out. Just based on the optics, it doesn’t look good, in fact it looks bad, and it also feels very dirty in our opinion.
We asked Jason Young this question and Jason replied, “I’m not sure what you mean by city meeting or circumstances or timing. I reached out to him because my friend had recently finished restoring a property in Downtown (city) and was looking for a new project. We also are looking at a similar historic home opportunity in Downtown (city) as a potential bed and breakfast, event venue or restaurant. I have projects in Downtown (city) and (city) as well. Our focus is on old downtowns in North Texas. **Anywhere there was a city name, we removed it**
3. Mark Hill? Mark Hill who is a Frisco ISD Board Member? Mark Hill who is a member of the City of Frisco CDC Board? Why was Mark Hill allegedly taking photos of Randy Burks’ property? Is Mark Hill the attorney of record for Jason Young’s business? We go back to one word every time … OPTICS!!! The way Randy describes it, it looks bad, it feels dirty, and you can’t blame him for asking the questions or for feeling the way he does. It does not feel random! It does not feel organic!
We asked Jason Young, when you went to visit Randy steakhouse, you brought with you Mark Hill. Is he your attorney of record? Because the optics of it look as if someone from the EDC or CDC board came to scope out of business. Why would Mark Hill attend the meeting.
Young replied, “The day I visited Randy I by happenstance was with Mark. I told him I was gonna go visit Randy and invited him to come with me to grab a burger at the bar while we chatted which we did. I’ve known Randy for 20 years, used to go weekly to eat from like 2004-2010 until I started dating my wife and she said no more lol. Randy and I served on Frisco Convention and Bureau Board together. I hadn’t seen him in 8 years or so and Mark and I ate at the bar and caught up with Randy. He shared some health concerns, and he gave me a tour of his kitchen.
4. The 2-million-dollar text? Why would you text someone an offer for their business? Why not pick up the phone or send an email with the offer? To us, after reading Randy’s letter, it felt like a fishing expedition on Young’s part, which made us wonder what he would use that intel for? Again, that is how we FELT, there is no evidence that it was a fishing expedition. Given how we felt, we can fully understand why Randy is questioning the sequence of events and potential conflicts of interest. The OPTICS don’t look good.
In talking to Jason Young he stated, “It was simply a text question asking if he would be interested in selling to which he responded yes. So, I went and chatted with him for a few hours. The next day we had a text exchange about a value which we didn’t agree on and he said no hard feelings. It was very brief. No ill intent, just a question.”
5. Three Empires Brewing
After reading the letter our natural reaction was to dig deeper. In that quest, we heard Jason Young may have also invested in Three Empires Brewing on Main Street. What we find interesting about that potential investment, is the owners of TEB back on September 4, 2024, went before city council during citizens input to tell the council the construction is taking a toll on their small family-owned business which they had put their life savings into.
In our conversation with Jason Young, we asked him if he had made offers to any other downtown businesses. Young replied, “In Sept of 2024, I made an investment in a minority percentage of Three Empires Brewing. In early July 2025, I had a brief conversation with Randy regarding the Steakhouse. In late August, another RD business approached me about potentially replacing one of its partners and I declined.”
We expressed our concern about the optics to Jason Young and flat out asked him if he has any business dealings with Mayor Cheney or Jeff Cheney Real Estate Mogul. Young replied, “I have no business dealings with Jeff. He is not at all and never has been an investor of mine.”
In The End: We are just Dazed & Confused
We go back to THE OPTICS … it does not look good! To a “Regular Ole Joe,” it comes across as if a downtown business is in trouble due to the impacts of the construction. That business then goes before the city council during citizens’ input and asks for help to stop the bleeding from the construction. Next thing you know, Jason Young is reaching out to say hi! Oh, and wants to know if you are interested in selling or need an investor for your business. It doesn’t sound good, does it?
We mentioned to Jason Young in our communication that he is a respected member of our community, and he is an influencer on social media; what he says carries weight with many people. In the past, he has been strong in defending the city and council members. Unfortunately, that does not help the optics of this situation.
Randy Burks has every right to question the sequence of events because it does not feel like this meeting happened organically. Unfortunately, that is the optics of the situation. We have reported both sides and it is up to residents to determine what they believe is the truth.
For us here at Frisco Chronicles, after Mayor Cheney’s remarks today on his Facebook page, it does not feel like this is about “progress” or “vibrancy” — it feels like it is about control. We believe there are potentially more players trying to buy up Main Street, lot by lot, brick by brick? That leaves us wondering, who gets to decide what Frisco’s history is worth, and at what price? Only time will tell …
For Residents: Get Out! Go Downtown! Shop Frisco First! #SAVEMAIN
To be blunt: Shop, Eat Frisco First! If you do, you could be saving one of these businesses from having to open their doors to an investor or developer. By shopping and eating FRISCO FIRST, you are saving Main Street’s soul from being put on the negotiating table. #SaveMain isn’t just a slogan. It’s a warning. Because once the doors close and the deals are done, Main Street won’t look like Main Street anymore. It’ll look like somebody’s investment portfolio.
For more information visit SaveMain’s website: click here
For more information on The Rail District: click here
Disclaimer: The information presented in this blog post is based on publicly available records and sources believed to be accurate at the time of publication. Frisco Chronicles and its authors do not guarantee the completeness or reliability of this information and cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from its use. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This content is provided for informational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as legal, professional, or personal advice.
At Frisco Chronicles, we’ve never pretended to be anything but what we are: a voice for the people. Not the polished PR spin. Not the sanitized city hall version. The real voices—the ones too nervous to post on their own pages because in Frisco, speaking your mind can still get you whispered about, iced out, or flat-out retaliated against.
That’s why we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: if you’ve got something to say, a question to ask, or facts to back up your concerns, we’ll give you the microphone—anonymously, if needed. All it takes is writing it down (be your own journalist for a day) and send it our way at friscowhistleblower@protonmail.com.
Today, one resident did exactly that. They sent us a letter about #SAVEMAIN, and asked us to share it with you. So… here it is.
Frisco’s Downtown Disaster: Where’s the Money? Where’s the Timeline?
This is not about politics. This is about survival.
Our downtown merchants are suffocating under a project that seems endless. Blocked streets, sidewalks, and driveways have cut them off from their customers. Owners are going broke — draining savings, maxing out credit cards, borrowing from family, and closing their doors forever. And what’s the response from City Hall? A flimsy half-million dollars, spread so thin it’s practically meaningless.
Gift cards and flags don’t save businesses. T-shirt sales won’t stop the hemorrhaging.
Meanwhile, speculation is running wild. Residents are asking why construction drags on for months with little activity. Why are there days with just one or two workers downtown when this project should have round-the-clock crews? Why do we see contractors working on other projects around town while Main Street sits unfinished?
These are not rumors to laugh off. They are questions that demand answers.
We Demand Transparency
Here’s what we, the people of Frisco, have the right to see:
The Contract – What was promised regarding scope, deadlines, and penalties for delays?
Change Orders – Every single adjustment approved that raised costs or extended timelines.
Budget & Expenditures – How much was allocated, how much has been spent, and where exactly the money went.
The Timeline – When this project was supposed to end and when it will actually end.
These are not “nice-to-haves.” These are public records. Taxpayer records. Our records.
Under the Texas Public Information Act, every resident has the right to request these documents. But we shouldn’t have to file paperwork and wait weeks. If the city has nothing to hide, they should post it all online — today.
No More Excuses
Merchants begged. They cried. They pleaded for help. And City Hall responded with pep talks about “communication” and “brainstorming,” as if it were the responsibility of small businesses to solve a crisis created by city mismanagement.
Enough.
We don’t want slogans. We don’t want t-shirts. We don’t want hollow promises.
We want the documents.
Post the contracts.
Post the budgets.
Post the timelines.
Show us where our money is going. Show us when this will end. Show us the truth.
Anything less is an insult to every merchant, every taxpayer, and every resident who believes downtown still matters.
Disclaimer
Frisco Chronicles is a community-driven blog. The views, opinions, and allegations expressed in guest submissions or reader letters are solely those of the original author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Frisco Chronicles, its editors, or contributors.
We provide a platform for residents to raise questions, share concerns, and present information. While we encourage fact-based submissions, we cannot and do not independently verify every detail provided by contributors. Readers are encouraged to form their own opinions and, when necessary, seek additional information from public records or official sources.
Frisco Chronicles shall not be held responsible or liable for any errors, omissions, or the outcomes resulting from the use of this information. If you have concerns about specific content, please contact us directly.
Frisco is one of the oldest cities in the metroplex and over the years we have not stopped growing! Every day you see more modern buildings going up and more new developments along the Tollway. From the PGA to The Star there is always something to do! BUT, WHAT ABOUT MAIN? WHAT ABOUT THE HEART OF OUR CITY?
Just beyond the glamour and stadium lights of Toyota Stadium sits a unique and historic downtown. The downtown Rail District is home to an eclectic group of independent, locally owned restaurants and businesses. The district boasts unique street murals and one-of-a-kind shops. This historically preserved area offers visitors a glimpse into the “Real Frisco,” not the Touristy Frisco. The Rail district is surrounded by residents who enjoy living in the area and is home to locally owned small-town businesses that have invested in our community for YEARS. Now, they need the CITY TO INVEST IN THEM!
Yes, downtown needed to be REVITALIZED, that we can all agree on. It has taken the city DECADES to come up with a plan, and now they are moving right along! HOWEVER, residents and local business owners are asking COULD THE CITY HAVE GONE ABOUT IT A DIFFERENT WAY? The impact on these small businesses has been devastating! These are locals who have invested in Frisco for years, paid taxes, and now they are in trouble because of REVITALIZATION. It is time for them to realize the impact on downtown businesses and that it is NOT NATURAL. It HAS BEEN CREATED by OUR CITY! KEY POINT: The trouble they are in is not because of the economy; it is the IMPACT OF THE CONSTRUCTION that is #DestoryingMain!
The people finally had enough. And no, not the “enough” where you write a passive-aggressive Facebook comment while sipping your venti latte—this was real, in-the-flesh frustration. Residents and small business owners lined up one after another at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Stepping up to the microphone, voices cracking between anger and heartbreak, to say what everyone driving down Main Street already knows: Main is broken, Businesses are broken, and it is time for the Council to stop pretending it’s fine.
Citizens Input: Main Street, or Main Mess?
FACT: Main is supposed to be the beating heart of Frisco. Instead, it’s looking more like endless traffic, crumbling infrastructure, and the ever-growing list of businesses just barely hanging on. Main isn’t thriving—it’s BARELY surviving.
The people who spoke didn’t come armed with consultants, shiny renderings, or buzzwords like “synergy corridors.” They came with lived experience: the store owner whose sales have dropped because customers don’t want to fight the chaos to park or try to cross the street without a Frogger-level survival plan. Main used to be a place you wanted to stroll on a Friday night.
LIMIT THE TIME
It started with Jeff Cheney looking for a motion to limit the time to speak from 5 minutes to 3 minutes (because there were more than 10 people). Keating, who hopes to be your next Mayor (remember that) was the first to motion to “CUT THE TIME,” which was seconded by Livingston. These are local businesses, and you can’t take 5 minutes to hear each one of them?
Next, Mayor Jeff Cheney did exactly what Mayor Jeff Cheney always does (side note: we are reaching out to the Texas Municipal League to see if our mayor may have violated the open meetings act), talking before anyone had taken the microphone to discuss an item NOT ON THE AGENDA! Why? He announced the city planned to allocate $500,000 towards Main, and they will hold a public discussion sometime around October 7th.
The Voices of Frisco Business Owners & Residents:
First Up: Erik Colberg spoke as a resident who lives in the Rail District
Lee Gonzales – Owner of La Finca Coffee & Bakery located at 7511 Main Street #150
Randy’s plea brought tears to the eyes of many sitting in the council chambers. Randy’s started his businesses here in 1993 and today Randy’s Steakhouse sits in the Old Victorian Style Home along Main Street that used to belong to Frisco native Vivian McCallum. The impact has devastated his business.
Steve Anderson – Music Services located at 6726 West Main St
Jason Taylor – Owner of Endur3Bikes located at 6699 Main St
Rich Vana– Chef/Owner of Heritage Table located at 7110 Main St
Samar & Luna Binat – Owner of La Suprema Market located at 6726 Main St, Ste 100
Taylor Lattery: Frisco Music Store
Scott Hoffner – Owner of Didi’s Downtown located at 7210 W. Main St
Local Frisco Resident: Paul Jessen
Local Rail District Resident: Brittnay Colberg
Council’s Response: Insert Shrug Emoji
Mayor Cheney (as usual) took his time to respond. The Texas Open Meetings Act states: The city council shall not deliberate on any item that is not on the agenda, and for such an item, members of council may either: (1) make a statement of fact regarding the item; (2) make a statement concerning the policy regarding the item; or (3) propose that the item be placed on a future agenda. As we have said before, we believe Cheney continually violates this during citizen input because he is not making a statement of fact, he is not talking about a policy he is pontificating his opinion.
As for the rest of the council, well, Keating wants a T-shirt! That will be good clickbait for his Mayoral Campaign website (once he announces his BIG secret)! As for the rest, the reaction was predictable. Council sat nodding politely, practicing their best “I’m listening” faces while probably drafting their next campaign slogans in their heads. Because what’s the use of listening if it is not a billion-dollar developer!
The Hashtag Heard Around Frisco
The people weren’t asking for magic. They weren’t asking for a monorail or a Disneyland Main Street redo. They were asking for action—basic, common-sense fixes, leadership, and accountability. Instead, what they’ve gotten so far is a year of excuses, construction delays, and much of the time businesses have been non-accessible.
#SAVEMAIN is more than a social media slogan—it’s a rallying cry. It’s the people saying: stop patting yourselves on the back for “economic development wins” when you can’t fix the most visible, most essential street in the city. If the Council won’t act now, when?
Frisco, the people have spoken. They showed up. They demanded better. Now the ball’s in Council’s court. They can either lead—or they can keep ignoring the obvious while the rest of us tweet #SAVEMAIN until our thumbs cramp. Because here’s the truth: the citizens already told you the answer. You just must stop pretending not to hear it.
Residents Should Be Asking…
Why now? For years, the councils have gone back and forth about the redevelopment of downtown Frisco. Why not do this during the Covid shutdown so businesses did not suffer twice?
When this started in June 2024 – what was the expectation for the future?
The businesses who are struggling from this construction – who is knocking on their door to “Buy or Save” their business?
What is a revitalized downtown without the heart of downtown – the businesses?
Stay Tuned for Part 2
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
When we dropped Part 1 about John Keating’s not-so-secret bid for Mayor, the inbox lit up like a Christmas tree in July. “Finally!” people said. “Someone’s talking about it!” Well, after a little digging, a little late-night reading of Texas law (because apparently someone has to), we have a few follow-up questions that deserve a big, neon spotlight:
Did our council members just break the law?
Let’s talk about the dreaded “Walking Quorum.” According to the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA), Section E, a quorum isn’t just when everyone’s packed into City Hall pretending to listen. Nope. TOMA makes it crystal clear that you can’t have a series of backroom, back-to-back, whisper-to-whisper communications about city business that add up to a quorum. Doesn’t matter if it’s by text, email, smoke signals, or gossip in the golf cart.
Section 551.143 spells it out: if you, as a public official, knowingly join even one of those off-the-books conversations, and the chain adds up to a quorum discussing city business? Congratulations—you’ve just committed a criminal offense.
ALL COUNCIL DECISIONS (LIKE MPT / DMPT) HAVE TO BE POSTED AND DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC. To be honest, I am not even sure if it is allowed in executive session – we are researching that further! Maybe the city puts it on the agenda under “Employee Deliberations” and the slip in the conversation that they should be having openly in the council meeting for the public to see. Who knows!
Have you ever wondered why when the council comes out of “Closed Executive Session” which seems to take a long time now how they never have any discussions on some key decisions. There was hardly any talk on the Dias about MPT/DMPT – they just went to a vote. Why? Because they had already discussed it! We believe our city council could be using “Executive Session” to hide important conversations that should be PUBLIC. It needs to be investigated by the authorities because right now it looks bad, very bad!
Now, what does that mean in real life?
Official #1 chats with Official #2.
Official #2 slips it over to Official #3. Boom. Illegal. That’s how the law reads.
And here in Frisco? We’ve got text messages. We’ve got John Keating saying he’ll “talk to Angelia.” Funny thing: we never saw those texts. Where’s the paper trail? Did they hop on a quick phone call instead? Did someone “forget” to turn over their emails?
Then we have Keating chatting up Laura Rummel about votes for Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem. We know this because Rummel submitted her text message in response to the PIR Request.
Question 1: Why didn’t John Keating turn over a copy of the communication with Laura Rummel. It clearly meets the PIR request. Laura Rummel turned it in!
Question 2: Where are the conversations between Keating and Pelham? Clearly, they were talking about Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem but neither of them turned in any copies of their messages or emails.
Now add Livingston to the mix, and suddenly we’re not playing with hypotheticals anymore—we’re at four. Livingston, Keating, Pelham, and Rummel. Keating led the charge, talking to Angelia and Rummel, and told Livingston he would talk to them. So, it was clear conversations were happening with Keating being the one bouncing around to the other three. That’s a quorum, folks.
And according to TOMA, that’s not just bad optics—it’s a violation.
Which leads us to a very simple question: How can someone who wants to run for Mayor not know the rules of the Texas Open Meetings Act? And honestly, how can any of them sit on the council and not know this?
If you’re going to lead Frisco, maybe start with knowing what you legally can and can’t do. Just a thought. But hey, we’re just the ones asking the questions.
Hopefully someone reading this knows the Texas Attorney General or Collin County DA because it should be investigated. Stay tuned—because something tells us this story is only starting to unravel.
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
In Frisco, secrets don’t stay a secret for long—especially when Frisco Chronicles can file a Public Information Request! Word on the street (and at every coffee shop from La Finca to Summer Moon) is that John Keating has his eyes on the mayor’s seat and plans to run for Mayor! The catch? He’s not exactly shouting it from the rooftops. Even with no formal announcement yet he is talking about it quietly behind the scenes with many different people. If you directly ask him, you get just a wink, a nod, but pay attention to his suspicious uptick in handshakes and photo ops.
Why the hush-hush? Maybe it has something to do with the City of Frisco – Home Rule Charter. Article V covers Nominations and Elections aka Filing for Office. Section 5.02 (2)(G) reads: The office of an incumbent elected city official shall become vacant when the person holding such office files an application to have his name placed on an official ballot as a candidate for any elective public office other than the one such person holds, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
What does all that mean? If John Keating announced he is running for Mayor, he would have to vacate his current seat on council / and his role as Mayor Pro Tem. John Keating is using his current role to have conversations about running for Mayor to gain support.
How do we know John Keating is allegedly running for Mayor? First, let’s travel back to the Tammy Tapes where Tammy says “Well, John sat me down and said he wanted to, you know, he’s like, I’m gonna be running for mayor. I’m like, I know John, I know. And he goes, there are rumors that you are running for mayor. And I said, “Well, those are just rumors.”
Whose Lying? Either Tammy was lying in that conversation, or John is misleading the voters now!
Recently we filed for the text messages between city council members talking about running for mayor, and the positions of Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem. We received messages from 3 council members. We know there is more because we have a copy of a message that was not included in the request from a source. Begs the question, which members of the council are holding their messages?
We compared the messages we received from John Keating and Brian Livingston. We received 16 pages of text messages from Brian Livington and only 2 pages from John Keating. We printed out both sets of messages, then we lined up the text messages that matched each other. The Result: We were able to determine the different parts of the message that our Mayor Pro Tem John Keating, withheld from the request. Everything below is from the Livingston text messages. Anything in “RED” was submitted by John Keating. Anything in “BOLD BLUE” is a question by Frisco Chronicles. Did Keating break the law by withholding parts of his conversation that clearly fit the PIR request and are subject to Public Information?
Tuesday, May 13
John Keating to Brian Livingston: “I had this sent to me last night.” Then it has a picture of the Frisco Chronicles blog called Tammy’s Hot Tea.
Brian Livingston: “Yep. Just checking that you saw it.”
John Keating: Any one can speculate if I’m running for Mayor; and I can say I’m “considering” running for Mayor, so ….
Frisco Chronicles: It appears John Keating, Mayor Pro Tem is using SEMANTICS to hold on to his current seat even though he has every intention of running for Mayor.
Blacked Out Image
John Keating: No, those are her words… There are other people who have said I’m running that I have never talked to…
Keating Continues: That’s like Dan saying he heard I said I’m running, or I told him I’m running, so therefore I’m running and need to resign… Doesn’t work like that for obvious reasons. Exactly what they’re doing now.
Keating Continues: I’m not that stupid, and have been over this more than once with Richard…
Frisco Chronicles: Richard Who? Richard Abernathy the CITY ATTORNEY? The City Attorney represents the CITY not John Keating and we hope the City attorney is not helping him break the rules of our city charter.
Brian Livingston: “HaHa” the comment
John Keating: I’m still “seriously considering” running for Mayor…! (Fireball Emoji)
Brian Livingston: I think you, Shona and Scott all missed a huge opportunity to separate yourselves from each other.
John Keating: I imagine you would support Shona, but I’d love to have you on my team!
Keating Continues:Scojo (Scott Johnson) has no chance. No money, and his ex will sandbag him the whole way…
Keating Continues:Shona is forgotten and out of touch. Coming back as Mayor after three years is asking a lot.
Blacked Out Image
Brian Livingston: They still think Tammy has a shot at being Mayor?
Keating: Thumbs Down Emoji to Livingston’s question
Blacked Out Image
Sunday, June 8 @ 9:15 AM
John Keating: Are you seeking DMPT / MPT? (stands for Deputy Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor Pro Tem)
Brian Livingston: xxx-xxx-xxxx for Jared and Yes, I would like to be MPT for my last year on council. I’m free for lunch tomorrow.
John Keating: Who would be DMPT? I’d support you for MPT, if either me or Angelica could be DMPT?
Keating Continues: I’m not sure where Laura lands with all of this, but under the circumstances, I’d expect her to get crushed next year…
Brian Livingston: I’d prefer you as DMPT and think that would be fun. But I have no problem with Angelia.
John Keating: And I am “seriously considering” running for Mayor, and would certainly love to have TX GOP support! As I’ve said before, I’d support you for county commissioner as Mayor…
Frisco Chronicles: Is this a violation of “Reciprocal Favors” in the City Charter under Section 2-302 Unfair Advancement of Private Interests? It says a city official may not enter into an agreement or understanding with any other person that official actionby the official will be rewarded or reciprocated by the other person, directly or indirectly. Keating clearly states that if Livingston endorses him and supports him for Mayor, then as MAYOR he would support Livingston for County Commissioner. That would be an “official action” in response to support.
John Keating: Let me bounce this off Angelia. She’s on vacation. I know she wants unity, and she’s definitely not on Team Tammy, Jeff, Lorie, Bill…Neither am I…! (smiling emoji)
Frisco Chronicles: Tell us how Angelia really feels Keating!
John Keating: Angelia is proposing MPT for her and DMPT for you, to show unity.
Brian Livingston: No, that shows the status quo.
John Keating: Agree
Brian Livingston: It’s my last year and I just turned the council.
John Keating: She knows I want to run for Mayor, and she will support me. I’m ok with her being DMPT, with you as MPT. I told her I would like to be DMPT until I announce, then I can resign my seat and DMPT, and she can take over…
Frisco Chronicles: It is not “considering” when Keating makes it clear repeatedly to other city officials that he is running – which is a violation of the CITY CHARTER!
Brian Livingston: She was part of kicking me off Budget and Audit, unity would be supporting me now. A split vote isn’t going to look good.
John Keating: I think the unity piece is in Angelia as DMPT, as much as I want it… It would show your magnanimity…
Brian Livingston: After that vote, let’s have dinner and talk about next year. My seat, mayor, etc. Maybe we can go somewhere in McKinney.
John Keating: or AZ…(smiling/laughing emoji)
John Keating: Angelia will take DMPT, but suggests we vote on DMPT first, make sure she gets it, then support you for MPT. You’ll get it either way, as I will promise to support you, so you have the 4 votes you need. More would be nice. Could be 6-0 for you upstairs and downstairs if we do this right…
Brian Livingston: I am fine with that. She not trust me? Have you reached out to Tammy? Should I text Gopal?
John Keating: She feels you villainize her and ran Redmond against her. She had nothing to do with Budget & Audit and couldn’t (not legible)
Brian Livingston: Odds that somehow, I get fucked over for MPT?
Frisco Chronicles: Livingston must have futuristic powers because he knew John, Angelia, and Laura were going to screw him overfrom what it sounds like.
John Keating: I think you’re good to go! Angelia and I are on board.
Brain Livingston: I’ll remember that. I promise.
John Keating: Thumbs Up Emoji
John Keating: And you, Jared, Burt, me support Angelia for DMPT…!
Brian Livingston: Done
John Keating: Brian: MPT & Angelia: DMPT
John Keating: I’d like to get your perspective on Mayor’s race next year. It seems pretty clear Jared P will endorse Shona, along with the Colberg’s several others. IMHO, bringing Will and Shona back is a bad idea!
Brian Livingston: I think right now it’s a dead heat. Nobody is doing anything to differentiate themselves. Probably between you and Shona unless someone jumps in and surprises us. You need to separate yourself from Jeff without going nuclear. Look mayoral and statesman like. Your biggest advantage is that you are a sitting elected official. Need to solidify GOP support. A lot can change in a year. We’ve just seen that.
John Keating: I am thinking about MPT, so we should talk. I’m thinking if I want to run for Mayor, I should be MPT. If I do run for Mayor and lose, this would be my last year…! I do want to be Mayor and would endorse you for county commish, that hasn’t changed.
Frisco Chronicles: I do want to be Mayor! John Keating again proves his word is useless. Everything is about him, only him and no one else matters
Keating Continues: I am surprised to hear about the social media stuff. Not sure what’s driving that or why this would happen now…? Is there another Whistleblower article???
Frisco Chronicles: How would Livingston know if there is another Whistleblower article coming? He has nothing to do with Whistleblower!
Brian Livingston: Nope people just started calling me saying Jeff unfriended them so I looked on Facebook.
Friday June 13 @ 11:24 AM
John Keating: At the same time, I want to honor my commitment to you, and distance myself from “Team Tammy”…
Frisco Chronicles: Clearly, John Keating does not understand the term “honoring my commitment,” and of course, he wants to distance himself from “Team Tammy.”
Brian Livingston: I’ll be honest, I was taken aback by that text. This is my last year no matter what and I think I have earned the MPT. While I like and respect you, that would definitely change our political relationship at this point.
John Keating: I’m concerned about Shona running for Mayor and what level of support she will get. It seems pretty clear JP will support her. I don’t want to look foolish supporting you for MPT, and then you endorse her. Not a good look for me…
At a US Army luncheon…
Frisco Chronicles: Welcome to the Keating Show, where everything is about … Keating!
Brian Livingston: I think you should do what you think is best. I’m not going to trade an endorsement for MPT as that is unethical (not saying you suggested that in any way). Most of my thoughts about this don’t need to be texted and probably not even said. Just remember you gave me your word in front of Burt. Have a Happy Father’s Day weekend.
Frisco Chronicles: This is the best statement in the whole text thread. Livingston makes clear it is borderline unethical – but that is the Frisco Way!
John Keating: Yes, agree. Happy Father’s Day!
Monday, June 30th @ 2:30 PM
Brian Livingston: Rumor is that Tammy is going to run for your seat when you announce for Mayor. You have picked someone already?
John Keating: Rob Altman has asked about it. I’d like to get TX GOP support for me and him, maybe for Ann Anderson – she wants to run for your seat… I’m obviously not supporting Tammy for anything…
Brian Livingston: Colberg may step in and if she does, I’ll probably support her. No idea for what seat. I just want us to have a head start on Tammy.
John Keating: LR is pissed about DMPT
Black Out Image
Brian Livingston: Also, you and Altman will need to work on Elad and grassroots since you supported Gopal. Plenty of time just can’t waste it.
Black Out Image
Brian Livingston: Between us, I get really flexible on things after getting MPT.
Frisco Chronicles: Ding, ding, ding – Brian Livingston is correct. It was on the agenda! It doesn’t take a genius to know that.
Let’s Break It Down
Is John Keating Running For Mayor? Yes! He has made that clear to Tammy Meinershagen (which she repeated), he has made it clear to Brian Livingston (based on text messages). Then we have his statement “She (referring to Angelia Pelham) knows I want to run for Mayor, and she will support me.” If you have made it clear to Angelia Pelham that you are running for Mayor, she should be calling for you to step down. Is she bending the rules for you?
Residents should be calling on the City Attorney, City Manager and City Council and enforcing the City Charter that requires him to step down!
Is John Keating Mayoral?No! When you represent our city (even in private) you should hold yourself to a high standard. Talking shit about current and former council members and previous employees is inappropriate. Saying Shona Sowell is forgotten, out of touch and asking a lot to come back after three years is disgraceful especially when you know the reason she chose to step down was to focus on her personal health and her battle to beat breast cancer. Just one thought, Mr. Keating at least she had the courage to step away.
Saying Scojo (aka Scott Johnson) has no chance because he has no money, and his ex will sandbag him, is also disgraceful. Whatever Johnson did in private is none of our business, unlike YOU, MR. KEATING, who got caught in a community public pool on a holiday weekend with a woman who was not your wife! Wouldn’t it be interesting if Keating’s EX ever got the guts to sandbang him? Gloating that his wife will sandbag him is the pot calling the kettle black! Also, it is not MAYORAL, nor are posts like joking around about getting naked.
Then let’s talk about your comments on Laura Rummel, “under the circumstances, I’d expect her to get crushed next year…” What circumstances are you referring to Mr. Keating? While we don’t disagree with you, we are not running for office. Have you said this to her face? Probably not! Two-faced statements are not very becoming of a Mayor.
Keating’s behavior over the last several years has been far from Mayoral! Then he wants to sit on this thrown and judge others – is that who want leading the city?
Keating wants the local GOP support. Keating knows how to hob knob with the establishment liars, but both theCollin and Denton GOPs are more “grassroots” republicans. Keating has endorsed democrats and donated to democrats, which is a HUGE party NO-NO! He has done nothing over the years to establish a relationship with the grassroots republicans. He is the definition of what many call a RINO!
Quid Pro Quo Offer. When John said he was “seriously considering” running for Mayor and would love to have Livingston’s support, and in return he would support him as Mayor for Denton County Commissioner, he violated the City Charter again. The City Charter (Ch 2, Sec 2-302) clearly states (2) Reciprocal favors: A city official may not enter into an agreement or understanding with any other person that official action by the official will be rewarded or reciprocated by the other person, directly or indirectly. Keating said if you support me, then AS MAYOR (which is an official capacity) he would support Brian. That is probably why Brian quickly responded that his text was borderline unethical!
Closing Thoughts
Keating’s playing the “mystery candidate” card. By keeping it quiet, he avoids early scrutiny, dodges critics who’d love a head start, and keeps potential rivals guessing. Think of it as political poker: he’s hiding his hand until the pot’s just right. But let’s be honest—Frisco isn’t buying the act. When a politician suddenly cares it’s not out of pure civic joy. It’s campaigning in disguise.
Keating is lying to VOTERS and we have said it before this council runs with Rules For Thee, Not For Me! Is it MAYORAL to lie to residents about your plan to run for Mayor so you can continue to hold on to your seat on council? Is it MAYORAL to negotiate the Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem positions?
At this point, we are asking the City Manager and City Attorney to have John Keating step down because clearly, he is running for Mayor. It is not “considering” when he makes it clear to multiple people he is running. It is a violation of the CITY CHARTER – it is time for the CITY OF FRISCO to do the right thing!We are also calling on the City Attorney, City Manager, and City Council to respond to the PIR’s in full. Did Keating violate the law by leaving quite a bit of his conversation out of the response that fit the PIR request? Why would he do that? Is he trying to cover something up? Is that Mayoral? Also, we would like to know if his comments violated the city charter section on “Reciprocal Favors?”
Stay tuned—because the only thing more entertaining than the race itself will be watching how long he can keep pretending he’s not in it.
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
For years now, whispers have echoed through the corridors of Frisco about Mayor Jeff Cheney and his deep entanglement with the Fields/PGA development. We’ve heard the questions, and we’ve asked them too. Specifically, we’ve scrutinized the relationship between Mayor Cheney and Real Estate Mogul Jeff Cheney—who, confusingly, happen to be the same person.
Let’s rewind a bit. In a previous Frisco Chronicles blog, The Preserve, we exposed a builders’ map that included the names Keating and Cheney etched right next to select prime lots in the exclusive Preserve development. These were no ordinary plots—these were dubbed “ESPN Lots,” held by the developer for unnamed VIPs. Were they purchased? Gifted? Traded for political capital? Still no straight answers. In our follow up blog The Preserve Lots – VIP Program we released a recording between an individual and developer/builders agent where they specifically talked about the Cheney lots.
We also exposed in that blog, an email from 2019 by John Baumgarten written to the Mayor after he came to speak at investment event about the new PGA Project. Mr. Baumgarten wanted to know about the “unofficial lot list” and how to get on it! It was handled by the Mayor’s sidekick at the time Lorie Medina, Chief of Staff to the Mayor. Fast forward to today, Mr. Baumgarten has a lot on the same map, about 7 houses down from the lot labeled Cheney at the time we wrote our article. If you missed it we highly suggest you click on the links of the blog titles and go back and read them!
Mayor Cheney has long denied any backroom dealings, double-dipping, or conflicts of interest with the PGA or Fields developments. Fair enough. But when a June 23rd video popped up on his Cheney Group Instagram & Facebook page, our ears perked up. Why? Because this time, the sales pitch was closer to home—literally.
The video in question spotlights Shaddock Creek Estates, a prestigious neighborhood in West Frisco. The video and post talk about 68-acre Cottonwood Creek Park with peaceful lakes, winding hiking and biking trails, and fully stocked fishing ponds that are finished off with two historic bridges. It practically sells itself. But there’s one very specific reason this caught our attention: Mayor Jeff Cheney lives there, perched on arguably one of the best lots in the entire community, as seen in the photo above at the end of the cul-de-sac. And in this video? He showcases it. Not just the neighborhood—his house, his putting green, his pool. All of it, which overlooks that 68-acre Cottonwood Creek Park!
At first glance, you might think it’s just a “love where you live” community promo piece. Until you see the drone view of his home, his backyard, his pool, and his golf putting green, nestled against the backdrop of Cottonwood Creek Park. Then at the end of the video, after putting a hole in one on his green, Mayor Cheney leans in and says something curious:
“If you want a greenbelt view like this, join our waiting list, because they don’t come available often.”
Hold up. A waiting list? For greenbelt properties? In one community?
We double-checked. With help from a realtor friend, we found 16 active listings in Shaddock Creek. Only one of them is listed by Cheney’s group. It’s a stunning home, priced at $1.3 million, but it’s on an interior lot, not a greenbelt. So, if you’re trying to spotlight a listing, why not that one?
Why instead feature your own private residence, which isn’t even on the market?
That’s when we got curious and started trying to connect the dots. Is Mayor Cheney quietly trying to market his own home—without actually listing it? In real estate terms, this is known as a “pocket listing.” It’s a way to sell a property off-market, often to a curated list of buyers before it hits the MLS. Convenient. Quiet. Unregulated… mostly.
But here’s where the political intrigue thickens. Imagine this scenario:
Cheney creates “buzz” by featuring his home in a video.
He talks up a fictional or curated “waiting list” for similar properties.
Later in his term, he announces he’s moving—perhaps to The Preserve, Frisco’s most elite enclave.
And guess what? He has an “immediate buyer” lined up from the list he curated himself.
Boom. House sold. Narrative controlled. Questions deflected.
Is this legal? We’re not real estate lawyers, but it’s worth noting that Texas has rules about marketing homes, especially off-market ones. The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) have guidelines about Coming Soon listings, MLS requirements, and anti-discrimination compliance when homes are not listed publicly.
Even if this is technically allowed, the optics are questionable at best. A sitting mayor using his influence and real estate platform to potentially market his own home behind the scenes? That’s a tightrope walk across a political and ethical canyon.
If his home sells in the next 6 to 8 months, will we look back at this blog and his video and realize it wasn’t just a love letter to his neighborhood—but a soft launch of a personal transaction?
As always, stay skeptical, Frisco. — Frisco Chronicles
Disclaimer: This blog contains opinions and commentary based on publicly available information and listings. All real estate references are for informational purposes only. We are not licensed real estate professionals and do not offer legal or financial advice.
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Interesting Article
I don't know, Patrick, and I'm not familiar with SREC, so I'm unable to answer your questions.