Tammy says, “I don’t like bullies! I don’t care if they are 300lb firefighters or black woman!”
Tammy on Scott Johnson: “He is the weakest leader I have ever seen.”
Tammy continues, and it sounds like she is gloating when she talks about his divorce and his wife potentially spilling the tea if he runs for Mayor.
Tammy on Angelia Pelham: “She also voted Republican for the first time. Why would she do that? She is a staunch democrat.”
Tammy continues to talk about Angelia’s poor leadership, how she doesn’t care if she ever talks to Angelia at an event, how she doesn’t have a lot of respect for Marcia (John Keating’s girl), and how Angelia has not done anything for our city.”
Tammy on Shona Sowell: “She was a nice person at the beginning, I heard, but at the end of the six years, she was a monster.”
Tammy, the reason you gave in this conversation is not the same reason you have previously stated as to why you ran against Shona Sowell. Which one is the truth?
Tammy on John Keating: “He should not get married until after he loses the Mayoral race to see if Marcia sticks around.”
Tammy continues to talk about John, his ex-wife Leslie, his kids, and we are curious why you would ever have a conversation with someone and discuss someone else’s personal life. You are okay spilling others’ secrets and talking about their lives, so let’s see how you like now that it is happening to you.
Gossip is human nature. At some point, we all talk about others or are talked about. Not all gossip is evil. Some of them are mindless chit-chat. But it can hurt someone else and also backfire. Those who are busy discussing your life are probably not happy about theirs. Tammy needs to take a good look in the mirror and re-evaluate her choices. She doesn’t want folks talking about her husband’s Ketchup Caddy, yet she thinks it’s okay to expose anyone and everyone’s secrets.
With local election season in full swing, we examine recent claims about Gopal Ponaji (aka Ponangi) and his ties to the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF). When we initially heard these accusations, we thought they were farfetched. As we started to investigate, we found out it is something voters should be aware of and have a general pause of concern or questions about. Our goal: to lay out the facts and context so readers can judge for themselves.
Ponangi’s Links to GHHF
Public records and event reports indicate Ponangi has been associated with GHHF for years. For example, a 2016 Dallas news article on a GHHF-sponsored event explicitly names “Gopal Ponangi, [an] active volunteer who served as Master of Ceremony for the evening”. This gathering was organized by GHHF founder Dr. V.V. Prakasarao Velagapudi. Moreover, internal GHHF documents list Gopal Ponangi among the group’s “core group” members. Ponangi’s name appears alongside Velagapudi’s and other GHHF officers, suggesting he held an ongoing role. We have found no official record of Ponangi renouncing or distancing himself from GHHF over the years.
These references show Ponangi’s involvement goes beyond the current campaign. They do not prove wrongdoing, but they do confirm he has been publicly connected to GHHF activities. Whether this connection should concern voters depends on GHHF’s character and aims – which is why we now turn to that broader context.
Hindutva Ideology and the RSS
Understanding GHHF requires knowing about Hindutva and the ideology that motivates it. Hindutva (literally “Hindu-ness”) is a political-cultural movement formulated in the 1920s that promotes Hindu cultural dominance in India. According to Wikipedia, it “encompasses the cultural justification of Hindu nationalism and the belief in establishing Hindu hegemony within India”.
What does that mean in practice, Hindutva thinkers argue India is fundamentally a Hindu nation. This worldview is closely associated with India’s RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and the ruling BJP party.
Scholars note that Hindutva goes beyond religious devotion and often rejects India’s secular ideals. According to media and researchers, GHHF explicitly supports this Hindutva vision. Bridge Initiative (a Georgetown University research group) reports that GHHF “supports Hindu nationalist ideology and regularly publishes discriminatory, inflammatory, and intolerant content about Islam and Christianity.” In fact, the organization has even “raised funds to aid the demolition of churches in India and supports the mission of making India a Hindu-only nation.” Bridge further notes that GHHF leaders have advocated India declaring itself a Hindu state.
By contrast, GHHF’s own website frames its mission more benignly. It states the group exists “to protect, preserve, promote, and maintain Hindu culture, Hindu temples”. GiveFreely.com (a nonprofit data site) similarly summarizes GHHF’s focus on temple preservation, but critics point out that these activities overlap with Hindutva goals. The Christian Post notes GHHF “advocates an ideology known as Hindutva, or extremist Hindu supremacism, which holds that India belongs solely to Hindus”. In short, Hindutva is not merely cultural pride – it’s a doctrine that often paints religious minorities as outsiders. That background helps explain why GHHF’s statements and events have become controversial.
The 2022 Frisco Fundraiser Controversy
In November 2022, GHHF held a gala fundraiser in Frisco that drew national attention. Reports revealed the event flyer listed items like “Demolition of Illegal Churches in Tirupati” (a major Hindu pilgrimage site) and “ghar wapsi” (efforts to reconvert Muslims/Christians to Hinduism) as part of the GHHF agenda. These revelations alarmed many local Indian-American Christians and Muslims.
Community members did not remain silent. After learning of the flyer, concerned citizens staged protests in Frisco. By early December, local groups organized formal opposition.
Key Points from the Fundraiser:
The GHHF event was hosted at a Dallas-area venue on Nov 27, 2022. Its public agenda (as shown on Eventbrite) included Hindutva objectives: “Ghar Wapsi – reconversion of Muslims and Christians back to Hinduism” and “Demolition of Illegal Churches in Tirupati”
News reports emphasized these items. The Dallas Morning News wrote: “The dinner’s agenda items included… demolition of ‘illegal’ churches in India and the conversion of Indian Christians and Muslims to Hinduism.” (Both reports cited the actual flyer as evidence.)
These concrete facts – printed and posted online – were the spark for the backlash. Event organizers declined to publicly comment on these agenda items, and no evidence has appeared that the church demolition was ever actually funded. But the documentation of the flyer itself is clear. In response, faith leaders began sounding the alarm.
December 2022: Frisco City Hall Protests
On Dec. 6, 2022, dozens of residents packed a Frisco City Council meeting to air their concerns about GHHF. Local pastors and activists spoke out, warning that what they saw as extremist Hindutva aims had crossed into Frisco.
Local faith leaders and Indian-American residents gathered outside Frisco City Hall to condemn GHHF’s agenda. The Christian Post reported that “several pastors and other Christian leaders joined members of the local Indian Christian community to call for lawmakers to take a closer look at the activities of GHHF.” Independent journalist Pieter Friedrich, contributor to Christian news outlets, addressed the Council directly. He said, “Just last week, right here in Frisco, Texas, we had an American nonprofit organization fundraising to support the demolition of churches in India…Friedrich urged the city to speak out: “I urge the Frisco City Council to have the courage to proclaim that the GHHF’s hateful agenda has no place in Frisco…or in America.”
Of course, GHHF and its supporters dispute this narrative. They argued at the City Council meeting (via emails to local media) that “we have not raised funds to demolish churches” and that the matter involved legal questions of Indian church permits, not GHHF incitement. While GHHF has not been accused of any illegal act in the U.S., but the documented language of its flyer – and its promotion of ghar wapsi – had already concerned many.
Given these divergent accounts, it’s important for readers to weigh the information critically. Voters should look at the actual references.
Key Issues at a Glance:
Gopal Ponaji/Ponangi is explicitly identified as a GHHF volunteer and organizer in official materials.
GHHF professes a mission of temple preservation, but critics document that it endorses Hindutva goals like church demolition and religious conversion.
The leaked fundraiser flyer for Nov 2022 listed “Demolition of Illegal Churches in Tirupati” and “Ghar Wapsi (reconversion)” among its agenda items. This fact was confirmed by multiple news reports.
Bridge Initiative and others urge caution: “The group has raised funds to aid the demolition of Churches in India”
Conclusion: Do Your Research Before Voting
The facts above show that Ponangi has long-standing ties to GHHF and that GHHF has an explicitly Hindutva agenda. Whether one finds that alarming is a matter of judgment. We have provided documentation from multiple sources so readers can decide for themselves: every key claim comes with a link at the end of our blog. Frisco voters should carefully review these materials. In this race, as in all elections, misinformation can spread easily. We urge you to check out our verified sources. FriscoChronicles will continue to follow this story. We hope readers with the published record: examine it, question it, and then cast your vote with confidence.
It’s campaign season in Frisco, and you know what that means: political signs are vanishing, alliances are shifting, and hypocrisy is doing cartwheels down Main Street. We have heard from a few citizens asking us why we have a “Double Standard” when it comes to calling out current city leaders who support Smart Frisco while we have said nothing about Brian Livingston who is supporting the Citizens For A Smarter Frisco PAC. We have been asked why we have not disclosed how the Vote No PAC – Citizens For A Smarter Frisco is funded? Honesty matters so here you go!
Let’s rewind the tape.
Let’s talk about the political elephant in the room—Smart Frisco, the feel-good PAC with a slick name, big-dollar backing, and conveniently aligned with current city leaders. Councilmembers Bill Woodard, Jeff Cheney, and Tammy Meinershagen have all publicly supported this PAC as well as previous PACs in the past while claiming to be wearing their “private citizen” hats on. We cannot pretend their alignment with Smart Frisco doesn’t carry political weight. Ah yes—the magical invisible hat that somehow lets you hold public office and advocate for propositions without consequences or accountability. It’s like Clark Kent glasses for ethics.
In the previous election Brian Livingston took no position and clearly said it is up to voters to decide and this time around he dared to speak up about his own concerns regarding the Frisco Center For The Arts during council meetings. It was not until the current city council members came out for a second time advocating for a PAC trying to influence the vote that Livingston clearly had enough and said what is good for the goose is good for the …..
Now critics cry foul and the pearly clutching begins! The cabal acting as if he had crossed a line even though they set the precedent crossing the sacred boundary. Livingston dared to voice his concerns and support for the Citizens for a Smarter Frisco PAC, which is advocating against the current Performing Arts Center deal and now critics cry foul, as though he’s crossed some sacred boundary, they themselves trampled over a year ago.
Behind Citizens For A Smarter Frisco PAC
Based on records filed with the city the PAC started a few weeks after Smart Frisco. The treasurer is listed at Chris Fields and from what we can tell he has no criminal record, does some political consulting and works in the IT Field. We pulled their campaign finance report, and they have $0 listed, $0 donations and until the next report is out, we will not know who funded the PAC. We messaged Chris Fields and asked why the PAC developed and he responded, “out of citizen concern.”
Livingston has been front and center for the PAC at forums and reposting their content but nowhere near the extent of the city leaders on the side of Smart Frisco. Do you feel that as a representative for the city council you should be representing a pack against the performing arts center?
Livingston: Honest, Direct, and—Let’s Face It—Right
We sent Mr. Livingston an email and asked him Do you feel that as a representative for the city council you should be representing a pack against the performing arts center and why he has chosen to support Citizens For A Smarter Frisco and this was his response.
Livingston wrote, “I want to be clear—I never wanted to represent a political action committee in this way. However, a precedent was set last year when other members of this council chose to publicly support a PAC while claiming to do so as private citizens. That action opened the door for elected officials to engage in public advocacy while still holding office, and I believe it’s important to be honest about that reality.
As a councilman, my first responsibility is to be transparent with the residents of Frisco. I have taken this position with the “Vote No” PAC because I firmly believe the current Performing Arts Center deal, as written, is not in the best interest of our city. I also strongly disagree with the proposed change in use of EDC funds, which were never intended to support projects of this nature.
This isn’t about opposing the arts—it’s about fiscal responsibility, honoring the original intent of our economic development tools, and making sure every deal we enter into reflects the long-term needs and values of the Frisco community.”
That’s what you call “owning” the situation. No spin. No double talk. Just a clear admission that if we’re going to play by these new rules, let’s at least acknowledge them out loud. Whether you agree with him or not, you can’t deny that what he’s offering is rare: a transparent position, rooted in fiscal concern, with zero political waffling.
What’s Good for the Goose…
Here’s the core issue: you can’t praise transparency when it suits your narrative and then screams “conflict of interest” when someone else plays by the rules you created. If it’s okay for Cheney, Meinershagen, and Woodard to champion a PAC two years in a row while in office, then say Brian Livingston’s advocacy for fiscal responsibility and public transparency is not appropriate and unnecessary. This isn’t about theater. It’s about trust. And whether you support the Performing Arts Center or not, you should support honest governance over political theater.
The Bottom Line
Frisco deserves better than this convenient amnesia and selective outrage. If elected officials want to play the PAC game, they should at least have the decency to stop pretending they’re playing as “private citizens.” And if a councilman speaks up about a shady deal and does so publicly, let’s not crucify him for being the only one saying the quiet part out loud. It would be totally disingenuous to pretend this isn’t political coordination masquerading as “just a concerned citizen.” The real issue isn’t who’s supporting which PAC—it’s why some voices are allowed a microphone, while others get handed a muzzle. Frisco voters are smarter than that. Let’s act like it.
There are several important dates to know when it comes to the ballot propositions:
First day of early voting—April 22
Last day of early voting—April 29
Election day—May 3
Want to weigh in? Got receipts or screenshots? You know the drill. 📩 FriscoWhistleblower@protonmail.com – Anonymity is our love language.
While the world tackles climate change, AI ethics, and the moral collapse of TikTok, Frisco is dealing with… loss of our children’s innocence, assaults and stolen/vandalized political signs. That’s right, political signs! Welcome to the great political crime spree of 2025 in what our Mayor and Council claim is one of the safest cities in America, or is something else going on?
If you’ve driven down Preston, Legacy, Main Street, or Eldorado lately, you may have noticed something peculiar: political signs popping up like spring weeds, then suddenly poof—gone. Others are bent, knocked over, or tossed into ditches like yesterday’s Whataburger cup. Some have been found face-down in drainage ditches, others mysteriously sliced like a scene from a low-budget political thriller.
On March 30th, we had a candidate reach out to us letting us know that 15 of her political signs were stolen and several more intentionally damaged. She also stated that zip ties were cut, poles were pushed over, and some poles were completely missing. She documented the damage with pictures to us and said she would be filing a police report. We decided to pull a PIR and research the issue because last year we got the same complaints from candidates.
Now, don’t get us wrong, sign fatigue is real. By week three, those smiling headshots and bold promises start to blur together. But here’s the twist: it’s not just Mother Nature or rogue sprinklers. Nope. It seems there’s something more coordinated—and sneakier—going on.
Reporting Political Signs
First step, we indexed the reports in order. What we found or should we say who we found reporting them – was quite interesting!
1/26/25: Email to City Secretary from Mel M (kookykate) asking how she would make a report for political signage being out more than 90 days before the election.
1/26/25: Email to City Secretary from Councilman John Keating, yes, he used his official city email to report a Elad sign at Legacy & Eldorado. He wanted to know when signs can go up and reported that it does not have Place 4 on the sign. Kristi Morrow replied to him they can go up 90 days prior to an election and nothing in the state code says it has to have a place number on it.
Side Note: Keating has endorsed Elad’s opponent, he is one of the longest councilman in the history of Frisco, he has run several times – so shouldn’t he know the rules by now? Nope. He has to email the City Secretary to ask which shows off his complete incompetent nature.
2/25/25 Case 25023400: Reporting Party said a political sign struck a water line for the HOA water which has now been turned off and they wanted to file a vandalism complaint and complained to be with the HOA. The reporter was unsure if it was a city pipe or commercial pipe and he was told to contact the city water department.
2/25/25 Service Request 4914712: Ann Anderson reported a political sign at the corner of Preston / Warren and wanted to know if it was allowed to be there because she has never seen signage in Stonebriar area of the city.
2/27/25: Email to City Secretary from John Lettelleir, Director of Development Services for the City of Frisco. He was concerned about a sign located on the west side of Independence Pkwy, just north of SH 121 (in front of Race Trac) and was concerned if that was city property. Kristi Morrow, City Secretary responded she also noticed there are signs in the right-of-way along Dallas Parkway / Cotton Gin, and Dallas Parkway / Main. She went on to say some seem to be running down Dallas Parkway by the hospital but not necessarily at an intersection but placed close to the road.
2/27/25: Email to City Secretary from Cindy Hons asking for the city to check the placement of the following signs below.
Muni Sign: NE corner of 121/Preston
Sangita Sign: SE corner of Gaylord/Preston
Sangita Sign: SW corner of Warren/Preston
Sangita Sign: SE corner of Eldorado and Dallas Parkway (alongside Eldorado)
Side Note: We can only assume Cindy Hons makes her away around the city often to see all these signs in one day.
2/27/25 Case# CE25-00618: Randy Archambualt called code enforcement to make a complaint related to “incorrect sign placement” regarding a Burt Thakur political sign on teal parkway. It is interesting that Randy was once married to Rene (Frisco ISD BOT) and is a known supporter for the opposite side of the isle.
2/28/25 Email to City Secretary: Ginni Scott emailed the city secretary regarding the political sign she felt was a “safety concern” at the intersection of Teel Pkwy / The Trails Pkwy.
2/28/25 Email to City Secretary from Ben Brezina Assistant City Manager regarding a “big giant political sign” for Burt Thakur at Teel / The Trails Parkway and he is concerned that is hard to see oncoming south bound traffic when trying to turn south on to Teel.
Amy Moore, Code Enforcement Supervisor immediately sends it to Amy Smith telling her to have it checked TODAY and if this is VISION CLIP to remove it. She specifically notes “THIS IS FROM 5TH FLOOR AND BEN LIVES OVER THERE”
Side Note: Why does it matter that it came in from the 5th FLOOR? The fact that Amy Moore wrote that in her email, clearly shows a bias. Ben Brezina works for the City Manager’s Office, who clearly supports the encumbant and the FCFA. If it is not a targeted attack by all of these folks – it sure looks like it.
3/4/25 Case# CE25-00681: Reporter listed as ADMIN sent an email (which the city did not provide us) lodging a complaint for “Incorrect Sign Placement” at the NE Corner State Hwy 121 and Preston for a MUNI sign. It was determined by code enforcement that the sign as NOT in violation. Who is the ADMIN that reported it?
3/4/25 Case# CE25-00695: Email complaint received by Caleb Davis for a Burt Thakur sign located at the NE Corner of Preston / Lebanon and it was later determined it was NOT in violation.
3/4/25 Case# CE25-00697: Email complaint received by Caleb Davis for a Burt Thakur sign at the SW Corner of Preston / Lebanon and it was later determined it was NOT in violation.
Side Note: We researched the number on the report for Caleb Davis and funny thing – the number did not come back to a Caleb Davis nor anyone that lives in Frisco.
Is This the Pettiest Political Season Yet? Yes! City officials and supporters of specific candidates are now going around documenting and reporting their opponents’ signs to the City—for being too close to the curb, for not having the right permit, or just for existing in the wrong median. It’s like Mean Girls but with clipboards and zoning codes.
Sign Stealer in our Midst? Multiple candidates have emailed us that their signs have been damaged or stollen. Removing your opponent’s signs doesn’t make your message stronger, it makes you look desperate. It’s political sabotage with the maturity level of a middle schooler sneaking gum into detention.
For those thinking of tampering with a campaign political sign – don’t! In Texas, tampering with campaign signs is a crime and is a Class C misdemeanor. That’s the same category as public intoxication and fireworks violations—basically, it’s for people who lack impulse control and creativity.
Why the Drama Over Corrugated Plastic? Is it just ego? Control issues? The thrill of a late-night mission to liberate signs from a busy intersection? Maybe. But more likely, it’s a symptom of something deeper, a political culture that’s forgotten how to win people over with ideas and instead relies on eliminating competition by any means necessary. Including sign sabotage.
What does this say about us as voters, as neighbors, as a city? Maybe it says we need to start demanding more maturity from the people asking for our votes. Or maybe it just says that campaign season turns otherwise reasonable adults into territorial raccoons with a hammer and a clipboard. Either way, the message is clear: Frisco deserves better. We can disagree on policy without disappearing each other’s signs in the dead of night. Let’s raise the bar, not just the yard signs.
We want to hear from you: Do you think Burt Thakur, Muni, Jared Elad and Sangita Datta are being targeted?
Seen any suspicious sign activity? Know someone with a trunk full of political signage that doesn’t belong to them? Report it to the police or drop us a line—anonymity guaranteed.
Currently, our great city of Frisco is facing a lot of pressure from “outside forces” relating to the Anthony / Metcalf case. Everywhere you turn, from social media posts to the news stations (nationwide), they are talking about this case. We have a Civil Rights Group meeting with our Police Department, demanding fair justice and asking our Board of Trustees not to expel Anthony when he has one month left in his senior year.
Recently, we saw a post by Councilman, John Keating where he said he recently endorsed a Frisco ISD Trustee candidate, believing we shared a vision for academic excellence, transparency and parental empowerment. He went on to say he was made aware of several social media posts the candidate made in the past which contradict those values.” Then he closes with in light of these revelations, I am withdrawing my endorsement for this candidate.
At first, we were confused because Mr. Keating, who has Whistleblower blocked from his Official Councilman page (breaking the law), never saw a post of his “original endorsement.” We started digging around and realized he had endorsed Stuart Shulman for Frisco ISD BOT Place 3. We looked through Shulman’s page and didn’t see much that concerned us, which left us more confused. Then we saw in several different Facebook groups, screenshots of posts from his page that had been shared, and now we understood.
The first photo is of Shulman with a Beto For Texas sign. No big deal vote for who you want as that is your constitutional right! However, Keating claims to be a Republican and he donates to several Republicans and for him to OPENLY ENDORSE a democrat is a BIG Problem because he will lose his claim to be a Republican (to his Republican friends). He can quietly endorse a democrat and then play stupid but not someone openly posting their political view. As we said to each his own, we are a house divided and it is Shulman’s constitutional right to vote for whoever he wants, and we respect our differences.
Then we saw the BLM – Black Lives Matter Post! Here is a man who wants to run for our Board of Trustee’s openly supporting a racially divisive group. Everyone has a feeling or opinion on BLM and to act as if it is not controversial would-be understatement. We just had a horrible thing happen here in our district and if Shulman was on the Board of Trustee’s would he be shouting Black Lives Matter? He should be shouting ALL OUR KIDS LIVES MATTERS! Would that make an impact on his decisions? Honestly, I don’t want to find out!
This is not Frisco! Frisco is a blended community and that is honestly what makes us great. We may not all agree politically – that’s okay! We may not all operate the same – that’s okay! However, divisive rhetoric based on race or the color of one’s skin tone is simply unacceptable from a Leader in this city. Our children need real leaders right now! Our school district has real LIFE AND DEATH issues happening. Our children deserve to be safe and know that all their lives matter (red, yellow, brown, black, white and blue). The last thing we need is someone on our Board of Trustees who supports any type of race-driven organization or racially divisive groups. Just NOT ACCEPTABLE!
The question we have after this tragic event and after all the folks saying we are not a racially divided community – why didn’t the rest of them pull their endorsements? That’s right, Shulman is endorsed by a lot of our folks in our community and no one else pulled their endorsements. It begs the question do the following folks support a man who openly supports a racially divisive group to be on our schoolboard? Do they think this is the kind of leader we need today facing the adversity we are facing? If yes, then you should question THEIR JUDGEMENT!
Are we surprised Mayor Jeff Cheney endorsed him? No, he already took a knee in solidarity!
What about the rest? At a time when we should be unified for ALL THE CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT – do these so-called leaders support this? The two other candidates (Suresh and Renee) that have been campaigning with him – silent! Angelia Pelham – silent! Rene Archambault – Silent! The list goes on! If these leaders sit in silence at this time, after what has happened then in our opinion, they do support him and what he stands for. They are advocating for him to be on the Board of Trustee’s. Is that what you want for your child? Is that what we want for all the children in the district? I hope not!
So here we are, perched on the edge of civic glory or total chaos, depending on which Facebook group you follow. Early voting begins tomorrow, and I encourage you to participate. Not just because it matters (which it does), but because if you don’t vote, someone with worse judgment than you will.
– The Frisco Chronicles Your Friendly Neighborhood Overthinker
If transparency were a magic act, Frisco City Hall would be pulling rabbits out of hats while the real answers disappear up their sleeves. Welcome back to our ongoing tale of smoke, mirrors, and municipal mystery, The Phantom of Frisco saga. Now, in Part 2, we go deeper into the back corridors, where the stage props and “public meetings” feel more like rehearsed performances for an audience of none. Enjoy our final blog that expresses the last of concerns we have and we hope it lifts the curtains so you can see who’s really pulling the strings.
Community Arts vs Broadway:
For years, the Frisco Arts community was pushing the need for a community theater where residents could perform musicals, art shows and more. How did that turn into bringing Broadway to Frisco? Do we NEED Broadway – No! Do we NEED a COMMUNITY THEATRE EVENT SPACE – Yes! We have a lot of local groups who could benefit from it. A community theater event space would have a much smaller price tag than what the city is pitching today. The city and Tammy Meinershagen, the leader of Frisco Arts, are no longer thinking about the needs of Frisco residents or the Frisco Arts Community.
Backstage Pass to PAC Mentality
Smart Frisco is a local political action committee that supports Proposition A & B. We were open to learning more but then they did a post with the caption It’s Free! Immediately we wondered who is behind Smart Frisco? Who is running Smart Frisco? Who is funding Smart Frisco? NOTHING IS FREE!
The first report filed for the PAC is the Treasure Report which lists the name Heather Eastburn. We simply googled her name at that point to find out she was arrested in April 2023 for “Assault Causes Bodily Injury of a Family Member” and thought is this someone we should trust to tell us it’s free! Then we found out Eastburn used the excuse of being INDIGENT to bond out. That means the party of the original action is unable to afford the costs of paying or giving security costs (bond). Eastburn’s credibility was in question simply because she claims indigency to get free bond/lawyer all while telling Frisco Residents that the $340 million performing arts center IS FREE and WON’T COST US A CENT! Eastburn has a layer of problems we won’t expose here but, in the future, maybe fix your home before trying to take money from our pockets through sales tax.
Who is funding Smart Frisco?
The answer, Smart Frisco has been flushed with $20,000 in cash by Frisco North Development LLC, which is owned by the Wilks Brothers, who are building Firefly Park in Frisco. Firefly is slated to be a $2.5 to $4 BILLION dollar project located next to what could be the home of the future FCFA. Clearly having a Frisco Arts Center next to their billion-dollar development would benefit them greatly.
Then you have Councilman Bicycle Bill Woodard who donated to the PAC. He has done this before when he ran the PAC against the Frisco Firefighters in 2024. Why does his involvement make us cautious? Our city is constantly in the news, and every picture taken has our council front and center at events. When you want to use the excuse “I am doing this as a private citizen not a council member” we don’t buy it! We have proven that the PAC last year used city resources which Bill could have only had access to as a councilman and to us you can’t play both sides. Residents give more credibility to what he says because he is in a position of leadership versus another PAC run by regular ole joes! When a PAC is funded 99% by a developer, and the voice for the PAC is a city council member – that concerns us!
Letter of Intent (LOI) – Language Semantics at play!
How does semantics play into an LOI? Semantics is the meaning or interpretation of a word or sentence. A letter of intent (LOI) is a formal written document expressing a party’s intention to enter into a contract or agreement. It outlines the main terms of the future agreementand shows a serious commitment to a deal. LOIs are preliminary to any formal dealsor terms and are designed to be general and non-legally binding.
Pay attention to the key words in the definition which are intention, agreement, commitment, preliminary, and non-legally binding. The City Council wants us to vote on changing the use of funds in our EDC based on a commitment, preliminary, non-legally binding agreement. Some would say it is filled with semantical words, depending on how you interpret them.
On April 1st, the city council authorized a LOI with Frisco Live for them to be the operator-at-risk for the new FCFA. We reviewed the 8-page Venue Operator Letter of Intent and the first thing to catch our eye was the following which states, “Frisco Live is a Texas non-profit corporation formed by Broadway Dallas and Broadway Across America.” Then it goes on to say they will make the best effort to obtain tax-exempt status, however if they don’t the parties will still move forward.
Why does this matter? The non-profit with a tax-exempt status is to help them with FUNDING! Remember, the last $100 million must come from donors or heavy hitter sponsors. This is the biggest piece of “the unknown” pie that residents should be concerned with. According to the IRS website, “Until a nonprofit receives that status—even if it operates as a nonprofit in good faith—donations to it are not deductible. Just calling yourself a nonprofit or even being registered as a nonprofit corporation with your state is not enough for federal tax purposes.” Why would you donate when it is not tax right off? If they did not achieve tax-exempt status and the city moves forward anyways, then how will they cover the $100 million they are supposed to be raising from donors?
They also stated at the meeting they had done two funding studies and had a target list so why not share the studies. As of now we can only assume there are no donors who have signed a commitment to fill this gap. Project Theatres has stated numerous times that most donations don’t come in an upfront lump sum – they are given over years. The city needs to state before we vote to change the use of EDC funds what will happen if they don’t get that status and where will the money come from? Why would you vote so they can continue to move forward, spend more money on a very expensive project with so many unanswered risks. How much do we spend without knowing the facts? Again, residents need to ask themselves, are they willing to take a $100 million dollar risk?
Next the LOI talks about how Frisco Live will contribute $4 Million to the FCFA Capital Campaign Fund as part of the 2025 “silent capital campaign” effort. It goes on to say the delivery of that money is contingent upon the following and is fully refundable if not meet.
1. In the event the project is canceled before completion or fails to be completed.
2. If The City of Frisco and PISD fail to get the bond issuances necessary to design and construct the project.
3. The City’s authorization and funding of the one-time maximum $8 million reserve balance split between three City administered funds. First $6 Million for the startup “Operational Support Fund,” plus $1 Million for the “Facility Maintenance Fund” and $1Million for the “Major Capital Expense Restricted Fund.”
What caused us to be concerned? The number $8 million because every time this slide comes up in their presentations, they say $6 Million. They have failed to highlight the two $1 Million contributions, aka they just put that in the small print.
When we watched the April 7th meeting a resident named Dan Elmer took to the microphone (2:20:00) and explained his background in private equity and how he is in charge of approval authority for loans for a local bank. He said he could not vote yes for the propositions based on what was written in this LOI. He said he was incredibly disappointed to watch the council approve this LOI especially after Councilman Brian Livingston asked the question “who are the parties to the definitive operation agreement” being discussed and no one could answer that.
Elmer went on to say, while the consultants and council expressed Broadway Dallas and Broadway Across America, based on the current LOI that is not true. Elmer then held up the agreement and said Page 1 – “Parties Involved” – City of Frisco and Frisco Live Inc.” Elmer then asked, “Why does that matter?” The structure proposed is a remote bankruptcy structure and there is no recourse to Broadway Dallas or Broadway Across America. That would require a separate agreement.
Elmer then asked, “What’s the role of Broadway Dallas and Broadway Across America as written in the current LOI?” They are CONSULTANTS to Frisco Live! That means they are providing services to Frisco Live, a Non-Profit Bankruptcy Remote Entity. Why is that important?” Let’s say they run out of funding, Elmer said that means they have no assets, andno one is required to step up and fund this entity as the LOI is written today.
Elmer continued, “in order for that to happen you need a keep well agreement which is an agreement that those entities will continue to provide funding in the event of an operational loss which is not in this LOI today.” You don’t have a guarantee of an operating agreement from Broadway Dallas /Broadway Across America. What you do have is “THE PROMISE TO NEGOTIATE THE CONSULTING AGREEMENT AT A LATER DAY UNDER UNSPECIFIED TERMS.” He also stated at the April 1st meeting it was said we are not paying management fees to Broadway Dallas / Broadway Across America. He pointed out that it is not true, we will be paying consulting fees which are stated in the LOI. He said whatever fee arrangements are to be paid should be back end loaded to limit the fees they are paid early before the concept is proven. Again, he stated, none of that is discussed in the LOI. Holding up the agreement he said these are not things to be figured out in the next steps, these are material deal terms that are not in the framework of the deal.
Elmer went on to say that he reached out to the email on the presentation and the phone number to ask what the fees are to be paid in year 1 & 2 and he got no response. He closed by stating he is not against the project, but he is against a bad deal, and this is a bad deal. Sir, you took the words right out of our mouth!
Facility Use
We heard over and over the “Community Hall” will be shared by Prosper ISD and several local community groups. Based on the presentation on 4/7/2025 (slide 7) it stats that Prosper ISD, community non-profit arts organizations, small community events, visual arts exhibits and regional events will occupy the facility 84% of the time. The remaining 16% of the time it will be dark days, meaning no use. A note at the bottom of the slide says, “community use projections INCLUDE PISD NEEDS.”
Former City Manager, George Purefoy, posted on Facebook that he was told at the open house that the local arts groups will have approximately 50% of the use of the small theater. According to the city’s FAQ , “Prosper ISD is anticipated to be the predominant user of the Community Hall.” Funny they don’t have consistent answers to the questions! It must have been a typo when they left off the percentage on the answer in the FAQ. We decided to go directly to the source… Prosper ISD that is!
We emailed the Superintendent for Prosper ISD and one of the questions we asked was what % of the time would the community theater be used by Prosper ISD. The Chief Communication Officer responded to us, Rachel Trotter and said, “AS OF TODAY, THE SMALLER THEATER WILL BE USED 84% OF THE TIME BY PROSPER ISD.”
Question, if Prosper is using it 84% of the time and it’s dark 16% of the time, then when are the community non-profit arts organizations, small community events, visual arts exhibits, or regional events supposed to use the facility? The question of Prospers quantitative use of the community hall was asked this week and Gena with Project Theatres paused and never directly answered, instead she gave generic percentages as we expected. Based on how the Universal Kids vote went down, it is our opinion that the night of the vote many will be shocked to learn some “changes” may take place leaving no availability to other groups. We call it the Bait & Switch!
Well, they can use the large hall right? Yes, but can they afford to rent the large hall? Probably not!
Next, based on the usage chart, Broadway will only be using the Large Hall 15% of the time. A $340 million dollar investment for 15% of the time to be used for Broadway. Does that sound reasonable to you?
Conflict of Interest
Lastly, we point out the conflict of interest starting with Tammy Meinershagen. She claims to be voting yes for this because she believes it is good for the community; the truth is there is no way in hell she would vote against it. Tammy was introduced to music as a young child and plays the Violin and at age 5 she played her first concert at the Rockford Symphony Orchestra in front of 5000 people. Her family moved to Frisco in 2004, and in Voyage Dallas Magazine article in 2018 she said, “As a professional musician and teacher, I felt a bit like a fish out of water in Frisco, and I wanted to help our city become more well-rounded.”
Meinershagen went on to say in the article, “I began serving in many capacities regarding arts and culture, as PR/Marketing Chair of the Texas Music Teachers Association, Diversity Chair for the Frisco Council of PTA, a Board member of Frisco Public Art, and Frisco Association for the Arts. After meeting Councilman Jeff Cheney (now Frisco Mayor) in 2009, I was eventually appointed to the 2015 Citizen Bond Committee to represent the arts. It was there, that I spearheaded a successful bond initiative of $10 million in bonds for a performing arts center in Frisco.”
At the time of the article, she was serving as the Executive Director of Frisco Arts, the city official arts advocacy agency. Our point, even if Tammy Meinershagen thought this was a bad deal – there is NO WAY SHE IS VOTING AGAINST IT. She is blinded by her love and conflict of interest. She knows if this does not pass it could be another 5 to 10 years down the road before another opportunity comes up. Her conflict of interest is glaring when it comes to voting and being involved on this project.
Next up, Cheney! He has been transparent that he wants this to be a destination city. Based on the proposed location it will help Mayor Jeff Cheney, and the Cheney Group sell more houses at the PGA (where he claims to have no exclusive contracts). It will help his friends, the Wilks brothers, and their billion-dollar development. It will help the new PGA Entertainment District being built by Cheney’s friends (remember his former Broker). The potential millions to be made off tourism directly are the real driving force here for Cheney and his developer friends.
Lastly Bicycle Bill – if he wants to donate from his campaign fund to the Smart Frisco PAC and be a voice for the PAC then claim he is doing it as a private citizen – we say NO WAY! You did not donate from your personal funds, he used his campaign money, that was donated to him to help him win his run for the council. In our humble opinion, we would say that is a conflict of interest.
TIME TO VOTE
Where does it end? April 22nd starts early voting, election day is May 3rd, and you are the deciding vote! What we do know is that details are important, and the truth is we don’t have many details at all. City leaders have said this is the most transparent project they have ever worked on, and you’re seeing the whole picture. But as any good illusionist knows: if you’re watching the right hand, you’re missing what the left one’s hiding.
We warned you to buckle up! We told you the sales pitch would be coming from all angles, and it would be Oscar-worthy. We also told you don’t be surprised when the fine print on this production budget reads: No refunds, taxpayers!
Listen to what others are telling you and look at the resume! Former City Manager George Purefoy says this deal is no good. Ron Patterson, who resigned after 21 years with the City of Frisco, where served as an Assistant City Manager, President of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and then became the Deputy City Manager and was one of the top 3 candidates to replace George upon his retirement has also said this is a bad deal. Former City Council member Shona Sowell and current Councilman Brian Livingston are saying – no! Cheney wants you to believe they are all idiots and they just don’t understand this deal.
The mayor and council are banking on residents to fall for the Broadway glam, so they don’t look at the details behind the curtains. Hell, we have not even talked about the parking garage that will be needed for this project yet. Trust me, they say! In the end, if this passes, they hope that by the time the shiny new Performing Arts Center opens, everyone will have forgotten how the money got there in the first place. Maybe they’re right. Or maybe, just maybe, Frisco isn’t as easily distracted or stupid as they think. Know Before You Vote!
As for me? I’m just an old man who’s seen this kind of story before. When you cut corners in winemaking, you don’t get a masterpiece, you get something undrinkable. And when you cut corners in city finances, you don’t get a thriving, well-managed town. You get a mess.
Standing ovation or a total flop? Stay tuned for May 3rd.
I don't know, Patrick, and I'm not familiar with SREC, so I'm unable to answer your questions.
Hi Patrick—when is your SREC30 meeting. Missed the one and want to together before Sept.
We hope to write about it all soon. Most of the content in question - was from 3rd Party comments…
Shining a light in the dark here to just get this out of the way and moved past—who started the…
Bunch of Nepotism, buddy system promotion. If you ain’t white you ain’t right