Two-Faced Tammy’s HOT Tea on John Keating

by | May 2, 2025 | Campaign Donations, Campaign Finance Reports, Campaign Signs, Candidates, City Council, Elections, Frisco City Council Place 2, John Keating, Political Candidates, Politics, Tammy Meinershagen, Todd Meinershagen

đŸ”„ Two-Faced Tammy’s Hot Tea đŸ”„

Well Frisco, you might want to set down that Yeti tumbler and grab a porcelain teacup, because in this episode we’re not sipping sweet tea — we’re serving it scalding.

On today’s episode of “Who’s Mic Is It Anyway?” Tammy Meinershagen — our poised, polished, picture-perfect council darling — trades in her charm-school pearls for brass knuckles and pours out the kind of hot gossip that makes Bravo executives weep with envy.

You know Tammy: the one with the Barbie-blonde poise, high-heeled grace, and the kind of curated Instagram aesthetic that screams “I’m just like you but with better lighting.” For years, she’s been Frisco’s go-to for classy civic engagement and picture-perfect smiles. But as that hot mic keeps rolling, so does a side of Tammy that’s less Pageant Queen and more Petty Queen.

This time her tea kettle is pointed directly at fellow councilman John Keating — and boy, she doesn’t just spill the tea, she upends the entire teapot:
☕ John’s engagement disaster? Tammy’s got the play-by-play.
☕ His leadership skills? According to Tammy, “dumb and weak” might be putting it politely.
☕ Veterans backing him for mayor? Not according to Tammy’s version of events
☕ His girlfriend/fiancĂ©e/wife-to-be (we lost track)? Tammy claims she’s got the inside scoop on how that relationship’s less of a fairy tale and more of a soap opera.
☕ Talks to his ex-wife all the time? Tammy says yes. John’s privacy? Not so much.

At this point, the only thing hotter than Tammy’s tea is a July afternoon on the Star’s turf field.

So here’s the question we have to ask, Frisco:
Is Tammy the well-spoken, community-loving stateswoman we all thought?
Or is she Two-Faced Tammy — the master puppeteer sipping tea while setting matches?
Better yet
 which Tammy is running the show today?

Lastly, if John Keating is telling people he is running for Mayor, then doesn’t that mean he has to step down if he has started campaigning? đŸ«–đŸ”„

One thing’s clear: In Frisco, trust might be harder to come by than a Legacy West parking spot on Saturday night.

👂 Stay tuned, because the tape keeps rolling
 Who needs Ketchup Caddy when you have Two-Faced Tammy. Bring on the drama.

Tammy Meinershagen Hot Mic

by | May 2, 2025 | Burt Thakur, Candidates, City Council, Elections, Frisco City Council Place 2, Gopal Ponangi, Political Candidates, Politics, Tammy Meinershagen

When the Mic Is Hot and the Mask Slips

Frisco, grab your popcorn and maybe a splash of Pinot (I recommend something bold and unfiltered, like what we’re about to spill). In a town where carefully crafted talking points are served colder than a HOA board meeting in January, we finally got a taste of something unscripted. Tammy Meinershagen — yes, that Tammy, our city council member turned cultural ambassador turned enigma — has been caught on tape saying what she really thinks about Frisco. And let’s just say
 it ain’t all sunshine, soccer moms, and symphony galas.

While most public officials in our fair city polish their words smoother than a granite countertop at Stonebriar, Tammy’s unguarded comments were refreshingly raw — or alarmingly revealing, depending on how much you’ve invested in your “Frisco is flawless” bumper sticker. The tape, which landed on the Frisco Chronicles’ desk like a forgotten love letter from City Hall’s underbelly, exposes views that might just ruffle a few perfectly landscaped feathers.

Is Tammy the bold truth-teller we didn’t know we needed? Or has her carefully curated public persona finally cracked under the weight of her own ambition? Either way, it’s time to listen in, lean forward, and ask the question Frisco hates most: Are we really the city we think we are?

Episode #1

Tammy talks about small businesses and the relationship of city government to those small businesses.  After listening to it we have just three questions for Tammy:

  • How will the Frisco EDC continue to fund small business grants if we spend all the money, a $160 or is it $340 million dollars, on the Frisco Center for the Arts?
  • Tammy, you said the city budget is to pay for the essentials – is a FCFA an essential? 

https://youtu.be/XzdiPgYeodw

Next Tammy talks about DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).  She talks about receiving emails from constituents who are angry about how much are Indian Community has grown. 

  • Tammy, you said our town is filled with racists then proceed to make fun of the Indian Community and the number of “FESTIVALS” they have.  Would you call that racist?
  • You then call the Indian Community out for living in a different world, would you call that racist?
  • You then go on to QUESTION how any of them are even “VOTERS!”  But wait, don’t you spend a lot of time courting and sucking up to the Indian Community to get those “VOTES?” 
  • Lastly you talk about how Koreans are 1% of Frisco so “SHE IS BASICALLY WHITE”

Stay tuned! Follow us on Facebook and YouTube as we have a lot more to drop in the next 12 hours. We will be dropping them like they’re hot, baby!

We’re just getting started — and trust me, you’ll want to hear more!

Investigative Feature: Gopal Ponangi and the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation

by | Apr 27, 2025 | Angelia Pelham, Candidates, City Council, Dynette Davis, Frisco ISD, Gopal Ponangi, Gopal Ponangi, Jared Patterson, John Keating, Mayor Jeff Cheney, Mike Waldrip - Frisco ISD Superintendent, Politics, Tammy Meinershagen

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:

  1. Gopal Ponaji/Ponangi is explicitly identified as a GHHF volunteer and organizer in official materials​.
  2. GHHF professes a mission of temple preservation, but critics document that it endorses Hindutva goals like church demolition and religious conversion​.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

  • First day of early voting—April 22
  • Last day of early voting—April 29
  • Election day—May 3

Reference Links:

indiapost.com

savetemples.org

​en.wikipedia.org

bridge.georgetown.edu

givefreely.com

christianpost.com

hindutvawatch.org

christianpost.com​cbn.com

Double Standards or Honesty Matters

by | Apr 25, 2025 | Bill Woodard, Bond Elections, Brian Livingston, Campaign Donations, Campaign Finance Reports, Candidates, Cheney Group, City Council, Elections, Frisco Center For Arts, Mayor Jeff Cheney, Performing Arts Center, Political Candidates, Politics, Safety First Frisco PAC, Smart Frisco, Tammy Meinershagen, Taxpayer Dollars, Todd Meinershagen

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.
đŸ“© FriscoWhistleblower@protonmail.com – Anonymity is our love language.

“Political Sign Wars in Frisco”

by | Apr 23, 2025 | Angelia Pelham, Bill Woodard, Brian Livingston, Burt Thakur, Campaign Signs, Candidates, Citizens Input, City Council, Code Enforcement, Elections, Frisco City Council Place 2, Frisco City Council Place 4, Gopal Ponangi, Jared Elad, Jerry Spencer, John Keating, Josh Meek, Laura Rummel, Mayor Jeff Cheney, Political Candidates, Politics, Sai Krishnarajanagar, Sangita Datta, Tammy Meinershagen

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.

The Phantom of Frisco: Cheney’s Aria from the Underground

by | Apr 19, 2025 | City Council, Performing Arts Center, Politics, Public-Private Partnerships, Tammy Meinershagen, Taxpayer Dollars

Cue the organ. Dim the gaslights. Somewhere beneath City Hall, in the catacombs of taxpayer-funded dreams and concrete promises, a shadowy figure stirs. No, it’s not Andrew Lloyd Webber’s misunderstood genius — it’s Mayor Jeff Cheney, cloaked not in a mask but in economic development jargon, quietly orchestrating Frisco’s most expensive performance yet: the Frisco Center for the Arts.

You won’t find him on stage — no, he’s under it. Pitching, plotting, and maybe even humming a show tune with Tammy Meinershagen. They are not haunting an opera house, but haunting public trust, serenading voters with visions of velvet seats and chandelier-worthy productions — all while the deal’s finer details stay buried beneath layers of “partnerships,” and “nonprofits,” and a conveniently ambiguous price tag.

This isn’t just art. This is politics set to music — a taxpayer-funded overture with mystery, misdirection, and a plot twist or two we’re not supposed to see until the curtain drops.  Grab your mask (and maybe your calculator), dear reader. We’re headed backstage, into the Phantom’s lair, where the lights are low and the truth is off-book.

#1 Concern: Mo Money, Mo Problems!

The total maximum project budget for the FCFA is $340 million.  Prosper has pledged to contribute $100 million from a bond approved in 2023.  Then the City of Frisco is proposing $45 million from the CDC, $75 million from the EDC and $40 million from the Tax Reinvestment Zone No. 1.  The Frisco CDC and EDC come from sales tax, which means if you shop in Frisco and you pay sales tax on an item then you are paying towards this project.

City leadership keeps reinforcing that this project will cost $160 Million funded through sales tax efforts and we keep asking for proof that residents won’t be left holding the purse strings.  The question residents should be asking is “Does this project along with all the other current projects, put a significant tax burden in the future for Frisco?”

Do you know what Frisco’s outstanding bond debt is today?  Currently Frisco taxpayers are on the hook for $1.47 BILLION in OUTSTANDING bond debt (principle & interest). 

If we read the latest 2024 Rating Summary for all the CDC debt which includes Toyota, the CDC is currently carrying $464 million in outstanding principal and interest which is being serviced by the $34.9 million in CDC sales tax revenue as reported September 2024.   Using Toyota as an example, normally the CDC finances on a shorter term, however with Toyota Stadium they did $72 Million for 30 years at a rate of 5.30 probably to keep the payment low.

When you look at the historical revenues for the CDC, the year ending 9/30/20 they had $22,562,428 in gross tax receipts and at the end of 2024 it was $34,929 and it was about the same in 2022/2023).  That means with all the Halo Projects Cheney brags about it having only generated an additional $12 million in sales tax for CDC.  Huh?  That is because no one saw Covid coming and the world shut down.  What if that happens again or the economy tanks, then what?   

Are we over invested?

Toyota Stadium: $182 million in improvements: $77 million – TIRZ:  City of Frisco, FISD, $40 million – FCDC, $65 million – The Hunt family 

Downtown Rail District Revitalization: $76 Million

Grand Park: In 2006, voters approved the allocation of $22.5 million towards the acquisition and initial development of GP.  In 2015, voters approved an additional $10 Million for GP.  From research we know the city approved $4.84 Million already spent on design costs. We went through numerous articles, city power points, meeting notes and the one thing we can’t find – what will Grand Park cost?  Ask yourself, a park bigger than Central Park in New York with all the bells and whistles – how much will that cost?  Where will the money come from? 

Plus, we have plenty of projects open like The Mix, Firefly, and Universal where we are offering performance-based incentives.  For The mix it is up to $113 Million. 

From Box Office to Backroom

Take the CDC and EDC out of the picture for a moment – what type of projects are currently on the plate for the city. These projects are “Needs” not “Wants” which is very different.  According to GIS Data the Parks Capital Improvement Projects has 50 total projects in the pipeline for $170 Millon and the Engineering Capital Improvement has 66 projects in the pipeline for $457.9 Million. 

Taxpayer Tango

Let’s talk about Bond, money bond!  In the 2006 bond, voters approved of $5 Million and in the 2015 bond voters approved of $10 Million for a total of $15 Million.  How much of that is left?  According to the pretty PowerPoints thrown at us for the FCPA they have $11.5 Million left.  We are curious about how that is possible and are doing more research into their claim.  How much of it have they spent and what did they spend it on?  Why has the city done so many feasibility and spatial studies over the years for a theater?  The answer, because each study came back and said a larger facility was not sustainable.  In fact, the recommendations have been a 300 to 500 seat option and 1200 to 1800-seat option.  If you ask our opinion, they spent millions of that bond money on shopping studies, meaning research, consultants, and surveys.  Why, they needed “THE ONE” that supported the narrative, we need a 2800 to 3000 square feet facility to justify the boondoggle Broadway Ballot.

Remember how they have said no property tax dollars will be used on this project?  A Tax Reinvestment Zone captures growth in both sales and property tax value.  It can only be used to fund improvements for the properties inside its boundaries.  If they are using money from the TIRZ that is captures of property tax then they are using our dollars for this project.

Smoke, Mirrors, and Marquee Dreams:  A vote “YES” just takes us to the next step! If you have been following the meetings for this opportunity, then you have heard each of them say “This is a vote to go forward to the next step.”  This is the definition of a misleading statement filled with false impressions and the intent to deceive or mislead the voters.  Context matters! 

This is a NOT a vote to “go to the next step” it is a major vote to change the use of Economic Development Funds.  THIS VOTE SETS A PRECEDENT ON USING EDC FUNDS FOR NON-TRADITIONAL USES.  The city is COMMITING FUNDS, which enables them to get a contract done (meaning we have no contract now) to SECURE AN OPERATOR.  No money = No Operator. 

A vote “YES” will put a burden on the CDC and EDC and burn a lot of potential future opportunities that could significantly contribute to the tax base and sales tax base in Frisco.  The ever-growing debt burden will impact future projects.  So this is not a vote to just go forward to the next step.  If it was they would not be trying to sell it so hard like used car salesman. 

Let’s close this one out!  Money matters and we are already carrying a $1.47 Billion Dollar Burden!  We have not even touched on the other issues and concerns yet, of which there are several.  Numbers don’t lie!  No matter which way the city tries to sell this to residents it is FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE to bring a project like this to voters and mislead them with a vote yes in may is just a vote to allow us to move to the next step. Once they change the use of the EDC funds nothing will stop Cheney or Tammy Meinershagen (who apparently wants to be our next Mayor) for going all the way. Is that a burden you are willing to carry?