Frisco, Texas has been the poster child for suburban prosperity, but according to our Mayor it is now experiencing a notable shift as residents pack up and head elsewhere. Just days before the May 3rd election, an article stated that said “Cheney is drawing attention to a surprising trend: Frisco residents are leaving the city in search of more vibrant arts and entertainment options.
Shocking! Right? After all, when they wanted to approve all of these “GRAND DEVELOPMENTS” the last ten years all we heard from Cheney and the council was that these would create a “HALO EFFECT” that would bring more to Frisco. In fact, Community Impact did an article on the 2 year mark of the PGA in 2024 titled “HALO EFFECT” from PGA touches north Frisco development, provides boost to local economy.
In the article they quote Mayor Cheney as saying, “Because of this halo effect and the investments, … this region is going to be second to none for destination retail, dining, shopping, all the office parks, and likely that part of our city will develop 20 years faster than it otherwise would have,” Cheney said. The article went on to say, “Multiple large developments and projects coming to Frisco are a result of the PGA’s success, Cheney said. This includes the Universal Kids Resort theme park, Fields West mixed-use development, and the Firefly Park mixed-use development.” Then the article quoted our own Frisco Chamber CEO, Christal Howard, “The halo effect is not just for multimillion-dollar developments. We talk a lot about all the new businesses that come as a result of a relocation, like the PGA headquarters, but the effect on the current businesses is important too,” Howard said.
Can you imagine our surprise then to residents when all of the sudden we hear they are leaving Frisco, sound the “ALARM BELLS” to voters! On April 25th, The Local Profile released an article titled “Why Frisco Keeps Losing Big Business Deals To Nashville” and after reading it we thought, what happened to that Halo Effect you were talking about Mr. Cheney?
The article quotes Mayor Cheney as saying, “The story nobody ever hears are the deals we have lost, there have been some painful Fortune 500 losses we thought we had. It seems the last few years every major deal comes down to Frisco and Nashville, and unfortunately, Nashville has been beating us out on these deals.” It goes on to say, “The reason is strikingly consistent. The common thread is companies that want their employees to have access to arts and culture. The exit interviews all sound the same… Frisco has it all… except for that.”
Then just days later on April 29th, The Local Profile produces another story title, “The Biggest Reason People Leave Frisco, According To Mayor Jeff Cheney” and the article mentions a study that confirms what residents already know! The article states, “A key part of the city’s case is backed by a detailed analysis commissioned by Visit Frisco and conducted by consumer analytics firm Buxton.” Apparently, Frisco commissioned the study to better understand what draws people to — and away from — the city. Cheney believes this data backs up what many have felt for years. “The Center for the Arts solves this by retaining and attracting visitors, whose spending will strengthen our tax base and support our public services. It’s a win-win for residents, whether you’re an arts enthusiast or not.”
OH MY GAWD – SOUND THE ALARM! THE SKY IS FALING THE, THE SKY IS FALLING ACCORDING TO CHICKEN LITTLE! Media outlets started to pick up the story and it was featured on the news! Businesses are leaving Frisco!
We immediately wanted to see this study, so we started looking at the City’s Website for the Performing Arts Center, the hub for residents to find out the latest information. Nope, not there! Then we checked the Frisco EDC and found a study in 2024, but it was not the one quoted by Cheney in the article. We forgot all about it after the resounding VOTE NO election until we were flipping through the City Facebook page the other night, watching some of the Frisco City Council “Council Recap” videos. We came across a recap video from February 4th that includes Mayor Jeff Cheney, Tammy Meinershagen, and Bill Woodard.
In that recap video, Tammy talks about “THE STUDY” done by Buxton … IN 2019! Excuse me, did you say … 2019? Mayor Jeff Cheney used a study that is over 7 years old to go have the local media run a story in 2025. Headlines read, “WE ARE LOSING BIG BUSINESS,” but they failed to mention it was based on a study done in 2019. I would assume any major or reputable outlet would have a copy of the study quoted in their article. Not! Did they knowingly publish the article and withhold how old the study was? Think about it, 7 years ago, the pre-COVID era, and that since then, things may have … CHANGED!
If that is not MISLEADING or MISREPRESENTING the TRUTH DIRECTLY TO VOTERS AND RESIDENTS, then what is? It was the justification they used for all of us as residents to vote and SAVE FRISCO! We found a Buxton PDF online (click here) with the Visit Frisco logo.
The study used GPS data, gathered from mobile devices, and Buxton geo-fenced all hotels and major attractions, tracking over 54.8 million location pings and identifying 2.6 million unique visits within one year. The findings were clear: Frisco residents show high volumes of traffic at nearby lifestyle destinations like Legacy West, and those same residents are also far more likely to visit entertainment venues such as the Toyota Music Factory and Lava Cantina. This pattern signals a strong local appetite for mixed-use developments that include arts and entertainment components. “The data indicates that any complementary entertainment venue(s) in or around such spaces would also have a high rate of utilization among Frisco residents.”
QUESTION: HOW IS A $360 MILLION PERFORMING ARTS CENTER A COMPLEMENTARY VENUE TO LAVA CATINA AND TOYOTA MUSIC FACTORY?
Oh wait, it’s not! They left that part out of the data results, too! This was a clear, concise and manipulated lie to voters to “get what they wanted!” Every single council member supporting the Frisco Arts Center should be held up on ethics charges for misleading and lying to the public. It should also be investigated as voter intimidation because if they influenced anyone’s vote based on a 7-year-old study from 2019, without disclosing that. Residents should be asking “What The Hell Is Going On In Frisco?”
On top of that, Tammy has been spreading rumors that the tapes we released with her own comments were altered; she was lured into making those comments, or they were created by AI. Again, she lies! Soon we will prove that too! Stay tuned for that! How many more times will Tammy Meinershagen and council members LIE TO US?
In the interest of transparency and accountability, we are sharing a cease-and-desist letter we received and our attorney’s formal response. These communications relate to public matters we believe the community deserves to see. Our intention is not to harass, defame, or intimidate, but to clarify misinformation and stand firmly on our constitutional rights. We welcome civil and respectful dialogue.
Disclaimer:
The documents below are shared in the context of a legal dispute and public concern. They are posted for informational purposes and are not intended to threaten, harass, or defame any party. This post constitutes fair comment and republication in connection with a public controversy. Frisco Whistleblower does not accept responsibility for third-party comments and reserves the right to moderate discussion to ensure civility and compliance with platform standards. Any party objecting to the content is encouraged to contact us directly or through counsel.
Gopal Ponangi will be in the runoff against Jared Elad in June. We found Tammy Meinershagen’s comments about Gopal to be very interesting:
1) He failed to balance the ISD budget
2) He failed to communicate to voters “why” they needed the bond aka $1 billion
3) He is responsible for the failures at FISD, and she questions how he can lead the city better.
4) Tammy stated that the citizens don’t have confidence in FISD leadership.
She only left off his absence at most meetings and major votes, which we posted about previously (obtained in a PIR)
We’re curious if Tammy would say she’s responsible for the failure of the residents not understanding Proposition A and B for the Frisco Center For The Arts? Did she fail to communicate well? Does that mean she’s not equipped to help run our city? At the end of the day, that is what she implied about Gopal, right?
It will be interesting in the runoff to see if Tammy aligns herself with Gopal when she thinks he was an absolute failure on Frisco ISD school board? It might be more interesting to see if Gopal has a change of heart and supports Burt Thakur! It would make sense considering Tammy spoke so ill of John Keating and Angelia Pelham, who are huge Gopal supporters.
Oh, where will the yellow brick road take us in June?
Back in the day, Frisco was known as a dormant suburb, north of Dallas, but today Frisco is a community undergoing vast changes and becoming its very own urban Metroplex. Gone are the rural days when everyone knew their neighbors, and a trip to Stonebriar Mall was the excitement for the week. Today, we are at a crossroads of transformation, and the experience of change has been both loved and hated along the way.
The reason my wife and I moved here was because we loved the sense of community, the schools, and the feeling of being safe. The truth is all of that has changed with the massive development that has taken place in the last 10+ years. Yes, we knew Frisco would develop and we looked forward to that at one time. However, that is when you had a city council who engaged and listened to the residents and decisions were made based on what was best for the community.
Frisco has changed, and to be very honest, it is now filled with dirty politics on all sides. Secret deals are happening, and our city council is misleading us to approve projects that are in their best interest, and they are leading with iron fists. Our priorities have shifted, and our sense of community is disappearing every day. Today is election day, and each of us has a chance to vote for change.
We debated on releasing the tape of Tammy Meinershagen when we received it. In the end, we felt voters have the right to know who they are electing. Meinershagen’s statements against the South Asian community are offensive. Calling both South Asian candidates idiots and other names is disgusting and shows a lack of leadership and integrity. She then goes on to talk about how she is not afraid of bullies, even if they are 300lb firefighters or a black woman. Since when are those who protect and serve bullies? Her reference to a black woman being a bully because they disagree on how to do things would be the same as calling her an angry black woman, which I am pretty sure the black community would find an offensive stereotype. Then she references that the Frisco population is only 1% Asian, so she has no base here, and with a laugh, says that means she is white. Frisco’s lack of an Asian population does not make you white, Ms. Meinershagen, but it is clear that you want to be.
Then she goes on about her opponent saying she is “offended and insulted that he would run for city council.” So, she is offended that a citizen who had every right to run, is running? She pointed out at the Chamber Forum and on this tape how her opponent ran for Congress and lost – well Ms. Meinershagen, John Keating ran for higher office as well. In fact, he left his seat early to run and when he lost he came back and took over another seat during a special election so does that make him incompetent to run?
Ms. Meinershagen continues to talk about other local leaders, Scott Johnson, Jared Patterson, and Shona Sowell. Then she talks about residents who are or have taken a chance to run for office, like Mark Piland, Burt Thakur, Jared Elad, and Gopal Ponangi. While many may be upset, we released these tapes. The bigger question is, WHY ARE YOU NOT UPSET ABOUT WHAT TAMMY MEINERSHAGEN SAID?
Today Jamie Heit posted on her FRWC page that we have some shady behavior by certain candidates this cycle including that of a current candidate running for office. Heit ignores all the shady behavior her best friends have done in the past and finds excuses for that but now she sits upon a hill of moral authority accusing this candidate of secretly recording a conversation, questioning her morals and integrity.
Here is the problem with Heit’s statement: how does she know it was secretly recorded? Who told her that? Who told her that the conversation was with this candidate? There are only 3 ways you would have known the who, when, where and if it was secretly recorded:
1) Ms. Heit you were there, and you participated in the conversation and if that is the case why were you not disgusted then with the comments by Meinershagen? We know you were not there so we know this option is not possible.
2) Tammy Meinershagen would have had to tell you who this conversation was with and that she was unaware of it being recorded. If that happened, it means TAMMY IS ADMITTING TO THE CONVERSATION AND WHAT SHE SAID IN IT?
3) The candidate whom you have accused of doing this would have had to tell you they did it. We are pretty sure that did not happen. It would make no sense to be a whistleblower and then yell from a rooftop “It’s me!”
Our guess: Ms. Heit, you know about the conversation because Tammy told you, which means she is admitting to her statements. Secretly recorded or not, nothing illegal was done as Texas is a 1-party state. That means Tammy is admitting to her offensive and objectionable conversation. Someone like that should not be a leader in our city, as her statements clearly show she Tammy has no integrity or ethical morality laying out everyone’s personal business to someone.
Then you have Jake Petrus, otherwise known as the “Town Bully” for the cabal. He posted that this was a private conversation, secretly recorded at xxxx home. The only way Jake would know who the other person was or where it was recorded is if TAMMY TOLD HIM! If he is right, that means he talked to Tammy or someone who had talked to Tammy, to know how and when. THAT PROVES THE CONVERSATION IS LEGIT AND THAT TAMMY IS CONFIRMING HER ROLE AND STATEMENTS.
Either way it doesn’t matter if Tammy knew or didn’t know – what matters is Ms. Heit and Jake Petras would not know “the how, when and with who” without Tammy confirming it. That means she knowingly said nasty, hurtful, demeaning, racist things and spread the personal business of those who had trusted her to others in the community like a game of show and tell. Personally, if I were Johnson, Keating or Pelham, I would be glad to know about this. Clearly it shows they cannot trust Tammy, who they thought was a confidant/or a friend.
I don’t think those who considered her a friend would have ever guessed she is spilling the secrets of their lives and private conversations too others. While we are not the greatest fans of Angelia Pelham and John Keating the fact is they have the right to know their fellow city councilwoman was talking trash about them to others in our community. Simply put, this was probably not the first time Tammy allowed her loose lips to talk trash – it was just the first time she got caught.
If Heit or anyone, for that matter, wants to claim that someone who recorded this is not fit to be a leader, then we want to know why Tammy’s statements and behavior which clearly show a lack of integrity, knowledge or ethical morality is not being called out to be a leader in Frisco? She should resign!
In closing, Tammy kept referring to Frisco as “my city, my city, my voters, my budget, …” – this is not her city, it is our city! She seems to have forgotten that on her quest for Broadway or to be on Broadway. We also want to be clear that we will always protect our sources at Frisco Chronicles. We do want to make it very clear; WE DID NOT RECEIVE Pelham’s text or the Meinershagen conversation directly from the candidate Heit and Petras are currently calling out. We received the text from Source A and the recording from Source B, and neither of them was the candidate Heit and Petras are attacking online.
As for Broadway Frisco – Prop A & B we would ask you to consider this before voting:
Today, we hear “Tourism, Tourism, Tourism,” and most recently, how we need to be more like Nashville. The thing is, Nashville has a deep history back in the 1920s. They had a thriving publishing industry, then came the advent of the Grand Ole Opry in 1925. When WSM began broadcasting live performances from the Grand Ole Opry, it positioned them to become “Music City USA.” By 1945, it was one of the most popular radio programs in America and established Nashville as a hub for country music. They made urban renewal a priority and renovated several landmarks, including the Music Hall of Fame and The Sommet Center. Broadway (similar to 5th Street in Austin) became known for bars and a honky tonk music scene. It was the cornerstone for emerging young artists and a short distance trolley ride from the iconic Music Row. Major record labels headquartered themselves in Nashville, and it became a gathering place for the arts, entertainment and music. They did not simply build a 340-million-dollar Broadway, and become Nashville overnight!
What is the problem with Frisco being more like Nashville? We never implemented our identity as we began to grow and develop into a Nashville. Purefoy took us down the road to being Sports City USA! It worked! Now the city council says we must be more like Nashville to compete, or else! With every development, we have heard Mayor Cheney say this would have a HALO Effect on our city, making us the greatest city in America. Now, all of a sudden, if we don’t spend $160 million or $340 million to get FRISCO BROADWAY, we will lose the economic boom to Nashville? The AMC Awards are happening here, not in Nashville, why? It is being held at a great venue. We didn’t have Frisco Broadway to win over the AMC Awards. We are not Nashville! We will never be Nashville! We are Frisco, Texas!
Please vote no to the propositions in order to protect our community and the residents who live here.
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.
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.
WOW WOW WOW. Truth is out. No more rumors. Nothing illegal. Thank you for sharing and exposing Toxic Tammy. Time…
Cheney is so full of shyt! He can’t be gone fast enough. Vote Burt, Vote Elad! We need to start…
All of this makes so much sense based on how I’ve seen both myself and so many other city employees…
Thank you for enlightening us! It is about time people see the light.
If you have not figured it out our Mayor is not for the citizens of Frisco.