If you thought the drama of Frisco’s so-called Future Performing Arts Center was confined to city hall meetings and backroom deals, think again. Mayor Cheney has taken the battle to the digital streets, launching an all-out social media war against anyone daring to question this multimillion-dollar boondoggle on the May ballot.
Like a conductor leading an orchestra of outrage, the mayor isn’t just defending the FPAC—he’s aggressively silencing critics, painting skeptics as enemies of “progress,” and doubling down on the same vague promises that have fueled public distrust. Dissenters? Blocked. Tough questions? Ignored. Concerned citizens? Branded as obstructionists.
Honestly, at this point, who needs a performing arts center? The Frisco drama unfolding online on Mayor Cheney’s Facebook page is almost better than a Broadway show and IT’S FREE! Between the plot twists, the villain arcs, and Mayor Cheney’s keyboard warrior antics, the entertainment is free—no ticket required. As long as someone questions the FCFA, Mayor Jeff Cheney will get ants in his pants so cancel the theater plans and let the social media circus continue.
One thing we can tell you, as Frisco teeters between vision and vanity, one thing is clear: This isn’t just about the arts anymore. It’s about power, control, and the lengths our leadership will go to in order to suppress scrutiny, questions, and concerns. In the spirit of giving Cheney something to talk about, we want to continue with more public statements made by community members that many hold in high regard. Curtain up, folks—because this show is just getting started.
In Her Words: Shona Sowell – Former Councilwoman and Running for Frisco Mayor
In a Facebook Post on Shona Sowell for Mayor she posted some of the following details. “Spending $160MM in your taxpayer dollars by changing the use of the funds of Economic Development Corporation, which exists to attract businesses to Frisco, plus adding $7MM a year in operational costs to the City for a performing arts center makes no sense. It is not how we do deals in the City of Frisco.
In Frisco a performing arts facility has long been an issue of research and discussion. Whether you are an arts supporter, performer, casual partaker, or a minor player, one must weigh the costs of a decision that will impact our city budget for decades to come. Previously, I fully supported the joint arts facility in partnership with Frisco ISD and Hall Park. Like other successful public/private partnerships we have done in Frisco, this one had strong partnerships responsible for the operations of the facility. The city was not responsible for cost overruns and was not responsible for the yearly maintenance and operations costs (M&O) for the facility. This approach would have only cost Frisco one tenth of this current proposal. Our financial obligation was limited and spelled out in the agreement. This is how Frisco has been successful with public private partnerships, and it is the same process for The Roughriders, The Dallas Cowboys and The Star, PGA Golf Course, & FC Dallas and Toyota Stadium. However, the current elected officials did not want to partner with FISD and Hall Park on this approach and decided not to move forward. Now they want to spend 10 times that amount on a deal where you the taxpayers own the risk.
The current proposal of a much larger facility in partnership with Prosper ISD and private donations (that do not even exist yet) with an operator who is not well capitalized is a terrible financial decision for the residents of Frisco. This proposal is NOT THE FRISCO WAY and puts Frisco taxpayers at risk.
She went on to give her thoughts on the challenges and risks of what is being suggested, and if you click here you can read them all. We have summarized them here for you:
Frisco taxpayers are paying for this through “Sales Tax” and Frisco residents voted for those funds to go to the EDC to be used for roads, infrastructure, and to attract corporations. Second, unlike other private partnerships, Frisco taxpayers are paying twice through the general fund, the taxpayer will be responsible for the annual operational expenses of the facility and filling the funding gap.
Third, the proposed land which is the site for this project, was purchased by tax dollars and the debt on the land was paid for tax dollars and is owned by EDC. Now the city wants them to just give it away (instead of selling it to a development at fair market value). That means taxpayers paid for the cost of the land. Fourth, elected officials have not disclosed how they will handle parking, and it is not in the cost of the project today. A garage could cost $50 Million that taxpayers will have to pay for. Fifth, Sowell noted per the presentation takes 5 years for donations to come in projects like this so if they delay construction taxpayers can expect the cost to go up by almost $100 million by the time we build it. The city would have to take that funding from other departments like police and fire.
She went on to say, public private partnership cannot legally sign contracts to build until the funds needed are in the bank. The bonds must be sold from both entities, and the private donations must be in the Frisco bank account. She pointed out that the consulting group maintains in their presentation from the January work session that the funds will come in more as the building gets closer to opening. Shona asks, do you as a resident want to be holding the bag and double the city cost when the pledges are not fulfilled? (Slide #2)
Her other concerns include if phasing of the project was an option. Yet, no plan of phasing has been presented to the residents to fully educate their vote. And if phasing is the method current councilmembers intend to use, how do we ensure the taxpayer is not left holding the bag on a project that stalls and cannot be fully completed? She also notes the agreement suggests Prosper ISD would control 84% of the dates in the smaller “community” theater—leaving very few dates left for our community groups such as the Frisco orchestra, chorale, theater groups, etc.—to use the “community theater”. The 2015 Bonds of $10million were sold for the “community groups to have a place to perform.” That means our own community groups lose big in this facility. They won’t be able to afford it, and there won’t be many calendar dates for them to use.
The annual costs to run the facility are going to be forever subsidized by the taxpayer. The projections from the consultant show a LOSS of over $6million annually for each year, a funding gap that YOU the TAXPAYER will have to cover for the first 5 years. Back in 2017, most art facilities across the country showed an annual loss of more than $10million. If we adjust for inflation—we are probably talking about at least $15-20million.
Even with a “operating partner”—if that partner were to be unable to pay for the costs of keeping the facility open, (see the Winspear, Raleigh Theater and others) the City of Frisco assumes the risk for ALL M&O expenses. Our other operating partners are large, well known, well-funded entities such as the PGA of America, the Dallas Cowboys, the Jerry Jones Family, The Hunt Family, and Bob Rowling. This is not the case here. We continue to tell our small businesses along Main Street and our public safety officers that we cannot afford 4 men on trucks, increased wages, or support for those businesses going under. But current leaders say we can afford this project? It’s a matter of priorities. While many will tell you Frisco NEEDS this project, it’s simply Frisco CANNOT AFFORD this project. It puts our tax rate, our entire city budget, and our financial future at risk.
In His Own Words: Brian Livingston – Current Council Member
Brian Livingston posted about the performing arts project on his Facebook Page. He started by sharing the post from Shona Sowell for Frisco Mayor. He went on to say it is a great conversation starter and something that should be shared as much as possible. For those that aren’t aware, I voted against putting the Frisco Center for the Arts on the ballot and will vote NO to Proposition A & B in May. My vote has nothing to do with my support for the arts and believe my history shows I have supported the arts community in Frisco. I voted NO for the following reasons:
1. I disagree with the statement that there is no risk to the Frisco taxpayer. If the operations do not generate sufficient revenue to cover expenses, the Frisco taxpayer will be the ultimate backstop. The “at risk operator” will be a newly created entity that will have limited financial capacity.
2. If capital improvements/repairs exceed the reserves in place, the Frisco taxpayer will again fill the void.
3. There are opportunity costs with using EDC funds for purposes other than what voters have previously approved. There will be economic development opportunities we will miss out on and that will result in fewer high paying jobs in Frisco. For years I have been criticized for supporting legislation and seeking ways to use EDC funds to support the city operations, first responders and capital improvements. What changed?
4. Finally, I fundamentally believe that if the demand for this center was actually as high as stated that private donors would be driving this project not the government.
Livingston closed by encouraging everyone to attend public hearings and email questions to every member of the Frisco City Council. He also stated he was glad to meet with anyone who wants to discuss my position.
In his own words: John Allen Redmond – Former Candidate For City Council & Resident
Redmond ran for council last year so its not surprising to see him being vocal about what he wants for the great city of Frisco. Redmond stated online “In general, when a private entity spends its money…it is careful. As we see every day, when someone spends govt (OUR!) money…the spigot is open wide. The same small group of vendors and individuals seem to benefit…that is a universal truth…whether here in Frisco, Austin or Washington DC. Trust but verify. There is an operator coming…there are large philanthropic gifts coming…Broadway wants to be here…ignore other venues around the country that are struggling, because we are Frisco…and we will get it right or our citizens will pay for it and it doesn’t matter. I am simply not convinced.”
He also stated “I will say that it is hard to be all things to all people. My objection to this project is based on economic viability and the narrative on which it is being ‘sold’. The reality is that this is a 10+ year old “argument”. We have already spent millions of dollars on this and to-date, and the answer has continually been ‘no’. Now, if a private entity, like Jason Young, wants to build it…go ahead. But, to gaslight the citizens of Frisco…I am not down for that.”
Lastly, Redmond said, “If this bond (meaning Prop A & B) passes…mechanically they will have the funds to execute the project. So, despite the language that has been used to-date, whatever discovery and/or evaluation they claim is over…this is a done deal.”
In his own words: Will Sowell – Former Frisco City Council
We told you about the Smart Frisco post claiming “It’s Free, It’s Free!” Reading through the comments we noticed Will Sowell; Former City Councilman spoke up. Sowell said “I appreciate anyone that advocates for their beliefs in what they want the city to become. But to say this does not cost any city tax dollars is disingenuous.”
Sowell continues, that the debt being proposed here is debt from the EDC, not City of Frisco debt. So, there is the concept of opportunity cost. If a large employer were considering coming to Frisco, financing would not be available to attract a large employer, which is the mission of the EDC. That is why (referring to the proposition on the ballot) we have to vote on the EDC use of the bonds because it is not consistent with the charter of the EDC.
Sowell continued, the EDC debt is repaid through sales tax that Frisco residents pay, so there’s first way that Frisco residents pay for this through taxes. Sowell then pointed out the city Frisco Model vs Venue Management model slide from a presentation and talked about the third way residents will be paying for the PAC. “Third, during the first 5 years, it is estimated by the City of Frisco that $5MM of budget funds will have to be used to cover maintenance and operations.
Fourth, the city of Frisco has to cover any overage on the building and on operations. There have been overages on every public private partnership the city has done. The difference here is that the city and thus the residents and not the partner pay for the overage per the city slide.
In The Words of The Whistleblower Team:
We enjoy reading everyone’s perspective on the future performing arts center. We develop new questions, learn new things and that is how people grow to make good decisions. We enjoyed hearing the different perspectives from current and former council members, the former city manager who built this city, and many more. Like everyone else when we saw Mayor Cheney’s post today, we had to stop and read it and follow the drama in the comments. We plan to publish it in its entirety tomorrow for everyone to read (who has not seen it of course). Don’t worry, we will not forget to publish the comments because that may be the best part!
We also plan to publish what the candidates think about the Frisco Center For The Arts as we are sending each of them an email to explain their position. For us, no matter what anyone says we constantly go back to one thing, why did the Performing Arts Partnership with Frisco ISD and Hall Group fall apart? What was it that made FISD say, nope not our bag of chips! What made the Hall Group, a huge supporter of the Arts, step back and withdraw the donation of the land for an Arts Center? Something tells me we should be asking bigger questions, diving for deeper answers.
Lastly, we continually go back to why they are asking for us to vote to change the use of the EDC funds? Why are we rewriting the rules? What about constructions costs and the unknown costs? Simply put, that is what Cheney does! He voted against a PAC under Maso and Pat Fallon when he was on council. Maybe he did that because he wanted all the glory and recognition for himself. Why are they trying to sell it to us so hard? All of those things make feel like we are being led to drink water in the desert that just isn’t there.
Stay Tuned for The Final Act of Curtains Up, Community Divided.
When I was a boy, I learned an important lesson on my family’s winery: if you mix the wrong barrels together, you don’t get fine wine—you get a mess. Turns out, the same principle applies to city finances, though some folks in Frisco’s leadership seem to have skipped that life lesson.
Frisco’s new Performing Arts Center has sparked a debate over the methods and madness with which the city is trying to fund the project. Half the city is applauding, marching in lockstep with the mayor and city council, trusting them like a magician who promises he didn’t just make your wallet disappear. The other half? They’re watching this financial sleight of hand and calling foul, led by former city leaders who actually understand the difference between Economic Development Corporation (EDC) money and Community Development Corporation (CDC) money—a distinction that apparently gets a little fuzzy when a big, shiny building is on the table.
The Great Money Shuffle
In our last blog, Frisco’s Bond Ballet, we gave you a civics lesson about how EDC funds are meant to attract businesses and create jobs—you know, the kind of things that keep a city economically stable. CDC funds, on the other hand, are for quality-of-life projects—parks, libraries, and yes, performing arts centers. Two separate barrels, two separate purposes.
Frisco’s Cultural Civil War
Now, I love the arts. I really do! I’ve been to my fair share of performances and appreciate a well-done production. But let’s not pretend that “The Great EDC Heist” is just an innocent case of creative accounting. On one side, you have the true believers, the ones who think this Performing Arts Center will turn Frisco into the next Broadway. They trust the mayor and city council like a cult waiting for the mothership. To them, any skepticism is just negativity. “Why don’t you want Frisco to have nice things?” they ask, as if wanting accountability is the same as being anti-art.
On the other side, you have the cynics (or as I like to call them, the realists). These are the people pointing out that raiding the EDC fund to pay for a performing arts center isn’t just bad policy—it’s a dangerous precedent. If we’re playing fast and loose with money now, what’s next? A city-funded theme park? A mayoral gold statue? Maybe we’ll just rename Frisco to “Vanity Project, Texas.”
It is time to pay attention and speak against the moves by the city when it comes to treating EDC funds like their personal arts-and-crafts budget, shifting money around with the confidence of a three-card monte dealer on a New York sidewalk. But every time I hear current leadership speak, I hear “Don’t worry, this is totally above board.” Right. And I’m the Pope.
Former city leaders—the people who helped build Frisco into the powerhouse it is today—are stepping forward and saying, “This is not how we do things.” And instead of listening, the current administration is waving them off like cranky old men shouting at clouds. But let’s be clear: these aren’t just some bitter retirees whining about change. These are the people who made Frisco what it is, and they’re telling us that this funding scheme smells fishier than a back-alley sushi joint. Let’s see what they have to say:
In His Own Words: George Purefoy, Former City Manager – aka “The Man Who Built Frisco”
In a recent Facebook Post by Smart Frisco, Former City Manager, Purefoy stated his concerns about the proposed project. He said, “Unlike the other major Public Private Partnerships (P3), this proposal does not have a private partner on board agreeing to be responsible for all construction cost overruns and for the annual cost for operations and maintenance. Unlike the other Frisco P3 projects, this project does not project to have all of the funding in place for the construction of the project by the award of bid for construction, thus it is projected that the project will be built in phases, thus cost containment will be even more difficult with inflation.
Purefoy continued, “currently there are no costs for parking included in the projected budget. I estimate that there will be a need for approximately 1200 spaces which will require an additional 12 acres of land if it is surface parking at an estimated construction cost of $7 million (plus land), or if it is structured parking, an estimated $50 million.”
Purefoy went on to say, “To say that there is $0 Cost to Frisco Taxpayers for this project is about as erroneous as anything I’ve seen in political advertising. Then he said, “Without the need for an election, the Economic Development Corporation funds currently can be used for the cost to build major thoroughfares and utility projects, and the Community Development Corporation funds can be used for both of the above projects plus many others which benefit the City and would lessen the impact on Frisco property taxpayers.”
Purefoy also has “major concerns about what will happen during economic downturns.To add this project to the list of annual budget needs of the Citywill result in other city departments being negatively impacted in order for the City to fund the performing arts center.”
George continued by saying he was told that the proposed 300-seat community theater included in this project will be used primarily by Prosper ISD. If that is true he continued “then the primary facility for most of our local arts groups will be extremely limited for their use.” In his opinion, this effort needs to be led by a local group of private citizens which raises private funds from individuals and companies for both building, operating, and maintaining the Arts Center. The city can then be approached to provide supplemental funding for the construction. Purefoy closed his comments by saying, “With all of the needs Frisco will have to keep up with the aging infrastructure in the not-too-distant future, the City does not need to create another major city obligation to fund on a continued basis.”
After making these statements Purefoy went to one of the Open Houses and updated his statements above. We also had an implant to attend the open house and several of the statements matched what Purefoy had said but we want to share them with you because these were comments by CITY STAFF.
In The Words of City Staff:
Public Private Partner & Construction Costs and Overruns: “City staff: It is accurate to state that the proposed project does not have a private partner that agrees to be responsible for all construction cost overruns. The city is in the process of selecting a venue operator through an RFP process. While it is accurate to say that to date, we don’t have a private operational partner in place,the city is pursuing an operator-at-risk model for the operation of the venue. This means the selected venue operator would assume financial responsibility for the ongoing operations of the facility without the City of Frisco providing financial guarantees for the day-to-day operations of the facility. Having this type of agreement in place is an important component of moving forward with the project.” Our implant was told they hoped to have it in place by May and Purefoy was told “It is anticipated that an LOI for an at-risk operator will be in place prior to the May election.”
Whistleblower Questions: Why is the city putting this project and proposition on the ballot for May, when it is incomplete? The city wants residents to “TRUST THEM” … NEWSFLASH FRISCO: WE DON’T TRUST YOU! You have given us no reason to trust you based on previous projects. Maybe instead of saying the city saying we hope, we anticipate, we want they need to say we have confirmed, we have signed contracts, we will once you have put the project together in its entirety. Right now, you are asking residents to vote blindly on items that are not final and cannot guarantee for your own personal shit’s and giggles.
When our whistleblower asked city staff about the “phasing” of this project we were told the city plans to update the FAQ’s and will not be going forward with that option. Then George Purefoy posted “The consultants at the open house for the Arts Project told me that the current plan is to hold construction costs to $200,000,000 or less, hold fees for design to $70,000,000 or less and go forward with bidding and make whatever changes are needed to hold costs to no more than $270,000,000 for the project.” Whistleblower wants to know HOW WILL YOU GUARANTEE THAT? IS IT WRITING? ARE THE DEALS INKED AND LOCKED IN?
When our whistleblower asked about cost escalation contingencies and parking from city staff we got a lot of hum, uh, oh, well, look at this big photo. However, George Purefoys updated comments after the open house read, “City staff: It doesn’t appear that cost escalation and/or contingencies are included in the numbers above. As should’ve been part of Gena’s explanation, the project budget is still in the rough order of magnitude stage. Our public presentations have stated a project budget up to an estimated $340 million. The direction to date is to plan for a budget that does not exceed $300 million. The project budget incorporates standard percentages for contingencies, cost escalations, and soft costs. As our project planning progresses the costs will be refined as the concept design aligns with a project budget not exceeding $300 million. The soft cost calculation of 35% should be applied to the escalated construction costs, and contingencies should be included as well.” Whistleblowers, until the city finalizes an RFP, signs an actual deal (NOT A LETTER OF INTENT) for Broadway, and has guaranteed cash in the bank from donors…someone will be holding the bag if things go south.
On the same Smart Frisco post in response to George Purefoy’s statements, local businessman Jason Young responded. Young said “Based on my meetings with some of the players (including private donors). I know of at minimum $50 million ready to go from private folks.”
Mr. Young, what meetings have you had with city leadership and what role do you play in these discussions regarding the FCFA? Are you willing to be it all on your own words that you know “of a minimum of $50 million ready to go by private donors?” Where is the money, Mr. Young? They could donate now or sign commitment letters. Better yet they could put the money in a trust for good faith to help voters feel better about voting for this. Instead, why are we being asked to blindly trust our city leaders and you that, these donors and plans exist. Once again, we ask who will end up holding the bag if those donors you claim “are ready to go” don’t come through. WHO WILL IT BE? FRISCO RESIDENTS? If something falls through the cracks, we will HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE IT! Lastly, to the city how in the hell do you NOT INCLUDE cost escalations and contingencies in the numbers WHEN YOU ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO VOTE ON IT?
Parking: As for parking, we were told they were looking at options, however Purefoy was told that the current estimated need is 1300 parking spaces and the cost for this is included in the not to exceed $200,000,000 construction budget. Structured parking is preferred and if adequate private funding comes in, the structured parking will be constructed, rather than surface parking.”
Purefoy was also told at the open house that the local arts groups will have approximately 50% of the use of the small theater. However, the city’s FAQ states “Prosper ISD is anticipated to be the predominant user of the Community Hall.” It just happens to leave off the percentage of that use and we were told they would have 80% of the use of the small theater. WHICH ONE IS IT? WHY ARE THE ANSWERS NOT CONSISTENT?
We are glad to see George Purefoy speak out! While we have not agreed with every decision he made as City Manager we do agree on this that the burden and risk far outweigh the benefits to resident’s long term. In our next blog we are going to share with you the thoughts by Will Sowell, Brian Livingston and Shona Sowell who just announced she is running for Mayor. Stay Tuned
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another dazzling performance of Frisco’s Bond Ballet! A timeless masterpiece where the city pirouettes around financial transparency, leaps over budget concerns, and performs a breathtaking grand jeté over taxpayer skepticism—all while insisting, with a straight face, that no new taxes will be needed.
Every year, like clockwork, Frisco’s leadership takes center stage to pitch the latest and greatest “must-have” project—this time, a performing arts center. And just like in previous acts, the audience (a.k.a. the taxpayers) ask the same question: Where is the money coming from? But fear not! The City assures us that through the magic of bonds, reallocated funds, and a sprinkle of creative accounting, the show can continue without anyone noticing an increase in their tax bill. Bravo!
But why does this ballet feel so… familiar? Perhaps because it’s a revival of past performances—new costumes, same choreography. Whether it was the stadium, the library, or the latest infrastructure project, the script remains unchanged: Big dreams, vague funding plans, and a promise that it will all work out in the end. They city just wants you to grab your playbill (or financial statement, if you dare) and settle in for another encore performance of Frisco’s Bond Ballet—where the numbers may not always add up, but the show must go on!
To understand HOW THEY PLAN TO FUND the Performing Arts Center you must first understand what the Frisco Community Development Corporation and the Frisco Economic Development Corporation do and what their funds are for! Per the City of Frisco website, “Type A (EDC) and Type B (CDC) corporations were created by Texas law to help local municipalities encourage economic development. An Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is a nonprofit entity created to finance new and expanded business enterprises, subject to authorization under Texas law. Texas law defines what authorized projects EDC may participate in and allows for the adoption of sales and use tax to fund those projects.
Type A EDCs are authorized under Texas law to fund, among other things, manufacturing and industrial development projects and the provision of land, buildings, equipment, facilities, expenditures, targeted infrastructure and improvements that are for the creation or retention of primary jobs for projects such as manufacturing and industrial facilities, research and development facilities, military facilities, recycling facilities, distribution centers, small warehouse facilities, primary job training facilities for use by institutions of higher education, and regional or national corporate headquarters facilities, and certain infrastructural improvements to promote or develop new or expanded business enterprises.”
Type B (CDC) corporations, also funded via a sales and use tax, are authorized under Texas law to fund, among other things, the development of recreational and community facilities, including parks, museums, sports facilities, auditoriums, amphitheaters, and concert halls, in addition to all projects eligible for Type A funding or other participation.
Now that you understand the basics of EDC and CDC funding, let’s focus on what Frisco’s Bond Ballet! City leaders are trying to PITCH a state of the art performing arts center that will bring Broadway Shows. To get your “BUY-IN” they are using a grand performance of confusion when it comes to the actual cost and how they plan to use creative accounting to pay for it – so you think “IT’S FREE!”
The City of Frisco leadership and the Frisco EDC Bond Propositions are pushing to rewrite the rules of the game allowing them to reroute sales tax revenues meant for Type A (Economic Development Corporation) Funds for Type B (Community Development Corporation) Purposes. Citizens already voted in the past on how this money should be allocated to both the EDC and CDC so why are they trying to change it now? IT IS THE ONLY WAY KING CHENEY, TONE DEAF TAMMY, BOBBLEHEAD BILL, and the rest of the council and city leadership can get a Performing Arts Center because they know you “the voter” won’t approve a property tax increase.
Instead of using EDC money that is meant to keep FRISCO COMPETITIVE and stimulate local economic growth and attract businesses that bring good quality paying careers the city leadership and city council want to use it as their own personal piggy bank to fund their dreams and desires. City officials are interpreting the local government code broadly, arguing that the performing arts center qualifies as an economic development project.
Let’s pretend a PAC qualifies economic development as the code is written today – then why is the city asking us to vote on Proposition A and B? When you read both props look at the words we highlighted in BOLD and ask yourself why would they need me to vote on this?
Proposition A reads “The Frisco Economic Development Corporation is authorized to use proceeds of its sales and use tax, including all amounts previously authorized and collected, for projects related to the proposed center for the arts project, including but not limited to, land, buildings, equipment, facilities and improvements found by the Frisco Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors to be required or suitable for use for the proposed Center for the Arts Project in accordance with section 505.152 of the Texas Local Government Code.”
Proposition B reads, “The issuance of bonds in the maximum amount of $160,000,000 for a City-owned Center for the Arts Project, and levying taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.”
By bringing Prop A & B the city can tell you…. IT’S FREE! When you hear Smart Frisco tell you it’s FREE – it’s NOT! It is your Sales & Use Tax that funds the budget for the EDC. That means for every dollar you spend in Frisco, buying gas, groceries, or visit local businesses, a portion of the sales tax and use tax YOU PAY is GOING TO THE EDC! While tourists spend money, trust me residents spend more here so clearly, we are paying for it! While it may not be a property tax increase when you spend money in Frisco you are FUNDING THE EDC. The city is asking residents to be the Sugar Daddy for this project.
The latest act by the city, city leadership and the Frisco’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) starts with taking artistic liberties—not in the theater, but in the way it’s justifying the use of taxpayer dollars. The city sees this as an open invitation to bankroll the arts center, citing potential economic benefits such as increased tourism and commercial activity.
We would argue that this is a classic case of bait and switch or mission creep—where funds originally intended to boost Frisco’s business landscape are now underwriting a cultural project that primarily benefits a select group. Truth is we have done very well for ourselves in life, and we live comfortably, but Frisco is getting more and more expensive to live each day! The city leadership and council care more about Tourism instead of those who live here. Tourism is important but IT IS NOT EVERYTHING! What happened to Cheney Version 2017 where in his political video he talked about the quality of life for residents?
Before you vote YES to either of these propositions ask yourself, “If I get laid off and look for another job locally near me could I afford to live on what a Theater Attendant gets paid? What about a Park Attendant at Universal?” Face it young kids are not working anymore, and current businesses are struggling to find labor and now we are going to add more hourly labor – how is that creating good quality careers?
The question remains: Is this a wise and proper use of EDC funds, or is it just a budgetary sleight of hand to avoid putting the full burden on taxpayers? Either way, Frisco residents should be paying close attention. What starts as a reallocation for the arts today could and would set a precedent for future creative interpretations of economic development spending. After all, if a performing arts center is “economic development,” what’s next? A taxpayer-funded roller disco in the name of tourism? Stay tuned—this show is just getting started.
In our 15 to 20+ years living here in Frisco, this is the worst smelling project we have ever seen. They can smell the Shit Stink in Celina, Prosper and probably up to Oklahoma. The level of dirt our politicians use to cover up key details for this Performing Arts Center project from the public is unconscionable. In our next blog, we talk about what the city is not telling you! If it is city-owned who pays to operate it? Have they inked a deal for a venue operator? Over the years as the performance hall ages, who is responsible for the UPKEEP and how will we pay for it as it is a city-owned facility? The 50 to 60 million they plan to raise from donors and corporate sponsors – have any of these deals been locked in? If now, how do they know we won’t need to bring more money to the table? How will the local arts community have use of this facility, can they even afford the rental fees to host events there? How much time will we have on stage if we share it with Prosper ISD? How does this benefit our local theater group if Broadway shows are always on stage? Where do those funds come from? They keep talking about Broadway Shows yet have they inked a deal with Broadway Across America? Why would you vote to change how funding buckets are used when the truth is THE CITY IS WITH HOLDING DETERMINENTAL FACTS THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR DECISION ON HOW YOU VOTE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
Welcome to the Greatest Show in Frisco—Starring Your Wallet! Ladies and gentlemen, step right up! Frisco has unveiled its latest act in the grand circus of civic spending—a $300+ million performing arts center! That’s right, folks, for the low, low price of just hundreds of millions of your hard-earned tax dollars, we, the citizens of Frisco, can enjoy the privilege of funding a shiny new venue for performances most of us will probably never attend.
And who’s leading this blockbuster production? The front line “sales pitch artists” include The City of Frisco and a company called Theatre Project Consultants Inc. Of course, they are using their friends at Community Impact to deliver messages to mailboxes of 30,000+ residents. But wait, there is more! Enter, SMART FRISCO, the newest political action committee in town, whose idea of “smart” appears to be convincing taxpayers that we absolutely, positively must have this arts center—or else the arts police will revoke our cultural credentials, and the ghost of Shakespeare will haunt City Hall!
Who is Smart Frisco? The website says it is a citizen-driven political action committee dedicated to informing and educating our community about the Center for the Arts Bond Initiative and its role in driving economic development. We went to the city’s website and looked up campaign finance reports and we found the Campaign Treasurer Report filing which lists Heather Eastburn as the treasurer and their HQ office is a UPS store in Frisco. Sound familiar? Just last year Bill Woodard (current council member) set up the Safety-First Frisco PAC against the Frisco Firefighters also HQ at a UPS store?
We looked up the Smart Frisco PAC on the Texas Ethics Commission website. First, we searched by the treasure’s name and found NOTHING! Then we searched by Smart Frisco and found NOTHING! Then we looked under Active Campaign Filer Lists for political committees with appointed treasures and NOTHING! Why is it so hard to find out who is behind the PAC and who is financing the PAC?
Smart Frisco recently just posted to their Facebook Page an eye-catching graphic showing a set of tickets that read “COSTS NOTHING CHANGES EVERYTHING!” The website has the same stylish, eye-catching “PRO-PROPAGANDA” wanting you to “VOTE YES” and telling you “IT WILL COST YOU NOTHING!” They want you to believe this project would be “By Frisco, For Frisco, and most importantly, IN Frisco!”
The post elicited several responses and questions like who will be paying the annual $6 million cost for theater operations? Newsflash Frisconians, there’s no such thing as a free lunch! Ever heard the quote, “one man’s ‘free’ is another man’s tax increase?” One thing we know for sure is compliments are free, but this arts center sure isn’t!
Smart Frisco refers to a Community Impact graphic on one post which states the city believes they can raise $50 to $60 million in individual gifts and another $50 to $60 million in corporate gifts. Then in May they are asking you to vote on a BOND which they claim pending approval, will be for no more than $160 million. Lastly Prosper ISD has committed $100 million to the project.
Prosper ISD? What about Frisco ISD? Frisco ISD, who is facing a budget crunch, is building their own Performing Arts Center using $43 million earmarked from the approved 2018 Bond. Remember in 2021, The City of Frisco, Frisco ISD and developer Hall Group entered a partnership to build a “JOINT” PAC at Hall Park. In August 2022, the city and school district announce they were parting ways and canceling the “JOINT PROJECT PLANS!”
FRISCO ISD is facing a BUDGET SHORTFALL, which they blame solely on the Frisco voters who did not vote to approve the last bond. Yet they, too, can justify the need to build a $50 million performing arts theater that belongs solely to Frisco ISD even though they are cutting some arts programs. They are blind to the fact that residents are demanding financial transparency on how they have already spent hundreds of millions of previous bond money on things other than what they promised it would go for at the time. That is a tangent for another blog!
Back to the question: Who is Smart Frisco? Honestly, we don’t know! We know the treasure has a mug shot, but we are not sure if that is relevant. I bet we will learn exactly who Smart Frisco is when they have to file their first campaign finance report. Remember, you can’t fill a gas tank for free! The purse must be filled to fund a PAC, so we believe the donor’s list will speak volumes on who is holding the marionette strings of the dancing dolls.
In Frisco, there is a permission process for running for office. What do we mean by permission process? Let us share: if you are interested in running for city council, you need to let Mayor Cheney know, and he will notify his henchwoman, Lorie Medina. Medina will then let you know if you have permission and if you are qualified enough to run for office. Suppose you don’t have the support of Cheney and Medina, otherwise known as the leaders of the established Frisco cabal. In that case, they will make it very difficult for you by turning to their developer friends to fund the campaigns of the “Cabal Approved” candidates.
How do we know this? It is what we have been told by several previous candidates who ran for office against the Medina Machine! If you want to run for office in Frisco, you must have their blessing, and they will give you the “pathway” to the dais of the council. But first, one must pay their dues, of course, or they will be told, “It’s just not your turn yet!”
It makes you wonder why any rational human being would want or try to run for office in Good Ole Frisco! Maybe they believe in things like community service and making a difference. Maybe they think local government should be more than a rubber stamp for developers. Then again, maybe—just maybe—they’re the rare type of person who enjoys the thrill of fighting voter apathy that plagues our elections. Either way, this time around Frisco residents have choices, and it is up to them to get off the couch, stop making excuses, and vote for change. Otherwise, you will once again find yourself asking why your city council makes decisions without your input. Remember, you had a chance to care. You just didn’t. Let’s look at who is running for Place 4! To be fair, we will go in order of their names on the ballot.
First up is Joshua Meek, whose filing application states he is a Real Estate Professional! According to his website, he is “Your Local Real Estate Expert” – just what we need, another Realtor! According to another site, Meek Industries, of which he is the Founder and CEO, they are a diversified holding company with a mission to acquire and grow attractive investments that generate sustainable cash flow. What? It does not list any partners, investments they are involved in, etc.
According to his political website, he has attended 133 Frisco City Council Meetings. Have you ever wondered who is that guy who sometimes wears a baseball hat and sits right behind the podium where everyone speaks to the council – that is Meek. He was appointed to the Frisco Community Development Corporation Board and has been involved in several notable projects. It touts he is a community leader, who over the last 14 years served in a variety of Frisco organizations and community positions including, Frisco Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Visit Frisco Board Member, member of the Frisco Rotary Club, Leadership Frisco class graduate, and Citizens Police and Fire Academy graduate.
What is Meeks Platform? Well, it says he wants “THRIVING PARTNERSHIPS” and touts our success is due to those partnerships with DEVELOPERS, school districts, healthcare systems and higher educational institutions. He goes on to say these partnerships must be PRIORTIZED as we finalize Frisco’s buildout. Truth is he is the young Cheney who is all about development and developers from what we can tell.
Next up he wants to “Pioneer Innovation” and somehow relates that to public safety. He believes that integration of technology and artificial intelligence can further enhance the high-quality performance of Frisco’s first responders. Personally, I don’t think AI can fight a house fire or stop an armed robbery the way our actual first responders can!
Lastly, he wants to “Leverage Economics” and he will continue to lower the tax rate by leveraging the use of sales tax revenue. That way Frisco CDC and EDC are able to create funding sources to help strategically fund parks, projects and attract employers that many other communities. What caught our attention was his comment “By continuing to invest in Frisco as a destination location” but do Frisco Residents want to be a destination location or a community. He also forgot to mention the CDC or EDC will fund a big Performing Arts Center that the cabal wants.
Next up Jared Elad whom we have nicknamed “The Beard” from his yellow signs popping up! His application lists his occupation as a small business owner. According to his website, he came from a modest upbringing in Tennessee and Oklahoma and got a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University.
He began his career as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch and later worked at Wells Fargo and BB&T/Truist as a Financial Advisor and Vice President. In 2024, he went independent to better serve his clients. Elad is married to Stephanie Elad (FISD Board Member) and has two daughters. Jared currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Villages of Stonelake HOA.
Jared Elad’s website goes on to say he wants to Eliminate excess spending, Lower taxes, Accomplish the budget, and be Dependable to the community. Get it ELAD! He touts we need fiscal responsibility with transparency, and he wants every taxpayer dollar spent efficiently, and wants to cut out wasteful expenses with a focus on projects that bring true value to “FRISCO RESIDENTS.”
Elad’s site also goes on to say he will support Public Safety, and he is dedicated to partnering with Frisco PD and Fire to ensure they have the resources, training, and equipment needed to serve and protect all Frisco residents effectively. He is for Community Friendly Development & Growth that supports economic vitality while not forgetting that it needs to align with the needs, concerns and wants of “FRISCO RESIDENTS.”
Lastly, Jared Elad has some cute pet videos and displays his support for Frisco Pets on his Facebook page. For the pet lovers, he had declared he is for a new pet shelter to ensure the safety and well-being of Frisco pets. As soon as he displayed his support for pets, the first comment came from an infamous Cabel supporter, Jake Petras, who stated he would also love a pet shelter and asked how we would fund it. Funny because we have seen many posts where Petras attacks pet people and the idea of a shelter, so we have to assume the cabal has him at work again being their mouthpiece to put other candidates running on defense or at least try!
Next up we have Jerry Spencer, and his application states he is an investor. He has lived in Texas for 76 years and over 20 years in Frisco. We could not find a website for Spencer, but we did find a Facebook page, but it was also limited to information. We sent a message asking if he had any platform ideas he wanted to share for our article.
Spencer responded that he lives on the east side of the tollway in Plantation. He would like to see Frisco shift the focus from sports, tourism, and being a destination city and broaden our economic base with a much greater emphasis on attracting emerging technology and 21st century industries such as AI, robotics, drone technology, autonomous driving, medical research, etc.
Spencer would like to also put a focus on regional cooperation with our regional partners in both Denton and Collin County. He believes Frisco has a Lone Ranger mentality, and he would like to see us have a regional performing arts center where we pair up with Plano, McKinney and Allen. There are 235,000 people in Frisco, but more than 750,000 in those four cities. The per capita costs of an arts center drop dramatically when spread over four cities. He said working together would be a better solution.
Next, we have Gopala Ponangi, whose occupation is listed as a Business Owner. He has lived in Texas for 24 years and spent 21 of those years in Frisco, Texas. Gopal is married with two daughters and has a pet Shih Tzu named Coco. He is a small business owner with an emphasis in Digital Marketing for Financial Services and Real Estate. If Gopal’s name sounds familiar it should, as he has served on the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees, Place one. His website at the time said, “Education is my passion, and I will strive to give my best to our students and the community.”
According to his website for Place 4 City Council, he says he is proud to be an active member of Frisco, leaving initiatives through nonprofits with a focus on Education, Healthcare and the Fine Arts. His bio states he is the Past Director of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation. He also was a founding Co-Chair of the Mayors Adhoc Committee for the Frisco Indian Affairs which has now taken the shape of the Multicultural Committee under Frisco Boards and Commissions. He touts on his website how he has served on several committees through FISD.
As for his Vision for Frisco, he would like to focus on more local jobs through smart, responsible growth. He would also like to see an improvement in traffic and will work to prioritize smart traffic solutions to keep Frisco moving forward. He is committed to Public Safety and will prioritize funding to ensure our first responders have the necessary resources to protect citizens.
After reviewing Gopal’s website, we had two questions. First if he is passionate about education then why is he running for city council? Second, he states he served on a lot of boards which made us wonder how he had the time? If you investigate his attendance for some of these boards, he boasts about it appears he was absent at 99% of the meetings. If he can’t show up for boards/committees/meetings, etc. then why would we think he will show up for city council meetings and all the duties that come with that role.
Lastly, we haveSangita Datta, and her application states her occupation as a financial specialist, having lived in Frisco for the last 6.5 years. We assume Datta is a Frisco Socialite because we constantly see her at events, and she has helped each of our current council members campaign during election cycles. According to her website, she is committed to making Frisco a better place to live, work, and grow. Her service journey began in Mother Teresa’s house in Kolkata, where she learned the meaning of life, compassion, and giving back to the community.
Datta’s platform includes promoting economic growth and fiscal responsibility through attracting quality jobs and supporting local businesses, using city resources wisely to keep taxes low, and fostering an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive. Secondly, she stands for enhancing a family-friendly community life by investing in parks, playgrounds, and community spaces and supporting initiatives that help working parents maintain Frisco’s reputation as a great city. Hmmm, we have initiatives that maintain our city’s reputation. Do tax dollars pay for that? Datta also wants to ensure safety and preserve Frisco’s unique character. After reading her site, we are not sure how preserving the city’s character affects safety, but hopefully, we have time to learn during the debates.
She believes her experience serving on the City of Frisco Parks & Recreation Board, Ambassador for the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, as Treasurer for the Indian Association of North Texas, and as an Ambassador for the Frisco Inclusion Committee will help her while serving on City Council. Datta also graduated from the Leadership Frisco, Citizens Police Academy and completed the City 101 programs.
That rounds out your choices for Place 4! Meeks reminds us of a young Cheney Real Estate mogul in training. Elad is a marketing genius with “The Beard” and we are excited to learn more about him in the debates. The pet-friendly Frisco will most likely gravitate to Elad because he has openly said he supports an animal shelter. Gopal is the obvious Cabel plant as he “supports the arts” meaning a Performing Arts Center. Proof that Gopal is one of the implants in his kickoff photos with Keating and Pelham.
We would like Gopal to explain his attendance record for previous positions he has held and tell us how it will be different this time. In our opinion, Datta should be madder than a wet hen that those she supported for years are not showing her the same respect she has shown them over the years. We need more clarification regarding her platform, and we are concerned her relationships with the current council means she will stay “inline” with what the Cheney Machine wants. However, we could be wrong, maybe there has been a clear line drawn in the sand of friendship. As for Spencer, we just don’t know enough about the person or platform to offer an opinion. The Whistleblowers want change – however that comes! We want independent individuals who will make their own decisions and not follow the gravy train of the current council members.
In our December blog called Fairweather Frisco Friends, we told you about how the city went on a full-frontal attack, with Bobblehead Bill leading the charge against our firefighters in the May 2024 elections. Why would they do this? The Frisco Fire Fighters Association felt their relationship with the city deteriorated or went up in smoke to the point that they had no other choice than to bring propositions for Civil Service and Collective Bargaining. After the election, Angelia Pelham and John Keating promised on their election roads to make things better with the Fire Department and to work on solutions. Ever wonder how that turned out?
In our blog, 13th Storke of the Clock, we told you about the aftermath following the May 2024 election and how the city and city management held “HEALING SESSIONS,” aka mandatory in-service meetings. The point was for the Fire Department staff the opportunity to express their complaints and fears. The result was a 50+ page report that was no different than the 2011 Climate Report, which talked about how Mack Borchardt and Lee Glover were the direct cause of the problems.
That 2024 report was given to the city management for their review, and we are guessing Weasel Wes didn’t like the remarks about him in the report. The 2024 report noted that when it comes to the City Manager, Wes Pierson the FD doesn’t trust him or his judgement. The report went on to say since taking over in this city he has been dismissive, divisive, flat out ignored them, refuses to meet with them, and has been condescending to members of the FD fracturing a future relationship.
After wasting the departments time in the “in-service healing session meetings” the members of the Fire Department waited, and waited, and waited for possible change. One notable change was that Fire Chief Lee Glover was given a “counselor” to help him do his job better. The other notable change was staff started leaving like hot cakes. That’s right the “EXPERIENCE” in our fire department is dropping like flies but they don’t want the citizens to know that.
Sometime in December or early January, we were told the Fire Fighters Association again raised some member motions for a “VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE!” Bet you have not heard about that! We are told it passed but we are still working sources to find out the final vote outcome.
It was the February 2025 response from Weasel Wes that caught our attention. It reads that he received their letter dated 12/27/2024 regarding the results of the vote of no confidence in Fire Chief Lee Glover and how he appreciated meeting with two of the board’s directors to discuss the letter’s contents. Sounds good right? Not so fast!
Paragraph two states while Weasel Wes respects their prerogative to voice concerns, he is DISAPPOINTED that this vote was the chosen method to do so – especially since work is currently underway to address issues that have been raised. He continues “It’s equally disappointing that as far as I (Wes) know, there was no attempt to communicate about these matters before the vote.”
HEY WEASEL WES – WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? DID YOU READ THE 50+ PAGE HEALING SESSION REPORT, OR WAS YOUR HEAD STUCK IN A HOLE SOMEWHERE?
Next Weasel Wes acknowledges some changes have been made by Chief Glover that are viewed as unpopular but if those changes result in better service or value for the citizens he is inclined to support them. That must mean that Weasel Wes supports taking away Squad after they just asked for that money in the 2019 and 2023 bond for more Squad ambo’s. Funny thing is more and more cities are implementing Squad Units as Frisco takes it away. Weasel Wes must also supports Glover’s decision to go back to the big bulkier fire trucks that are hard to navigate the narrow Frisco streets lined with cars because no one knows how to use their garage or driveway. He supports the reduction of staff. After Assistant Fire Chief, Kyle Mills announced his retirement after 21 years with the department, Chief Lee Glover decided to redistribute rolls instead replacing that position. In 2024 they had Firefighter Stewart and Captain Graham retire. Then in October 2023, Deputy Chief Porter retired. Years of experience out of the door. The truth is many of them utilized their retirement options to leave Frisco and have jobs elsewhere. Porter is at Little Elm today and Mills took a job with the Texas A&M Forest Service.
We reached out to other local Fire Departments and asked if they would ever eliminate positions in their ranks, and we were told “not a chance” repeatedly. One commented off the record that eliminating positions is equal to department suicide because cities will never give you the money back in budgets in the future to reinstate those positions. Yet Fire Chief Glover thinks we don’t need more front-line staff, and he is willing to reduce his management staff. How does that benefit the citizens, Weasel Wes?
Weasel Wes then goes on in the letter to say he recognizes there are still opportunities for growth and improvement in the FFD and he will continue to encourage Chief Glover and his team to pursue efforts to improve our service delivery in a responsible way. He notes that Chief Glover has opportunities to grow as a leader, just as we all do…. Wait Weasel Wes, Glover has been with Frisco FD for over 20 years and held positions such as lieutenant, captain, deputy chief, assistant chief and more so don’t you think he should have GROWN THOSE LEADERSHIP QUALITIES DURING THAT TIME? Now, after all this time he should be ready to step in and not need a counselor or more opportunities to grow.
Ready for the hard facts and truth? The bulk of his email was written in a way like it is the first time he is hearing about these issues and that he is shocked to hear of the issues at hand. Weasel Wes writes it as if the rank and file and the association have never shared their concerns prior to this December 2024/January 2025 vote. The hard truth is they shared their concerns with Weasel Wes before they even hired Chief Glover which we documented in our blog, Turn Back Time. Then they continued to share their concerns after they hired Chief Glover with a survey in 2023, also at citizen input and in the May 2024 election. Lastly, let’s not forget about the cities own survey that resulted in a 56-page report (during the aka Healing Sessions) where it was mentioned over 100 times with the issues directly being related to culture, morale, leadership, vindictiveness, racism and retaliation like behavior. He closes the letter by saying everyone he talks to says the department is great – well Weasel Wes who are you talking to?
Weasel Wes couldn’t have been more disrespectful and very intentional with how he wrote the letter. Angelia Pelham and John Keating have not followed up on their promises “TO MAKE IT ALL BETTER!” We documented some of those in our blog, Wasted Time. Remember that next time they run! We can’t wait to see what Tammy Meinershagen promise on her campaign this year when it comes to fire fighters as she was on the front lines against them in May 2024. Our City Manager is not stupid, in fact he is quite calculating and is known for being arrogant from all the emails we receive from inside the city. His letter is an example of just that!
Next, Weasel Wes is going to act like he never knew the city was being sued by Former Assistant Fire Chief Cameron Kraemer for wrongful termination. We wrote about the case in our blog Kraemer vs City of Frisco. If he wins, the city will pay big time, which we wrote about in our blog, Big Time Casino Payout.
We have not put out any information on this case. All we simply said is two families have been destroyed…
IMO, Cheney is intent on immortalizing himself by having a performing arts center with his name emblazoned above the door.…
recall Tammy
Stop spreading disinformation. A young man was murdered in cold blood and you're making up b.s. to blame the victim.…
I think you're a moron because you cannot read. I feel bad for your kids.