Dallas City Council Member Paula Blackmon has accused fellow council members of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Blackmon claims a meeting held between four council members and several philanthropists failed to comply with the legal requirement for public notice.
Council members present included Cara Mendelsohn, Zarin Gracey, Lorie Blair, and Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno. Blackmon argues that since the number of members attending constituted a quorum, the meeting should have had a public notice posted at least three days prior, as mandated by the Open Meetings Act.
Although no official action resulted from the meeting, Blackmon stressed that discussing homelessness—a matter with potential impact on public policy or city operations—should not occur behind closed doors. She emphasized the need for transparency and public awareness in such discussions.
The Texas Open Meetings Act requires governmental bodies to post notices detailing the time, date, location, and subjects of meetings at least 72 hours in advance.
Council members Mendelsohn, Gracey, Blair, and Moreno have not issued public statements addressing the accusations. How the Dallas City Council will respond remains to be seen, though increased scrutiny of council operations and transparency compliance appears likely.
