Chad West won election to Dallas City Council in 2019 and is running for reelection.
He is an attorney and small-business owner who lives in Oak Cliff.
Oak Cliff neighbors count on transparency and accountability at City Hall, and since being elected to serve the resident of District 1, I have advocated for accountability and transparency at City Hall and worked to preserve the fabric of our neighborhoods. I am dedicated to giving residents and entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed, ensuring that our diverse neighborhoods and historic structures are protected and cherished, and ensuring that opportunities, education, and city services are equitable.
How would you like to see Dallas change in the next 10 years?
Several worthy goals for the next 10 years for our city include, in no particular order:
Preserve neighborhoods that are at risk of displacement/development by continuing to provide incentives to homeowners to allow them to stay in their homes, despite rising property values.
Reduce violent crime by 20-30%, based on community-driven initiatives, Right Care, and a robust public safety program.
Green up the city through enhanced tree canopy coverage and expansion of parks and trails. Connecting the Dallas Circuit Trail, The Loop.
End homelessness in the city through robust housing initiatives and wrap-around services.
Increase economic development opportunities in South Dallas and Oak Cliff, including activating the Oak Farms site with a DISD performing arts facility and a walkable neighborhood.
Finalize and publish modernized land use plans for the entire city, including finalization of the West Oak Cliff Area Plan in late 2021.
Convert Downtown Dallas, especially our central business district, into a place where businesses and people want to live, work and play, including reconnecting the grid by burying I-345.
Secure significant events from the World Cup 2026 in Dallas-Fort Worth, and especially in the City of Dallas.
Put better preparedness measures in place for natural disasters, such as the ice storm.
Ensure that everyone in the City who wants to be connected to WiFi has the ability to do so.
What do you think Dallas did right in the last decade?
Passage of the Comprehensive Housing Policy, construction of the Dallas Streetcar in Oak Cliff, the institution of R.E.A.L. change in DPD while still fully funding the police force, supporting efforts of the Meadows Foundation and others in starting the process to change the trend in homelessness for Dallas, greater focus on economic development in southern Dallas through Grow South, greater focus on historic preservation through the creation of the Office of Historic Preservation, equitable funding toward parks and trails throughout the City.
Give the current City Council a compliment sandwich:
Name something they’ve done right.
In December 2020, the City of Dallas used federal CARE Act funds to purchase a number of “problem” hotels throughout the city. The funds were required to be used for housing for people experiencing homelessness who were impacted by COVID-19 — failure to use the funds would mean the dollars would go back to Washington, D.C. City staff recommended the opportunity to take the Miramar Hotel — one of our district’s worst drains public safety resources due to the number of 911 calls — and turn it into something better for the community.
Homeless individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19 are now sequestered in the hotel. Long term plans are being discussed by staff and a workgroup (composed of neighbors and led by Commissioner and Stevens Park resident Jennifer Snow), include selecting a vendor to run a transitional housing facility and putting a permit process in place so the community continues to have a voice on facility operations well into the future.
We had a one-time opportunity to take a problem property and turn it into something better with greater community input. 9-1-1 calls have fallen by 50% from January-February 2020 to January-February 2021. I believe we will continue to reduce crime by having social work staff onsite 24/7 as we provide wraparound services.
For homeless neighbors, these 60+ units will offer a chance for a new life, and for our community, the chance to help others while also transforming a crime-ridden property into something redeeming.
Something that needs work.
Street racing and donuts in intersections continue to be a problem in Oak Cliff, along with the rest of the city. I have personally participated in ride-alongs with DPD and witnessed just how difficult it is for officers to locate and detain the racers. I was a signatory to the memo that made it a crime to organize or spectate during a speed race. In an attempt to mitigate speed racing issues along Hampton Road and along Jefferson Boulevard, I worked with neighbors to stand up task forces. These groups continue to come up with creative ideas to address the problem. Moving forward, I believe we should look at enhanced penalties for racing.
One thing that totally sucked.
My handling of the Royal Blue Grocery case could’ve been better. Staff proposed the deal as a solution to a “food desert,” which created divisive arguments across the district. I saw the proposal as more of an economic development opportunity for Oak Cliff. I was never a supporter of the grant but did support the low-interest loan because it would’ve brought jobs to Oak Cliff from Highland Park (the grocer was planning to move its commissary kitchen) and the city would’ve made more on the interest from the grocer than leaving the funds in its current account. As part of the incentive package, the grocer would’ve been required to attempt to hire locally, provide some basic sundries at comparable prices to other local grocers, and provide training classes for groups seeking to build neighborhood gardens, among other community benefits. The grocer did not accept the loan terms because of the numerous community benefit requirements and backlash from the neighborhoods. I believe if it had been handled better and with earlier community meetings, it would’ve been less controversial and possibly a win-win scenario for the neighborhood.
Another thing that also needs work.
The City needs to turn the tide on the degradation of its roadways. There is absolutely no way to turn the tide unless the city (1) drastically slashes other parts of the budget (including public safety funds), (2) raises taxes, or (3) initiates a bond for major road repairs. I believe No. 3 is the most viable option for the future.
And then another compliment.
Chad is dashingly handsome, wickedly smart, and shoots rainbows out of his fingertips. Oh, and he saved the Kessler Gnomes from eviction from Coombs Creek Trail in late 2020.
What makes you proud to represent Dallas? Oak Cliff?
The city of Dallas is an incredible place to live, and I’m proud to represent it. From its parks and historic neighborhoods to its local artists and small businesses, Oak Cliff has a vibrancy that makes people want to live here and the rest of Dallas want to play here.
What are your anxieties about where District 1 is headed?
District 1 is growing fast, and that fast growth has its pros and cons. While most welcome the economic growth and new retail and housing options, many have been left behind. To help slow displacement and help people stay in their homes, the City must continue to push anti-displacement policies, such as Neighborhood Empowerment Zones and Home Improvement and Preservation Program. And we need to support our local businesses by shopping locally. Finally, good planning for the future is essential. We need to ensure that, as our communities and neighborhoods grow, we have neighborhood-driven, long-range planning in place for the future. The West Oak Cliff Area Plan, which I kicked off in 2020, does just that – it seeks to put neighborhood-driven planning in place for parks, zoning, transportation, libraries, and historic preservation for the next 20-50 years.
How should the City of Dallas be spending money differently?
The city should include smaller investments in communities. Small infrastructure improvements benefit residents directly, right in their own neighborhoods. We do not need to give money to developers to overhaul a neighborhood, but invest in infrastructure-driven redevelopments, such as creating wider sidewalks, improving parking, and adding trees.
What are this community’s priorities regarding crime and policing?
As mentioned earlier, street racing is city-wide problem we’re addressing in District 1. While issues such as gunfire and theft remain, we are looking to set priorities for neighborhoods through the Public Safety Advisory Committee we launched last summer. This group is advising me on policy issues to help curb crime and rethink traditional policing.
How can the city better serve local small businesses in District 1?
The year 2020 presented more challenges for small businesses. We need to make it easier for people to “do business” by continuing to remove barriers at the city. We’re working on rethinking code restrictions on food trailers and making it easier to put in parklets. We also need to drastically speed up the permitting and C.O. processes, especially in the wake of COVID-19.
What is your No. 1 priority, if elected to City Council?
Public safety.
