July 6, 2026 Newsletter
July 6, 2026 – Volume 20 Number 27
Highlights:
* Commentary on the the city council's “reconsideration” and NOW approval of the low-income apartments.
* A planned development apartment case on P&Z's agenda for July 15.
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_14.html
Arlington is a city where citizens are relegated to being spectators, rather than players on the field. The SPECTATOR helps citizens know what is happening on the field. Only a few of the in-house team members are allowed to play ball in Arlington. The SPECTATOR helps citizens understand the game.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, July 15: P&Z meeting, Council Chambers, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm)
Wednesday, July 29: P&Z meeting, Council Chambers, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session at x:xxpm)
Thursday, July 30: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Tuesday, August 4: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister online by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Thursday, August 13: Budget Town Hall, South Police Center.
Thursday, August 13: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
Wednesday, August 26: Budget Town Hall, City Council Chambers.
Thursday, August 27: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The Arlington City Council takes the month of July off. They will meet on August 4.
[Commentary: At the Tuesday, June 23 city council meeting, the council “reconsidered” and has now approved the low-income apartments on U.S. Highway 287. Last week I was still too upset to write this commentary.
In my coverage of two decades-plus of city council meetings a “reconsideration” has only occurred less than a handful of times. When the council votes they know what they are voting on and there is rarely a change of the thought pattern.
The last time a reconsideration was used was in 2021 to expedite a new zoning case. In 2021 the developer wanted straight zoning for RM-12 (townhomes) on a small lot of land (just over half an acre) and was denied 4-4-1 because straight zoning cannot be “restricted” by the council and that zoning would have allowed for short-term rentals. So, the meeting after that failed vote the council reconsidered it and allowed for a public hearing for a planned development [NOT a total reversal of the decision as in 2026] instead of straight zoning where the council could restrict/deny any short-term rental use. So ZA20-08 became PD20-38 and was approved at the March 30, 2021 meeting. [Very ironic: this was the same meeting where $200,000 was approved for Legal Draft Beer, where part of my account of the item from the Arlington Spectator April 5, 2021 newsletter reads:
“The mayor seemed extremely annoyed that there were actual questions by the council members and that one citizen spoke in opposition. After the citizen spoke, the mayor asked for any more discussion, and when no one answered, he made a defense and the motion to approve.
This appears to be nothing more than the city council taking care of special interest friends, again.]”
Of course, the citizens were never to see any benefit of the $200,000 given away...]
In the current case, PD26-03, there should still be a second reading of the required ordinance on August 4, but I am not expecting any change from the results of June 23.
There are nine council members. District 8 Odom-Wesley voted in support on June 9 and the newest council member, Jason Shelton, also voted in support on June 23. Of the other eight votes, four of the eight changed their vote. [WHAT!!!] Four of the eight did what next to never happens on the same vote. Is there a stench in Arlington? I believe so. Are there backroom deals going on? I believe so. Is there money being passed under the table? I do NOT know, but it certainly would not surprise me if it were true. [Oh, I will mention, although it is probably not related, but losing mayoral candidate, Steve Cavender’s son was one of the principle members of the development company.]
Now to be honest two of the four did surprise me on their first vote. Hunter and Pham voted opposite of how I thought they would have voted on the first vote. But that leaves Galante and Ware...
Mr. Galante stated something about because they voted in support of the resolution of support [9% tax credit] earlier in the year, he changed his vote. However, when you actually have to look at the zoning and decide it does not fit, that should override any resolution of support where the zoning issues were NOT studied. In my opinion Mr. Galante is absolutely wrong to use that as an excuse to change his vote. However, at least he offered a weak excuse.
That leaves Mr. Ware sitting in the middle of this large pile of dung. No reason given; just stupidity at work. Evidently, he would appear to believe that low-income apartments are what is needed to make Arlington Great again. He is so wrong...
Arlington already has one of the highest, if not the highest, densities of the North Central Texas Council of Government (NCTCOG) area. Our density is far greater than Dallas or Fort Worth. IT IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO HOUSE FUTURE GROWTH AND CONSEQUENTLY OVERLOAD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE!!! You will often hear city management talk of the lack of Arlington's “green” space instead of the high cost of expensive redevelopment, yet this is what our council allowed to be put there.
Tom Ware, Mauricio Galante, and Long Pham should be ashamed of themselves and the ridiculous reasons they might use to justify changing their opposition and voting for this trash. They seem to prefer backroom deals over what is best for Arlington.]
Council Leftovers
The City of Arlington proposes a total project investment of an estimated $24,000,000, combining federal, state, local, and private resources for the acquisition and demolition of an existing two-story, 81,205-square-foot dilapidated motel structure at 1220 W. Division Street built in 1965 and comprised of 72 rooms. So far, they have determined they will use approximately $3,850,000 in federal HOME-ARP funds. Part of the city/local funds included is $2.85 million of Arlington Housing Finance Corporation funds. Anyone's guess on the specifics of the rest of the funding?
Following demolition, the city intends to construct a new permanent supportive housing community consisting of a minimum of 70 units. The new development will provide safe, service-enriched housing for chronically homeless individuals, veterans and their families, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. The primary objective is to expand the supply of affordable, supportive housing and promote long-term housing stability for residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
So, has anyone divided that out? $24,000,000 / 70 units = $342,857/unit [cost of a house???].
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article on the Arlington homelessness issue and the mention of this project by the mayor. That article can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/05/21/arlington-to-boost-permanent-housing-for-homeless-as-feds-slash-funding/ .
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
We do not know the date of the next EDC meeting.
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Wednesday, July 15, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD26-4, at 1425 S. Watson Drive. They wish for RMF-22 [apartments] with a development plan on the 3.850 acres. If approved this would go to the city council on August 25.
On Tuesday, August 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-18, at 1605 Wilma Lane. They wish to change zoning from RS-7.2 to a planned development for RS-5 (small lots) on 2.919 acres.
On Tuesday, August 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD25-21, at 1013 N. Mesquite Street. They wish to change from RS-7.2 to a planned development for RM-12 (usually townhomes) on 0.924 acres.
# # # # # # # # # # # #
P&Z Commission
P&Z will meet on Wednesday, July 15.
AISD School Board
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 30.
AISD Budget approved
Consider the adoption of the 2026-27 Budget (presentation , very high level overview). The budget was approved, 7-0. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/06/17/arlington-isd-trustees-adopt-nearly-60m-budget-shortfall-amid-declining-enrollment/ .
Sixth Grade to Move to Junior Highs in 2027
Moving sixth grade to the junior highs was approved, 5-2, with Wilbanks and Fowler opposed (presentation). Bianca Rodriguez-Mora of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/06/18/arlington-isd-moves-6th-grade-to-junior-high-level-despite-parent-concerns/ .
AISD Employees will NOT get raises
Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article from this meeting stating how employees will NOT be getting raises [but will be getting gains in health insurance benefits] at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/06/05/arlington-isd-employees-will-not-see-a-raise-as-district-fights-budget-shortfall/ .
Demographer's Findings
The school board had a workshop on Thursday, May 21 regarding the demographer's findings for the district. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/05/24/as-enrollment-declines-arlington-isd-leaders-signal-potential-school-closures/ .
Article on the STEM issue/cuts
It has been reported that the AISD leadership administration has met with staff telling them there will be cuts in positions because of the budget shortfall. That budget goes into effect July 1. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: Positions eliminated as Arlington ISD reorganizes to address $9M shortfall | Fort Worth Report .
A Chris Moss article in the Arlington Report explores the possibility of the AISD joining the pay-for-performance teacher program offered by the state. That article can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/01/07/arlington-isd-considers-texas-pay-for-performance-teacher-program/ .
AISD saw a jump in their accountability scores because of their challenge of some of the STAAR testing results. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has an article at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/09/arlington-isd-sees-2025-academic-accountability-bump-after-staar-appeal/ . Also an AISD article may be found at: https://www.aisd.net/district-news/updated-district-and-campus-accountability-ratings/ .
The AISD enrollment is expected to fall below 50,000 students at some point, maybe as early as the 2026-2027 school year. Chris Moss of the Arlington Report has a story at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/03/arlington-isds-enrollment-projected-to-drop-below-50000-next-year/ .
The AISD Board and Superintendent have established written goals, including student improvement on the STAAR testing. The Chris Moss article in the Arlington Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/01/arlington-isd-school-board-sets-goals-and-expectations-for-new-school-year/ .
TEA Accountability Data:
In 2020, the AISD was tied for the highest M&O rate of all the school districts in Tarrant County. Since then, there has been NO tie. The AISD HAS the highest M&O rate in Tarrant County. [school district tax rates]
Top 5 of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs M&O Rates
1. Arlington ISD $0.802200
2. Birdville ISD $0.786900
2. Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
2. Lewisville ISD $0.786900
2. Mansfield ISD $0.786900
Teacher Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html [Arlington ISD easily pays the highest salaries, thus creating ISD inflation.] An article by Jacob Sanchez in the Fort Worth Report confirms that the Arlington ISD pays the highest salaries in Tarrant County [ https://fortworthreport.org/2025/12/17/teachers-in-this-tarrant-county-school-district-earn-the-highest-salaries/ ].
OTHER NEWS
Arlington's Seven's Seas
James Ward of UTA's Shorthorn has an article on Arlington's Seven's Seas Marine Life Park which can be found at: https://www.theshorthorn.com/life_and_entertainment/it-was-gorgeous-but-time-passes-on-the-history-of-arlington-s-seven-seas-marine/article_dcf790a1-d4f0-45d0-8bfe-d1ad611d6ad9.html .
Stadium Extension
[Commentary: Just because they believe it is legal to approve the stadium extension without the public voting, it is neither the correct nor transparent thing to do. If you talked about the finances with officials back in 2016, they would point to the ability to pay off the Cowboy bonds early, giving them the ability to build the second stadium. They would also suggest that there would be a good chance bonds would be paid off before 2048.]
HELPFUL CONTACTS
The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com
to be added/deleted to/from the mailing list e-mail: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com
We can be found on Facebook at ArlSpectator.
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
City of Arlington website: www.arlingtontx.gov
e-mails of mayor and council:
.................... first.last@arlingtontx.gov
mayor = jim.ross
district 1 (north) = mauricio.galante
district 2 (sw) = raul.gonzalez
district 3 (se) = nikkie.hunter
district 4 (west) = tom.ware
district 5 (central/east) = brittney.garcia-dumas
district 6 (all) = long.pham
district 7 (all) = bowie.hogg
district 8 (all) = barbara.odom-wesley
AISD website ....................... www.aisd.net
McMurrough............ - sarahforaisd@gmail.com
Fowler ................... - fowler.aisd@gmail.com
Mike .................. - larrymike.aisd@gmail.com
Wilbanks .......... - dwilban.aisd@gmail.com
Chapa ...................... - chapa.aisd@gmail.com
Richardson ... - brooklyn.richardson.aisd@gmail.com
Haynes ................... - haynes.aisd@gmail.com
TEA Accountability Data:
ARC Political Watch Committee Reports
includes coverage of Mansfield ISD and national, state, county, & city
Texas Legislative Online:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
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