The Dallas City Council is facing criticism after failing to allow an open speaker segment during Wednesday’s meeting, leaving citizens who had signed up to speak waiting for hours without being heard.
The situation has sparked outrage, with residents accusing the council of silencing public input despite repeatedly claiming they value citizen participation.
Among those affected was Caroline Wilder, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her frustration.
“After almost ELEVEN HOURS they sent everyone home. I never got to speak,” Wilder posted.
“I arrived at City Hall a little after 9 this morning to speak about the search for a new City Manager. Two other speakers wanted to speak on this. We each have a 3-minute time limit.”
Wilder’s comments highlighted the council’s decision to bypass hearing from five registered speakers—a process that would have taken only 15 minutes. One of the original five did not show up, leaving four citizens waiting for over 11 hours in hopes of being heard.
“@CityOfDallas Council decided they didn’t have NINE MINUTES to hear from us before going into closed session to interview candidates and begin deliberating this decision,” Wilder continued. By 4 p.m., the council had not returned from its session, and Wilder noted that they were already an hour late.
Another commenter on Wilder’s Twitter feed remarked, “Sounds like a violation of the open meetings act…”
The Open Meetings Act is a law designed to ensure transparency in government by requiring that meetings of public bodies be conducted in an open and accessible manner.
It mandates that deliberations and decisions made by such bodies are open to public observation and input, except in specific circumstances where closed sessions are legally permitted.
Failing to allow public participation or proceeding in a way that prevents citizen engagement may violate the principles of this act, further fueling concerns about accountability and transparency.
The topic of citizen input has been a focal point for the council, particularly regarding the critical decision of selecting a new City Manager.
While the council emphasizes the importance of community engagement in shaping city policies, yesterday’s actions suggest a troubling disconnect between words and actions.
“They say they want citizen input, yet they made five citizens wait 11 hours to speak,” another frustrated attendee noted. “This is not how public service should work.”
The City Council’s refusal to hear from these residents has drawn widespread backlash, with critics pointing out the irony of claiming to prioritize transparency and engagement while actively sidelining voices willing to participate.
As Dallas moves forward with critical decisions, including the appointment of a new City Manager, residents are questioning whether their voices truly matter in the process.
The incident has left many wondering whether the council’s actions align with their stated commitment to public input.