In the Fall of 2024, The Dallas Morning News mentioned several trends in its news reporting and editorials. Those trends centered upon the wide gap between city leaders’ priorities and what the residents of Dallas have plainly indicated they want.
Concerns came to a head with the successful passage of two of the three aggressive reform amendments under the banner of Dallas HERO.
The message seemed unmistakable: the status quo could not prevail.
But what happens when one of the leaders of the city’s legacy newspaper is run by an executive who also serves in city positions as a guardian of the status quo?
Such is the case with Katy Murray, board chair of Downtown Dallas Inc. (DDI), who also serves as president of the Dallas News Corp., which owns The Dallas Morning News.
As trust in the media declines to all-time lows, Murray is paid by Dallas News Corp. over $800,000 a year while also presiding over a staggering 42% increase in violent crime in downtown Dallas.
Indicators suggest this is not a recipe for civic trust.
Murray reportedly also advocates against reform legislation that would increase accountability for public improvement districts. DDI runs using taxpayer dollars funded by downtown businesses and landowners.
Boston Consulting Group conducted a startling report this year that rattled many city leaders. It showed a widespread increase in crime and disorder in downtown over a five-year period ending in 2024.
Violent crime soared 42% while property crime was abundant, both facts remarkable given the progress against crime in other areas of the city.
In the wake of the departure of Bank of America, Deloitte, and many other corporate players from downtown, speculation also abounds that the Boston Consulting Group report was commissioned as fears were raised against the devastating specter of losing AT&T downtown.