Cara Mendelsohn

Taxes / Budget Taxpayers want a good return on their tax investment. Cara believes we must continue eliminating waste, duplication, and end pet projects so the City can focus on doing the basics well. Cara continues to advocate for lower property tax rates, increased senior exemptions based on cost of living index, and efficient use of tax dollars in the city budget. Taxes / Budget Cara has pushed back against plans that provide 75-year tax abatements to developers, against wasteful spending on boondoggle projects like rebuilding the convention center, and spending that drains the city’s reserve accounts for short-term gains. Criminal Justice / Public Safety DPD should continue to focus on recruiting and retention efforts and sensible efficiencies to allow officers to concentrate on activities that most impact crime. Our goal should be for Dallas to become the safest large city in America. Having police, fire, and EMS services available to respond to calls in a timely manner, all over the city, is our urgent priority. Infrastructure / Transportation Cara advocates for sufficient funding in the annual budget to maintain our roads and replace traffic signals on an appropriate schedule. Housing She believes there should be sufficient emergency shelter beds to allow anyone who needs shelter to find a safe place to sleep. She does not believe homeless encampments should be tolerated and immediately removed with shelter services offered. The long-term solution to homelessness must incorporate robust mental health services, substance abuse recovery, and affordable housing. Cara is an advocate for supportive housing that provides on-site services to disabled individuals, as well as single-room occupancy housing and shared housing as affordable means to provide stable housing to the lowest-income residents of Dallas. Housing Cara advocated for a new Master Leasing program to provide housing for voucher holders who can’t find a place to rent.