Dallas HERO Amendments: Props S, U passed

Former and current Dallas city leaders warned that the so-called HERO amendments sound good but could have disastrous results. However, voters approved two of them anyway.

DALLAS - Despite bipartisan opposition from current and former Dallas city leaders, voters approved two controversial city charter amendments.

One requires a dramatic increase in the police force as well as an increase in investment in the police and fire pension.

The other opens the city of Dallas to lawsuits if someone suspects the charter or state laws aren't being followed.

Former and current Dallas city leaders warned that the so-called HERO amendments sound good but could have disastrous results. However, voters approved two of them anyway.

Proposition S was approved with 55% of the vote. It gives Dallas residents the right to sue the city if it doesn't comply with the city charter, city ordinances, and state law.

Proposition U was approved with just over 50% of the vote. It focuses on public safety, requiring 50% of all new city revenue to go to police and fire pensions and a minimum of 4,000 police officers, which is 900 more officers than the current force.

Monty Bennett, CEO and chairman of the Ashford Group of Companies, provided a lot of the money behind the Dallas HERO amendments campaign.

"We were pleasantly surprised and stunned," he said. "There was so much pushback from the Dallas political establishment."

Dallas voters approve 2 of 3 HERO amendments

It appears Dallas voters have approved two of the three controversial voter-driven amendments to the city charter. Former mayors -- both Republican and Democrat -- campaigned against all three of the so-called HERO amendments.

Amendment U requires Dallas to put half of its new revenue toward hiring police officers until it reaches 4,000.

"The city has been saying they will get from 3,100 officers to 4,000 for years and years, and they never make any progress," Bennett said. "They blame that they can't recruit. They can't recruit because they don't pay enough. It is so simple."

The group that fought against the amendments acknowledged defeat on Wednesday with a statement that said: "The results of the ballot initiatives suggest citizens of Dallas are not happy with City Hall. They sent that message with their votes on city charter amendments, including the passage of Propositions S and U, which were sold on the false promises of more accountability and more police. These propositions will likely face legal challenges, but the democratic system worked. We lost."

Top leaders warn against city charter props

Four former Dallas mayors, a former police chief, members of the current city council and other county and state leaders joined together to voice a firm stance against three propositions on the November ballot. "This is chocolate-covered rat poison,"

Amendment S takes away the city’s government immunity, allowing it to be sued for violating the law. But Bennett says the amendment states plaintiffs can't receive monetary damages.

"The city can be sued, but the only remedy is they have to follow the law," he said.

Bennett says a state law that could be enforced relates to homeless encampments being cleared.

"This is the only example across the country that the government has to follow its own laws. They don't have to follow their own laws. Now, they do," he said. "I think it needs to start here and move across the country."

The city has said it will not be possible to hire and train 900 officers, but Bennett says that’s false.

"That is another lie they put forward. It is a shame. It just says 50% of incremental revenue in a year goes toward several objectives, one of which is to hire more police officers to get them up to 4,000," he said. "It could take 500 years or one year, depending on how fast the money comes in.

Bennett says his motive is only to make Dallas a better place.

"I lived near Uptown and wanted to start a family. It was too dangerous to live there," he said. "I am blessed I can afford Park Cities, but most can't do that, and they have to live with this crime."

Proposition T was rejected with 45% of the vote. It would have created a community satisfaction survey related to the city manager's job - affecting compensation.

Dallas County election results show 100% of precincts are reporting, but Election Administrator Heider Garcia said some mail-in ballots are still being processed.

The interim city manager told FOX 4 on Wednesday that while they wait for the final certified results of the election, they will continue to review their options.

Dallas HERO Amendment Election Results

What are the Dallas HERO amendments?

Dallas HERO propositions: "S, T, U"

There are three controversial voter-driven charter amendments on the ballot in Dallas County. The propositions impact public safety and the city's budget.

The three amendments were put onto the ballot after the nonpartisan group Dallas HERO gathered 170,000 petition signatures.

Several former top Dallas leaders argued against the proposals, saying they would cost the city tens of millions of dollars in funding and lead to cuts in city services.

Dallas HERO argued the measures would hold government officials accountable and cut back on unnecessary spending.