So. Based on what the DMN had to report:
- The city of Dallas gave three private developer groups governmental powers through the creation of “municipal management districts.”
- City staff, and the economic development committee, decided that greater power doesn’t come with greater (ethics) responsibility.
It looks like the issue isn’t settled. Councilman Ron Natinsky, who was as enthusiastic as any member of the council in authorizing these districts, promised to take his concerns to the full council:
“We’re exempting our appointees to the MMD boards from all [city] ethics responsibilities … I think it sends a somewhat bad message that we’re approving the appointments of people to a board and then we just totally said you don’t have to — in any way, shape or form — abide by the city’s ethics codes.”