Robert Wilonsky
@robertwilonsky.bsky.social
Editorial columnist at The Dallas Morning News. Writing about Dallas.
Reposted by Robert Wilonsky
If we have a half empty library and there's not enough space at City Hall for all of City Staff, it seems like there's a pretty obvious solution here.
Convert some library space to offices and move services to the Library (e.g. Oak Cliff Municipal Center).
Convert some library space to offices and move services to the Library (e.g. Oak Cliff Municipal Center).
“Many of the building’s key systems, such as electrical, plumbing and elevators, are beyond their expected useful life, [and] the longer they go without upgrade and replacement, the more likely they are to fail.”
No, this was not a quote about Dallas City Hall.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
No, this was not a quote about Dallas City Hall.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Wilonsky: Do the downtown library and Dallas City Hall share the same fate?
It’s either the worst-kept secret in Dallas or the most repeated rumor around; in this small town pretending like it’s a big city, it’s sometimes hard to tell...
www.dallasnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:14 PM
If we have a half empty library and there's not enough space at City Hall for all of City Staff, it seems like there's a pretty obvious solution here.
Convert some library space to offices and move services to the Library (e.g. Oak Cliff Municipal Center).
Convert some library space to offices and move services to the Library (e.g. Oak Cliff Municipal Center).
“Many of the building’s key systems, such as electrical, plumbing and elevators, are beyond their expected useful life, [and] the longer they go without upgrade and replacement, the more likely they are to fail.”
No, this was not a quote about Dallas City Hall.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
No, this was not a quote about Dallas City Hall.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Wilonsky: Do the downtown library and Dallas City Hall share the same fate?
It’s either the worst-kept secret in Dallas or the most repeated rumor around; in this small town pretending like it’s a big city, it’s sometimes hard to tell...
www.dallasnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:06 PM
“Many of the building’s key systems, such as electrical, plumbing and elevators, are beyond their expected useful life, [and] the longer they go without upgrade and replacement, the more likely they are to fail.”
No, this was not a quote about Dallas City Hall.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
No, this was not a quote about Dallas City Hall.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Robert Wilonsky
This "Open Letter from Patrick Dumont" just landed in the inbox. Long story short: Fired Nico.
November 11, 2025 at 6:06 PM
This "Open Letter from Patrick Dumont" just landed in the inbox. Long story short: Fired Nico.
I remember when we had mayors who delivered their annual State of the City speeches in public. In front of, like, people.
November 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I remember when we had mayors who delivered their annual State of the City speeches in public. In front of, like, people.
The Future of City Hall is on the Dallas City Council's agenda this Wednesday. Here's the resolution. I just assume someone made a mistake when they left out the part where it says, "For the Dallas Mavericks."
November 8, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The Future of City Hall is on the Dallas City Council's agenda this Wednesday. Here's the resolution. I just assume someone made a mistake when they left out the part where it says, "For the Dallas Mavericks."
For Your Weekend Listening Pleasure:
39 years ago tonight, Neil Young + Crazy Horse turned Reunion Arena into A Rusted Out Garage, a solid gag that produced this keepsake filled with old favorites and "Life" previews. Hey hey, my my, play loud.
tinyurl.com/3h4aeewn
Setlist: tinyurl.com/5tjkpfky
39 years ago tonight, Neil Young + Crazy Horse turned Reunion Arena into A Rusted Out Garage, a solid gag that produced this keepsake filled with old favorites and "Life" previews. Hey hey, my my, play loud.
tinyurl.com/3h4aeewn
Setlist: tinyurl.com/5tjkpfky
November 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
For Your Weekend Listening Pleasure:
39 years ago tonight, Neil Young + Crazy Horse turned Reunion Arena into A Rusted Out Garage, a solid gag that produced this keepsake filled with old favorites and "Life" previews. Hey hey, my my, play loud.
tinyurl.com/3h4aeewn
Setlist: tinyurl.com/5tjkpfky
39 years ago tonight, Neil Young + Crazy Horse turned Reunion Arena into A Rusted Out Garage, a solid gag that produced this keepsake filled with old favorites and "Life" previews. Hey hey, my my, play loud.
tinyurl.com/3h4aeewn
Setlist: tinyurl.com/5tjkpfky
Walnut Hill Methodist opened during the first year of the Eisenhower Administration. It will close its doors following Christmas Eve services, celebrating a birth with a funeral of sorts. Below, a eulogy for a church that did a LOT of good for its neighborhood.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Wilonsky: Eulogizing the church that anchored my northwest Dallas neighborhood since 1953
Walnut Hill UMC was nearly destroyed the night of Oct. 20, 2019, when the tornado that tore through our stretch of Northwest Dallas snapped off its steeple...
www.dallasnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Walnut Hill Methodist opened during the first year of the Eisenhower Administration. It will close its doors following Christmas Eve services, celebrating a birth with a funeral of sorts. Below, a eulogy for a church that did a LOT of good for its neighborhood.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
After six hours of testimony and discussion, the 12 members of the City Council present -- none of whom were the mayor -- unanimously concurred with the chief that Dallas police will NOT partner with ICE. Their final act was to table the subject indefinitely so it will never reach a council agenda.
The joint committee meeting, called by Mayor Eric Johnson, is now hearing from public speakers -- nearly every one opposed to this partnership. Said one speaker, "Eric Johnson is not known for making good decisions for our city." Council discussion to follow.
dallastx.new.swagit.com/views/113
dallastx.new.swagit.com/views/113
November 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
After six hours of testimony and discussion, the 12 members of the City Council present -- none of whom were the mayor -- unanimously concurred with the chief that Dallas police will NOT partner with ICE. Their final act was to table the subject indefinitely so it will never reach a council agenda.
The joint committee meeting, called by Mayor Eric Johnson, is now hearing from public speakers -- nearly every one opposed to this partnership. Said one speaker, "Eric Johnson is not known for making good decisions for our city." Council discussion to follow.
dallastx.new.swagit.com/views/113
dallastx.new.swagit.com/views/113
November 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
The joint committee meeting, called by Mayor Eric Johnson, is now hearing from public speakers -- nearly every one opposed to this partnership. Said one speaker, "Eric Johnson is not known for making good decisions for our city." Council discussion to follow.
dallastx.new.swagit.com/views/113
dallastx.new.swagit.com/views/113
Spends Ray Hunt's money, apparently.
The mayor of Dallas started something called the Republican Mayors Association. What does it DO? www.dmagazine.com/micropost/ha...
Have Ray Hunt et al. gotten their money’s worth with the Republican Mayor’s Association?
As Zohran Mamdani was poised to become the next mayor of New York City last night, the mayor of Dallas dropped his take on Twitter. Speaking as the
www.dmagazine.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Spends Ray Hunt's money, apparently.
I woke up this a.m. to discover that the Dallas ISD on Tuesday canceled its application to demolish Adamson High School, an official Dallas landmark. I spoke this morning with DISD trustee Ben Mackey, who said it was likely filed as a result of "miscommunication." I've updated the column accordingly
A column about the DISD wanting to raze a 1915 historic landmark, Dallas' eagerness to auction off City Hall to someone whose name probably rhymes with Adelson and a late mayor whose Goals for Dallas included preserving what little history we have in this new city
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Wilonsky: Dallas ISD has finally made it official: Historic Adamson High School must go
Demolition by neglect, it’s called, the fine art of looking the other way as the windows shatter, the plywood fades and peels away, outsiders make their way...
www.dallasnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I woke up this a.m. to discover that the Dallas ISD on Tuesday canceled its application to demolish Adamson High School, an official Dallas landmark. I spoke this morning with DISD trustee Ben Mackey, who said it was likely filed as a result of "miscommunication." I've updated the column accordingly
Reposted by Robert Wilonsky
Put this one on upset watch. This is a Trump +20 district.
In Fort Worth, Democrat trade unionist Taylor Rehmet is ahead in the race for Texas Senate District 9 over his two Republican opponents, former Southlake mayor John Huffman and the chief comms officer of Patriot Mobile, a Christian right wing cellphone company, Leigh Wambsganss
November 5, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Put this one on upset watch. This is a Trump +20 district.
A column about the DISD wanting to raze a 1915 historic landmark, Dallas' eagerness to auction off City Hall to someone whose name probably rhymes with Adelson and a late mayor whose Goals for Dallas included preserving what little history we have in this new city
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Wilonsky: Dallas ISD has finally made it official: Historic Adamson High School must go
Demolition by neglect, it’s called, the fine art of looking the other way as the windows shatter, the plywood fades and peels away, outsiders make their way...
www.dallasnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:44 PM
A column about the DISD wanting to raze a 1915 historic landmark, Dallas' eagerness to auction off City Hall to someone whose name probably rhymes with Adelson and a late mayor whose Goals for Dallas included preserving what little history we have in this new city
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
So nice they showed it twice
November 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
So nice they showed it twice
Beautiful shot of the county jail
November 4, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Beautiful shot of the county jail
Today’s phrase that pays: “a series of unknowns,” said the city’s head of facilities. But sure. Let’s rush the decision. Sure seems like council members are eager to sell City Hall.
Staff's numbers are inflated and should be treated as poorly informed at best.
I'd put the necessary & reasonable items at $30-60M. By far the largest category of costs are things that are wildly inflated and largely unnecessary.
It just doesn't pass the smell test (cont)
I'd put the necessary & reasonable items at $30-60M. By far the largest category of costs are things that are wildly inflated and largely unnecessary.
It just doesn't pass the smell test (cont)
November 3, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Today’s phrase that pays: “a series of unknowns,” said the city’s head of facilities. But sure. Let’s rush the decision. Sure seems like council members are eager to sell City Hall.
Reposted by Robert Wilonsky
Updated presentation on the "State of Dallas City Hall" is not inspiring confidence in the motivations behind the recent push to sell city hall.
I regret not buying the Brobocop shirt when I had the chance during its VERY limited-edition run in 2011. Because I'd totally wear it to tomorrow afternoon's City Council committee meeting about the "State of Dallas City Hall," aka OCP HQ.
"Halt, bro," indeed.
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
"Halt, bro," indeed.
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
November 2, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Updated presentation on the "State of Dallas City Hall" is not inspiring confidence in the motivations behind the recent push to sell city hall.
I regret not buying the Brobocop shirt when I had the chance during its VERY limited-edition run in 2011. Because I'd totally wear it to tomorrow afternoon's City Council committee meeting about the "State of Dallas City Hall," aka OCP HQ.
"Halt, bro," indeed.
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
"Halt, bro," indeed.
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
November 2, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I regret not buying the Brobocop shirt when I had the chance during its VERY limited-edition run in 2011. Because I'd totally wear it to tomorrow afternoon's City Council committee meeting about the "State of Dallas City Hall," aka OCP HQ.
"Halt, bro," indeed.
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
"Halt, bro," indeed.
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
Dallas’ chief of police responds to the mayor’s demand that the council consider taking the feds’ ICE money. Read the full memo:
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
November 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Dallas’ chief of police responds to the mayor’s demand that the council consider taking the feds’ ICE money. Read the full memo:
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
dallascityhall.com/government/c...
For Your Weekend Listening Pleasure:
The Rolling Stones' Halloween 1981 Cotton Bowl concert was drenched by rain. The next day's show was much drier, a little longer and a LOT better:
tinyurl.com/cexenc25
Setlist: tinyurl.com/yztt3fzf
Local TV filmed the first 3 songs: tinyurl.com/3xknx3b9
The Rolling Stones' Halloween 1981 Cotton Bowl concert was drenched by rain. The next day's show was much drier, a little longer and a LOT better:
tinyurl.com/cexenc25
Setlist: tinyurl.com/yztt3fzf
Local TV filmed the first 3 songs: tinyurl.com/3xknx3b9
November 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
For Your Weekend Listening Pleasure:
The Rolling Stones' Halloween 1981 Cotton Bowl concert was drenched by rain. The next day's show was much drier, a little longer and a LOT better:
tinyurl.com/cexenc25
Setlist: tinyurl.com/yztt3fzf
Local TV filmed the first 3 songs: tinyurl.com/3xknx3b9
The Rolling Stones' Halloween 1981 Cotton Bowl concert was drenched by rain. The next day's show was much drier, a little longer and a LOT better:
tinyurl.com/cexenc25
Setlist: tinyurl.com/yztt3fzf
Local TV filmed the first 3 songs: tinyurl.com/3xknx3b9
Tomorrow night’s treats. Seems appropriate given, ya know, *waves arms* everything.
October 31, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Tomorrow night’s treats. Seems appropriate given, ya know, *waves arms* everything.
Reposted by Robert Wilonsky
I don't have anything insightful to add other than shame on the so-called leaders in DC who play with people's lives.
A Facebook post about an Oak Cliff man selling potatoes out of a trailer went viral this week. So I spent Wednesday with The Potato Man and his many, MANY customers, including a SNAP recipient who told me, "It’s always about the wealthy and to hell with the poor.”
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Wilonsky: On a busy Oak Cliff corner, where The Potato Man’s business is suddenly booming
“I’m The Potato Man,” said the 75-year-old sitting in the folding chair in the shadow of the white pick-up. “Just The Potato Man.” So, no. The man tucked into...
www.dallasnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I don't have anything insightful to add other than shame on the so-called leaders in DC who play with people's lives.
A Facebook post about an Oak Cliff man selling potatoes out of a trailer went viral this week. So I spent Wednesday with The Potato Man and his many, MANY customers, including a SNAP recipient who told me, "It’s always about the wealthy and to hell with the poor.”
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Wilonsky: On a busy Oak Cliff corner, where The Potato Man’s business is suddenly booming
“I’m The Potato Man,” said the 75-year-old sitting in the folding chair in the shadow of the white pick-up. “Just The Potato Man.” So, no. The man tucked into...
www.dallasnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A Facebook post about an Oak Cliff man selling potatoes out of a trailer went viral this week. So I spent Wednesday with The Potato Man and his many, MANY customers, including a SNAP recipient who told me, "It’s always about the wealthy and to hell with the poor.”
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
"Zevon, who was born to a Jewish father and a Mormon mother, had a religious sense that was — as his hero Greene once put it — 'a troubled, paradoxical faith.'"
One of my favorites (@bobmehr.bsky.social) on one of my heroes, Warren Zevon.
One of my favorites (@bobmehr.bsky.social) on one of my heroes, Warren Zevon.
My latest for The New York Times on the great Warren Zevon, in the wake of a lavish tribute concert dedicated to him in Los Angeles and ahead of his induction to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame next week. Gift link here: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/a...
October 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
"Zevon, who was born to a Jewish father and a Mormon mother, had a religious sense that was — as his hero Greene once put it — 'a troubled, paradoxical faith.'"
One of my favorites (@bobmehr.bsky.social) on one of my heroes, Warren Zevon.
One of my favorites (@bobmehr.bsky.social) on one of my heroes, Warren Zevon.