There is significant online pushback against Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson's recent trip to Aspen for the Aspen Ideas Festival.
The social media backlash comes in the aftermath of recent decisions and conversations involving City Management.
That includes the future of the iconic Dallas City Hall building itself, a decision to allow the new convention center to block a key thoroughfare into Downtown from Oak Cliff, and now furloughs due to the significant budget shortfall.
"I question if city mngmt's year-long obsession w/ the City Hall boondoggle has led to our current situation, where furloughs are being implement to address a mid year shortfall...," City Councilman Adam Bazaldua posted on Facebook.
Bazaldua also issued a statement saying he does not support furloughs as a cost-saving method and questioned why it was announced via news release.
Other backlash came from a social media post from Mayor Johnson speaking at the festival.
Some questioned why he was traveling during a city traveling freeze. Another questioned if Dallas is currently leading the way with anything.
On recent furloughs, the Mayor noted that difficult decisions need to be made and the annual budget is the responsibility of the City Manager.
"Every year I have served as mayor, I have fought for the City to significantly reduce its spending, with little support from the City Council," Mayor Johnson claimed.
City Manager Kimberly Tolbert announced the furloughs this week.
"Furloughs are not our preferred solution; however, they enable use to reduce expenses, protect jobs and employee health benefits, and continue delivering services to our residents," Tolbert said.
Another Dallas City Council member is calling on the public to get involved with the City's budget process.
Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn says that Dallas doesn't have a shortage of revenue, but the City instead has a spending problem.
“When I was elected the budget to $3.6-billion dollars, now it is 5.2-billion dollars,” Mendelsohn said.
Mendelsohn says they expect a draft budget in August and the City Council will adopt a budget in September.
