Hours after appearing at a South Dallas news conference, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson was notably absent from an event on the city’s workforce readiness program, citing security concerns.
On Thursday, Johnson was slated to make an appearance alongside Lynn McBee, the city’s workforce czar, to announce the next phase of a program to help 24-64-year-old residents access career opportunities.
“Mayor Johnson had planned to be with us today, but was recently advised that his public appearances are being temporarily suspended for security reasons,” McBee said at the beginning of the event. After that, she played a video message from the mayor, who lauded a partnership with Goodwill Dallas, which was shepherding the project.
Johnson did not respond to a text seeking more information. Alheli Garza, his chief of staff, and Noah DeGarmo, his communications officer, also did not respond to a request for more information about the dangers to his security.
Political Points
At 10 a.m., the mayor spoke at Ruthie’s Fueled by Good in South Dallas during the announcement of $6.8 million in grants, a philanthropic investment from Wells Fargo to support economic growth and the development of the area.
“We know that when businesses invest in local communities, everybody wins,” Johnson said at the event. “This has been a team effort, and I see a lot of people in this room that I know have put in a lot of work.”
There was no indication he would not be at the 2 p.m. news conference later in the day.
Johnson experienced heightened public scrutiny last week after first denying speculation that he planned to potentially resign and run for a higher office.
Later, the mayor asked council members to discuss the benefits of partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after word broke that Police Chief Daniel Comeaux had turned down a $25 million offer from the federal agency to reimburse the cost of local law enforcement’s involvement in the 287(g) program.
The move drew national attention, and several Dallas residents attended a City Council meeting Wednesday to critique his move and urge council members not to collaborate with ICE. It is unclear if any of the recent events are connected to Johnson’s security concerns.