Dallas asks Attorney General to allow withholding thousands of City Hall emails requested by CBS News Texas

The City of Dallas is asking the Texas Attorney General for permission to withhold thousands of emails related to the future of Dallas City Hall, following an open‑records request from CBS News Texas.

After a city report outlined more than $1 billion in needed repairs to the aging City Hall building, CBS News Texas requested emails involving the city manager's office, City Council members and staff, and outside consultants discussing options for the site.

On Monday, the city turned over 649 pages of documents. However, city attorneys asked the Attorney General's office for an opinion on whether thousands of additional pages can be withheld.

In its request, the city argues the remaining emails have not been officially released and are protected under the Texas Homeland Security Act, as well as state laws governing confidentiality during negotiations with businesses considering relocating or staying in Dallas.

The request comes as questions continue to swirl around transparency in the City Hall decision‑making process. The Dallas Morning News first reported on the roughly 5,000 pages of emails they obtained that are tied to City Hall and other city business. 

Critics, including several Dallas City Council members, have criticized Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert for a lack of transparency regarding how decisions about the project's future are being made.

Tolbert has declined interview requests from CBS News Texas, but said in a statement on Monday that she provided council members briefings discussing the "urgent need to fund repairs to city facilities, including Dallas City Hall," dating back to last May and June.

Dallas City Council is expected to decide the future of City Hall in June.