Editorial: Even ‘Turning Texas Blue’ Won’t Fix Us

The week in stories from the Texas Observer.

The Lede Mayoral Candidate Lily Bao Wants to Make Plano Great Again For years, there has been controversy over Plano's future after the city's planning and zoning commission unveiled a plan that would allow certain areas to be developed more densely, with mixed uses like residential units, retail, and other businesses. As news of the plan, titled Plano Tomorrow, trickled down from planning committees to city council to the public, rumors began to spread that the plan threatened the fabric of suburban life in the wealthy, fast-growing city.   Vocal residents formed a variety of political action committees and started backing candidates for local races who launched single-issue campaigns blocking new development. Lily Bao, a local realtor with no prior civic experience, ran for mayor in 2017. Her campaign promised to reverse the mayor's plans for "high density housing," but she lost narrowly. Now, Bao is running for mayor again. Her crusade against apartment complexes and mixed-use neighborhoods hasn't changed. The mayoral race, generally nonpartisan, has become increasingly polarized since she ran for office four years ago, and her campaign has become increasingly Trumpian. A vote for Bao is, according to text messages sent to registered voters, a vote to "Make Plano Great Again."  View this email in your browser. Must-Reads Editorial: Even 'Turning Texas Blue' Won't Fix Us If We Don't Face Some Hard Truths   This year has shown us that the way we care for one another, or for some and not others, isn't about who we are as Democrats or Republicans but about what we believe as people. The Lege This Week: The Capitol's Longstanding Toxic Culture   From allegations of sexual misconduct to Dan Patrick's push for permitless carry, here's what happened this week in the 87th Texas Legislature. More This Week 'I Felt Like They Were Demonizing My People': Advocates and Families Point to Biases in Texas Curricula   'Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing' Tours Dark Places That Are Hard to Call Home   Support the Texas Observer with a tax-deductible donation or subscribe to the magazine. The Issue March | April 2021 What's Inside   Waves of Abandonment: The Permian Basin is ground zero for a billion-dollar surge of zombie oil wells. Portraits of the Pandemic: One year in, we revisit Texans who shared their COVID-19 stories last summer. On A Dime: The rules of barrel racing, the only female-dominated rodeo sport, are simple. It's the execution that's hard.   Get Involved: Support hard-charging investigative journalism. For 65 years, the Texas Observer has shined a spotlight on the dark corners of Texas. Our reporters and editors work to ensure that we cover issues that are often ignored or underreported by other media. Join as a member, donate, or shop today. Join Donate Shop You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2021 Texas Observer, All rights reserved. Thank you for subscribing to The Texas Observer's weekly newsletter. Our mailing address is: The Texas Observer P.O. Box #6421 Austin, Texas 78762 The Texas Observer, a nonprofit, tries to save paper and money by contacting you via email.