by Perry Pillow, FWAA Vice President of Government Affairs
Last month, we began our yearlong look at twelve personal attributes to help you improve your advocacy. These B12 advocacy vitamins ensure that FWAA advocacy efforts remain strong. We begin with: Be Aggressive! This month, we have added another essential personal and professional characteristic: Be Truthful!
FWAA members’ advocacy initiatives operate within a chaotic, swirling storm of my-truths, denials, dismissals, lies, deceits, half-truths, and misinformation. Rumors, gossip, and speculation overtake facts, validity, and candor— “I saw it on social media, so it must be true.” The public’s disdain and distrust of government officials and institutions is at an all-time high.
So, how do FWAA members ensure our advocacy endeavors survive and thrive in today’s hostile, ever-changing political environment? Be truthful. Sounds obvious and seems simple. Verifiable, factually accurate information (a.k.a. truth) exists. FWAA advocacy success depends on always being truthful. Following are some practical steps to ensure you are being truthful:
Always: Conduct your advocacy activities with honesty and integrity. If you ever initially misled or lied to an elected official, you have done irreparable damage to yourself and FWAA.
Ask: When confronted with legislation, public policy, political analyses, etc., ask: is it the truth?
Blissful Ignorance: In our efforts to be helpful and polite to elected officials, FWAA members can fall into the trap of attempting to answer an elected official’s question when the member does not know the answer. It is okay to respond with “I don’t know” when an elected official asks you a question. You do not know what you do not know. You can add “But I’ll find out” or “I’ll have someone from the FWAA, TAA, and/or NAA staff follow up with you.”
Communicate: FWAA advocates must seek to provide factually correct, current, and accurate information, including impacts or ramifications for renters. You cannot tell half-truths.
Determine: If you discover that you or FWAA have inadvertently provided an elected official with factually inaccurate information, promptly provide the official with the right information. If information changes, provide the official with the most current information.
Be truthful! It sets you free, and it is not painful.
FWAA MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN TAA DAYS AT THE CAPITOL – FWAA leaders met with FWAA service-area state senators and state representatives during TAA’s Days at the Capitol on February 4th and 5th. Issues discussed included squatters, eviction process integrity, property taxes, and various affirmative and adverse landlord-tenant issues. Big shout out to Alexis, Amy, Becca, Bobby, Brent, Bryan, Chris, Heather, James, Jamie, Jim, Jeff, John, Kate, Katy, Kristen, Lani, Laurie, Lezlie, Micah, Nicole, Patty, Robert, Sarah, Stephanie, & T Jaye for taking time out from their busy schedule to represent FWAA!
2025 TEXAS LEGISLATURE – The 140-day 2025 Texas Legislature Session began January 14th and ends June 2nd. The Texas Apartment Association (TAA) expects more than 10,000 bills to be filed during the session. TAA is currently tracking more than 200 bills that impact our industry. FWAA’s voice is strong with TAA: FWAA Treasurer Nicole Zaitoon serves on the TAA Legislative Committee; FWAA Past President Cayce Coon is TAA Secretary; and FWAA Past President Patty Utley in a TAA Vice President At-Large. To better understand how the Texas Legislature functions, click on the following link: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/13/texas-legislature-2025-bills-laws-how-works/–
FORT WORTH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FILING PERIOD – All eleven Fort Worth city council members, including the Mayor, are up for reelection in the May 3rd municipal elections. The candidate filing period begins January 15th and ends February 14th. Longtime FWAA friend, Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens, and District 6 councilmember Jared Williams are not seeking reelection; however, Mayor Parker and all other incumbents are expected to file for reelection.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE FWAA PAC – FWAA advocacy efforts depend on all our members doing their part to financially support candidates that align with FWAA’s interests. Please https://form.jotform.com/220464310148143
Perry Pillow is FWAA’s Vice President of Government Affairs. For more information, contact Perry at perry@livefw.org or call 817-701-6353.
