Taxpayers had to pay for a Dallas Christmas light show that went viral. In order to maintain traffic management and community safety in Preston Hollow, the Dallas Police Department had to step in.
-
-
A viral Christmas light display in Dallas cost taxpayers about $25,000 and took 71 officers away from responding to calls.
-
The traffic got so bad in the Preston Hollow neighborhood that police had to get involved to help maintain order and safety.
-
Now, a Dallas City Council member wants to explore ways to handle viral traffic jams in the future.
-
-
A viral Christmas light display in Dallas cost taxpayers about $25,000 and took 71 officers away from responding to calls.
-
The traffic got so bad in the Preston Hollow neighborhood that police had to get involved to help maintain order and safety.
-
Now, a Dallas City Council member wants to explore ways to handle viral traffic jams in the future.
DallasThe city of Dallas had to pay almost $25,000 for a mansion that went popular on social media due to its Christmas light show.
In a TikTok video, the Preston Hollow neighborhood’s homeowners invited Snoop Dogg to stop by whenever he wanted.
There were numerous videos of what is now referred to as “The Viral House.”
However, the light show caused headaches for people caught in the heavy traffic jams and crowds rather than bringing them Christmas happiness.
“When traffic began to build up, I was contacted by the president of the homeowner’s association. People scurrying across traffic lanes. Yards were being ruined. “It kept getting worse and worse over time,” Gay Donnell Willis, a member of the Dallas City Council, said. “Celebrities from all over the world tweeted about this. Suddenly, it became the item that everyone really had to see.
The house is enormous, but the street it is on is not.
The recordings, Willis claimed, took a peaceful neighborhood and “turned it on its side.” They also showed the location of the home.
“At a time of the year when people are looking for peace, joy, and kindness, this turned into chaos,” she stated.
Even though the lights were warned by code enforcement that “light glare or direct illumination shall not cross a property line with an intensity that creates a nuisance,” they continued to be on during the holidays.
“The city’s hands are tied,” Willis added.
Traffic had to be controlled by the Dallas Police Department because things had become so terrible.
Highlighted
The touching story behind a McKinney couple’s massive Christmas lights display
Before Joules was diagnosed with a serious heart condition, Mark Cornetti and Nasheel Joules enjoyed watching Christmas lights together every year. The couple chose to bring Christmas home because she was unable to attend the celebrations.
Later, she asked for a breakdown of the costs. It involved 71 cops over eight nights and totaled $25,375.
“That does not seem like the best way to deploy DPD resources, but it had to be done,” she continued. “Instead of being able to answer 911 calls, they were managing a Christmas lights traffic situation.”
According to the homeowner, neighbors originally reacted favorably to the lights.
But on December 15th, a post…became very popular on the internet.We saw a strong sense of camaraderie during our trip. In a statement, Ryan DeVitis said, “We have decided to make the most of the situation, even in light of some neighbors adopting a contrasting viewpoint.” Families in Christmas pajamas gathered to take pictures, offering smiles and support, especially among those facing problems.
Concerns regarding the city spending $25,000 to control the traffic were not addressed by Vitis.
In order to safeguard communities against viral attractions that could potentially cause traffic problems in the future, Councilmember Willis stated that she is asking a committee to examine if the city needs to amend its ordinance.
-
To obtain information for this story, FOX 4 reporter Lori Brown spoke with Gay Donnell Willis, a member of the Dallas City Council. The homeowner also gave her a statement.
To obtain information for this story, FOX 4 reporter Lori Brown spoke with Gay Donnell Willis, a member of the Dallas City Council. The homeowner also gave her a statement.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
