Latest Fact-Checks In City Government

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Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on June 25, 2025 a Truth Social post
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is a communist.
False
By Amy Sherman, Ella Moore • June 26, 2025
Levar Stoney
Levar Stoney
stated on October 26, 2022 a news conference.
“I don’t get involved in the hiring and firing of police chiefs.”
False
By Warren Fiske • November 2, 2022
Byron Brown
Byron Brown
stated on September 9, 2021 a debate
“Three percent is not a modest tax increase, if you own a $100,000 home in the city of Buffalo, that means an extra $300 a year.”
False
By Jill Terreri Ramos • October 28, 2021
George P. Bush
George P. Bush
stated on August 13, 2020 a tweet
Says a video shared to his social media shows vehicles with broken windows in a parking garage used by state agencies in Texas on “the same night the City of Austin voted to cut $150 million” from the police department.”
False
By Madlin Mekelburg • August 24, 2020
Viral image
Viral image
stated on November 5, 2019 a Facebook post
"These are real ads running in New York City calling for the removal of ‘trash’ which includes white people, Trump supporters, and Christians."
False
November 6, 2019
Roger Stone
Roger Stone
stated on September 28, 2018 a Facebook post
As mayor of Newark, N.J., Cory Booker "stole $600,000 from a city water authority and laundered it through his law firm."
False
By Daniel Funke • October 14, 2019
Viral image
Viral image
stated on April 27, 2019 a Facebook post
Says Bill de Blasio is "banning hot dog sales to stop climate change."
False
May 7, 2019
stated on April 24, 2019 in a tweet
Says one year ago, "no cities in the South had guaranteed paid sick days."
False
By Madlin Mekelburg • May 3, 2019
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio
stated on October 15, 2018 a gathering in West Miami of Ron DeSantis supporters
After Hurricane Hermine in 2016, Tallahassee "didn’t have power for weeks because (Mayor Andrew Gillum) stood in the way of crews being able to come in and restore power, because they weren’t members of the right union or something."
False
By Amy Sherman • October 16, 2018
Republican Party of Florida
Republican Party of Florida
stated on October 10, 2018 an ad
Says Andrew Gillum is running "from the FBI."
False
By Amy Sherman • October 12, 2018
Maram Museitif
Maram Museitif
stated on May 24, 2017 as quoted in a Central Health press release
Says Arabic "is the third most-common language in Austin."
False
By W. Gardner Selby • June 5, 2017
Ellen Troxclair
Ellen Troxclair
stated on February 23, 2017 an interview with Austin’s Fox 7 about her proposed affordability plan
"Since 2012," city of Austin "property taxes have gone up almost 30 percent while incomes have only risen 4 percent."
False
By W. Gardner Selby • April 7, 2017
Jim Kenney
Jim Kenney
stated on March 27, 2017 a tweet
"Immigrants are responsible for 96 percent of our small biz growth since 2000."
False
By Cassie Owens • March 28, 2017
Ridesharing Works for Austin
Ridesharing Works for Austin
stated on April 26, 2016 a voter mailer noted by a reader
If Austin voters reject Proposition 1, a "completely new City-run" criminal background check "process will cost millions in processing fees, additional staff, and bureaucracy" with taxpayers getting "the bill."
False
By W. Gardner Selby • April 30, 2016
Dan Forest
Dan Forest
stated on April 6, 2016 a tweet
Charlotte’s anti-discrimination ordinance would have "opened all bathrooms to all sexes at all times" if it hadn’t been overturned.
False
By Will Doran • April 8, 2016
Pat McCrory
Pat McCrory
stated on March 28, 2016 a speech in Clayton, N.C.
"We have not taken away any rights that have currently existed in any city in North Carolina" with the passage of HB2.
False
By Will Doran • March 30, 2016
Ora Houston
Ora Houston
stated on September 8, 2015 an Austin City Council meeting about the city budget
"HIV/AIDS among women is skyrocketing in Austin."
False
By Mary Ann Roser • October 2, 2015
Hillary Davis
Hillary Davis
stated on May 6, 2015 a hearing at the General Assembly
"The profit [from automated traffic enforcement cameras] is going to the private corporations, not to the city or state."  
False
By C. Eugene Emery Jr. • June 14, 2015
Mike Stenhouse
Mike Stenhouse
stated on November 14, 2014 a radio interview
"According to HUD, it is patently unfair and socially unjust that wealthy people can live in an exclusive neighborhood."
False
By Katie Mulvaney • December 14, 2014
Jim Skaggs
Jim Skaggs
stated on November 5, 2014 as quoted in a news story
Austin is "burdened by the fastest-growing tax increases of any major city in the nation."
False
By W. Gardner Selby • November 28, 2014
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