ChangeAustin.org – together with a lot of great people from all persuasions across the city — passed 10-1 in 2012.
It resulted in a hotly contested 2014 Council election and a geographically and otherwise diverse new council that gave us hope. But we know the real deal on 10-1. It was only a matter of time for the dust to settle in and it has. The real estate lobby – we call them “The Growth Machine” – is still very much in control of Austin.
We wrote to you on August 6th here about an important lawsuit initiated by Brian challenging Mayor Steve Adler’s lead on the Pilot Knob fee fiasco. We will soon see what a court of law thinks about the legality of diverting $80M in water impact fees away from their designated purpose – to help pay for growth – plus the brazen violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Mayor Adler has been meeting from day one with San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor to discuss what they can do together to “build a megalopolis” between the two cities. Austinites, San Antonians, Hays Countians and hundreds of thousands who live along the IH-35 growth corridor and still more to our east in Lee, Bastrop, Milam and Burleson counties have a real problem with that. It’s a huge drain on our water and our collective wallets.
There is a gold rush on the aquifer to our east – a slow (very) recharge aquifer called the Simsboro formation of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer. Water wars continue about a plan to pipe it to help pave over Hays County and the fast-recharge and sensitive zones of the mighty Edwards Aquifer. (Have you watched the 17-minute “I Oppose the San Antone Hose” video here?)
What Can You DO?
- Join the picket in San Marcos this Friday (Sept. 16th) 11-1 at the Growth Summit: Landowners and residents from the region are planning on picketing this event and are holding a press conference. More here about the event.
- Mark your calendars! Linda is also organizing an Austin event called, “Reboot 10-1” on Thursday, September 29th from 7 to 8:30 pm at Austin Energy (721 Barton Springs Road). Austin City Councilwoman Ora Houston will moderate a debate on the “Go-Big” transportation bonds. What does “Reboot 10-1” mean? You’re about to find out. Don’t miss it!
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