New PAC wants council change
Group will endorse candidates vying for council seats.
By Suzannah Gonzales
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, January 05, 2008
As Austin starts gearing up for municipal elections in May, a new political action committee is hoping to turn discontent into dollars for candidates and issues.
The committee, Better Austin Today, plans to pull support from neighborhood groups, environmental and civil rights activists, social and environmental justice groups, and the small-business and local business communities.
The committee's board consists of members of some of the city's most politically active groups: the Austin Neighborhoods Council, Save Our Springs Alliance, Sierra Club in Austin, and the Central Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas.
It also includes more recent additions to the city's political scene, including Responsible Growth for Northcross, which was organized in response to plans to convert part of Northcross Mall in North Austin into a Wal-Mart Supercenter.
The committee says City Council members aren't listening enough, that they act in opposition to those who speak before them and who worked on neighborhood plans. The committee says there is a lack of growth management in the city. It is also concerned about the disputes over Northcross Mall and the placement of the animal shelter in East Austin, as well as issues of perceived inequality in how the city deals with East and West Austin.
Group members hope that by banding together, they can effect some change.
"It's just this feeling that everything gets done piecemeal in this city," said board member Hope Morrison of Responsible Growth for Northcross. "There is no vision.
"It's a failure of vision and leadership."
The group plans to endorse candidates in the May election; three seats will be on the ballot. Council Members Jennifer Kim and Lee Leffingwell are running for re-election; Council Member Betty Dunkerley is not seeking re-election.
City charter amendments on changing Austin's council representation from citywide to single-member districts and restricting economic subsidies may also be up for a vote.
"I think it's part of our requirement of citizenship to form political groups and seek a common stance so we can govern correctly," said board member Brian Rodgers of the Stop Domain Subsidies campaign, which is gathering signatures to get on the ballot a charter amendment to prohibit tax incentives for future retail projects and stop the city from making payments for any existing projects, such as the Domain, a high-end shopping center in North Austin.
"There's not any widespread community coalition that is holding city leaders accountable to the public interest," Morrison said.
Board members have various concerns.
One issue is density, said board member Mary Arnold, an environmentalist and former Planning Commission member. "If creating density does not diminish sprawl, then where are we?"
Richard Franklin, president of Black Austin Democrats, says that the council listens only to special interest groups and that there's a silent majority.
"We're trying to cut out an apathetic mass populous," he said. "We're hoping that with this, we will force politicians to be more open, inclusive."
Leffingwell, who plans to compete for the committee's support, said he spends more than half of his time talking to residents about council meeting agenda items.
"My office door is always open," he said. "Actually, I think my record on neighborhood issues is very good."
The committee, born of on-and-off discussions that took place in the past year, plans to stick around after the election and remind those elected what they promised to do. Committee members aim to be a long-term force for accountability and educating the public, Morrison said. They also plan to hire a staff.
The group will hold a fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 13 at Austin Moose Lodge, 2103 E.M. Franklin Ave., between East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Manor Road.
The formation of the group "signals that it's time for a change," Morrison said. "All of these diverse interests have finally had enough.
"Together we are a force. We can make a change."
sgonzales@statesman.com;445-3616
Additional material from staff writer Kate Alexander.
Find this article at:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/05/0105pac.html
By Suzannah Gonzales
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, January 05, 2008
As Austin starts gearing up for municipal elections in May, a new political action committee is hoping to turn discontent into dollars for candidates and issues.
The committee, Better Austin Today, plans to pull support from neighborhood groups, environmental and civil rights activists, social and environmental justice groups, and the small-business and local business communities.
The committee's board consists of members of some of the city's most politically active groups: the Austin Neighborhoods Council, Save Our Springs Alliance, Sierra Club in Austin, and the Central Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas.
It also includes more recent additions to the city's political scene, including Responsible Growth for Northcross, which was organized in response to plans to convert part of Northcross Mall in North Austin into a Wal-Mart Supercenter.
The committee says City Council members aren't listening enough, that they act in opposition to those who speak before them and who worked on neighborhood plans. The committee says there is a lack of growth management in the city. It is also concerned about the disputes over Northcross Mall and the placement of the animal shelter in East Austin, as well as issues of perceived inequality in how the city deals with East and West Austin.
Group members hope that by banding together, they can effect some change.
"It's just this feeling that everything gets done piecemeal in this city," said board member Hope Morrison of Responsible Growth for Northcross. "There is no vision.
"It's a failure of vision and leadership."
The group plans to endorse candidates in the May election; three seats will be on the ballot. Council Members Jennifer Kim and Lee Leffingwell are running for re-election; Council Member Betty Dunkerley is not seeking re-election.
City charter amendments on changing Austin's council representation from citywide to single-member districts and restricting economic subsidies may also be up for a vote.
"I think it's part of our requirement of citizenship to form political groups and seek a common stance so we can govern correctly," said board member Brian Rodgers of the Stop Domain Subsidies campaign, which is gathering signatures to get on the ballot a charter amendment to prohibit tax incentives for future retail projects and stop the city from making payments for any existing projects, such as the Domain, a high-end shopping center in North Austin.
"There's not any widespread community coalition that is holding city leaders accountable to the public interest," Morrison said.
Board members have various concerns.
One issue is density, said board member Mary Arnold, an environmentalist and former Planning Commission member. "If creating density does not diminish sprawl, then where are we?"
Richard Franklin, president of Black Austin Democrats, says that the council listens only to special interest groups and that there's a silent majority.
"We're trying to cut out an apathetic mass populous," he said. "We're hoping that with this, we will force politicians to be more open, inclusive."
Leffingwell, who plans to compete for the committee's support, said he spends more than half of his time talking to residents about council meeting agenda items.
"My office door is always open," he said. "Actually, I think my record on neighborhood issues is very good."
The committee, born of on-and-off discussions that took place in the past year, plans to stick around after the election and remind those elected what they promised to do. Committee members aim to be a long-term force for accountability and educating the public, Morrison said. They also plan to hire a staff.
The group will hold a fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 13 at Austin Moose Lodge, 2103 E.M. Franklin Ave., between East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Manor Road.
The formation of the group "signals that it's time for a change," Morrison said. "All of these diverse interests have finally had enough.
"Together we are a force. We can make a change."
sgonzales@statesman.com;445-3616
Additional material from staff writer Kate Alexander.
Find this article at:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/05/0105pac.html
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