Debate Thursday at St. Edwards over Props 1 and 2
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend!Public Forum on Prop. 1 and 2
OPEN GOVERNMENT ONLINE AMENDMENT
&
&
SAVE OUR SPRINGS AMENDMENT
Moderated Debate & Question/Answer Session
This Thursday, April 13, from 6:30-8:30pm, a public forum on this decade’s two most important Austin charter amendments will take place at St. Edward’s University.
SAVE THE DATE
WHEN:
Thursday, April 13 2006, 6:30-8:30pm (doors at 6:00)WHERE:
St. Edwards Campus: Jones Auditorium in the Ragsdale Center—the debate will be in Room 100, on the west side of the bottom floor (Ragsdale is the long building in the middle of campus).WHO:
Speaking In Support:Presenting the most passionate, informed, and open discourse on these crucial issues, Thursday’s forum is designed to thoroughly expose, educate, and involve the public in the “Open Government Online” and “Save Our Springs” debates.
Bill Bunch, Executive Director of Save Our Springs Alliance
Glen Maxey, former State Representative and Clean Austin Campaign Director
Speaking In Opposition:
Gus Garcia, former Mayor
Daryl Slusher, works for Austin Energy and former City Council member
Debate hosted by the Environment Science and Policy program of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences at St Edwards University.
Free parking for event. Campus Maps at: www.stedwards.edu.
posted by opengovaustin @ Monday, April 10, 2006
6 Comments:
Should be fun to hear. Did you see the latest from the Chronicle -- usually a shoe-in to support SOS and the "progressive" causes? They hate this thing. So much for them just analyzing it and not taking a side. I think a side was just taken. When the Statesman and Chronicle agree, Vegas would give Prop2 100-1 odds.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2006-04-07/cols_pagetwo.html
I have read the Chronicle article (thanks for posting a link and not the article itself).
About the odds, I'm not so sure. The Statesman endorsed Sonleitner and the Chronicle was so split that it had to do a "no endorsement" over Sonleitner or Eckhardt for the Travis County Commissioner's race in March. Despite the lack of support from the Austin Chronicle and the Statesman, Sarah Eckhardt ended up winning by a landslide over the incumbent Sonleitner.
Just a thought.
Well if you do win this one, all of us will be losers in my opinion. SOS is as Black points out "increasingly fringe", and these ammendments are designed precisely to stymie economic growth in Austin -- particularly to try and stop AMD. But whatever, we will see in May. In the meantime, SOS lost in court yesterday and it remains to be seen if they will lose in the court of public opinion in May. Trotting out the footage from 1990 to try and create new energy is just plain sad. Creating a new documentary video and then a cartoon (very cute by the way) is as one observer said "jumping the shark."
It also sure looks like the losses are piling up on Prop 1.
Besides the devastating and oh-so on target Black editorial, just in the last week the Austin Parks Foundation, Austin Progressive Coalition, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, University Democrats and West Austin Democrats have all come out solidly against Prop 1 and most against Prop 2 as well. Looks like people are starting to realize that it wasn't the ballot language that was misleading, it was the petition drive.
And we still don't know who paid for that petition drive do we?
There's never been a horse that can't be rode, never been a cowboy can't be throwed. We still have a great shot at winning the election. The criticisms in the Chronicle repeat patently false claims being spread by opponents - perhaps they'll change their tune when the editorial board hears the other side.
We're lucky the vast majority of progressive groups in town who've considered the amendment have endorsed it including ACLU, Consumers Union, the Gray Panthers, South Austin Democrats, Zilker Neighborhood Association, Sierra Club and many others. As for the CAD/Austin Progressive Coalition endorsement, I was told by attendees the vote was swayed by a paid consultant for Stratus Properties who convinced attendees of several arguments the judge ruled were outright fabrications. I'm confident that when voters hear what the amendment really does - not the falsehoods told by shills for Stratus Properties - that they'll make an informed choice to support it.
Oh, and campaign expenditures will be filed today at the City Clerk - as you well know, the campaign has complied fully with all required disclosures. Cheers,
A Stratus shill debated you at the Progressive Coalition and you still lost? That's pretty lame.
I thought the students would be all over this, but I guess not.
Post a Comment
<< Home