Alder's "Corridor" Bond: Opposition holds Campaign Event

"Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth."
1 Samuel 17:49

South Lamar Blvd. -- This afternoon Ashley Schor, proprietor of Bead It at the corner of South Lamar and Oltorf, opened up her business to a rally and press conference for opponents of Mayor Adler's so-called "corridor" bond.  As a business owner on South Lamar, Schor would be sacrificed in pursuit of the Mayor's so-called "smart" corridors.  A variety of citizens, candidates, and elected officials spoke.

From our notes:

Jim Skaggs (Longtime taxpayer advocate):

• Construction can drag out for months, or even years, at a time which will directly threaten the viability of every independent business in this bond's path.

Ora Houston (#ATXCouncil, D1 -- East Austin):

• "Just because I do not support this bond does not make me a 'do nothing.' "

• This bond would make traffic worse, not better.

• We don't know the final cost.
• Author's Note: $720 million is essentially what is known in business as a W.A.G.

• Flawed process created flawed proposal.
• "Corridor" plans were developed pre 10-1.

• "Corridor" re-development threatens local businesses.

• Bond ignores district 1.

Don Zimmerman (#ATXCouncil, D6 -- Far Northwest Austin):

• City attorneys misled council behind closed doors; by excluding a provision related to tax impact on the ballot language, the city has given itself authority for unlimited taxation to repay bonds.

• City transportation department could put district 6 projects on the back burner.

• Floated 2018 proposal: Something 'less expensive' ($500 million ish) with council, instead of the city bureaucracy, directing the project.

Rob Walker (Candidate -- #ATXCouncil, 10 -- West Austin):

• We certainly need to 'do something' but we don't need to do something stupid.
• Author's Note: That will make the original problem worse.

Jerry Patterson (Austin Resident and former elected official):

• There's a difference between 'doing something' and fixing the problem.

Ashley Schor (Business Owner):

• Adler's scheme would destroy the character of the "corridors."

Bottom Line: We'd love to begin fixing traffic congestion, but step one is to halt this massive step in the wrong direction in it's tracks.

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