#atxcouncil: What's another $10 Billion between cronies?!?

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight."
Proverbs 11:1

Because of course:

Austin City Council and the Capital Metro board unanimously approved a $9.8 billion, 30-year transit plan—Project Connect—that will add three light rail lines, new bus lines and park-and-rides to the Austin region.

....

With their greenlight, the plan is likely to go before voters in November. If passed, more than half of the project budget—$5.4 billion—would come from local taxpayers in the form of an increased city property tax rate. Federal grants would cover the rest.

At this point, honestly, there's not a lot to say.

They have the votes on the dais.  They know they have the votes on the dias.  And they're using them.

The political strategy is obvious: Enough Democrats in Austin hate Trump that the plan is to create a "politics as team sport" effect that gets it across the finish line in a presidential year.

Will it work?!?

We don't know.  It's certainly the case that Trump's impotent buffoonery does no favors anyone or anything perceived to be remotely close to him.  On the other hand, $10 billion is an ASTRONOMICAL price tag even by the standards of council.

If the voters are focused on national issues, it's likely to pass.  If the voters are focused on local issues, it fails.  Where the voters are ultimately focused remains to be seen.

Either way, that's a lot of money.

Bottom Line:  We won't really know the macroenvironment for several more months, but with a price tag like that....