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Thanks for the outpouring of help and support to get the Stop Domain Subsidies charter amendment petition on the ballot. Over 120 businesses are now carrying the petition! Folks like:
Opart, the owner of Ka-Prow Restaurant at IH-35 and Howard, our most northern business supporter. We hear the food there is fabulous!
Then there's:
The good folks at Vote Rescue, who are petitioning to help Stop Domain Subsidies, and to raise some money for their cause too!
We have held off on our next full page ad in the Chronicle one more week, to give all businesses a chance to get their petitions ready, set to go! So, if you haven't told us you want to help with the petition, please do so this week! (We know you have if you're business is listed in bold red on our front page at StopDomainSubsidies.com.)
Clarification! It is perfectly legal for us to pay someone to collect signatures. If you know of folks who need some extra cash, particularly a starving student at ACC or UT, please give them our number! It is not legal to offer someone money or any payment to SIGN a petition.
Also, it is perfectly legal for us to have contests for the most signatures. So, for every 100 signatures you donate, you'll have a chance in a small drawing for $1,000. If anyone wants to help build the kitty, donate to Stop Domain Subsidies and earmark it "contest".
Our petitions are due the end of January, but we want to get signatures in every week. Bring them to our Happy Hours and the most signatures turned in will get you a dinner for two at that venue.
First Happy Hour is THIS Wednesday, Nov. 14, 5-7 pm at Guero's on S. Congress at Elizabeth. Individual and business supporters, come meet each other! (Mark your calendars: Our next one will be on Tues, Nov. 20 at Nunzia's at the Y in Oak Hill, the next will be on the 27th at the Veranda in the Northcross Mall.)
Hope to see you somewhere along the petition trail!
Linda Curtis & Johnny Barnet (Austin Unique owner)
Stop Domain Subsidies!
PO Box 14294
Austin, TX 78761
ljcurtis@indytexans.org
512-535-0989
| PS Don't forget you can print out the petition from the front page of our web site, or just let us know and we'll drop by some materials.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stop Domain Subsidies
1. Why did the City of Austin decide to give the Domain Mall developers tax subsidies - what was the City's reasoning?
Ans: The City said they wanted to shore up their sales taxes base, without doing adequate projections to see how the project would impact on other retailers, nor adequate projections of what they could claim would be the benefit. The developer used a series of false assumptions and steeply discounted future cash flows; the original developer (Endeavor) cloaked the true taxpayer cost and convinced City of Austin officials to grant a stunning sum of up to $65 million, claiming it was $37 million. Then the project was sold to Simon Development, the largest mall developer in the US, if not the world.
2. I thought this was already a done deal - the developer won The Domain Mall subsidy.
Ans: Brian Rodgers, the founder of Stop Domain Subsidies, actually busted the contract. First, he tried to meet with City Council members to share his concerns and the actual projections. Then, after no action taken by the Council, he sued the original developer (Endeavor) and the City of Austin, winning an out-of-court settlement that allows the City to walk away with no penalties. You would think that the City, which was $27 million in the hole for this year's budget, would have walked, but they merely delayed the first check to the developer until October '08, past the May '08 Mayoral and Council election.
3. What does the charter amendment you are proposing actually do and why?
Ans: If we get the signatures to get it on the May '08 ballot (signatures are due the end of January), and if Austin voters pass it, it would simply stop the City from granting any tax subsidies for any retail uses. It in no way will hinder any of the city's other jobs, housing, small business loans or other subsidies the city may choose to give. It is our contention that there is no way for the City to be fair in giving retail subsidies because the result is to better the competitive edge of one business or business group over another.
4. Are there other retail facilities that are currently receiving subsidies, or did in the past, for example, the project on 2nd Street?
Ans: No, there is a false rumor going around town about 2nd Street getting tax subsidies, when they haven't.
5. How many signatures are needed, from whom, when are they due and who can circulate the petition?
Ans: We need approximately 20,000 signatures of Austin voters by the end of January '08. Anyone can collect signatures as long as they are an adult. Only Austin voters can sign, but anyone can collect signatures, regardless of their voting status. Remember, we need to FILE the end of January, which means getting the signatures processed well before that. And the petition circulator's signature at the bottom must be notarized after you've gathered the signatures. This is a pain, but we can make that step easy for you as we have notaries.
6. Where can I go to sign the petition?
Ans: You can go to any of the stores on our web site listed in bold red at StopDomainSubisidies.com, OR, you can print out the petition (it's on our front page, sign the petition - get a few others to sign and get it notarized (your bank, for example, can do this for free) and mail it to us. You can also come to the Austin Unique luncheon at Jovita's (1617 S. 1st St.) any Tuesday from 12-1, and a notary will be there. ($10 for lunch includes tax and tip) OR, there are a number of events planned you can check our web site for - some of which are bound to be in your area. Come out and get to know us and turn in your signatures! OR we will send a notary to you!
7. How can I help?
Ans Our favorite question! Contact us below and we'll send you more details or chat by phone!
StopDomainSubsidies.com *** 512-535-0989 *** PO Box 14294, Austin, TX 78761 *** ljcurtis@indytexans.org
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Our Plan to Get Stop Domain Subsidies on the Ballot -- Instructions
Please call Linda Curtis, who is coordinating the petition drive, at 535-0989 or ljcurtis@indytexans.org, if you have any questions about these instructions or need any assistance.
Petition Deadline, etc.: We will need approximately 20,000 valid signatures to place the Stop Domain Subsidies amendment on the May '08 ballot. We plan to turn in our signatures sometime in late January, but would like to finish gathering signatures by Thanksgiving-so get 'em now!
Petition Events: We especially ask for your help at the "First Thursdays on South Congress" in October & November December and many outdoor events. Join us!
Business Owners: We have petition signs you can put near your cash register or other appropriate place, with lapel stickers if you wish.
Suggestion: Wear a "Stop Domain Subsidies" lapel sticker -- folks will ask you about it and sign!
Petition Instructions
1. Only registered Austin voters can sign. Ask each signer if they are registered to vote in Austin.
2. You must "witness" them signing the petition -- don't just leave the petition sitting where you cannot watch the person sign.
3. The petition laws of Texas require either the signer's date of birth OR their voter "certificate" number. This is a 9 digit (usually) number on the top left hand corner of their voter registration card. Most people don't have their voter card on them, so they can substitute with their date of birth.
4. If the person does not actually sign the petition, their signature is no good.
5. We will be "validating" all signatures (checking it with the voter registration list), so please try to get folks to print their information as neatly as possible. If you'd like to help with this, let us know.
6. Please try to make sure everything is filled out before you turn the petitions back in to us -- including the date they have signed the petition - on the left side. If information is missing, don't worry, we will hopefully find it in their computerized record. So do not cross out a signature even if it's not complete.
7. You may assist them in filling out any portion of the petition, except their signature.
8. Petitions must be notarized -- we will help you with that. At the bottom of each page is where the "circulator" -- you who are collecting signatures -- will fill out the date you are having it notarized, your name and then you must sign it in front of a notary. The notary will sign and stamp it. You can also staple more than one petition together and "bundle" up to 25 petition sheets and then just notarize the first page. Just for safety, please make sure you -- the circulator -- signs each page at the bottom.
9. We can either send a notary to you, you can have your bank notarize it and you can mail the petitions to us, or you can come to the Austin Unique lunch any Tuesday from 12 to 1 at Jovita's on S. 1st Street. Happy hours in your area are also getting set up, so watch for email updates or call us.
TURNING IN YOUR PETITION OPTIONS:
1. Come to the Tuesday luncheon of Austin Unique at Jovita's, or
2, Call us at 535-0989 and we'll send a notary by to notarize them and pick them up, or
3. Have them notarized on your own and mail them to us at PO Box 14294, Austin, TX 78761.
THANKS Y'ALL, NOW GO GET 'EM!
StopDomainSubsidies.com *** 535-0989 *** PO Box 14294, Austin, TX 78761
Ljcurtis@indytexans.org (Linda Curtis, Petition Drive Coordinator)
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