Stop the Shafts

Desmond D'Souza, Stop the Shafts

Watch Desmond's brilliant testimony (for Part I click the pix to the left, and for Part II click here), from a new neighborhood group in the Spicewood Springs area who was kept in the dark about the City's plan for a mining & tunneling operation right in their backyard for the unnecessary & bloated Water Treatment Plant #4.  Stop the Shafts y'all!

Jennifer McPhail, ADAPT of Texas

Jennifer McPhail of ADAPT of Texas, movingly challenges the City Hall's refusal to say whether the $5 million for Austin's mobility impaired will be included in this year's budget.  Without basic accessibility, says McPhail, "I am nothing more than a bastard member of this society."  This connected well with others who waited 6 hours to speak to the Council about the water rate hikes.  All of Austin needs open government, fiscal accountability and just a little respect and common decency.

Rick Harden,
Austin Preservationist

Two key victories were scored since our last update on efforts to halt the millions in property tax reductions the City is giving for bogus historically designated millionaire mansions on the west side.  First, Austin Community College opted out.  Then AISD followed them. The Heritage Society, in response, is in a real snit and is trying desperately to hold on to these historic giveaways to Austin's wealthiest. Whistle-blower preservationist, Rick Hardin, responds.  And here's are two great pieces in the Statesman by Sarah Copolla and by humorist John Kelso in Sunday's paper.  P.S.  There's a whole new section of our site devoted to No Millions for Mansions.  Special thanks this month go to Jane Hayden for her efforts on this issue.