[crewer]

Hey all,
Man, having this thing down has been an issue. You are all my lifeline to Austin development since I'm hardly going to read about it in the Washington Post.

I was back in Austin last weekend for a short stay and spent some time out on Lake Travis water skiing with friends. Had a great time out there, but man, was I shocked and, frankly, sickened by the lakeside development. Lake Travis was always my refuge from Austin when I wanted to relax. I used to love the tranquility of it and the undisturbed views of the serene green hills surrounding the lake. But now it's disappearing fast, and there seems to be no stopping it.

What the Hell is it with people who just can't appreciate the beauty of a place without having to build their damn McMansion right in the middle of it? Hills that would seem impossible to build on are being blasted and stripped of vegetation so some ass can stake claim to a view while destroying everyone else's.

Austin is quickly losing one of it's most treasured jewels.