Convention Center Expansion Updates

[Jdawgboy]

It's ridiculous. It's ironic that something like expanding the Convention Center which brings in 100s of millions of dollars into the city which in turn helps pay for city services is being opposed by the very same people who will complain about rising property taxes to continue to fund services. So where do they think the money should come from? They won't have an answer because they have no solutions, they are just against everything but they bring nothing to the table as an alternative.

[The ATX]

There's no logical reason for a city with a population of about 1,000,000 to require so relatively few signatures to force a vote of anything that elective Reps should be deciding.

[KevinFromTexas]

I suppose Texans will take time out of their day to review the proposals in depth so that they can make an informed decision before voting on it. Granted, there probably will be some who will, but let's face it, you'll have a lot of armchair engineers suddenly appearing out of thin air before you have a majority of informed voters deciding the fate of something that will affect the entire city.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I suppose Texans will take time out of their day to review the proposals in depth so that they can make an informed decision before voting on it. Granted, there probably will be some who will, but let's face it, you'll have a lot of armchair engineers suddenly appearing out of thin air before you have a majority of informed voters deciding the fate of something that will affect the entire city.

Unfortunately there will be a lot of voters thinking that the city is spending a $Billion dollars that it already has instead of a $Billion that will be largely obtained from increased hotel tax revenue due to the completed expansion. This is similar to the anti-Amazon HQ2 crowd in NYC.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Unfortunately there will be a lot of voters thinking that the city is spending a $Billion dollars that it already has instead of a $Billion that will be largely obtained from increased hotel tax revenue due to the completed expansion. This is similar to the anti-Amazon HQ2 crowd in NYC.

This is EXACTLY what they are pushing - "The city is spending this money 'they already have.'" What they don't want the public to know is that this money currently does not exist - AND - it will not exist if the expansion is not approved. The citizens of Austin WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR THIS EXPANSION. Non-Approval is ridiculous!

It's a shame that Austin is rated as one of the most intelligent cities in the U.S. That is far from reality. Unless one differentiates "intelligence" from logic. I, personally, like to combine the twomwhen considering overall "intelligence."

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by The ATX

There's no logical reason for a city with a population of about 1,000,000 to require so relatively few signatures to force a vote of anything that elective Reps should be deciding.

Agreed! WTF!?!

I think it some group pulls this stunt and looses, they should be footed the tax bill that it costs to place their referendum on the ballot.

It might be a small amount, but they should pay for it - especially if they loose.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

Agreed! WTF!?!

I think it some group pulls this stunt and looses, they should be footed the tax bill that it costs to place their referendum on the ballot.

It might be a small amount, but they should pay for it - especially if they loose.

I wish these groups had the ability to allocate city funds so we could demand a vote and shoot them down. And who the hell are these people. If they want to have a say on how CoA money is spent, then they should get their big lazy fuggly butts off their well worn couches and earn a seat on the city council. They were voted in to make these decisions, just let them do their f'ing jobs.
Buuuuut, if you want my opinion where some of the CC money should go, I know a substation and some overhead wires that could use some underground relocation.

[AusTex]

Originally Posted by the Genral

I know a substation and some overhead wires that could use some underground relocation.

That was another issue that went to a public vote,... and was shot down. Burying overhead wires on our main roadways in central Austin was an inexpensive long term project the voters in the newer parts of the city (where the lines are buried) voted NO overwhelmingly. This is why we still have these ugly wires in Central Austin where the vote was yes.

The city needs to expand the center. They are doing a good job reviewing the options. The City Council and staff know the money flow much better than the voter. If bond money is not to be voted on, then the City Council are our representatives and need to make the decision, not the few who go to the polls.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Unfortunately there will be a lot of voters thinking that the city is spending a $Billion dollars that it already has instead of a $Billion that will be largely obtained from increased hotel tax revenue due to the completed expansion. This is similar to the anti-Amazon HQ2 crowd in NYC.

I suppose the real issue is whether there would be enough HOT revenue to service a billion dollars of new bonds in the event of an economic downturn that created a significant reduction in the hotel occupancy rate. The city would have to find money to make up for a shortfall, or the bonds would default. If voters were reassured that this isn't going to happen, it might be an easier sell. Otherwise the opponents of CC expansion will be able to pitch a scenario of taxpayer indebtedness and fiscal irresponsibility.

[zrx299]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

It's ridiculous. It's ironic that something like expanding the Convention Center which brings in 100s of millions of dollars into the city which in turn helps pay for city services is being opposed by the very same people who will complain about rising property taxes to continue to fund services. So where do they think the money should come from? They won't have an answer because they have no solutions, they are just against everything but they bring nothing to the table as an alternative.

Because property taxes are extremely regressive and saddles the middle & upper-middle class disproportionately, based on something that is arbitrary and out of their control. It's nothing short of extortion based on mythical paper wealth, and that will never change in our lifetimes. The lower class doesn't own, and the upper class is well off enough to not really care.

And since no politician or municipality will ever balance a budget and keep costs in check, it's a perpetual tax & spend cycle, even though net-new residents to the city increase the revenue for services (it's basic math, but yet somehow costs "magically" rise more every year!).

Thus, you get people that lash out against the only thing they know might cause them financial grief (rightly or wrongly).

And finally, lots of "educated" people only read headlines. They don't bother to actually, you know, become educated on a topic...

[drummer]

Originally Posted by zrx299

And finally, lots of "educated" people only read headlines. They don't bother to actually, you know, become educated on a topic...

Yep.

[freerover]

We should find out who funded the petition today.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by freerover

We should find out who funded the petition today.

Bobby Epstein?

[freerover]

Originally Posted by the Genral

Bobby Epstein?

Nope. Mostly Save Our Springs, bill Bunch and Fred Lewis.

[freerover]

I put together donations over 1k. A few lawyers but I can't see a trend.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by freerover

I put together donations over 1k. A few lawyers but I can't see a trend.

Seems to have been pretty popular among people who live at the Four Seasons Residences.

It's at least understandable why they'd be so interested in what happens there. Can anyone tell me if S.O.S. actually does anything beneficial anymore? It really seems they just trade on their apparently innocuous sounding name. Most of the development they say no to has very little impact on Barton Springs or the Edwards Aquifer. As far as I can tell, it's just the same 5-10 people who show up under various banners to say no to everything, regardless of merit.

[urbancore]

How does Bill Bunch have $30k to throw at this? Something is rotten in Denmark. Dude can't afford to mow his grass.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/13...!4d-97.7672544

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by urbancore

How does Bill Bunch have $30k to throw at this? Something is rotten in Denmark. Dude can't afford to mow his grass.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/13...!4d-97.7672544

Ha. You can barely see the anti-Codenext sign in the weeds.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by urbancore

How does Bill Bunch have $30k to throw at this? Something is rotten in Denmark. Dude can't afford to mow his grass.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/13...!4d-97.7672544

He's one of those "gotta let the grass grow taller to save the planet types." I'll go along with planting trees to purify the air, but I doubt grass is doing much. There are a lot of houses like that in South Austin with shaggy yards.

[freerover]

I added the donations made directly to Save our Springs which includes 2 people who also donated to the main PAC.