Convention Center Expansion Updates

[freerover]

Sounds like Bunch almost has enough signatures to force a vote on the convention center next May. Pretty sick of his bullshit.

[goodag]

Originally Posted by freerover

Sounds like Bunch almost has enough signatures to force a vote on the convention center next May. Pretty sick of his bullshit.

And if it goes to ballot, Austin voters have proved they lack common sense on issues. The economic impact of the center is significant. If it goes to ballot, there will have to be a highly organized campaign effort to educate residents on why the convention center is needed. Austin's vocal minority tends to often get their way to the detriment of our amazing city.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by freerover

Sounds like Bunch almost has enough signatures to force a vote on the convention center next May. Pretty sick of his bullshit.

this man is a devil. can't wait for that generation to age out of society.

[Urbannizer]

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...r-project.html

[Lobotomizer]

At this point you have to question his motivation. I can't wrap my mind around anyone thinking these people truly have the city's best interest at heart.

It legitimately seems like these actions are essentially a grown up temper tantrum because things in the city don't go their way most of the time.

It's a shame such a small, disgruntled minority of the populace can sling enough shit that some of it sticks.

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...r-project.html

Archived version that gets around the paywall

Says they need 20k signatures & they have 18k so far.

[ATX2030]

That's not good. One would think city legal briefed the council that something like this could occur prior to starting demo. If they reach the 20k threshold no telling what might happen. They'll probably try and file an injunction to halt all work. Could turn into a huge, very expensive drawn out mess.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by Lobotomizer

At this point you have to question his motivation. I can't wrap my mind around anyone thinking these people truly have the city's best interest at heart.

It legitimately seems like these actions are essentially a grown up temper tantrum because things in the city don't go their way most of the time.

It's a shame such a small, disgruntled minority of the populace can sling enough shit that some of it sticks.

It seems to me, BB timed this perfectly. He could have challenged this anytime he wanted, but he waited till lot was 90% razed. I don't understand his motives. We could lose billions (lost revenue and lawsuits from contractors, etc) if we don't have a convention center. Lawsuits will fly for YEARS. Who wins and to what end?

I never want to stop people from using the courts for redress, but plaintiffs should be responsible monetarily if they cost the defendant $ over some frivolous bs. Plaintiff should be able show they can afford to pay it as well, unless a judge orders a summary judgement.

What stops Joe Shmoe from getting 20k signatures to stop the city from spending money on anything? There are a few things I would like to like the city to not spend $ on.

No disrespect to the Shmoe family.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by ATX2030

That's not good. One would think city legal briefed the council that something like this could occur prior to starting demo. If they reach the 20k threshold no telling what might happen. They'll probably try and file an injunction to halt all work. Could turn into a huge, very expensive drawn out mess.

The conspiracy side of me says that politicians and city officials all love this crap because it creates "problems and solutions" which is what they need to run against/for to get elected.

Then the rational side kicks in to remind me that, no...they are just lazy, stupid, or just fucked up.

BB telegraphs his moves from '04, he's done it for decades now. Hard to believe someone didn't see this coming a mile away.

Imagine if it works? I can see petitions to stop all sorts of spending, from both sides of the isle.

Lastly, if the city basically ignored the referendum passed by the voters to clean up camping, why can't they ignore this jag-off?

[freerover]

Originally Posted by urbancore

The conspiracy side of me says that politicians and city officials all love this crap because it creates "problems and solutions" which is what they need to run against/for to get elected.

Then the rational side kicks in to remind me that, no...they are just lazy, stupid, or just fucked up.

BB telegraphs his moves from '04, he's done it for decades now. Hard to believe someone didn't see this coming a mile away.

Imagine if it works? I can see petitions to stop all sorts of spending, from both sides of the isle.

Lastly, if the city basically ignored the referendum passed by the voters to clean up camping, why can't they ignore this jag-off?

What exactly is the city suppose to do? If Bill Bunch wants to get signatures then he is going to get signatures. All the city can do is push forward efficiently. Council put petition reforms on last November's ballot but Bill A. got the courts to get rid of them.

https://www.kut.org/austin/2024-08-3...ter-amendments


I wish SXSW and all the other clients would just sue the shit out of Bill personally. So tired of rich entitled jerks abusing the system.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...r-project.html

this guy is genuinely evil. when i think of all the issues austin has right now, 100% of them can be tied back to him and his ilk and their horrendous management of the city.

[The ATX]

All great points, Urbancore!

[Lobotomizer]

The state needs to address this petition issue. 20K signatures is 2% of the population of this city. I know it's a higher percentage of the registered voter population, but it's still a ridiculously low threshold for activists with an axe to grind to potentially cause major problems.

[ATX2030]

Originally Posted by The ATX

All great points, Urbancore!

Agreed. From the article posted up thread the city should have seen this coming a mile away!

"In our view it's absolutely critical that the public be given notice and an opportunity to participate in shaping what goes on the ballots," Bunch said. "And here the city council clearly just tried to sneak it through, and the judge (agreed)."

A city spokesperson told KUT the city staff takes full responsibility for the mistake.

"Staff is responsible for notice and posting language for agendas," the statement said. "Staff takes full responsibility for any inconsistency with the Texas Open Meetings Act and, as such, staff will ensure that future council action items are posted to provide notice and opportunity for public comment in full compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act."

[freerover]

Originally Posted by ATX2030

Agreed. From the article posted up thread the city should have seen this coming a mile away!

"In our view it's absolutely critical that the public be given notice and an opportunity to participate in shaping what goes on the ballots," Bunch said. "And here the city council clearly just tried to sneak it through, and the judge (agreed)."

A city spokesperson told KUT the city staff takes full responsibility for the mistake.

"Staff is responsible for notice and posting language for agendas," the statement said. "Staff takes full responsibility for any inconsistency with the Texas Open Meetings Act and, as such, staff will ensure that future council action items are posted to provide notice and opportunity for public comment in full compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act."

For context, the issue was not that they were not posted for notice. They were. The issue was that they were posted as a single item and not individually to allow for speakers to be able to speak up to 5 minutes on each item.

[drummer]

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/aust...enter-project/

“It’s a phenomenal waste of money,” said Bill Bunch, a community activist who’s involved with Austin United PAC and also serves as executive director of the Save Our Springs Alliance. “It’s basically a theft of funds that in any sort of functional local democratic process world would be supporting what actually does bring visitors to Austin, not just downtown, but all of Austin, and that is local culture and parks.”

[the Genral]

We already have parks and culture and night life and venues and sports and stuff. What we don't have is a convention center now that
the one we had was torn to shreds. Oops.

[Novacek]

Large sections of the petition language are likely illegal, as it attempts to “appropriate money”

[Armybrat]

Bunch’s bunch are just adding tens of millions to the total cost of the project that
will be built regardless of their incessant whining.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by Armybrat

Bunch’s bunch are just adding tens of millions to the total cost of the project that
will be built regardless of their incessant whining.

Not only that, but we have the opportunity to lose precious revenue while the details of this are being fought due to their unnecessary delays. So more cost plus lost revenue = good for Austin, right?