I couldn't agree more!dave_in_austin wrote:I support the proposition as I see no reason to encourage growth in Austin as the infrastructure of the city is already stressed to the breaking point. This has been going on for the 30+ years I have lived in Austin (and probably before that) and it is time to stop the taxpayer subsidies to encourage growth that serves no one except the politicians who get bigger budgets and more opportunity to control people's lives. I do not buy the argument that the city will spend millions defending lawsuits when they do not pay the subsidies as I foresee one of two things happening if the proposition passes. The first possibility is that the Domain will sue for the payment and the city will essentially not bother to put up a defense to the suit and will let the court rule that they have to pay. The other possibility I see is that the city will simply ask the AG or other judge to rule component of the proposition dealing with the Domain unenforceable since it unilaterally alters an existing contract. Either way, the city leaders will not honor what the voters say if the proposition passes just as they failed to do with the STNP, airport, and light rail. They do whatever they wish regardless of ballot outcomes. The successful passage of the proposition may keep future deals like the Domain from happening, but I believe that it will not effect existing contracts once the courts (with the cooperation of the city leaders) get through with it.
I lived in Austin for about 20 years, but moved away in the mid 80's when unprecedented growth and politics (read city council) got out of control. For "big cities" in Texas...I still rate it the best, but we chose to raise our daughter in a small town...where things are a bit more to our liking.
I would not vote for anything that would further promote the growth of Austin. Much of the "charm" of Austin has already been lost, continued growth will only hasten that. Whoever did the growth projections (needed to determine infrastructure) 25 years ago, missed the mark. Austin still hasn't caught up ....and never will at the rate it is growing.
It was a nice place when you could still tell North Austin from South Austin. Now days, everything has been swallowed up. Georgetown and Round Rock might as well be part of Austin, same with Elgin, Manor and Pflugerville. Leander, Cedar Park and probably Liberty Hill....all swallowed up. Oak Hill to the Southwest along with Dripping Springs...you can't tell them from Austin.
NO SIR, Austin doesn't need anymore growth IMO.