Anyone here willing to run for city council?

[bigdogc]

I will support anyone that is willing to run for city council that supports denser DT area and smarter growth.
This forum has a lot of the above.
We could nominate someone too if no one is willing to step up to the plate!

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by bigdogc

I will support anyone that is willing to run for city council that supports denser DT area and smarter growth.
This forum has a lot of the above.
We could nominate someone too if no one is willing to step up to the plate!

God only knows what 10-1 will do.

ANC may lose stranglehold grip...only to be replaced with people who never go downtown ever...not sure how this will cut. Be nice to get some common sense people how understand and appreciate what makes cities great instead of either 1 fear all growth as being either "Manhattanization or Houstonization" of Austin or 2. dont really like downtown and just want to build roads out to suburbs...

[jngreenlee]

Originally Posted by bigdogc

I will support anyone that is willing to run for city council that supports denser DT area and smarter growth.
This forum has a lot of the above.
We could nominate someone too if no one is willing to step up to the plate!

What do you think the minimum requirements for this sort of effort are? Thinking of things like:

• Minimum age
• $$ in the bank
• Length of time in Austin
• Political affiliation(s)

[_Matt]

Originally Posted by Komeht

God only knows what 10-1 will do.

ANC may lose stranglehold grip...only to be replaced with people who never go downtown ever...not sure how this will cut. Be nice to get some common sense people how understand and appreciate what makes cities great instead of either 1 fear all growth as being either "Manhattanization or Houstonization" of Austin or 2. dont really like downtown and just want to build roads out to suburbs...

You probably know this, but here are some talking points when people say "Houstonization" with a negative connotation. [Spoiler: Houstonization would be a good thing]

Houston actually has some great density within the 610 loop, not to mention the Montrose neighborhood and the Heights combined are probably the most culturally intense neighborhoods in Texas, though they face similar gentrification issues as East and South Austin. Their CBD has a paucity of residential, but Midtown, Galleria, and everything between has made up for it. Additionally, they have functional Phase 1 METRORail program (Phase 2 is in development). They got bike share before we did. They've been putting Austin to shame recently, but it makes sense if you think about it.

Houston city planners know that increased growth/density will ultimately reduce transportation expenses and other infrastructure costs while increasing property value and tax base--and they can proceed unencumbered by the NIMBY (well except in the most conservative neighborhoods). My point is that there is intrinsic value for a vibrant and dense city center and the city council when it is presented in terms of tax base and lower infrastructure costs. We don't necessarily need a pro-density type to make it happen, we just a reasonable actor.

The Huffington Post article hit the nail on the head. Austin has a lot of good will momentum, but recently, we've been tripping over ourselves to: keep weird, artificially bolster live music, and play catch up with "progressive city policy" like implementing the bag ban.

[rant over]

[Jdawgboy]

Yea but Houston also has a Hybrid system. Something I had to point out to a Prop 3 booster who tried to use Houston as an example. Guess they didn't research that one well enough and probably the guy was a bit embarrassed.