What are your priorities for Austin?

by: Bill Spelman

Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 04:19 PM CDT

I believe the weak economy and the tight budget are the most pressing issues facing Austin today. Please join us next Tuesday evening for a town hall meeting to discuss them.

You're invited to share your ideas and be a part of the solution. Austin faces some tough challenges ahead, but by working together, we can leverage our city resources to get the most bang for our taxpayer buck. If you can't make the event, then please share your ideas online.

Thanks for your support. I look forward to meeting with you personally to hear how you think we can best improve Austin.  

Bill Spelman Community Town Hall, 10:00am Saturday Morning

by: David Kobierowski

Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 07:41 AM CST

Join us and share your ideas.  Be a part of this unprecedented Public Participation process in local city government.  President Obama has inspired millions to believe in their ability to bring change.   Lets bring that can-do spirit to the local level!

We'll meet Sat., Feb. 21st, at 10:00am at the Will Hampton Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd., Austin, 78749

There is no cost to attend.  All are welcome.

I'm excited to see the energy that we started Nationally and county-wide flowing into Austin city politics.

It's sad that Austin only had an 8% voter turn-out in last May's election.  Lets change that.  Get involved.  Be part of the process as we build an Austin that works for everyone.

See ya' there!
David

One City, One Chief, One Policy!

by: BerkRS

Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 04:36 PM CDT

In fact, the Travis County Sheriff is implementing the Citation Option, Chief, so it looks like, thanks to you, we currently have two policies in this city. An Austinite who is stopped by APD will be arrested and incarcerated but the same person stopped by the Travis County Sheriff Department will be cited and released.

When the Chief says "he can't" it means "he won't." This long-awaited meeting with our neighboring counties, that won't happen until September, is a delay tactic.

Texas Roosevelt Institution Fall Welcoming Event

by: Kedron Touvell

Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 00:39 AM CDT

It is with great excitement that the Texas Roosevelt Institution invites you to our first meeting of the fall semester!  We are the local chapter of the thriving national progressive think tank known as the Roosevelt Institution.  We're students, we research policy, and we put our research onto policy-makers' desks.  We believe we can improve our society and the time to do so is now!

If you are interested in being a part of this rising movement, please join us at our event.  It will take place at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, September 26 at SRH 3.109 (1st floor of the LBJ school of Public Affairs).  We will give a brief presentation of our organization, the progressive movement, and the opportunities available for students to conduct meaningful research.  If you are unable to attend, please send e-mail to me@kedrontouvell.com for further information.  You may also peruse http://utexas.rooseveltinstitution.org for additional background information.

Again, we hope to see you next Tuesday.  Remember, all levels (undergrad, grad, professional, etc.) of students are welcome to attend!

Sincerely,

Your Roosevelt Team

Eve Richter, Executive Director
Kedron Touvell, Communications Director

Policy is More Important than Politics

by: Scott Beggs

Thu Jun 22, 2006 at 00:58 PM CDT

The upcoming state election on November 7th has refueled the need for these ideas, and, with a uniquely energized electorate, the races are gaining speed. Unfortunately in this time of need, most commentary coming from inside PAC meetings and on internet message boards has focused on what team each candidate is playing for. The usual slanderous statements about Republicans being unfeeling defenders of corporate America and Democrats being unrealistic idealists without a plan have dominated the marketplace of ideas.

The truth that most political institutions don’t want the voters to know is that the importance placed on party lines is mostly fabricated. Not discounting its place in the governmental spectrum, the party system is not the last word on how policies are created, especially in local and state governments. It is people that create momentum, and qualified, tested leaders exist in both parties waiting for your votes to give them the power to speak for you. This isn’t an endorsement for any candidate in particular, and certainly not a cry for any one party to triumph over the others, but a call for voters to seek out individuals who prove that they deserve a seat in whatever chair they seek out.

The officials to vote for are the officials who have proven effective or who show promise that they can communicate the needs of the people to their respective branches. You already know their names. They are the community leaders running for school board and the Texas leaders running for house seats who don’t boast standing in their party, but clear records of servant leadership.

Our generation has been frustrated by the sleekness of campaigns and the well-oiled machines working behind the scenes of each party – Republicans, Democrats and Independent parties alike. Their messages are tailored, their tactics reek of propaganda, their reputations are hidden behind the larger party apparatus. Fortunately, the tide seems to be turning against this sort of politics, and if voters continue looking for results instead of emotionally driven public relations blitzes, the political climate may change altogether.

Texas is a great state, but has its fair share of problems. These problems – education, land taxes, immigration – need pragmatic solutions and the support of effective leaders. These solutions will never emerge if the parties are more concerned with being right than serving the people of the state. This has been an all-too-common theme for the party system with each group rallying behind moral victories, character attacks and scandals which have little to do with Texan prosperity. If the voters are drawn into the discussion over which party is more correct, it could be detrimental to the broader existence of ideas that could improve the lives of millions of citizens.

Bottom line? Working together to create powerful policies toward the betterment of the state far outweighs the sandbox arguments that flash between certain members of each party. The electorate must see past this fire wall of petty fights for bragging rights and look into the personal effectiveness of the individuals running for each position regardless of their affiliations.

It all comes down to what qualities you want out of your governmental leaders: the ability to say, “I told you so” or a true concern for the people of Texas, a dynamic set of ideas and a willingness to work with the other representatives in the room to achieve a better future for every Texan.