>>> THIS YEAR ON ELECTION DAY,
AUSTIN VOTERS WILL SEE A
DIFFERENT BALLOT.
THEY'LL SELECT ONE COUNCILMEMBER
TO REPRESENT THEIR GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRICT AND ONLY ONE TO
REPRESENT THEIR CITY AS A WHOLE
AT CITY HALL.
A WIDE -- TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR
FROM FIVE OF THEM ABOUT THEIR
IDEAS FOR MOVING OUR CITY
FORWARD.
THIS IS CITY SUMMIT MAYORAL
CANDIDATE FORUM.
[MUSIC]
SUPPORT FOR CIVIC SUMMIT COMES
FROM EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN
AMERICA'S CITIES AND FROM TEXAS
MUTUAL INSURANCE, PROVIDING
WORKERS COMPENSATION FOR TEXAS
EMPLOYERS.
>>> HELLO, THANKS FOR JOINING
US.
I'M JENNIFER STAYTON WITH
AUSTIN'S NPR STATION.
TONIGHT, CIVIC SUMMIT, A
COPRODUCTION WITH KLRU AND THE
AUSTIN URBAN LAND INSTITUTE.
THE TOPIC WILL FOCUS ON
TRANSPORTATION, GOVERNANCE, AS
WELL AS OTHER ISSUES.
EACH CANDIDATE MET CERTAIN
VIABILITY STANDARDS ALLOWING
THEM TO PARTICIPATE.
EACH HAS ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER
EACH QUESTION.
IF A CANDIDATE IS MENTIONED BY
NAME IN A FELLOW CANDIDATE'S
ANSWER, THAT PERSON WILL BE
ALLOWED 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND.
THE CANDIDATES SELECTED THEIR
ORDER FROM A HAT AND WE'LL BEGIN
WITH A OPENING STATEMENT FROM
EACH CANDIDATE.
TODD PHELPS WILL START OFF.
>> IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE
TODAY.
AND I'D LIKE TO START BY
THANKING MR. MARTINEZ FOR HIS
WORK ON THE COUNCIL, RANDALL FOR
HIS SERVICE IN THE MILITARY, AND
MS. COLE FOR HER TIME ON THE
COUNCIL, AND ATTORNEY ADLER FOR
HIS CHARITABLE WORK IN THE PAST.
I'M GOING TO READ FROM SOMETHING
SO I DON'T LEAVE OUT ANY NUGGETS
YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW HERE.
I GREW UP IN AUSTIN WHERE I WENT
TO HILL ELEMENTARY, HYDE PARK
HIGH SCHOOL AND ACC AND U.T.
MY HOMETOWN WHERE I BARTENDED
AND WORKED IN THE FILM AND
COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIES AND BEEN A
LICENSED LOAN OFFICER AND BUILT
A BUSINESS.
MANY OF YOU KNOW ME AS TODD
PHELPS MUSICIAN OR FARMER BUT IN
BETWEEN, I STARTED AN
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY COMPANY RIGHT
HERE IN THE SAME CITY MY DAD
STARTED HIS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
IN AND WHERE MY MOTHER BEGAN
TEACHING IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
30 YEARS AGO AND RECEIVED HER
Ph.D. THERE THE UNIVERSITY OF
TEXAS.
>> WHAT TIME IS THAT?
MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS
DEBATE TONIGHT AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO
BE HERE AND THOSE TUNING IN
ONLINE AND TELEVISION, THANK YOU
AS WELL.
I'M MIKE MARTINEZ.
I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE I
BELIEVE EVERYDAY MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES NEED A STRONG VOICE AT
CITY HALL.
AS A FORMER AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER I
FOUGHT TO ENSURE NO ONE IS LEFT
BEHIND AND THAT CORPORATIONS PAY
THEIR WORKERS A FAIR WAGE AND
I'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST
PAYDAY LENDING PRACTICES THAT
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MIDDLE
CLASS AND OVERPRICE CONSUMERS
AND FIGHT FOR THINGS LIKE EQUAL
PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.
MY VISION FOR AUSTIN IS SIMPLE.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE HARD-WORKING
MIDDLE-CLASS AUSTINITES CAN
RAISE THEIR FAMILIES AND AUSTIN
NEEDS A MAYOR THAT WILL FIGHT TO
PROTECT THE MIDDLE CLASS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION.
>> TIME IS UP.
RANDALL STEPHENS.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING AND
THANK YOU FOR KLRU FOR HOSTING
THIS EVENT, FOR OUR
DISTINGUISHED COUNCILMEMBER
MARTINEZ AND MAYOR PRO TEM COLE
FOR YOUR SERVICE AND TAKING THE
HITS OUT THERE DAY TO DAY AND
TODD FOR REMEMBERING THOSE
SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND MARINES
OUT IN COUNTRIES THAT DON'T HAVE
REVOLUTIONS AT THE BALLOT BOX.
WE CAN THANK OUR ALL MIGHTY FOR
THAT AND WE CAN THANK MR. ADLER
FOR HIS CHARITABLE WORK AND I
TOO SEEK TO SERVE THE RENT
PAYERS AND HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL
BUSINESS PEOPLE OF THE
COMMUNITY.
AND I STARTED IN LIFE, WENT INTO
THE MILITARY, THE AIR FORCE AND
WENT TO AN AIRLINE AND HAD A
TERRIFIC CAREER AT A DYNAMIC
ORGANIZATION AND BEEN AN
EMPLOYER HERE IN AUSTIN AND SET
UP A COMPANY THAT IS DESIGNED TO
HELP PEOPLE FIND THINGS CLOSER
TO HOME AND SAVE FUEL AND TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> SHERYL COLE.
>> AUSTIN IS THE ENVY OF EVERY
SINGLE CITY IN AMERICA.
WE'RE ON THE TOP OF EVERY LIST
FOR PROMOTING AND PROTECTING
BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY AS WELL
AS MUSIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S NO SECRET WHY.
IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE ACTIVELY,
CIVICALLY ENGAGED AND I WANT TO
THANK KLRU FOR ALL DO YOU TO
PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
I GOT MY START IN THE PTA WHERE
MOMS AND DADS PUT OTHERS FIRST.
THE TRUE DEFINITION OF PUBLIC
SERVICE.
I WENT ON TO RECOGNIZE THAT
COLLABORATION AND GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZING IS WHAT WE HAVE TO
HAVE TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT
AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONTINUE
TO NURTURE OUR CIVIC CREATIVITY.
WE MUST IN THIS CITY ELECT A
MAYOR WHO UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE
OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I WANT TO BE THAT MAYOR AND I'M
ASKING YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> STEVE ADLER.
>> THANK YOU.
I SPENT 36 YEARS LIVING HERE IN
AUSTIN AND I LOVE THIS CITY.
BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS
CITY.
I THINK IT'S AT A TIPPING POINT.
IF WE'RE GOING TO PRESERVE AND
PROTECT WHAT MAKES AUSTIN
SPECIAL, ITS SPIRIT AND SOUL, I
THINK WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD IN
A NEW WAY.
WE HAVE TO FIX THE TRAFFIC
CONGESTION.
WE HAVE TO FIX THE AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS WE HAVE IN THE CITY AND
PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR
ENVIRONMENT AND OUR WATER.
WE HAVE TO RESTRUCTURE HOW WE DO
GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE TO
RESTRUCTURE HOW WE DO THE
PERMITTING PROCESS IN THIS CITY.
I'M STEVE ADLER.
I SPENT A CAREER BUILDING COMMON
GROUND.
I HAVE FOUGHT FOR
SCHOOLCHILDREN.
I'VE FOUGHT AND PROTECTED WOMEN
AND WORKERS AND MINORITIES AND
SMALL BUSINESSES DEFENSE ABUSE.
I'VE FOUGHT TO PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN KEEP GOING AS
WE HAVE THE LAST EIGHT YEARS,
AND NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.
THINGS AREN'T GOING TO GET
BETTER.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET WORSE.
I THINK WE NEED A NEW WAY
FORWARD.
WE CAN USE THIS ELECTION TO
CHOOSE A NEW WAY FORWARD.
>> TIME IS UP.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL APPROVED
PLACING PROPOSITION ONE ON THE
BALLOT, IT'S A TRANSPORTATION
BOND WHICH INCLUDES MONEY FOR A
NEW RAIL LINE AND FOR ROADWAY
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
DO YOU SUPPORT PROPOSITION ONE
AS IT APPEARS ON THE BALLOT?
WHY AND WHY NOT?
MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> I WILL BE SUPPORTING
PROPOSITION ONE.
AS YOU KNOW, I CHAIR CAPITAL
METRO AND HAVE FOR THE LAST FOUR
YEARS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
IS A KEY THING IN HELP CAN THE
MIDDLE CLASS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE IT'S NOT A PERFECT
SOLUTION FOR CONGESTION, BUT WE
HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.
IT'S THE FIRST PHASE OF A
50-YEAR VISIONING FOR HOW WE
SOLVE THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN
AUSTIN.
I'LL CONTINUE MY EFFORTS AS
CHAIRMAN OF CAP METRO ENSURING
MILLIONS OF CARS ARE TAKEN OF
THE ROADS BECAUSE YOU HAVE OUR
PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCY.
>> RANDALL STEPHENS.
>> I'M NOT SUPPORTING THE RAIL
BOND.
I'M CONCERNED IT WILL OVEREXTEND
OUR BORROWING -- OUR CAPITAL --
OUR ABILITY TO RAISE CAPITAL IN
THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND ABILITY TO
SUPPORT THAT.
ANOTHER REASON IS I FEEL THE
COUNCIL HAS BEEN REMISS IN NOT
ANTICIPATING THE URGENCE OF
FIXING CONGESTION PROBLEMS AND
WORKING WITH TXDOT DILIGENTLY TO
REMOVE OBSTACLES AND TRAFFIC
LIGHTS AND CONGESTION FROM OUR
FREEWAYS.
I BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT.
THE EVIDENCE IS OUT ON EAST
RIVERSIDE AND 71 AND WE CAN DO
THAT ON ALL OF OUR COMMUTER
FREEWAYS.
>> AND IMPROVED OFFRAMPS AND
ACCESS AND CONTINUATION WITH THE
URBAN TRAIL PROGRAMS.
SO PEOPLE HAVE OPTIONS FOR
GETTING INTO TOWN.
BUT RAIL, I LIKE RAIL.
I HAVE LIVED AROUND THE WORLD
AND DONE BUSINESS IN DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE WORLD WHERE THEY
HAVE TERRIFIC MULTIMODAL SYSTEMS
AND ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO
DEVELOP THAT IN AUSTIN.
>> TIME IT UP.
SHERYL COLE.
>> YES, I'LL SUPPORT PROPOSITION
ONE AND I WILL VOTE FOR
PROPOSITION ONE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST HAVE A
MULTIMODAL SYSTEM, WE CAN'T
BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF CONGESTION,
I SERVE ON THE BOARD THAT
OVERSEES REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES AND IT'S ALMOST
IMPERATIVE WE TAKE A STEP
FORWARD.
THE PROPOSITION ONE IS BASED
UPON A PROJECT CONNECT VISION
WHERE ALL OF THE REGIONAL
ENTITIES AND LOCAL ENTITIES GOT
TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY FORMED A
DATA-DRIVEN PROCESS THAT PUT
THIS ITEM FORWARD AND WHICH THE
CITY COUNCIL EVENTUALLY VOTED TO
PUT ON THE BALLOT.
>> STEVE ADLER.
>> I'M GOING TO SUPPORT
PROPOSITION ONE, BUT I'LL TELL
YOU THE TRUTH.
I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED AT THE
POSITION WE'RE IN.
BECAUSE WHEN WE GO THROUGH A
DELIBERATIVE PROCESS LIKE THIS,
WE EXPECT ALL OF THE QUESTIONS
TO BE ANSWERED.
WE EXPECT WE WOULDN'T BE SITTING
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WHERE
PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING THE
UNDERLYING FACTS.
I THINK WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THIS
BECAUSE IT'S MORE IMPORTANT FOR
US TO DO SOMETHING THAN NOTHING.
BECAUSE I READ THIS BOND
PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE A
AUTHORIZATION AND NOT A
REQUIREMENT AND I THINK THIS
NEXT CITY COUNCIL, THE NEW CITY
COUNCIL COMING IN, GETS TO
RE-THINK AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING
THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL IS DOING
RIGHT NOW.
THIS EFFORT INCLUDED.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION
ONE AND PURGE U URGE PEOPLE TO
VOTE FOR IT -- URGE PEOPLE TO
VOTE FOR IT AND THE CITY WILL BE
IN A BETTER POSITION IF WE
APPROVE IT.
AND WE NEED TO DO DELIBERATIVE
GORGES AND IN THIS CITY BETTER.
>> TODD PHELPS.
>> AS SOMEONE WHO GROUP HERE, I
UNDERSTAND THE SOUL OF AUSTIN
AND WHAT'S SACRED.
TO ME IT'S THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN
THAT WERE HERE AND THAT HAVE
BEEN PUSHED OUT BY RISING
PROPERTY TAXES OVER THE LAST 10
YEARS BY POOR DECISIONS THAT
PEOPLE ON OUR COUNCIL.
EVEN IF THIS DID WHAT IT SAID IT
WOULD DO WITH THE NUMBERS, TO
ME, I DON'T SEE HOW ANYONE
COMING FROM AN AFFORDABILITY
ARGUMENT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS CAN
SUPPORT THIS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER, BECAUSE IF
YOU GET 20,000 RIDERS OR 40,000
RIDERS, IS IT WORTH PUSHING OUT
FOUR TIMES OF THAT AMOUNT OF
NATIVE AUSTINITES BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE
ANYMORE.
THERE'S CRITICISM, AMONG THEM,
IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE, IT'S NOT
APPROPRIATE OR FAIR TO -- THAT
RAIL ROUTE IS NOT THE BEST
OPTION AND AN ALTERNATIVE
CORRIDOR LIKE GUADALUPE WOULD
BETTER SERVE AUSTINITES AND THE
PROPOSITION LANGUAGE IS
CONFUSING.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THOSE
CRITICISMS.
RANDALL STEPHENS FIRST.
>> I LIKE RAIL, I BELIEVE IT
NEEDS TO START, AT THIS POINT,
IF WE WERE TO INVEST THESE SUMS
IN A RAIL SYSTEM WITH OUR LEVEL
OF POPULATION DENSITIES, IT
NEEDS TO START AT THE EDGE,
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND BE A
HYBRID SYSTEM.
IF IT DOESN'T TAKE CARS OFFER
THE HIGHWAY, THE STATE HIGHWAYS
ENTERING THE CITY, I THINK THE
COUNCIL'S UNDERESTIMATING THE
AMOUNT OF FRUSTRATION UP THE
PARMA CORRIDOR AND OUT ON 290
ARE HAVING AND EXPECT THESE
THINGS TO BE FIXED A LONG TIME
AGO AND I'LL LOBBY FOR THAT,
I'LL BE AT THE STATEHOUSE, I'LL
BE THERE IN JANUARY.
JUST TO GET THEIR ATTENTION TO
THE ISSUE OF MOBILITY FUNDING
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE RMA
AND THE GREATER REGIONAL ECONOMY
HAS TO PLAY A PART IN IT.
>> TIME IS UP.
SHERYL COLE.
>> TO THE QUESTION OF IT BEING
TOO EXPENSIVE, I FULLY RECOGNIZE
AUSTINITES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY BUT THEY'RE ALSO
CONCERNED ABOUT TRAFFIC.
SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS OR GIVE
THEM AN OPTION HOW TO DEAL WITH
THAT.
THE BOND PROPOSAL CONTEMPLATES
$600 MILLION FOR RAIL AND
$400 MILLION FOR ROADS.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THE ROADS ARE
IMPERATIVE TO BE A PART OF THAT
PACKAGE IN ORDER TO PRESENT A
COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE.
THAT'S WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO PUT
BEFORE THE VOTERS, SOMETHING
THAT WILL REALLY HELP WITH
CONGESTION.
YOU ALSO ASKED THE QUESTION
ABOUT THE ROUTES AND WHICH WERE
TAKEN AND WHY DID WE NOT TAKE
THE LAMAR GUADALUPE ROUT.
IT WASN'T RECOMMENDED BY THE
CITIZENS' COMMITTEE.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE LOTS OF
CITIZENS ENGAGED BECAUSE WE'VE
ALREADY RECEIVED BUS RAPID
TRANSIT FOR THAT LINE.
BUT I WOULD SUPPORT THAT FOR THE
SECOND PHASE OF RAIL.
>> STEVE ADLER.
>> I THINK THE QUESTION GOES TO
LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE AND
HOW WE DO DELIBERATIVE AND
THOUGHTFUL GOVERNMENT IN THE
CITY OF AUSTIN.
TO THOSE CRITICISMS I SHARE THE
FRUSTRATION, THAT AT THIS POINT
IN THE PROCESS, THOSE QUESTIONS
WOULD STILL REMAIN.
I THINK WE NEED TO ANSWER THOSE
QUESTIONS, BUT THE FACT THEY'RE
THERE I THINK IS AN UNDERLYING
PROBLEM.
MY RESPONSE TO THE CRITICISMS IS
THE ONE I GAVE BEFORE.
I THINK WE'LL BE BETTER OFF IF
THIS BOND PROPOSAL PASSES THAN
IF IT DOESN'T PASS BECAUSE I
THINK THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD
DO NEXT YEAR.
BUT THE BIG TAKE-AWAY, I THINK,
RELATED TO THOSE CRITICISMS, THE
BIG TAKE-AWAY, I THINK, IS TO
RECOGNIZE THAT GOING FORWARD WE
NEED TO DO GOVERNMENT IN A
BETTER WAY.
>> TODD PHELPS.
>> THEY DIDN'T GET THE GUADALUPE
LAMAR CORRIDOR, THEY DIDN'T TRY
HARD ENOUGH AND IT'S ONE OF THE
DENSEST CORRIDORS IN THE
COUNTRY.
THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE THE
THIRD MOST EXPENSIVE RAIL
PROJECT IN THE UNITED STATES
HISTORY.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT
THIS MONTH, AUSTIN MADE THE TOP
16 LIST IN BUSINESS INSIDER OF
THE MOST IMPOVERISHED CITIES AND
WE HAD A MASSIVE RISE IN
SUBURBAN POVERTY, THIS ISN'T
GOING TO HELP THOSE FOLKS.
MR. LEFFINGWELL SAID THEY'VE
DONE NOTHING TO PLAN FOR IT AND
IT WILL COST AN AVERAGE FAMILY
$180 JUST FOR THE FIRST LEG.
MULTIPLY THAT BY FOUR, THE 180,
YOU KNOW, 7%, 15 YEARS AND
$5,000 RANGE, WE REALLY WANT TO
TAKE THAT TYPE OF MONEY AWAY
FROM AUSTIN FAMILIES AS THEY'RE
BEING PUSHED OUT OF OUR CITY?
I DON'T THINK SO.
>> TIME IS UP.
MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> I CERTAINLY DO UNDERSTAND THE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE COAST.
IT'S EXPENSIVE.
BUT THERE'S ONE KEY ELEMENT THAT
I THINK VOTERS MUST UNDERSTAND.
NOT A PENNY OF THIS MONEY CAN BE
SPENT UNLESS WE GET AN EQUAL
MATCH FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE FTA.
TO ME, THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING 600 MILLION
FEDERAL DOLLARS TO AN AUSTIN
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.
I REALIZE THERE ARE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE ROUTING.
THIS WAS A TWO-YEAR PROCESS LED
BY MAYOR LEFFINGWELL AND
COMMUNITY LEADERS, THAT CHOSE
THE ALIGNMENT SO WE COULD BE AS
COMPETITIVE AS POSSIBLE AND
QUALIFIED FOR THAT EQUAL MATCH
IN THE FTA.
I DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING I WANTED
IN THE ROUTING EITHER, I WANTED
IT TO EXTEND TO ABIA AND I THINK
THAT'S CRITICAL IN FUTURE PHASES
THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE FOR
SUCCESSFUL MULTIMODAL OPERATION
AND I'LL CONTINUE TO WORKING ON
TRANSPORTATION AS CHAIRMAN OF
CAP METRO.
32 MILLION TRIPS THIS YEAR ALONE
WERE GIVE.ON CAP METRO.
WE NEED TO DO MORE.
>> NEXT QUESTION, WHAT WOULD YOU
DO IF PROPOSITION ONE DOES NOT
PASS IN NOVEMBER AND YOU'RE
ELECTED MAYOR.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T SUPPORT
PROPOSITION ONE, WHAT WOULD YOU
DO IF IT DOES PASS IN NOVEMBER
AND YOU'RE ELECTED MAYOR.
SHERYL COLE.
>> I THINK IT'S THE DUTY OF
EVERY MAYOR TO HAVE A VISION FOR
THE CITY AND CONTEMPLATE BOTH
ALTERNATIVES THAT YOU'VE SET
FORTH.
IF THE PROPOSITION DOES NOT
PASS, I THINK WE SIMPLY GO BACK
TO THE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
BECAUSE WE HAD A AMOUNT OF
COLLABORATION IN CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT ON THIS SUBJECT AND
DIG DEEP WHY THAT WAS.
LIKE THE LEADERSHIP, I DID SHOW
ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND
AND IF THE PROPOSITION DOES
PASS, I'LL WORK VERY HARD TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL
MATCHING FUNDS ARE THERE FOR US
TO ACTUALLY DO THE RAIL AND ALSO
THE FUNDS ARE THERE TO ACTUALLY
DO THE ROADS.
>> STEVE ADLER.
>> FIVE YEARS AGO, AUSTIN HAD
THE 16th WORST TRAFFIC
CONGESTION IN THE COUNTRY.
TODAY WE HAVE THE FOURTH WORST
IN THE COUNTRY THE WE HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING AND WE HAVE TO ACT.
WHEN WE GO FROM TWO MILLION
PEOPLE IN THE MSA WHICH IS WHAT
WE HAVE TODAY TO 4:00 FOUR
MILLION IN 25 YEARS, IT'S HARD
TO IMAGINE A SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T
IS INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION.
INCLUDING RAIL AND ROADS AND
TRAILS, BUT THERE IS A ALSO A
LAND PLANNING QUESTION.
THE TEXAS A&M TRAFFIC INSTITUTE
LOOKED AT THE WISH LIST OF THE
PROJECTS IN AUSTIN AND SAID IF
WE DO THEM ALL AND WE CAN'T
AFFORD TO DO THEM ALL.
IN 25 YEARS, IT TAKES THREE
HOURS TO DRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN
AUSTIN TO ROUND ROCK.
>> THIS IS A CHALLENGE WE HAVE
TO DEAL WITH.
IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT'S A LAND
PLANNING QUESTION AS MUCH AS
ANYTHING ELSE.
IN ORDER TO FIX THIS, WE HAVE TO
LOOK AT HOW WE LIVE AND WHERE WE
LIVE.
AND WE HAVE TO MOVE TO IDEAS
THAT ARE MORE LONG TERM IN
SCOPE.
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE AUSTIN IN
25 YEARS THAT DOESN'T HAVE A MID
TOWN OR GALLERIA AREA, THAT TYPE
OF THING OF TIME IS UP.
TODD PHELPS.
>> WITH THE PASSES, I'M GOING TO
DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO PROTECT
AUSTINITES AND PEOPLE GETTING
PUSHED OUT OF THE AFFORDABLE BIT
CRISIS AND FOCUS ON THE TRAFFIC
SOLUTIONS WHICH ADDRESS
BOTTLENECKS AND WORK ON
INTERSECTIONS THAT NEED TO BE
IMPROVED WITH THE MONEY THEY'RE
GOING TO PUT ON THIS SMALL
LITTLE TRAIN.
21st CENTURY TECHNOLOGY.
LIKE UBER AND LYFT RIDE SHARE
THAT MR. MARTINEZ HAS BEEN
BLOCKING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
WHEN SIDE CAR CAME IN, HE KEPT
IT FROM GOING TO A VOTE.
RIGHT NOW, HE'S DOING A DOG AND
PONY SHOW, AND THE LAST FORUM HE
SAID WE HAVE FRANCHISES TO MAKE
MULTIMILLIONS OFF THIS REFERRING
TO THE CAB COMPANY, HE'S NOT
ALLOWING THEM TO DO BUSINESS
FAIRLY.
WITH THE IRS RATE, THEY CAN'T
MAKE A PROFIT.
HE'S KEEPING THEM OF AUSTIN.
IT'S WRONG.
>> TIME IT UP.
MIKE MARTINEZ, YOU GET 30
SECONDS REBUTTAL AND THEN YOU'RE
THE NEXT TO ANSWER.
>> THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, NO ONE
COUNCILMEMBER CAN PRECLUDE
ANYTHING.
IT'S THE ENTIRE COUNCIL ACTING
AS A BODY.
RIDE SHARE IS 100% LEGAL IN
AUSTIN.
IF YOU WANT TO GIVE SOMEONE A
RIDE, IT'S LEGAL.
IT'S WHEN YOU TRY TO CHANGE IT
TIE CORPORATION, A MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR CORPORATION, THAT
NEGATIVELY AFFECTED MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES THAT YOU HAVE COME TO
MY REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT.
>> AROUND YOUR ANSWER NOW, MIKE
MARTINEZ.
>> IF PROPOSITION ONE DOESN'T
PASS, HERE'S THE BEAUTY WHY WE
GET THE OPPORTUNITY.
BECAUSE WE SAVED CAPITAL METRO
FROM SOLVENCY SO WE CAN HAVE
THIS CONVERSATION.
IT CAN TAKE ON THE ONGOING
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
FUNDING TO RUN THE RAIL SYSTEM.
IF IT DOESN'T PASS, WE ON THE
SECOND PUSS RAPID TRANSIT LINE
TO 803 AND CONNECTING ALL PARTS
OF AUSTIN.
>> I HAVE THINK BUS RAPID
TRANSIT HAS A TREMENDOUS FUTURE
IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THAT'S
WHAT I'LL GO BACK TO SHOULD IT
NOT PASS BUT WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK
AT ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE MAJOR
IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY, LIKE 360
AND I-35 AND WE MUST FOCUS OUR
EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THOSE ROADS
AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
>> RANDALL STEPHENS.
>> THE QUESTION AGAIN, PLEASE.
>> FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORT
PROPOSITION ONE, WHAT WOULD YOU
DO IF IT DOES NOT PASS IN
NOVEMBER IF YOU'RE ELECTED?
THOSE WHO DO NOT SUPPORT
PROPOSITION ONE, WHAT WOULD YOU
DO IF IT DOES PASS IN NOVEMBER
AND YOU'RE ELECTED.
>> WELL, I'M PREDICTING IT WON'T
PASS JUST BECAUSE THE FEEDBACK
I'M GETTING AS I GO AROUND THE
CITY, VARIOUS PEOPLE AND
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND
GROUPS AND IT'S JUST THE
FEEDBACK I'M GETTING.
I BELIEVE IT'S GOING DOWN IN
DOUBLE DIGIT ITS, I DON'T -- I'M
NOT TELLING PEOPLE HOW TO VOTE
ON IT, BUT IF IT DOES PASS, I
HAVE THE SKILL SET TO MAKE IT
WORK, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
IF WE HAVE THE FUNDING, I
UNDERSTAND HOW TO FLOW LARGE
PROJECTS AND TALK TO ENGINEERS
AND HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO
HAVE THE TECHNICAL SKILLS TO
PULL IT OFF.
BUT IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD
WORK WITH THE NEW COUNCIL AND
WHAT THEY'RE CONSENSUS IS AND
PERHAPS ENTERTAIN MORE THAN ONE
CONTRACTOR TO SUBMITTED BYES ON
IT.
RIGHT NOW WE JUST HAVE ONE AND
THE VICE PRESIDENT -- THE
PRESIDENT OF PROJECT CONNECT IS
IN A BEEF WITH THAT COMPANY AND
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
SO I WANT MORE TRANSPARENCY,
NUMBERS FROM MORE THAN ONE
SOURCE AND I BELIEVE WE CAN CUT
A FAT HOG AND SAVE MONEY IN
BUILDING IT.
>> TIME IT IS.
NEXT QUESTION: HOW DOES YOUR
TRANSPORTATION PLATFORM
DISTINGUISH YOU FROM THE OTHER
CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR?
STEVE ADLER, YOU'RE FIRST.
>> I THINK THE CONVERSATION
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY IN CONCERNING
TRANSPORTATION IS THE ONE THAT I
MENTIONED AT THE CONCLUSION OF
THE ANSWER I GAVE JUST A MOMENT
AGO.
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY FIXING
TRANSPORTATION INVOLVES MORE
THAN CAPITAL EXPENSES BECAUSE WE
CAN'T BUY OR BUILD OUR WAY OUT
OF THIS.
WE NEED TO DO THOSE THINGS.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT
BEHAVIORAL THINGS AND WHERE WE
LIVE.
IF YOU CAN GET THE STATE OF
TEXAS AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
AND THE CITY AND COUNTY AS
EMPLOYERS TO -- TO JOIN WITH
SOME OF THE LARGER EMPLOYERS IN
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IN A REAL
AGGRESSIVE WAY TO ENCOURAGE
EMPLOYEES TO DO STAGGERED HOURS,
WE COULD CHANGE WHAT TRAFFIC
LOOKS LIKE TOMORROW.
WE NEED TO DO MORE TELECOMMUTING
AND PROVIDE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES
TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN AREAS
WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE
SO FAR TO DOWNTOWN.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE IF WE INCREASE
OUR POPULATION TO SEND 15% OF
OUR POPULATION DRIVING THROUGH
DOWNTOWN.
>> TIME IS UP.
TODD PHELPS.
>> OK.
BEFORE TODAY, I WAS THE ONLY ONE
AGAINST PROP ONE AND I'M HEAVY
ON RIDE SHARE.
DEFINITELY, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO
JUSTIN SCHMIDT OF SIDE CAR AND
IT ONLY TAKES TWO PEOPLE ON
COUNCIL HEAVILY FUNDED BY CAB
COMPANIES TO KEEP SOMETHING FROM
GOING TO A VOTE.
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF TOLLING, AND
THE MAYOR WAS SAYING RAIL OR
FAIL, I'M SAYING HIGH AND WIDE
ON I-35, BABY, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT
TO DO IT.
YOU CAN GO OUT TO HANCOCK
CENTER, YOU CAN DO PUSH OUT
OVER -- NOT TAKE OVER HANCOCK
CENTER BUT TOWARDS IT, PUSH OUT
OVER THE ACCESS ROAD AND DO WHAT
THEY'VE DONE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WOULD SAY IN A 21st MODULAR
TYPE OF SYSTEM, IN A TRAM SORT
OF RAIL, SOMETHING TO LOOK AT,
EAST AND WEST NEXUS, BUT RIGHT
NOW IT'S A WASTE AND IT'S GOING
TO HURT PEOPLE.
>> TIME IS UP.
MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> SO I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS
CLEAR.
MY TRANSPORTATION RECORD IS
UNMATCHED BY ANY CANDIDATE IN
THIS RACE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SERVICE I
PROVIDED AS CHAIRMAN OF CAPITAL
METRO AND THE WAY WE TURNED THAT
AGENCY AROUND AND ABLE TO SAVE
IT FROM THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE,
DISSOLVING THE AGENCY.
THAT WAS THE CLEAR DISTINCTION
FROM MY CANDIDACY THAN THE
OTHERS IN THE RACE.
WE UNDERSTAND TRAFFIC AND
CONGESTION IS A MAJOR ISSUE, IT
TAKES AN ALL-HANDS APPROACH.
I THINK TELECOMMUTING AND
ALTERED WORK SCHEDULES ARE FINE.
BUT HOW DO YOU TELL A
CONSTRUCTION WORKER OR SERVICE
INDUSTRY EMPLOYEE YOU NEED TO
TELECOMMUTE TODAY?
IT'S NOT FEASIBLE FORM MANY
WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES.
I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THINGS
LIKE MASS TRANSIT SO YOU DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE YOUR
OWN VEHICLE BUT BE ABLE TO USE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
>> RANDALL STEPHENS.
>> FAR NORTH AUSTIN, ONE OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS I WON'T MENTION,
NICE PERSON, ASKED ME AFTER I
SPOKE DOWNTOWN, WHERE IS AVERY
RANCH?
4,000 HOMES.
I THINK OUR FORMER SYSTEM,
PRESENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS GOING
TO BE REPLACED, IS INDICATIVE OF
LACK OF FORESIGHT AND HOW FAST
AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK
LIKE.
I WOULD LIKE US TO USE OUR
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES PACKAGES TO
STIMULATE SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
BY ATTRACTING SMALL BUSINESS
EMPLOYERS TO MAKE A COMMITMENT
TO THE CITY AND COME IN AND
OCCUPY EXISTING VACANT
COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL AND
NEARER TO THE PERIPHERY OF
AUSTIN AND DEVELOP THE SITES
WHERE WE CAN HAVE CLEAN LIGHT
MANUFACTURING AND CONTINUE WITH
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.
I JOINED UBER ONLY TO FIND OUT
THE PROS.
I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
ISSUES OF INSURANCE AND ETC.
>> SHERYL COLE.
>> I THINK MY PLATFORM DIFFERS
IN THAT I TAKE A REGIONAL
APPROACH TO TRANSPORTATION.
I RECOGNIZE THAT OUR PROBLEMS
ARE CHALLENGES IN AUSTIN, NOT
JUST BECAUSE OF AUSTIN TRAFFIC
BECAUSE ALSO BECAUSE OF BUDA,
AND KYLE AND GEORGETOWN AND
THAT'S THE REASON I SERVE ON THE
METROPOLITAN PLANNING
ORGANIZATION.
AND I TAKE A STRONG DIFFERENCE
IT TO ANYONE WHO SUGGESTS THEY
HAVE MORE TRANSPORTATION
EXPERIENCE THAN I DO BECAUSE I
SERVE ON THAT ORGANIZATION AND
ALSO BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE
PEOPLE THAT HELPED TO NEGOTIATE
THE LENGTHS GOING INTO MOPAC AND
WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT
BUSS WERE ABLE TO GO IN THOSE
LANES AS WELL AS EMERGENCY
VEHICLES AND DID THAT ALONG WITH
SARAH AND THREE OTHER MEMBERS
FROM THE FIVE-COUNTY REGION.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO WORK ON
HAVING FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY
FOR TRANSPORTATION AND TO USE
THAT MONEY FOR NOT ONLY RAIL,
BUT ALSO ROADS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NEXT QUESTION: TELL US IN THE
PAST WEEK OR SO, HOW HAVE YOU
COMMUTED AROUND THE AUSTIN AREA.
[LAUGHTER]
WHAT ARE ALL OF THE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION YOU HAVE USED TO
GET AROUND?
TODD PHELPS.
>> FEET AND CAR.
I'VE ALSO USED RIDE SHARE, EVEN
THOUGH THEY'RE NOT MAKING MONEY
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GRAY AREA.
AND ALSO USED TAXICABS AS WELL.
I HAD SOME REALLY GOOD FRIENDS,
GREAT GUYS FROM BRAZIL THAT ARE
AMAZING CAB DRIVERS THAT I WOULD
TRUST MY LIFE WITH.
BUT ONE THING WE NEED TO DO IS
FOCUS ON ALL OF THE ABOVE
SOLUTIONS FOR TRAFFIC AND FOCUS
ON NOT HOLDING THE CITIZENS OF
AUSTIN HOSTAGE TO A RAIL VOTE BY
TACKING ON THE ROAD
IMPROVEMENTS.
>> MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> SO JUST THIS WEEK ALONE, USED
CAPITAL METRO, INCLUDING BRT.
THE NEW 803 LINE, AUSTIN
B-CYCLE, WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS
ASSET IN THE URBAN CORE.
PICKING UP A BICYCLE AND HEADING
BACK TO CITY HALL.
I'VE USED MY ELECTRIC VOLT AND
SOMEONE ELSE I WOULD TRUST MY
LIFE WITH, MY WIFE GAVE ME A
RIDE HERE TONIGHT.
[LAUGHTER]
>> RANDALL STEPHENS.
>> RECENTLY, I RODE MY BIKE,
ABOUT 28-MILES.
IT TAKES ME A LITTLE LESS THAN
TWO HOURS.
I HAVE TO COMPLIMENT CAPITAL
METRO, IT'S A TERRIFIC SERVICE.
IN THE AFTERNOON WE HAVE --
WE'RE THREE MILES FROM THE SUN
IN TEXAS THIS TIME OF YEAR AND
I'LL RIDE OVER TO THE STATION
AND TAKE THE RED LINE BACK TO
AVERY.
AND THAT'S A NEAT OPTION.
I DO THAT ONCE IN A WHILE AND
IT'S BEEN REALLY A LOT OF FUN.
OTHER THAN THAT, I DRIVE THE
DURANGO, AMERICAN-MADE, I LIKE
IT.
[LAUGHTER]
>> SHERYL COLE.
>> I DRIVE A CAR AND SOMETIMES I
GET A RIDE AND SOMETIMES I'LL
RIDE MY BICYCLE.
I TRY TO -- I TRIED TO
SKATEBOARD BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK
OUT WELL.
[LAUGHTER]
>> STEVE ADLER.
>> WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, I'VE
RIDDEN MY HYBRID AND I'VE WALKED
AND ALSO BEEN ON CAPITAL METRO
801 AND I'VE BEEN ON THE RED
LINE TRAIN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NEXT QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU
DEFINE SUCCESS WHEN IT COMES TO
ADDRESSING AUSTIN'S
TRANSPORTATION SITUATION?
MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> I THINK THERE ARE MANY
MEASURES THAT YOU CAN USE TO
ADDRESS ASK YOU U SUCCESS.
SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE
AFFORDABILITY AND HOW MANY CARS
WE'VE REMOVED FROM OUR ROADWAYS
EACH DAY.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, HARDWORKING
FAMILIES NEED THAT OPTION.
THERE ARE MANY CAPITAL METRO
RIDERS WHO ARE DEPEND.
RIDERS AND WITHOUT PUBLIC
TRANSIT THEY COULDN'T GET TO AND
FROM WORK OR NOT GROCERY STORE
OR THEIR CHILDREN WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO GET TO SCHOOL OR BACK
HOME.
THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS IS ARE
YOU STABLE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THE
SERVICE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY
NEEDS AND STABLE ENOUGH LONG
TERM TO HAVE THAT FIVE, 10, 15
YEAR VISIONS AS WE'VE DONE AT
CAPITAL METRO.
THE TRUE MEASURE OF THE SUCCESS
COULD ALSO BE WHETHER OR NOT
CITIZENS SUPPORT PROPOSITION ONE
OR NOT.
THAT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE
USED BY MANY TO SAY WHETHER OR
NOT WE'RE SUCCESSFUL AS A
COMMUNITY ENOUGH TO WHERE THE
CITIZENS TRUST US FOR THE ROAD
AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
>> TIME IS UP.
RANDALL STEPHENS.
>> THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ASPECT OF
CITY'S IMPROVEMENT, AND IT'S
BEEN THE STATE, I THINK AND THE
CITY'S COOPERATION WITH IT, IS
OVER AT EAST RIVERSIDE, THE
BRIDGE, TRAFFIC FLOWS WITHOUT
STOPPING.
THEY REMOVED THE LIGHT ACROSS
THE CARGO AREA AT THE AIRPORT.
TAKE A RIGHT TURN OUT OF THAT
STREET AND DO A U-TURN TO COME
BACK AND -- VICE VERSA, COMING
FROM TOWN.
THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS NEED
IMMEDIATE URGENT ATTENTION AND
WE NEED TO INVITE THE NEXT --
THE NEXT MAYOR SHOULD INVITE ALL
OF THE MAYORS IN THE STATE OF
TEXAS TO CONFERENCE AND GET THEM
TO TELL THE STATE LEGISLATURE,
RED OR BLUE, WHITE OR GREEN,
THAT WE NEED TO RECONSIDER
GASOLINE EXCISE TAX AND WE HAVE
ENOUGH FUNDING FOR THE RMA, THE
REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY.
>> SHERYL COLE.
>> I THINK TRANSPORTATION WOULD
BE A SUCCESS IF WE'RE ABLE TO
REDUCE SOME CONGESTION AND ABLE
TO PAY FOR FUTURE REDUCTIONS
THROUGH ROADS AND RAIL.
IT'S TRULY A COMPLIMENT TO THIS
CITY AND ITS PROSPERITY THAT
WE'RE ABLE TO GO TO THE VOTERS
AND ASK FOR THE FUNDING FOR PROP
ONE.
I'VE WORKED ON THE MANAGED LANE
PROPOSITION FOR MOPAC AND THAT
AGREEMENT ALLOWED FOR
$100 MILLION TO BE PUT INTO THE
MANAGED LANE BUT IT WILL RETURN
$230 MILLION TO THE REGION FOR
OTHER TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
SO THAT OUR MONEY IS NOT GOING
TO WALL STREET BUT USED LOCALLY.
I THINK FUTURE GENERATIONS HAVE
TO BUY INTO THE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM AND ALSO EVERYONE HAS TO
BE COMMITTED ON A COLLABORATIVE
BASIS TO REDUCING OUR CARBON
EMISSIONS.
>> STEVE ADLER.
>> SORRY, PLEASE REPEAT THE
QUESTION.
>> SURE.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE SUCCESS
WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING
AUSTIN'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM?
>> WE BEGIN BY NOT BEING THE
16th WORST CITY FOR
CONGESTION, AS WE WERE FIVE
YEARS AGO, OR THE FOURTH WORST
CITY WE ARE TODAY.
I THINK YOU DEFINE SUCCESS WITH
RESPECT TO CONGESTION BY
DIMINISHING THE TIME PEOPLE ARE
SITTING IN CARS.
AND I THINK IN ORDER FOR US TO
DO THAT, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY
MOVE FORWARD AND ACTUALLY HAVE
PROJECTS THAT ARE HELPING TO
ACHIEVE THAT.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THE SUCCESS
WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE WITH
RESPECT TO TRANSPORTATION
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ARRIVING
AS -- AS IT SHOULD.
AND I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER.
>> TODD PHELPS.
>> I WOULD DEFINE SUCCESS IF YOU
WERE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
CONSTANTLY, WHICH OUR LEADERS
HAVEN'T DONE BY THEIR OWN
ADMISSION, MAYBE FOR FOUR YEARS,
BUT NOT PRIOR TO THAT VERY AND
YOU VERY MUCH.
I WOULD DEFINE THAT TO BE THE
NUMBER ONE THING, THEY NEED TO
CONSTANTLY BE PLANNING FOR THE
FUTURE.
AND LOOKING FOR CONSTANT FLOW
WHEREVER YOU POSSIBLY BECOME A
EAST-WEST NEXUS WITH POSSIBLY A
NON-BEHOLDEN SYSTEM, STARTING
DOWNTOWN, VERY QUICKLY, THAT WAS
MODULAR AND SOMEWHAT PRIVATELY
FUNDED.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GET OUT OF
THEIR CARS YET.
IT NEEDS TO BE SEMIPRIVATE WITH
GOOD A.C. BUT ABOVE GROUND THAT
IS NOT SO COST PROHIBITIVE AS
THE OTHER IDEAS OUT THERE.
>> NEXT QUESTION: AUSTIN'S
TRAFFIC CRUNCH IS ONE SIDE
EFFECT OF THE GROWTH HAPPENING
IN AUSTIN AND THE SURROUNDING
AREA.
AND ALSO, THERE SEEMS TO BE A
GROWING DIVIDE BETWEEN RICH AND
POOR, WITH MANY MIDDLE INCOME
RESIDENTS LEAVING TOWN.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS MAYOR AND
THE ONLY PERSON ON THE DAIS
REPRESENTING THE CITY AS A
WHOLE, TO ADDRESS THE GROWING
ECONOMIC DIVIDE IN AUSTIN?
RANDALL STEPHENS FIRST.
>> I WOULD LOOK AT OUR
BUREAUCRACY AND LOOK FOR WAYS
WITHOUT TOUCHING EMPLOYEES'
WAGES AND BENEFITS AND USE THE
MODALITIES, TOOLS IN THE
BUSINESS, AND WHERE I COME FROM,
WE MOVE HEAVY AIRPLANES THROUGH
HANGARS AND TAKE THEM APART AND
PUT THEM BACK TOGETHER AND
REBUILD AND MODIFY.
THAT'S BUSINESS.
WE HAVE A DYNAMIC GROUP HERE,
PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE CITY, WORK
FOR THE CITY, PUTTING THEIR
IDEAS IN ACTION CAN BE REWARDED
AND ENCOURAGE MORE BENEFIT TO
THE CITY.
HELP US SAVE MONEY.
ANOTHER THING, HELP THE LEAST
AMONG US, TO CREATE A FUSION
CENTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICE,
BORROWING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT A
SINGLE POINT WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE
ASSESSED AND ULTIMATELY REDUCE
E.R. VISITS AND SAVE TAXPAYERS A
LOT OF MONEY.
>> SHERYL COLE.
>> I BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN IS
INCREASINGLY BECOMING TOO
"AUSTIN."
AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AND
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THE MAYOR
DO THAT.
I BELIEVE THE MAIN WAY TO
ADDRESS THAT IS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
TODAY WE HELD A MEETING WITH
SISD, ACC, THE COUNTY AND THE
CENTRAL HEALTH AND THEY MADE
CLEAR THAT AISD IS IN A CRISIS,
EMERGENCY SITUATION, THEY HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THEIR
CHILDREN WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY
DISADVANTAGED.
I THINK THERE COULD BE MORE OF A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG THE
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO ADDRESS
THAT AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO
PARTNER WITH THE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES.
>> STEVE ADLER.
>> AFFORDABILITY IN THIS CITY IS
A CRISIS.
53% OF BLACK KIDS IN THIS CITY
LIVE IN POVERTY.
40% OF HISPANIC KIDS.
WE HAVE THE SECOND FASTEST
GROWING RATE.
OUR POVERTY LEVEL HAS GONE UP
ALMOST 10%.
PEOPLE SAY THERE'S 110 PEOPLE
ARRIVING IN AUSTIN EVERY DAY,
AND THAT'S NOT A CORRECT NUMBER.
THERE ARE 150 PEOPLE ARRIVING IN
AUSTIN EVERY DAY AND 40 LEAVING
AND WE CAN'T HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT AUSTIN UNLESS WE TALK
ABOUT THE PEOPLE LEAVING AS
WELL.
WE NEED TO REVISE OR ALTER OR
CHANGE THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM
TO THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT LOSING
THEIR HOMES AND THAT'S WHY I
PROPOSED THE PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION AND WE NEED TO HAVE A
COURT THAT SAYS APARTMENT OWNERS
ARE NOT OVERCHARGED ON THEIR
UTILITY BILLS, WE NEED TO FIX
THAT, AND BRING MIDDLE CLASS
JOBS INTO THE CITY AND TRAIN
THOSE WHO LIVE HERE TO TAKE
THOSE JOBS.
>> TIME.
TODD PHELPS.
>> WELL, FIRST OFF, I WOULD TRY
AND ALLEVIATE THE COST OF PROP
ONE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO
THE WORKING CLASS AND POOREST
AMONG US, BUT I'VE BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR A 20% RESIDENTIAL
HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION.
I DON'T WANT TO PHASE THAT IN
OVER FOUR YEARS, I WANT DO IT
IMMEDIATELY AND START MOVING IT
INTO RENTAL PROPERTIES TO
PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING THE
COSTS PUSHED ON TO THEM.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR ARTISTIC
COMMUNITIES AND MUSICIANS.
ANOTHER THING, IF WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE THESE INCENTIVE PROGRAM, A
TIF, FOR INSTANCE ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE USING THE ANTICIPATED
PROPERTY TAX TO PAY YOURSELF
BACK FROM THE INCENTIVE, I THINK
THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT DOING DUE
DILIGENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE
HERE FOR A LONG TIME TO PROVIDE
THEM SPECIALIZED RELIEF AND
MAYBE WORK OUT WITH THE STATE TO
DO THAT.
THAT'S WHERE -- THAT'S AUSTIN'S
SOUL AND SACRED TO ME AND I WANT
TO PROTECT THAT.
>> MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> AFTER EIGHT YEARS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL, I'VE BEEN A STRONG
CHAMPION FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
I FOUGHT TO CHANGE PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT ZONING POLICY THAT
INCORPORATED AUSTIN VALUES AND
MAINTAINED AFFORDABILITY AND
FOUGHT TO CHANGE OUR ECONOMIC
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS SO IF LARGE
CORPORATIONS ARE ASKING FOR TAX
BREAKS THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE
WORKER BENEFITS AND PAY A LIVING
WAGE.
AND THERE'S THE AUSTIN WE KNOW
AND AN AUSTIN WE SHOW.
THE AUSTIN WE SHOW IS ON THE
NUMBER ONE LIST OF PRETTY MUCH
EVERY MAGAZINE IN THE COUNTRY.
THE AUSTIN WE KNOW IS THE ONE --
THE AUSTIN WE KNOW IS THE ONE
WHERE MORE THAN 50% OF AISD
SCHOOLCHILDREN ARE LIVING IN
POVERTY, AS COUNCILMEMBER COLE
MENTIONED.
I'LL CONTINUE TO BE A CHAMPION
FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS AND
HARD-WORKING AUSTINITES.
>> NEXT QUESTION: AUSTIN IS
KNOWN BY THE SLOGAN, "KEEP
AUSTIN WEIRD."
IT'S A CITY KNOWN FOR CREATIVITY
AND INNOVATION.
SOME FEEL THAT CHERISHED
CHARACTERIZATION MAY BE IN
JEOPARDY.
IS IT STILL A REALISTIC
ASPIRATION FOR THE CITY?
HOW WOULD YOU PRESERVE WHAT
KEEPS AUSTIN WEIRD?
SHERYL COLE.
>> WELL, AUSTIN IS ON THE MOVE
AND PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE
ON THE MOVE IS BECAUSE WE HAVE
ENGAGE OUR CIVIC CULTURE AND
NURTURE IT AND I THINK WE SHOULD
CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AS FAR AS KEEPING AUSTIN WEIRD,
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO WORK
TOO HARD TO DO THAT, I THINK
IT'S A -- THERE'S A LOT OF
AUSTINITES WHO GREW UP IN THIS
UNIVERSITY LIKE I DID AND STAYED
IN AUSTIN, AND WELL, THAT'S
PRETTY WEIRD.
[LAUGHTER]
SERIOUSLY, I THINK THERE'S A
CONCERN ABOUT OUR CULTURE AS WE
CONTINUE TO GROW AND IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO ENGAGE
OUR MUSICIANS AND OUR ARTISTS
AND THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY
BRING THE CHARACTER TO THE CITY
TO KEEP IT VIBRANT AND UNIQUE.
>> STEVE ADLER.
>> I BEGAN TODAY BY SAYING THAT
I WAS CONCERNED THAT AUSTIN
WOULD LOSE WHAT MADE IT SPECIAL.
THAT ITS SOUL AND SPIRIT IS IN
THE BALANCE AND WE'RE AT A
TIPPING POINT.
I THINK THAT'S TRUE.
SAN FRANCISCO BECAME THE FIRST
CITY, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WHERE
THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE JUST WENT
OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL, THAT'S THE
PATH WE'RE ON.
IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP AUSTIN
SPECIAL, YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE IN
THIS COUNTRY AND SAY YOU'RE FROM
AUSTIN, AND IT MEANS SOMETHING
TO PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW LOTS OF PLACES IN THIS
WORLD AND SAY YOU'RE FROM AUSTIN
AND IT MEANS SOMETHING.
BUT WE DON'T KEEP THAT, IT JUST
DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WE GET TO
KEEP THAT.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TIME.
WE'RE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE AND
WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> TODD PHELPS.
>> WELL, YEAH, THERE'S A REASON
THAT WAYLON JENNINGS AND WILLIE
NELSON AND STEVIE RAY VAUGHN
CHOSE AUSTIN TO BE HERE.
AND THE POLICIES RIGHT NOW, AS A
CITY, THAT ARE STANDING IN THE
WAY OF PROTECTING AND KEEPING
THAT CULTURE HERE.
THERE'S A POLICY THAT THEY DO
NOT WANT MORE MUSIC VENUES NEAR
RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
IT'S NOT PART -- TALKING ABOUT A
COMPACTED VISION, MORE VERTICAL
AND MIXED USE.
THAT'S FINE, GREAT.
I WANT MORE TODs, MORE
WALKABLE COMMUNITIES, BUT WE
NEED TO INCLUDE MUSIC VENUES IN
THESE AREAS.
THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE LITTLE
GYMS LIKE DON'S DEPOT DOWNTOWN,
BUT STUFF LIKE THAT, WHERE
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL IN
AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN TO ENJOY IT
AND IF WE'RE NOT ALLOWING THESE
VENUES NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS
THAT FLIES IN THE FACE OF IT.
>> THAT'S TIME.
MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> I THINK IT'S ALSO ABOUT
AUSTIN BEING SPECIAL.
NOT JUST WEIRD.
AND WE HAVE TO FIGHT TO PRESERVE
THINGS LIKE THE BROKEN SPOKE AND
THE LITTLE LONGHORN AND LA LA
AND DON'S, THOSE ARE THE THINGS
WE'VE DONE WHEN ENOUGH
DEVELOPMENT CAME IN AND BOUGHT
THE PROPERTY ON WEST FIFTH
STREET WHERE THE MEAN EYED CAT
SITS, WE WORKED WITH THAT
DEVELOPER TO ENSURE THEY COULD
HAVE THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND TAKE
ON THE GROWTH WHILE PRESERVING
THINGS LIKE THE MEAN EYED CAT.
I THINK AUSTIN HAS A VERY UNIQUE
CULTURE AND CHARACTER AND I
AGREE, YOU GO WORLDWIDE,
EVERYONE KNOWS AUSTIN IS A VERY
SPECIAL PLACE.
BUT WE HAVE TO FIGHT TO KEEP IT
SPECIAL AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE
DONE ON COUNCIL AND I'LL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS MAYOR.
>> RANDALL STEPHENS.
>> I SPEAK TO THE AESTHETICS AND
THE WEIRDEST OF SOUTH CONGRESS
AND SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE COOL
STREETS AND -- LOW RISE IS COOL
STREETS AND WE HAD QUITE A BIT
OF TALL DEVELOPMENT AND ABOUT 10
YEARS AGO, I THINK WE'VE GONE
PAST THAT, BUT BY MAKING
INCENTIVES AND MAKING ATTRACTIVE
FOR DEVELOPERS, THE NEW HIGHWAY
PROJECT MOVING ALONG, WILL
ENCOURAGE MORE GROWTH AND SALES
TAX WILL SATISFY THE CITY'S
NEEDS AND THE FACETS OF THE
INNOVATION DISTRICT, IT CAN BE
EXTENDED TO THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS
AND IF WE BRING IN SMALL
BUSINESS EMPLOYERS, ONE TO
500 -- COMPANIES INTO THE
PERIPHERY OF AUSTIN, I BELIEVE
WE'LL STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND
CREATE A NEW GROWTH RING FOR THE
CITY.
>> THAT'S TIME.
OUR NEXT QUESTION, THIS IS OUR
LAST QUESTION BEFORE CLOSING
STATEMENTS.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS GROWING
AND SO IS THE CITY COUNCIL,
AUSTINITES WILL ELECT A COUNCIL
THIS FALL WITH 10 MEMBERS EACH
REPRESENTING A SPECIFIC
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT.
AS MAYOR HOW WOULD YOU MANAGE A
GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE CITY
COUNCIL?
>> I THINK THE 10-1 SYSTEM IS AN
ABSOLUTE GIFT TO THE CITY.
YOU DON'T GET TO RESTART
GOVERNMENT CULTURE BECAUSE IT
GETS INSTITUTIONALIZED IN THE
CITY.
BUT WE HAVE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE NEED TO LEVERAGE THAT
WITH EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH WE
HAVE.
I THINK WE NEED TO EMBRACE WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE NEW LEADERS
SITTING AT THE TABLE.
I THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE THE
STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT, MOVE TO
A COMMITTEE SYSTEM.
IT SCARES ME WHEN I SEE THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING AT 3:00 IN THE
MORNING, CONSIDERING ITEMS AND
MAKING POLICIES FROM THE DAIS ON
RESOLUTIONS FILED THREE OR FOUR
DAYS EARLIER.
WE NEED TO DO WORK IN COMMITTEES
FIRST.
WE NEED TO -- IT'S ABOUT MAKING
THE SUM OF THE WHOLE GREATER AND
THAT THE PARTS AND IT'S EXCITING
AND I WANT TO BE PART OF IT.
>> IT'S TIME.
TODD PHELPS.
>> ONCE AGAIN, I GREW 77 HERE
AND LIVED NORTH AND SOUTH THE
RIVER, EAST AND WEST OF 35,
NORTH AND SOUTH OF 183, SO I
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT AREAS
OF AUSTIN HAVING GROWN UP HERE
AND LIVED IN THOSE DIFFERENT
PLACES AND IT'S AN EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY WITH THE 10-1 SYSTEM
TO BE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
IN MY BUSINESS AND MUSIC HISTORY
I HAVE A FORTE TO DO THAT.
AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RISE
ABOVE THE NOISE.
THIS IS MY ANALOGY -- IF YOU
TAKE FIVE MUSICIANS AND PUT THEM
IN A ROOM AND THEY'RE DOING
THEIR OWN THINGS, NOT LISTENING
TO ONE ANOTHER, IT SOUNDS LIKE
NOISE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE TALK AND LISTEN
TO EACH ONE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT
THE STRENGTHS ARE AND BRING THEM
TOGETHER YOU CAN HAVE BEAUTIFUL
MUSIC AND IN THIS CASE, A
BEAUTIFUL EFFICIENT TRANSPARENT
FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR AUSTIN,
TEXAS.
>> MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE A
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY IN
NOVEMBER IN THIS NEW FORM OF
GOVERNMENT.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR CITY'S
HISTORY, YOU HAVE AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL FROM EACH CORNER OF OUR
CITY.
RIGHT NOW, NOT A SINGLE SITTING
COUNCILMEMBER LIVES SOUTH OF THE
RIVER.
WE NEED A COUNCIL THAT REPRESENT
AND REFLECTS THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE TO
PUBLICLY AND ONLY SUPPORT 10-1
AND NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE PLAN.
I BELIEVE IT WAS WAY BEYOND
TIME.
WE'RE THE LARGEST CITY IN THE
COUNTRY THAT HAS AN ALL AT-LARGE
SYSTEM.
IT'S TIME WE HAVE A COUNCIL THAT
REFLECTS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
I THINK I BRING THE EXPERIENCE
NEEDED TO HELP THEM BE
SUCCESSFUL IN REPRESENTING THEIR
DISTRICT BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
UNDERSTANDING HOW WE GOT TO
WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
ALL IS NOT LOST IN AUSTIN.
IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE, WE LOVE
THIS CITY.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MAYOR THAT
CAN HELP THE COUNCILMEMBERS
UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE CITY
HALL AND KNOW WHERE THE LIGHT
SWITCHES ARE.
>> THAT'S TIME.
RANDALL STEPHENS.
>> WE HAVE TREMENDOUS
TRANSPARENCY AND WE CAN INCREASE
THAT AND REMOVE SUSPICION AND
TAKE LOANS TO CORPORATE
CAMPAIGNS OUT OF THE PICTURE.
WE CAN MAKE A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD AND I COME FROM THE WORLD
OF FREE ONLINE ADVERTISING TOO.
MEDIA COMPANIES DON'T LIKE THIS.
BUT I BELIEVE BROADCAST MEDIA,
WE CAN LEAD THE WORLD.
THEY COULD CREATE A TIME SPOT
THAT A CANDIDATE'S CONTENT COULD
GO IN AND FREE TO THE CANDIDATE,
THE CAMPAIGN IS REGISTERED AND
SELL ADVERTISING TIME AROUND THE
SPOT.
ONE IDEA.
WE COULD COME UP WITH HUNDREDS
OF IDEAS TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY
IN GOVERNMENT AND THAT THE
ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE AT EVERY
LEVEL.
THIS SYSTEM IS ROTTEN FROM THE
TOP DOWN BUT WE HAVE TO FIX IT
AT HOME.
WE NEED TO TAKE THE MONEY
CHANGERS OUT OF OUR TEMPLE IN
THIS WORLD OF AMERICAN POLITICS
AND KEEP THE REVOLUTION AT THE
BALLOT BOX.
>> SHERYL COLE.
>> WITH OVER 70 POTENTIAL
CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNSEL
SEATS WE'VE, WITH 10-1, USHERED
IN A LOT OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK
WITH EVERY ONE OF THE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THAT DISTRICT
AND AS WELL AS THE ISSUES THAT
IMPACT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE
MEETINGS TO 3:00 IN THE MORNING
BECAUSE THERE ARE CITIZENS THERE
WHO WAIT TO TESTIFY AND TELL US
THEIR INPUT AND THOSE ARE THE
SAME CITIZENS THAT SERVE ON
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND
TASKFORCES THAT BRING IDEAS AND
WANT THAT TO BE SHARED WITH THE
COUNCIL AND FOR THE CITIZENS AND
THE COUNCIL TO WORK IN A
COLLABORATIVE MANNER AND I THINK
IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE
MAYOR TO APPRECIATE THE PROCESS
THAT WE USE TO ACTUALLY BRING
ITEMS BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND
MAKE DECISIONS AND HOW THAT
INVOLVES THE COMMUNITY.
>> EACH CANDIDATE NOW HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A 30-SECOND
CLOSING STATEMENT AND WE'LL
BEGIN WITH TODD PHELPS.
>> GROWING UP HERE, MY PARENTS
TAUGHT ME TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S
SACRED AND THEY HAVE A STRONG
WORK ETHIC.
I LOVE THIS TOWN, AND I LOVE THE
SOUL OF THIS TOWN.
THE PEOPLE ARE THE SOUL OF THIS
TOWN.
AND I WANT TO PROTECT THEM AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND MOVE
FORWARD ON A BEAUTIFUL VISION
FOR AUSTIN.
I WANT TO LISTEN TO EVERY SINGLE
PERSON IN ROOM.
YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT TALK TO TODD
OR VISIT TODD PHELPS FOR AUSTIN.
I WANT A BEAUTIFUL TRAFFIC
SOLUTION.
>> THAT'S TIME.
MIKE MARTINEZ.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, I
KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY MORE
ISSUES THAT OUR CITY IS FACING.
WE DIDN'T TOUCH ON HOW WE WOULD
HELP SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES
EXPAND THROUGH OUR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT POLICY THAT DON'T
ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO SERVE AS YOUR
COUNCILMEMBER FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I COME IN WITH ONLY ONE THING IN
MIND, THAT NO ONE GETS LEFT
BEHIND.
WE NEED A MAYOR WHO'S GOING TO
FIGHT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS IN
AUSTIN, TEXAS.
>> RANDALL STEPHENS.
>> I LOOK TO REPRESENT THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
I DON'T HAVE AN OPPONENT ON THIS
STAGE.
EVERYONE HERE HAS BEEN A
TERRIFIC PERSONALITY.
WE HAVE GREAT IDEAS.
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE
SELECTION.
I BELIEVE WE CAN COME UP WITH
SOLUTIONS TO ANY PROBLEM.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I LOVE LIVING HERE.
THIS COMMUNITY GAVE MY WIFE A
CHANCE TO PRACTICE IN HER FIELD
AND RECEIVE TRAINING WHEN PEOPLE
IN DALLAS HUNG UP THE PHONE.
THIS IS HOME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SHERYL COLE.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO
THE FUTURE AND NOT BE AFRAID AND
REALIZE AUSTIN'S PROSPERITY HAS
GOTTEN HERE THROUGH LOTS OF
GROUPS AND CITIZENS AND TO MAKE
THAT CONTINUE, WE MUST PROTECT
OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONTINUE TO
PROMOTE CREATIVITY.
IT'S NOT A STRONG HAND THAT
CREATES A GREAT LEADER.
IT'S A PERSON THAT RECOGNIZES
THAT THERE ARE A THOUSAND
WILLING HANDS READY AND ABLE TO
MAKE OUR CITY GREAT.
>> STEVE ADLER.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AUSTIN HAS A ONCE IN A
GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
GOVERNMENT WORK AND WHATEVER WE
DO BEGINNING IN JANUARY, GOOD OR
BAD, IT'S GOING TO GET
INSTITUTIONALIZED FOR -- IN THE
FIRST 18 MONTHS, IT WILL BE
INSTITUTIONALIZED AND WE'LL LIVE
WITH IT FOR THE NEXT 10, 20
YEARS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THE DECISIONS, $2.2 BILLION FOR
A BIOMASS ENERGY PLANT IN EAST
TEXAS OR A MILLION DOLLAR
TREATMENT PLANT COMING ONLINE
WITH CAPACITY WE DON'T NEED,
THAT THOSE DECISIONS DON'T
HAPPEN GOING FORWARD.
IT'S TIME.
>>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU TO THE MAYORAL
CANDIDATES.
THIS FORUM WILL BE ON THE KLRU
WEBSITE, KLRU.ORG.
ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY,
NOVEMBER 4th.
[APPLAUSE]