Austin Prop. 2
List of businesses supporting the cause below:
We urge your vote for the passage of Proposition 2 which would put the brakes on a $65 million bad deal subsidy for the Domain luxury shopping mall.
The endorsers of Prop 2 rarely agree on anything! (See list of endorsers that keeps growing!) But as Stop Domain Subsidies says, this is a no-brainer!
Prop 2 is really about something very fundamental to what this city is — still — all about. Our homegrown businesses are intrinsic to the culture of this city. We thought our Council understood that our local businesses–the economic engine for our city. They are why people come to visit here in the first place!
It is truly amazing that our City Council would use our tax dollars to fund national chains to compete with our local businesses.
In 2003, the public was given just one weeks’ notice by the City Council, on subsidizing this high-end shopping mall for the next 20 years.
- The developer’s calculations projected a $37 million subsidy. Brian Rodgers, a small developer who read about it in the newspaper, calculated the real cost to taxpayers. Brian showed the Council how this calculation had to be false, and the projected subsidy would be much higher — approximately $64 million. After meeting with the Council’s recalcitrance, Brian took the issue to court and won a settlement with Endeavor Development and the City that would allow the city to walk away with absolutely no penalties.
Unbelievably, that’s when the Council started their mantra, “A Deal is a Deal.
Comments
Comment from Terry
Time August 19, 2008 at 9:15 am
Carol Goodwin says “I can’t do anything about it . . . ” Now this has changed, anyone can do something about it from the comfort of their home by helping viralize the SDS videos. See Help from Home
Comment from Randall Stephens
Time August 20, 2008 at 8:22 am
This message is spot-on. Money spent in local businesses is turned over HERE in our our area. Why should developers for high end stores get a break local businesses can’t get?
Let’s see; – Austin, I could place our new HQ here, or in Cedar Park or Round Rock.
I am not asking any of them for a handout, nor Austin but do have a sense of fairness.
All businesses can get free front pages brand item search results on AdBirds.com.
We will give away free what others auction on the www.
“List Free, Shop Smart, Save Gas”!!!
We open Labor Day 2008.
Randall Stephens
Founder, AdBirds.com
Comment from Helen Ingram
Time August 20, 2008 at 8:32 am
Stop giving away the store!
Comment from Carol Mizelle
Time September 18, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Thank you for your efforts to stop this madness. I can’t afford to shop at Neiman Marcus yet my tax money is being used to subsidize their new location. I think not!
Comment from bobby godsey
Time September 20, 2008 at 12:35 pm
do it!
Comment from Ben Livingston
Time September 23, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I remember when I was a kid in the early 70′s and hearing on the radio that Fairbanks Alaska was the most expensive & Austin, Texas was the cheapest city in the USA to live in…Man have things changed!
It’s a real shame that our city officials are so blatantly in bed with developers, and to this extent. When “no brainers” to stop struggling taxpayer’s handouts to high finance out of town corporate competition is an issue in our town like this, it makes me sad to think of the downward trend in ethics our local government has taken. The trend that smells as putrid as Washington DC these days. As a great man is saying lately, “I know we are better than this.” I am going to send this link to everyone I know here in Austin.
Comment from Ben Livingston
Time September 23, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Correction: Just SOME of our city officials that is…
Comment from Ada Blackwell
Time September 25, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Come on city officials, get out of bed with high dollar developers. I guess you don’t care where your tax dollars end up. Can you even afford to shop at the Domain?
Comment from Photographer
Time September 26, 2008 at 1:34 am
some neocons in the city have highers layers to try and stop the Yes on prop 2
see the ABJ or austin buisness jurnal
for the story
or hit the link
but i do have a question who’s side is ABJ on
big neocon big brother? or the Joes who make austin austin?
so the city is finding a way to provent this from going to the voters leasts thats what i get out of reading ABJ story
Comment from Eddie
Time October 2, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Generally I am against all forms of public subsidies as they foster corruption and distort the market. However, this is no longer a question about the value of subsidies or even the specifics of this particular debacle. The city, however misguided, incompetent, or corrupt, made a hasty deal with a developer. We are now obligated to honor this bad deal or risk loosing Austin’s credibility. The city’s trustworthiness is far more important in the long run than the lost tax revenues associated with this bad deal. Future business investments will be influenced by the city’s perceived credibility.
If you don’t like the deal, I urge you to punish the politicians who affirmed it – vote against them in the next election, start a recall, etc. However, we must accept responsibility for the commitments made by our representatives. It is a moral and practical imperative.
Comment from MarkEDenman
Time October 9, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I have read a bit from both sides of this issue. They make opposing claims, claims about the details on Prop 2, the 2005 court settlement, and the original deal.
I dont suppose the commoner is able to access the actual contract between the City of Austin and the developers of “The Domain” or get the exact wording of “prop 2″ ?
anyone has info on this feel free to email me raven.mark.d@gmail.com
Comment from LJCurtis
Time October 10, 2008 at 8:34 am
Hi Mark — all the information you asked for is documented under the “Archives & 7 Misrepresentations”. Be sure to scroll down to the very end, where the contract is. There are also links after each “misrepresentation” to back up our claims that the developer made claims to get the subsidy, that were false. Hence, the opposition’s mantra “Keep Austin’s Word” was something they’ve been forced to utter. SDS
Comment from Scott Allen
Time October 23, 2008 at 11:19 pm
You’re arguing this thing COMPLETELY wrong. I was all set to vote against Prop 2 until I dug through all the emotional appeals and got to the part about misrepresentation.
I agree that we should support local businesses, but tax subsidies for business development are commonplace, all over the country. When was the last time any of those 500 businesses ASKED for economic development assistance??? If you don’t ask, don’t expect it.
But as the opponents are saying, “a deal is a deal”. UNLESS it was entered into in bad faith / fraudulently, or the other party has breached the contract. That’s clearly been done in this case, and that is the ONLY reason the action of Prop 2 is even conscionable at this point.
If you want to garner more support, stop leading with localism and taxes and lead with the breach of contract / bad faith.
Comment from LJCurtis
Time October 24, 2008 at 11:55 am
Hi Scott — Perhaps you’re right and we’re wrong on our message. We’ll see come election day, and it’s too late to change ours. That doesn’t preclude you, or anyone else, putting some dollars together to make their/our case. Seriously, it’s too late to be having this debate. We have argued, for a full four years now, against the “deal is a deal” argument, that it was done in bad faith — make sure you’ve watched the documentaries on this sight and you’ll see. But perhaps we’ve led with protecting our local economy, which many felt was as strong if not a stronger argument. It’s a fine line. Thanks for taking the time to write….SDS
Comment from Carol Goodwin
Time August 18, 2008 at 12:12 am
If this is only for Austin area voters, I can’t do anything about it anyway. But I would darn sure advise Austinites to do anything they can to stop it!!