So yesterday I walked over to my favorite taco shop for my usual: two breakfast tacos, one potato egg and cheese; one bean egg and cheese. One flour, one corn tortilla.
As soon as I walked in, the owner said “Max, why didn;t you run for Mayor?”
“Well,” I replied, “I thought about it, and I talked to some folks about it, but in the end, I just didn’t want to do that. The ribbon-cuttings, the social crap, the endless meetings…I just don’t have the patience for it anymore. Besides, it’s easier for a Dallas developer to get elected in Austin these days, than for an Austin environmentalist…But there are about ten things I would like to do as Mayor…”
When I got home, I started thinking about the ten things i would do as Mayor, and I made a list:
1) Hold an election on strengthening the SOS ordinance. Since it passed in 1992, it has only been ignored and weakened. No one has even TRIED to strengthen it.
2) Hold an election for an Air Quality SOS ordinance. That is, an ordinance that says ” build your development in a way that doesn’t poison the people’s air.” Currently, developers pollute the air with impunity. The people can either breathe dirty air or pay to clean it up. This is a huge subsidy for developers…it has to stop..
3) Bring back free fares at Cap. Metro. When we did this in the late 80’s, ridership doubled. This would reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gases, and help people save money.
4) Stop expensive projects, like rail and Water treatment plant IV. These projects do nothing but serve special interests and drive up the cost of living. They are fiscally irresponsible.
5) Cut spending at City Hall. The budget is fat with waste, pet projects, consultants, etc. This wasteful spending drives up taxes, rents, everything…making it more difficult for artists, musicians, the elderly, and the non-wealthy to live here.
6) Apply the noise ordinance not just to music venues and musicians, but to construction equipment, delivery trucks, etc.
7) Create a diesel-free zone in the heart of the city. This would make everything quieter, cleaner, and healthier…less cancer and asthma.
Bring back elections on electric power plants, water and wastewater extensions, environmental issues. Elections on controversial issues are good for Democracy and a good way to keep citizens informed and interested in their government. Doing away with elections serves only the special interests.
9) Use economic development incentives for clean energy projects only, not for retail like The Domain, Second Street, the Marriott Hotel chain. The Mayor and council have spent at least $100 million turning Austin into Dallas with these projects, and others.
10) Protect local iconic institutions like Liberty Lunch and Las Manitas, instead of destroying them. Give local businesses more than lip service…
These are some things that need doing, that should have been done in these last 10 years. Maybe the new Mayor will do them…(yeah, right1).
These are things an Austin Environmentalist would have done.