Bullock Texas State History Museum
The 'Chronicle' Is Right When I Agree With What It Says
RECEIVED Wed., May 10, 2006
Dear Editor,
Last week Editor Louis Black wrote that “this paper's long history of championing environmental causes has been forgotten” [“Page Two,” May 5]. Actually, we remember. For years we have relied on the Chronicle to hold City Hall, the Statesman, and developers accountable and to stand up for Barton Springs. Austin, and Barton Springs, would have long ago been lost without the Chronicle.
This time the Chronicle is not writing that Stratus Properties and AMD are preparing to begin the construction of Jim Bob Moffett's dream of a satellite downtown. We're not reading that AMD's move out of East Austin and into the Barton Springs Watershed is a betrayal of 30 years of city planning, the 1992 voter-approved Save Our Springs Ordinance, and years of Chronicle and citizen advocacy. Instead, Black and others at the Chronicle forget what is at stake and attack Proposition 2 without supporting any other alternative.
Black labels Prop. 1 and 2 supporters as “hyperpartisan.” Yet his headline and writing epitomize hyperpartisan, zero-tolerance advocacy. Let's debate the merits, and agree to disagree where appropriate, but let's not pretend as if the large sums of money AMD and Stratus have placed around the community are irrelevant. When Jim Bob did it, it was certainly relevant.
It is through-the-looking-glass when Clark-Madison dons the progressive mantle in arguing that the open government amendment will starve social services [“Austin@Large," News, May 5]. The City's trickle-down economics give multimillion dollar subsidies to developers and some of the world's largest and most profitable corporations in closed-door deals. Meanwhile, small business, the arts, social services, parks, Barton Springs – everything that makes Austin special – are pitted against each other and go begging. Prying open City Hall will help us shift priorities to the community and away from insider special interests. Yes on 1 and 2 for Austin's future.
Last week Editor Louis Black wrote that “this paper's long history of championing environmental causes has been forgotten” [“Page Two,” May 5]. Actually, we remember. For years we have relied on the Chronicle to hold City Hall, the Statesman, and developers accountable and to stand up for Barton Springs. Austin, and Barton Springs, would have long ago been lost without the Chronicle.
This time the Chronicle is not writing that Stratus Properties and AMD are preparing to begin the construction of Jim Bob Moffett's dream of a satellite downtown. We're not reading that AMD's move out of East Austin and into the Barton Springs Watershed is a betrayal of 30 years of city planning, the 1992 voter-approved Save Our Springs Ordinance, and years of Chronicle and citizen advocacy. Instead, Black and others at the Chronicle forget what is at stake and attack Proposition 2 without supporting any other alternative.
Black labels Prop. 1 and 2 supporters as “hyperpartisan.” Yet his headline and writing epitomize hyperpartisan, zero-tolerance advocacy. Let's debate the merits, and agree to disagree where appropriate, but let's not pretend as if the large sums of money AMD and Stratus have placed around the community are irrelevant. When Jim Bob did it, it was certainly relevant.
It is through-the-looking-glass when Clark-Madison dons the progressive mantle in arguing that the open government amendment will starve social services [“Austin@Large," News, May 5]. The City's trickle-down economics give multimillion dollar subsidies to developers and some of the world's largest and most profitable corporations in closed-door deals. Meanwhile, small business, the arts, social services, parks, Barton Springs – everything that makes Austin special – are pitted against each other and go begging. Prying open City Hall will help us shift priorities to the community and away from insider special interests. Yes on 1 and 2 for Austin's future.
Bill Bunch
Save Our Springs Alliance
Save Our Springs Alliance
[Editor's note: Bill Bunch played a prominent role in shaping the language of Prop. 2.]
