Volstead Lounge
Austin for Austinites
RECEIVED Sun., Aug. 3, 2008
Dear Editor,
Re: "City Hall Hustle" [News, Aug. 1]: Difficult choices indeed for Mr. Ott to keep the city budget in check. Cutting libraries' hours, increasing fees on us, freezing pay raises and employment reminds me of "The Ballad of Toby Futrell.” I suggest for him to weigh-in on pay raises for Travis Co. judges and commissioners already in line for 2009. Streamline low priority calls when EMS, fire, and police converge on grandma's call (it doesn't make financial sense). I have witnessed cops just pacing around after a woman collapsed, and I was assisting, three of them not knowing what to do. Get cops on foot in neighborhoods, force detectives out of their air-conditioned offices. What about slashing bloated retirement packages? Cut free money to developers and open a direct line with local businesses so they'll hire local people to increase the flow of money here. Another one: Where I live, people have to work two years to match one month of Mr. Ott's salary. I think government is becoming unaffordable already, and we need to start singing "Austin for Austinites.”
Re: "City Hall Hustle" [News, Aug. 1]: Difficult choices indeed for Mr. Ott to keep the city budget in check. Cutting libraries' hours, increasing fees on us, freezing pay raises and employment reminds me of "The Ballad of Toby Futrell.” I suggest for him to weigh-in on pay raises for Travis Co. judges and commissioners already in line for 2009. Streamline low priority calls when EMS, fire, and police converge on grandma's call (it doesn't make financial sense). I have witnessed cops just pacing around after a woman collapsed, and I was assisting, three of them not knowing what to do. Get cops on foot in neighborhoods, force detectives out of their air-conditioned offices. What about slashing bloated retirement packages? Cut free money to developers and open a direct line with local businesses so they'll hire local people to increase the flow of money here. Another one: Where I live, people have to work two years to match one month of Mr. Ott's salary. I think government is becoming unaffordable already, and we need to start singing "Austin for Austinites.”
Paul Aviña
