Paramount Theatre
Austin Elders
RECEIVED Tue., Jan. 26, 2021
Dear Editor,
Austin Elders told me when I arrived 14 years ago, “This place has changed.” The next 14? Yes, and no. Has out of state money dismantled every part of town that embodied Austin? Yes. Did our City Council and mayor sit back as South Congress was “developed” into an IRL assortment of every internet brand who recently received another round of VC funding? Yes. Every local business permanently priced out? Yes. So, what hasn’t changed?! The minimum wage, a city council unwilling to tangibly improve the lives of Austinites, and a refusal to house our homeless Austin citizens while complaining that they are now visible. We deserve aggressively innovative, soundly practical, intelligently outside of the box, and truly progressive leadership. Where is it? Guess I should shut up and go build some condos with retail underneath …
Austin Elders told me when I arrived 14 years ago, “This place has changed.” The next 14? Yes, and no. Has out of state money dismantled every part of town that embodied Austin? Yes. Did our City Council and mayor sit back as South Congress was “developed” into an IRL assortment of every internet brand who recently received another round of VC funding? Yes. Every local business permanently priced out? Yes. So, what hasn’t changed?! The minimum wage, a city council unwilling to tangibly improve the lives of Austinites, and a refusal to house our homeless Austin citizens while complaining that they are now visible. We deserve aggressively innovative, soundly practical, intelligently outside of the box, and truly progressive leadership. Where is it? Guess I should shut up and go build some condos with retail underneath …
Future Austin Elder
