The Renewed Relays

Remember the Texas Relays?

That's the UT track and field event held each year in April – last spring a number of businesses didn't even wait for the first runners to take their marks before shuttering their doors to ward off the 40,000 mostly African-American visitors. Since we last reported on the hubbub ("Highland Mall Hysteria Over Texas Relays," April 10), a Texas Relays Task Force headed by Council Mem­ber Sheryl Cole has formed.

"This year was not the first time people felt unwelcome," reveals task force member Anoa Monsho of Austin Energy. The snubbing by local businesses "has become a problem for Austin's image. We're supposed to be this big inclusive city," she says. "This is our city, and we want people to feel welcome." The annual weekend is not only one of Texas' largest black parties, it's also "the second largest relay event in the USA," says Monsho, and it brings in more than $8 million in revenue, according to the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau. One would think such a specific audience would excite businesses, but unfortunately, racial panic often trumps the logic of a captive market share. "The only people making money [on Texas Relays] right now are the ones who are throwing private parties," Monsho says. "Plenty of outside promoters would love to come in and take over. Why don't we, as a city, take this opportunity?"

The task force is planning to move in that direction, along with the weekend's big players. The University of Texas, the Texas Depart­ment of Transportation, Huston-Tillotson University, the returning Urban Music Festival – and yes, even reps from Highland Mall – are cooperating to create a safe and hospitable atmosphere. "I have never seen so much cooperation between UT and the city," says Cole. "This might be a milestone."

More specifically, the task force is working with a group planning to debut an East Side Fair to provide local families, visitors, and small businesses a new option. The group comprises folks from the East Austin Rotary Club, Central East Austin Weed & Seed, and Keep Austin Beautiful and has enjoyed early endorsements from a number of Eastside churches and neighborhood associations. Plans for the fest are ambitious. The group aims to transform the corridor that runs through Austin's notoriously blighted intersection of 12th and Chicon, with the intent of encouraging a transformation lasting long beyond the event itself. For more on this, see www.eastsidefair.com.

Cole is upbeat. "I'm most pleased at the effort that has come from the community to make this a welcoming event this year." Monsho concurs: "This is a case of problem versus opportunity – not just for people coming in from out of town but for our people, our city here."