Advocates for this November's "road and rail" Proposition 1 would like the electorate to believe the proposed light rail segment will achieve success similar to Houston's stellar Red Line. Here are the top 3 reasons why they are wrong and why it matters.
A homestead exemption based on a fixed percent of home value is a regressive and ineffective affordability policy. It engenders a permanent loss of much-needed revenue for public investments. Spending directly on policies that promote abundant housing supply is an effective, progressive alternative. Said progressive alternative targets the actual problem …
[MORE]Municipal identification cards are a new service innovation that solve multiple problems. Several large cities successfully operate municipal ID card programs. In Austin, an ID program would use minimal resources and serve diverse constituencies.
What are municipal identification cards?
IDs typically feature the photo and address of the cardholder, serving …
[MORE]A new City budget is being debated. Here are five key points that help clarify the meaningful choices policymakers face.
1. The City is not the big property tax bill. It's AISD.
A lot of consternation about the cost of local government focuses on the City. It's certainly a major …
[MORE]November's urban rail and road package aims to "do something" as Austin clamors for transportation solutions. Sadly, as blog readers know, the proposal will not be effective at reducing congestion or promoting car-independence. It will, however, exhaust our reserves of political will and actual capital available for bold solutions. An …
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