Austin Metric

[Originally posted at Burnt Orange Report on 1/21/13]

This past November Austinites replenished our municipal democratic practices by shifting towards geographic districts and moving elections from May to November.  However, much work remains to be done to ensure that city government is truly open to the community's diverse …

The discussion around Austin’s ‘affordability’ was perhaps the most interesting policy theme from the recent municipal election.

Unfortunately, the discussion seemed to focus on economic development subsidies.  These subsidies - while they might contribute to reducing Austin’s affordability in some cases - are a tiny part of local public sector …

Some weeks ago I was approached by some of the members of the 2012 Charter Revision Committee who read some of my previous posts on single-member and at-large districts.  They asked me to write a more comprehensive document detailing the empirical evidence for the hybrid position I hinted at in …

In this column, Wendler & Aleshire (W&A) throw several arguments at the Apple subsidy deal.  Some are worthwhile but not all are crisp. In general, there seems to be a brewing community desire for a 'better way' on corporate subsidies, but those articulating the desire for an alternative fail to …

This Statesman piece on local candidates sparring over economic development incentives is quite frustrating.

First, it leaves somewhat unclear what the candidates actually believe.  Certainly we know that Mayor Leffingwell supports their use (downtown hotel, Apple, LegalZoom, etc.) but the article doesn't convey whether Brigid Shea is in blanket opposition …