Prop 1 Open Thread (Austin: residential, congested, money)

[mayfair44]

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

The first one is actually funny. I notice they present a false dichotomy and then try turning it into a "if you hate Republicans then you must support this plan because they hate this plan" type of marketing. Given the thumbs down from high-profile Democrats (which isn't mentioned) this is just yellow advertising.

As far as the groups in support - so what? This is not the same as the members who actually vote. By naming the organization you are inherently only referring to those in control, not the actual members. Moreover, it's just another propaganda mechanism trying to appeal by false appearance of numbers and "bandwagon" badgering.

If so many people were in support of this plan the proponents wouldn't have even needed this flyer. False dichotomy, bandwagon badgering, etc. - the relatively few proponents must be more than a little concerned about the outcome of the election. In the event the proposal passes, I hope a similar flyer lists the same supporters and notes that those organizations supported imposing $1.4 billion tax liability on everyone else. Actually that should be pointed out even if the proposition fails.

Yes, this does not fall neatly between party lines.

So I guess voting no puts you in bed with the Koch bros? I don't follow BOR, but that attempt was weak.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by mayfair44

Yes, this does not fall neatly between party lines.

So I guess voting no puts you in bed with the Koch bros? I don't follow BOR, but that attempt was weak.

Apparently that's the tactic chosen by the "Let's Go Austin" PAC. The organizations listed as supporting Prop 1 are also PAC members.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

Apparently that's the tactic chosen by the "Let's Go Austin" PAC. The organizations listed as supporting Prop 1 are also PAC members.

1. The "Let's Go Austin" PAC's main donors are monied interests along the route.

2. Curious that the "supporters" show the Tea Party - always good for a Pavlovian response - but ignore that 60 of 69 council candidates, the HPNA, the Crestview NA, Highland NA, Northfield NA and UT Student Government all oppose. Doesn't fit the "if you're progressive, you must be for it" narrative.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by mayfair44

The Austin Chronicle September 19, 2014

Austin urban rail war pits liberal grassroots against liberal establishment

On Sep. 18 the Austin Chronicle, a generally liberal alternative weekly newspaper, published a full-page ad, sponsored by Let's Go Austin, that displayed a list of backers while disparaging the opposition, who were portrayed as a small handful of right-wing groups together with a more liberal group called Austinites for Urban Rail Action (AURA). AURA has supported urban rail but declared its opposition to the Prop. 1 rail plan.

Local community activist Bill Oakey, a leading opponent of Prop. 1, sent a letter to the Chronicle that declared:

"The Let's Go Austin pro-rail ad in last week's issue was a joke. Let me clarify the situation. For Prop 1. - Lee Leffingwell, Downtown Austin Alliance, RECA. Opponents - North Austin. South Austin, East Austin, West Austin."

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

As far as the groups in support - so what? This is not the same as the members who actually vote. By naming the organization you are inherently only referring to those in control, not the actual members.

The same thing can be said about many of the groups _opposed_.

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

I hope a similar flyer lists the same supporters and notes that those organizations supported imposing $1.4 billion tax liability on everyone else.

It's not a 1.4B tax liability.

[ImOnFiya]

The big difference is this bond election is that (due to recent vote date proposition change), all Austin city elections are now always in November. Candidates and ballot initiatives must campaign to a wider (macro) audience. Hence for Prop. 1 supporters, the Democratic vs. Republican angle makes the most sense. Most Austin voters are Democrats, so seeing who the most well-known opposition is (the Tea Party) most base Democrats (young people, poor to lower middle-class, hispanics, asians, blacks) will vote YES accordingly. Ironically, white urban intellectuals and white-collar professionals appears to be the swing groups for this vote. However, a probable endorsement from the liberal Austin Chronicle newsweekly, the past 'kingmaker' in more sparsely attended May elections, should shore up the vote for white intellectuals.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by ImOnFiya

... so seeing who the most well-known opposition is (the Tea Party)....

If that were the truth, you'd have a point. The opposition from urbanist, pro-rail but anti-Highland forces dwarfs an organization that has almost zero influence in Austin votes - other than to act as a boogie man for low information voters.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by scm53

1. The "Let's Go Austin" PAC's main donors are monied interests along the route.

As usual, follow the money. Some well connected contractors are in position to enjoy dividing up the $1.4 billion.

[ImOnFiya]

Originally Posted by scm53

If that were the truth, you'd have a point. The opposition from urbanist, pro-rail but anti-Highland forces dwarfs an organization that has almost zero influence in Austin votes - other than to act as a boogie man for low information voters.

Do you think most Austinites outside central Austin, hispanics, blacks, and asians (who also mostly do not live in central Austin) have heard of anti-Highland rail forces? The former May elections were dominated by liberal central Austin voters and the Austin Chronicle's influence. With the city elections now in November where most Democratic base voters vote and a likely Austin Chronicle endorsement, do you really think anti-rail will resonate (with little money to mount an opposition) in an election less than 6 weeks away..

[scm53]

Originally Posted by ImOnFiya

Do you think most Austinites outside central Austin, hispanics, blacks, and asians (who also mostly do not live in central Austin) have heard of anti-Highland rail forces?

No, nor do I think they give a rat's ass about an ad in the Chronicle. That was inside baseball to elicit a Pavlovian response from the true believers who read the Chronicle. Base turnout by invoking a boogie man.

And just the latest mendacity from the monied interests behind Let's Go Austin.