(Community Matters) Decided to dash in and respond to a couple of Burnt Orange Report comments someone relayed to me. My response to a comment that Brewster claimed the Pecan Street Project but didn’t provide any leadership and to another comment that Lee was just as engaged in creating a vision and working on Austin’s economic development.
My replies:
TreatyOak, no disrespect intended but you are either unaware or misleading . . .
The Pecan Street Project is Brewster’s project – he birthed it. He called together the players and chaired every meeting until the Environmental Defense Fund came on board. He ran the agendas. He named the thing. He came up with the 300 MW goal.
Ask Roger Duncan (Austin Energy) or Isaac Barchas (Austin Technology Incubator) or Jim Marston (Environmental Defense Fund) if there would even be a Pecan Street Project if it weren’t for Brewster.
The project is now in the hands of experts (EDF and its corporate partners). Brewster did what leaders do…set the goal and vision, gather people who know more than you, arrange the kindling, light the match, and step back.
To suggest that he’s a hanger-on with Pecan Street is either ill-informed or intentionally misleading.
Matt, you and I disagree about the candidates. Lee – an oustanding council member who is thoughtful, respectful and smart – doesn’t take this sort of initiative nor has he ever articulated a vision that’ll sell industry leaders to bring & create the jobs Austinites need to maintain & grow our standard of living. In fact, he’s indicated he won’t even recruit large businesses to Austin – that’s a huge worry when semiconductor manufacturing workers and many others displaced from layoffs are looking for good paying work. Brewster doesn’t do this to the exclusion of affordability or quality of life for other Austinites. He’s been one of our outstanding supporters for affordable housing and low & moderate income economic development.
Brewster may not have the same longtime-Austin, political juggernaut on his payroll as Lee which includes my friends David Butts, Mark Nathan, JD Gins, Amy Evarhart & Burnt Orange’s Matt Glazer (and which admittedly has paid off handsomely with party dominated endorsements), yet he is backed by film makers, musicians, business men & women, high tech leaders, environmentalists and plenty of everyday Austinites. His name recognition and favorables suggest he leads in the race (admittedly I haven’t seen either campaign’s most recent polls).
Thanks ALL
Community Matters 