(Community Matters) Great story in Aus Chron.
I don’t get most of the opposition:
Not Austin enough – really? Sorry but Austin is everything – bikers, music, eeyore’s birthday bash, spam fest, etc. What’s keeping Austin weird is in the eye of the beholder and I know many who would love to see this sport in Central Texas
Environmental concerns – again, really? what’s the per capita foot print? probably less than heaps of parents and students driving to an out of town high school sports event
Financial concerns – okay, I get these. Not sure it meets public investment priorities in these lean times. I’m reading Mayor L saying no direct investment. We should remain vigilant
Community Matters 
The State is giving $25 mil/year. I can’t believe that is all the subsidies that are going to be needed. It was sprung on Austin via the State…dumb on their part. Thus I STRONGLY oppose any subsidies from COA or abatements in the future! Yet today’s paper: The state is cutting about that much from mental health care because of tough times, which means cutting mental health workers, losing jobs, etc. We can’t educate our kids. People are hungry and we’re trying to bring the uber-rich here to feel glam and upscale. Ick.
There will be several hundred thousand people trying to get to an event on the outskirts of town all at one time and it doesn’t have a big carbon footprint? They fly cars and crews in from around the world. Duh. It’s definitely worse than a “Friday Night Football game.” Why does the COA have a new sustainability officer? To create events that require burning tons of fossil fuel by the rich while the Gulf of Mexico is dying and we can ask the poor to conserve and recycle and make sacrifices for the environment? In the article it is not just one race per year…it likely is many. Emissions? Air quality? Non-attainment? Higher costs for Travis County if we hit that? Cancer? Health?
Not to mention another week of not being able to fly into Austin or get here or find a room or get into a restaurant or deal with congestion… How long until there’s an outcry to try to build more infrastructure to accomodate it?
The whole thing was handled poorly. My gut has a very negative reaction to it. No, It DOESN’T feel like Austin. I agree with the guy on your FaceBook posting…neither does Gold Class Cinemas–every time I see that ad I get a little nauseous. Everything that glitters is not gold.
Yet….
I am resigned to it coming. I may eat my words later. The ONLY upside in my book is hotel taxes support the arts, etc.
IF they can pull it off without additional COA financial support, I will voice my opinion, but not necessarily oppose it.
I don’t have time or the energy to direct that way. But, THAT in my opinion to answer your question is why there is opposition.
This is not China. We don’t plow neighborhoods for fabulous buildings so the uber-rich can fly in and think we’re the creme de la creme.
In my humble dissenting opinion.
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seriously, Michael. You know I wouldn’t support plowing neighborhoods or fabulous buildings – well, maybe Circle C and the inflatable UT football practice field.
I don’t really have a dog in this fight either. Though, I promote the poor, middle class and uber-rich’s rights to enjoy Austin