Austinites:

[Texasgal]

Can anyone help me with Proposition 2? What is it?

I am embarrassed to admit that I have not looked into it.

Anyone?

Thanks. :)

[sonias]

1. No subsidies for retail developments like The Domain

It's a bit more complicated than that but a lot of independent local businesses are supporting Prop 2 to cancel the subsidies provided to The Domain. The Domain and related developers have their own campaign - KeepAustin'sWord which put up a bunch of purple and white signs that look suspiciously like the Keep Austin Weird's font. That pissed me off. I'm voting for Prop 2.

Here is the crew behind Prop 2. They collected enough signatures to get it on the ballot
http://www.stopdomainsubsidies.com/

Betty Dunkerley former City Council Person is also involved with the PAC behind Keep Austin's Word.

The Austin Chronicle came down on the No on Prop 2

Austin Chronicle
City of Austin, Proposition 2: NO

Shall the City Charter be amended to prohibit the City from entering into future agreements to provide financial incentives in connection with the development or redevelopment of property that includes one or more retail uses, and to stop the City from providing financial incentives under certain existing agreements in connection with the development or redevelopment of property that includes one or more retail uses?

An amendment to the City Charter – the municipal equivalent of the federal Constitution – is a serious decision that requires all the reflection and due diligence voters can muster. While we were not unanimous in our opposition, as an editorial board we're recommending a "no" vote on this broad amendment that rejects any and all retail development incentives. We're doing so because punishing the Domain – the North Austin mixed-use development that Proposition 2 targets – is not worthy of a charter amendment of unknown general consequences. Equally important, the potential damage to the city's reputation and the murky amendment language itself will likely generate negative consequences. This amendment is a risk we don't need to take.

more at link above

Sonia

[Melissa G]

2. As I recall, several other developers were annoyed by the Domain subsidies

because it made the Domain a better place to locate and gave Domain developers a lot of money for a really long time. It's bad developer karma to complain too much though. I can't vote on this cuz I live out of the city, but I let the Prop 2 folks put a sign up on my business property in Austin and a lot of local businesses have them up. I'm passing on the press conference I was invited to tomorrow morning.
mg

[Lithos]

3. I am leaning towards no

But it will not be because I support subsidies like that, but the fear that we could end up with some damage to the reputation of Austin (right or wrong, the Council made a decision) and that this process could lead to some of the insanity of the California system (for each good proposition, there is a bad one).

Personally, the way to fix this is not to say "no" here, but to float a law which prevents this type of giveaway from happening in the future without voter approval.

Even so, I really despise this giveaway and may vote yes if I feel in the end that the risks mentioned are minimal.

L-

[whitewomenforobama]

4. I have the same fear, this is a tough one. /nt

[readmoreoften]

7. My feeling is that the reputation of the city would be just fine. It's a fear-based gimmick.

And I'm really angry at Will Wynn for this. East Austin needs so much and subsidies to Simon Malls are not going to solve that problem. Someone I know said they were afraid the money would just go into a lawsuit. Either way, our tax dollars aren't going to libraries and parks like they should and that's Will's fault and it pisses me off.

(rant off)

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. I don't like prohibiting the city ....

from entering into an agreement that may benefit the city as a whole in the long run. Let the city council decide these things.

[readmoreoften]

6. I voted a hard yes on that one.

And frankly I can't wrap my head around any reason to give Simon Malls subsidies. Capitalism's doing just fine in these parts, thanks.