Fri 20 Jan 2006
The Austin American-Statesman printed a letter to the editor from some crank complaining about tax-and-spend liberals including skatepark funds in the current bond proposal. You can see his letter in today’s issue and on their website. You can write a response to his letter by using this form. Be sure to fill in all those fields as they won’t print your response without that information. They’ll also call you on the phone to confirm your identity, so give them a valid phone number.
lil’ moot is on his third day of master cleanser.
According to a phone call received by Austin Skate Notes, a Grindline employee named Matt will be in the Austin area today working on two different projects. One involves a meeting with city officials in a city south of Austin. The other meeting is with skaters in Lakeway to gather input for what they’d like to have in their skatepark. That public input meeting is scheduled for 6:00 pm at the parks and rec building, wherever that is (I can’t find it on their website). Sorry this is so vague, but I just don’t have any more details on the input meeting.
January 20th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
Done, now let’s see if it gets published…
Regarding Ivan Williams criticism of the bond committee, his suspicions about the number of skateboarders involved are true. Hundreds participated directly supported by thousands indirectly. Having spent hours in sessions myself, liberal or not, the committee listened to an overwhelming show of demand from fellow citizens. While some projects could be stereotyped “tax and spend� the skatepark does not fit that generalization. The tax payers in the Skate and BMX community will easily pay the 0.19% of the bond for their facility.
Unlike Texas 130, once paid for the skatepark will be an expanse of concrete open to all with no tolls. If Texas 130 fit that model perhaps hundreds would have shown the bond committee their support. Truth is, multiple projects in a single package is what enables pork. Line item voting may offer a solution. Might not help Texas 130, but there would definitely be more skateparks.
Jared Ficklin
Executive Co-Director
Austin Public Skatepark Action Committee
January 20th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
the parks and rec building is next to zac scott theatre over there
January 21st, 2006 at 3:47 am
Nice response, Jared.
I especially like it where you put the money in perspective — 1/19th of one percent of the total bond package.
January 21st, 2006 at 4:58 am
little something about last nights “input meeting” for design with lakeway
over thirty kids along with their parents were present
matt from grindline was cool
he was open to the ideas and suggestions i offered in regards to the target age group out there (since i live out there and skate with the kids)
the city council manager unfortunately wanted to hear nothing from the kids or myself
and only wanted to hear what the parents thoughts and concerns were
after talking with matt some
i found out that they already have a desing idea ready to go for the planned 8000 sq foot area
about 3000 sq feet planned for a peanut shaped bowl (going from 6′ to 8′ – which matt strongly sold the idea that the kids will love tranny once they actually skate it)
and about 5000 sq ft for the “plaza” construction
3D drawing will be available next friday
then the city of lakeway will call for another input meeting so we can view the renderings
January 21st, 2006 at 5:40 am
Damn liberal skaters, don’t they know that everytime a skatepark is built with public bond money, the terrorist win?
January 21st, 2006 at 6:01 am
Can you add this to your calendar of events http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/aaronthekid/PipeGodFlyerAlt2.jpg
January 21st, 2006 at 9:57 am
Here’s mine:
Ivan R. Williams’ child-like rant about the “tax and spend liberals” on the Austin bond committee doesn’t really merit a response, but I would suggest that he is free to sell his house and relocate to an area where there are no parks and where skateboarding is illegal. Until then, majority rules.
January 22nd, 2006 at 2:42 am
Good one counselor….
and
Well said Jared
January 22nd, 2006 at 2:43 am
yeah really, this dude is anti park? WTF thats crazy, since a swimming pool, baseball field, or soccer field cost more to maintain with all the water use or mowing. This guy probably never even spends any time away from his computer or tv, cloistered up in his house he berate those who purse activity.
January 23rd, 2006 at 8:44 am
What is the estimated completion date of the Lakeway skatepark? Anyone know?
January 23rd, 2006 at 11:35 am
here’s mine:
Re: ivan williams’ claim that the bond committee “hijacked” the hwy 130 bond proposal: first, i wasn’t aware the bond proposal was solely for hwy 130; i thought it was badly needed money for different needs all over the city. second, if the $625,000 the committee recommended for a skateboard park upset mr williams, i hope he didn’t look too closely at the rest of the proposal, because the skatepark is less than 1/10 of 1% of the budget. $27 million for a new public safety (police, fire, EMS) training facility, $67 million for affordable housing, $90 million for a new central llibrary, $122 million for drainage improvements… are these the “pork-barrel projects” he was referring to?
i know skateboarders are an easy target, but give them a break. there’s more of them than little leaguers, and they don’t have places to skate to keep them off the streets. they organized and presented a plan that would address their needs at a fraction of the cost of a new ball field, or even the greens maintenance costs for the city golf courses, to name two groups who didn’t bother to show up to the bond meetings.
finally, as one of the “oppressed property owners of Austin”, i’d like to ask mr. williams not to speak for me next time. i’m all for the bond proposal; let’s hope the council puts it on the may ballot.
cary jackson
January 24th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Yo Cary, you have something against capitol “I”s?
January 25th, 2006 at 4:04 am
i before e, except after c
January 25th, 2006 at 9:43 am
I was just contacted by the Statesman about running my editorial. If they run a rebuttal with our letters and someone sees it, do a post about it, as I don’t normally read them.
January 26th, 2006 at 7:57 am
Excellent! Hope it gets in, Rob. I’ll keep my eyes open for it.
Seth
March 3rd, 2006 at 6:13 am
Read Shawn’s response in the “Skatepark hater talking trash in the Statesman” thread. There was no “input” allowed at the inuput meeting.