The city’s hotel occupancy tax (HOT) revenue can and should be spent in support of Austin’s music, arts, and culture and the creation of a cultural venue; NOT on a new, multi-billion-dollar convention center. I personally collected more than 4,000 signatures for the petition campaign to stop the center; the community understands another convention center is not right for Austin’s future or tourism economy. The city already has plenty of convention space and the City Council approved even more at COTA. Cultural attractions draw more tourists and are proven to be better drivers of local economic growth.

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It is not too late to change course: the construction in progress would continue the site preparation but for a world class, interactive, and immersive cultural and visitor information venue that highlights Austin’s cultural history and present. I will insist on a public visioning process for the venue, park, and site, including the option of selling a portion of the 6-blocks of expensive downtown land to return the land to the property tax rolls and to add affordable downtown housing. By not building a multi-billion dollar convention center, more HOT revenue becomes available to create city ambassador positions for artists and musicians to promote Austin, promotional programming to promote Austin’s cultural offerings, public transportation that serves tourists and residents, and creative, artistic signage. Let's Keep Austin Musical.