For Austin’s culture, the city’s hotel occupancy tax (HOT) revenue can and should be spent in support of Austin’s music, arts, and culture and for the creation of a cultural venue; NOT on a new, multi-billion-dollar convention center. The city does not need to be in the business of subsidizing corporate events; the economic impact is weak and comes at a direct cost to Austin residents, with the convention center site sitting on 6 expensive downtown blocks that are not on the property tax rolls.  We need to support the Austin culture that draws more tourists and reinforces Austin as a cultural destination. Culture draws more tourists and is proven to be a better driver of local economic growth than a big-box convention center.

 

I personally collected more than 4,000 petition signatures to stop the new convention center; in the process I heard from many in our community who understand that the proposed new convention center is the wrong strategy for both locals and tourists. The city already has plenty of convention space.  With current venues, the city can host 600k attendees simultaneously.  In contrast, the proposed convention center is only expected to attract 731k attendees in a year.  

It is not too late to change course: I envision a world-class, interactive and immersive cultural and visitor information venue that highlights Austin’s contribution to music, art, food, green building, nature, and weirdness on a portion of the site.  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 high value downtown land to return the land to the property tax rolls. Let’s include a requirement to build affordable artist housing on those blocks.  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, programming to promote Austin’s artists, musicians, and cultural offerings, public transportation that serves tourists and residents, and creative, artistic signage. Let's Keep Austin Musical.

 

For Austin’s economic development, I am opposed to economic incentives to corporations, data centers, and companies making lethal weapons.  Austin can attract companies by offering an amazing and affordable quality of life for residents, and that should be the focus of the economic development strategy.  I also want stronger policies that support local businesses, cooperatives, and a diverse economy, especially those sectors that help humanity (e.g., environmental sustainability, medical research, and biotechnology). A good example of the latter is the creation of the Austin Community College Bioscience Incubator, which provides low-cost lab space to biotech and medical start-ups.