Updated 09/25/2012 07:13 AM
‘Love Austin’ group wants voters to check ‘yes’ on bond proposals
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A group calling itself “Love Austin” is asking citizens to pass seven bond proposals in the upcoming election that they believe will make the Capital City a better place.
The group, led by Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, held a pep rally in East Austin Monday.
"I urge everyone in the city to support these entire bond propositions," the mayor said.
In a little more than one month, voters can decide if Austin gets $385 million worth of city services. A few choices on the ballot include $143 million for transportation issues, $31 million for public safety, $30 million water quality and $13 million for cultural arts.
Activist and former elected official Richard Franklin says voters should beware before signing off on any of the proposals.
"I think there are a lot of really good things about some of the bonds, but there are also a lot of things we need to ask questions about," Franklin said. "There is a lot there to take in, an encyclopedia of information that we need to go through to make sure we get the best bang for our buck."
Long-time East Austin community leader Susanna Almanza is willing to hit the streets to make sure Proposition 15 passes.
"When we see there is over $78 million on the bond for affordable housing we're going to go out and knock on the doors," she said.
Almanza also supports the $77 million Proposition 14, which would fund a new recreation center in the Montopolis neighborhood.
Finally, Prop 17 would throw $11 million on health and human services, some of that to pay for a Montopolis health clinic.
The "Love Austin" group is the campaign sponsored by Unity PAC. Passing of any or all the proposal will not increase current taxes. The last time a full-scale bond package was taken to the voters was in 2006.