Bicycle Austin forum

tomwald

Moderator

From: 78722

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 290

"Ten urban-minded organizations" city council forum

A non-bicycle, but bicycle-related event:

Austin, TX (March 31, 2009) — Ten urban-minded organizations are combining forces to question City Council and mayoral candidates about their vision for Austin's urban core.

Event details:

WHEN: Saturday, April 4th, 10 am – 1:30 pm
WHERE: St. David's Episcopal Church @ 304 E. 7th Street

Attendees are encouraged to take public transportation to the event and can plan their trip using Capital Metro's trip planner at http://www.capmetro.org.  Alternatively, paid parking will be available in the St. David's garage.
A team of panelists will ask the candidates about such issues as economic development, the livability of the downtown neighborhood, public spaces, urban rail, and parking.
Panelists will include members of the following organizations:

Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA)
Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA)
Congress for New Urbanism (CNU)
Alliance for Public Transportation
Old Austin Neighborhood Association (OANA)
Rail4Real
Austin Parks Foundation
Austin Metro Trails and Greenways
6ixth Street Austin
Austinist.com

Local urban activist Glenn Gadbois conceived the event.  "A vibrant urban community accommodates a variety of interests and requires a coordinated mix of policies.  The mix of organizations sponsoring this event reflects those realities," Gadbois says.
Stacey Lashley, a downtown Austin resident, says she wants to know which candidates view downtown as a neighborhood, and not just a entertainment or business district.  "The shops, restaurants, and live music venues near me are great amenities.  But the success of downtown depends on it being livable as a neighborhood as well," Lashley says.
Complimentary light breakfast items and refreshments will be available at the event.