​Prior to going, I didn't know a ton about the ecosystem, but after (Barton Springs University) gaining a better understanding of what SOS does to protect Edwards Aquifer, I knew I wanted to get involved in any way that I could. With the knowledge I have gained from BSU and the experience of working for SOS I have decided to pursue a degree in Environmental Science so I will be able to continue working to protect the natural world. ”
     -- Fin Kirsch, former BSU attendee → SOS intern → Environmental Science major

Two weeks ago Austin voters rejected the City Council's Prop Q tax hike by a near 2-to-1 majority.  As the Austin Free Press observed, the vote amounted to a "constituent revolt,"  revealing a major rift between Austin voters and the 10 council members who campaigned for the measure. (Only District 10 Councilmember Marc Duchen opposed.)  In post-election messages, Mayor Watson and his 9 allies insisted they now "trust the voters," vowing to move promptly toward "transparency" and "fiscal accountability."  Do you believe them? 

If they really cared about any of these values, they would immediately (a) release all the convention center information they are keeping secret, (b) stop the project, and (c) put the 30-year, $5.6 billion convention center commitment on the ballot for voters to decide.  Sadly, they are not likely to do this.  By setting a hasty schedule to adopt an adjusted budget, with back-to-back meetings this week, the Mayor and Council show little interest in revisiting the biggest and most wasteful items in their budget.  Nor is there any meaningful opportunity to hear and consider public input on a budget that reflects the council's "trust the voters,"  "transparency," and "fiscal accountability" pledge.   

The largest and most harmful expenditure in the City's budget is a new $5.6 billion convention center.  And it's not just a waste in this year's budget but a 30-year anchor around the necks of Austin voters.  Widely reported as a $1.6 billion project, that's just the projected but-not-final upfront construction cost:  it excludes 30 years of interest payments to  bond buyers (money exported from the city) and 30 years of annual operating losses in the tens of millions. The $5.6 billion "all in" cost estimate is in writing from the Austin Convention Center Department. 

So what about that wake-up call from election day?  Here's where we are today on these three Council pledges.  

One -- "don't trust the voters -- the Mayor and council are refusing to let Austin voters vote on the $5.6 billion, 30-year commitment.  This refusal led to an SOS-endorsed petition drive to force the 30 year project onto the ballot.  Last Friday, the City doubled down on this refusal, claiming the petition filed by Austin United PAC was 400 votes short of the 20,000 voter signatures required by the City Charter to force an election on the issue.  

Two -- "secrecy is the new transparency" -- After first promising to provide the details of how they estimated the $5.6 billion 30-year costs and revenue requirements "as soon as possible,"  City Convention Center staff are now saying this essential information will be kept secret until 2027.  And now, after promising to provide the details of the City Clerk's "random sample" count  of 25% of the more than 25,000 voter signatures submitted "as quickly as possible,"  The City Attorney's office is claiming some of the information will be kept secret.   

Three -- "fiscal accountability" is like "affordability,"  the Mayor and Council's definition is very different from that of the voters and what you find in the dictionary.  If you have seen The Magic Hole 19-minute documentary,  you know that building a giant new convention center in 2025 for more than $5 billion is a  worst case scenario of wasting public funds that rightfully belong to what we and visitors love and that we are losing -- live music, arts, local businesses, and "nature-in-the-city" parks and waters.  

Since Austin United PAC's petition team validated over 21,000 of the signatures before the petition was filed with the city, we do not accept the City Clerk's sample count as valid.  It's a simple fact issue of whether there are, in fact, at least 20,000 signatures City of Austin voters.  We will try to resolve the disagreement amicably, but will pursue legal action if necessary.  

​IN THIS ISSUE:
 This THURSDAY - Don’t Let Item 43 Privatize Our Parks
 This FRIDAY - SOS Benefit @ Central Machine Works with Wild Child
 Wed, Nov 12 - Better MoPac Action Hour, SOS Headquarters, 6-8 pm
 Thank You to Our Generous BSU Sponsors!

Coming Up at Council: Don’t Let Item 43 Privatize Our ParksHeads up, Austin. Item 43 on this week’s City Council agenda could transform how concessions operate in our city parks, and not for the better.

The proposed policy overhaul hands major decision-making power over concessions, including who gets to profit from selling food, renting kayaks, and more, to private non-profits through Park Operations and Maintenance Agreements (POMAs). Sounds harmless? Think again: these non-profits will directly benefit from the very concessions they approve. That’s a clear conflict of interest and a dangerous step away from transparent, public oversight of our shared green spaces.

And it gets worse. The new policy creates a special “Legacy Concession” class for vendors who’ve held their spot for 20 years or more, allowing them to bypass the competitive bidding process that everyone else faces. Sure, some long-standing vendors have built great relationships with the community and have done good work. But shouldn’t every applicant—old or new—compete on a level playing field? Those community ties and a track record of service should absolutely count in the scoring rubric, not as a golden ticket to sidestep public competition and keep control of public parkland indefinitely.

Our parks are for everyone, not just a privileged few with the right connections or a grandfathered contract. If approved, Item 43 risks entrenching special interests, reducing transparency, and undermining trust in how the City stewards public parkland.

Want a park system that’s fair and open to all? Urge Council to demand real accountability: require all concessions, legacy or not, to compete under the same fair process—with public oversight, not backroom deals.
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Sign up to speak here.

MoPac Action Hour: It’s Time to MobilizeOur first MoPac Action Hour sparked something powerful, and now it’s time to activate. Join us for another MoPac Action Hour, where we’ll turn our shared passion and determination into organized action.

When: Wednesday, November 12th, 6-8pm
Where: SOS Headquarters, 3201 Menchaca Rd. Austin TX 78704

The Better MoPac Coalition is growing fast, uniting individuals, organizations, and businesses to demand smarter, more sustainable solutions for the MoPac South corridor. Together, we can stop the unnecessary sprawl and push for upgrades that actually improve safety, traffic flow, and PROTECT one of the most ecologically diverse corridors in the world. 

This session, we’ll break into focused small groups and tackle specific projects
Why it matters: Expanding MoPac would pave over 8 miles of the Recharge Zone, destroying hundreds of trees, endangered species' habitat, filling caves, and allowing polluted water straight into Barton Springs, the soul of our city.

Wild Child @ CMW – Benefitting Save Our Springs!
THIS Friday, November 7 | FREE SHOW

​Join us this Friday, November 7th for another awesome night of live music with Austin indie-pop favorites Wild Child, performing as part of CMW’s Next Stage Concert Series supporting local nonprofits.

This free concert is a chance to connect with the community, celebrate Austin’s creative spirit, and raise awareness for Save Our Springs Alliance. Come early, grab a drink (special cocktails support the cause), snag a limited SOS t-shirt, and dance under the stars to the lush harmonies and heartfelt songs that made Wild Child local legends and fun for the whole family.
Let’s come together to support local, live music, protect Barton Springs, the Edwards Aquifer, and everything that keeps Austin’s heart beating wild.

An extra special thank you to our GENEROUS SPONSORS (listed above). Their support is helping shape the next generation of local environmental stewards and change-makers.
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This year, we introduced 10 brand-new hands-on activities, from groundwater aquifer models that bring science to life, to community quilt making, clothing repair lessons, a mycelium-inspired capture-the-flag game, and tree planting right next to the springs! Thank you to all of our Presenters and Activity Partners; you all made a deep impression on this transformative day. SOS would like to give a shout-out to our keynote speaker, Charles “Chuck” Foster Jr., who captivated the crowd with personal storytelling and a powerful message about Gen Z leading the way in conservation and change.  

Stay tuned! We’ll be sharing more highlights from this very special day, and we already have big plans for 2026. In the meantime, we hope to see you at City Hall for the City Council meeting on Thursday or Central Machine Works for big fun with Wild Child on Friday!

With immense gratitude,
SOS Alliance