It’s uncommon for us to send out back to back emails, but the recent message from Mayor Watson that the Vision Plan is “shelved” indefinitely deserves a collective celebration. Yesterday, August 7th, Councilmembers Ryan Alter, Paige Ellis, and Zo Qadri came out from the shadows and conceded with a Joint Statement that they would no longer support the Vision Plan due to “irreconcilable differences”. Shortly after, Mayor Watson followed suit with a nod to collaborating in the future to “meet our objectives to preserve and nurture the ecological sanctity of this place while assuring equitable access to all Austinites.” This is an unexpectedly quick win, and one that would have never happened without all of your passionate emails, strategic meetings, heartfelt conversations, and unfaltering grit. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! for your time and energy which is what drove home how the “Zero Vision” Plan failed to protect or provide access to the park, and instead would have privatized and monetized the heart and soul of Austin. Many of you are asking, what’s next? Did we defeat the big, bad Live-Nation-funded-atrocity? First, we rest and thank Mayor Watson and our Council Members who stood up against this plan. Then, we continue to tell the story of what really happened by sharing Uncensored Zilker, Inc. and advocating for protection, restoration and rewilding of Zilker, all of our parks, and the entire city, as called for by the Austin Climate Equity Plan. Now, for other news - - As our current furnace forecasts confirm, the biggest ongoing threat to our waterways and the Edwards Aquifer is climate heating and resulting drought. The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District is now at Stage III and approaching Stage IV Drought and the Springs flow which averages 53 cubic feet per second is now at 16 cubic feet per second, which is dangerously low. Please do your part and follow the city’s current guidelines for limiting water usage as much as possible. We need your help to keep Barton Springs clean and flowing. What in the Hays is Happening? New subdivisions, new highways, new competition for water supplies — there's a lot being planned for Northeast Hays County. For our constituents in Hays County and patrons of the now dry Jacob’s Well, we know that Aqua Texas is responsible for overuse by upwards of 84 million gallons, along with several other wasteful water companies. They are currently facing steep penalties and an urgent call to act on a drought management plan, or else they will lose their permits altogether. Want to know more? Our friends at Save Barton Creek Association are hosting a happy hour talk on Wednesday, August 16th, from 6:30-8:30pm at Texas Keeper Cider in Manchaca. SOS Executive Director Bill Bunch will be on hand to speak to the impacts of potential developments planned for one of the last large undeveloped areas in NE Hays county. Located between Buda and Austin and bordered by Bear and Onion Creeks, this sensitive karst terrain is dotted with caves and springs, is full of botanical diversity, and is right over the Barton Springs portion of the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Mike Clifford from the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, and Darlene Starr of United Plant Savers will also share their knowledge and insights. Texas Keeper is opening their doors to us exclusively for this event, so bring a friend and come on out to this scenic old homestead at 6:30 to grab a drink, listen to the speakers at 7:00, and join us for questions and conversation after. More details at SBCA's website As always, thank you for your loyal support, Watch Documentary Here This past Friday, August 4, 2023, Design Workshop – the City of Austin’s contractor that wrote the proposed Zilker Park Vision Plan -- pressured YouTube to remove the 16-minute documentary “Zilker, Inc.: The Plan to Monetize a Natural Treasure” by award winning local film maker Steve Mims. Released last Wednesday, August 2nd , the film had already received almost 5000 views in just 48 hours and received praise from viewers who called it “beautiful” and “powerful.” Design Workshop has created an intensely unpopular plan that 80% of Austin opposes –- no wonder they want to pull down this film. A new version called: “Uncensored: Zilker, Inc.; The Plan to Monetize a Natural Treasure” is now live on YouTube and tells the story that Design Workshop is trying to hide with its unfounded “copyright infringement” claim. The “Uncensored” film removes a few seconds of the original that showed Design Workshop’s logo and project images obtained from the Design Workshop website. “While such use falls within the “fair use” doctrine for copyrighted materials, we chose to remove them rather than have Design Workshop censor the film with its unfounded claims,” said Reid Nelson, Mr. Mims’ attorney. The Austin City Council is scheduled to hear public testimony and decide the fate of the draft Zilker Park Vision Plan at its Thursday, August 31st meeting at City Hall. Read more about the film below, but here are three simple things you can do to help save Zilker Park: 1. Watch and share the link to the Uncensored: Zilker, Inc. film with all your friends and followers. 2. Tell them you will be at City Hall on August 31st to speak to the City Council on the future of Zilker Park and Barton Springs and urge them to be there with you. 3. GO HERE and send one simple message to Mayor Watson and the Austin City Council asking them to tell Design Workshop to disclose all public information about the plan and stop censoring its critics. We have suggested some language but feel free to erase it and write your own message. A personal message is the best message! The film, funded by local investors and Save our Springs Alliance, documents overwhelming local opposition to Design Workshop’s proposed “concrete vision” to build three large parking garages, six bridges, a 5000-seat amphitheater, and other structures in Zilker Park. The film also documents Design Workshop’s closed-door coordination with ACL/ Live Nation representatives. Design Workshop project lead Claire Hempel had denied ACL/ Live Nation’s involvement in the plan but walked it back when caught on video posted to the City’s website. Live Nation/Ticketmaster now owns controlling interest in the ACL Music Festival by way of a side deal with its pet non-profit Austin Parks Foundation. “Is this the real reason Design Workshop wants to censor this film?” is a question many who have seen the film were asking this weekend.” The RewildZilker.org coalition of environmental and neighborhood groups did not sponsor the film but has proposed a more popular alternative vision for a natural, recreational Zilker park that would provide more water protection/ climate mitigation/ shade and save taxpayers over $150 million in construction and operation costs. See the Rewilding plan here The only way we are going to save Zilker Park from being converted into a money-making machine for Live Nation and its allied park concessioners is with your help and the help of everyone you know who loves Zilker Park as a public park and not as an outdoor entertainment district. Spread the word, write and call council, and be there at City Hall on August 31st . Send Letter to Council Here Read SOS Executive Director Bill Bunch's letter to City Council recounting all items we opposed at the July 20th meeting.
ZILKER, INC. THE PLAN TO MONETIZE A NATURAL TREASURE
Join us for the free premiere of ZILKER, INC. at AFS Cinema on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 @ 7 PM with a panel discussion following the 16 minute documentary. Seats are limited so EACH attendee will need to fill out an RSVP to reserve a seat. Zilker, Inc. is an examination of the controversial plan to transform Austin’s Zilker Park from a uniquely fragile natural oasis into an outdoor entertainment district serving corporate interests. Directed and edited by Steve Mims. Produced by Bill Bunch and Brian Rodgers. Q & A discussion after the film with SOS Alliance Executive Director Bill Bunch, sustainability expert and environmentalist Robin Rather, and Tanya Payne from Rewild Zilker. Watch Zilker, Inc Trailer RSVP for Zilker, Inc. City Council Postpones Some, Moves Forward on Citywide Attack on Single Family Zoning Yesterday, the Austin City Council voted to postpone indefinitely Item 92, the proposal to cut back on the public's right to speak at City Council meetings. Hopefully this terrible idea stays dead. State law and many decades of City Hall practice have allowed and encouraged public participation in council's decision making processes. Council also postponed action on Item 125, Councilmember Leslie Pool's push to shift City decisions from City Council to staff on if, when, and how we extend city water or sewer service to proposed developments in the Barton Spring watershed. This City Council oversight has been crucial to stopping some of the very worst projects proposed in the Barton Springs watershed while helping modify and assure better water protections on others. This City Council oversight of utility extensions into the Barton Springs watershed has been a cornerstone of City policies protecting Barton Springs for over 40 years. The only reason to change it is to let the Water Utility expand its customer base at the expense of protecting Barton Springs. It's bizarre and inexplicable that Councilmember Pool pushed this proposal forward. Even worse, she made several false statements from the dais in advocating for it. She did so even after Mayor Watson said he agreed the existing process works as intended. So the question is: Why? The only reason we can think of is that the Water Utility very much wants to serve one or more terrible developments that desperately need City services to be viable -- including the nightmarish "Violet Crown" amphitheater proposed for land almost surrounded by City endangered species habitat in the Barton Creek watershed. The matter was postponed until the August 31 meeting -- the same meeting the Zilker Park Vision Plan will be heard. Giant thank yous go out to Councilmember Alison Alter for pushing hard for the postponement, asking all of the right questions, and to Mayor Watson and Councilmember Vela for speaking up early in favor of the postponement. Pool and CM's Ellis, Harper-Madison, and Qadri all voted to rush forward with this terrible move. The City Council -- all but Councilmembers Alison Alter and Mackenzie Kelly--cast a historic vote directing staff to move forward preparing ordinance changes that would, if adopted, effectively eliminate single family zoning in Austin. Again Councilmember Leslie Pool led the charge. And again she made both false and misleading statements to support the move, denying that it would reduce impervious cover limits and tree protections and thereby worsening the already terrible urban heat island effect and central city flooding. Read our letter to the City Council on these two important matters HERE. If you haven't already, mark your calendar for a day at City Hall for the critical Thursday, August 31 City Council meeting. As always, thank you for support and participation. SOS Alliance Today Austin Mayor Kirk Watson issued a strong statement opposing construction of parking garages and a large amphitheater in Zilker Park and supporting both rewilding of the park and retaining and strengthening city management of Zilker and all of our parks. Read Mayor Watson's statement here. Also important, Mayor Watson put the $200 million-plus draft plan from the City's consultants in the context of having zero committed city funds for the plan and, at the same time, substantial needs for investing in other city parks. Mayor Watson's clear and common sense statement didn't just happen. It grew from a groundswell of many thousands of Austinites speaking out against the massive construction and conversion of Zilker Park into an outdoor entertainment district called for by the city consultants' draft plan. Overwhelmingly, Austin residents want to save, restore, and rewild Zilker Park. Thank yous!!! go out to everyone who attended a meeting, wrote emails, called, or spoke directly to City Council, City board and commission members, and City staff over these last two years. Your voice matters. But this is just the beginning. We need you to stay involved!! Mayor Watson is just one vote out of eleven on the City Council. None of the other ten members have stated in writing where they stand on the proposed plan. The private for-profit and nonprofit groups are not going away. They are literally banking on finding six votes on city council in favor of the draft plan that would expand moneymaking in and private control over Zilker Park. First, please take one minute to send a "thank you" to Mayor Watson by using this email tool that goes to all of the city council members. That way all of the other ten see how much support and appreciation there is for Mayor Watson's leadership on these issues. Second, call or email your own City Council member (if you live inside the city). Ask them to make a public statement that they agree with Mayor Watson across the board. Find the contact information here. Third, no matter where you live mark your calendar for the new date for the city council hearing on the Zilker Park Vision Plan; Thursday, August 31, 2023. Set aside the whole day and evening if you are able and plan to be with us at City Hall. Recruit your friends, family members, and neighbors to join you for a critical and exciting day of civic action. Finally, stay tuned. There is still lots more information coming out about the draft plan and what we need to do to save Zilker Park, Barton Springs, and Austin from the dual threats of bottomless greed and a heating climate. Save Our Springs Alliance is pleased to announce a unique fundraiser on July 16, 2023 curated by internationally acclaimed artist and musician, Ben Livingston. Parthenia’s Majesty: A Cinematic Voyage is an immersive, audiovisual experience at the newly established Rosette Theatre at the Baker Center in Hyde Park. The 90 minute event (one at 2PM and one at 7PM) combines nostalgic short films celebrating the unrivaled beauty and rich history of Barton Springs with music, art, and refreshments.
The screenings include Brian Leonard's cosmic underwater light dances and four short movies from Karen Kocher’s “Living Springs'' series. The stunning underwater headliner “Parthenia’s A:X Pageant” created by prominent neon artist and springs advocate, Ben Livingston is accompanied by a live score performed by composer and pedal steel master Bob Hoffnar. Livingston’s ephemeral footage alongside Hoffnar’s otherworldly soundscape invites attendees on an introspective journey, inspiring conservation and advocacy in generations to come. Guests will also be invited to view a collection of water-inspired artworks by Sculptor / New Yorker cartoonist Julia “Jul” Suits. Sponsors include Gruene Hall, Jim Brand MD, Magnolia Cafe, Mary Jane Nalley, Robin Rather, and Family, & Austin Classical Guitar. PURCHASE TICKETS HERE About Ben Livingston: Ben Livingston is an internationally acclaimed artist, performing songwriter, and film personality who draws inspiration from beauty and embraces a daily, year-round swimming routine at Barton Springs. Recognized as a National Endowment of the Arts fellow, his expertise in neon/light sculpting has earned him global acclaim. Alongside his mastery of neon, Ben's artistic versatility extends to mediums such as drawing, painting, wood, copper, steel and found object construction, photography, and his latest venture in silent movie-making collaboration with composer, Bob Hoffnar. Ben Livingston continues to inspire others and defy limitations. His neon art has found its place in public collections like the Austin Convention Center and the University of Texas Performing Arts Center, solidifying his commitment to making a positive impact on the community. About Bob Hoffnar: Pedal steel guitarist Bob Hoffnar is a major contributor to Austin’s cultural landscape. Originally from Silver Springs, Maryland, Hoffnar graduated from Purchase Conservatory of Music in 1998 with a BFA in Composition. Further private studies included time with such musical luminaries as Lamonte Young, Pandit Pran Nath, and Ernest Tubb’s steel player Buddy Charelton. As a full-time working pedal steel player he has worked with artists from Patsy Montana to Cindi Lauper to Iggy and the Stooges. Along with a constant stream of solo and collaborative works he had the international debut of his "Prismatic Listening" installation in Mexico City in May of 2023. About Karen Kocher: Karen Kocher is an Austin-based media producer known for her digital content creations spanning over two decades. Her notable works include Living Springs, an immersive series exploring the history, culture and science of Barton Springs pool. With accolades like the Lonestar Chapter of the Sierra Club's "Art in Service of the Environment'' award, Karen's passion for environmental stewardship shines through her projects. As an educator, she shares her expertise in digital post-production and documentary production at the University of Texas at Austin. About Brian Leonard: Brian Leonard is an accomplished artist, healer, and dedicated advocate of Barton Springs, where he can be found swimming daily with the grace of a dolphin's tail. Based in Austin, Texas, Brian's artistic achievements have been showcased in exhibitions such as the West Austin Studio Tour and the Austin Art Space Gallery. He has made significant contributions to the Amanda Love Healing Center and Heal Healing Center, utilizing his talents to promote well-being. Brian's passion for art, healing, and his deep connection to Barton Springs exemplify his commitment to the transformative power of nature. About Julia Suits: Julia "Jul" Suits, an Austin-based artist, has returned to sculpture after decades away, with a focus on welded steel and glass. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows, including at the Pilchuck School and in a 2-person show with Dale Chihuly. Alongside her artistic endeavors, Suits has also made contributions as an environmental activist, creating large-scale outdoor installations addressing various issues and employing grants and donations to fund these immersive projects. In addition, Suits has worked as a freelance illustrator and cartoonist, with work featured in The New Yorker, Texas Monthly magazine, and in newspapers worldwide as an editorial illustrator for Creators Syndicate in Los Angeles. This Monday night, May 22nd, at City Hall, the Austin Parks Board will hear public testimony and make a recommendation to City Council on the proposed Zilker Park Vision Plan (aka Zilker Entertainment District Construction Plan). Please sign up to speak in advance here and be there with us to tell the Parks Board to Save Zilker Park and Barton Springs from this terrible “vision” for our public park. If you cannot be there, or you sign up to speak remotely, you can watch the Parks Board meeting live here. It’s much better to be there in person: it's more fun and the Parks Board will see us all there in force. Walk, ride your bike, take a bus, or carpool. There’s free public parking under City Hall (enter the garage from the west side, on southbound Guadalupe). Bring friends and family too!! See more details by viewing presentation HERE. You don’t want to miss this special night of local democracy in action!! Please know the overwhelming public opinion is against the City consultant's recommended plan and in favor of our Rewild Zilker Vision Plan. We have an amazing citywide poll that shows this beyond any dispute. Watch this KXAN news report about the key points from the poll. While you are at it, tell Mayor Watson and the Austin City Council that you oppose the City consultant’s draft plan and that you support the Rewild Zilker coalition plan. You can copy and paste into the “to” line the City Council and key council staff email addresses here. TO: kirk.watson@austintexas.gov, natasha.madison@austintexas.gov, vanessa.fuentes@austintexas.gov, jose.velasquez@austintexas.gov, chito.vela@austintexas.gov, ryan.alter@austintexas.gov, mackenzie.kelly@austintexas.gov, leslie.pool@austintexas.gov, paige.ellis@austintexas.gov, zohaib.qadri@austintexas.gov, alison.alter@austintexas.gov, jesus.garza@austintexas.gov CC: kate.alexander@austintexas.gov, alexis.garcia@austintexas.gov, john.lawler@austintexas.gov, jason.lopez@austintexas.gov, sofia.morales@austintexas.gov, yuri.barragan@austintexas.gov, timothy.bray@austintexas.gov, michael.mcgill@austintexas.gov, thomas.mcgregor@austintexas.gov, atha.phillips@austintexas.gov, julie.montgomery@austintexas.gov, melissa.beeler@austintexas.gov, natalie.deller@austintexas.gov, kurt.cadena-mitchell@austintexas.gov, joi.harden@austintexas.gov Brodie Oaks PUD too big, too little open space – Please consider also telling Mayor Watson and the City Council that the proposed redevelopment of the Brodie Oaks Shopping Center at South Lamar and Ben White should be scaled back to better protect Barton Creek and to comply with the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. City Council should also require the developer to acquire offsite, undeveloped mitigation land upstream in the Barton Creek watershed to mitigate the much higher redevelopment impervious cover (56%) that would be allowed above the SOS ordinance standard of 15% impervious cover. SOS supports the proposal to reduce existing impervious cover, add over 10 acres to the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and treat the runoff from the proposed redevelopment. We also support a major increase in density at Brodie Oaks. Currently the site holds 360,000 square feet of commercial development. However, the proposed redevelopment calls for almost ten times more development – 3.2 million square feet of commercial, multifamily, office, and hotel space. This would include skyscrapers over 250 feet tall. Our City’s comprehensive plan contemplates mid-rise development at this site – a level of density that supports public transit while protecting this unique site above Barton Creek. Council is set to vote on “second reading” on this project (Items 62 and 63 on the agenda). Senior Administrative Assistant/Office Manager Must have proven experience and proficiency in data entry and operating database systems, basic Quick Books skills and other office management software. Will need experience or willingness to learn assisting with large event coordination. Position is part-time (20-25 hrs. week) with flexible hours. Potential full time would include additional duties. Candidates should be passionate about protecting Barton Springs and the natural and cultural heritage of Central Texas. Salary commensurate with experience. Save Our Springs Development and Membership Coordinator Save Our Springs Alliance seeks a full time Development and Membership Coordinator to grow our base of donors, volunteers, and activist supporters. Please submit a current resume and cover letter to sosinfo@sosalliance.org Candidates for the position should be passionate about protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Central Texas. Pay is commensurate with experience, performance, and the Austin market, with the opportunity for regular pay increases. SOS offers health care and retirement benefits to all of its full time employees. We seek someone who is creative, self-motivated, and entrepreneurial, and who is committed to working with SOS staff, board members, and volunteers to grow the organization and its influence. Candidates should have a healthy mix of some of the following areas of knowledge, skills and experience: *A proven track record of growing a nonprofit donor/member support base, preferably in the field of conservation, environmental justice, and/or public health. * A working knowledge or educational background in marketing, sales, environmental advocacy, environmental science, environmental policy, communications, or journalism with some knowledge of the land, water, and wildlife conservation issues of Central Texas. *Membership development through email, text, social media, direct outreach, and/or events. *Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including advocacy writing grant and direct mail writing, social media, and video. *Project management, volunteer management, and/or public speaking experience. Save Our Springs Alliance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, disability, religion, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity). Please Note the following updates and correction: You can participate in the Tuesday, May 16th Zoom Meeting at 7:00 p.m. here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85327754325 The Flash Mob with community leader Diana Prechter at City Hall will be held on Thursday, May 18th at 11:30 am (not Wednesday as previously reported) The May 22nd Parks Board Meeting at City Hall starts at 6pm. Please arrive early for sign-making and group planning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you love Zilker Park and Barton Springs? If so, you likely know about the City consultants’ draft $200 million-plus construction plan in Zilker Park $200 that would convert our much loved public park into a privately controlled outdoor entertainment district. As proposed, the plan would threaten Barton Springs and the natural, historic, and cultural resources of the park while doing nothing to save the Barton Springs watershed before its too late. It would also drain limited funding away from our other City parks that need investments and basic funding for swimming pools, trails, and recreation facilities. It’s hard to overstate how terrible this draft plan really is. And because there is soooo much money to be made exploiting our flagship public park, this terrible plan will be approved if you don’t join with us in telling our city officials “no thank you!!” and “we prefer to rewild Zilker Park and keep it public!” We need your help and attention next week and in the weeks thereafter to Save Zilker Park! Specifically, the Rewild Zilker coalition invites you to: --Join us Tuesday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. for a zoom call update and training in preparation for speaking to the Austin Parks Board on May 22 and to Austin City Council later this summer; --Wednesday, May 18, at 11:30 a.m. at City Hall, join with Austin community leader Diana Prechter and her Flash Mob to specifically protest the proposed construction of 3 parking garages in Zilker Park; and -- Monday, May 22nd at 5:30 p.m. attend the Parks Board meeting at City Hall and tell them in your own words what Zilker Park means to you and what you want for the future of our flagship park. Learn more here and recruit your friends and family to be part of saving our park and springs. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories |