 In this Issue:
Trial Set in Lawsuit to Validate Convention Center Petition A trial date has been set in the lawsuit filed by Austin United PAC against the City of Austin for rejecting the “Save the Soul of Austin” petition, signed by ~25,000 residents of Austin, which would call a “timeout” on the Austin City Council’s rush to commit an estimated $5.6 billion, over 30 years, for a convention center project, without giving Austin voters a say in the matter. The petitioned ordinance would also prioritize City financial support for Austin’s local live music, arts, cultural, and environmental tourism sectors across the entire city. After the PAC turned in the petition, the City Clerk disqualified over 1,600 signatures, many of which are actively registered voters and should have been counted. For example, the Clerk disqualified signatures for minor discrepancies in names and addresses, but these voters can be easily found on the City of Austin voter rolls. In disqualifying these signatures, the Clerk determined that the petition contained 19,506 valid signatures, short of the required 20,000-signature threshold. The lawsuit asserts that with those wrongfully disqualified signatures, the 20,000-signature threshold was met, and Austinites should be entitled to vote on it at the upcoming May 2026 election. The lawsuit also challenges the City’s violation of the Texas Public Information Act, in keeping secret the statistical sampling method used in preparing the sample used to evaluate the sufficiency of the petition. The trial is set for January 26-27, starting at 9am each day. At this point, we do not know the court room assignment; however, it will be at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility, at 1700 Guadalupe St, Austin, Texas 78701. There are screens near the elevators that identify the case (D-1-GN-25-010865) and will list the court room. Note: Because it will be a jury week, parking around the facility may be challenging. There are street parking and a parking garage across 17th Street.  BSEACD Drought Chart and Status on January 7, 2026 District Drought UpdateAs we move into 2026, drought conditions in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer are becoming increasingly severe. 2025 marked the fourth consecutive year of below-average rainfall, leaving Austin with a deficit of nearly 35 inches, which is roughly a year’s worth of rain. At last week’s BSEACD board meeting, staff for the district reported that without significant rain in the beginning of this year, the district will likely enter the most severe stage of drought, Stage 4 Emergency Response Period, by late March or early April. This scenario spells big trouble, not only to Barton Springs itself but also to the people, wildlife, and ecosystems that depend on clean, reliable groundwater in our region. Conserving water aggressively at home and in our communities, supporting policies that reduce impervious cover, fighting water and energy guzzling data centers, and advancing smart water management solutions are critical if we are to protect Barton Springs and sustain the aquifer. Here are some quick resources to put into action and share with your friends and family.
The growing need for people who care and who act is greater than ever. Your support helps keep our springs flowing, our creeks healthy, and the wildlife that depends on them thriving, while giving communities across Texas the tools to make a real difference.
This New Year, make a gift to help Save Our Springs continue our fight to protect these waters and our city. In Solidarity, SOS Alliance Comments are closed.
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