Beep Beep

     Monday, through Thursday I wake up at 8:20 a.m. By the time I leave home it's 8:30 a.m. Notice I live 7 min away from campus, and most of the time it takes me 25-30 min get to school. In my opinion, Austin needs a better transportation system.

     In the editorial, “Mackowiak: Austin transportation solutions are never enough”, by Matt Mackowiak, Mackowiak talks about how solutions are never good enough for taxpayers because it will raise taxes. Explaining that taxes are already high, as Mackowaik states, “Property taxes in Austin are already out of control, and our city leaders continue to propose expensive ways to improve traffic only marginally.” But he adds that the taxes are worth it for our daily commute. He explains Adler proposal of creating “small corridors” through the city’s busiest roads, and “synchronizes and adapts stoplights in real-time, and adds sidewalks, turn lanes and continuous movement intersections on Loop 360”, is a better idea than what is going on right now.  

     Mackowiak proposition is simple, people should vote for a bill that would help improve and reduce congestion. As he states, “Austinites would be willing to pay for significant infrastructure if it would truly help their commute.” He also mentions that people think that the taxes are going to increase significantly. But as he explains, “Adler’s proposal would raise property taxes an average of $77 a year for the average homeowner while potentially making roads more efficient…”

    In conclusion, I believe Mackowiak has a valid point, voters should be in favor of improving our roads because as he stated, Austin is getting bigger and the roads weren’t designed for a rapidly growing city. Also, if where the city of Austin, I would just do it. People hate change. But if it's put into effect, people will get used to it. For example plastic bags. 

Money = Power

In the editorial,” More evictions pushing low-income families out of schools, community” by Alberta Phillips. Talks about how low-income families are getting evicted from their neighborhoods.  For the fact that wealthy investors are buying the property.  Thus building modern more expensive neighborhoods for wealthy people migrating to Austin. She states, “So instead of fixing properties in desirable areas of town, such as 5020 Manor Road, owners sell them for big profits. Apartments that were once low-rent then are replaced with higher-rent units or condos”. Phillips has a very interesting stance on this topic, she suggests that landowners should be helped to fix their property instead of selling it. This is said because now in days Austin rent is so expensive. So it’s very difficult for those families that have been living there for so long to transition to more elevated prices when they could barely afford the bare minimum. This is mentioned, “Instead of helping the people who have been living in these conditions for so long, whose health and safety has suffered, it (the repeat offender list) seems to be rewarding slumlords who have profited off families”. I agree with Phillips argument because poor people will exist everywhere. So instead of throwing them out of their house, because of their economical stance they should be helped. They are already suffering as she states, “ …hungry because their families are choosing between paying rent or buying enough food to last the month”.  But in reality, can they actually be helped? Even if you remodel where they live and make it look nice, the rent price most definitely will increase. The sad reality is that money always has the last word.