Audio By Carbonatix
Austin’s not a “major city”? Hunh. Tried to drive in Austin in the last 15, 20 years? Traffic seems pretty major. And last I looked, there was some big college there — that’s what my diploma says, anyhow. And something about a state capitol? Look, I dunno. I’m always drunk when I’m in Austin. Or stoned. OK. Fine. Both.
Anyway. KLRU just posted an hour-long Civic Summit during which four former Texas mayors “reflect on their years in office as guidance for Austin’s transition into a major city.” And, as you can see, former Observer-er Laura Miller was asked to join Bill White (ex of Houston, and I know you know), Henry Cisneros (San Antonio) and Kirk Watson (Austin). Among the subjects: the best form of city council (Said Miller of 14-1: “If you can have baby steps and go to a few at-large districts but really get a large number of single-member districts, I think that is a really terrific first step”) and how mighty the mayor oughta be.
Said Miller about that particularly painful subject: “I campaigned … to change our form of government from weak mayor run by city manager to strong mayor and got shellacked.” Man, those were good times. The whole thing’s on the other side, for those with an hour to kill. Let me know how it turns out.
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