RG4N - Responsible Growth for Northcross

RG4N Candidate Forum Results

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 22:05:49 -0500

RG4N's Candidate Forum last night was well-attended. We sent the candidates our questions in advance and their responses provided much food for thought. You can read the questions we asked by clicking here.

Attendees were able to fill out a ballot and vote for their favored candidates. The charts below show voting results. We counted ballots from attendees who live in Allandale, Brentwood, Crestview, North Shoal Creek, Rosedale and Wooten as well as neighborhoods adjacent to one of these Northcross-area neighborhoods. The vote count included RG4N supporters as well as those who indicated they are not supporters.

The candidates who received the most votes in each Place are Jason Meeker (Place 1), Jennifer Kim (Place 3) and Laura Morrison (Place 4).

Many thanks to Far West Optical for its generous support for the forum. RG4N also thanks the event volunteers and the neighbors and others who attended. Finally, we extend our appreciation to the candidates for their participation.

Attachment	Size
CandidateQuestions.doc	38 KB

RG4N City Council Candidate Forum

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:28:35 -0600

Start: Apr 8 2008 - 7:00pm

End: Apr 8 2008 - 9:00pm

Start: Apr 8 2008 - 7:00pm

End: Apr 8 2008 - 9:00pm

Location: Ben Hur Shrine Temple 7811 Rockwood Lane Corner of Rockwood / Foster

We have confirmed all 10 City Council Candidates to participate in this important community event!

There are many important issues facing Austin today, some of which will particularly impact the future value and livability of our neighborhoods. Redevelopment of Austin's "urban core," traffic management, community and mass transit, vertical mixed use and densification of new development just to name a few. What's important to YOU?

Seating limited to the first 250 people, so please arrive early. Parking is also limited, so please carpool or walk if you can. We will begin promptly at 7pm to maximize our time with the candidates. Candidates may be available before and after the meeting to meet you.

Download the RG4N Candidate Forum Flier here

Here are our City Council Candidates and their campaign websites

Place 1

Allen Demling	http://www.allendemling.org/
Jeffrey Hancock	http://www.jeffreyhancock.com/
Jason Meeker	http://www.jasonforaustin.com
Lee Leffingwell	http://voteleffingwell.com/index.asp

Place 3

Jennifer Kim	http://www.standingupforaustin.com/index.asp
Kenneth Weiss	http://www.weissforplace3.com/
Randi Shade	http://www.randishade.com/

Place 4

Cid Galindo	http://www.cidgalindo.com/index.asp
Laura Morrison	http://lauraforaustin.com/
Robin Cravey	http://www.robincravey.com/blog/
Sam Osemene	http://www.vote4alonghorn.com/

What RG4N is doing

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:15:43 -0600

SO WHAT THE HECK IS RG4N DOING NOW?

Now that the lawsuit has been decided, some are wondering what RG4N is doing. Here's what we're working on and why we still need your support, participation and donations.

1. Keeping up the public pressure.

We are still opposed to the Wal-Mart Supercenter and the entire neighborhood-unfriendly development at Northcross Mall. We will continue to fight the battle and express the voices of the community until the City and the developers act responsibly.

2. Keeping the public informed.

We continue to educate the public about the potential negative impact of the Northcross development as it is currently plannned, and we are working with other organizations to push for a better development.

3. Monitoring Northcross.

We are monitoring the development to make sure that Lincoln Properties does not violate local ordinances and extend beyond what the permits allow -- as Wal-Mart stores are notoriously known to do.

4. Holding elected officials accountable.

We intend to bring the Northcross development and other neighborhood development issues into the forefront of the City Council elections. We are working with other local Austin organizations in this effort. We will also hold a candidate forum in April.

5. Pushing for Ordinances.

We will be pushing for ordinances that will help mitigate the impact if the Wal-Mart Supercenter does get built, and protect all Austin neighborhoods from un-friendly, dumb-growth developments in the future.

6. Considering Our Next Legal Move.

Beyond considering our next legal move, we are working very hard on all of the above. We need YOUR help.

Join us volunteers and help bring change to Northcross and Austin!

Send an email to volunteer [at] rg4n [dot] org to find out how you can help

PAWS AROUND NORTHCROSS

Tue, 5 Feb 2008 23:06:39 -0600

ON MARCH 1 AT 10:00 AM, 1,000 DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS WILL GO FOR A WALK TOGETHER

Leash up the pups and let's show those Fat Cats at Wal-Mart and Lincoln that we're still doggone mad about their Supercenter at Northcross Mall, and we¹re not lying down!

Remember how we called on thousands of you to join us for Arms Around Northcross? Remember how we formed a one mile wide human circle around Northcross Mall? We did it! And it ignited -- and united -- a neighborhood spirit throughout Austin to stop the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Let's stand together again! RG4N is calling on 1,000 dogs and their owners to come take a walk around Northcross Mall. Join your friends and neighbors and once again send a powerful message to Lincoln Property Co. Wal-Mart and the Austin City Council that we will never back down.

The Austin Chronicle called Arms Around Northcross the Feistiest Neighborhood Rebellion in 2007.

Let's really make the fur fly on March 1.

CAN COLLECTION DAY - BRING YOUR CANS FOR RECYCLING TO EITHER INFORMATION TENT DURING PAWS AROUND NORTHCROSS.

Attachment	Size
PawsAroundNorthcross_March.pdf	170.95 KB
Paws Small Sign.pdf	643.35 KB

PAWS AROUND NORTHCROSS

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:12:30 -0600

Start: Mar 1 2008 - 10:00am

End: Mar 1 2008 - 12:00pm

Start: Mar 1 2008 - 10:00am

End: Mar 1 2008 - 12:00pm

We're still howling mad, doggone it!! Those Fat Cats downtown are playing ball with big developers, and we're still getting dogged up here at Northcross. Are you going to stand, sit or stay for that???

Join us for the ONE YEAR CELEBRATION of the historic Arms Around Northcross (pictures here and here)!!

Come on out for the biggest dog walk Northcross Mall has ever seen! The perimeter of Northcross Mall is one mile, so come show the City of Austin we still don't want a WalMart, and get a little exercise too. Dress your dog for the occasion, wear red, make a sign with your own special message and join us for a spectacular show of neighborhood solidarity!

Watch out Austin, our BITE is worse than our BARK!

We'll have 2 informational areas with local business and animal groups participating. Doggie Costume pictures will be posted on our website so get creative! An event flyer with more information will be posted soon, so please check back.

A Few Rules for the Humans:

1. All dogs on leashes please.
2. All dogs should be on their best behavior (no aggressive dogs).
3. Bring your own poop bags.
4. Walk in a clockwise direction.

Plans are underway, so check back soon for more information!

Attachment	Size
PawsAroundNorthcross_March.pdf	170.95 KB

YES WE CAN!

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:51:06 -0600

RG4N "YES WE CAN" RECYCLE

It’s simple. It’s sustainable. It's fun. Start saving and collecting your cans today! This is an easy way to raise necessary funds and help us continue our fight.

KICK-OFF EVENT & COMMUNITY COLLECTION

Join us March 1st, 2008, from 10am to noon during Paws Around Northcross! Bring your crushed cans in a plastic bag, and drop them off at either the Zinger's or Northcross Drive event tents. We'll have more recycling info.

NEIGHBORHOOD PICK-UP VOLUNTEERS

If you are unable to drop your cans off on the monthly collection day, contact your neighborhood volunteer and they'll personally pick up your cans. Just leave your cans near your front door in a plastic bag.

Allandale

Betty Chlystek	371-7978	glint43210@mypacks.net
Lisa McKay	656-1209

Brentwood

Chris Layden	736-1570	chrislaydentexas@yahoo.com
Michelle Wibbelsman	371-9128	mwibblesman@gmail.com

Crestview

Kat Correa	225-4732	fundraising@rg4n.org
Debra Hansen	407-9484	nashiana@well.com

North Shoal Creek

Roger Wines	453-2193	ro-jer@sbclgobal.net
George Roman	452-1331

Wooten

Volunteers needed. Contact your nearest volunteer.

IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Thank you!

To volunteer, contact:
Chris Layden
YES WE CAN! Project Coordinator
chrislaydentexas [at] yahoo [dot] com
512-371-9128 home
512-736-1570 cell

Kat Correa
Fundraising Committee Chair
fundraising [at] rg4n [dot] org
512-225-4732 cell

Attachment	Size
Yes We Can Collection Flier.pdf	86.87 KB

Watch Dog Task Force

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:59:42 -0600

Start: Jan 18 2008 - 7:00pm

End: Jan 18 2008 - 9:00pm

Start: Jan 18 2008 - 7:00pm

End: Jan 18 2008 - 9:00pm

Location: Email Tomas Rodriguez at eslprofe1 [at] yahoo [dot] com for location information

The purpose of RG4N's Watchdog Task Force is to monitor the activities of Lincoln Property Company (LPC) and Wal-Mart while construction is underway at Northcross. In addition, we will monitor activities at Northcross after construction is complete and at all currently existing Wal-Mart and LPC sites. Violations will be reported to the City of Austin for action.

We need volunteers who can observe activity at the Northcross site and report any questionable activity to the task force. We will help educate members of this committee on relevant building codes and business practices to monitor. If you happen to be familiar with City codes, we welcome your expertise!

Monitoring can take place individually or in small groups. We will create a schedule for monitoring--a weekly commitment of time is helpful.

Stop the Big Box/Public Pressure Task Force Meeting

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:42:14 -0600

Start: Jan 17 2008 - 7:00pm

End: Jan 17 2008 - 9:00pm

Start: Jan 17 2008 - 7:00pm

End: Jan 17 2008 - 9:00pm

Location: Call 905-5106 for location information

If you feel strongly that the Wal-Mart Supercenter is not good for our community, this is the task force for you. Its purpose is to ramp-up public pressure against the development at Northcross, and to educate the public about the facts and repercussions of a Wal-Mart Supercenter at Northcross. We are looking for ideas and energy to help us formulate and implement plans.

Policy Change Task Force Meeting

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:07:49 -0600

Start: Jan 17 2008 - 7:00pm

End: Jan 17 2008 - 9:00pm

Start: Jan 17 2008 - 7:00pm

End: Jan 17 2008 - 9:00pm

Location: Call 538-4849 for location information

The purpose of the Policy Change Task Force is to change City of Austin policies to mitigate the impact of a Supercenter at Northcross Mall, should that occur. An example of this is the ban on 24-hour operation of Supercenters near homes that we will seek to have implemented in a new ordinance. Volunteers are needed with public policy backgrounds as well as volunteers who have experience working with city of Austin boards and commissions. We also need people to do online research, gather petition signatures, and more. There's plenty to do, and we need you.

Thank You For A Great Meeting!

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:16:43 -0600

We had a great turnout Friday night.

We'll be putting together more details ASAP about the ideas we announced and discussed--especially your ideas. In the meantime, click on "3 attachments" below. You'll find the letter templates we passed out and our petition.

Download these letters and use them to write to Lincoln and to Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart. Please send a letter each week.

Download the petition. It is our effort to call for the Austin City Council to immediately pass an ordinance which would limit 24-hour operations for Big Box retail stores in close proximity to residences, including the Wal-Mart Superstore at Northcross, and would include a provision that limits public shopping hours as well as overnight operations, including delivery truck arrivals and engine idling.

There's an election coming up. Let's see who supports our neighborhoods who doesn't.

More to come...

Attachment	Size
LetterToLeeScott.pdf	31.68 KB
LetterToLincoln.pdf	32 KB
LetterToLeeScott.doc	23.5 KB
LetterToLincoln.doc	23.5 KB
24HourPetition.pdf	92.12 KB
NeverShop.pdf	90.61 KB

Town Hall Meeting This Friday Night

Wed, 9 Jan 2008 19:24:05 -0600

Please plan to attend the very important RG4N Town Hall meeting this Friday.
(And bring your friends, family & neighbors!) We've been fighting for more
than a year, which is common in fights like this. We must now gather
together to discuss our next steps.

We expect media coverage. Since the other side is hoping we'll give up, it
is vital that we pack the hall with concerned citizens and show that we are
still united in this fight.

"What's next in the fight for our neighborhoods?"
RG4N Town Hall Meeting
Friday, January 11, 2008
7PM
St. Louis Catholic Church, Wozniak Hall
7601 Burnet Road
Details at: www.rg4n.org

We will discuss our future direction and efforts, possible plans for
appealing our legal ruling, and the likely impact of our efforts on the city
elections in May.

Got a question for the meeting? Email it in advance: press [at] rg4n [dot] org

Better Austin Today PAC Fundraiser

Wed, 9 Jan 2008 17:37:24 -0600

Start: Jan 13 2008 - 6:00pm

End: Jan 13 2008 - 9:00pm

Start: Jan 13 2008 - 6:00pm

End: Jan 13 2008 - 9:00pm

Location: Moose Lodge at 2103 E. M. Franklin - map

Ready for a change? Then come make it happen. The Better Austin Today PAC is taking off.

http://www.betteraustintoday.org

Please join Better Austin Today PAC at its first fundraiser and party this Sunday, January 13 at the Moose Lodge at 2103 E. M. Franklin from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

The Better Austin Today PAC is a large progressive coalition of community leaders involved in a broad range of issues. This group envisions an Austin with a strong democracy, driven by an engaged diverse community, that achieves a prosperous, sustainable economy with opportunity for all; safe, livable, truly affordable neighborhoods; cultural vitality; social responsibility; and a healthy environment. Its mission is to elect officials who are responsive and accountable to our community, thorough building a strong, diverse coalition, developing leaders and supporting candidates who share our vision for a better Austin today.