Disgusted With Affordable Housing Vote

RECEIVED Wed., Nov. 7, 2012

Dear Editor,
    Hats off to this proud "liberal" city. Of the seven bond propositions worth $385 million, the one Austinites rejected was affordable housing. At a time when Austin's rental rates are among the fastest growing in the nation and property taxes of once well-established minority neighborhoods continue to push families out to the city's edges, Proposition 15 was the one that legitimately screamed, "Help us." But no, the proud beacon of blue smugly flashing its righteousness in the face of a red state deemed it more important to, among other things, pay for a road transportation bond that sneaks in a 30-mile hike-and-bike trail that reaches into Hays County, and fund renovations to large city parks that are becoming less and less accessible to the public due to festival after festival after festival. Even horses for the mounted police got new housing in this election. I guess this city isn't "progressive" enough to help keep minorities and other struggling families in their gentrified neighborhoods.
Truly disgusted,
Ram Hinojosa
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