Should Counties Determine their own Fate?

This week on Wednesday October 17 in the Austin-Statesman their was an interesting editorial written by a Democratic representative in the House. Valinda Bolton of Austin made a bold and valid argument of the power struggle between local and state government. Bolton expressed the dispute to be the lack of capability and resources to counties in order to control their rapidly increasing population. Close to home in Travis County, Bolton uses an example that will directly touch Austin residents and other state citizens facing the same issues. She states that she recently witnessed the Hamilton pool's destruction of its beauty due to construction and renovation mixed with heavy rain this summer. The natural pool could have been preserved if the county had more control over land use. From this well planned article it is easy to see that the Representative had carefully thought and organized the article. She gave clear examples of the problem and continued on to show that she had already began to take a stand on the issue; by spreading her thoughts to the public, and receiving feedback from the community on the enormous population growth and expansion. Also, the democrat brought to the 80th legislation a bill that would give more authority to counties to establish growth and development, but despite her efforts the bill was struck down early in its process. The article was clear on its purpose and even if the facts were not provided we could easily take a look around our urban home, Austin, and see that problems like noise, water, and pollution need to managed. It is comforting to know that one woman in the government had the audacity to bring forth the issue to others and push for a change in power to embrace local government.

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/10/17/1018bolton_edit.html

Will Holly shutdown effect residents?

In the past week every news station and paper in the area has mentioned the Holly Power Plant shut down. The editorial out of the Austin Statesman on October 1 revealed information that many who do not reside in the neighborhood may be unaware of. As I reviewed the editorial written by the Editorial Board I wondered how a Liberal and Democratic Austin thought that it was just to possibly force residents out of there homes.
This article was printed for many Austinites in the area to read and especially to those it directly effects in the Holly neighborhood. Although the argument was not the main focus in the editorial it was, to me, the point that was made the most clearly. Toward the end of the article after hitting on the positive points of the shut down, the author raises the argument, "Holly has been shut down. But will those who fought for the quiet be able to enjoy it?" This is a story that would be interesting to continue to follow and know more information about as the situation is unveiled.
The article begins by emphasizing the positive aspects of its closer. The plant was noisy and caused the neighborhood to be faced with many problems including: the noise, and nuisances. But mostly for the safety issues; small fires at the plant that threatened homes and schools, as well as the pollutants that are harmful to the heath of the residents. The author makes the power plant shut down appealing and wonder why it was not tended to sooner, until the final paragraph. In that he states that the area that once was this large and noisy plant will be knocked down and turned into a park and pricey condos and homes. That sounds beautiful and fabulous to the wealthier side of Austin, including the politicians and government. But what will happen to the residents of the area who can not afford to live in a neighbor hood where property values will sky rocket? So, the question is ultimately not to keep Holly open, but simply will the land be replaced with something beneficial to the residence that have been there for so long?
The author does not provide the readers with enough evidence of the number of people that will be affected by the increase of property and the new condos. If he had provided the information it is possible that it would have reached out and affected a wider range of citizens. To me the article was successful, the one statement was enough to persuade me that the new renovations to the land were unfair for the underprivileged, but to many without more facts and data it may seem trivial.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/editorial/entries/2007/10/01/holly_powers_down_a_neighborho_1.html