Working group foresees equitable development of ‘Eastern Crescent’

On Monday, Mayor Steve Adler posted an update on the City Council Message Board regarding a new working group that was formed to “develop a holistic, equitable economic development plan” for East Austin. The group was created in the wake of Council’s postponement in May – prompted by Adler – of a decision regarding development of a PGA-style golf course at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. In his post, Adler writes that the group plans to develop short- and long-term goals that will “address equity, access and the economic segregation” in Austin and “redress historic, systemic inequities and benign neglect in the ‘Eastern Crescent’ of our city.” Along with Adler, the group includes Council Members Ora Houston of District 1; Pio Renteria, District 3; Leslie Pool, District 7 and Ellen Troxclair, District 8. Adler writes that although the group has not strictly defined the Eastern Crescent’s bounds, it “certainly includes parts of the following Districts: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7.” So far, Adler wrote, the group has held two meetings, one of which involved more than 50 people, and it is now preparing for a broader community meeting on Sept. 12. Ahead of that meeting, the group is reaching out to “200+ people who represent neighborhoods, education, nonprofits, faith communities, business and government” with a set of questions. To weigh in on those questions or to learn more about the working group, see Adler’s post.