The people of Austin were sold out on this latest soccer stadium deal. Yes, this should have been up to the vote of the people. (We need election reform cooperation with the state and county, so we can hold more frequent ballot measure elections).

Please allow me to point out the utter lack of creativity and integrity of the city council with a simple example:

The stadium is projected to cost $200,000,000. This will be the property of private owners who finance it. It will be the host of sporting events, and all sorts of entertainment showcases. This will bring in mass amounts profit for those private individuals.

Instead of private ownership, the PEOPLE could own the stadium. If each citizen of Austin were to equally split the cost, and therefore the ownership, this would break down to ~$20 per month for one year. Literally for the cost of a dinner, once a month, for every person in Austin, over one year, and the WE OWN IT. That means every time Beyoncé and Elton John come to town, the People Profit! Every time our soccer team is in the championships and we sell tickets, the People Profit! This is not rocket science…

We could have put a Soccer Stadium Bond on our ballot. We could have done it so many ways… However, 7 city council members sold us out.

We don’t need anyone’s help to have a soccer team. We have everyone and everything we need right here in Austin.

Don’t worry, it’s not too late. We can still step in and assert the people’s authority. If elected mayor, I will do everything I can do secure the right of the people to own the stadium, and not allow more private profit interest to use our land for their own extraction-systems.