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On June 7th, 1990,

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hundreds of people swarmed an Austin

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City Council meeting.

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[chanting] They were there because
the

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council was taking a vote on a new

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development.

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It was going to be built right along

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Barton Creek near Southwest Parkway.

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On one side of this fight, you had

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the environmentalists.

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They filled up the seats in the

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council chamber until it reached

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capacity.

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That's a record.

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And if everyone took their three

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minute limit we could, would

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radically be here another 24 hours.

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Those who couldn't get in stood

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outside.

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They held signs that said, "Honk if

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you love Barton Springs," [honking]

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Because you see, all these people

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had shown up in the name of Barton

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Springs, in the name of water

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quality.

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On the other side of this fight, you

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had a big dog.

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Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

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I'm Jim Bob Moffitt.

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I'm the chairman and CEO of

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Freeport-McMoRan.

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Moffitt's the rich guy trying to

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build this new development in

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Southwest Austin.

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We will categorically not

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pollute Barton Creek.

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Thank you.

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One after another, protesters came

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downtown.

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They went to a building at the

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corner of Second and Lavaca Streets.

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And if they were lucky, they got

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inside.

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They stood up at this podium,

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and there they yelled.

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Deceitful, delirious,

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disrespectful to every

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person in this room.

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They sang.

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[singing] If we don't cherish our

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river, it'll perish

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forever.

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They invoked religion.

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Well, I baptize my baby at Barton

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Springs about ten months ago,

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and I want to make sure that my baby

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can baptize his baby there.

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They spoke for hours and hours

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and hours.

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The record of pollution is

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disturbing.

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It's not going to do anybody any

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good.

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Ruined.

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We have enough houses already.

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I was reminded of the people in

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Cocoon.

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We're going to see headlines that

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say Freeport-McMoRan

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met their Waterloo in Austin,

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Texas.

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From five at night until five

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in the morning.

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These people want to come in and

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use our land to make a fortune

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off of.

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It's spoken of as this legendary

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night. One of those moments that

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defined what it meant to be in

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Austin.

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And if you were there, you were part

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of history.

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[singing] Someday you'll be sorry

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when Barton's blue turns

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brown.

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It will have cost us a

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river, lost

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us a river.

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Don't let the people of Austin

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down.

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Run those developers

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out of town.

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[cheering]

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But we know how these things

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go, right?

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No one defeats the big dog.

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You're listening to Growth Machine:

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How Austin Engineered its Housing

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Market.

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Episode three.

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Listen to this podcast or

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we'll poison Barton Springs.

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Every Sunday morning I come to this

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place in Austin.

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I sit on a blanket, I take out a

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magazine or a book, and

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I wait for the sun to warm me up,

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to get really sweaty, so

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that I can just jump in.

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I consider this my weekly mass.

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I call it Barton baptism.

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And this week I brought someone

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along with me.

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Hey, Mose.

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It's Mose Buchele.

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What's going on, Audrey?

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Whenever I come here, I wonder how

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many people come to visit,

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sit here on this lawn

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and think, "That's it.

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I'm moving to Austin.

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Like, this is just too cool to have

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this right in the middle of the
city."

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Yeah, and it's kind of funny to

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describe, like, you know, you're

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like, "It's a public pool," and

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they're like, "Okay ..." And I'm

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like, "You won't get it 'till you

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get there.

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It's hard to explain."

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It is a truly unique

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place.

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It kind of looks like a big outdoor

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pool, but it's spring

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fed, right?

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And it's huge.

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Like, I think when you first come

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here, you're really struck by the

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size of this pool.

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Just seems to go on and on.

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Yeah, it's like, almost as big as a

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football field, it seems like.

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I mean, you can swim one or two laps

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and you feel like you've got a full

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workout pretty much.

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And it's cold.

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[laughter] And what it maintains, it

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stays around 68 degrees

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Fahrenheit, so

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it's chilly.

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All right. But today's a hot day.

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So I think it's going to hit, it's

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going to hit, the cold's gonna hit

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us. You ready Mose?

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Let's do it.

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[screaming, jumping in to Barton
Springs]

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[laughter] Woo!

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Yeah, that's good.

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That's real good.

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Woo! Taking your breath away.

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Oh man.

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It is. It's rejuvenating like no

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other place.

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Yeah, woo ...

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Our story today has to do with

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Barton Springs Pool, but it's about

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a lot more than that because

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this big fight that I told you about

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earlier didn't just end up

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determining the future of Barton

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Springs pool.

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That's right. It helped change the

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way the city has grown

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basically ever since.

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Austin, you could argue, would look

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really, really different today

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if the story had ended up

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differently.

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And I got to tell you, this story

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has everything.

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Greedy real estate developers.

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Radical activists.

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Fistfights.

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Spying, literal spying.

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And it all starts in the early

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eighties.

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[music] Any way you want it, that's

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the way you need it, anyway

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you want it.

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So Audrey, what was Austin like in

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the '80s?

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Well, I was not here or

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alive, but

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[laughter] this was the first wave

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of tech here in Austin.

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That's right. And this is a different

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kind of tech economy

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than we would know today, right?

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Back then, people were like actually

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building things right?

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They're making real things.

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People might have heard of Michael

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Dell.

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Building computers in his dorm room.

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You had the beginning of this

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semiconductor

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industry, which I'm

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still not exactly sure what those

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are, [laughter] but I know they're

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really important.

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Like you can't have computers

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without them.

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All of this is happening and this is

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about the time when people start

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calling Austin Silicon Hills.

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And like with any boom, companies

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are creating jobs, and so a lot of

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people are moving here.

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Between 1982 and 1987,

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more than 100,000 people moved

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to Austin.

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The city's population was growing

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faster than it had since its

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founding, and all these people

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needed houses.

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So developers were building a ton.

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In 1983, they built nearly

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as many homes and offices

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as they did in 2019,

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when there were three times as many

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people living here.

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So downtown is getting some taller

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buildings, but really they're also

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building out a lot, pushing out

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of the boundaries of the city,

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right? Building more subdivisions.

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Things are growing like crazy.

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And then, in 1989,

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there's this big financial crisis.

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This is NBC Nightly News.

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Reported by Connie Chung.

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Good evening.

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President Bush today grappled with

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his first pressing domestic problem,

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trying to save the savings and loan

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industry.

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The savings and loans scandal that

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could cost half a trillion dollars

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...

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All you really need to know is

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that there were a bunch of these

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small banks throughout the country

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that were poorly regulated, poorly

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managed.

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And as interest rates started to go

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up in the '80s, a lot of these banks

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started failing.

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That became a problem for people

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with big real estate investments.

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Maybe they got foreclosed on because

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they owed the bank money and they

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had no way to pay.

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Or maybe they just got desperate to

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sell.

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Either way, it created an opening

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for developers, with the right

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financing, to start buying

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up more and more land.

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And in a lot of cases they're

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actually buying up a bunch of

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ranchland, especially in Southwest

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Austin.

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And so you might have wondered why

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there are, like so many subdivisions

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around the city that have the word

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ranch in the name, you know,

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like Steiner Ranch.

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Avery Ranch.

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Circle C Ranch.

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This is not just marketing.

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It's because a lot of these places

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were actual ranches or farmland.

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And in the '80s, these landowners

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either get foreclosed on or decide

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to sell — often to developers ...

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who then start turning these big

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swaths of land into subdivisions or

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suburbs.

289
00:08:13,270 --> 00:08:15,069
Right. A Super Ranch subdivision.

290
00:08:15,070 --> 00:08:15,969
Super Ranch.

291
00:08:15,970 --> 00:08:17,559
So ... [laughter] So it's important

292
00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:19,389
to realize that all these

293
00:08:19,390 --> 00:08:21,039
parts of Austin, like this was like

294
00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:22,239
the country back then.

295
00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,039
You could go out to southwest

296
00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:25,509
Austin, suddenly feel like you're in

297
00:08:25,510 --> 00:08:26,889
the middle of nowhere. It's not like

298
00:08:26,890 --> 00:08:27,699
how it feels now.

299
00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:29,259
It felt like nature, it felt

300
00:08:29,260 --> 00:08:31,539
untouched, felt pristine.

301
00:08:31,540 --> 00:08:32,649
And there were a lot of people in

302
00:08:32,650 --> 00:08:34,599
Austin who really liked that.

303
00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,099
And these people, many of them

304
00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:37,449
environmentalists, start to get

305
00:08:37,450 --> 00:08:39,038
concerned about development,

306
00:08:39,039 --> 00:08:40,808
particularly in this part of Austin.

307
00:08:40,809 --> 00:08:43,658
Well, for me, I got involved with

308
00:08:43,659 --> 00:08:45,729
local Earth First-ers and Sierra

309
00:08:45,730 --> 00:08:47,739
Club-ers, and some other

310
00:08:47,740 --> 00:08:49,389
local activists, let's say Barton

311
00:08:49,390 --> 00:08:51,399
Creek folks, in the

312
00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:52,929
mid late '80s.

313
00:08:52,930 --> 00:08:54,039
This is Bill Bunch.

314
00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:55,209
He's actually still a really

315
00:08:55,210 --> 00:08:56,979
well-known activist in town.

316
00:08:56,980 --> 00:08:58,869
So you had the

317
00:08:58,870 --> 00:08:59,681
Earth First!

318
00:08:59,682 --> 00:09:00,629
activists who were basically U.T.

319
00:09:00,630 --> 00:09:02,559
students who were the, you

320
00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:04,329
know, the quote unquote, radical

321
00:09:04,330 --> 00:09:06,219
environmentalists.

322
00:09:06,220 --> 00:09:08,259
But you had the old school groups

323
00:09:08,260 --> 00:09:10,149
say, Barton Creek Association,

324
00:09:10,150 --> 00:09:11,515
the local group, or the Sierra Club

325
00:09:11,516 --> 00:09:12,129
...

326
00:09:12,130 --> 00:09:13,929
You had your city beautification

327
00:09:13,930 --> 00:09:15,009
advocates, right? Maybe not

328
00:09:15,010 --> 00:09:16,569
radicals, but, you know, more like

329
00:09:16,570 --> 00:09:18,129
Lady Bird Johnson types who wanted

330
00:09:18,130 --> 00:09:19,939
to preserve nature, improve

331
00:09:19,940 --> 00:09:21,459
parkland, stuff like that.

332
00:09:21,460 --> 00:09:23,478
A group, We Care Austin ...

333
00:09:23,479 --> 00:09:24,759
The Audubon Society.

334
00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:26,205
You know, like the bird people.

335
00:09:26,206 --> 00:09:27,849
... were all very active.

336
00:09:27,850 --> 00:09:29,409
And there were some of us young

337
00:09:29,410 --> 00:09:31,419
folks coming along to join

338
00:09:31,420 --> 00:09:33,609
with the folks who'd been leading

339
00:09:33,610 --> 00:09:35,559
some of these groups since the

340
00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:36,489
'70s.

341
00:09:36,490 --> 00:09:37,989
The point is, there were a lot of

342
00:09:37,990 --> 00:09:39,399
environmentalists, and they all

343
00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,259
started coming together over this

344
00:09:41,260 --> 00:09:42,309
one concern.

345
00:09:42,310 --> 00:09:44,109
They decided all these new houses

346
00:09:44,110 --> 00:09:45,789
and development in Southwest Austin

347
00:09:45,790 --> 00:09:47,919
were going to destroy Barton

348
00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:49,479
Springs.

349
00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,045
So why is that?

350
00:09:54,180 --> 00:09:55,349
It helps to think of this part of

351
00:09:55,350 --> 00:09:56,660
central Texas, west of Mopak,

352
00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,579
like a big sponge, okay?

353
00:09:59,580 --> 00:10:01,499
Basically, this is land that

354
00:10:01,500 --> 00:10:03,419
soaks up all the water.

355
00:10:03,420 --> 00:10:05,369
It soaks up the rainwater, soaks up

356
00:10:05,370 --> 00:10:07,379
creek water flowing over it, and

357
00:10:07,380 --> 00:10:09,449
it soaks it up into this big sponge

358
00:10:09,450 --> 00:10:11,339
underground, and then it pushes

359
00:10:11,340 --> 00:10:13,289
it back up, a lot of it, back

360
00:10:13,290 --> 00:10:15,959
up through Barton Springs.

361
00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:17,279
And so if there's some sort of

362
00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,319
pollution on the ground, it soaks

363
00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:20,849
into the earth, soaks into the

364
00:10:20,850 --> 00:10:23,309
sponge. This is called an aquifer,

365
00:10:23,310 --> 00:10:25,169
and that pollution likely ends up

366
00:10:25,170 --> 00:10:27,269
back in Barton Springs.

367
00:10:27,270 --> 00:10:29,039
So what does a big suburban

368
00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:30,719
subdivision have to do with that?

369
00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,219
Well, if you think of these

370
00:10:32,220 --> 00:10:34,079
developments, they can create a

371
00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:35,519
lot of pollution.

372
00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:36,539
There's all the runoff from, you

373
00:10:36,540 --> 00:10:38,399
know, businesses, toxic stuff, oil

374
00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:40,019
spills from gas station, runoff from

375
00:10:40,020 --> 00:10:42,359
parking lots, but also sewage,

376
00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,369
fertilizer runoff from lawns, all

377
00:10:44,370 --> 00:10:45,389
this stuff.

378
00:10:45,390 --> 00:10:47,279
Once it gets into the ground, it

379
00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,559
goes into that, that sponge

380
00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:51,389
and then it could come back up

381
00:10:51,390 --> 00:10:53,489
and poison the springs, like,

382
00:10:53,490 --> 00:10:55,049
like turn crystal clear Barton

383
00:10:55,050 --> 00:10:57,509
Springs into a swampy,

384
00:10:57,510 --> 00:10:58,700
fetid, un-swimmable

385
00:10:59,790 --> 00:11:00,790
dump.

386
00:11:04,570 --> 00:11:06,369
And that brings us back to June 7th,

387
00:11:06,370 --> 00:11:08,949
1990, and Jim Bob Moffett.

388
00:11:08,950 --> 00:11:09,939
The big dog.

389
00:11:09,940 --> 00:11:11,349
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

390
00:11:11,350 --> 00:11:12,789
I'm Jim Bob Moffitt.

391
00:11:12,790 --> 00:11:14,199
I'm the chairman and CEO of

392
00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,059
Freeport-McMoRan.

393
00:11:16,060 --> 00:11:17,589
I came onto this campus of the

394
00:11:17,590 --> 00:11:19,449
University of Texas

395
00:11:19,450 --> 00:11:22,089
in 1956 as a

396
00:11:22,090 --> 00:11:23,979
young boy from Houston ...

397
00:11:23,980 --> 00:11:25,929
So this guy owns a big mining

398
00:11:25,930 --> 00:11:28,119
company called Freeport-McMoRan.

399
00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:28,929
And what you have to understand

400
00:11:28,930 --> 00:11:30,789
about Jim Bob is he is a guy

401
00:11:30,790 --> 00:11:32,289
with a lot of fans in Austin, right?

402
00:11:32,290 --> 00:11:33,879
He's kind of a larger than life

403
00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:34,749
figure.

404
00:11:34,750 --> 00:11:35,889
He grew up poor.

405
00:11:35,890 --> 00:11:37,419
He played football at U.T.

406
00:11:37,420 --> 00:11:38,889
under coach Darrell Royal, the guy

407
00:11:38,890 --> 00:11:40,629
they named the stadium for.

408
00:11:40,630 --> 00:11:42,489
Then Jim Bob goes on to

409
00:11:42,490 --> 00:11:43,449
become an oil man.

410
00:11:43,450 --> 00:11:45,309
He ends up heading this huge

411
00:11:45,310 --> 00:11:46,989
mining company. Freeport-McMoRan

412
00:11:46,990 --> 00:11:48,489
controls the biggest gold mine in

413
00:11:48,490 --> 00:11:49,959
the world in Indonesia.

414
00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:51,769
And now he's found real estate gold

415
00:11:51,770 --> 00:11:52,869
to mine in Austin.

416
00:11:52,870 --> 00:11:54,459
All these people are moving here and

417
00:11:54,460 --> 00:11:56,229
they need places to live.

418
00:11:56,230 --> 00:11:58,209
So for a lot of people, Jim, Bob

419
00:11:58,210 --> 00:12:00,129
Moffitt is a Texas success

420
00:12:00,130 --> 00:12:02,139
story, a self-made man,

421
00:12:02,140 --> 00:12:03,789
an entrepreneur.

422
00:12:03,790 --> 00:12:05,619
But for other people, especially

423
00:12:05,620 --> 00:12:07,449
for environmentalists,

424
00:12:07,450 --> 00:12:08,499
it's kind of like a villain in a

425
00:12:08,500 --> 00:12:09,729
muppet movie.

426
00:12:09,730 --> 00:12:11,649
But we have done everything to

427
00:12:11,650 --> 00:12:13,539
ensure the safety of

428
00:12:13,540 --> 00:12:14,559
Barton Creek.

429
00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:16,719
And as a geologist, I will promise

430
00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,579
you I know more about Barton Creek

431
00:12:18,580 --> 00:12:19,612
than anybody in this room.

432
00:12:22,126 --> 00:12:22,193
Bullshit.

433
00:12:22,194 --> 00:12:22,479
Excuse me ...

434
00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:23,829
I mean, seriously, like

435
00:12:23,830 --> 00:12:24,830
Freeport-McMoRan's mines

436
00:12:26,140 --> 00:12:27,999
pollute rivers in Indonesia,

437
00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:29,829
destroy coastland, destroy

438
00:12:29,830 --> 00:12:30,459
forests.

439
00:12:30,460 --> 00:12:31,989
His company works with, and in some

440
00:12:31,990 --> 00:12:34,059
cases pays, Indonesian police

441
00:12:34,060 --> 00:12:35,649
and security, who brutally

442
00:12:35,650 --> 00:12:36,879
suppressed dissent.

443
00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:37,959
And so opponents of this

444
00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:39,999
development, they see this guy,

445
00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:41,829
and now he's coming into

446
00:12:41,830 --> 00:12:43,659
Austin. He's saying, "I'm going to

447
00:12:43,660 --> 00:12:45,339
build this huge subdivision right

448
00:12:45,340 --> 00:12:47,259
over this aquifer, the very

449
00:12:47,260 --> 00:12:49,029
place the environmentalists don't

450
00:12:49,030 --> 00:12:50,019
want me to build.

451
00:12:50,020 --> 00:12:51,609
That's where I'm headed." So now

452
00:12:51,610 --> 00:12:53,799
let's see how this works out.

453
00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,659
And I will also tell you that

454
00:12:55,660 --> 00:12:57,639
if any standards are shown by

455
00:12:57,640 --> 00:12:59,139
any future studies that are done by

456
00:12:59,140 --> 00:13:00,639
any environmental group, whether

457
00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,469
they are state, city

458
00:13:02,470 --> 00:13:04,359
or free enterprise, we

459
00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:05,799
will, we will adhere to those

460
00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,499
standards. We will categorically

461
00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:10,419
not pollute Barton Creek.

462
00:13:10,420 --> 00:13:11,420
Thank you. [clapping]

463
00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:17,719
Well, that was the largest

464
00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:19,489
development that had ever been

465
00:13:19,490 --> 00:13:21,469
proposed in Austin up

466
00:13:21,470 --> 00:13:22,699
to that point.

467
00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:24,229
Just for context, the Mueller

468
00:13:24,230 --> 00:13:25,759
development in North Austin is about

469
00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,529
700 acres.

470
00:13:27,530 --> 00:13:29,359
This development in Southwest Austin

471
00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,339
was going to be more than five times

472
00:13:31,340 --> 00:13:32,299
that size.

473
00:13:32,300 --> 00:13:34,339
So Bill Bunch and this coalition

474
00:13:34,340 --> 00:13:36,049
that he described, they zeroed in on

475
00:13:36,050 --> 00:13:37,879
this development. They fought it in

476
00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,159
public hearings and zoning meetings,

477
00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:42,019
and they did all this organizing to

478
00:13:42,020 --> 00:13:43,729
galvanize people against this

479
00:13:43,730 --> 00:13:45,649
specific project because

480
00:13:45,650 --> 00:13:47,569
this was the most visible and

481
00:13:47,570 --> 00:13:49,429
the biggest example of the

482
00:13:49,430 --> 00:13:50,629
development they opposed.

483
00:13:50,630 --> 00:13:52,669
And it got pretty dramatic.

484
00:13:52,670 --> 00:13:54,349
So in researching this story, I came

485
00:13:54,350 --> 00:13:55,729
across a cover of the Austin

486
00:13:55,730 --> 00:13:57,739
Chronicle from around this time,

487
00:13:57,740 --> 00:13:59,209
and there's a picture of Barton

488
00:13:59,210 --> 00:14:00,569
Springs pool on the cover.

489
00:14:00,570 --> 00:14:02,389
The pool's empty, no one's swimming

490
00:14:02,390 --> 00:14:04,039
in it, but there's this inflatable

491
00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:05,569
ball floating in the middle of the

492
00:14:05,570 --> 00:14:07,069
pool and it has a skull and

493
00:14:07,070 --> 00:14:08,749
crossbones on it.

494
00:14:08,750 --> 00:14:10,249
Then above this picture of the pool

495
00:14:10,250 --> 00:14:12,109
is this sort of, like, ransom

496
00:14:12,110 --> 00:14:12,949
letter writing.

497
00:14:12,950 --> 00:14:14,839
It says, if you don't read this

498
00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:16,819
issue, we will poison Barton

499
00:14:16,820 --> 00:14:17,569
Springs.

500
00:14:17,570 --> 00:14:19,099
I mean, the city's here because of

501
00:14:19,100 --> 00:14:20,599
the springs, quiete literally, we

502
00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,249
would not be talking sitting here

503
00:14:22,250 --> 00:14:23,629
without Barton Springs.

504
00:14:23,630 --> 00:14:26,149
So there's all this organizing,

505
00:14:26,150 --> 00:14:28,429
all this activism, and it all

506
00:14:28,430 --> 00:14:30,319
comes to a head at this one

507
00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:31,639
city council meeting.

508
00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:32,726
A word to Jim Bob Moffett: If

509
00:14:34,070 --> 00:14:35,989
this goes through, your name will go

510
00:14:35,990 --> 00:14:37,849
down in infamy, just like all

511
00:14:37,850 --> 00:14:39,619
the other three name serial killers

512
00:14:39,620 --> 00:14:40,620
Texas has ...

513
00:14:42,110 --> 00:14:44,209
It really is kind of, like, almost

514
00:14:44,210 --> 00:14:46,399
a social event as much as it was

515
00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:47,909
a political event.

516
00:14:47,910 --> 00:14:49,339
You know, everyone's just coming

517
00:14:49,340 --> 00:14:51,289
down to City Hall to yell at their

518
00:14:51,290 --> 00:14:52,079
council members.

519
00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:53,329
Oh, it was wild.

520
00:14:53,330 --> 00:14:55,399
The fire marshal had to limit

521
00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,289
access in and out to the council

522
00:14:57,290 --> 00:14:58,189
chambers.

523
00:14:58,190 --> 00:15:00,019
I'm being told that as now no more

524
00:15:00,020 --> 00:15:01,279
people can enter the council

525
00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:02,419
chambers because we're at our

526
00:15:02,420 --> 00:15:03,809
maximum capacity under the park

527
00:15:03,810 --> 00:15:05,479
codes of the city of Austin.

528
00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:07,429
So a few hundred in there and

529
00:15:07,430 --> 00:15:09,679
hundreds more out on the sidewalk

530
00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:11,044
and, you know, banging drums.

531
00:15:11,045 --> 00:15:12,045
[drums]

532
00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:14,529
It was huge.

533
00:15:14,530 --> 00:15:16,569
And, you know, people were excited

534
00:15:16,570 --> 00:15:18,939
because just seeing that,

535
00:15:18,940 --> 00:15:21,069
that so many people cared about

536
00:15:21,070 --> 00:15:23,079
the springs and were willing to come

537
00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:24,579
up and speak up.

538
00:15:24,580 --> 00:15:26,379
This is a critical, environmentally

539
00:15:26,380 --> 00:15:27,399
sensitive area.

540
00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,259
The golf courses alone would attract

541
00:15:29,260 --> 00:15:30,609
several times the residential

542
00:15:30,610 --> 00:15:32,499
development, as is included in the

543
00:15:32,500 --> 00:15:34,059
initial 4000 acres.

544
00:15:34,060 --> 00:15:35,589
Remember, this was a time before

545
00:15:35,590 --> 00:15:36,459
social media.

546
00:15:36,460 --> 00:15:38,319
No Facebook, no Twitter,

547
00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,059
no Instagram.

548
00:15:40,060 --> 00:15:41,889
And local radio stations, including

549
00:15:41,890 --> 00:15:43,989
KUT, actually aired these meetings

550
00:15:43,990 --> 00:15:45,879
live. You could get in your car,

551
00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:47,709
turn on your radio and hear

552
00:15:47,710 --> 00:15:49,509
a city council meeting going on.

553
00:15:49,510 --> 00:15:50,889
Then decide, "Hey, I'm going to go

554
00:15:50,890 --> 00:15:52,299
downtown and tell them what I

555
00:15:52,300 --> 00:15:52,869
think."

556
00:15:52,870 --> 00:15:54,519
My name is Kevin Connor.

557
00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:56,919
I live with 1711 Moly, and

558
00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:57,879
I work at K98.

559
00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,019
I have a morning radio show.

560
00:15:59,020 --> 00:16:00,849
I'm usually up at this hour.

561
00:16:00,850 --> 00:16:02,979
And when I woke up this morning

562
00:16:02,980 --> 00:16:03,980
to KUT, uh ...

563
00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:07,620
[laughter] Don't tell anybody.

564
00:16:08,930 --> 00:16:09,949
[applause] I couldn't believe that

565
00:16:09,950 --> 00:16:10,950
this was still going on, I-

566
00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:14,129
Welcomed to Austin

567
00:16:14,130 --> 00:16:14,131
Pardon?

568
00:16:14,132 --> 00:16:15,469
Welcome to Austin.

569
00:16:15,470 --> 00:16:15,674
Yeah, well ...

570
00:16:15,675 --> 00:16:16,789
Right, or you tell your buddy like,

571
00:16:16,790 --> 00:16:18,709
"Hey, you know, put on KUT.

572
00:16:18,710 --> 00:16:19,879
You're going to hear me in, like, an

573
00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:21,169
hour. I'm going to be screaming at

574
00:16:21,170 --> 00:16:21,769
the mayor."

575
00:16:21,770 --> 00:16:23,269
This is the most beautiful

576
00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:26,299
pool I've ever seen, ever in

577
00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:27,949
my life. And it would be a fucking

578
00:16:27,950 --> 00:16:30,439
shame to ruin it with

579
00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:31,278
pesticides.

580
00:16:31,279 --> 00:16:31,849
[laughter]

581
00:16:31,850 --> 00:16:33,169
Excuse me, that kind of comment is

582
00:16:33,170 --> 00:16:34,159
out of order, sir.

583
00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:35,629
Thank you, sir.

584
00:16:35,630 --> 00:16:36,979
So it's this huge grassroots

585
00:16:36,980 --> 00:16:38,209
uprising. And mind you, this is a

586
00:16:38,210 --> 00:16:39,439
zoning case, right?

587
00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,389
But it's not like any other zoning

588
00:16:41,390 --> 00:16:41,899
case.

589
00:16:41,900 --> 00:16:43,909
Hundreds of people showed up to talk

590
00:16:43,910 --> 00:16:45,379
against this one development.

591
00:16:45,380 --> 00:16:47,449
And Bunch says he was not sure

592
00:16:47,450 --> 00:16:48,867
how the vote was going to go.

593
00:16:48,868 --> 00:16:51,019
We knew we had two votes, and maybe

594
00:16:51,020 --> 00:16:52,159
three.

595
00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,109
There was a seven vote council.

596
00:16:54,110 --> 00:16:55,669
The other side had four or five

597
00:16:55,670 --> 00:16:56,690
votes going in.

598
00:16:59,340 --> 00:17:00,469
[applause] We have a substitute
motion

599
00:17:00,470 --> 00:17:01,189
on the floor, any other ...

600
00:17:01,190 --> 00:17:03,349
And so now it's around six

601
00:17:03,350 --> 00:17:04,219
in the morning.

602
00:17:04,220 --> 00:17:05,419
They've been going on for more than

603
00:17:05,420 --> 00:17:07,969
12 hours straight, and the council

604
00:17:07,970 --> 00:17:09,828
is finally ready to vote.

605
00:17:09,829 --> 00:17:12,229
A yes vote kills the development.

606
00:17:12,230 --> 00:17:14,299
A no vote keeps it alive.

607
00:17:15,650 --> 00:17:16,827
Council member [inaudible]?

608
00:17:16,828 --> 00:17:17,828
Yes.

609
00:17:17,900 --> 00:17:19,054
Council Member [inaudible]?

610
00:17:19,055 --> 00:17:20,055
Yes.

611
00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:21,709
Mayor Cook? Yes.

612
00:17:21,710 --> 00:17:22,710
Mayor Pro Tem Shipman? Yes.

613
00:17:23,810 --> 00:17:25,068
Councilman [inaudible]?

614
00:17:25,069 --> 00:17:26,069
Yes.

615
00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:27,949
Council Member Carl Mitchell?

616
00:17:27,950 --> 00:17:29,629
Yes. This closes the hearing too.

617
00:17:29,630 --> 00:17:30,859
Council Member Humphrey?

618
00:17:30,860 --> 00:17:31,860
Yes. [applause]

619
00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:38,059
They won.

620
00:17:38,060 --> 00:17:40,249
The hippies beat the big dog.

621
00:17:40,250 --> 00:17:41,959
All these environmentalists went up

622
00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:43,819
against this wealthy developer,

623
00:17:43,820 --> 00:17:45,289
and they got the council members to

624
00:17:45,290 --> 00:17:46,999
vote against the development.

625
00:18:03,339 --> 00:18:03,342
[applause]

626
00:18:03,343 --> 00:18:05,589
But this is just one development,

627
00:18:05,590 --> 00:18:06,609
right?

628
00:18:06,610 --> 00:18:07,819
And so the second you win this, you

629
00:18:07,820 --> 00:18:08,799
got to start wondering, "Wait a

630
00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,419
second, people can just build

631
00:18:10,420 --> 00:18:12,369
somewhere else in this area.

632
00:18:12,370 --> 00:18:14,079
There are a bunch of other projects

633
00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,599
already on the books being planned."

634
00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,399
So what are they going to do about

635
00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:19,400
that?

636
00:18:20,620 --> 00:18:21,970
More after the break.

637
00:18:32,156 --> 00:18:33,156
[applause]

638
00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:35,109
The night that environmentalist shut

639
00:18:35,110 --> 00:18:36,399
down Jim Bob Moffet's big

640
00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:37,659
development became known in

641
00:18:37,660 --> 00:18:39,339
environmental circles as the Barton

642
00:18:39,340 --> 00:18:41,049
Springs Uprising.

643
00:18:41,050 --> 00:18:42,909
The time when Austin banded together

644
00:18:42,910 --> 00:18:45,729
to tell developers Enough is enough.

645
00:18:45,730 --> 00:18:46,749
It put the brakes on one of the

646
00:18:46,750 --> 00:18:48,489
biggest subdivisions in city

647
00:18:48,490 --> 00:18:49,490
history.

648
00:18:51,590 --> 00:18:51,642
[applause]

649
00:18:51,643 --> 00:18:53,689
It also ushered in a new political

650
00:18:53,690 --> 00:18:54,919
reality in Austin.

651
00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:55,969
The environmental movement had been

652
00:18:55,970 --> 00:18:57,319
growing for a while, but now it had

653
00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,179
flexed its muscles, and it had

654
00:18:59,180 --> 00:19:01,099
won. It was empowered,

655
00:19:01,100 --> 00:19:02,179
it was organized.

656
00:19:02,180 --> 00:19:03,739
It was not going away.

657
00:19:03,740 --> 00:19:05,479
And watching it all unfold was this

658
00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:07,549
26 year old intern with the city's

659
00:19:07,550 --> 00:19:08,809
water department.

660
00:19:08,810 --> 00:19:10,669
I was this super young,

661
00:19:10,670 --> 00:19:12,769
green whippersnapper in 1990

662
00:19:12,770 --> 00:19:13,819
when I joined the city.

663
00:19:13,820 --> 00:19:14,839
This is Matt Holland.

664
00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:16,339
He was just starting off as a city

665
00:19:16,340 --> 00:19:17,969
staffer working on water quality

666
00:19:17,970 --> 00:19:19,489
when all this went down.

667
00:19:19,490 --> 00:19:21,469
I mean, imagine you're this

668
00:19:21,470 --> 00:19:23,329
wonky, watershed protection

669
00:19:23,330 --> 00:19:24,589
scientist.

670
00:19:24,590 --> 00:19:25,939
You probably don't expect your job

671
00:19:25,940 --> 00:19:27,529
is going to be, like, the talk of

672
00:19:27,530 --> 00:19:28,639
the town.

673
00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:30,439
And suddenly it was.

674
00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,659
And so I was definitely

675
00:19:32,660 --> 00:19:34,549
all in because I was so excited

676
00:19:34,550 --> 00:19:36,379
about my new profession and lapping

677
00:19:36,380 --> 00:19:37,309
it up. And there was, you know, the

678
00:19:37,310 --> 00:19:39,349
media, the conversations

679
00:19:39,350 --> 00:19:40,429
within the city.

680
00:19:40,430 --> 00:19:41,516
Not just wonky people, but, you

681
00:19:41,517 --> 00:19:43,339
know, average people were really,

682
00:19:43,340 --> 00:19:45,709
really engaged in the conversation.

683
00:19:45,710 --> 00:19:47,179
So the overnight city council

684
00:19:47,180 --> 00:19:49,309
meeting was the longest in a decade.

685
00:19:49,310 --> 00:19:50,869
No doubt an indication of what

686
00:19:50,870 --> 00:19:52,609
environmentalists are calling the

687
00:19:52,610 --> 00:19:54,319
hottest environmental issue in

688
00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,269
Austin. Or as one called this

689
00:19:56,270 --> 00:19:58,189
area: the last vestige of

690
00:19:58,190 --> 00:20:00,140
a natural environment in our city.

691
00:20:02,230 --> 00:20:03,249
So in the months following that

692
00:20:03,250 --> 00:20:04,419
night, City Council called a

693
00:20:04,420 --> 00:20:06,339
temporary moratorium on development

694
00:20:06,340 --> 00:20:08,169
over the Barton Springs watershed.

695
00:20:08,170 --> 00:20:09,939
In other words, no one can build

696
00:20:09,940 --> 00:20:10,809
here.

697
00:20:10,810 --> 00:20:12,609
It also put in place temporary water

698
00:20:12,610 --> 00:20:14,409
quality rules and told city staff to

699
00:20:14,410 --> 00:20:16,059
come up with a long term plan to

700
00:20:16,060 --> 00:20:17,589
restrict development.

701
00:20:17,590 --> 00:20:19,059
This is what environmentalists were

702
00:20:19,060 --> 00:20:20,949
demanding: permanent rules

703
00:20:20,950 --> 00:20:22,419
to protect the springs.

704
00:20:22,420 --> 00:20:24,189
But if they thought that this was

705
00:20:24,190 --> 00:20:26,139
the end of the story, they

706
00:20:26,140 --> 00:20:28,029
were wrong. Jim, Bob Moffitt

707
00:20:28,030 --> 00:20:29,919
and Freeport-McMoRan had been caught

708
00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:31,929
off guard the night of the Barton

709
00:20:31,930 --> 00:20:33,819
Springs Uprising, but now they

710
00:20:33,820 --> 00:20:34,989
were going to start showing City

711
00:20:34,990 --> 00:20:37,509
Hall that there was another side

712
00:20:37,510 --> 00:20:38,889
to this story. Developers,

713
00:20:38,890 --> 00:20:40,719
landowners, business interests

714
00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,609
opposed to this plan

715
00:20:42,610 --> 00:20:44,650
also started organizing.

716
00:20:49,010 --> 00:20:50,149
How many more companies will want to

717
00:20:50,150 --> 00:20:52,219
locate quality jobs to a city

718
00:20:52,220 --> 00:20:53,689
where environmental radicals dictate

719
00:20:53,690 --> 00:20:55,099
city policy and the rules are always

720
00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:55,223
changing?

721
00:20:55,224 --> 00:20:57,169
And when city staff proposes

722
00:20:57,170 --> 00:20:58,789
making development restrictions

723
00:20:58,790 --> 00:21:00,769
permanent, they started

724
00:21:00,770 --> 00:21:01,729
speaking up.

725
00:21:01,730 --> 00:21:03,169
This is from a council meeting in

726
00:21:03,170 --> 00:21:04,309
1991.

727
00:21:04,310 --> 00:21:06,709
When I read the proposed amendments

728
00:21:06,710 --> 00:21:07,710
to this ordinance,

729
00:21:08,750 --> 00:21:09,750
ludicrous, outrageous,

730
00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:12,600
ridiculous, off

731
00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:16,249
the wall, and out of bounds

732
00:21:16,250 --> 00:21:17,629
came into my mind.

733
00:21:17,630 --> 00:21:18,949
People who owned land over the

734
00:21:18,950 --> 00:21:20,569
watershed zone started to show up to

735
00:21:20,570 --> 00:21:21,949
complain about how the new rules

736
00:21:21,950 --> 00:21:23,269
could threaten their family's

737
00:21:23,270 --> 00:21:25,399
livelihood, hurt their financial

738
00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,799
future, basically by limiting

739
00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:29,269
their ability to sell or develop

740
00:21:29,270 --> 00:21:30,379
their property.

741
00:21:30,380 --> 00:21:32,389
My message is simple.

742
00:21:32,390 --> 00:21:34,669
Do not pass these amendments

743
00:21:34,670 --> 00:21:36,379
to the Comprehensive Watershed

744
00:21:36,380 --> 00:21:37,579
Ordinance.

745
00:21:37,580 --> 00:21:40,429
You must say no to this insidious,

746
00:21:40,430 --> 00:21:42,589
thinly veiled no growth

747
00:21:42,590 --> 00:21:43,309
ordinance.

748
00:21:43,310 --> 00:21:44,989
Notice how he called it a no growth

749
00:21:44,990 --> 00:21:45,859
ordinance.

750
00:21:45,860 --> 00:21:46,789
You're going to start hearing more

751
00:21:46,790 --> 00:21:47,689
and more of that.

752
00:21:47,690 --> 00:21:49,519
You first put regulations

753
00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,409
on in 1981.

754
00:21:51,410 --> 00:21:52,969
Again in '84.

755
00:21:52,970 --> 00:21:54,769
Again in '86.

756
00:21:54,770 --> 00:21:56,599
And every time something happens at

757
00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:58,429
Barton Springs, you come

758
00:21:58,430 --> 00:22:00,289
back to punish that same

759
00:22:00,290 --> 00:22:02,509
small percentage of property owners.

760
00:22:02,510 --> 00:22:03,859
That last voice you heard is a man

761
00:22:03,860 --> 00:22:05,089
named Gary Bradley.

762
00:22:05,090 --> 00:22:06,679
He was a big developer in his own

763
00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:07,639
right. He actually started the

764
00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:09,709
Circle C Ranch development.

765
00:22:09,710 --> 00:22:11,389
Anyway, he was Jim Bob Moffitt's

766
00:22:11,390 --> 00:22:12,739
partner, and he became, like, this

767
00:22:12,740 --> 00:22:14,449
public face of opposition to

768
00:22:14,450 --> 00:22:16,099
environmental protections in this

769
00:22:16,100 --> 00:22:16,999
part of town.

770
00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:18,859
Every cause has to have a villain.

771
00:22:18,860 --> 00:22:20,299
And Jim, Bob Moffitt and Gary

772
00:22:20,300 --> 00:22:22,279
Bradley were like poster child.

773
00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:23,599
We talked to Bradley earlier this

774
00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,279
year. He refers to himself the third

775
00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,199
person here. He says he knew he

776
00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,419
was fighting an uphill battle.

777
00:22:29,420 --> 00:22:31,729
From 1989

778
00:22:31,730 --> 00:22:33,979
on, you know, the environmental

779
00:22:33,980 --> 00:22:35,929
coalitions ran city hall.

780
00:22:35,930 --> 00:22:37,969
They elected the people and nobody

781
00:22:37,970 --> 00:22:39,769
was going to go against them.

782
00:22:39,770 --> 00:22:41,689
But it wasn't quite that simple.

783
00:22:41,690 --> 00:22:43,609
Imagine you're a city politician.

784
00:22:43,610 --> 00:22:45,649
By 1991, you have a highly

785
00:22:45,650 --> 00:22:47,539
engaged environmental coalition on

786
00:22:47,540 --> 00:22:48,349
one side ...

787
00:22:48,350 --> 00:22:50,149
And they want to build and destroy

788
00:22:50,150 --> 00:22:51,739
one of the most beautiful places in

789
00:22:51,740 --> 00:22:52,608
the world.

790
00:22:52,609 --> 00:22:54,019
... And a lot of business interests

791
00:22:54,020 --> 00:22:55,789
and angry landowners in the other.

792
00:22:55,790 --> 00:22:56,989
You're going to cause my property

793
00:22:56,990 --> 00:22:58,219
values to drop to zero.

794
00:22:58,220 --> 00:22:59,419
So what do you do?

795
00:22:59,420 --> 00:23:01,309
This is Austin, so you start looking

796
00:23:01,310 --> 00:23:03,170
for some kind of compromise, right?

797
00:23:07,270 --> 00:23:09,039
The council played for time.

798
00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:10,629
It delayed adopting these new

799
00:23:10,630 --> 00:23:11,679
development rules and then it

800
00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:13,659
proposed a different set

801
00:23:13,660 --> 00:23:15,129
of development restrictions.

802
00:23:15,130 --> 00:23:16,839
These were rules friendlier to

803
00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,119
builders, and you can guess

804
00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:21,250
how the environmentalists took that.

805
00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:25,382
[drums]

806
00:23:25,383 --> 00:23:26,439
They were outraged.

807
00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:27,549
As far as they were concerned, the

808
00:23:27,550 --> 00:23:29,949
people had spoken loud and clear.

809
00:23:29,950 --> 00:23:32,649
Stop building over the aquifer.

810
00:23:32,650 --> 00:23:34,749
To see their goals watered down was

811
00:23:34,750 --> 00:23:36,129
unacceptable.

812
00:23:36,130 --> 00:23:38,169
You know, we've been having meetings

813
00:23:38,170 --> 00:23:40,029
with a variety of

814
00:23:40,030 --> 00:23:42,099
environmental leaders for

815
00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:43,959
months and decided

816
00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,119
that we needed to form a coalition.

817
00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:47,919
This is Brigid Shea, the woman who

818
00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:49,539
led that coalition.

819
00:23:50,980 --> 00:23:51,172
Save our springs!!! [screaming]

820
00:23:51,173 --> 00:23:53,139
They called it the Save Our

821
00:23:53,140 --> 00:23:54,170
Springs Coalition.

822
00:23:55,270 --> 00:23:56,270
S.O.S. for short.

823
00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:59,259
We needed to pursue

824
00:23:59,260 --> 00:24:01,179
some kind of action to protect

825
00:24:01,180 --> 00:24:02,199
Barton Springs, because it seemed

826
00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:03,459
pretty clear that the council wasn't

827
00:24:03,460 --> 00:24:04,460
going to do it.

828
00:24:06,830 --> 00:24:08,749
So they hit the streets, started

829
00:24:08,750 --> 00:24:11,029
circulating a petition to change

830
00:24:11,030 --> 00:24:13,069
city development rules at the ballot

831
00:24:13,070 --> 00:24:15,109
box. Basically, they created

832
00:24:15,110 --> 00:24:17,149
a petition to take the stricter

833
00:24:17,150 --> 00:24:19,339
development rules and enshrine them

834
00:24:19,340 --> 00:24:21,319
into city code through a popular

835
00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:22,368
vote ...

836
00:24:22,369 --> 00:24:23,359
... forced the city to put strict

837
00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:25,219
caps on development in the southwest

838
00:24:25,220 --> 00:24:26,089
of town.

839
00:24:26,090 --> 00:24:27,439
But what were the rules that S.O.S.

840
00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,389
was proposing actually do?

841
00:24:29,390 --> 00:24:30,859
So there's this thing called

842
00:24:30,860 --> 00:24:32,249
impervious cover.

843
00:24:32,250 --> 00:24:33,049
Impervious cover.

844
00:24:33,050 --> 00:24:33,989
Impervious cover.

845
00:24:33,990 --> 00:24:34,939
Impervious cover.

846
00:24:34,940 --> 00:24:35,940
Impervious cover. Impervious cover.

847
00:24:36,890 --> 00:24:38,449
Impervious cover is anything on a

848
00:24:38,450 --> 00:24:40,339
piece of land that stops

849
00:24:40,340 --> 00:24:42,499
water from being absorbed into

850
00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:43,309
the earth.

851
00:24:43,310 --> 00:24:44,346
So we're talking concrete, asphalt.

852
00:24:45,710 --> 00:24:47,239
Think about your driveway, the

853
00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:49,339
foundation of your house.

854
00:24:49,340 --> 00:24:51,529
All of that is impervious cover.

855
00:24:51,530 --> 00:24:52,609
And we kind of explained this

856
00:24:52,610 --> 00:24:53,839
earlier, talking about this big

857
00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,759
sponge, this this watershed

858
00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:57,499
that is the ground around this part

859
00:24:57,500 --> 00:24:58,519
of the city.

860
00:24:58,520 --> 00:24:59,749
They don't want that pollution

861
00:24:59,750 --> 00:25:01,669
running off the impervious cover

862
00:25:01,670 --> 00:25:03,529
and getting into the sponge

863
00:25:03,530 --> 00:25:05,479
because then it's going to make

864
00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:07,069
all the water really polluted and

865
00:25:07,070 --> 00:25:08,659
then come right back up in the

866
00:25:08,660 --> 00:25:09,259
springs.

867
00:25:09,260 --> 00:25:10,311
I don't know how wonky you want me

868
00:25:10,312 --> 00:25:11,989
to get, I'm a relatively wonky

869
00:25:11,990 --> 00:25:12,559
person.

870
00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:13,699
You remember Matt Holland? He was

871
00:25:13,700 --> 00:25:15,109
the guy that worked for the city.

872
00:25:15,110 --> 00:25:16,189
Looking at this stuff as basically

873
00:25:16,190 --> 00:25:16,699
his job.

874
00:25:16,700 --> 00:25:18,709
Phosphorus and nitrogen just can't

875
00:25:18,710 --> 00:25:20,149
get very high in the water, or it

876
00:25:20,150 --> 00:25:22,429
just goes wild with algae,

877
00:25:22,430 --> 00:25:24,319
which isn't just a nuisance,

878
00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,209
but actually can really kill the

879
00:25:26,210 --> 00:25:28,189
aquatic life in the in the system.

880
00:25:28,190 --> 00:25:29,509
Throughout most of Austin, the

881
00:25:29,510 --> 00:25:31,279
impervious cover limit, and they do

882
00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,529
this with percentages, is about half

883
00:25:33,530 --> 00:25:35,089
of a piece of land.

884
00:25:35,090 --> 00:25:36,499
So take the lot that your house is

885
00:25:36,500 --> 00:25:38,119
on and half of that can be the

886
00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:40,099
foundation, the driveway,

887
00:25:40,100 --> 00:25:42,319
maybe a shed in your backyard.

888
00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:43,699
And they're saying in this part of

889
00:25:43,700 --> 00:25:45,709
town, in Southwest Austin,

890
00:25:45,710 --> 00:25:47,059
near the watershed, we're going to

891
00:25:47,060 --> 00:25:49,069
limit that to 15 to

892
00:25:49,070 --> 00:25:51,199
25% of a piece of land,

893
00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:52,609
really ratchet down the amount of

894
00:25:52,610 --> 00:25:54,739
land that can be impervious cover.

895
00:25:54,740 --> 00:25:56,749
So you're just looking at 15%

896
00:25:56,750 --> 00:25:58,579
or 20 or 25 on the

897
00:25:58,580 --> 00:26:00,649
developable uplands area alone.

898
00:26:00,650 --> 00:26:02,209
So that actually makes it even a

899
00:26:02,210 --> 00:26:03,379
smaller footprint on certain

900
00:26:03,380 --> 00:26:04,219
properties.

901
00:26:04,220 --> 00:26:06,229
So imagine you have a 5000 square

902
00:26:06,230 --> 00:26:07,789
foot piece of land in this part of

903
00:26:07,790 --> 00:26:08,719
Austin.

904
00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:10,939
15% of that could be impervious

905
00:26:10,940 --> 00:26:12,769
cover. So foundation,

906
00:26:12,770 --> 00:26:13,770
driveway. 15%

907
00:26:14,990 --> 00:26:16,369
of 5000.

908
00:26:16,370 --> 00:26:18,379
That's 750 square

909
00:26:18,380 --> 00:26:19,189
feet.

910
00:26:19,190 --> 00:26:20,269
So that's like a one bedroom

911
00:26:20,270 --> 00:26:22,129
apartment or a big garage,

912
00:26:22,130 --> 00:26:23,569
but not both.

913
00:26:23,570 --> 00:26:24,649
What developer would even want to

914
00:26:24,650 --> 00:26:26,389
mess around and build on that land?

915
00:26:26,390 --> 00:26:27,919
So that's what this ordinance does.

916
00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:29,689
It it protects the springs by

917
00:26:29,690 --> 00:26:31,250
blocking development.

918
00:26:34,020 --> 00:26:35,609
This is the petition S.O.S.

919
00:26:35,610 --> 00:26:36,719
is asking people to sign.

920
00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:38,729
They need about 20,000 signatures

921
00:26:38,730 --> 00:26:40,139
to get it on the ballot.

922
00:26:40,140 --> 00:26:41,459
They set up their booths.

923
00:26:41,460 --> 00:26:42,239
They talked to people on the

924
00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:43,409
sidewalks, and they're showing them

925
00:26:43,410 --> 00:26:44,969
this ordinance saying impervious

926
00:26:44,970 --> 00:26:46,169
cover, impervious cover.

927
00:26:46,170 --> 00:26:47,249
We need to do something about

928
00:26:47,250 --> 00:26:49,349
impervious cover over the watershed.

929
00:26:49,350 --> 00:26:51,479
And at the time, this is a really

930
00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:52,529
popular idea.

931
00:26:52,530 --> 00:26:54,359
It was hard to find people

932
00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:56,069
that were against saving the

933
00:26:56,070 --> 00:26:57,389
springs.

934
00:26:57,390 --> 00:26:59,699
So needless to say, they did it.

935
00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:01,319
They got more than 20,000

936
00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,119
signatures, and they got this thing

937
00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:04,829
on a citywide ballot.

938
00:27:04,830 --> 00:27:07,139
Here's Brigid Shea back in 1992.

939
00:27:07,140 --> 00:27:08,819
Today I'm announcing that the S.O.S.

940
00:27:08,820 --> 00:27:10,889
Coalition has completed its drive

941
00:27:10,890 --> 00:27:12,629
to put an ordinance on the May 2nd

942
00:27:12,630 --> 00:27:15,029
ballot to save Barton Springs,

943
00:27:15,030 --> 00:27:16,859
the creek and the aquifer ...

944
00:27:16,860 --> 00:27:17,999
And suddenly, what would've been a

945
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:19,499
battle fought basically through

946
00:27:19,500 --> 00:27:21,479
lobbying local politicians,

947
00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,129
shouting at zoning hearings, council

948
00:27:23,130 --> 00:27:25,499
meetings. It became like a citywide

949
00:27:25,500 --> 00:27:27,659
exercise in direct democracy.

950
00:27:27,660 --> 00:27:29,579
A battle for the hearts and minds

951
00:27:29,580 --> 00:27:31,588
of every voter in Austin.

952
00:27:31,589 --> 00:27:33,059
... So we believe in this case, the

953
00:27:33,060 --> 00:27:34,889
citizens will not be fooled by

954
00:27:34,890 --> 00:27:36,509
money, and we hope that they

955
00:27:36,510 --> 00:27:38,819
understand what's at stake

956
00:27:38,820 --> 00:27:40,019
and that it's something that money

957
00:27:40,020 --> 00:27:41,489
can't buy.

958
00:27:41,490 --> 00:27:43,349
So this sets up this big battle.

959
00:27:43,350 --> 00:27:44,369
On one side, you have these

960
00:27:44,370 --> 00:27:45,149
environmentalists.

961
00:27:45,150 --> 00:27:47,039
They're often West Austin

962
00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:48,159
environmental types.

963
00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:49,559
They've made common cause with the

964
00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:51,089
Hispanic groups in East Austin.

965
00:27:51,090 --> 00:27:52,439
People have been fighting for

966
00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:53,819
environmental justice in their

967
00:27:53,820 --> 00:27:55,379
communities, where they typically

968
00:27:55,380 --> 00:27:56,609
have a lot of heavy industry and a

969
00:27:56,610 --> 00:27:58,289
lot of pollution in these low income

970
00:27:58,290 --> 00:27:58,919
neighborhoods.

971
00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:00,179
And on the other side, the anti

972
00:28:00,180 --> 00:28:01,169
S.O.S.

973
00:28:01,170 --> 00:28:02,699
side, you had your Chamber of

974
00:28:02,700 --> 00:28:04,649
Commerce people, your real estate

975
00:28:04,650 --> 00:28:06,299
council, you know, developers,

976
00:28:06,300 --> 00:28:07,709
business types.

977
00:28:07,710 --> 00:28:08,939
And they start recruiting others.

978
00:28:08,940 --> 00:28:10,709
Landowners, people who we heard from

979
00:28:10,710 --> 00:28:12,659
earlier that are worried about what

980
00:28:12,660 --> 00:28:14,519
these restrictions would do

981
00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:15,520
to their land.

982
00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:19,669
And the developers also had one

983
00:28:19,670 --> 00:28:21,739
more powerful ally, City

984
00:28:21,740 --> 00:28:23,479
Council. The majority of City

985
00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:24,769
Council at this time it was

986
00:28:24,770 --> 00:28:26,029
pro-development. They actually ended

987
00:28:26,030 --> 00:28:28,399
up putting their own, more developer

988
00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:30,739
friendly proposition on the ballot.

989
00:28:30,740 --> 00:28:32,509
So they really don't want this

990
00:28:32,510 --> 00:28:34,249
S.O.S. ordinance to pass.

991
00:28:34,250 --> 00:28:35,479
When the City Council realized

992
00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:37,249
S.O.S. had the signatures, they

993
00:28:37,250 --> 00:28:38,749
decided we're going to push the

994
00:28:38,750 --> 00:28:39,949
election back.

995
00:28:39,950 --> 00:28:41,359
So basically, pushing the vote back

996
00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,549
accomplishes three things.

997
00:28:43,550 --> 00:28:46,459
One, there was an expectation

998
00:28:46,460 --> 00:28:48,349
that whatever new rule was approved,

999
00:28:48,350 --> 00:28:49,879
it wouldn't be retroactive.

1000
00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:51,829
So the more time developers had to

1001
00:28:51,830 --> 00:28:53,179
file building plans with the city,

1002
00:28:53,180 --> 00:28:55,248
the better.

1003
00:28:55,249 --> 00:28:56,209
Though, A, even if S.O.S. wins,

1004
00:28:56,210 --> 00:28:57,559
there's still a bunch of land that

1005
00:28:57,560 --> 00:28:59,209
developers can work with under the

1006
00:28:59,210 --> 00:29:00,889
older, looser rules.

1007
00:29:00,890 --> 00:29:02,119
Here's Gary Bradley.

1008
00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:03,349
You know, they gave me a hurdle they

1009
00:29:03,350 --> 00:29:04,459
didn't think I could get over.

1010
00:29:04,460 --> 00:29:05,749
They said, "Okay, you got to file

1011
00:29:05,750 --> 00:29:07,249
your plans within a certain period

1012
00:29:07,250 --> 00:29:08,329
of time or you're going to fall

1013
00:29:08,330 --> 00:29:10,010
under the S.O.S. ordinances." Right?

1014
00:29:10,011 --> 00:29:11,839
Well, $4 million

1015
00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:13,369
later, with engineering firms going

1016
00:29:13,370 --> 00:29:15,259
24/7, we filed them

1017
00:29:15,260 --> 00:29:16,669
all on time.

1018
00:29:16,670 --> 00:29:18,379
Delaying the vote would also push it

1019
00:29:18,380 --> 00:29:19,639
back into August.

1020
00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:20,839
That would mean that U.T.

1021
00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:22,879
students are on summer break.

1022
00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:23,989
Student voters were typically

1023
00:29:23,990 --> 00:29:25,399
supportive of S.O.S..

1024
00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:26,899
If you move the election to August,

1025
00:29:26,900 --> 00:29:29,209
a lot of those voters are suddenly

1026
00:29:29,210 --> 00:29:30,049
out of town.

1027
00:29:30,050 --> 00:29:32,239
Also, good for the developers.

1028
00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:33,709
Then finally, pushing back the

1029
00:29:33,710 --> 00:29:35,149
election just gives the pro

1030
00:29:35,150 --> 00:29:36,469
developer side more time to

1031
00:29:36,470 --> 00:29:37,579
organize.

1032
00:29:37,580 --> 00:29:39,079
They knew they had a late start in

1033
00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:40,069
fighting this thing.

1034
00:29:40,070 --> 00:29:41,929
If they wanted to flood TV and radio

1035
00:29:41,930 --> 00:29:43,789
with ads, lean on different

1036
00:29:43,790 --> 00:29:45,679
voting blocks, maybe chip away at

1037
00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:46,699
the lead S.O.S.

1038
00:29:46,700 --> 00:29:48,799
seem to have, they needed time

1039
00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:50,179
and they needed the city council to

1040
00:29:50,180 --> 00:29:51,709
postpone the election.

1041
00:29:51,710 --> 00:29:53,009
And that's that's what they did.

1042
00:29:53,010 --> 00:29:54,499
Basically, a bunch of city council

1043
00:29:54,500 --> 00:29:56,689
members just stopped showing up

1044
00:29:56,690 --> 00:29:58,249
to council meetings.

1045
00:29:58,250 --> 00:29:59,359
[laughter] There were court orders

1046
00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:01,009
telling them that they had to go.

1047
00:30:01,010 --> 00:30:01,999
They didn't go.

1048
00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:03,379
And then when they finally did show

1049
00:30:03,380 --> 00:30:05,449
up, they abstained from voting.

1050
00:30:05,450 --> 00:30:07,429
It got really nasty.

1051
00:30:07,430 --> 00:30:08,914
Tempers on the Austin City Council

1052
00:30:08,915 --> 00:30:10,939
flared when they were taken

1053
00:30:10,940 --> 00:30:12,619
to court this spring.

1054
00:30:12,620 --> 00:30:14,359
Four members of the council defied a

1055
00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:15,289
court order.

1056
00:30:15,290 --> 00:30:17,149
And the divisiveness reached a fever

1057
00:30:17,150 --> 00:30:18,049
pitch.

1058
00:30:18,050 --> 00:30:19,295
I was born and raised here.

1059
00:30:19,296 --> 00:30:21,439
And, in fact, my first relative

1060
00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,709
was here in 1839.

1061
00:30:24,710 --> 00:30:25,999
This is Ronnie Reynolds, one of the

1062
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:27,469
council members at the time.

1063
00:30:27,470 --> 00:30:29,239
Remember that no growth thing we

1064
00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:30,559
talked about earlier?

1065
00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:32,749
That's how he characterized S.O.S..

1066
00:30:32,750 --> 00:30:34,279
So all of you people that want to

1067
00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,529
roll up the fences

1068
00:30:36,530 --> 00:30:37,530
and not let anybody in, take

1069
00:30:38,570 --> 00:30:40,759
a hike because I'm tired

1070
00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:41,479
of it.

1071
00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:43,519
Never has a judge told

1072
00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:44,209
me how to vote.

1073
00:30:44,210 --> 00:30:45,799
And here's Max Nofziger, another

1074
00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,559
council member. He was pro S.O.S..

1075
00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:50,599
The only time it's happened,

1076
00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:52,189
and this is how extreme this is,

1077
00:30:52,190 --> 00:30:54,049
people, is that a judge

1078
00:30:54,050 --> 00:30:56,059
had to tell this council to follow

1079
00:30:56,060 --> 00:30:57,229
the law.

1080
00:30:57,230 --> 00:30:59,518
[applause Yeah!

1081
00:30:59,519 --> 00:31:01,039
So the anti S.O.S. side and their

1082
00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:02,959
friends on city council succeeded in

1083
00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:04,849
pushing the election back,

1084
00:31:04,850 --> 00:31:06,379
but they also succeeded in really

1085
00:31:06,380 --> 00:31:08,239
pissing people off.

1086
00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:09,769
Think about it. Tens of thousands of

1087
00:31:09,770 --> 00:31:11,479
people had signed this petition and

1088
00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:13,349
their elected officials said, "Eh.

1089
00:31:13,350 --> 00:31:15,049
We're gonna ignore this." Even

1090
00:31:15,050 --> 00:31:16,099
people who may not have had an

1091
00:31:16,100 --> 00:31:17,359
opinion about land development

1092
00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:19,369
suddenly started taking notice.

1093
00:31:19,370 --> 00:31:21,769
It also made clear, just

1094
00:31:21,770 --> 00:31:23,689
frankly, what tools

1095
00:31:23,690 --> 00:31:25,519
the city council was of

1096
00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:26,599
the developers.

1097
00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:27,829
This is Brigid Shea.

1098
00:31:27,830 --> 00:31:29,719
To see these, you know,

1099
00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:31,579
these council members

1100
00:31:31,580 --> 00:31:33,529
tying themselves in pretzel knots

1101
00:31:33,530 --> 00:31:35,179
to avoid doing what they were

1102
00:31:35,180 --> 00:31:37,849
legally required to do,

1103
00:31:37,850 --> 00:31:39,529
I think, was really shocking.

1104
00:31:39,530 --> 00:31:41,599
So with just three months

1105
00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:43,999
to campaign, things got

1106
00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:45,709
really ugly leading up to the

1107
00:31:45,710 --> 00:31:46,519
election.

1108
00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:48,379
Both Brigid and Gary describe

1109
00:31:48,380 --> 00:31:50,239
that summer as a crazy

1110
00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,099
time to be in Austin.

1111
00:31:58,910 --> 00:32:00,212
[music] Austin is a summer city and
Barton Springs eternal ...

1112
00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:04,089
TV and radio ads, just people

1113
00:32:04,090 --> 00:32:05,709
bombarded with all this advertising,

1114
00:32:05,710 --> 00:32:07,899
pro and con S.O.S.

1115
00:32:07,900 --> 00:32:08,349
ordinance.

1116
00:32:08,350 --> 00:32:10,269
The campaign against S.O.S.

1117
00:32:10,270 --> 00:32:12,249
is insidious and dishonest,

1118
00:32:12,250 --> 00:32:13,849
writes the Austin Chronicle.

1119
00:32:13,850 --> 00:32:15,190
Now, I've read the S.O.S.

1120
00:32:15,191 --> 00:32:16,209
ordinance, and it's the wrong

1121
00:32:16,210 --> 00:32:17,829
solution from Barton Springs.

1122
00:32:17,830 --> 00:32:19,269
Brigid says she was getting tipped

1123
00:32:19,270 --> 00:32:21,519
off by moles by, like, spies

1124
00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:23,979
within the developer organization.

1125
00:32:23,980 --> 00:32:25,389
She's pretty sure her phone line was

1126
00:32:25,390 --> 00:32:25,959
tapped.

1127
00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:27,309
I'm looking across the street and

1128
00:32:27,310 --> 00:32:29,289
there's a guy sitting in a truck

1129
00:32:29,290 --> 00:32:30,549
with a newspaper.

1130
00:32:30,550 --> 00:32:32,649
He's clearly watching

1131
00:32:32,650 --> 00:32:33,069
me.

1132
00:32:33,070 --> 00:32:35,439
Gary says his car was constantly

1133
00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:36,489
getting vandalized.

1134
00:32:36,490 --> 00:32:37,719
I don't know how many times it got

1135
00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:38,319
keyed.

1136
00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,329
My car windows were smashed, my car

1137
00:32:40,330 --> 00:32:41,559
tires were slashed.

1138
00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:43,509
Gary says people tried to

1139
00:32:43,510 --> 00:32:44,199
kill him.

1140
00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:45,909
I had a high powered rifle shot

1141
00:32:45,910 --> 00:32:47,079
through my house twice.

1142
00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:49,119
We would get horrible phone calls

1143
00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:51,699
late at night and really just

1144
00:32:51,700 --> 00:32:54,129
violent, just foul,

1145
00:32:54,130 --> 00:32:55,569
nasty stuff.

1146
00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:57,422
[music] Barton Springs ...

1147
00:32:57,423 --> 00:32:59,469
All leading up to this vote

1148
00:32:59,470 --> 00:33:00,338
in August.

1149
00:33:00,339 --> 00:33:00,347
Barton Springs Eternal. Barton
Springs Eternal. Barton Springs
Eternal.

1150
00:33:00,348 --> 00:33:00,356
Barton Springs Eternal. Barton
Springs Eternal. Barton Springs
Eternal.

1151
00:33:00,357 --> 00:33:00,365
Barton Springs Eternal. Barton
Springs Eternal. Barton Springs
Eternal.

1152
00:33:00,366 --> 00:33:01,366
Barton Springs Eternal.

1153
00:33:28,410 --> 00:33:29,410
And the hippies win again! [laughter]

1154
00:33:30,390 --> 00:33:31,799
Good evening. The people of Austin

1155
00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:33,449
have spoken and the majority say

1156
00:33:33,450 --> 00:33:35,069
they want a stronger ordinance to

1157
00:33:35,070 --> 00:33:36,359
protect Barton Springs.

1158
00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:36,959
Let's look at ...

1159
00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:38,729
The S.O.S. ordinance won by a

1160
00:33:38,730 --> 00:33:39,659
landslide.

1161
00:33:39,660 --> 00:33:41,639
More than 60% of people who came

1162
00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:43,619
out to the polls voted in favor

1163
00:33:43,620 --> 00:33:45,629
of it, and the ordinance went into

1164
00:33:45,630 --> 00:33:47,069
effect immediately.

1165
00:33:47,070 --> 00:33:48,749
Suddenly, overnight, it became much

1166
00:33:48,750 --> 00:33:50,279
harder to build in this part of

1167
00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:52,319
town, west of Mopak and south

1168
00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:53,489
of the river.

1169
00:33:53,490 --> 00:33:54,959
Future developers wouldn't be able

1170
00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:56,819
to build golf courses and strip

1171
00:33:56,820 --> 00:33:57,959
malls. Sure.

1172
00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:00,299
But also a whole bunch of houses.

1173
00:34:00,300 --> 00:34:01,559
Remember, this was a time when

1174
00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:03,479
Austin's population was growing

1175
00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:04,709
quickly.

1176
00:34:04,710 --> 00:34:06,029
This was a big win for

1177
00:34:06,030 --> 00:34:07,019
environmentalists.

1178
00:34:07,020 --> 00:34:08,819
A win for the Springs.

1179
00:34:08,820 --> 00:34:10,319
And most people agree that this

1180
00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:11,609
worked. If it weren't for this

1181
00:34:11,610 --> 00:34:13,229
movement, Barton Springs might look

1182
00:34:13,230 --> 00:34:15,269
a lot different today.

1183
00:34:15,270 --> 00:34:16,829
But the question still remained.

1184
00:34:16,830 --> 00:34:18,629
Where were all these people going to

1185
00:34:18,630 --> 00:34:19,630
live?

1186
00:34:23,230 --> 00:34:24,638
And even in these interviews right

1187
00:34:24,639 --> 00:34:26,709
after the election is called, you

1188
00:34:26,710 --> 00:34:28,509
start hearing these fault lines

1189
00:34:28,510 --> 00:34:29,229
appear.

1190
00:34:29,230 --> 00:34:30,637
There wasn't a vote they wanted

1191
00:34:30,638 --> 00:34:31,786
because we didn't have that many

1192
00:34:31,787 --> 00:34:32,787
vote to give.

1193
00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:35,198
They wanted public image.

1194
00:34:35,199 --> 00:34:36,609
They wanted PR.

1195
00:34:36,610 --> 00:34:38,079
This is Cynthia Vasquez.

1196
00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:39,459
She was part of an organization in

1197
00:34:39,460 --> 00:34:40,689
East Austin.

1198
00:34:40,690 --> 00:34:41,738
At the same time S.O.S.

1199
00:34:41,739 --> 00:34:43,209
was on the ballot, there was funding

1200
00:34:43,210 --> 00:34:45,369
for East Austin projects,

1201
00:34:45,370 --> 00:34:46,419
but those failed.

1202
00:34:46,420 --> 00:34:48,039
She says she helped deliver votes

1203
00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:49,779
for S.O.S., but the same was not

1204
00:34:49,780 --> 00:34:51,399
done for her community.

1205
00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:52,658
They didn't want to seem that they

1206
00:34:52,659 --> 00:34:53,659
were elitist.

1207
00:34:53,889 --> 00:34:55,119
They didn't want to seem that they

1208
00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:56,282
were against the poor East side

1209
00:34:56,283 --> 00:34:58,239
minorities and the South Austin

1210
00:34:58,240 --> 00:34:59,240
minorities.

1211
00:34:59,380 --> 00:35:00,429
They didn't want to seem that they

1212
00:35:00,430 --> 00:35:01,839
didn't care about our environmental

1213
00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:03,489
issues, and we gave them

1214
00:35:03,490 --> 00:35:04,629
credibility.

1215
00:35:04,630 --> 00:35:05,630
And that's worth a whole lot.

1216
00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:10,269
Meanwhile, people are immediately

1217
00:35:10,270 --> 00:35:11,919
looking up Congress Avenue to the

1218
00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:12,969
state capital.

1219
00:35:12,970 --> 00:35:13,959
The developers are talking about

1220
00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:15,429
lawsuits, but also talking about

1221
00:35:15,430 --> 00:35:17,079
going to state lawmakers.

1222
00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:18,129
If they can't get what they want

1223
00:35:18,130 --> 00:35:19,869
from the Austin City Council, maybe

1224
00:35:19,870 --> 00:35:21,159
the state will step in.

1225
00:35:21,160 --> 00:35:23,259
I went to the legislature

1226
00:35:23,260 --> 00:35:25,509
to get justice

1227
00:35:25,510 --> 00:35:26,619
because I couldn't get it at city

1228
00:35:26,620 --> 00:35:27,609
council.

1229
00:35:27,610 --> 00:35:29,619
Locally, this also means big

1230
00:35:29,620 --> 00:35:31,809
changes in Austin politics.

1231
00:35:31,810 --> 00:35:33,669
The environmentalists are now firmly

1232
00:35:33,670 --> 00:35:34,929
in control.

1233
00:35:34,930 --> 00:35:36,809
Here's Brigid Shea after the vote.

1234
00:35:36,810 --> 00:35:38,079
Well, as they say, the price of

1235
00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:39,489
freedom is eternal vigilance.

1236
00:35:39,490 --> 00:35:40,989
And we, uh, in the environmental

1237
00:35:40,990 --> 00:35:42,249
community in particular, will be

1238
00:35:42,250 --> 00:35:44,409
very vigilant to make sure

1239
00:35:44,410 --> 00:35:45,819
that some members of city council

1240
00:35:45,820 --> 00:35:47,079
don't try and tamper with the

1241
00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:48,080
ordinance, and that people

1242
00:35:49,610 --> 00:35:51,049
don't try and go to the legislature

1243
00:35:51,050 --> 00:35:52,549
and overturn them through other

1244
00:35:52,550 --> 00:35:53,239
means.

1245
00:35:53,240 --> 00:35:55,249
Worth noting that Shea became

1246
00:35:55,250 --> 00:35:57,229
an Austin City Council member after

1247
00:35:57,230 --> 00:35:59,089
this and is now a Travis County

1248
00:35:59,090 --> 00:36:00,079
commissioner.

1249
00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:00,979
What we're hearing in these

1250
00:36:00,980 --> 00:36:03,259
interviews is a new emerging

1251
00:36:03,260 --> 00:36:04,969
city politics that's going to be

1252
00:36:04,970 --> 00:36:07,219
hyper responsive to environmentalist

1253
00:36:07,220 --> 00:36:09,229
concerns and is going to be

1254
00:36:09,230 --> 00:36:10,819
deeply suspicious, at least in its

1255
00:36:10,820 --> 00:36:12,829
rhetoric, of development.

1256
00:36:12,830 --> 00:36:14,629
It created a politics where being an

1257
00:36:14,630 --> 00:36:16,429
environmentalist means being

1258
00:36:16,430 --> 00:36:17,989
anti-development.

1259
00:36:17,990 --> 00:36:19,010
They're one and the same.

1260
00:36:23,300 --> 00:36:25,309
But this conversation seems

1261
00:36:25,310 --> 00:36:26,456
to be changing.

1262
00:36:26,457 --> 00:36:27,439
It's the topic.

1263
00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:29,059
I mean, you just nailed it, as far

1264
00:36:29,060 --> 00:36:31,159
as like the topic of environmental

1265
00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:31,819
protection.

1266
00:36:31,820 --> 00:36:33,079
You remember Matt Holland, he was

1267
00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:34,999
that fresh faced intern the

1268
00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:36,589
night the activists shut down Jim

1269
00:36:36,590 --> 00:36:37,939
Bob Moffett's big development at

1270
00:36:37,940 --> 00:36:39,049
City Hall.

1271
00:36:39,050 --> 00:36:41,479
Over 30 years later, Matt still

1272
00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:42,979
works for the city, and he says,

1273
00:36:42,980 --> 00:36:45,169
these days, development and,

1274
00:36:45,170 --> 00:36:47,179
especially urban density,

1275
00:36:47,180 --> 00:36:49,129
are not the boogeymen

1276
00:36:49,130 --> 00:36:51,079
that they used to be to a lot

1277
00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:52,369
of environmentalists.

1278
00:36:52,370 --> 00:36:54,319
I was all in with this, and

1279
00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:56,989
I remember being a pretty fierce

1280
00:36:56,990 --> 00:36:58,879
opponent of impervious cover, you

1281
00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:00,709
know, from an early age in

1282
00:37:00,710 --> 00:37:01,669
my career.

1283
00:37:01,670 --> 00:37:03,589
But now a lot of people, including

1284
00:37:03,590 --> 00:37:05,539
Matt, say we need to build more

1285
00:37:05,540 --> 00:37:06,919
to protect the environment.

1286
00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:08,299
Now, this could mean less green

1287
00:37:08,300 --> 00:37:10,309
space in some places,

1288
00:37:10,310 --> 00:37:11,899
but building homes closer together

1289
00:37:11,900 --> 00:37:14,029
and closer into the city reduces

1290
00:37:14,030 --> 00:37:15,919
our need to build farther out and to

1291
00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:16,789
drive everywhere.

1292
00:37:16,790 --> 00:37:18,349
It reduces water use.

1293
00:37:18,350 --> 00:37:20,509
It reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

1294
00:37:20,510 --> 00:37:22,579
That's one of the difficulties of a

1295
00:37:22,580 --> 00:37:23,869
S.O.S. looking landscape.

1296
00:37:23,870 --> 00:37:25,339
You've got very low density.

1297
00:37:25,340 --> 00:37:27,319
But this pro-density push

1298
00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:28,879
is something that's still fiercely

1299
00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:30,619
opposed by a lot of other

1300
00:37:30,620 --> 00:37:31,399
environmentalists.

1301
00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:33,109
Holland says he has a regular

1302
00:37:33,110 --> 00:37:34,639
meeting with an old friend at the

1303
00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:36,619
Springs where they argue about

1304
00:37:36,620 --> 00:37:37,519
this very thing.

1305
00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:39,439
We go to Barton Springs and swim,

1306
00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:41,209
and then we hang out and eat tacos

1307
00:37:41,210 --> 00:37:42,649
and talk about this, the exact same

1308
00:37:42,650 --> 00:37:44,479
topic, like probably hundreds of

1309
00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:45,500
times, the same topic.

1310
00:37:45,501 --> 00:37:46,339
[laughter]

1311
00:37:46,340 --> 00:37:48,379
He says they never seem to change

1312
00:37:48,380 --> 00:37:49,729
each others minds.

1313
00:37:49,730 --> 00:37:51,649
Meanwhile, more and more people keep

1314
00:37:51,650 --> 00:37:53,509
moving here, and they've

1315
00:37:53,510 --> 00:37:55,069
gotta live somewhere.

1316
00:37:55,070 --> 00:37:56,689
We'll get into that next time, on

1317
00:37:56,690 --> 00:37:58,369
Growth Machine: How Austin

1318
00:37:58,370 --> 00:37:59,870
Engineered Its Housing Market.

1319
00:38:03,210 --> 00:38:04,469
Growth machine is a production of

1320
00:38:04,470 --> 00:38:06,509
KUT and KUTX Studios

1321
00:38:06,510 --> 00:38:07,589
in Austin.

1322
00:38:07,590 --> 00:38:09,689
It's produced by me, Mose Buchele,

1323
00:38:09,690 --> 00:38:11,879
Marissa Charpentier, Nathan Bernier,

1324
00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:13,949
Jimmy Moss and Matt Largey,

1325
00:38:13,950 --> 00:38:15,209
with production help from Heather

1326
00:38:15,210 --> 00:38:17,099
Stewart. Technical help from Jake

1327
00:38:17,100 --> 00:38:19,199
Perlman and Rene Chavez.

1328
00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:20,789
Stephanie Federico is our digital

1329
00:38:20,790 --> 00:38:21,839
editor.

1330
00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:23,639
Special thanks to Karen Coker, the

1331
00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:25,589
Austin History Center, KVUE

1332
00:38:25,590 --> 00:38:27,449
and KXAN for archival

1333
00:38:27,450 --> 00:38:29,309
sound in this episode.

1334
00:38:29,310 --> 00:38:31,529
There's more at kut.org/growth

1335
00:38:31,530 --> 00:38:32,519
machine.

1336
00:38:32,520 --> 00:38:33,809
I'm Audrey McGlinchey.

1337
00:38:33,810 --> 00:38:34,810
Thanks for listening.