Several candidates for city office in the May election have begun also speaking out against the $850 million bond proposal that will be on the ballot with them, 1200 WOAI's content partner 'Texas Watchdog' reports.
District 9 Council candidate Patty Gibbons, who is running to succeed the retiring Councilman Joe Krier, is among the most vocal opponents.
She told the Watchdog that she was on one of the 'citizens committee' which the City touts as being the group that decided how to spend the $850 million.She says city staffers repeatedly overruled 'citizens committee' members, warning them that their input was only 'advisory' and City staffers would make the final decision.
"Its bonding out the bureaucrats," Gibbons told the Watchdog.
Also taking pot shots at the bond is Manuel Medina, who is running as the 'outsider' candidate for Mayor against incumbent Mayor Ivy Taylor and Councilman Ron Nirenberg, both of whom are supporters of the bond issue.
"$200 million of this bond is pure pork," Medina told the Watchdog.
He cited the very controversial proposal to spend $43 million, one of the largest single projects in the bond issue, to create a so called 'complete street' on lower Broadway, which would actually take away lanes, in favor of bike lanes and pedestrian spaces.
READ THE STORY FROM TEXAS WATCHDOG:
http://watchdog.org/288932/bond-out-bureaucrats/