Thursday’s Austin Chronicle contained an article titled, “YMCA Has Designs on TLAC Site." The article stated “Parks advocates, meanwhile, see it as another in a series of privatization initiatives coming out of the city Parks and Recreation Department, with the specific support of Mayor Lee Leffingwell.”

I was shocked when I read this, because I have always been a strong supporter of the Town Lake Animal Center.

For the record, while I am familiar with the proposal for the aquatic center and support the concept of exploring public-private partnerships like this, there is not yet a formal proposal before Council. These kinds of partnerships allow the city to expand and improve public park assets without the high costs of operating and maintaining the facilities, but the details must be studied to ensure public access and benefit. There are other factors that must be considered, such as capital costs.

Let me be clear that I am committed to maintaining the Town Lake Animal Center facility at its current location. I led the fight to keep TLAC there back in 2008, and nothing has changed my position on that. We must maintain the services at the site, and the kennel capacity. It is important that we continue to offer pet adoptions in an affordable and accessible way to our community.

Today Mayor Lee Leffingwell joined more than 80 mayors from across America in supporting the right of same-sex couples to marry by signing on to the Mayors for Freedom to Marry Pledge.  This diverse and bi-partisan coalition of mayors intends to expand public and political support for ending discrimination in marriage.

“I’m proud to stand with the gay and lesbian community and defend their right to equal marriage,” said Mayor Leffingwell. “The tide is changing in America and I hope that by joining this loud chorus, I can play a small role in helping set us on a path to full marriage equality in our country in my lifetime.”

“Austin is a very progressive community and marriage equality is consistent with our values as a city. We are proud to lead the way in Texas on a number of issues, and I’m glad join Houston Mayor Annise Parker in doing so again in this case,” Leffingwell added.

Other big city mayors to sign the pledge include Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, Michael Bloomberg of New York, Michael Nutter of Philadelphia and Thomas Menino of Boston. Mayor Parker of Houston, who is openly gay, is the only other Texas mayor on the list and is a co-chair of the national effort.

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At last Thursday’s meeting, the Austin City Council heard, for the first time, public testimony on a proposal by Austin Energy to increase electric rates.

In true Austin fashion, testimony lasted well into the night.  We heard from environmentalists, social justice activists, faith leaders, business leaders, and ordinary citizens.  What became clear very quickly is that a broad cross-section of our community does not support Austin Energy’s current proposal.

While the Council will hold its first formal discussion about the proposal this week, I want to say now that I agree with many of the concerns I heard expressed on Thursday.  I don’t support the current plan, for reasons I’ve outlined below.

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There is no question that our country is facing tough times.  We are living in an economy that some have labeled the worst since the Great Depression. Unemployment is over 8%, it is estimated that 76,000 of our country’s veterans are homeless on any given night, and our public school system has been suffering through budget cuts and teacher layoffs for years.  Although Austin has fared better than other parts of the nation, there is always room for improvement.  These numbers need to change and I need your help to do it.

While you are making your New Year’s resolutions, I urge you to consider not only self-improvement, but also community-improvement through volunteering.  It may be a bit difficult to find the time to volunteer in today’s busy world, but giving back to one’s community is extremely rewarding and does not go unnoticed.

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A lot has been said over the past few days about the Council majority’s tentative decision last week to hold the 2012 City Council elections in May, when voter turnout has recently been in single digits, rather than in November, when vastly more Austinites go to the polls.

Not only was I a proponent for the one-time move to November in 2012 (along with Council members Martinez and Riley), I’ve actually been proposing for almost a year now that we allow Austin voters to change our Charter to permanently move Council elections from May to November.

I voted for and support holding our elections in November 2012, and in November of odd years thereafter, because I believe that Austin’s electoral process is in jeopardy. 

Citizen participation is the lifeblood of a healthy democracy, and obviously this is something we value deeply in Austin.  But unfortunately, when it comes time for our citizens to go to the polls in May and choose their representatives at City Hall, most of them simply don’t.

As an example, in a city of about 800,000 people, I won an open mayor’s seat in 2009 with 27,500 votes.   The overall turnout in my race was 13%, which was actually the highest it had been since 2003. In run-offs, we’ve recently seen turnout as low as 5%.  The last Council election clocked in at a pathetic 7% voter participation.

This should gravely concern anyone who has an interest in how we govern ourselves as a city and community.  When 96% of Austinites (only half of us are even registered to vote) don’t bother to exercise even their most basic right by showing up to vote in local elections, something has gone seriously wrong.

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It’s my honor and pleasure to be here with you today to mark this important occasion for our country and our community.

Like all of you, I’ve been reading and listening and watching over the last several weeks as America has reflected on the events of 9/11, and in the decade that followed.

As you know, America has essentially been at war for the better part of these past 10 years – the longest sustained period of armed conflict in our country’s history.

As a 20-year veteran of the US Navy, I have a special appreciation for the role of our military, and for the commitment of our men and women in uniform.

Clearly, our military and counter-terrorism efforts have diminished the threat from Al-Qaeda, and helped to prevent subsequent attacks over the past decade.

But the cost has been high.

The death toll associated with the Global War on Terror is truly staggering.

The estimates range from at least 100,000 to more than one million people dead – the vast majority of them civilians, caught in the crossfire of conflict.

Certainly hundreds of thousands of others around the world have been critically wounded – including tens of thousands of US and coalition soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.

In many cases, the lives of the wounded – and the lives of their families – have been forever, tragically changed.

The financial cost of the War on Terror has also been staggering.

The direct cost to America over the last 10 years is estimated to be approaching $1.5 trillion dollars, and that number is rising every day.

Sadly, political controversies stirred around the world and here at home have been divisive.

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Join Let's Move Austin for a huge game of "Simon Says" this Saturday!

Bring your kids and your friends and join Mayor Leffingwell, Julie Byers, and a professional "Simon Says" leader at Auditorium Shores this Saturday. This is a fun way for families to join their children and others in the community to get active. As part of First Lady Michelle Obama's initiative to fight childhood obesity, we are creating local activities to help kids and their families get out and get moving!

This could become the largest "Simon Says" game in the country! This event is free and t-shirts are available for the first 500 registrants.  See you Saturday!

Today is the first day of early voting for the Saturday, May 14th City Council election.  You can vote at ANY early voting location - the list of locations is here.  Please make your voice heard and GO VOTE!