Brian Thornton

A Republic, if you can keep it.

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@JeramyKitchen @grok Has anyone’s salary kept up with inflation?

[Adam Loewy @LoewyLawFirm]

The average poll in Paxton v Cornyn was around Paxton +8

Paxton won by 27.

Have you seen a single media person reflect on what absolute garbage these polls were ?

No. They just keep going.

#txlege

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@JWard173 @JackCraver I don’t know many people who want to show up to work after having biked up hill in 103 degree heat and humidity.

[South By South Lamar @SXSouthLamar]

@JackCraver I voted for PC in 2020, I love urban rail & have wanted it in ATX since I moved here 22 yrs ago but the cost has 3x’d /mile & it doesn’t connect any parts of the city where rail could shine like ABA, DKR, Zilker, Q2. It just connects the Drag to Riverside while taking park land

[Jack Craver @JackCraver]

Here's my update on the sorry state of Project Connect. Depressing to see one of America's leading transit scholars say Austin has fucked up so bad that it might consider just giving up on high-capacity mass transit.
https://t.co/bHLXa3sfXz

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@LoewyLawFirm

[Jordan Moorhead @Jordan_Moorhead]

Cancel project connect. I voted in favor of this when it was on the ballot. It’s gotten too expensive and will not be a cost effective use of money. At the very least reduce it to a line from the airport into DT Austin, at least that will be used.

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@Jordan_Moorhead @america1stly Correct

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@RyanAutullo I think the losing side appeals either way.

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@smarkstrickland @RyanAutullo @JoshuaFechter (1) The courts; (2) #txlege; (3) feds denying funding; (4) Austinites electing a Council who will do the right thing (the hardest, but most direct and effective)

[Ryan Autullo @RyanAutullo]

Story also says ATP plans to break ground on the rail next year, with or without federal dollars.

Federal assistance - hardly assured under the Trump administration - was key to the city's pitch to voters in 2020.

[Ryan Autullo @RyanAutullo]

Excellent read from @JoshuaFechter on the many problems threatening Austin's planned light rail.

I knew a lot; Josh taught me much more.

ATP CEO Greg Canally's salary increased from $310,000 to $405,000 from 2023 to 2025.

https://t.co/BAOSX6pAbw

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@saxman37375949 The highways tens of millions of Texans use directly and indirectly every day? Ok, I’m on it.

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

I’m unaware of a bigger taxpayer scam in Texas history.

[Joshua Fechter @JoshuaFechter]

In 2020, Austin voters greenlit a 20-mile light rail system — raising their own city property tax bills by 20% to fund it.

Costs ballooned, and the project's scope shrank.

For now, it will reach less than half the distance — at about 3x the original per-mile cost.

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@RNAeatsbugs I hear you, but my point is that this is the biggest one I can think of in terms of cost, scale, and degree.

[Adam Loewy @LoewyLawFirm]

This is the path Project Connect is on.

#txlege

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

The $4M was for with his prosecution, not his defense. But let’s do some napkin math: $4M/39M Texans = $0.10 per Texan, one time expense.

Project Connect: $8B (this number is a constantly moving target, moving up, that is)/1M Austin taxpayers = $8,000 per Austinite.

That alleged number is just to get it “Phase I”built. The tax is permanent and they admit they’re going to keep adding on after Phase I, so Austinites will pay $8k each and counting as long as they live in the city for this thing that they’ll rarely if ever ride.

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@JoshuaFechter @TexasTribune

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@JoshuaFechter @TexasTribune

[Tyler Norris @TXTylerNorris]

20% Tax Increase
Half the distance promised
Three times the cost
On a train that will fix nothing…

In a city with the largest autonomous car factory in the world…

[Brian Thornton @Real_bThornton]

@austinreforms @transit_forward There is no exit ramp, #atxcouncil gave voters a permanent 21% City tax increase, transferred to ATP who will have infinite bonding authority using that money. Over budget, behind schedule will be an understatement.