Brian Thornton
2.5K posts
Brian Thornton
@Real_bThornton
A Republic, if you can keep it.
Austin, TX Katılım Ocak 2015
1.5K Takip Edilen593 Takipçiler
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.
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Brian Thornton retweetledi
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…
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.
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@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.
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@transit_forward How much money have you spent?
and what do you have to show for it?
How much more money will you have the audacity to ask us for?
Where is the exit ramp?
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‼️MYTHBUSTERS 101‼️
There is always a lot of noise, misinformation, and selective framing around Austin's transit future right now. Let's talk facts about Project Connect, what's actually happening, and why this investment matters for Austin's future 🧵
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@xanderhud There's currently no legal mechanism for a popular vote to rescind it. The only way is either through the courts, the state legislature, and/or for the voters to elect enough Council Members to vote to roll it back and start over.
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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.
English
Brian Thornton retweetledi
Boy do I sure regret my yes vote on this scam! 🙃🇺🇸🚂
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.
English
@the_transit_guy This is purely a City of Austin endeavor. The State of Texas has nothing to do with it, which you'd know if you'd read the article.
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It’s sort of ironic when red state leadership attacks California for the execution of high speed rail, as if any state in the union is building transit effectively.
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.
English
@Real_bThornton @JeramyKitchen Are you familiar with DART?
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Brian Thornton retweetledi
Every Austinite needs to read this article by @TexasTribune.. texastribune.org/2026/05/21/aus…
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@JoshuaFechter @TexasTribune I'll always be fascinated by how when a voter approved plan falls apart, there are no consequences.
Voters didn't approve this.
In the private sector, people would lose their jobs. In cases such as this, local leaders have consultants, excuses, and spin, to justify it.
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Brian Thornton retweetledi
Well, I see the world woke up and chose violence today...
Historic Vids@historyinmemes
A Sony Discman from 2001, now displayed like an ancient artifact. Once used by teenagers to listen to Linkin Park, carefully walk without making the CD skip, and pretend life was harder than it really was.
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Brian Thornton retweetledi
I watched this and Judge @AleshireLaw absolutely demolished Bucy and (especially) Ellis.
Project Connect is a fraud on this city and will be soon need to be scaled back even further.
#txlege
Spencer Schumacher@BikeLaneSpencer
Great breakdown from @BucyForTexas at @KUT Fest on how Project Connect is delivering what voters were promised in 2020. We’re still delivering MetroRapid, Commuter Rail, Neighborhood Pickup, Park & Rides, and housing—plus ~70% of the rail proposed in 2020, with a path to 100%.
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@JeramyKitchen But Jeramy, it’s all I can do to keep the lights on and food on the table…
GIF
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Why are soldiers charged for betting on operations and Congress can get rich off insider trading? Like what in the hell is going on
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Brian Thornton retweetledi
Project Connect is a mere shadow of what voters approved.
Senator Cornyn was on News Radio KLBJ on April 16th and was asked "Do you support federal funding for Project Connect here in Austin?"
His answer "No, I don't."
We need more leaders, at every level, speaking out against Project Connect and the Austin Transit Partnership.
Voters approved the proposal in Resolution 20200807-003 services.austintexas.gov/edims/document…
When ATP realized they didn't have the money to build it, they approved a radically scaled down version, but never went back to the voters.
This is the light rail ATP plans to build atptx.org/current-map/
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This is only the beginning. Wait until they break ground 😂
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When you've found the infinite money hack ⬇️#txlege
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ATX data@data_atx
BREAKING: The project connect team is planning a $32 million office lease in one of the most luxury waterfront towers in downtown Austin plus an extra $15 million to build out and furnish the space Totally ridiculous. They could run this out of the existing capmetro office
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