Prop. 1 opponets say video crosses line

Austin (KXAN) - It’s a well produced, three-minute long video that, according to Austin’s Mayor Lee Leffingwell, is an informational and educational video.

The video in question was produced by City of Austin staff about Proposition 1.

“It lays out what is in the bond proposal,” Leffingwell said.

If passed, the $90 million bond proposal would fund 45 mobility projects throughout the city.

Leffingwell, a supporter of the bond package, said the video simply shows the highlights of the bond package.

“I think it is incumbent among us to tell voters what they’re voting for and that is what this does,” Leffingwell said.

But those against the bond package said the video does more than just inform the public.

“The video is very political. It’s like it is trying to get a candidate elected,” said Mike Levy, a contributor to the political action committee fighting against the mobility bond. “It’s very positive and it does everything except say vote for Prop 1.”

According to city staff it took one employee of Channel 6 --the city’s in house TV station -- about 20 hours to produce the video.

Levy said the video is very one-sided and doesn’t show voters, as he puts it, the bad things in the bond package.

“It’s treating the voters as children -- 'Look we’re going to give you the candy you want but we’re not going to give you any of the bad stuff -- you won’t want with the candy,'” Levy said.

Leffingwell said the video is a common practice among cities trying to educate voters about particular bond packages.

“Frankly, I find it a little humors that the opponents have been complaining about the lack of transparency and the lack of information and then they complain when we give them information.