June 27, 2006
Tolls, bad politics and Sal Costello
Rawhide at Pinkdome pointed out some articles in the AusChron about some of the fabulous new toll roads being built. While I feel like we got the shit end of the stick here in Austin when it comes to infrastructure, I am happy that the 45 Tollway will be operational within 6 months. Why? I hate sitting in traffic and I wanted the problem solved now, not 2020. That's not to say I wouldn't mind the toll concession being seriously rewritten if we retake the Lege this year. However, I'm not going to pull a nutty and go all Sal Costello on everyone's ass if they don't do it.
The two articles in the Chron are both over toll roads here in Travis County. The funniest thing about them is that they only mention Sal Costello ONCE. You have to know Sal. He's the spokesdemon for the Texas Toll Party who tried to unseat Mike Krusee during the R primary (they failed) and get rid of Austin Mayor Will Wynn (they failed) as well as Austin City Councilman Brewster McCracken (they failed... seeing a pattern?). Sal Costello is probably the reason the TTP and their parent PAC, People for Efficient Transportation (PET PAC - charming, no?) can't get any traction. Just take a look at the blog Sal runs. Entertaining, I know. This is the same place where Sal posted all manner of nasty crap about Karen Sonleitner, Travis County Pct. 2 Commissioner. Sal spent a lot of the PAC's money to get rid of Karen in a very ugly way including accusing her of sleeping with everyone involved in CAMPO.
His next target? Mark Strama. Sure, he'll probably fail but in the meantime he'll be just as nasty and childish as possible so give Mark some help when you can.
See what we're dealing with up here? Costello's devious, he's nasty and the only saving grace is that he's not nearly as smart as Karl Rove.
So why even mention the articles from the Chronicle (or this rather excellent piece written by State Representative Eddie Rodrgiuez who is beloved by everyone at Team McBlogger (we love you, Eddie! Call us!)? Because they represent a shift in strategy for those in western Travis County who are interested to finding solutions other than elevated toll lanes (side note... Rep. Rodriguez is rightly pissed that the eastern Travis County is beaing the brunt of toll roads...). These people would normally fall into Costello's orbit, but they're instead setting up their own groups and working with others to bring about a better solution to Austin's traffic nightmare WITHOUT THREATENING AN ELECTORAL REVOLT OR ENGAGING IN THE KIND OF CHARACTER ASSASSINATION THAT WOULD MAKE A SOAP OPERA WRITER BLUSH.
Check them out here and here. Now, if only they could get some similar groups going in eastern TC... ideas?
Posted by mcblogger at June 27, 2006 12:27 PM
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Comments
I heard from an extremely reliable source that Costello was no longer going after Strama because Fleece was also wrong on toll roads. He would have gone after him had Zimmerman won. Has something changed?
Posted by: David at June 27, 2006 03:04 PM
My favorite Sal story is his "support anyone other than Will Wynn or Danny Thomas" statement in the Mayor's race. What, endorsing Jennifer Gale, the ONLY candidate you could Sal, might damange your credibility, eh?
Posted by: spamburgler at June 28, 2006 02:42 AM
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