MEDIA ALERT: Austin Artists chain themselves to parking meters in support of candidate Brewster McCracken @ 2pm on 6^th St.

EVENT: BrewsterNation.com Launch

DATE: Saturday, May 2, 2009

TIME: 2pm

LOCATION: 320 East 6^th Street during Pecan Street Festival, at the BrewsterNation.com booth

CONTACT: Media Inquiries: Kimiko Tokita (512) 358-8508

INFO:

       Today is the official launch date of BrewsterNation.com, a political website created by and for supporters of Brewster McCracken for Mayor. Though not a PAC, these supporters are representatives of Austin’s small business, creative, digital, and other tech industries and they support the site as a collective of individuals.

       To mark the website’s launch, a group of Austin artists for McCracken will chain themselves to parking meters at 2pm on Saturday, during the Pecan Street Festival. The action is to mock and protest candidate Lee Leffingwell's proposal to have all downtown parking meters charge on nights and weekends – which would potentially harm small businesses, restaurants, and music venues downtown. Many in the downtown community fear McCracken’s opposition neither understand the downtown business climate, nor do they have the vision to increase its sustainability.

       BrewsterNation.com features video, photos, and commentary that supports McCracken’s run for Mayor. BrewsterNation.com supporters are in favor of McCracken's strong, pro-active position on music, arts, small business and tech issues which will address the current economic downturn by nurturing Austin’s abundant creative class.

       The group is also making the policy weaknesses of the other candidates known in areas of small business, music, film, and the tech and biotech industries. Although McCracken’s opposition has mentioned many of these industries (mostly in passing) they are without solid policy points and working plans to help grow these industries in Austin.