By Tony Cantu
The Patch
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Gustavo L. "Gus" Garcia, the trailblazing first elected Hispanic mayor of Austin distinguished by a 40-year career in civic service – died early Monday at the age of 84.
Born in the border town of Zapata, Texas, in 1934, Garcia's career trajectory was laden with a series of firsts in addition to his pioneering mayoral tenure. He also was the first Hispanic member of the Austin Independent School District board of trustees and the first president of that body.
Garcia served on the Austin City Council for more than a decade, putting in another six-year stint on the Austin school district board. He was elected mayor on Nov. 6, 2001, running in a special election after Kirk Watson stepped down to run for state office. Garcia won handily, securing 59 percent of the vote in a crowded field of eight candidates.
His predecessor lauded Garcia's ascension to the post: "He brings to the office maturity, stability, and a real sense of history, Watson was quoted as saying about Garcia.
Never one to back down when sensing injustice or inequity, Garcia protested upon learning only one Hispanic was named to the then-newly formed Human Relations Commission (later the Human Right Commission) in 1967. His protest prompted city council to add four Hispanics to the 21-member board, including Garcia.
Once firmly established on the board, Garcia uncovered discriminatory practices at the Austin Housing Authority. Denied access to records, Garcia launched a personal investigation of one of the public housing residential towers, exposing discrimination as a tactic in selecting tenants. His findings informed his contribution to writing a fair housing ordinance that – while failing to garner full support in a 1968 referendum – was ultimately adopted by the city in 1977.
Building upon this work he helped write a Fair Housing Ordinance, which was passed in 1968 by the City Council. The Austin Board of Realtors (ABOR) responded by leading a petition driver to put the ordinance up for a citywide vote in 1968 and the ordinance was repealed by an overwhelming majority. Times changed however and in 1977 the ordinance was adopted by the city.
Current Austin Mayor Steve Adler expressed his condolences via Twitter: "We feel a community-wide heavy heart as one of our greatest Austin giants moves on," the mayor wrote.
"Mayor Garcia focused our city as no one had setting us on a course to seek equity and justice for all of Austin. I will miss my friend and teacher."
Former Austin City Council member Mike Martinez, who unsuccessfully challenged Adler for the mayoral post in 2014, rendered homage to his role model.
"Like everyone else, I'm truly saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mayor Gus Garcia," Martinez wrote. "He was a legend among legends. I will forever be grateful for his counsel and advise...but most for his friendship. RIP Mayor. Austin is better today, because of you."
The Austin ISD put out a statement expressing their own words of condolence, posting comments by superintendent on its live feed. The Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy is named in the pioneer's honor, with a mission statement to develop scholars "...who are empathetic, service-oriented problem solvers — lifelong learners who succeed in high school, college, career and life," according to the school's website.
Born in the border town of Zapata, Texas, in 1934, Garcia's career trajectory was laden with a series of firsts in addition to his pioneering mayoral tenure. He also was the first Hispanic member of the Austin Independent School District board of trustees and the first president of that body.
Garcia served on the Austin City Council for more than a decade, putting in another six-year stint on the Austin school district board. He was elected mayor on Nov. 6, 2001, running in a special election after Kirk Watson stepped down to run for state office. Garcia won handily, securing 59 percent of the vote in a crowded field of eight candidates.
His predecessor lauded Garcia's ascension to the post: "He brings to the office maturity, stability, and a real sense of history, Watson was quoted as saying about Garcia.
Never one to back down when sensing injustice or inequity, Garcia protested upon learning only one Hispanic was named to the then-newly formed Human Relations Commission (later the Human Right Commission) in 1967. His protest prompted city council to add four Hispanics to the 21-member board, including Garcia.
Once firmly established on the board, Garcia uncovered discriminatory practices at the Austin Housing Authority. Denied access to records, Garcia launched a personal investigation of one of the public housing residential towers, exposing discrimination as a tactic in selecting tenants. His findings informed his contribution to writing a fair housing ordinance that – while failing to garner full support in a 1968 referendum – was ultimately adopted by the city in 1977.
Building upon this work he helped write a Fair Housing Ordinance, which was passed in 1968 by the City Council. The Austin Board of Realtors (ABOR) responded by leading a petition driver to put the ordinance up for a citywide vote in 1968 and the ordinance was repealed by an overwhelming majority. Times changed however and in 1977 the ordinance was adopted by the city.
Current Austin Mayor Steve Adler expressed his condolences via Twitter: "We feel a community-wide heavy heart as one of our greatest Austin giants moves on," the mayor wrote.
"Mayor Garcia focused our city as no one had setting us on a course to seek equity and justice for all of Austin. I will miss my friend and teacher."
Former Austin City Council member Mike Martinez, who unsuccessfully challenged Adler for the mayoral post in 2014, rendered homage to his role model.
"Like everyone else, I'm truly saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mayor Gus Garcia," Martinez wrote. "He was a legend among legends. I will forever be grateful for his counsel and advise...but most for his friendship. RIP Mayor. Austin is better today, because of you."
The Austin ISD put out a statement expressing their own words of condolence, posting comments by superintendent on its live feed. The Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy is named in the pioneer's honor, with a mission statement to develop scholars "...who are empathetic, service-oriented problem solvers — lifelong learners who succeed in high school, college, career and life," according to the school's website.
To read entire article, click on link:
https://patch.com/texas/downtownaustin/trailblazing-former-austin-mayor-gus-garcia-dead-84?
https://patch.com/texas/downtownaustin/trailblazing-former-austin-mayor-gus-garcia-dead-84?
4 comments:
I love this whole $20B wall idea. $20B could do so much more for our country - he could give it as another tax break to the 1% and tell us about trickle down economics and how well it works. Germany can explain to us how well their wall worked; that wall that has now been down for 30 years. Lots of defectors made it through that wall and I believe it had a lot less "border" to guard. We'll let our POTUS, Fox News, and the right wing continue to think Mexico and illegal immigration and not the lack of work ethic, overwhelming greed, and "not our fault" mentality is the source of all of our problems.
After Mattis the resignation and this shutdown, the senate will finally see that bone spurs is more of a threat than Putin or Kim Jong Un to the country. His impeachment and removal is inevitable. I do believe Trump will be removed at gunpoint which will be AWESOME!!!
Racist republicans its time to see the light and recognize the devil we have in the WH. That's where "OUR" real enemy is at... Not russia not NK not china and certainly NOT Mexico
(After Mattis the resignation and this shutdown, the senate will finally see that bone spurs is more of a threat than Putin or Kim Jong Un to the country. His impeachment and removal is inevitable. I do believe Trump will be removed at gunpoint which will be AWESOME!!!)
Whoa! Awesomely put. I'll even bet we probably know each other.
Elchuko.
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