AUSTIN (KXAN) — Reaction to the new Austin city logo has been mixed, and now there’s a new effort from a former city leader to get rid of it entirely.
Makenzie Kelly, who lost her re-election bid for City Council District 6 last year, posted on social media a link to a petition calling to get rid of the city logo.
She wrote in the post, “As a lifelong Austinite and former City Council Member, I believe our identity should reflect our voices. I started this petition because $1.1M on a logo without public input isn’t right.”
The petition goes on to call for the city council to put the logo design to a citywide vote, and pause the rollout of the new logo.
At a press conference on Thursday morning, Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax unveiled a new brand logo for the city, which he said is the first in the city’s history to unify the city and its services.
He also said the new brand was shaped by feedback from community members and city employees.
The total project cost is an estimated $1,117,558 and is a part of the Austin Strategic 2023 Plan approved back in 2018. Here’s the breakdown of how that money is being spent:
- Brand Vendors: $640,000
- Public Awareness Campaign: $115,000
- Consolidated city-wide design software for all departments: $75,582
- Support staff and legal counsel – salary and benefits for a Brand Project Manager (temporary City employee) and external legal review: $186,976
Reaction to the new logo has been mixed on social media, with some praising the new look, but others echoing Kelly’s concerns about it.