“What Are You Going to Do When They Run You Out? / ¿Qué Va Ud. a Hacer Cuando Lo Corran?” East Town Lake Citizens bilingual comic on urban renewal, 1979

“What Are You Going to Do When They Run You Out? / ¿Qué Va Ud. a Hacer Cuando Lo Corran?” East Town Lake Citizens bilingual comic on urban renewal, 1979

Urban renewal, Community activism, Mexican American communities
Displacement, Neighborhood organizing

Bilingual (English and Spanish) illustrated pamphlet produced by East Town Lake Citizens that critiques urban renewal and redevelopment in East Austin. The comic-style format walks through how city planning decisions impact residents, beginning with questions about rising rents, property taxes, and whether redevelopment reflects community needs. Later panels outline the processes behind these changes, including private development, federal funding, and the use of eminent domain. The pamphlet depicts the demolition of homes, the displacement of low-income residents, and the replacement of existing neighborhoods with commercial and high-income development, particularly in the Rainey Street area. Spanish-language sections mirror the English content, reinforcing accessibility and direct outreach to Spanish-speaking residents. In its concluding pages, the pamphlet turns toward collective action, urging residents to participate in meetings, sign petitions, and mobilize for community-driven change. More than a source of information, it serves as a rallying cry for resistance, capturing the ways East Austin residents asserted their agency and challenged the injustices of urban renewal.

East Town Lake Citizens

Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, A309.262 EA

East Town Lake Citizens

1979

Physical materials owned by the Austin History Center (AHC), Austin Public Library. Reproductions available for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission required from AHC prior to publication. AHC does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials; additional permissions may be required.

Printed pamphlet; illustrated comic booklet; "Zine"

English; Spanish

Book

Austin, Texas; East Austin; Rainey Street area

Book