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Whispers
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 by Tai Moses
Fundraiser introduces AISD’s new superintendent
The Austin Education Fund kicks off its fall campaign this Friday with a televised fundraiser giving a special welcome to Austin ISD’s new superintendent, Dr. Stephanie S. Elizalde. Elizalde, who previously served as chief schools officer for Dallas ISD, is the school district’s first-ever Latina superintendent. The event, which spotlights student performances and the work of the AISD Crisis Support Fund, will also feature Austin Mayor Steve Adler, AISD Board of Trustees President Geronimo Rodriguez and Austin Ed Fund Executive Director Michelle Wallis. “We want to thank our community for giving and hopefully inspire others to support our students, staff and families. This event, along with the campaign, is meant to celebrate the good as we continue to tackle the challenges, together as a community,” Wallis said in a news release. The virtual event will be televised on AISD TV’s Channel 22 at noon and 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2 (and at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Spanish) and will also be streamed live on Austin Ed Fund’s YouTube channel.
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 by Tai Moses
AISD curbside meal service goes weekly
Starting Monday, Austin Independent School District’s curbside meal program will shift from daily service to weekly service, providing enough food for seven breakfasts and lunches at a time. According to a district announcement, “This change is in response to community feedback, providing a more efficient and convenient meal pick-up option for families.” Through Dec. 18, the curbside meals, which can be picked up at more than 40 locations throughout Austin, are free for kids under 19 or those over 19 “who are using special education resources or currently enrolled in school to complete the requirements for a high school diploma.” The seven-day meal packs “feature foods that are prepared by staff in Austin ISD kitchens. The foods included with curbside meal bulk meals are chilled and served cold to be taken home and reheated. Reheating instructions will be included. The healthy meals include protein, grains, fresh fruits, vegetables and milk.” Find more details about the change and a list of pickup sites here.
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
APD shuts down Red River patrol
A program that stationed two public safety officers at Red River and Seventh streets has ended, according to a Sept. 28 memo that Austin Police Chief Brian Manley sent to City Council members. Manley explains that the officers were stationed around-the-clock “with the intent of restoring a sense of security and safety for residents, employees, tourists, music goers and other individuals in the area.” However, during the period the program was in place, from October 2019-April 2020, APD did not see a higher level of crime in that area as compared to other parts of downtown. The memo concludes, “Officers are most effective in providing a sense of security and well-being when they are able to freely move about their assigned area, interacting with downtown residents, visitors and business owners. Stationing officers at a particular intersection would limit that effectiveness. Therefore, APD recommends this request be closed, with the understanding that downtown officers will continue to pay special attention to the Red River and 7th Street area.”
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 by Tai Moses
Conference highlights state’s mobility challenges
Those interested in the state’s varied and complex mobility issues will meet many like minds at the 2020 Texas Mobility Summit, a two-day virtual conference that takes place today and tomorrow. The event is hosted by the Texas Innovation Alliance, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, “to provide a forum for transportation leaders to discuss the state of mobility and the role transportation will play in reinvigorating the Texas economy.” Panelists and speakers will tackle the state’s most pressing mobility challenges with the goal of finding shared solutions. Find a full schedule of events, a list of speakers and registration information here.
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 by Tai Moses
PARD lifts burn restrictions
All that cool wet stuff that was recently falling from the sky has done its job and moistened the fuel – aka the brushy vegetation that feeds wildfires – in city parks and greenbelts. In response, Austin’s parks department has lifted the burn restrictions that were in place. You are now free to grill burgers or toast s’mores over a fire ring – in designated picnic areas only, of course.
Monday, September 28, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
AISD and Austin prepare for a return to school
With in-person classes set to resume next week, Austin Independent School District has a new learning plan and a new dashboard. The Open for Learning plan covers the phased-in approach, transportation and things like on- and off-campus activities. The dashboard, which will track positive coronavirus cases and exposures in the district, will be updated weekly. AISD will resume in-person learning on Monday, Oct. 5. The move has been met with concern from teachers and district families, who would like to delay the reopening. Education Austin has asked for schools to remain shuttered until there is a 14-day decline in new cases, a positivity rate of less than 5 percent and a transmission rate of less than 1 percent.
Monday, September 28, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Second Come and Save It rally today
Austin Texas Musicians and the newly formed Amplified Sound Coalition are planning a second Come and Save It rally today, Sept. 28, at 11 a.m. at City Hall. The rally will solidify support for the city’s SAVES resolution and ask the city for a dedicated Music Venue Preservation Fund to save struggling venues and to establish a qualified grant administrator to distribute city grants to venues and the community. On Thursday, City Council will take up the proposed SAVES (Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors) resolution as Item 52 on its agenda. As written, that resolution would allocate $15 million to Covid-19 emergency relief for child care, music and arts venues, restaurants and bars.
Monday, September 28, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Central Austin Dems weigh in on Council races
Central Austin Democrats announced Sunday that it was endorsing David Chincanchan for the District 2 City Council seat and newcomer Jennifer Mushtaler for the District 6 seat currently held by Council Member Jimmy Flannigan. Mushtaler, an OB/GYN, emphasizes the fact that she is a doctor on her website. The group also endorsed incumbents Alison Alter (District 10), Leslie Pool (District 7) and Greg Casar (District 4). Flannigan, who has won a number of other endorsements, could certainly argue that the opinions of people who live outside his district should not be relevant to voters in his far northwest District 6. Opponents of Chincanchan could also argue that the opinions of central-city Democrats should have little sway in District 2, which is in Southeast Austin.
Monday, September 28, 2020 by Tai Moses
Stay healthy, fight the flu
Austin Public Health is pulling out all the stops to remind the community that it’s critical to get the flu vaccine this year – not just to protect yourself, but to protect your loved ones and the entire community. With Covid-19 still circulating throughout the U.S. population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone older than 6 months old get a flu shot. Dr. Mark Escott, Austin-Travis County interim health authority, said, “The flu and Covid-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses but are caused by different viruses. While both viruses may cause similar symptoms, fortunately, the flu has a vaccine available to prevent infection.” Visit VaccineFinder.org to find a nearby location to get your flu shot. Learn more about the flu in Austin here.
Friday, September 25, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Let the redistricting begin to begin!
Amid the Sturm und Drang that is now everyday life, it’s understandable if one has lost sight of the fact that Austin’s first City Council redistricting is fast approaching. Following the 2012 charter amendment that created the current single-member district system, an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission drew the first (and current) Council districts. Now it’s time to redraw those boundaries for the 2022 election. As a first step, the city auditor will randomly select three people to serve on the Applicant Review Panel, which oversees the formation of the ICRC. The random drawing will take place next Thursday, Oct. 1, at 9 a.m., and will be livestreamed on Facebook and ATXN. Find a list of the qualified applicants and more information about the process here.
Friday, September 25, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Environmental groups unite in favor of Project Connect
More than a dozen environmental advocacy groups have voiced their support for Proposition A and Project Connect, citing reductions in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions as top reasons to support the mass transit plan. “We’re literally at a crossroads in so many different ways in our nation and our community, and this is one big thing we can do that we can work together and feel better about,” said Tom Smith of Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance, during a Zoom web panel hosted by Bay Scoggin of Texas Public Interest Research Group. Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza also joined the discussion, with warnings of climate catastrophe already underway and disproportionately impacting marginalized communities. “Melting ice caps, hurricanes, droughts … all these things are happening right now … and doing nothing will only make things worse,” Garza said. “Fighting climate change is a matter of racial justice; it is a matter of true equity. And voting for Prop A and Project Connect is one of the most consequential things you can do to fight climate change.” In a post Thursday, Catherine Fraser of Environment Texas, a project of Environment America, wrote that the added local transit options could “avert 109 million vehicle miles of travel annually, reducing smog-forming pollution by 30 tons and global warming pollution by 43 tons every year.” David Foster of Clean Water Action also noted the historic $300 million investment in anti-displacement included in Prop A, which he said was a major reason the organization decided to endorse the plan. “It’s the right thing to do for traffic congestion, it’s the right thing to do for affordability and equity, and not least, it’s the right thing to do for the environment,” Foster said.
Friday, September 25, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
City pools to open Saturday
In welcome though slightly unseasonable news, public pools will be opening for fall, beginning Saturday, Sept. 26. A press release from the city explains, after “careful consideration of the local characteristics of the virus and related community priorities,” that it has “been determined that these re-openings may proceed safely during Stage 3: Covid-19: Risk-Based Guidelines.” As risk stages decrease, more parks facilities could open. And if virus activity increases, amenities and facilities could close again. A city FAQ explains the new, modified pool operations, and the initial opening schedules are below.