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Whispers
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 by Elizabeth Pagano
A moment of moment
Changes may be on the way for what is now being called the “opening moment” of City Council meetings. Council has always taken an ecumenical approach to the invocation that opens each of its regular meetings. The period has, in years past, been open to all of the city’s religious organizations (including the Satanic Temple, which never did manage to fit the meeting into its schedule). However, a post yesterday by Mayor Steve Adler indicates that the space for invocation may now be broadened even further. Adler states that, unless told otherwise, starting in August, the invocation will be expanded. “It is our custom here at City Council to start our meetings with a peaceful moment by inviting different people from walks of life and different faiths to share their prayers or moments of reflection. This is an important way that we celebrate the diversity that exists in our city and begin our meetings with everyone focused and aligned for the greater good,” he writes. “I’ve asked the Clerk not to limit our opening moment to prayers, but also to include opportunities for short poetry, meditation, moments of silence, etc. We will still be together quietly and thoughtfully, but we will see if we can get and maintain attention while staying in our seats. The Clerk was very positive about the idea and is eager to help expand our experience as described.” The change, he explains, is about context. “It is important that the Council makes it clear to the public that our opening moment is a celebration of diversity of thought in this city and that someone who walks into our meeting, without context, does not think we are endorsing or promoting any particular religion, or even religion itself.”
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 by Tai Moses
City moves ahead with Shoal Creek improvements
It’s taken about six months, but the city is finally ready to proceed with plans to create a two-way protected bikeway on the lower section of Shoal Creek Boulevard between 38th Street and Foster Lane. Known as Alternative E, this plan was the most popular with Austinites who participated in the community engagement process and offered their feedback. Among Alternative E’s other enhancements are improved intersections, new pedestrian crossings and sidewalks, and a new pedestrian and bike underpass. The upper section of Shoal Creek Boulevard hasn’t been forgotten: In a plan known as Alternative Y, a one-way protected bikeway will be built on both sides of the boulevard between Foster Lane to U.S. Highway 183. Construction will start later this summer. More details, and the public input and survey results, can be found here.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 by Tai Moses
One-way streets set to become two-way streets
The Austin Transportation Department is making some directional changes downtown. In alignment with the state’s Capitol Complex Master Plan, the department will be converting two downtown blocks – 17th and 18th streets between San Jacinto Boulevard and Trinity Street – from one-way streets to two-way streets. The conversion will take place Wednesday, June 26, and is expected to take no longer than a day, if the weather cooperates. The workers will keep at least one lane open on each street at any given time, in order to keep traffic moving along.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 by Tai Moses
Advocates rally for voting rights
A consortium of social justice groups are holding a rally in Austin to mark the sixth anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder, the SCOTUS decision that gutted voter protections in the Voting Rights Act and led to the rise of discriminatory voter ID laws across the country. Today, voting rights activists and their allies will demand that Congress pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR 4) and restore voting rights protections. Among those attending the rally are Nelson Linder, president of the Austin NAACP; Fidel Acevedo, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens Council 4227; Texas Rep. John H. Bucy III; Lewis Conway from Vote With Conviction; Bruce Elfant, Travis County’s tax assessor-collector; Craig Moore of Black Austin Democrats; and Zenén Jaimes Pérez, communications director of the Texas Civil Rights Project. Tuesday, June 25, 6 p.m. at Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second St.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 by Elizabeth Pagano
Another day, another round
On Thursday, Austin City Council did away with a number of ordinances that had the effect of criminalizing homelessness in the city. Though the crowd at the Council meeting was largely in support of that move, people remained divided on social media yesterday, with Gov. Greg Abbott leading the charge against the new status quo and several Council members reaffirming their commitment to the change.
.@GregAbbott_TX You are the Governor of Texas. Our state ranks near bottom on mental health access/spending, investments in public safety nets, and healthcare. You had 6 months to address the very real suffering of millions of Texans just trying to make ends meet. You did not. pic.twitter.com/yMtnjUNyRI
— Gregorio Casar (@GregCasar) June 24, 2019
I love when our Governor tweets opposition to a policy I supported. Just validates that I was on the right side. ✊🏽
— DeliaGarzaD2 (@DGarzaforD2) June 24, 2019
Austin’s plan to address homelessness focuses on public safety and public health but innovates to succeed where other cities are failing. Could be a national model and the State could be a constructive, proud partner. https://t.co/abhXHT4rpp https://t.co/7yq0WcnSif
— Mayor Adler (@MayorAdler) June 24, 2019
Monday, June 24, 2019 by Tai Moses
Smart Trips Austin launches 2019 program
Smart Trips Austin 2019, a partnership between the city and Capital Metro, has a simple-sounding goal: to help Austinites get around town without using their personal vehicles. This year’s program focuses on several East Austin neighborhoods and includes a digital toolkit to help people find the transportation solution that best fits their lifestyle, whether it’s walking, cycling, carpooling, taking the bus, or some other way to avoid sitting in traffic. Free events like organized strolls to music festivals make car-free mobility a fun way to stay healthy, while discounts and bus passes sweeten the deal considerably. Learn more and order your customized digital toolkit at smarttripsaustin.org.
Monday, June 24, 2019 by Tai Moses
Yarrabee Bend opens at Onion Creek park
Zilker Park too crowded this summer? Take your picnic blanket to the new Yarrabee Bend section of Onion Creek Metropolitan Park. This new section, which officially opened on Saturday, features 190 acres of parkland converted to its natural state along with 100 acres designated for recreation. There are 30 pavilions – one of them for extra-large gatherings – outfitted with picnic tables and grills, as well as a new restroom facility. Walking enthusiasts will enjoy the quarter-mile, half-mile and 1-mile granite loop paths. Yarrabee Bend will eventually join another 400 acres of Onion Creek park being developed to the south.
Friday, June 21, 2019 by Tai Moses
AAC asks for public’s help in finding stolen shelter pups
Austin Animal Center staff were horrified to find four dogs missing when they did their nightly inventory at the shelter. The four are all pit bull-type dogs that are friendly and socialized. The center has determined that Lilly and Dmitri went missing June 13 while Jeff and Rex vanished on June 17. Staff at first thought the dogs had been placed in foster care or transferred to another rescue group. Upon determining the four had been stolen, AAC filed a police report with the Austin Police Department. AAC asks for the public’s help in finding the missing pups and returning them to the shelter where they can be safely cared for until their forever homes are found. Lilly is a 1-year-old female blue pit mix who weighs 58 pounds; Dmitri is a 2-year-old male tan Staffordshire mix who weighs 44 pounds; Jeff is a 2-year-old male white pit mix who weighs 69 pounds; and Rex is a 2-year-old, male, black Staffordshire mix who weighs 62 pounds. If you see a dog fitting any of these descriptions, please call 311 right away and report their location.
Clockwise from top left: Lilly, Dmitri, Jeff and Rex. Photo courtesy Austin Animal Center.
Friday, June 21, 2019 by Tai Moses
Summer pilot doubles bus service to Zilker Park
A summertime partnership between the city, Capital Metro and Austin Parks Foundation means Austinites can enjoy weekends at Zilker Park without having to search for a parking space or sit in traffic. Doubling bus service on MetroBus Route 30, which serves Zilker Park, ensures that a bus will come every 20 minutes on weekends, while the program is in effect. Bus riders will also get a $2 discount to Barton Springs Pool and Zilker Botanical Garden, thanks to a contribution from Austin Parks Foundation, which was facilitated by District 5 City Council Member Ann Kitchen. “Zilker Park is one of Austin’s jewels, and I’m thrilled that Cap Metro and Austin Parks Foundation are making it easier for everyone to access Barton Springs and the Botanical Garden,” said Kitchen, in a press release announcing the pilot. “These kinds of partnerships are what will help Project Connect make real, transformational change for everyone throughout Central Texas.” The promotion runs from Saturday, June 22, to Sunday, Aug. 18, at the two pairs of bus stops in front of Barton Springs and Zilker Botanical Garden.
Friday, June 21, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Local lawyer presents plan for Barton Springs bypass gate
Ever since a woman drowned while tubing in Barton Creek on Memorial Day 2016, Joe Riddell, an environmental attorney and avid inner tuber, has been working on a new design for the bypass tunnel grate where she was trapped. Armed with a cardboard diorama and an action figure, Riddell presented his plan to redesign the grate to make it easier for a swimmer or inner tuber to grab and climb to safety. The current grate was replaced in 2013 from the original 1975 design that was fondly termed the “trash rack.” Riddell, who sat on the city’s Environmental Board when the original grate was installed in the 1970s, acknowledged that there were issues with the first design, too, but one important difference was the angle of the bars, which were at a significantly lower pitch than those of the new grate. Neither design, however, is a solution. “I think some thinking out of the box is important here,” Riddell said. “It’s a tricky situation.” To help generate ideas, he suggested offering the project to some university engineering students as a term project. Chair Linda Guerrero, who served on the Barton Springs Master Plan task force, said that when the new grate was designed, “it was extremely controversial.” The Environmental Commission agreed that the safety of the Barton Springs bypass culvert merited some investigation and unanimously passed a motion to recommend that City Council investigate its safety concerns.
Thursday, June 20, 2019 by Jo Clifton
New Planning Commissioners named
At the end of Wednesday’s special called meeting, Council approved appointments to several commissions, including the Planning Commission. Mayor Steve Adler said, “Volunteer service to this commission is critical and we’re fortunate to have a group of individuals who are willing to volunteer their time. The city charter recognizes that Planning Commission members who are directly or indirectly connected to real estate or land development should only comprise one third of the full commission. And we believe that with this slate of appointees we have a commission that fulfills the charter’s language and intent.” Community activist Fred Lewis had questioned whether the previous commission was in compliance with that charter provision and Attorney General Ken Paxton sued eight commissioners alleging a charter violation. Adler said that in light of that provision, as well as Council’s desire for a broad range of experience on the commission, applicants were required to complete a form describing their background and experience. He said that information is available to the public. The new members of the commission include Claire Hempel, appointed by Council Member Paige Ellis, and Carmen Llanes-Pulido, appointed by Council Member Kathie Tovo. The new commissioners will join the group July 1. The reappointments include Fayez Kazi (Garza), Patricia Seeger (Alter), Greg Anderson (Flannigan), Conor Kenny (Casar), Patrick Howard (Harper-Madison), and three from Adler: Awais Azhar, Yvette Flores and James Shieh. James Schissler, an engineer, and Karen McGraw, an architect, will no longer be on the commission. However, Ellis appointed Schissler to the Downtown Commission.
Thursday, June 20, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Austin Water gets an oversight committee
City Council voted Wednesday to create an oversight committee to review issues related to the Austin Water Utility. According to the ordinance, such issues range from the utility’s mission and strategic plans to its major purchases and financial status. Council Member Jimmy Flannigan likely had the state’s tax cap bill in mind when he spoke against the ordinance on the grounds that the estimated nearly $100,000 annual cost should be spent elsewhere. However, Mayor Steve Adler said this is a similar situation to Austin Energy, which has an oversight committee that meets nearly every month. With the water utility being a billion-dollar company, Adler said it’s worth it to have that separate oversight. Though he noted, “I don’t know how often it needs to meet.” The ordinance passed 9-1 with Flannigan opposed and Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison off the dais.