Monthly Archives: May 2008

(Community Matters) . . . . it pours

Austin Chronicle on even more silliness from the Jennifer Kim campaign. This time, unfortunately, even catching up our friends in her campaign shenanigans. AusChron report (scroll down midway) – see “She Said What” here

(Community Matters) In North Carolina, Zogby and Rasmussen polls show Obama regaining points after midweek beating. In Indiana, Clinton still ahead but by a decreasing margin.

(Community Matters) Autocar.co.uk reports that BMW may bring back the Isetta to satisfy CA zero emissions requirements – could be a global seller too.

Hat Tip: Towelroad

(Community Matters) Silly to completely ban neighborhood parking during perfect storm scenarios. The Bouldin neighborhood, which argued against additional capacity for Long Center parking, is now exempted from helping play at least a limited role in the solution? Too many Bouldin residents are engaged and community-minded for this to accurately reflect their positions. Though, I realize neighborhood leaders sometimes err on over protecting those elected to represent. The negotiated solutions should include broader expectations. here

(Community Matters) A weapon in his arsenal or the Achilles heel? here

(Community Matters) Earlier this week the Austin American Stateman reported on Jennifer Kim’s condemnation of Randi Shade for support from community leaders including Gary Farmer, Brian Cassidy, Pete Winstead, Don Martin and Paul Bury. It also noted many of them supported Jennifer for her first term, and that she sought their support for this election

“It’s hypocritical. She asked for our support and when she found out she would not get it, she changed positions and we went from being great guys to being the bad guys,'” said Farmer, a toll road proponent who leads the Opportunity Austin program for the Chamber of Commerce.

David Armbrust of Armbrust & Brown said Kim also asked him to donate to and raise money for her this year before he backed Shade.

Burnt Orange Report reports that Jennifer tried to hire the lobbyist, campaign consultant she now condemns Randi for hiring. There’s even an audio tape of a voice message from Jennifer for Mark Nathan. here

(Community Matters) I like my new blog platform (blogger) and the available statistics. Admittedly recovering in daily hits. And, I’m disappointed I’m not getting hits from S. America or Antartica. Love the world map.

(Community Matters) Joined Terry Mitchell and David Mahn at their table along with Will Meredith on behalf of the entire Meredith family for today’s Envision Central Texas Community Stewardship Awards. Our Chestnut Commons development here was one of two finalist for the redevelopment award. The other finalist was Catellus & the City of Austin for the Robert Mueller Airport Redevelopment. Not surprisingly, the Robert Mueller Development project won – nice company to make it to the finalists with!

Greg Weaver accepting the Redevelopment Award

Taylor Andrews accepting the New Development Award for the 360 Condominiums, Andrews Urban & Novare Group

Rep. Mike Krusee accepting the Pioneer Award

Super community leader, Pete Winsted received the W. Neal Kocurek Legacy Award

Keynote speaker: John Fregonese

John gave the keynote, a presentation mostly on trends. Some interesting tidbits I recall: Austin’s average age is 34yo vs a national average of 38. The US population is growing faster than at any other time in history. There will be 100 million new Americans by 2040, 70 million more in 10 cities – Austin is one of these. In Portland, bicylcing rivals mass transit as a utlized source of transit. It costs little to nothing. [I’m reminded what Mayor Krom said yesterday: critics complain about the per capita user costs of mass transit but ignore the equal or higher costs of roads and auto transit]. People in Portland spend 15% of their income on transit (2nd lowest after NYC). People in Houston spend 23%. “A vision without action is a hallucination.”

Congratulations to all the award winners.

btw, PeopleFund was a finalist for the Pioneer Award for pioneering its land trust, PeopleTrust.

(Community Matters) Steven and I made the Fuse Box rounds last night, attending Stacked Cow & Other Dances at Salvage Vanguard, Masturwork at Mexi-Arte and Reggie Watts at the Long Center.

Choreographer Deborah Hay & ST at Salvage Vanguard

At Mexi-Arte for Masturwork. It was especially fun to see their work since we’ve met most of these artists from Mexico City.

Maximo & Raquel Olvera

Soledad Labaca Gonnet

Soledad & Maximo’s partner, poet Ivan Buenader

Finally, at the Long Center we were joined by several guests to see the “tornado on a stage,” Andy Kaufman award winner, Reggie Watts.

Reggie Watts – ck him out here

Lily Saad and Barbara Engel

Kimberly & Dan Renner

Festival producer Ron Berry & Angie Carter

Others who joined us for Reggie Watts: Yigal Saad, Carla & Jack McDonald, Kristi & Scott Eckert and Jill McRae & Stephen Yelenosky.

(Community Matters) First time to the Mexican American Cultural Center last night. It’s located in the Rainey Street neighborhood, just west of I-35, south of Cesar Chavez Blvd.

(Community Matters) PeopleFund sponsored a lunch presentation by Irvine, CA Mayor Beth Krom as part of its PeopleTalk series yesterday at the Alamo Drafthouse. Mayor Krom is a UT alum who’s lived in Irvine since 1985 as a teacher, business owner, mother and now mayor. She created Irvine’s land trust to promote long-high quality affordable housing. Mayor Will Wynn was on hand for introductions.

PeopleFund has launched its land trust (PeopleTrust) – under the governance of a support organization overseen by Margo Weisz, Jim Walker, Mike Cook and Don Kendrick and run by Kelly Weiss (attorney & former manager of city housing programs). We run the affordable housing programs for Matt Whelan and Catellus at the Robert Mueller Airport development.

Mayor Krom, Kelly Weiss, Margo Weisz

Lots of friends in yesterday’s audience including Carol Thompson, Hank Jones, Henrietta and Adrian Neely, Debbie Ramirez, Sean Garretson, Stuart Hersch and Cathy Echols. Tom Terkel and RECA co-hosted the dinner honoring Mayor Krom.