Monthly Archives: May 2008

(Community Matters) California U.S. Rep Dennis Cardoza who co-chairs Senator Clinton’s Hispanic Leadership Council has now endorsed Senator Obama. here

(Community Matters) Senator Obama spoke on Friday in Miami at the Cuban American National Foundation:

excerpts:

. . . . It’s time for more than tough talk that never yields results. It’s time for a new strategy. There are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban Americans. That’s why I will immediately allow unlimited family travel and remittances to the island. It’s time to let Cuban Americans see their mothers and fathers, their sisters and brothers. . . .

We cannot ignore suffering to our south, nor stand for the globalization of the empty stomach. Responsibility rests with governments in the region, but we must do our part. I will substantially increase our aid to the Americas, and embrace the Millennium Development Goals of halving global poverty by 2015. We’ll target support to bottom-up growth through micro financing, vocational training, and small enterprise development. It’s time for theUnited States to once again be a beacon of hope and a helping hand. . . .

Trade must be part of this solution. But I strongly reject the Bush-McCain view that any trade deal is a good deal. We cannot accept trade that enriches those at the top of the ladder while cutting out the rungs at the bottom. It’s time to understand that the goal of our trade policy must be trade that works for all people in all countries. Like Central America’s bishops, I opposed CAFTA because the needs of workers were not adequately addressed. I supported the Peru Free Trade Agreement because there were binding labor and environmental provisions. That’s the kind of trade we need – trade that lifts up workers, not just a corporate bottom line.

There’s nothing protectionist about demanding that trade spreads the benefits of globalization, instead of steering them to special interests while we short-change workers at home and abroad. If John McCain believes – as he said the other day – that 80 percent of Americans think we’re on the wrong track because we haven’t passed free trade with Colombia, then he’s totally out of touch with the American people. And if John McCain thinks that we can paper over our failure of leadership in the region by occasionally passing trade deals with friendly governments, then he’s out of touch with the people of the Americas. . . .

(Community Matters) Brett’s one of my undergraduates. I raced back from Llano today to attend his commissioning as a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corp.

Lt. Brett Lester on the right

Admiral Bobby Inman

Admiral Inman has been an important mentor to Brett during the last year. He agreed to speak at the commissioning and to pin Brett with his two bars.

(Community Matters) Spent the night at the KDK Ranch with Janet, Kent & Kent’s family. They’re like my own. Good gosh, grew up with them during my 30’s.

Gilford, Janet, Kent, Jane, Talley, Deb & Jose
four of their kids joined us later last night

Kent & Janet led a fishing expedition this morning

Last night we celebrated Gilford’s 29th birthday. Tonight an even bigger bash celebrating Janet’s.

(Community Matters) This patriotic woman had staked out a spot on Hwy 71.

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(Community Matters) Tonight the Austin Lyric Opera is celebrating one of our best friends, Tana Christie.

Steven will represent us this evening at the Long Center. I’m heading to Llano to celebrate (a day early) Janet Harman’s & Gilford Mayes’ birthdays since I’m unable to make the big bash tomorrow – a important situation has come up related to my earlier post.

(Community Matters) “Ask your county clerk if they were a Nazi officer during WWII and had been ordered to gas the Jews, would they? At the Nuremberg trials, they would have been convicted of murder for following this immoral order.”

What do you imagine this might refer to? Who would make such a vicious comparison? here

Evidently the group has edited their posting. Originally:

(Community Matters) Finally GOP members of the US Senate are showing some chutzpah and voting for the people they represent rather than he imbecile we elected as president. here

(Community Matters) I’ve just written to cancel all my meetings next week. Will be spending the week in Houston with a friend at MD Anderson. Last week, received a call that there was a suspicious finding. Monday biopsy. Tuesday, results that it is follicular lymphoma. As a couple of oncologist have said, if you have to have cancer, it’s the one to have – slow growing and you can live with it a long time. Wednesday friends helped cut through red tape. Thursday the friend faxed necessary information to MD Anderson. This morning, they called with the good news friend is accepted and his preferred oncologist has a Tuesday appointment available.

I won’t mention friend’s name in this posting, though mutual friends know who it is. Our friend is doing better than to be expected. It’s striking to me how much effort is required of him to just answer calls and emails from so many friends and family – yeah, I know I’m a huge contributor to this too. I’ve told him he doesn’t have to prioritize these at the same time he’s pulling together medical records, insurance information and all sorts of other information, as well as needing to get some rest. So, I hope he becomes slow to respond to all of us. Feel free to email me for more information.

(Community Matters) Andrews Urban hosted an opening night party for the downtown 360 Residences last night. Hard to believe owners of the lower floor units start moving in next week. It’ll be at least July before tenants (430 units) move into mid level floors (20s). Not sure about top floors, up to 44. Regrettably, the persons occupying the two, two story penthouses with private decks on the roof would kill me for disclosing. Dang, same with the Four Seasons’ 11k sq ft penthouse 😦

360 Residences

360 developer, Taylor Andrews (right) with dad & stepmom

Robert Torian joined me for the opening

Forrest, Linda, James & Larry
Forrest & Linda have already closed on their unit and should be moving in next week, I believeDavid Smith, Gene, John Hildreth, Michael Schaelling & Kenny Phillips

Michael & Kenny are moving here from Miami. New friends of John’s through a friend in Dallas. Nice guys, immediately liked them.

Charles Gentry
He’s in the 20s so not until July

Long Center CEO Cliff Redd and Rick Johnson

Cliff always gracious, we talked ever so briefly about Steven’s new play and he reinforced how much the Long Center would like to present it. Good gosh, the only guy more proud than Taylor this year has got to be Cliff.

Dot.com entrepreneur Sam Reed and Kaylie Dienelt
They’ll be in the 20s too

artist Jason Siegel & fashion editor/Austin’s Stephen Moser

uShip founder, Jay Manickam & Mousum Shaw

Hill Country Conservancy’s CEO, George Cofer & Mary Elizabeth

sunset from the gym, one level above the club room & pool

I’m blown away by how well they’ve done on this project at such well managed costs. Different project from Four Seasons, Austonian or the W which are about much bigger units. Nevertheless, great buys and lots of fun. Congratulations Taylor!

(Community Matters) Kirk Rudy & I hosted the launch of the Austin Obama Leadership Council this afternoon at the Headliners. An intentionally small group for the launch, those attending today each agreed to raise at least $2,500 for the June 9 Obama ’08 fundraiser featuring campaign co-chair, David Axelrod.

Senator Watson popped in to meet & greet

National Finance Committe Member Alexa Lange (from Austin Kirk Rudy, John Gorman & Tommie Meredith are also on the committee. I’m on the National Leadership Council and Latino Leadership Team) is also involved in this launch. Initial members include: Ian Davis, Amy Everhart, Cis Meyers, David Kobierowski, Michael Feferman, Rachel Hull, Callie Langford, Matt Glazer, Dan Grant, Jason Heffron, Ben Bufkin, Tom Terkel, Janice Cartwright, Joseph Lapp, Justin Smith, Ramey Ko, Justin Day & Jason Thumlert.

(Community Matters) Yesterday we hosted an Austin Community Foundation reception at the Four Seasons to introduce donors to our new President & CEO, Dr. Ken Gladish. Contributors have established nearly 600 donor-advised and special project funds totaling $110-ish million – in addition to ACF discretionary funds.

Once again the developers of the Four Seasons Residences were our gracious hosts.

Four Seasons Residences developers Brett Denton & Art Carpenter surrounding former first lady, Marina Garcia

ACF trustees Sylvia Acevedo, JoLynn Free & former mayor Gus Garcia

Associate executive director & general counsel, MariBen Ramsey & trustee Mandy Dealey

some of our Hill Country donors: Caroline Seriff, Midge, Barbara & John

Brett, Art and I had a good conversation about the downtown condo market, especially comparing & categorizing the various developments: 1) at the very top end a) Four Seasons Residences, b) Austonian and c) The W; 2) the next tier: a) 360 Condos, b) Spring, c) Ovation. Very interesting discussion about values, target residents, etc. I don’t know much about the W except that my friend Jan Lindelow is customizing a very cool two units and Beau Armstrong et al the developers. A couple of friends moving into the Four Seasons. The Seriffs have purchased a unit at the Austonian and that’s being developed by friend Terry Mitchell.

The Austin Community Foundation is a super & important organization. It’s my sixth year on the board of directors, my second term as chair of the investments committee, served one year as treasurer. Ken is a complete find for this organization. He’s a national rock star in philanthropy, a real asset for Austin & Central Texas.