Daily Archives: 05/22/2009

(Community Matters)
Driving down S. Congress behind a huge pickup, Aggie & Jesus window stickers and an image of Jesus with crown of thorns on the tailgate. Obviously a state official given the license plates. We mix it up in Texas. Posted from my blackberry

(Community Matters) A touching NPR story about a father who lost his son to the war in Iraq and his chance encounter meeting the trauma nurse who treated him.

(Community Matters) Zagat’s new Paris restaurant edition just released – now there’s some holiday inspiration 🙂

(Community Matters) New Pew poll: from 43 to 43 in 2001 – percentage Americans identifying as Democrats vs Republicans – to 53 to 36 (a 17 point swing). Economy & jobs by far the most significant issues, followed by healthcare and education. From a partisanship perspective, pleased to see the shift. From a balanced perspective, it behooves us all to have two strong parties and it tempts us (Ds) too much to not have strong opposition (see Frank Rich’s May 3 column).

Even among voters now identifying as Democrats, such a wide gulf between those who believe we should “guarantee everybody enough to eat and a place to sleep” and that we “should care for those who can’t care for themselves.” This blows me away. I don’t have the perspective of how anyone disagrees with either of these statements – this my major political vulnerability since many (most Americans) disagree with both sentiments. Seems almost impossible to hold together the coalition that today calls themselves Democrats & Independents – though a nice challenge for Obama to have since represent a vast majority of the country.

Brings me to Austin politics. Many discussions about the mayor’s race. The polls weren’t wrong, it was very tight and Brewster could have won. We ran a very bad race. Completely outflanked in strategy, experience and ground game (what ground game?). Allowed Lee’s well-run, well-planned campaign to paint it as a business candidate (Brewster) against a Democrat (Lee). Conceded endorsements even before they were decided and then pissed off those constituencies by an aloofness/indifference toward the whole process. We forgot that all politics are local and failed to walk the blocks, ask for votes and remind supporters to vote. At one point the election was ours to lose; we lost it. I said all along I wouldn’t lose a night’s sleep if Lee Leffingwell won, and I haven’t. Lee’s always been a thoughtful, deliberate thinker and decision maker, and I know he’ll continue to be. Brewster’s a close friend and I feel many of us let him down by allowing his campaign to get so far off track.

(Community Matters) I hope there’s an autopsy when he passes away. If there is, I suspect we’ll find damage to some lobe or nook of his brain that has corrupted his thinking and perspective – seriously. His colleagues from previous administrations routinely talked about how they didn’t even recognize the Dick Cheney who was VP. I’m convinced the man isn’t all there. Wouldn’t be surprised to learn that one of his heart attacks or strokes resulted in brain damage – and we’ve been listening to him, taking him seriously for the last 8+ years.

(Community Matters) Richard Florida on the economy (even more on the sustainability of US capitalism)

There is enormous speculation in the media, fed by statements by government officials, with regard to the question whether the current economic downturn has reached, or will soon reach, its bottom and start upward. I believe this speculation, and the data and opinions on which it is based, are of little value, probably too little to guide individual or business decisions. People got tired of reading about economic gloom and doom, so the media were happy to play up indications that the worst was over.

(Community Matters) Richard Florida, author of The Creative Class, is guest blogging on The Daily Dish this week.

In The Economy of Cities, Jacobs controversially argued that virtually all of economic growth traces back to cities; in her view, cities actually precede agriculture. Early cities, according to Jacobs, spurred agricultural development by providing trading centers for agricultural products.

While it’s common to think of suburbs as draining off city assets, today’s metropolitan areas with their urban cores and suburban and ex-urban rings, are really expanded cities. Up until the early-to-mid 20th century, cities were able to capture peripheral growth by annexing new development, until suburbs figured out they could prosper by becoming independent municipal entities – thus the now-famous concentric-ring or, in some cases, the hole-in-the-donut pattern of our metro regions. The growth of gargantuan mega-regions like the Boston-New York-Washington corridor is essentially the next phase of this process of geographic development.

It’s important to understand how these two interrelated geographic processes – outward geographic expansion and the more intensive use of existing urban space – combine to shape economic progress.

Always enjoy Richard’s insights. Surprised he didn’t take this piece just a bit further and call for revisions in metropolitan governing structures – which are long overdue.

(Community Matters) When I heard last week that Gallup’s latest poll showed most Americans considered themselves pro-life (51%), I wondered about the specifics of the poll. A NYTimes article sheds some light. Seems 75% think abortion should be legal some or all of the time. yeah, what they say about statistics.

(Community Matters) ABJ: Austin #13 according to a Priceline survey. Four European destinations listed too. hmm, now I’ve got travel envy.

(Community Matters) At today’s Anti-Defamation League executive committee meeting, Jeff Newberg officially passed the baton to Steve Adler.

Steve Adler presenting outgoing board chair Jeff Newberg with a gift

Big changes approved. The program in Austin has been so successful we are now splitting the responsibilities of the Jewish Community Relations Council and ADL. Lisa Goodgame has decided to stay with JCRC, so we’re looking for an executive director (called a community director since we’re a satellite of Houston). The position will pay well. Those interested should apply through the Houston ADL office (Martin Cominsky) which is accumulating applications and will coordinate vetting and interviewing with our search committee.

Megan Flowers reported outstanding work (once again) with our No Place For Hate program in local schools.

We elected the following officers for the year starting in July: Steve Adler (chair), Lily Saad (exec vc), civil rights co-chairs: Jeremy Levine & Jon Soifer (Irwin Salmanson & Kathy Lindeauer sub committee chairs), Education co-chairs: Judy Berkowitz & Sherri Frachtman, Development: Robyn Sperling & Marcia Levy, GLI: Ben Kogut and Jeff Newberg as our past chair.

And, our 2009 Torch of Liberty Honorees were announced. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say who they are. I will say they are two of my favorite people in the whole world, and Steven and I are thrilled! mazal tov