Monthly Archives: December 2009

(Community Matters) 27 Democrats voted no – along with all 175 voting Republicans – against a Consumer Financial Protection Agency and other enhanced consumer protections.  No big surprise, the Blue Dogs voting with the big banks.  No surprise, Waco’s Chet Edwards also voting against protecting consumers and for the banks.  I don’t understand why nationally, Democrats continue supporting Chet.   The Nation

Chet voted against the House health care reform bill

He voted against inclusion of LGBT community in Hate Crimes

(Community Matters) Don’t F#@k with us!

(Community Matters) Despite my enthusiasm & loyalty for President Obama and his administration, I’m teetering on the edge of becoming a populist.  Our failure to rein in out of control greed and self-interest in America’s financial system threatens our democracy as much as any external forces.

btw, it’s not as if we shouldn’t expect the warriors to fight (or the financiers to be greedy).  It’s our elected representatives who we expect to regulate and legislate.  That many are too weak to resist persuassion otherwise is the problem.

(Community Matters) Just arrived LHR. Congratulations Mayor-elect Parker. Colt, you were robbed.

(Community Matters) Met Steven in NYC last night, dinner out with our dear friend Rob Oppegard, crashing at his East Village lair.  It’s a beautiful day here in the City, headed out for breakfast at 7th St, some errands, lunch with director/actor Katie Pearl (in the middle of the run of her show, Terrible Things), then our interview with immigration and customs.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) many thanks

Today, International Human Rights Day, a group of governments and NGOs organized a major panel on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN General Assembly. Activists from Honduras, India, the Philippines, Uganda, and Zambia spoke about both violence and progress in their countries. **And the Vatican delivered a statement that stunned many people in the UN chamber, saying they oppose discriminatory penal legislation against homosexual persons and calling on all States and individuals to respect the rights of all persons. Father Philip Bene, legal attaché to the Holy See’s UN mission, delivered it.

(Community Matters) 

(Community Matters) Woke up this morning to this carnage from (evidently) a raccoon raid of our koi pond.  Michelle was one of the two remaining large koi – Barack had gone missing a couple of months ago.  I am sad.

(Community Matters) Very cool that Councilmember Mike Martinez & Lara and State Rep Eddie Rodriguez & Tash are representing Austin on the Anti-Defamation Leauge tour of Israel for Hispanic leaders.  thanks, guys

(Community Matters) I hope Council will stop this rush to “protect the neighborhoods.“

Many neighborhood activists promoting this do not have the city’s long term development interests in mind; it’s meant to reinforce NIMBYism and preclude changes which would enhance density and new urbanism. It’s also quite elitist.

Mayor Leffingwell and Councilmember Morrison, the citizen’s committees do not represent the broader sentiments of Austinites.  For the most part, those on these advisory bodies are ideological preservationists who wouldn’t have approved MoPac or Loop 360 – nor will they provide for the city’s best long term development interests.

btw, I don’t begrudge these ideological activists – that’s their thing – and they serve long & hard hours as volunteers.  I just don’t think it is in the city’s long term best interests.  Also, I may want a historical designation in the future to save myself half of very high property taxes – who wouldn’t.  Doesn’t mean I should receive this.  I’ve seen really flimsy reason for designation (even supported by staff). That our house was designed by UT’s first dean of architecture and was built to commercial standards by an important Austin merchant . . .

(Community Matters) Wonderful evening last night with some of our oldest and dearest friends – Tana & Joe Christie, Janet Maykus, Mark Smith, Nico Selby, Michael Mitchell, Robert Torian, Milinda Mitchell and Luke Hayes. Cynthia and Libby Perez (Las Manitas sisters) make a mean tamale.  They are total sweethearts and sent me three dozen of their to-die-for pork & olive oil, chicken & olive oil and cheese & poblano homemade/family stock.  A wonderful time had by all before we ship off to parts hither and yonder – though most remassing in Marfa for new years eve.

We missed Steven who’s in Philly