Monthly Archives: February 2011

(Community Matters) Reprinted with permission from Stratfor

While the so-called Jasmine protests of Feb. 20 did not manifest significant force or a high degree of cohesion, they could have been an attempt to start a broad-based movement in China. If so, it will be important to monitor if and how such a movement might evolve nationwide. The social and economic change that China has experienced in the recent past and will no doubt see in the coming years could unify the masses, regardless of respective grievances, and could lead to larger, more disruptive events.

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(Community Matters) AAS on proposal from SW Keys to take over Eastside Memorial High School

An in-district charter would have been my first expectation but we should be open to all viable proposals. If SW Key can demonstrate a viable and sustainably funded business model for this school and  a history of success running charters, trustees should consider the proposal. AISD has tried everything. Friends and I even launched a Johnson H.S. Foundation many years ago in the middle of principal musical chairs. Any deal should have clear performance metrics – failure to achieve these objectives should allow AISD trustees a quick exit to try other options. A 99-year lease seems rather overly ambitious.

this posting updated after an AAS comment: “EACP was well below the state average in Reading/ELA (74% vs. 90%), mathematics (67% vs. 84%) and all tests taken (58% vs 77%) for the only grade the taught last year — grade 6. Not very impressive numbers considering they only taught 22 sixth graders within their whole system.You can research the numbers using this site: http://tiny.cc/336zf

Why does anyone think Southwest Key would do a better job than AISD? The scant evidence that exists does not inspire. The dirty little secret that no one seems to want to acknowledge is that overall, charter school performance is poor — much worse than public school performance. Southwest Key shows no signs of being one of the charter school exceptions that get all the media attention (e.g., KIPP).”

I’ve previously expressed reservations about SWKeys. Of course, my endorsement is conditioned on transparency and assumes their board and management has corrected any conflicts of interest. This should be a point of discovery, negotiations and approval of any deal

(Community Matters) Terrific fundraiser for our friend Ft. Worth Council member Joel Burns organized by Aimee Boone. Joel speculated that we’ve known each other for 15 years. I was thinking about this, it’s probably 12.He and his partner J.D. Angle are extreme community stewards.

Joel’s smart, gracious, dedicated and Ft Worth proud – represents his residents and our LGBT community very well.

The hosts of yesterday’s event were Aimee, me & ST and Robert Nash. Sponsors included: Elma & James Aldrete, Robbie & Tom Ausley, Hon. Andy Brown (my breakfast date this morning – what a terrifically effective D chair), Amy & Steve Bruno, Harold Cook, Richard Craig, Aaron Day, Matteson Ellis, Rachel Ferris, Michael Foster, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, Heidi Gerbracht, David Glassco, Rachel Glast, Ryan Hammond, Sondra Halton, Jane Hedgepeth, HillCo Partners, Ikard Wynne LLP, Charlie Jackson, Robert Jones, MariBen Ramsey & Karen Kahan, Hon Ann Kitchen, Patsy & Ed Martin, Yael Ouzilou & Richard Merren, Kim Taylor & Spencer Miller-Payne, Bonnie Mills, Emily Amps Mora, Anne Olson, Douglas Plummer, Robin Rather, Beverly Reeves, Ellen Richards, Debra Richmond, Neesha Dave & Jeff Rotkoff, Barbara Schlief & Shelley Smith, Samantha Smoot, Emily & Dennis Speight, Ken Lambrecht & Ken Stein, Tanya Tarr, Wyeth Wiedeman

(Community Matters)

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(Community Matters) sad that Congressman Lloyd Doggett continues to block Judge Robert Pitman’s nomination as US Attorney, Texas’ Western District.

Despite drawing the *most* excellent of ratings of 42 local judges in the annual bar poll in 2009and 2010, despite impeccable qualifications having served as assistant, deputy and acting US Attorney Texas’ Western District . . . Lloyd continues to block Robert’s nomination – I believe either because he is gay (&  the Congressman unwilling to risk displeasure of other constituents) or because Cornyn and Hutchinson have approved his nomination. Of course, since Senator Leahy requires endorsement from a state’s senator, this is critical. And, of course, Lloyd’s first choice also had the endorsement of the senators. However, Lloyd’s first nominee was not gay – nor did he enjoy anywhere near the respect of his peers nor the eminence of qualifications.

For this 13 years as a prosecutor, Robert received universal praise – AAS story here.

Congressman Doggett – who has refused to even return Judge Pitman’s calls much less meet with him to explain his position for 2.5 years – responds to inquires by deflecting – either noting that the White House is dragging its feet (this isn’t true, they are ready to proceed with Robert’s nomination – everyone agrees he’s the best candidate), or that this nomination should be held up until others are filled, or that Senator Cornyn is hijacking the nominations process, then further deflecting by noting that Senator Cornyn is not our friend. While Senator Cornyn has certainly not supported LGBT equality, he very explicitly & publicly supports Judge Pitman’s nomination fully aware & willing to stand up for a gay nominee. Sadly, this is not the case for our own Congressional representative.

update: Originally, Lloyd said it was time to support a Hispanic nominee, thus why he support for someone other than Travis County’s #1 jurist. Then it had to also be someone from Bexar County. Then when that candidate withdrew, it didn’t have to be a Hispanic, it was Michael Bernard. Then it became a non-Hispanic and a Travis County resident – who Lloyd actually recruited to throw his name in the hat (Scott) – anyone but Robert.

(Community Matters) Hard for our family to be any more enthusiastic about TEDxAustin, its founders (Nancy Giordano & Jen Spencer) and their team – Stacy Weitzer (co-curator), Mary Baird-Wilcox, Lionel Felix, Romy Suskin, Shannon Mehner, Kelley Burrus, Jerry Giordano and Jennifer Loveland.

Robyn O’Brien had the audience on their seat’s edge as she shed light on the food industry – citing high US cancer rates ever since bio-engineering of American farm produce (which isn’t allowed in Europe or other Western countries and their cancer rates are materially lower). Joaquin Zihuatanejo brought me to tears reciting poetry in street cadence, reflecting on violence & the heritage of sacrifice among youth – watch Joaquin here.

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(Community Matters) celebrating Suzanne Deal Booth’s birthday

(Community Matters) it’s officially okay to now cite who’s speaking and playing today at TEDxAustin:

Mother Falcon, Robin O’Brien, Tavo Hellmund, Peter Hall, Osama Beider, Gilbert Tuhabonye, Flint Sparks, Gary Thompson,The Intergalatic Nemesis, Sylvia Acevedo, Sunny Vanderbeck, Dr. Lionel Tiger, Dr. Ralf Wagner, Dustin Haisler, Gregory Kallenberg, The Unfolding Song, Joaquin Zihuatanejo

The Entrepreneurs Foundation proud to be the event’s founding sponsor. Steven Tomlinson, Margaret Keys & Nancy Graves played a big role this year too. Dachis Group the premier event sponsor.

(Community Matters)

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) huge weekend . . . our very dear friends Amy Grace Tharp & Doug Ulman getting married, another dear friend celebrating her birthday this evening, TEDxAustin happening – sponsor dinner this evening, the RIGHT NOW event all day tomorrow, Chris Fabre retirement party, beginning of Kip Keller’s & Michael Barnes’ Surfside Reading Week (see u guys later in nxt week), and two of our favorite Marfa friends, Tim Johnson & Caitlin Murray – owners of Marfa Book Company – our house guests on Sunday.

(Community Matters) Austin will miss Four Seasons general manager, Tom Segesta. During his tenure (8ish years?) Tom’s become a leader in Austin’s community and of course oversees Austin’s most important hospitality property. Friends, clients and guests turned out yesterday to say goodbye to Tom and hello to the new GM, Rob Hagelberg, who has transferred from their Westlake Village property in LA.

Sad to see Tom leave Austin, though imagine my future travel schedule will provide frequent opportunities to stay in his new domains, the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton  in Chicago.

The ballroom full of well wishers including Lynn Meredith, Pete & Tomi Winstead (still swooming over the well deserved tribute at Wed’s ADL jurisprudence luncheon), Charles Barnett, Susan Lubin (who’s chairing the upcoming Seton gala), Mort & Bobby Topfer, Armando Zambrano & Brian Gardner, c/m Randi Shade & Kayla Shell, Ben Barnes, Will Wynn, Mary Herr & Rusty Tally, and heaps of others

(Community Matters) what a treat, a night out with one of Steven’s former students and his wife, Brandon & Jackie Willard. so let’s count, how many unexpected connections can folks have? We already knew Brandon is a former Acton student. And . . . he works at Bazaarvoice (where Steven and I are both engaged in various ways), knows Haylie Rudy (who’s like a niece/god daughter), one of his very best friends is a young man in San Francisco (Taylor Keep) who we met in London and had dinner with recently in San Francisco and he knew our godson Cameron Lockley while growning up. Jackie – it was our first time to meet – works for Sylvan Learning, the company of our good friends Mark Strama & Crystal Coti.

Dinner at Congress Restaurant was, of course, superb. Everyone at the trio establishment is deployed in making sure of that. Thanks, team.