Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) NYT: Eclectic East Austin

A mile from downtown, East Austin has historically been a working-class neighborhood, a vibrant enclave heavily populated by African-Americans because of an earlier era of segregationist laws — and later, a home to Mexican-American residents. These days, it’s also the city’s newly fashionable arts district, with studios, galleries, cocktail bars, cafes and all manner of food trucks popping up on most every block.

(Community Matters) Loved flying from LA to Santa Barbara as we hugged the coast.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

(Community Matters) from Politico’s Playbook:

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, to David Gregory on “Meet the Press “: “Later this week, you’ll hear the president talk about Connect Ed. This is an opportunity where several private American companies are going to commit over a half billion dollars to ensure that our schools across the country have the kind of technology so that our kids can compete in this economy. … FCC says it’s going to wire 15,000 schools, get 20 million kids online in the kind of learning — not the way you and I grew up, David, which is you had a computer science lab where you went to once a day. They sit at their tables all day with laptops, with tablets. That’s the kind of education we want our kids to have.”

President Obama’s Connect Ed

• • Upgraded Connectivity: The ConnectED initiative will, within five years, connect 99 percent of America’s students to the digital age through next-generation broadband and high-speed wireless in their schools and libraries.
• • Trained Teachers: The ConnectED initiative invests in improving the skills of teachers, ensuring that every educator in America receives support and training to use technology to help improve student outcomes. The Department of Education will work with states and school districts to better use existing funding through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to strategically invest in this kind of professional development to help teachers keep pace with changing technological and professional demands.
• • Build on Private-Sector Innovation: These investments will allow our teachers and students to take full advantage of feature-rich educational devices that are increasingly price-competitive with basic textbooks and high-quality educational software (including applications) providing content aligned with college- and career-ready standards being adopted and implemented by States across America

(Community Matters) I never met Pete Seeger, or PeterPop as he’s referred to by his grand and great grandchildren, but I sure feel as if I know him through osmosis. His courage and clarity stand out as a north star. Even in his death he inspires us to stand tall, to stand true and to the highest standards of engagement with others and our planet.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

photos w/ permission of Dio

PeterPop with some of his great grandkids – they aren’t our godchildren (hmm, why not?), niece or nephew but equally family – Dio & Gabel Cramer . . . of Sonya & Reid Cramer.

A nice remembrance of PeterPop by our friend David Corn, Mother Jones, below the jump. Bruce Springsteen’s here.

Continue reading →

(Community Matters) Stop Beating a Dead Fox: The conservative news channel’s only real power is in riling up liberals, who by this point should know better.

(Community Matters) 

(Community Matters) Not sure why this guy gets away with dicing and slicing videos, misrepresenting situations and getting people fired before the doctoring of videos is discovered. Why hasn’t someone brought a civil suit against him? James O’Keefe, ‘new sheriff in town,’ targets Battleground Texas

(Community Matters) Billy Calve and I took our sweet time getting here yesterday – nearly 9 hours. Slow leaving Austin (couple of errands and wrecks on every overpass because of the ice). Billy’s first time to Marfa. Unfortunately, Steven traveling between Houston, Baltimore, Chicago & Traverse City while we’re here.

Took it slow until reached Johnson City where the ice hadn’t reached. Of course stopped in at Coopers BBQ in Junction City – always a treat to see Mark Cooper (a grandson of George Cooper who founded the Cooper BBQ dynasty in Mason in 1959) and his wife. They were worried about the ice and driving in Austin since both sons attend UT.

Dinner last night with Garrick Stephens at the increasingly world famous Pizza Foundation – omg, Ronnie O’Donnell makes one of the best pizzas in the country. (Best Pizzas in USA – the Daily Meal and 46 American chefs, restaurant critics, bloggers, writers and “pizza authorities”missed this one.  Graham Reynold’s insights into this list). Spent the evening chatting with Ronnie’s wife, co-owner Saarin Keck, who’s supposed to be flying to DC tomorrow but back up staff sick. Garrick & I were joking about coming in to man the counter and bar – would be way fun, though Ronnie is temperamental and might stuff us in the ovens if we screwed up. As much as I’d love to do this, Paul Boskind & Greg fly in today, we have plans to attend Paula Buhrdorf’s birthday party, then dinner with Julie & Fran. But, might just have to do this if no other way to ensure Saarin able to make her trip – after all, her word for 2014 is TRAVEL.

Breakfast with Emily Keeton, coffee with Ginger & Tim, Judd and Chinati tours, and a Marfa Public Radio board meeting also on today’s agenda.

(Community Matters) Austin American Statesman on 2014 mayors race. 

Nice write ups on three friends. Of course, I’m partial to Steve Adler in this race (right person, right time), while a big fan of Patsy Woods Martin and Bill McLellan too. Two other friends rumored to be running – appears Council member Mike Martinez is already polling. Council member Sheryl Cole expressed an interest in running a couple of years ago. I haven’t seen her in quite some time but assume that’s still the case. I love the idea of an African American or Hispanic mayor, just believe it’s time to move to new players and the best one able to lead 10 new council members from defined districts.  The AAS article from Thursday notes Mark Williams has decided not to run – he’s a dear friend and, as always, a total class act.

I’m always a bit flustered to see my blog quoted without anyone contacting me but like the use and relevance in this story so can’t complain.

disclosure: I’m honored to be the treasurer for Steve’s campaign.

(Community Matters) Congratulations to Houston Mayor Annise Parker on her marriage last week to Kathy Hubbard, her partner of 23 years.

disappointing (though politically not any surprise) that lt governor candidate Dan Patrick and the Harris County GOP feel the need to condemn their marriage.

(Community Matters) NPR on gentrification – Long A Dirty Word, Gentrification May Be Losing Its Stigma. Reminds me what my friend, Juan Mesa once told me about gentrification. And, resonates with the enthusiasm long time Chestnut residents had about certain goods, services & prices finally available near their neighborhood. Admittedly, the qualifier for this broadcast and one’s perspective is “may be a boon to the residents WHO ARE ABLE TO STAY.” We’ve gotta do more to help long time residents afford to stay in their homes.