Category Archives: Uncategorized

(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

(Community Matters) My dearest friend Michael Mitchell reminds us in his blog, Squirrels In The Attic, that yesterday was the one year anniversary of learning he had lymphoma. Seems like a long, long time ago.

(Community Matters) A friend’s comments to my recent political postings reminds me that I’m better at inclusion and understanding outside of campaign mode.

(Community Matters) Stumbled across these lists of Capitol Inside power political consultant rankings 2008 and 2004

(Community Matters) Is Rick Perry political consultant Dave Carney this campaign’s Clayton Williams? New voters, Kay Bailey and whorehouses

(Community Matters) I think a meeting of our country’s most important philanthropists is a good thing. here

(Community Matters) hmm, still thinking about yesterday’s conversation and the later-in-the-day conversation with another like-voting friend who has an analytical perspective on local elections.

Thinking about political chasms – about those who’ll even profess a different philosophy but as you look beyond the language, you realize they spend a great deal of their time the same way you do – volunteering to provide opportunities and/or assistance to others.

My friend who I wrote about yesterday, mentioned that GWB’s presidency wasn’t so bad. This morning in bed, I tried deciphering that perspective. Ok, here’s a privileged friend who made and makes a shit load of money. He made more during 43’s reign (since the economy has now tanked), he & his family felt safe, probably rewarded. He’s a bootstapper, not a silver spoon, works his ass off nearly everyday. And now he’s feeling threatened by the rise of a “royal” presidency which threatens our democracy. De ja vu? This is how I felt about GWB, especially after 9/11. That was not a good feeling, and it isn’t a good feeling even if it’s not me feeling it but our political opposition.

Yet, I think about Pres. Obama’s Norte Dame speech and wonder, wow, didn’t he do a better job reaching across the aisle of American political persuasion than other contemporary political leaders? I don’t think we get to answer that question. It has to come from the other side.

On the local front, the conversation (which was not a unique one) is how Machiavellian will our local political scene become? Are the reports that the winning camp will seek political retribution correct? Are the reports of threats reliable? What are the implications and would this be tolerated by Austin progressives?

I’m friendly (even still – at least as well as I know) with the professional campaign leaders – though as I think about it, one hasn’t returned my calls since the election; the winner hasn’t responded to any emails. Don’t believe their honorable political ambitions would be corrupted so. And, then again, Lord Acton had a lot to say about that.

(Community Matters) Hard to believe how much progress the first year players have made since their winter concert in December, but it’s very measurable. My goddaughter Lauren Mayes center of this not-so-great blackberry photo plays the clarinet.

Lauren’s mom, Karen, was away tending a sick mom. Lauren’s dad, Kent Mayes, and I enjoyed dinner afterwards with Lauren, her friend Isabel and Isabel’s mom, Ingrid.