Community Matters

(Community Matters)  According to the 2008/2009 study, companies with engaged employees* experience 26% higher revenue per employee, 13% total higher total returns to shareholders, and a 50% higher market premium. 87% of employees who volunteered with their companies reported an improved perception of their employer. Full story here

* obviously goes beyond just volunteer programs

(Community Matters) Internationally award winning-architect, professor Juan Miró on the balance between Austin as a Landscape City and a Compact City – AAS guest column

excerpts: there are two ways to think about the city, two fundamentally different models that must be understood as we plan the future growth of Austin: the Landscape City and the Compact City. . . . The Landscape City is the dominant model in America: open, with low density and the majority of people living in single-family houses. . . . Austin always has been and still is fundamentally a Landscape City, a low density city of single-family houses in a forest. As the city grew, former “suburbs” like Hyde Park or Travis Heights became the “city core.” Austin is a particularly successful Landscape City. In fact, the overall beautiful integration in its natural landscape has been an important attraction for people moving here. . . .

the Compact City model emphasizes high density and multi-family housing. It is the prevalent model in Europe, where cities were walled off for defense purposes, sometimes well into the 19th century. These cities grew dense out of necessity. The Compact City model relies on mass transit and pedestrian-oriented buildings with vibrant street life. . . .

Great cities don’t give up on the ambitions and aspirations that define their identity. In Austin, we need to send an ambitious message to our City Council: We want both models.

First, we must preserve and continue to create the best Landscape City possible, adjusting this model of development as necessary so it can sustain the balance between nature and human habitation.

Second, we must commit to creating a viable alternative, a diverse and affordable Compact City that thrives, not only in the central core, but also in nodes across the city and the transit corridors that connect them.

Juan is a founder of Miró Rivera Architects. He, his wife, Rosa, and his founding partner Miguel Rivera are very dear friends

(Community Matters) Aaron Franklin opened a food trailer on a vacant lot in Austin in 2009. Today, his bricks-and-mortar restaurant serves what we’re calling the best BBQ in Texas, if not America. Let the debates begin

(Community Matters) A wise young man just wrote me:

This is why i got out of nyc politics – when everyone is more or less a democrat/liberal, the only thing left is personal attacks and tribal warfare.

(Community Matters) From Andy’s blog:

GREECE

A very smart friend who saw the last credit-default-swap crisis coming tells me that the banks have been writing similar insurance on sovereign debt on the PIIGS – Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain.  If so, it could be a challenging summer.

(Community Matters) at Towleroad here

(Community Matters) Just finished Paula McLain’s novel about Hemingway’s and Hadley Richardson’s first years in Paris and loved it. Especially after just watching Woody Allen’s new movie – not to mention convalescing the last 36 hours from some ailment – it was transportive.

Now launching into Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast – this time in hard copy instead of on my kindle – a nostalgic experience.

(photo from AP; Hemingway collection)

(Community Matters)

Dear Friends:

Today is the last day for early voting in the City Council place 3 runoff. Please vote to reelect Randi Shade. Early voting locations listed here.

As you know, Randi came in second during the general election race – significantly behind her opponent Kathie Tovo. Yet, we’ve seen this same spread before – Brewster was similarly behind Margot Clarke and in the runoff he defeated her 64% to 36%. As of yesterday, 20,196 voters had cast a ballot in the run-off election. That’s higher than the total cast in all of Early Voting in May — with one day still left for Early voting. The precincts turning out look favorable to Randi, but if I had to guestimate, I’d bet we’re no better than even, possibly a few hundred to a thousand votes behind. That’s why every single vote counts. Please, Please, Please take the time to early vote.

Why Randi? She’s the best. Seriously, the former UT Student Body President, Harvard Business School grad, high-tech startup entrepreneur (creating an internet site that raised money for nonprofits), Gov. Ann Richards staffer who launched Texas’ AmeriCorp, wife, and mom of two young children weighs all perspectives & opinions and makes her decisions based on what’s best for Austin’s long term interests balanced with today’s needs. Continue reading →

(Community Matters) a friend commented on a posting below:

As I bike along, most (not all, but most) of the Tovo signs I see in Hyde Park and Judge’s Hill and other neighborhoods are in thick green plush lawns…St. Augustine, a lot of rich, colorful blooming gardens. In the worst drought in half a century, the people who have derided Shade for voting for the water treatment plant because Austin can meet all its water needs with conservation aren’t leading by example.

hey, I’m watering the lawn as we speak, so not throwing stones, just noting. And, we are installing new landscaping and irrigation to more efficiently maintain a yard

(Community Matters) Much fun last night at the MRL LXV, aka Mike Levy’s 65th birthday bash. Louie Mueller Barbecue from Taylor (mike considers it the best in Texas), a bar, a nearly full house at the former ACL studios @ KLRU and two terrific bands – Graham Reynold’s Duke! (w/ string) and Mother Falcon.

lots of family, friends and politicos. Guests were admonished not to bring gifts, and Mike did introduce two friends from MD Anderson who had very encouraging reports about the fight against breast cancer.

At Mike’s request, Graham discussed the process of his composition – enlightening, especially as he explained the creation of the string quartet in Duke! As I watched the guests, saw they were mesmerized. The folks behind me kept yelling Bravo! and noting Graham was such a genius. I forget too many in Austin still don’t know Graham’s work.  Jeremy Burch (drummer) was especially on last night, sharing the spotlight. The role of percussion as critical infrastructure in the Duke! movements only struck me last night – and I know these works very well.

Our young friends in Mother Falcon also delighted the audience. There’s a new player/singer who’s name I didn’t catch – a baritone who played the piano & accordion and sang, he’s a great addition. I’m looking forward to meeting him. Nick Gregg & Clare Puckett, as always, were impressive leads. Loved watching our proxy godson, Isaac Winburne, go into his own world on the drums, and big news – Maurice Chammah starts a Fulbright in Egypt this fall. Wasn’t able to catch up with my favorite youth minister but Matt Puckett played at least four instruments & sang during the set.

I’d intended to have an after party for the bands at our house. However, Steven’s Chicago travel delayed and he’s more supportive of after parties while he’s away

(Community Matters) Contrary to disinformation from Kathie Tovo’s campaign – Not Only Developers Are Supporting Randi – Steven Tomlinson and I are queer, married Democrats – he’s VP of NUNA, I’m a nonprofit manager, former UT lecturer and former high-tech exec. We’re as far from Republicans and from developers as you can get. AND, we support Randi Shade.

She’s fair and balanced – a life long Democrat who went to work for Ann Richards establishing AmeriCorp in Texas. She’s also a business woman who started a high tech firm after graduating from Harvard business school – the firm help raise money for nonprofits. Randi and her wife, Kayla are Clarksville neighborhood activists, have donated thousands of dollars to various D candidates and progressive causes.

Why would RECA be supporting Randi? Because she is fair and balanced. While she’s a progressive, she also understands we need growth and jobs to maintain quality of life and affordability.

It’s interesting to hear Kathie talk about the importance of affordability when her closest supporters dismiss the implications of rising utility rates which middle class families can hardly afford (in fact aggressively lobbying for increases in unaffordable electric rates). Sure, I want more green energy sources too. I just want to balance that against monthly electric rates some seniors and poor families can’t even afford now.

And many of her supporters are perfectly willing to impose overly restrictive conditions on neighbors, ignoring the impact on homeowners and the value & uses of their property. Austin’s live music industry is very threatened by the group of neighborhood elitists who would shut down long time, favored live music venues.

A key Tovo supporter who represents the sentiments of some of her closest supporters is on city council video stating that he’d rather see higher unemployment in Austin than growth in jobs and companies. These aren’t bad people, their end objectives and ideas are laudable, they just don’t seem to care about affordability or private homeowners’ rights. I don’t know Kathie personally and I’m sure she’s a nice woman; I know she gives a lot to the community through her work for schools and on the planning commission. However, Austin can’t afford the elitist policies promoted by her closest supporters. We need jobs, public safety, infrastructure – and a sound environment and unique local culture

(Community Matters)

photo by Ruby’s mom, Amy

Lewis Hines has nothing on Amy