Community Matters

(Community Matters) Extraordinarily proud of Pres. Barack Obama.  One of his most important campaign promises was to reform healthcare – universal coverage, rescuing medicaid/medicare, eliminating pre-existing conditions, portability, affordability, controlling costs, etc.  It is by no means perfect, and it is such a big step in the right direction – a huge step forward.  A major campaign promise delivered.

(Community Matters) How lucky am I that Steven prefers to drive most of the way to and from Marfa – he calls it my rolling office. Fixed with back issues of the Economist (including rereading their Jan special report on social networking). Trading emails with Kirk Rudy (Florida), Steve Adler (Austin) and Doug Ulman (while on a stationary bike ride I think) about heathcare reform – Kirk admonishing us not to count our huevos rancheros until the chickens lay the eggs & mamma finishes the salsa.

Yesterday was my first Marfa Public Radio board meeting. It’s a terrific institution and an important way for Steven & me to plant roots and give back to a community we love. I’m replacing (ha, that impossible but know what I mean) Stewart Vanderwilt on the board. Stewart, KUT’s general manager, resigning to focus on design and construction of their new studios/offices being built in that Guadalupe parking lot across from current studios. Enjoyed hanging with him & his wife Stephanie at last night’s fundraiser.

KRTS is in application to expand from a 50 watt station to 100 watts. It’s an extraordinary asset for West Tx to have NPR and local programming. We have outstanding staff, solid public and private support. I’ve gotta spend more time with staff and board to confirm where I’ll plug in and contribute – beyond financially of course.

Terrific evening with ST, Stewart & Stephanie, Tim & Caitlin & Ross Cahiola, Jessie & Daniel Browning (expecting their 2nd btw), Tom & Katherine Michael (KRTS gm), Tom Jacobs, Fairfax Dorn, new friends Sally Gill & Kathy McCord, Carolyn Pfiffer, Joe Duran (board chair), Tim Crowley (meant to circle back for a visit, barely touched hands & said hi), Rachel & Chase, Amanda, Barbara Fountain Love, Karen Bernstein, Steve Odewahn and so many more.

We had a great quick R&R. Stayed at Glen & Leanna Clifton’s Brown Recluse rental which will soon be up on VRBO. It’s not quite ready but should be a terrific place to stay. (The house & RHS at Paisano were occupied but nice mixing up locations). Steven and I want to start spending more time in Marfa. Might have to talk with Dave & Andy about addt’l weeks. Don’t think will work this year since an extended trip already in the works for this summer, though we’ll be back with Tana & Joe for the McDonald Observatory festivities in July. Posted from my blackberry

(Community Matters) I suppose Congressman Lloyd Doggett is trying to trade and negotiate.  I’m sure he’s being responsible, but I’d like to know how this is reflective of the overwhelming support of his supporters for the President and reform  . . . .  http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/doggett-among-texas-holdouts-on-health-care-bill-402696.html

(Community Matters) Didn’t know we’d run across Steven & Donna Hicks and the RiseAcrossTexas team on the final leg of their Rise Across Texas.  They’re riding to Presidio this morning.  Launched last week from Beaumont (Orange really).  Donna says they’ve nearly hit $2mm raised for the Austin RISE School.  Steven says RISE School is very cool and we ought to know better.

We arrived in Marfa late afternoon yesterday.  Terrific dinner at Cochineal (joined by Caitlin Murray & Tim Johnson), then a long walk through the city and a night cap with Villis Indie & Tom Jacobs – waking up to Tom & Tochi’s roosters, trains & church bells.  Here for a Marfa Public Radio board meeting and fundraiser tomorrow.  Gonna pop into the RISE celebration tonight at Lance Armstrong’s apartment, but it’s mostly about chilling reading and snuggling with my husband.

(Community Matters) Lambda Literary

Book award finalists include James Davidson, The Greeks and Greek Love (Random House) and Barb Johnson, More of This World or Maybe Another (Harper Perennial).Other finalists include Joan Schenkar, The Talented Miss Highsmith (St. Martin’s); and Mary Cappello, Called Back (Alyson Books).

Hat Tip: Towleroad

(Community Matters) I’m concerned about the crisis in our two countries’ friendship.  The announcement of the new East Jerusalem housing plan while our Vice President was in Jerusalem was an intentional, public insult to our country.  That is certainly a sovereign nation’s right, just as it is our responsibility to assess circumstances as a result of such an insult.

I’ve long worried the US tilt to Israel is resented by many progressives in America – despite an unwavering friendship and strategic alliance – and overall public sentiment is at risk.  While powerful lobbying and relationships have borne strong Congressional support, how wise is this over-reliance in the long term?

nice  piece by Maureen Dowd

(Community Matters) Victoria Hentrich and I were having dinner tonight at Fonda San Miguel.  Lucky to join Tom Gilliland and author Lucinda Hutson. I learned all about the Sept 13 Mexican Independence Event taking place in Austin – Teresa Long & Bobbie Topfer helping launch.  After a few margs and several glasses of wine, I think I agreed to help fundraise –ay yi yi

(Community Matters) Congrats to all the nominees and winners.  Pirated this pic from Michael Barnes’ Out & About – Doug Ulman & Amy Grace Tharp two favorite friends among the bunch.

(Community Matters) I spent a couple of hours with Foundation Community’s ED, Walter Moreau, this morning.  Even took notes – their organization is best of class –  best affordable housing organization in Central Texas.  Have lots of notes I’ll include sometime later – 2k+ units under mgmt, they layer intensive programs which help families and their children move up the social economic ladder, not just live in housing.  Apologies I’ve been so slammed and unable to spend more time on this posting.

It was my privilege to confirm to Walter that the ACF Chestnut Commons Fund was granting their new M-Station project a $500k challenge grant.  I wanna help make this $1.5mm.

(Community Matters)

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) It’s been a super last three days with performances of Steven’s Toxic Assets and visits from his parents, cousins, young cousins, uncle and lots of friends.  The shows went really well, each night building on the last.  We kinda like this model of 3 day run only – each show sold out.  And, the major donor party last night, even more – many thanks to 34th St Cafe, Austin Wine Merchant and Amy & Kirk Rudy for helping us host last night’s event.

breakfast this morning.  the girls are Dave & Lisa Tomlinson’s girls and stayed with us last night

(Community Matters) Robert Shrum in The Week.

With unemployment down from peak levels and job losses ebbing, with housing prices stabilized and other indicators pointing up, the Standard & Poor’s stock index has soared nearly 70 percent since its March 2009 lows—and nearly 40 percent since Obama took office with an economy teetering on the brink of depression. This remarkable rise anticipates as many as hundreds of thousands of jobs, which forecasters are now predicting not for next year but for this month.

Reconciliation, the recondite budget procedure that has become as familiar in this debate as it was frequent under Reagan, Clinton, and both Bushes, probably would be impossible without the “wasted” months last summer during which the awkward and earnest Democratic Sen. Max Baucus negotiated with his Republican opposite, the fallow Sen. Charles Grassley. Now Senate Democrats seem all but united in their resolve to use reconciliation. Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu, who’s unequivocal “this bill is going to pass” should stiffen the spines of fellow moderates.

full article here

Hat Tip: David Gail