Community Matters

(Community Matters) rt @EugeneAustin 

• You know . . . If I were afraid of homosexuals, guess I’d be freaking out these days too. Noticed in NY, now at ABIA . . we’re everywhere

(Community Matters) in the Austin American Statesman

Our favorite vegan chef is David Bulls – love to sit in Congress Restaurant Bar and let Chef David surprise us. Admittedly, vegan Wheatsville’s deli or take out from Mothers more often.

(Community Matters) Michael Barnes’ follow up to “Chill: Austin is not Dallas or Houston”

(Community Matters) Whomever limited additional scrutiny for charitable applications to Tea Party & Patriot made a mistake, but not because they decided applications from politically driven organizations merited the scrutiny. The screens should have been (& as far as we know could have been) broader. Any organization with primarily political ambitions applying for charitable status should be closely evaluated, rigorously screened. In case most don’t know, many applications (most with which I’ve been engaged) have been, whether or not politically oriented. And, I am engaged with two charities (one national, one statewide) which have political entities; their 501(c)(3) arms are segregated and activities separately overseen.

(Community Matters) ok, I have to find some positive ones. Been reading too much news this morning.

(Community Matters) In this NYTimes editorial

Nationally, African-Americans are nearly four times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession as whites. The disparity is even more pronounced in some states, including Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, where African-Americans are about eight times as likely to be arrested. And in some counties around the country, blacks are 10, 15 or even 30 times as likely to be arrested.

Interestingly, yesterday and in previous visits, Steven and I have noticed the casualness with which New Yorkers smoke pot on the streets; we’ve noticed this in San Francisco and Venice Beach too.

The domestic War on Drugs has been waged disproportionately on racial minorities – disheartening to see that this continues so fervently. Such great economic and educational strides during the 60s and 70s, until Reagan’s $1.7 billion to fight drugs and mandatory minimum penalty for drug offenses disproportionately applied against minorities.

(Community Matters) Suppose I should have thought about this, especially as the characterization of SCOTUS as the most corporate friendly – rather than the most conservative – has evolved.

Senator Elizabeth Warren on corporate influence on our courts.

(Community Matters) Just when I become optimistic that maybe, just maybe they might get it together . . . the chairman of the Republican National Committee urged religious conservatives Saturday to support the GOP’s plans to expand.

“When it comes to social issues, the party must in fact and deed be inclusive and welcoming,” according to an RNC report commissioned by Priebus after that election and released in March. “If we are not, we will limit our ability to attract young people and others, including many women, who agree with us on some but not all issues.”

. . . just when . . . 

Palin . . . .  also offered a warning to “the good old boys” in the GOP leadership who are calling for conservative activists to tone down aggressive rhetoric. “You do not marginalize, you don’t discredit and dismiss, every day average hard-working Americans — those who are part of that grass-roots tea party movement,” she [Sarah Palin] said.

“Just let them tell us to sit down and shut up,” Palin said later, “which I refuse to do.”

I’m starting to think Roger Ailes might be a double agent.

(Community Matters) a matinee and an evening show – Tony award-winning Best Play, VANYA and SONIA and MASHA and SPIKE, and Tony award-winning best musical, Kinky Boots, respectively.

Sigourney Weaver and David Hyde Pierce star in VANYA and SONIA and MASHA and SPIKE, Christopher Durang’s newest Broadway production. It was funny, very funny – super performers and a fun story.

I’m not a huge fan of musicals and we enjoyed Kinky Boots. They were having an off night, a few voice issues by the two male leads and, frankly, the choreography surprised me. Each of the stars (both male leads were nominated for best actor in a musical – Billy Porter won – and the female lead for best actress) had spectacular moments – Annaleigh Ashford was consistent tonight and nearly stole the show. Though impossible to steal the show from Porter, his character too sympathetic.

We’re glad to have seen each.

(Community Matters) In the Austin American Statesman

The metro area is now home to 67 cooperatives that generate almost $1.2 billion in annual revenue, according to data compiled by Cooperation Texas. They include everything from credit unions to housing co-ops, and from Wheatsville (the state’s only food co-op) to the sprawling electric cooperatives outside the city.

(Community Matters) We’ll hear their decision during the next two weeks – on either a Monday or Thursday. The Supreme Courts decision on Prop 8 is likely to be limited, upholding the overturn of Prop 8, thus ruling same sex marriage in CA legal but limiting the decision so that it’s a state by state decision. 

In the U.S. vs Windsor case, I expect they’ll overturn DOMA, allowing federal benefits to couples *recognized as married in their states.* This will be super and, hopefully, will render the immigration legislation’s exclusion of LGBT couples mute. For us personally, it’ll be bitter sweet. While we’re married (were legally married in Canada), our marriage is not recognized in Texas. We’ll have to reexamine the costs of Texas residency.

(Community Matters) so much fun hosting dinner last night for our young friends in Mother Falcon. They’re in NY for 3 weeks, playing NY, Boston, DC – staying in a big house in Queens, sharing cooking, cleaning and roadie responsibilities. It’s sort like a traveling commune – all young, bright, highly talented and motivated artists. Steven and Luke Hayes hosted while I arrived a bit late coming directly from the airport. After, beers at a new find, a cool outdorsey place, B Bar & Grill on E 40th with Luke & Chris.

Mother Falcon – American Hipster Presents #10 (Austin – Music)