January 2012
1 post
My New Job
Santa delivered a great present to me this winter: Starting tomorrow, I’m joining the terrific news team at KUT Austin as an online journalist. I’ll be playing a big part on their news blog, kutnews.org, and reporting across a variety of mediums. It’s an incredible new undertaking that I couldn’t be more excited about!
I’ll have a work e-mail account set up soon,...
November 2011
1 post
Marc Ott's new Executive Team Assignments
TO: Mayor & Council Members
FROM: Marc A. Ott, City Manager
DATE: November 22, 2011
SUBJECT: Executive Team Assignments
I will be rotating some responsibilities with my Executive Team with three goals in mind. First, it’s important to give Executives new and different responsibilities to help the team gain broader ...
September 2011
5 posts
Central Library Presentation →
On a related note, here’s the presentation staff and library designers Shepley Bulfinch and Lake|Flato delivered to council.
Dean Rindy sez, 'MAY CITY ELECTIONS ARE BETTER FOR... →
MAYOR LEE LEFFINGWELL STATEMENT ON ELECTION VOTE
At today’s City Council meeting, I voted to move our next city election from May to November. My vote was based on increasing voter participation in city elections and saving money for Austin taxpayers. My vote was also based on the recommendation of County election officials, who actually conduct our elections. I’m obviously disappointed that the Council majority voted to preserve the May...
Mike Blizzard on May vs. Nov.
Mayor & Council,
I leave it to you to decide whether it is fiscally prudent to move the 2012 city election from May to November. However, I do wish to say that I am deeply dismayed by some of the arguments against a possible November election if that is what is best for the taxpayers and community. As a point of reference, the city’s last 3 bond elections have been held in even ...
WTP4 Auditor's Report →
It’s go time.
June 2011
2 posts
Mike Levy Blasts Kathie Tovo (Click here) →
From the mail, to the scanner, to you: The former Texas Monthly publisher and public safety proponent unloads on Tovo in a direct mailer, saying “Electing Kathie Tovo would place on the Council one of the very worst public officials Austin has ever suffered.”
March 2011
2 posts
February 2011
2 posts
January 2011
1 post
December 2010
3 posts
All I Want for Xmas is a New Chief Animal Services...
Cut and paste from an e-mail:
TO: Mayor and Council FROM: Marc A. Ott, City Manager DATE: December 22, 2010 SUBJECT: Chief Animal Services Officer
As you may know, we conducted a very thorough national search to find the very best candidate to serve as our Chief Animal Services Officer. We certainly believe we are at a critical juncture of identifying an individual who will continue to...
Strictly for the wonks: Council changes &...
Consent Agenda: Item 1-71, Approved 7-0
Items Pulled: 4- Riley, Approved 7-0 (Library parking)
21/22- Spelman, Approved 7-0 (12 new EMS employees)
23- Leffingwell, Approved 7-0, passed with an amendment from Mayor (Legislative program)
24- speakers Approved 7-0 (Revised provisions to pet trader ordinance)
71- Martinez Approved (Set a public hearing for citizen comments on HUD application)...
October 2010
1 post
Christ, what an asshole →
“‘We’re gonna go in, we’re gonna chase them out of town,’ Christ said”
September 2010
2 posts
Alternate name suggestions for Little Zilker Park
Sent to the Hustle via text message following City Council’s approval of the Little Zilker name (and an unsuccessful amendment to name it Little Zilker-Bluebonnet Park), and, ahem, impassioned citizen comment:
How about Little Zilker Bluebonnet Insane Park?
Little Zilker Bluebonnet Neighborhood Ingratiation Insanity Park and Preserve
Little Zilker Bluebonnet Jeff Jack Said So Nature...
August 2010
1 post
July 2010
1 post
Statement from MPT Martinez re: Proposed Sanders...
The Austin City Council will consider a settlement of the Nathaniel Sanders shooting case on July 29th, 2010. The decision — whether or not to settle this case and pay the Sanders family $750,000, is not one I take lightly. In fact, it is a decision we should all contemplate for some time. As I have thought about this incident and how it impacts our city, I have decided to share my...
June 2010
2 posts
Letter on Austin Energy Control Center sale
June 22, 2010
Dear Council Member:
I urge you to postpone indefinitely action on ITEMS 17 AND 18 on this week’s Agenda—-a proposal to enter into a Master Development Agreement with private interests to redevelop 1.7 acres now occupied by the Energy Control Center (ECC).
The fundamental point is this. Regardless of whether you approve the concept of this project or not, there are...
City releases transpo-bond proposal
So much for waiting this November. Fresh from the Hustle’s inbox:
Mobility Bond Package Brings Together Near-Term Congestion Relief
and Plans for Long-Term Regional Solutions
For Immediate Release: June 14, 2010 Contact: Karla Taylor Villalón, Austin Transportation Department
Austin, Texas – Austin City Manager Marc Ott today unveiled an $85...
May 2010
14 posts
Liveable City wants November bonds 'reconsidered'
The plot thickens. You can read more about the bond debate here. From the Hustle’s inbox:
LIVEABLE CITY URGES RECONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED 2010 TRANSPORTATION BOND Liveable City, an Austin nonprofit organization, today urged the Austin City Council to reconsider a proposed 2010 city transportation bond election. In a memorandum submitted to the mayor and council members, the organization...
Question to ponder this weekend:
Seems like a head must roll for the Keypoint fiasco, but the obvious answer begs a question – how do you fire an attorney without spending an eternity in court?
Even by Ken Herman standards, this is horrible →
YIKES! Statesman really doubles down on the race baiting!
“And for minorities, way to disgrace your not-so-long-ago ancestors who did whatever they did to get you the right to vote. Special shame on you. … We’re headed for trouble because Hispanics (our fastest growning segment) have yet to buy in at acceptable levels on perhaps the two most important facets of our democracy —...
Statement from Mayor Lee Leffingwell Regarding...
From the Hustle’s inbox:
“The Austin City Council was advised by the City Attorney several months ago that the unredacted version of the KeyPoint report was not legally available to the Council for review. As such, the Council remained unaware of the full details until they were reported in the media. Like everyone, I’m troubled by the findings of the report, and intend to review the...
Fusion Center E-mail
From – who else? - Debbie Russell - to council members and staff:
Six commissioners yesterday voted FOR recommending City Council pass the Interlocal Agreement creating the ARIC. One voted against it. Those six in favor did NOT read what comprises the Interlocal, taking APD/City at their word that it’s ‘no big deal/JUST the interlocal’ (confirmed during the meeting & in...
WatchSweeps week is teh funny.
April 2010
4 posts
Debbie Russell on Sanders Shooting →
D. Russ breaks it down on the Austin Post.
City press release on proposed Arizona boycott
Just landed in the Hustle’s inbox …
Austin Council Members To Propose Arizona Boycott Austin, Texas – Austin Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez, City Council Member Bill Spelman and Mayor Lee Leffingwell announced today that they will introduce a resolution at the May 13th City Council meeting directing the City Manager to limit employee travel to Arizona and to present a plan to the...