I try to keep a general list of agenda items in the bottom of this page for quick reference, but it has not been posted yet. When it is I will update that list. The link to "City Clerk: Council Meetings" in the sidebar leads to the latest agenda updates in the city's own site. The coming meeting schedule is June 5 and June 18. (The June 19th meeting has been moved to observe Juneteenth celebrations.) The next "work session" is June 4th.
A major concern is the manner in which several special interests have been blocking regular citizens from being able to speak at the open mike session that is supposed to provide contact with City Council. Normally, ten people are allowed to speak on any issue for three minutes each. But normally, Jennifer Gale and Carolannerose Kennedy show up EVERY WEEK in order to filibuster with hateful and ignorant remarks. Jennifer Gale, a transvestite, likes to make comments that vaguely resemble attempts to represent the police and the city bus drivers. Sometimes she brags of having "broken" a bus strike, which to this old union steward sounds really strange. Carolannerose Kennedy likes to recite inane poetry with an insulting, vaguely obscene tone while she throws things on the floor. It is an insult to the rest of the citizens of this fine city to see the way these two performers are allowed to embarrass us all, and it is an abuse of a system intended to support a democratic government process.
We'd like to see the City Council introduce a rotation into the system, perhaps by giving extra points to new speakers and shoving frequent flyers off the bottom of the list. We have issues like the 3.5-second crossing light on St. John's where there is a camera for catching jaywalkers and a building that includes more than a half-dozen residents who use wheelchairs, walkers and canes while trying to cross to the bus stop. People in that building have actually found it safer to jaywalk some distance from the corner in order to give turning motorists a chance to slow down instead of clipping them as they turn even when the pedestrian light is on. Motorists do not respect that white figure, they take their right-turn-on-red without looking. Now some retirees and veterans among others may have to face big fines on fixed incomes because of the short light and the watching camera.
We have issues like the growing problem of drunk cyclists on sidewalks who can do serious damage to pedestrians who can't react to their horns or bells. I, for one, have a hearing loss on one side so that I cannot tell how a cyclist is going to pass me when he speeds up behind me ringing his bell. I've been knocked aside twice, so far, this spring, just walking along the sidewalk on Congress. We need to find ways to support both cyclists and pedestrians, especially in the more active neighborhoods.
There are other issues, too. Zenobia Joseph brought up some interesting questions about children's writing programs at the last meeting, and we should hear more from parents about these issues. We should hear more from the Asian community, whose shops all over town must be seeing some effects from the shifting sands of business development.
One man I met while leafletting told me he has lots of questions about the flood-safety of the new riverside developments. He said his big complaint is that the City Council wants "to dance" while these questions, at least for him, go unanswered. "We didn't elect them so they could see a show", he said. City Council needs to hear from people like him. City Councillors need his vote as much as anyone else's.
It is always very dangerous for any government to lose connection with its own constituency. City Hall needs to keep those channels of communication open and not be fooled by the fact that one of the main obstacles to open communication, Jennifer Gale, spouts pablum about "open government" and the supposed need of an "ombudsman". City hall does not have to add another layer of bureaucracy in the form of an "ombudsman". It just needs to introduce a better rotation system into the speaking order at the open Citizen Communication sessions. There is so much valuable work that gets done at those sessions even now that it would be a shame to fail to open them up a little more.
Vote Obama/Biden!
Democrats Nationally, Libertarians Locally!
Given the incredible road the Republicans have led us down, it is not enough to defeat them. The Republican Party must be replaced.
They have betrayed every principle they ever claimed. Because of the Republicans, we no longer are a free nation. We wage war at a dictator's pleasure with a military that has been trained to torture prisoners, and John McCain wants to bring soldiers directly from those battlefields into our schools as teachers with no training into education, no civilian credentials.
We see a pair of demogogues more ignorant than George W Bush and more hateful than Adolf Hitler himself in the person of Sarah Palin, who was picked by John McCain to promote hatred, ignorance and violence with every speech she makes.
In Obama & Biden we see a steady-headed young man and an experienced leader who understand the gravity of the office they seek. We can trust them not to play lightly with national responsibility and global security.
The Libertarian party is small, and needs to grow. If it grows, it will bring back the common sense of personal freedom that can balance the programs that serve the public good.
Paul Robbins, Rebuffed, Calls For Public Hearing On Voter Access
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
City Council Approves $2.3 Billion Biomass Project, 7 to 0
Who Is Getting The Money?
Baycorp Holdings of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.According to an article in Business Wire, "BayCorp is an unregulated energy holding company incorporated in Delaware. BayCorp currently has wholly owned subsidiaries that include Nacogdoches Gas, LLC, which owns and develops interests in natural gas and oil production in Nacogdoches County, Texas; Benton Falls Associates, L.P., the owner and operator of a hydroelectric generating facility in Benton, Maine; Great Bay Hydro Corporation, which owns and operates a hydroelectric generating facility in Newport, Vermont; Great Bay Power Marketing, Inc., which purchases and markets power on the open market and Nacogdoches Power, LLC, which owns the development rights to the Sterne Power Project in Nacogdoches, Texas. BayCorp also holds a majority interest in HoustonStreet Exchange, Inc., which operates HoustonStreet.com, an internet-based independent crude oil and refined petroleum products trading exchange. Sloan Group Ltd. is a privately-held international business corporation headquartered in the Bahamas."
Paul Robbins and Skip Cameron Fought Hard
Austin, Texas: Aug. 28, 2008:After hearing more objections from Austinites and hearing one clarification by Austin Energy that the contract is "take and pay", not "take or pay", the City Council moved to approve. Councilor Cole asked that discussions be set up with American BioRefinery, one of the companies who complained of the aborted bidding process, but she did not mention the other companies. Councillors Shade and Morrison commented on the process having been less than perfect. In other business, City Council moved to make inquiries into campaign and electoral practices. See videos from the earlier meetings below and in the sidebar.The $2.3 Billion Potlatch, August 21, Part 1
In which the Judge assures the Mayor nobody is opposed, and the Mayor complains that won't be any fun...
August 21, Parts 2 & 3
| In which Ms. Davenport assures the Mayor there's going to be a lot of fun and a retired engineer pours ethanol into the slots... | |
Parts 4 & 5In which Paul Robbins discovers he's on the other side and Bill Bunch asks a question... | |
Parts 6 & 7:In which the Company's Consultant talks about the voices in his head and the Company's banker says 75 of his friends love the idea... | |
Parts 8 & 9:In which Mr. Cameron smells gas and Mr. Groton shines a light into the fog... | |
City Hall Bytes
more video soon... please subscribe to theaustinegalitarian --at-- gmail-dot-com for updates!
Requiem for the Arts in Austin
Articles 59 and 30 brought public comment that signalled a complete take-over of all artistic activity in Austin by a new division.
Coincidentally, a group of artists from the Renaissance Faire on "The Drag" at 23rd street showed up to protest having been given notice 2 days ago that their commission is being abolished. This group says it has paid for its space and generated income to the city, taking only 80% of its proceeds and paying its own way. Participants have paid $200 a year for their space. The Council postponed the decision for a week, but their discussion with Commissioner Klineman, who spoke on behalf of the Rennaisance Faire, did not suggest any reversal should be expected.
We also have heard from a source that the Austin Figurative Gallery on Chicon Street is closing down as of Sunday, on very short notice and without explanation. That is an independent artists group that has not taken any City money. Is something suddenly afoot in the arts community?
Update, 6/21/08: Dave Ohlerking said "the only way 'art authorities' can have any control over me is to offer free welfare-type money. I don't go for that. Horse barn days are over ....If we're patient all of this will end up good."
Regarding City hall, see posts below. Recognize that you can link directly to the City Clerk's posted agendas and minutes of all meetings in our sidebar links, and check Channel 6 for viewing schedules.
Coincidentally, a group of artists from the Renaissance Faire on "The Drag" at 23rd street showed up to protest having been given notice 2 days ago that their commission is being abolished. This group says it has paid for its space and generated income to the city, taking only 80% of its proceeds and paying its own way. Participants have paid $200 a year for their space. The Council postponed the decision for a week, but their discussion with Commissioner Klineman, who spoke on behalf of the Rennaisance Faire, did not suggest any reversal should be expected.
We also have heard from a source that the Austin Figurative Gallery on Chicon Street is closing down as of Sunday, on very short notice and without explanation. That is an independent artists group that has not taken any City money. Is something suddenly afoot in the arts community?
Update, 6/21/08: Dave Ohlerking said "the only way 'art authorities' can have any control over me is to offer free welfare-type money. I don't go for that. Horse barn days are over ....If we're patient all of this will end up good."
Regarding City hall, see posts below. Recognize that you can link directly to the City Clerk's posted agendas and minutes of all meetings in our sidebar links, and check Channel 6 for viewing schedules.
No comments:
Post a Comment