Naked City

The City Council won't meet this Thursday. Council will resume April 4, with an agenda highlighted by the third reading on the Villas project.

On Monday, Austin Independent School District Superintendent Pat Forgione submitted a draft plan to the school board to improve under-performing schools. Forgione's plan includes a proposal to create pilot programs at three schools that perform just slightly better than those currently deemed low-performing by the state: Oak Springs and Blackshear elementaries, and Dobie Middle School. The goal, he said, would be to make those schools among Austin's best in three to five years.

On March 25, Education Austin -- the union that represents a majority of AISD teachers -- released their "consultation proposals" regarding the upcoming budget cycle. Among the highlights: raises for both teachers and classified staff that, with a 3% raise, plus "steps" for experience, would equal a nearly 4.8% pay increase for district teachers. For classified staff, such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers, the union advocates a base pay of $9 an hour, plus institution of the "step" schedule. Further, the union recommends that AISD provide full-time mentors for all new teachers at its low-performing schools, and use federally funded monetary incentives for experienced teachers and principals who demonstrate commitment to those schools.

In the interests of ordinary democracy, please remember that the Democratic and Republican primary runoffs take place April 9 (early voting April 1-5).

Also, the municipal election is coming up May 4. If you wish to vote for council members, charter amendments, or AISD or ACC board members, you must register by April 4. Learn more about our indigenous voting culture at www.ci.austin.tx.us/election/. Early voting will run from April 17 through April 30. Mail-in ballots must be received by the City Clerk's Office by April 26; get yours at 974-2210.

Although Georgetown City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Clark Lyda has repeatedly said he would not run for a second term, he is now seeking re-election in May. According to the Williamson County Sun, he said his purpose on the City Council has "yet to be fulfilled." The paper cited a host of projects Lyda believes may be in jeopardy if he were to leave his post, including the implementation of a unified development code, negotiation and oversight of development on the infamous Rivery tract, and negotiations on an amendment to the Sun City Georgetown development agreement.

After filing just under the wire for a spot on the election ballot, Scott Sanders announced he is withdrawing his name as a candidate for the AISD Board of Trustees District 7 seat being vacated by Olga Garza. Sanders said he will instead form a "concerned citizens" watchdog group called Austinites for Education that will keep its eyes on the Board of Trustees, Education Austin (the teachers union), and Superintendent Pat Forgione, and will help to ensure that AISD keeps its focus on kids in the classroom.

Parents Get United, an advocacy group seeking reforms within the state's Child Protective Services arm of the Dept. of Protective and Regulatory Services, will stage a threefold protest at CPS offices in Georgetown, Austin, and San Marcos from 3-6pm on March 29. United founder Robin Cash said the protest is intended to raise awareness of CPS practices that the group's members say place children in jeopardy. For more info and a list of upcoming events, write to Parents Get United, 1648 Rutland #28, Austin, TX, 78751.

The first Cesar E. Chavez March for Unity will take place Saturday, March 30, beginning at 10am at the East Austin Neighborhood Center (Second & Comal) and proceeding to the Capitol. Speakers will include Austin AFL-CIO President David Brown and AFL-CIO Texas State Field Director Paul Vasquez. To volunteer, call Barbara Caudillo-Prince at 845-9959, or e-mail her at [email protected].

The Texas Dept. of Transportation has kicked off its Drive Clean Across Texas TV ad campaign (starring country singer Rick Treviño!) to urge Texans to reduce air pollution by maintaining their vehicles, combining errands, car-pooling, and adhering to the speed limit. Ironically, the Texas Campaign for the Environment blasted TxDOT for refusing to clean up its own huge fleet of heavily polluting diesel vehicles at the press conference held at the Capitol the day "Drive Clean" was launched.

Speaking of cleaner air, bus riders can now buy tickets and passes at capitalmetron.goemerchant7.com/. If you don't have access to a computer, you can buy passes at the downtown transit store or at outlets throughout the service area.

On March 21, EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman released a list of the country's 729 most energy-efficient buildings. All of the structures on Whitman's list, including schools, office buildings, and government facilities, have earned the Energy Star designation by using 40% less energy than average buildings without compromising comfort. Among Austin buildings, only One Congress Plaza and the San Jacinto Center made the list. Dallas has 18 Energy Stars, Houston has 21 (including the Enron building), and San Antonio has three. The full list is available at www.epa.gov/nrgystar/news.html.

In the wake of the extended closure of the Cedar Door bar (darn those pesky zoning regulations!), former manager Jim Le Mond and longtime pal Larry Bumb invite friends of the historic bar to stop by Bum's Billiards beginning Monday, April 1, for "Mexican Martini Mondays." Bum's is at 13201 Pond Springs Road in Northwest Austin, off U.S. 183 N.

After the passage of the campaign finance bill in the Senate on March 20, U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, an opponent of the bill and brave defender of the rich, told The New York Times: "We are not taking away political influence at all. We are redistributing political influence. Who are we taking it away from? We are taking it away from people who are willing and able to use their money to enhance their free speech guaranteed by the Constitution." Free speech "enhancement." Don't you wish you could afford some?

Spotted at Friday night's boxing event at the Erwin Center: State Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, and author and Texas Monthly contributor Jan Reid. Naishtat attended as a guest of the Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation, and Reid is a friend of boxing star Jesus Chavez (who defeated Gerardo Zayas in three rounds). Joining them was Reid's wife, Dorothy Browne, who is Naishtat's chief of staff. The soft-spoken trio seemed a bit out of place amidst the shouts of "Yeah, baby, bring it here!" that emanated from the stands each time the Miller Lite girls appeared in the ring to toss branded beer koozies. "Boxing's not my cup of tea," Naishtat admitted.

Those of you still searching for a way to channel your frustrations about Enron might find a smidgen of catharsis at www.nomoreenrons.com/. The site enables visitors to send a petition to VP Dick Cheney asking him to publicly disclose records related to his highly suspicious energy task force.

It's time to revive the Sex Pistols, because Austin's getting "pretty vacant." According to a new study by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Austin's office vacancy rate was 5% at the end of 2000. By late 2001, the rate had increased to 19.9% -- the highest jump among cities covered in the study. Nevertheless, construction of a couple million square feet of new office real estate continues in Austin. Since the city's new homeless shelter won't open until next year, why not use all of that empty space in the interim to ensure no Austinite sleeps outside at night? Just a thought.