Headlines
Fri., June 12, 2009
• Gov. Rick Perry acknowledged the inevitable on Tuesday and said he's planning for a special session, date and agenda TBD. Later that day, he went mountain biking and broke his collarbone. See our Lege wrap-up (almost).
• Following a shooting that left eight people injured, hip-hop and dance club Spiros announced it would not reopen. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission shuttered the club for a week after the incident, and soon after, Spiros voluntarily surrendered its liquor license. See "Off the Record," Music.
• Budgeting frenzy begins, as City Manager Marc Ott released this week some $45 million in possible city budget cuts for the next fiscal year, and public forums began for the rest of us to decide what we can do without – police, pools, parks ... it's a sobering list. See "City Hall Hustle."
• The AISD board of trustees received its commissioned efficiency study of the district, which suggested (among other things) that we could save a lot of money by closing schools, limiting pre-K, and ending art and music. See "AISD 'Efficiency' Study."
• Local news and talk radio have all gone agog over the recently released video of Kathryn Winkfein, a 72-year-old grandmother, being Tasered by Precinct 3 Deputy Constable Christopher Bieze after she became belligerent during a traffic stop. As the Taser's supposedly an alternative to deadly force, does that mean Bieze would've had to shoot her otherwise? (We think not.)
• Flanked by oil and gas industry reps, Gov. Perry denounced the Obama administration for attempting to do something about greenhouse gas emissions, saying the science "hasn't solidified" and any regulation would "wreck the Texas economy." He didn't mention the huge Texas contribution to global carbon emissions, nor the expanding Texas drought that may have its latest roots in global warming.
• Right on time, the Republic of Texas Biker Rally arrives in Austin this weekend, with thousands of belching motorcycles contributing their bit to Austin's CO2 and ozone, likely pushing the city over the edge to noncompliance with federal regulations for the year.
• Monday June 8 was the one-year anniversary of the burning of the Governor's Mansion, still a hulking wreck just south of the Capitol. It's not rebuilt yet because the Texas millionaires who said they would raise the money privately couldn't do so – the Lege decided we could rebuild it with federal stimulus money instead. Maybe some of the unemployed Texas workers denied insurance by Gov. Perry's intransigence can get construction jobs rebuilding his house.
• Former prosecutor and candidate for district attorney Mindy Montford was arrested last weekend on a public intoxication charge. According to reports, Montford was a passenger in a car that was pulled over after a minor mishap. As an officer was questioning the driver, Montford got out of the car and tried to advise the driver of his rights. The officer ordered her back in the car, from where she was later arrested.
Quote of the Week
"There's just no fat. This is a menu of options that hit the bone ... none of them come lightly."
– Assistant City Manager Michael McDonald, introducing a smorgasbord of potential cuts in the city budget. See "City Hall Hustle."
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