BG Reads | News You Need to Know (December 5, 2019)
[BINGHAM GROUP]
NEW -> Episode 64: United States-Mexico policy and investment talk with Sergio Chavez, Intermestic Partners (LINK TO SHOW)
[AUSTIN METRO]
H-E-B to invest $200 million in South Austin, add 1,000 jobs (Austin American-Statesman)
H-E-B is targeting South Austin for a major expansion that includes $200 million in investment and more than 1,000 new jobs.
The San Antonio-based grocer said the growth plans were driven by the growth and increased density across South Austin and include the opening of three previously announced new stores and a major remodel of an existing location.
“This level of investment has been years in the making,” said Jeff Thomas, H-E-B vice president and general manager, Central Texas Region. “With the growth the city is experiencing and the opportunities for us to be part of that growth, we made the decision to invest aggressively.”
H-E-B has operated in Austin for 81 years and has about two dozen stores and 14,000 employees in the Austin area, according to the company. Analysts estimate that the company controls about 60 percent of the grocery market in Austin, a rarity in U.S. cities, where Walmart usually dominates sales… (LINK TO STORY)
No cars, but bikes and scooters will be allowed on Rainey Street during weekend closure (Austin Monitor)
Beginning tonight, Thursday, Rainey Street will close to vehicle traffic three nights a week as part of a pilot program to ease congestion.
Initially, bikes, scooters and pedicabs were going to be banned during the closure, but staff from the Austin Transportation Department decided to reverse course.
“After receiving feedback from (the City Council) Mobility Committee and the Pedestrian Advisory Council, staff revised the pilot plans to allow scooters, pedicabs and bicycles within the closure to maintain access for these modes and support the concept of a shared street,” Austin Transportation Director Robert Spillar wrote in a memo announcing changes to the pilot.
Rainey Street, between Driskill and River streets, will be closed to vehicles Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. A study found a high number of people walking in the area on Thursday nights, peaking on Saturday night. There will be designated drop-off zones for ride-share passengers… (LINK TO STORY)
Texas Capital Bank becomes first bank investor for Austin Housing Conservancy Fund (KVUE)
Texas Capital Bank was announced to be the first bank to invest in the Austin Housing Conservancy Fund, using certain assets to meet Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requirements on Dec. 4, according to Affordable Central Texas.
Affordable Central Texas is the sponsor and investment manager for Austin Housing Conservancy Fund. Austin Housing Conservancy states that it's a private equity fund for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, private foundations, institutional investors, Bank CRA programs, larger foundations and others.
“The magic of Austin is in its people. Keeping the City affordable for teachers, artists, first responders, restaurant workers and other working people is crucial to preserving what everyone loves about being here,” said Adler.
The mayor added that the investment from Texas Captial Bank showed leadership and that he hopes it will encourage others to support the fund… (LINK TO STORY)
[TEXAS]
Private group must stop building border wall in South Texas, judge says in temporary order (Texas Tribune)
For nearly a year, allies of President Trump ignored seemingly every obstacle that might keep their right-wing group from building a crowdfunded wall at multiple points along the U.S.-Mexico border.
They didn’t get permits in advance. They refused government orders to stop and study their engineering. And on the banks of the Rio Grande, they began bulldozing land where, true to their group’s name — “We Build the Wall” — they plan to erect more than three miles of 18-foot steel fencing.
But a Texas judge on Tuesday issued what may be the strongest rebuke yet to the group, which is led by Stephen K. Bannon, ordering it to temporarily halt all construction because of possible harm to a nearby nature preserve… (LINK TO STORY)
Fort Worth City Council passes regulations to limit spread of dollar stores (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Six months after the Rolling Hills community tried and failed to fight a new Family Dollar opening in their community, the city of Fort Worth passed measures that would limit the opening of new dollar stores. The city council passed the measure at its meeting Tuesday night, 8-1 with Councilman Brian Byrd being the only no vote. The measure was an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance.
It defines dollar stores as “small box discount stores” that have a floor area of less than 10,000 square feet and sell a variety of home and personal goods and also food and beverages, but don’t sell gasoline or have a prescription pharmacy. The definition also includes that small box discount stores dedicate less than 15 percent of their space for fresh food and vegetables. The zoning amendment requires that future dollar stores would have to meet two requirements: the first was that they could not locate within two miles of an existing dollar store. The second was that at least 10% of the store must include fresh produce and meat and dairy products. The first requirement addresses the issue of proliferation, and the second requirement addresses the issue of the quality of products the stores offer… (LINK TO STORY)
Rick Miller’s swift demise shines light on the shifting politics of Fort Bend County and the Texas House (Texas Tribune)
The drama that unfolded — and its remarkably rapid conclusion — served as the latest reminder that seats in one of the country’s most ethnically diverse counties are some of the most competitive in the state heading into the 2020 election cycle, and that neither of the two major parties are taking the area for granted.
The events also reiterated the challenge that the Texas GOP has acknowledged 2020 has thrust upon its ranks: How can it connect with voters of color in suburban parts of the state?
“I think it surprised everyone — things did happen very quickly,” Fort Bend County GOP Chair Linda Howell told The Texas Tribune on Wednesday. “I think people thought they needed to deal with it quickly. It’s such a critical time in our state that it’s important to deal with the issues and that the facts are out there.”… (LINK TO STORY)
[NATION]
Judiciary Committee Takes Up Impeachment In Hearing With Legal Scholars (KUT)
The House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday evening voted to advance its impeachment report and send it to the House Judiciary Committee.
The vote to advance the report took place along party lines and passed by a 13-9 margin. While expected, the decision marks the next step for the Judiciary panel to formally consider articles of impeachment against President Trump.
The report, which was released earlier Tuesday, said the president “sought to undermine the integrity of the U.S. presidential election process, and endangered U.S. national security.”… (LINK TO STORY)
The Bingham Group, LLC is an Austin-based full service lobbying firm representing and advising clients on municipal, legislative, and regulatory matters throughout Texas.
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