BG Reads | News You Need to Know (November 20, 2019)
[BINGHAM GROUP]
NEW -> Episode 61: CBD Market for Small Businesses with Prohibition Creamery's Laura Aidan (LINK TO SHOW)
NEW -> In the Weeds: Hemp legislation updates from USDA and State of Texas (LINK TO BLOG)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Travis County continues to push for Palm School-expo center swap as city of Austin considers other options (Community Impact)
With voter approval to expand the Travis County Expo Center secured, county officials have issued an offer to the city of Austin to exchange ownership of Palm School for the expo center with a deadline of Dec. 16.
According to a proposed timeline for the expo center redevelopment, the county hopes to execute the land transfer or acquisition agreement with the city of Austin in July.
“I acknowledge that the City has shown no interest to date in linking its interest in Palm with our interest in Expo,” County Judge Sarah Eckhardt wrote in a Nov. 18 letter to City Manager Spencer Cronk. “Although we have not yet received a hard offer, Travis County looks forward to and will seriously consider any counteroffers proffered by the City for the sale of Expo or the purchase of Palm as linked or as separate transactions.”
In a Nov. 19 memo to Austin City Council, Assistant City Manager Rodney Gonzales wrote city staff "continues to pursue mutually beneficial solutions for achieving shared goals with Travis County on the Expo Center" and to "prioritize the acquisition of Palm School, and we are committed to a successful outcome."… (LINK TO STORY)
Manley apologizes for not acting faster on racism allegations (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley has apologized for not addressing more quickly allegations of racism by an assistant chief. Manley said he missed several chances to do so before the incidents sparked a firestorm.
“I was focused so much on the process of handling the issue that I lost sight of impacts this had on so many in our community and within our department,” Manley said in a message Monday night to the Police Department. “While we all strive for perfection, that is a goal that is rarely achievable as the human condition is such that we all make mistakes along the way, including myself.”
Manley said he had reasons for how he handled allegations against Assistant Chief Justin Newsom, who abruptly retired as accusations began to surface. However, Manley said, “I also recognize I had opportunities along the way to take additional steps sooner, and, hindsight being what it is, I see that I missed some of those opportunities.”
Manley made his comments Saturday night at a gala honoring officers, then followed up by sending his remarks in an email to the department… (LINK TO STORY)
How heritage tree regulations change under new draft code (Austin Monitor)
Transition zones have proved to be a divisive topic at City Hall during the ongoing discussions about the Land Development Code draft.
These zones, which are meant to promote “missing middle” housing options and increase density, are raising eyebrows due to changes in long-standing provisions that are proposed to achieve the desired density levels. One of those provisions is the Heritage Tree Ordinance.
“We offered up to Council an administrative review process for heritage trees that are in that (transition) area,” Keith Mars, manager of the Community Tree Preservation Division, told the Austin Monitor. That administrative process allows for the removal of trees that are 30 inches or greater in diameter.
Granting administrative approval, however, requires an applicant to show that transplanting a tree is not feasible due to the condition of the tree, and that removing the tree is not a design choice… (LINK TO STORY)
[TEXAS]
With Bonnen sidelined, House Republicans spearhead new PAC to protect majority (Texas Tribune)
A group of Texas House Republicans is making a multimillion-dollar effort to defend the party's majority in 2020 with the speaker sidelined and Democrats pushing to flip the chamber.
Earlier this month, the group quietly filed paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission to create Leading Texas Forward PAC, with famed Republican strategist Karl Rove listed as the treasurer.
One of the House Republicans involved in the political action committee, Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth, told The Texas Tribune on Tuesday the goal is to raise about $5 million this cycle, mainly to protect GOP incumbents in the general election. But he said the group could also get involved in primaries to boost incumbents as well as open-seat races. The PAC will not work against incumbents of either party, Geren added… (LINK TO STORY)
Gov. Abbott ate at Bill Miller’s after Chick-fil-A announcement (Austin American-Statesman)
Gov. Greg Abbott said he was “headed to Bill Miller’s” barbecue on Monday after Chick-fil-A announced that it would no longer donate to groups criticized for their anti-LGBTQ stances. The governor joined national GOP leaders around the country in protesting the fast food chain’s move.
The Atlanta-based company said beginning next year it would stop donating to certain charities, including the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Both groups have made controversial statements about same-sex marriage. Instead, the Chick-fil-A Foundation announced that it would donate $9 million to education, homelessness and hunger initiatives. “I’m headed to Bill Miller’s tonight,” Abbott tweeted along with a story about the company’s decision… (LINK TO STORY)
The Texas House is looking for new leadership — and maybe a change in direction (Texas Tribune)
Dennis Bonnen’s rise to speaker of the Texas House marked a change in the winds at the Texas Capitol.
It’s not so much that his politics were different from his predecessor’s. His relationships with the governor and lieutenant governor were better, though. And the timing was in his favor: Texas voters wanted lawmakers to tackle big issues after a 2017 legislative session that will be remembered, above all else, for a fight over gender identity — presented as a debate over who gets to use which public restrooms.
Bonnen’s on his way out, unexpectedly. That empowers, or re-empowers, a Senate that is markedly more conservative than the House, and more willing to legislate social standards. It gives hope to those conservative activists who regarded the 2019 meat-and-potatoes session, with its focus on schools and property taxes, as an exercise in undesirable bipartisan compromise… (LINK TO STORY)
[NATION]
‘I am an American,’ Vindman reminds Trump allies in hearing (Associated Press)
“It’s Lt. Col. Vindman.” With that, the Iraq War veteran, his chest flush with ribbons and commendations, tersely reminded Republican lawmakers questioning his judgment and loyalty just whom they were trying to discredit as the impeachment drive against President Donald Trump veered into the personal.
Alexander Vindman: Purple Heart recipient, career diplomat, Army infantry officer. And this: ``I am an American.” Vindman, a Soviet Jewish immigrant, felt it necessary to state his allegiance as he batted away Republican questions about the offers he got to work for Ukraine’s government. “I immediately dismissed these offers,” he said. Still, the queries carried an implicit suggestion of disloyalty. When the senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, looked down from the dais Tuesday and addressed the witness as “Mr. Vindman,” the pushback was unmistakable. “Ranking member, it’s Lt. Col. Vindman please,” he said… (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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