BG Reads | News You Need to Know (November 26, 2019)
[BINGHAM GROUP]
NEW -> Episode 62: Cree Crawford, Founder and President, Ionization Labs (LINK TO SHOW)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Garza says code needs ‘equity overlay’ to address historic development patterns (Austin Monitor)
Reading through the draft Land Development Code over the last several weeks, Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza noted that, for all its pages and nuance, the draft has a blind spot around housing equity.
Realizing there was no single tool to address displacement of the city’s most vulnerable residents, Garza consulted with her office and the Land Development Code rewrite team to brainstorm an idea for such a tool: an “equity overlay” district.
The zone would operate much like other overlays, such as the University Neighborhood Overlay in West Campus or the Downtown Plan Overlay, but would serve the specific purpose of protecting residents in vulnerable, historically segregated areas from the pressures of redevelopment and surging housing costs… (LINK TO STORY)
See also:
BG Podcast Episode 59: Land Development Code Draft 1 with Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza
Austin Chamber's longtime CEO Mike Rollins to retire (Austin Business Journal)
Austin's largest business organization will need a new leader for the first time in close to two decades.
The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce announced Nov. 25 its longtime president and CEO Mike Rollins would retire March 31, 2020.
Rollins has served in that role since he joined the organization in 2002 — after a 12-year tenure at the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.
Austin Chamber Board Chairman Brian Cassidy said in a statement Rollins has been a "stalwart of the Austin business community" for those 17 years — a time period when Austin moved past the dot-com bust, weathered a recession and rapidly grew during the current economic expansion.
"Austin would not be what it is today without his leadership," Cassidy said. "His leadership and vision helped transform our region into an economic powerhouse."… (LINK TO STORY)
Council to consider stalling Austin police academy amid racism investigations (Austin American-Statesman)
Members of the Austin City Council are scheduled to vote next week on a resolution that would put new Austin police cadet classes on hold until fall 2020 as investigators dig into allegations of systemic racism within the department.
The investigations stemmed from anonymous complaints widely circulated earlier in November that accused former Austin police Asst. Chief Justin Newsom of using racist language to describe President Barack Obama, former Council Member Ora Houston, former Asst. Chief Frank Dixon and subordinate officers. The complaints said the behavior took place over the course of years as Newsom climbed to the highest ranks within the department.
Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison and community justice advocates held a news conference shortly after the complaints were made public, saying the episode is indicative of a department-wide problem that touches every facet of the police force from the executive offices to the training academy… (LINK TO STORY)
[TEXAS]
California firm working on San Antonio homelessness plan impressed with what it sees so far (San Antonio Express-News)
After spending their first week meeting with San Antonio and Bexar County officials, numerous nonprofit staffers and several homeless success stories, staff with a San Francisco company hired by the city to find a way to resolve its persistent problem with homelessness have high hopes. “I have done work on homeless systems in 22 states and was very impressed at the level of compassion, commitment, and systems and program-level execution I observed throughout my tour,” said Patrick Wigmore, deputy managing director of HomeBase.
Wigmore wasn’t ready to discuss details, but he said San Antonio has many advantages that other communities his 34-year-old consulting company has assisted only dream about, which he finds promising. “We can build off these to continue to improve the community’s response to the (population) most in need,” Wigmore said. The City Council approved a $128,898 contract with HomeBase in October to develop a strategy by March to tackle homelessness. Council members are concerned that the number of homeless in the city has increased, and they say the number of sightings and complaints from constituents has risen significantly… (LINK TO STORY)
San Antonio paid sick leave requirement blocked by state judge (Texas Tribune)
A district judge blocked a San Antonio ordinance Friday that would have required businesses in the city to provide paid sick leave for employees starting Dec. 1.
In October, the council approved the latest version of the ordinance, calling it the “safe and sick time” ordinance. It would've required companies and nonprofits of all sizes to provide 56 hours’ worth of earned paid sick time per year. Under the rule — approved in an 8-3 vote — workers would've been able to use the leave if they were sick or if they or a family member had suffered domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.
Multiple business groups, including the Associated Builders and Subcontractors, sued to block the ordinance with the backing of the Austin-based Texas Public Policy Foundation. District Judge Peter Sakai issued a temporary injunction, meaning his ruling is not permanent but will block the implementation of the ordinance while the court case proceeds.
The ruling will affect an estimated 354,000 workers, according to the San Antonio Express-News… (LINK TO STORY)
See also:
BG Podcast Episode 20: State Rep. Diego Bernal (D-San Antonio)
BG Podcast - Episode 10: Policy Discussion Rob Henneke on Paid Sick Leave and Local Control
Last-Minute Loophole Could Undermine Texas Law Against Surprise Medical Bills (KUT)
exas’ bipartisan effort to shield patients from surprise medical bills could be weaker than lawmakers intended when it takes effect Jan. 1.
Earlier this year, lawmakers from both parties came together on legislation to protect people in state-regulated health plans from getting outrageous bills for out-of-network care. The new law, known as Senate Bill 1264, creates an arbitration process for insurers and providers to negotiate fair prices in those cases. The intention of the law is to establish those fair prices without ever involving patients… (LINK TO STORY)
[NATION]
Federal subpoenas seek information on Giuliani’s consulting business (Wall Street Journal)
Subpoenas issued to people with ties to President Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and his associates indicate a broad federal investigation into possible money laundering, obstruction of justice and campaign-finance violations, and suggest that prosecutors are looking closely at the work of Mr. Giuliani himself, according to people familiar with the matter.
In recent weeks, prosecutors have sent subpoenas and other requests to potential witnesses seeking records and information related to Mr. Giuliani and two of his associates, according to the people. The investigation, led by the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has already led to campaign-finance charges against the associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman. The subpoenas offer the clearest indication yet that federal prosecutors are examining Mr. Giuliani’s consulting work. Among the entities named in the subpoenas are Giuliani Partners, a security-consulting firm founded by Mr. Giuliani in 2002 that had multiple foreign clients, including a city in Ukraine. The subpoenas also sought information on a company co-founded by Mr. Parnas that paid Mr. Giuliani for business and legal advice… (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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