BG Reads | News You Need to Know (January 13, 2020)
[BINGHAM GROUP]
NEW -> Episode 69: Judge Aurora Martinez Jones, Travis County Civil Courts (LINK TO SHOW)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Austin To Consider Stopping Arrests, Tickets In Low-Level Marijuana Cases After Hemp Law (KUT)
As Texas law enforcement grapples with how to determine if something is marijuana after lawmakers legalized hemp last year, one city’s officials are putting forward their own solution: effectively decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot altogether.
The Austin City Council will vote on a proposal later this month that, if approved, would “virtually end arrests and fines” by city police for possession of personal amounts of cannabis, according to a summary and copy of the measure obtained by The Texas Tribune.
The resolution, raised by four progressive members of the 11-member council, would largely direct police to stop arresting people or issuing citations in low-level marijuana possession cases where officers won’t be able to get a lab report to chemically distinguish between now-legal hemp and illegal marijuana. It also would forbid the city from spending funds or using its personnel to perform such tests… (LINK TO STORY)
See also:
BG Episode 62: Cree Crawford, Founder and President, Ionization Labs
Travis County takes action to eliminate ‘water colonias’ (Austin Monitor)
While it’s accurately referred to as an urban county, roughly half of Travis County does not fall within the limits of any municipality. The population in these rural, unincorporated areas is growing rapidly, driven in part by a lack of affordable housing in urban areas, particularly within the city of Austin.
In some cases, groups of houses have sprung up that are not platted according to county standards and do not receive water and wastewater service.
Las Lomitas, which is made up of several dozen homes in southeastern Travis County, is one such community. The residents there have long relied on their own septic systems for wastewater and have installed their own running water systems that they fill up with water from a county-owned tap at a nominal fee of 25 cents per 100 gallons.
While the water is not considered safe for drinking, some residents may be drinking it anyway. It can be used for cooking, bathing, washing, sewage and other key household functions.
Last year, the county, concerned about businesses using the tap for commercial purposes, moved to dramatically increase the price to more than $12 per 100 gallons. Las Lomitas residents showed up at the Commissioners Court, pleading with their elected officials to spare them from a devastating price hike for a basic necessity.
At the end of last year, the Commissioners Court approved a temporary solution – the price hike will still go into effect in March but residents at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for a discounted rate that is half the regular price… (LINK TO STORY)
Council may move forward with study of minority business contracting disparities (Austin Monitor)
City Council will decide at its Jan. 23 meeting whether to approve a study – first requested in late 2018 – examining how well small businesses owned by women and minorities are represented in the city’s contract procurement process. The resolution will authorize the Small and Minority Business Resources Department to spend up to $1 million on the study, which will be conducted by Colette Holt & Associates and will take approximately a year to complete.
The expected approval comes roughly a year after Council members first expected to take action on the item following three public feedback sessions and presentations early last year to some of the city’s minority quality-of-life commissions.
The delay was caused in part because the department spent the summer looking for as many qualified firms as possible to bid on conducting the study, with only three responses received. Not among the respondents was New York-based NERA Economic Consulting, which conducted the last disparity study that was completed in 2015 in accordance with city policy that data on participation by minority- and women-owned businesses be completed every five years.
The last study found “statistical evidence consistent with the presence of business discrimination against M/WBEs in the private sector of the city of Austin market area” and that “minorities and women are substantially and significantly less likely to own their own businesses as the result of discrimination than would be expected based upon their observable characteristics, including age, education, geographic location and industry.”… (LINK TO STORY)
[TEXAS]
Judge allows lawsuit against San Antonio under Texas’ new ‘Save Chick-fil-A’ law to move forward (San Antonio Express-News)
A lawsuit by a group of conservative activists who allege that San Antonio violated a new Texas law because of the City Council’s refusal last year to allow a Chick-fil-A restaurant at San Antonio International Airport can move forward, a judge ruled Thursday. The city had sought to have the lawsuit thrown out of court, arguing that the law wasn’t in effect when council members voted to strike Chick-fil-A from an airport concessions contract last March.
The “Save Chick-fil-A” law, which bars government agencies from punishing people or companies for affiliating with or donating to religious organizations, took effect Sept. 1. But state District Judge David Canales ruled Thursday against the city’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, city spokeswoman Laura Mayes said. No trial date has been set, she said. Representatives for the plaintiffs could not immediately be reached, but they have argued that they are suing the city over the March vote because the “ban” on Chick-fil-A remains in effect and actions taken after Sept. 1 regarding a replacement for Chick-fil-A are subject to the new law… (LINK TO STORY)
Abbott tells Trump administration Texas won't participate in refugee resettlement (Texas Tribune)
Gov. Greg Abbott informed the U.S. State Department that Texas will not participate in the refugee resettlement program this fiscal year.
The decision comes after more than 40 other governors, including several Republicans, said they would opt in to the federal refugee resettlement program. Resettlement agencies need written consent from states and local governments by Jan. 21. The Trump administration imposed the deadline in a September executive order that requires written consent from states and local entities before they resettle refugees within their boundaries.
The news was first reported by The Daily Wire and later confirmed by the governor’s office. The AP reported that Texas is the first state to opt out of the program.
Abbott said the state and nonprofit organizations should concentrate resources on those already here, according to a letter the governor sent to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo… (LINK TO STORY)
A year in, Hidalgo aims to reshape role of Harris County government (Houston Chronicle)
During her longshot campaign in 2018, Lina Hidalgo at times sounded like a candidate for mayor or Congress. With talking points on immigration, criminal justice reform and education, her critics contended she surely misunderstood the role of county judge. Hidalgo insisted the incumbent crop of leaders had a too-narrow view of what county government could accomplish. She unseated Ed Emmett, the popular three-term county judge, in an Election Night stunner amid a Democratic sweep of countywide posts. And then she set about enacting her vision.
After a year in office, Hidalgo has mollified many concerns about her inexperience, marshaled the county’s response to a series of chemical fires and presided over a Commissioners Court of older men who often clash. With her two Democratic colleagues, she has broadened the size and scope of county government, and pledged to do so further in 2020 with a focus on early childhood development. “We’ve begun to transform the way we do things in the county,” Hidalgo said. “The county used to be in this box that was just about roads and bridges. Now, we’ve seen and we’ve shown it can be about environmental investment. It can be about criminal justice reform. It can be about voting access.” She has also seen her national stature rise. Forbes magazine named her to its “30 Under 30” list. Presidential candidates have sought to meet her during trips to Houston, attention she said makes her feel humbled… (LINK TO STORY)
[NATION]
Trump hits Senate for giving impeachment 'credibility' by holding trial (The Hill)
President Trump on Sunday tweeted that Republicans risked lending credibility to the impeachment inquiry brought by the House by holding a trial in the Senate.
The president said any proceedings in the Senate would be based on "no evidence" and appeared to urge Senate Republicans to reject the idea of holding a trial at all.
"Many believe that by the Senate giving credence to a trial based on the no evidence, no crime, read the transcripts, 'no pressure' Impeachment Hoax, rather than an outright dismissal, it gives the partisan Democrat Witch Hunt credibility that it otherwise does not have. I agree!" Trump tweeted… (LINK TO STORY)
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