BG Reads | News You Need to Know (August 26, 2020)
[BINGHAM GROUP]
*NEW*BG Podcast Episode 104: Entrepreneurship and Austin Development with Nhat Ho of Civilitude Engineers & Planners (SHOW LINK)
Note: Show also available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Sound Cloud, and Stitcher
*NEW* BG Blog: Council Discusses Creation of Austin Economic Development Corporation (BLOG LINK)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Amid drop in coronavirus cases, Austin health officials ready to ease restrictions (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin health officials on Tuesday recommended city and county leaders shift to Stage 3 coronavirus restrictions for the first time since adopting Stage 4 level restrictions in June. Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott made the recommendation to Austin City Council members on Tuesday, saying new evidence showed that a plateau in cases in recent weeks has likely shifted to a more substantial decrease in both new cases and hospitalization rates.
Not much changes from Stage 4 to Stage 3 restrictions. People should still wear masks, social distance, wash their hands frequently and avoid travel. The biggest change from Stage 4 restrictions, which recommend that people at a higher risk of having severe symptoms limit gatherings to two people, is how Stage 3 guidelines expand the limit for safe gatherings to no more than 10 people. Stage 3 also removes the recommendation for those at low risk to avoid nonessential travel, shopping and dining. Despite this change, Escott said the community still needs to act responsibly and act as though Stage 4 restrictions are still in place. He said the virus remains a serious threat throughout the community and must be taken seriously as students prepare to return to classrooms. Over the past two weeks, health officials said the numbers of infections in the greater Austin area had plateaued after a summer surge that began in June sent case numbers skyrocketing… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Austin ISD teachers will be encouraged to teach from the classroom as students learn virtually in September (Community Impact)
As scheduled, Austin ISD will start virtual learning Sept. 8, with Oct. 5 as the earliest day for possible in-person instruction for the upcoming 2020-21 school year.
During the first two weeks of class, campuses will be limited to 25% capacity, with the expectation teachers and staff would make up the campus’s population during that time, Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said at a board meeting Aug. 24.
While not required, district teachers would be encouraged to teach virtually from their classrooms in September while campuses remain closed to students. If the first two weeks of classes at 25% capacity go well, capacity limits could be eased in preparation for students in October, she said.
"We must think of reopening our schools as turning the dimmer switch, rather than turning the [light] switch on and off,” Elizalde said. “We want to use phases as we come back to our schools."
The district has worked over the summer to distribute technology to those who need it. Elizalde said the district is connecting with each family ahead of the start of school to anticipate the remaining technology needs. Families who have not already received a call from the district should expect one this week, according to the district, and technology pickup times have been set at individual campuses… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Thousands are out of work, but home sales in Austin are doing fine — better than fine. What gives? (KUT)
Blake Taylor wants to be rid of the house she hardly leaves.
Taylor lives with lupus, an autoimmune disease, and is terrified of what it would mean if she caught COVID-19. She’s been extra careful. When she heads to H-E-B to buy food, she goes as soon as it opens, hoping fewer people will be there. She wears gloves and a mask. When she gets home, she washes her unpackaged groceries.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit right as she was about to put her Round Rock house up for sale, Taylor decided instead to stay put, afraid of prospective buyers getting her sick.
“When you think about strangers coming in your house, they want to look in the cabinets and the closets. They pretty much are touching everything,” Taylor, a retired court reporter, said. “Is it worth it?”
But then a house in the neighborhood sold in two days. Everyone was telling her it was a seller's market, which is typical in Austin – but now, more so than usual. Taylor was eager to move from the house she'd gotten as part of her divorce. It was too big for her and too expensive to keep up… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
TABC alters rules so more bars in Texas can reopen as restaurants (KUT)
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission passed rules Tuesday aimed at making it easier for bars to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas bars to close in late June in response to a surge in coronavirus cases in the state. The TABC considers an establishment a bar if it makes 51% or more of its revenue off alcohol sales.
Restaurants were allowed to remain open, but at 50% capacity. Some bars started innovating to meet requirements to allow them to reopen as restaurants.
The emergency rules TABC approved Tuesday aim to eliminate hurtles in applying for a Food and Beverage Certificate, the certification that enables a bar to be considered a restaurant.
Bars now don’t have to have commercial-grade cooking equipment and can sell premade food from other sites to qualify. They can also partner with food trucks to help them increase their food sales.
“Many establishments that would have otherwise remained shuttered will be able to reopen and operate in a safe manner due to these amendments,” TABC said in a board document about the changes.
TABC also eliminated a requirement to submit floor plans of the areas dedicated to the preparation of food and a requirement to redo menus to make food options more prominent than alcoholic beverages… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
The out-of-work Texans who get less than $100 in unemployment aid each week don’t qualify for Trump’s additional $300 (Texas Tribune)
Mark Saltillo was juggling.
It was Sunday night and his 9-year-old son was hungry, so Saltillo started on dinner while preparing for the first day of his last semester at El Paso Community College — at least he hopes it's his last.
Money has been tight. There are electricity bills, groceries and $650 per month for rent. Books and school courses also cost money, which hasn’t been coming in like it had before August.
The 42-year-old full-time student, who hopes to get a job in counseling or social work, has been jobless since the coronavirus pandemic upended businesses in El Paso, and his part-time work checking tickets at local events dried up.
“I’m supposed to start school tomorrow,” Saltillo said Sunday night. “I’m just 12 credits away from graduating. But I'm already thinking about quitting so I could find a job full time or taking out some more student loans to have that extra money.”
Because Saltillo worked part-time jobs, the Texas Workforce Commission’s formula for determining unemployment benefit payments calculated that he receive $69 per week, the minimum amount available to Texans. It was no problem for Saltillo, though, after Congress passed sweeping legislation in March that included an extra $600 per week for anyone receiving unemployment benefits.
“I was OK with that once I found out they were giving everyone 600 bucks,” Saltillo said. “That was fine, it worked out great.”… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Gov. Greg Abbott gives Cowboys 'green light' to have fans at AT&T Stadium, Jerry Jones says (WFAA)
Get ready for watching some football in person, because Jerry Jones says you're going to be able to this fall. The owner of the Dallas Cowboys said Tuesday morning that he has been given the green light by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to have fans in attendance at AT&T Stadium this season for Cowboys home games.
"Absolutely. Absolutely," Jones said when asked if he'd gotten that proverbial green light from Abbott. "We're excited about it. He's excited about it. I'm excited that he's excited about it. We all know the importance of leading the way." The interview took place on the Cowboys flagship radio station, 105.3 The Fan, during which Jones said they would "take advantage" of their space. "Certainly we've got the ability to lead the way to a more normal type of activity throughout it, whether it be economic or it be social," he said. "This is a great opportunity to do that in a very safe [way.] We're very unique in our stadium relative to just space." The state of Texas has mandated that sporting events have no more than 50% capacity at their venues. The Cowboys have not specified what percentage of the stadium they intend to fill. But they clearly want fans in attendance… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[NATION]
‘Fighting for you’: First lady makes her case for Trump vote (Associated Press)
First lady Melania Trump portrayed her husband as an authentic, uncompromising leader in a Rose Garden address as President Donald Trump turned to family, farmers and the trappings of the presidency to boost his reelection chances on the second night of the scaled-down Republican National Convention.
Mrs. Trump offered a polished portrait of Trump’s presidency Tuesday night that was often at odds with the crises, division and unforgiving actions of his administration.
But it was part of a broader effort to show a more forgiving side of a combative president who will soon face the voters. Beyond the first lady’s remarks, Trump pardoned a reformed felon and oversaw a naturalization ceremony for several immigrants in the midst of the program, though he frequently states his vigorous opposition to more immigration, legal as well as illegal.
“In my husband, you have a president who will not stop fighting for you and your families,” said Mrs. Trump, an immigrant herself. “He will not give up.”
Democrat Joe Biden’s camp was not impressed.
“Immigrants and Latinos are not props, and these empty gestures won’t make us forget Donald Trump’s failures,” said the Biden’s Latino media director, Jennifer Molina… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Business world braces for blue sweep (The Hill)
Wall Street and business groups are bracing for the possibility of a blue sweep in Washington that would leave Democrats in charge of the White House and both chambers of Congress.
Such a scenario could lead to sweeping policy changes affecting taxes, regulations, coronavirus relief and other economic policies.
“I would say that’s definitely a concern on a lot of investors’ minds,” said Judy Lu, CEO and founder of Blue Zone Wealth Advisors.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden holds a lead in national polls and in key swing states over President Trump. Democrats are in control of the House and, if Biden wins the White House, would need to have a net pick-up of three Senate seats to gain control of that chamber.
With one party controlling Washington, Lu says, businesses anticipate more sweeping policy changes, which makes it harder to plan.
“The market doesn’t really care if you’re red or if you’re blue, the market just doesn’t like uncertainty,“ she said.
If Biden were to win but the Senate would remain in GOP control, on the other hand, the expectation from businesses would be that little would get done.
“Markets have historically performed well in times of political gridlock,” Lu said. “If Biden were to win but without a full blue sweep, it would probably be favorable for the market.”
Even without a sweep, a new Biden administration could heavily influence policy at the Treasury Department. Speculation has swirled that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a Wall Street boogeywoman who has advised Biden on economic policy and was a frontrunner to be his running mate, may be offered the job.
But changes could be more far-reaching with legislative backing.Jeffrey Corliss, a managing director and partner of RDM Financial Group at Hightower, says one of the main concerns businesses have over Democratic control of Washington comes down to one word: taxes… (LINK TO FULL STORY HERE)
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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