BG Reads | News You Need to Know (December 4, 2020)
[BINGHAM GROUP]
NEW BG PODCAST - EP. 115: 2020 Fall Closeout with Associate Intern Wendy Rodriguez
Travis County Moves
Kate Garza has been named Chief of Staff for Travis County Judge Andy Brown (D). Ms. Garza was most recently Director of Advocacy & External Affairs, Ascension Seton & Ascension Providence.
Pre-filed bills for the 87th Texas Legislature:
COUNTY JOB
[AUSTIN METRO]
City Council takes steps toward relief for live music venues and ‘legacy’ businesses (KUT)
Austin's struggling live music venues, restaurants, bars and longtime businesses are a step closer to getting some COVID-19-related relief from the city, but some are still holding out hope for quicker relief.
The Austin City Council approved Thursday the guidelines for two grant programs that total $10 million set aside for ailing businesses under the Save Austin's Vital Economic Sectors (SAVES) resolution.
City Council also OK'd measures to pump more hotel occupancy tax revenue into businesses deemed "iconic" and approved a program to incentivize commercial landlords to lower rents for businesses.
Since the SAVES resolution's passage in October, venues, musicians and other folks within Austin's famed live music community have been awaiting substantial relief, as the outlook for federal relief is uncertain. The city doled out $800,000 in grants to more than 30 venues over the summer, but live music venues say they're still struggling amid COVID-related closures.
The two grant programs – the Live Music Preservation Fund and the Austin Legacy Business Relief Grant – will allow businesses to apply for an immediate grant of up to $20,000 if they can prove they're at risk of closure. They can also apply for monthly grants of up to $40,000 that could last six months or until they reach the $140,000 cap.
Legacy businesses must have been operating within the Austin city limits for 20 years and can include creative spaces like theaters and galleries, bars, restaurants and live music venues. Though venues are included in both programs, they can't double-dip. If a longstanding venue applied for money from one program, it can't apply for the other.
With the guidelines in place, the city now must find a third-party to distribute the money, with the hopes of launching the programs by February… (LINK TO STORY)
$1 billion development project on its way to Southwest Austin along Barton Creek Greenbelt (Community Impact)
Developer Barshop & Oles Co. announced plans Dec. 3 for a major project to remake the Brodie Oaks Shopping Center in Southwest Austin.
The mixed-use project, which could top $1 billion of total investment over the next ten years, is still in the conceptual stage, according to a press release. The developer plans to file an application for a planned unit development with the city of Austin in February, and construction could begin at the end of 2022 or in 2023.
Redevelopment will come in phases. In the end, the project could include 1,600 new residential units, 1.1 million square feet of office space, 450 hotel rooms, and 140,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. According to the release, the total square footage of the project would be up to 3 million, with an additional 13.7 acres of parking lot and building area being converted to green space.
For comparison, Tesla's forthcoming gigafactory in southeast Travis County is estimated to be about 4 million-5 million square feet, and the Domain in North Austin has 1.8 million square feet of commercial space.
Barshop & Oles started the yearslong process by submitting a development assessment to the city Dec. 3, according to the release… (LINK TO STORY)
Comedy legend Dave Chappelle taps Joe Rogan for surprise 10-show Austin residency (Culture Map)
Dave Chappelle is returning to Austin for a 10-show residency at Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater. The legendary comedian returns to Austin December 8-20, less than one month after surprising the Capital City with three performances, also as Stubb's. Joining Chappelle for five of the dates is Austin's newest celebrity resident, Joe Rogan. The comedian, podcaster, and former Fear Factor host (remember that show?) will join Chappelle during the December 8, 9, 11, 15, and 16 performances.
The rest of the dates promise "friends," but no other names have been confirmed, according to the website. Tickets to all performances, presented by C3, go on sale Friday, December 4, at noon. Like all Chappelle shows, expect tickets to sell out fast. (When he surprised Austin with a performance at the Paramount in October 2019, tickets sold out in six minutes.)… (LINK TO STORY)
[TEXAS]
Gov. Greg Abbott tells supporters he's considering placing law enforcement for central Austin under state control (Texas Tribune)
In his latest move in a political fight against Austin over police funding, Gov. Greg Abbott says he is considering a proposal to put the state in charge of policing a large area in the middle of the city, including downtown, the Texas Capitol and the University of Texas at Austin.
Abbott floated the idea during a campaign tele-town hall Wednesday while discussing his push to punish cities that "defund the police" during the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January. He has for months railed against the Austin City Council's August vote to slash its police department budget by one-third, primarily by shifting some responsibilities out of law enforcement oversight. He has also already proposed measures such as freezing property tax revenues for cities that cut police budgets.
"Something else that I'm thinking about doing, and that is because we have people coming from across the world and across the country into our capital city, as well as to the university, we can't make our fellow Texans be victims of crime ... because of the city of Austin leadership," Abbott said, "and so what I think we need to do is have a Capitol zone area that the state will be in charge of policing, and we can use city of Austin police officers for this."
The proposal follows a fight over policing that became a centerpiece of the November election nationwide, playing into a fear of rising crime in major cities amid calls for racial justice and reforms to police behavior… (LINK TO STORY)
Gov. Greg Abbott again mentioned as potential 2024 White House contender (Houston Chronicle)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is on a short list of potential Republican contenders for the White House in 2024 who have been invited to a key meeting in Florida in January organized by national GOP leaders. Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz are reportedly two of about a dozen potential 2024 White House contenders that Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has invited to the annual RNC’s annual winter meeting. The invitation, first reported by Politico, is being seen as an attempt by McDaniel to assure potential 2024 GOP contenders that although the RNC has been an arm of Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, it is going to be open to other potential nominees heading into 2024, whether Trump runs again or not.
It’s the strongest signal yet that other national leaders see Abbott, 63, as a contender for the White House going forward. Abbott is in his second term as governor and has seen his national influence growing. He was tapped last year to lead the national Republican Governor Association which became a key player in helping Republicans win 8 of 11 gubernatorial races across the nation this year. Republicans now hold the governorship in 27 states. The governors association has been a springboard for past governors considering running for president to expand their influence nationally. Then-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christi were leaders of the group before their presidential campaigns… (LINK TO STORY)
Jenkins says business capacity to roll back as Dallas County reports 2,122 coronavirus cases, 3 deaths (Dallas Morning News)
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins tweeted Thursday that the hospital region containing Dallas-Fort Worth has reported hospitalizations above Gov. Greg Abbott’s 15% threshold for the seventh straight day, but the state hasn’t officially released the information. According to the governor’s order, after seven consecutive days above the threshold, businesses — currently allowed to operate at 75% of capacity — will have to cut back to 50%.
Jenkins said in his tweet that the rollback will go into effect once the numbers are official, however, Jenkins has previously said the county and its municipalities are unable to enforce mask rules and the number of customers allowed inside businesses because the state sets those restrictions. On Thursday Dallas County reported 2,122 more coronavirus cases, all of them considered new. Three new COVID-19 deaths were also reported. The latest victims were a Dallas man in his 60s and two Dallas men in their 70s, all of whom had been ill at a hospital. All three victims had underlying health conditions. Of the new cases reported Thursday, 1,637 are confirmed and 485 are probable. The newly reported cases bring the county’s total confirmed cases to 130,830 and probable cases to 12,909. The county has recorded 1,224 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 36 probable deaths… (LINK TO STORY)
Mayor Turner announces staff shake-up as four top officials depart City Hall (Houston Chronicle)
Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a staff shake-up Thursday for several top positions in his administration, as four department directors leave City Hall. City Attorney Ronald Lewis, Solid Waste Management Director Harry J. Hayes, Fleet Director Victor Ayres and Parks Director Steve Wright are leaving their posts, Turner announced, nearly a fifth of the city’s department directors. Hayes and Ayres, both of whom preceded Turner’s tenure, are retiring. Lewis and Wright, who Turner appointed in his first term, are leaving for other jobs.
Arturo Michel, city attorney from 2004 to 2010, will return to that job, Turner said. Deputy Solid Waste Director Carolyn Wright and Assistant Parks Director Kenneth Allen will lead their offices on an interim basis as Turner searches for permanent replacements. Turner said he will announce plans for the Fleet Department next week. “They say change is inevitable, and that’s certainly true in city government,” Turner said at a news conference announcing the moves.
“Today is both exciting and bittersweet.” Lewis, a close friend of the mayor, had been city attorney since May 2016, a few months after Turner first took office. He has led legal services for the city, advising elected leaders and representing the city in litigation while leading a department of more than 100 people. He is leaving for an opportunity that Turner said he could not announce yet. The mayor said Lewis is known for his sharp mind and remarks that are often brief but insightful… (LINK TO STORY)
[NATION]
Former Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton volunteer to get coronavirus vaccine publicly to prove it's safe (CNN)
ormer Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are volunteering to get their Covid-19 vaccines on camera to promote public confidence in the vaccine's safety once the US Food and Drug Administration authorizes one.
The three most recent former presidents hope an awareness campaign to promote confidence in its safety and effectiveness would be a powerful message as American public health officials try to convince the public to take the vaccine.
Freddy Ford, Bush's chief of staff, told CNN that the 43rd President had reached out to Dr. Anthony Fauci -- the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the nation's top infectious disease expert -- and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, to see how he could help promote the vaccine.
"A few weeks ago President Bush asked me to let Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx know that, when the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated," Ford told CNN. "First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations. Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera."… (LINK TO STORY)
Biden asked Fauci to serve as chief medical adviser (The Hill)
President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday asked Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, to serve as his chief medical adviser.
Biden told CNN's Jake Tapper in an interview that he asked Fauci to serve in the position in addition to staying on in his longtime role as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
"I asked him to stay on the exact same role he's had for the past several presidents, and I asked him to be a chief medical adviser for me as well, and be part of the COVID team," Biden told the network in his first joint interview with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris since the election.
Fauci is one of the most prominent members of President Trump's coronavirus task force and polls show he is among the most trusted public officials when it comes to the coronavirus. But his media appearances, during which he urged Americans to stay home, wear masks and take other precautions, often put him at odds with Trump.
Fauci was also a critic of Scott Atlas, who advised Trump on the pandemic before he resigned Wednesday. Atlas pushed back on many coronavirus restrictions, arguing that young and healthy people should be allowed to resume their lives as normal because they are less likely to become seriously ill if they contract the virus… (LINK TO STORY)
Momentum For Coronavirus Relief Bill builds, but time short as parties work on deal (NPR)
After months of partisan stand off on Capitol Hill over the size and composition of another round of coronavirus relief, key signs of progress emerged as the House and Senate moved closer to a possible deal.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., spoke by telephone Thursday afternoon — notable because the two top leaders hadn't spoken about legislation addressing the pandemic since the election. Up until Thursday they had been blaming at each other in press conferences and floor speeches for the lack of action.
While the two sides are getting closer in terms of the possible size of a package, key policy differences over liability protections and whether to help state and local governments continue to be the chief hang ups. The time pressure is also working against members, as pulling together a measure costing hundreds of billions of dollars in a matter of days is colliding with efforts to finalize a massive government funding bill.
The scramble comes as millions of Americans face losing support programs at the end of the month and cases and hospitalizations are surging across the country. Top leaders are aiming to finish business for the year at the end of next week… (LINK TO STORY)