BG Reads | News You Need to Know (February 26, 2020)
[BINGHAM GROUP]
NEW -> Episode 76 - Culture Talk with Kahron Spearman, Austin Chronicle Writer and Critic (LINK TO SHOW)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Homeless to Abbott: rent campsite to us (Austin American-Statesman)
This week, the Texas Department of Transportation could approve a request from Gov. Greg Abbott to rent a state-owned temporary campsite for the homeless to an Austin nonprofit. But the residents have another idea; they want the governor to lease the property directly to them. In an open letter to Abbott, those who have taken shelter at the campsite they are calling Camp R.A.T.T., which stands for Responsible Adult Transition Town, said they would be willing to pay $1 a month per resident to rent the land. Abbott is offering a $1-a-month lease to ATX Helps, a nonprofit tied to the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Austin Alliance.
“We believe this is a good idea for several reasons: it gives the residents here a sense of responsibility, and provides the basis of stewardship,” the letter said. “Also, we aren’t lazy and aren’t expecting a hand-out. It’s our intention to get back into the world.” Since Abbott opened up the five-acre former TxDOT site off U.S. 183 about a mile south of Montopolis Drive as a temporary campsite for the homeless, the amount of people staying at the site has grown from a handful to about 140. The site is a fence-lined patch of gravel and concrete with portable toilets, hand washing stations and regular delivery of meals from local nonprofit organizations. Abbott created the campsite in the wake of Austin City Council’s controversial repeal of a public camping ban. Abbott has been very critical of the decision, often equating media reports of crimes in Austin to a state of lawlessness created by the City Council. He also has used state resources to clear encampments set up under state highways… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan talks transportation, sales tax in State of the City address (Community Impact)
In his half-hour State of the City address Feb. 25, Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan discussed citywide transportation efforts, a controversial e-commerce sales tax proposal, downtown revitalization efforts and the future trajectory of the city. But first, Morgan addressed the state of his own health following the removal of a benign tumor from his spine last fall.
"I know from my faith life can change on a dime," Morgan said, later adding: "But I know who’s in control. The man upstairs, for me, is who I believe in and he has this under control. ... If it’s his desire, I’ll be back 100%.”
The public response following his health complications, Morgan said, played a significant factor into his re-election campaign for mayor. He added the outpouring of thoughts, prayers and good wishes from community members—supporters and critics alike—reaffirmed his faith in the city and the residents who reside there.
"We’re better as one, and even though you see all this craziness going on in [Washington,] D.C. and in the state, Round Rock has kind of weathered that,” he said… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Findings from Austin police racism probe could be weeks away (Austin American-Statesman)
The timetable to deliver the findings of an independent investigation into allegations of racism within the top tier of the Austin Police Department, which was expected to be completed earlier this year, has been pushed back.
Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk sent an email to the mayor and City Council members Monday saying the probe into allegations that former Assistant Chief Justin Newsom used racist language to describe fellow officers and elected officials over the course of years likely won’t be ready for a few more weeks.
The report was initially expected to be released Jan. 23, but Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, who led the effort to bring a separate, sweeping investigation into an alleged culture of racism and bigotry within Austin police, said in mid-January the findings wouldn’t be ready until February.
Cronk hired San Antonio attorney and former State Bar of Texas President Lisa Tatum to conduct the investigation after the claims against Newsom surfaced late in 2019.
City officials said Tuesday they never put a firm deadline on the investigation because they did not want to limit Tatum… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
Early voting this year continues to soar across Texas, compared to 2016 primaries (Dallas Morning News)
Early voting in the Democratic and Republican primaries this year has continued to soar across Texas’ top 10 counties for voter registrations. As of Saturday, the fifth day of voting, 322,541 Texans had voted across the state’s counties with the most voter registrations, according to data from the secretary of state’s website. By party, 182,134 Democrats and 140,407 Republicans in those counties voted through Saturday.
That’s an increase of 30.7% from the number who had voted by the fifth day of early voting in the 2016 primaries, when 115,593 Democrats and 131,136 Republicans had voted by then. But, for Democrats, early voting so far still hasn’t topped the historic turnout in the 2008 primary. By the fifth early voting day in 2008, 279,255 Texans had voted in the Democratic primary and 86,526 in the Republican primary. In Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties, where Democratic turnout nearly doubled on the first day of early voting last week in comparison to 2016, early voting continued to be strong through Saturday… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. bets on experience, seniority as he confronts two Democratic primary challengers (Texas Tribune)
lot of Democrats running for the Texas Legislature this cycle are hoping that the opportunity to influence the next redistricting process helps propel them to office. One Democrat, meanwhile, is hoping it keeps him there.
As state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville looks to hold off two primary challengers, he is strongly emphasizing his experience and seniority, which includes nearly three decades in the upper chamber, making him the third most senior member in the 31-person body. He sits on the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting, and with three rounds of political boundary-drawing under his belt, he is arguing now is not the time for the Rio Grande Valley to gamble on a fresh face.
"This is no time for freshmen," Lucio said in an interview outside a campaign event here earlier this month, echoing comments he made last month to the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. "I didn't mean that in a negative way. I meant it in a very constructive way because ... I remember my freshman year — and nothing wrong with that, you know, time would give you the experience that you need, but right now it's important that we continue, have a little continuity on what we've had."… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[NATION]
Health Officials Warn Americans To Plan For The Spread Of Coronavirus In U.S. (KUT)
Federal health officials issued a blunt message Tuesday: Americans need to start preparing now for the possibility that more aggressive, disruptive measures might be needed to stop the spread of the new coronavirus in the U.S.
The strongly worded warning came in response to outbreaks of the virus outside China, including in Iran, Japan, South Korea and Italy, which officials say have raised the likelihood of outbreaks occurring stateside.
"It's not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but more really a question of when it will happen — and how many people in this country will have severe illness," Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters during a briefing… (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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