BG Reads | News You Need to Know (May 22, 2020)
[BINGHAM GROUP]
*NEW* BG Podcast Ep 87: Mobility Policy in a COVID19 World feat. Pete Gould of Catapult Policy Strategies (LINK TO SHOW)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Council pushes for economic development body to lead purchase, preservation of venue spaces (Austin Monitor)
City Council is pushing staff to act this summer to create an economic development corporation that could be used to preserve and acquire real estate properties to be used for cultural arts events and meeting space.
That body, possibly in tandem with a proposed cultural trust that could also be created this summer, has been in the works for years and is seen as the quasi-governmental body that could be used to assist venues in the Red River Cultural District and other parts of the city.
On Thursday Council unanimously approved a pair of resolutions involving the development corporation. The first item called for an initial plan for the body by June 11, with legal documents required for its creation to be delivered by July 23.
That item also cited specific idle city properties that could be converted to cultural uses, including a closed fire station near the University of Texas campus, an administrative building on Eighth Street and retail space in the Planning and Development Center near Highland Mall.
The second item gives staff the same June 11 deadline for recommendations on how an economic development entity could help to facilitate a number of improvements and financial moves that could assist the music venues on Red River Street that have been closed since mid-March because of the pandemic.
Last week leaders in the Red River Cultural District delivered a policy proposal to Council members that called for using some of the city’s $170.8 million from its portion of CARES Act money to support 54 music venues that have been closed for months and have a cumulative monthly overhead of around $2 million… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
'Nobody's speaking with us': Communication lacking as Austin seeks to address Latinx COVID-19 cases (KUT)
Latinx communities in Austin have been hard-hit by the coronavirus. Latinx patients account for nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Austin area, and at some sites they are nearly four times more likely to test positive for the coronavirus.
Officials said Wednesday they're forming a task force to address that disparity, which was news to the Latinx advocates who called for one in the first place.
At a media briefing, Austin Public Health said it's convening the task force and developing a plan to bolster outreach in Latinx communities.
"We are absolutely going to do everything we can to improve the health amongst our Latinx community," said APH Director Stephanie Hayden.
She said the health authority plans to set up a hotline and pass out informational flyers and it's working on in-person and online outreach opportunities… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Austin to increase monitoring, require day passes to walk-in visitors, cyclists at some parks (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin Parks and Recreation officials say they will increase monitoring at three popular city parks to ensure social distancing guidelines are met and prevent overcrowding.
Austin parks staff members have been monitoring the capacity at Emma Long, Commons Ford Ranch and Walter E. Long metropolitan parks since May 8. On May 14, parks officials began requiring vehicle day passes for those visiting the parks Thursday through Sunday. Passes will also be required on Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.
Parks staffers on Thursday also started monitoring those coming to the parks on foot or on bicycles, and day passes soon will be required for them as well. A firm date for day passes will be announced within the next few weeks. Parks officials said they still are working to launch a system for obtaining day passes online.
“Once capacity is reached, no additional walk-ins/cyclists will be allowed into the parks. Signage will be on-site along with park staff to educate visitors,” parks officials said.
Day passes to the parks do not come with “in-and-out” privileges, so visitors shouldn’t leave until they are finished for the day.
Austin parks have been strained by increases in visitors since the coronavirus pandemic prompted the closures of businesses throughout the city, including gyms and other fitness venues… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
Gov. Greg Abbott lifts coronavirus restrictions for travelers from New York, Georgia and other hot spots (Texas Tribune)
Gov. Greg Abbott lifted air travel restrictions into Texas for those coming from states and major cities that have been considered COVID-19 hot spots. The change will take effect immediately, Abbott announced Thursday.
The governor implemented air travel restrictions as part of his executive orders in late March. Travelers who came from specified states and some major cities had to undergo a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine.
The governor implemented the same restriction for drivers coming from Louisiana, but that restriction was previously lifted.
The air travel restrictions applied to visitors from the states of California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Washington. Travelers from Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and Miami had the same restrictions, according to the release… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann, husband test positive for coronavirus (Dallas Morning News)
Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann said Thursday she has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the first high-ranking state official with a known case of COVID-19. Lehrmann and her husband, Greg, suffered fevers and body aches early last week before getting swabbed at an Austin drive-through testing center, she said.
Their Houston lawyer son, Jonathan, his wife Sarah and their six-month-old son Jack abruptly ended their visit at the elder Lehrmanns’ Austin residence. Though testing hasn’t confirmed it, the three Houston Lehrmanns also are believed to have been infected, Debra Lehrmann said.
“We have strictly adhered to the stay-at-home order since early March,” she said. “We’re fortunate because we’re all lawyers so we’ve been able to work at home. And of course, we’re not going to take any kind of risk whatsoever with an infant,” she explained. From the epidemic’s outbreak, she said, she and Greg Lehrmann cooked all of their meals at home.
They wore masks and gloves whenever they went out. And they only ventured out to go to the grocery store, she said. At first, they went once a week but eventually managed to go just once every two weeks, she said. Every other weekend during the lockdown, Jonathan and Sarah would bring the baby, the Lehrmanns’ first grandchild, to visit in Austin, Debra Lehrmann said. They packed toilet paper for pit stops, avoiding public restrooms while en route, she said… (LINK TO STORY)
FBI Investigates Texas Naval Air Station Shooting As Terrorism-Related (Texas Public Radio)
A Thursday morning shooting at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi was terrorism-related, officials say, and the FBI is investigating local connections to a suspect.
The FBI has not released the name of the shooter, but the Associated Press has identified him as Corpus Christi man Adam Alsahli. The AP verified the information with three officials familiar with the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly.
Police say the gunman approached the north gate of the station around 6:15 a.m. and opened fire on officers standing at the entrance. Officers returned fire and Alsahli was reportedly killed during the shootout. One officer was injured at the scene.
FBI Special Agent Leah Greeves said during a news conference Thursday that the scene is still being processed and there may be a second suspect in the case… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[NATION]
Coronavirus-triggered layoffs in US hit nearly 39 million (Associated Press)
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits in the two months since the coronavirus took hold in the U.S. has swelled to nearly 39 million, the government reported Thursday, even as states from coast to coast gradually reopen their economies and let people go back to work. More than 2.4 million people filed for unemployment last week in the latest wave of layoffs from the business shutdowns that have brought the economy to its knees, the Labor Department said.
That brings the running total to a staggering 38.6 million, a job-market collapse unprecedented in its speed. The number of weekly applications has slowed for seven straight weeks. Yet the figures remain breathtakingly high — 10 times higher than normal before the crisis struck. It shows that even though all states have begun reopening over the past three weeks, employment has yet to snap back and the outbreak is still damaging businesses and destroying jobs. “While the steady decline in claims is good news, the labor market is still in terrible shape,” said Gus Faucher, chief economist at PNC Financial… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Divided Senate confirms Ratcliffe as intelligence chief (Associated Press)
A sharply divided Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe as director of national intelligence on Thursday, with Democrats refusing to support the nomination over fears that he will politicize the intelligence community’s work under President Donald Trump.
All Democrats opposed Ratcliffe, making him the first DNI to be installed on a partisan vote since the position was created in 2005. The tally was 49-44.
Ratcliffe will take over the agency at a tumultuous time. The nation faces threats from Iran and North Korea, Russian disinformation campaigns to interfere in the U.S. elections and tensions with China over rising competition and the spread of the coronavirus. At the same time, Trump has viewed the intelligence agencies with distrust and ousted or fired multiple officials… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
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