BG Reads | News You Need to Know (December 2, 2022)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Execs reveal vision, shifting plans for Sixth Street transformationExecs reveal vision, shifting plans for Sixth Street transformation (Austin BUSINESS JOURNAL)
Earlier this year, Stream Realty Partners revealed its plan to transform a historic strip of Austin’s East Sixth Street with the goal of bringing all-day traffic to the nightlife district.
The real estate firm continues to move forward with that plan and is making alterations to the project based on recent market changes — including the possible introduction of more residential space to the street.
The project, first reported in May, represents the culmination of years of property acquisitions within the city’s Sixth Street Historic District.
During an extended interview with Austin Business Journal Nov. 28, Stream executives disclosed that the project represents a $500 million to $750 million investment for the firm and its investors, and described the project as a Texas version of Larimer Square in Denver or Williamsburg in Brooklyn, with a focus on local businesses and institutions.
Stream aims to keep an emphasis on live music and restaurants with the 40-plus properties it owns on Sixth Street between Brazos Street and I-35 — a response to a wave of recent closures due to the pandemic and rising real estate prices… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Austin Chamber names interim CEO (COMMUNITY IMPACT)
The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce named Kerry Hall as its interim president and CEO on Dec. 1.
Hall will assume the role starting Jan. 3.
The news follows Laura Huffman's Nov. 22 announcement that she would be stepping down from the position at the end of the year.
Hall has worked in banking in Austin for more than 35 years, according to the press release. Hall served on the board of the Austin Chamber of Commerce from 2015-20 and is current board member for Opportunity Austin, the regional economic development initiative… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Austin's legal costs to oust the South Terminal's operator double to $3 million (KUT)
Legal bills are piling up in the city's fight to oust the company running the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Austin's City Council voted Thursday to double ABIA's legal services agreement with corporate law firm Winstead PC to more than $3 million.
The move comes after the company with a 40-year lease to run the South Terminal — Lonestar Airport Holdings — sued in federal court in at attempt to stop the city from forcing it out through the use of eminent domain… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
2022 was big year for Austin FC on field, in front office (KXAN)
After Austin FC reached Major League Soccer’s Western Conference finals in its second season, new evidence has arrived of its popularity with sponsors.
Austin FC had a total of 107 sponsorships in 2022 and led the league in sponsorship category diversity, according to data from SponsorUnited, a marketing data company focused on sports and entertainment.
That made it one of only three teams with at least 90 sponsorship deals for the 2022 season. The league average last season was 62… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Council working on rules for city-owned property (Austin monitor)
City Council Member Kathie Tovo has been working on resolutions intended to ensure that city staff follow certain policies when renting or selling city property. The policies relate to the requirements for construction projects, living wage, minority and women-owned business requirements, affordable housing and child care facilities.
After staff posed numerous questions and expressed concern about how to deal with those directives while conducting real estate transactions under the purview of City Manager Spencer Cronk, the resolution was postponed from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3 to today. Mayor Steve Adler has authored a motion asking the city manager to develop policies and recommendations to accomplish a number of goals while working with the staff of the Austin Economic Development Corporation… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
In Central Austin, a City Council race where the candidates diverge on housing (KUT)
In many ways then, District 9 is at the center of Austin's debate over how to make housing more affordable. Yet, the two candidates running to lead this part of Austin differ on how to solve the skyrocketing cost of housing — and what is to blame… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Council directs staff to develop ‘site plan lite’ process (Austin monitor)
In an attempt to speed up city processing of plans for “missing middle” housing developments, City Council approved a resolution Thursday that sponsors and housing advocates hope will shorten the wait for developers seeking to build triplexes, fourplexes and other small developments. Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter abstained from the vote, expressing concern that the abbreviated process might have a negative impact on parkland fees and tree protection. The rest of Council voted in favor of the resolution authored by Council Member Paige Ellis.
According to the resolution, staff will be expected to develop a procedure called “site plan lite” for developments of three to 16 residential units. First, staffers are directed to add triplexes and fourplexes to residential review, which currently considers single-family housing and duplexes. These do not require a site plan… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Council enacts stronger wage theft protections (Austin monitor)
City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Thursday to help prevent wage theft by employers.
“Violation of wage laws harms workers and their families,” said Council Member Ann Kitchen, who sponsored a resolution initiating the ordinance. “This ordinance helps ensure they get paid what they have earned.”
The ordinance creates a position for a city wage theft coordinator tasked with helping victims of wage theft file complaints with the proper authorities.
Workers may send complaints to the coordinator about any employer in the city that fails to pay owed wages or withholds benefits, does not maintain payroll records, or improperly classifies workers as independent contractors. Workers can also report an employer who retaliates against them for filing a complaint.
The ordinance also prevents employers who have committed wage theft from doing business with the city and establishes a database of employers engaged in city contracts who have been found guilty of wage theft.
The city does not have the authority to prosecute wage theft violators; that responsibility lies with the state and federal governments. Employers who commit wage theft can be fined or even sentenced to jail time… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
Houston boil water aftermath: Council members say city must improve communication during emergencies (HOuston public media)
Houston City Council members said Wednesday the city needs to improve its communication to residents after the city’s boil water notice this week. Councilor Tiffany Thomas said she found out about the boil water notice on Twitter. “We didn’t receive the initial communication, I believe we received it the day after, before [Mayor Sylvester Turner’s] press conference,” Thomas said. “The communication improved after the press conference when communication was going out, but we were trending because people were saying, ‘If it had not been for social media I would not have known.'” Thomas suggested that the city also let councilmembers know when such notices are going out so they can alert their districts. Councilor Amy Peck also suggested the city take another look at AlertHouston, a city emergency alert service that calls, texts and emails. Residents must sign up for alerts through the service… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Clayton Perry’s seat on San Antonio City Council seat will be filled Thursday by 1 of 3 finalists (San Antonio Express-news)
City Council has shortlisted three applicants to fill District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry’s seat temporarily. Former District 10 City Councilman Mike Gallagher, retired AT&T employee Joe F. Garcia and Palo Alto College Professor Pauline A. Rubio will be interviewed by the council Thursday morning. All three stressed a desire to provide continuity in the district if selected. The finalist Thursday will serve until Perry returns from his leave of absence following his recent hit-and-run arrest or when the term expires. The temporary council member will be sworn-in and take office immediately if approved with eight or more votes or on Dec. 12 with fewer than eight votes… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
By tradition, the minority party gets to chair some Texas House committees. Some in the GOP want to end that. (Texas tribune)
As the 2023 legislative session nears, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is under pressure from a small but vocal group of fellow Republicans who want to ban Democratic committee chairs, a longtime tradition that has allowed the minority party a seat at the table despite being out of power.
The conservative agitators are unlikely to get their way, as Phelan — who is expected to be reelected as House speaker — has publicly defended the practice. But they believe their ranks have increased since the last session and are harder to dismiss at this point… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[NATION]
Trump’s dinner with antisemites provides test of GOP response to extremism (WASHINGTON POST)
Former president Donald Trump’s refusal to apologize for or disavow the outspoken antisemites he dined with last week is setting him increasingly at odds with leaders of his own party, providing the first test of his political endurance since launching his third run for the White House. The fracas is also testing how Republicans will handle the party’s extreme fringe in the months ahead after years of racist, misogynist and antisemitic speech flooding into the political bloodstream during the Trump era. Trump has been taken aback by the backlash and maintained that the controversy over his Mar-a-Lago dinner with white nationalist Nick Fuentes and the rapper Ye, who has been vocally spouting antisemitic conspiracy theories, would blow over, according to advisers who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential conversations. “I think it’s dying down,” they recalled Trump saying… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
November Employment Report Will Update on Tightness of U.S. Labor Market (Wall Street Journal)
Friday’s employment report will reveal how the labor market fared in November amid rising interest rates and high inflation.
The job market has remained resilient this year, with employers still seeking to hire despite an uncertain economic outlook and elevated recession fears. Low unemployment and wage gains have helped fuel consumer spending, the economy’s main engine.
One big question is how long that strength can last as the Federal Reserve aggressively raises interest rates to tame inflation. Some companies in technology, entertainment and real estate are laying off workers, but demand for workers continues to outpace the number of unemployed people looking for work… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[HEARINGS/MEETINGS]
YESTERDAY
City Council Candidate Runoff Forums (2h 25m)
TODAY
(10AM) - City Council Meeting Agenda
[BG PODCAST]
Bingham Group Week in Review (11.23.2022)
Bingham Group Associate Hannah Garcia and CEO A.J. recap the week (and the week ahead) in City of Austin Politics. (Episode 172)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Enjoy this episode? Please like, share, and comment!