BG Reads | News You Need to Know (October 24, 2022)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Austin FC moves on to Western Conference Finals with 2-1 win over FC Dallas (KXAN)
Verde is going to the Western Conference Finals.
Austin FC rode the strength of two first-half goals from Moussa Djitte and Sebastian Driussi to beat FC Dallas 2-1 on Sunday at Q2 Stadium.
Austin FC now travels to Los Angeles to take on top-seeded LAFC in the conference finals at 2 p.m. CT on Oct. 30… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
F1 US Grand Prix feeds millions of dollars back into Austin's economy( KVUE)
The Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix has proved to be one of the busiest weekends in Austin year after year, bringing in millions of dollars in both direct and indirect spending.
"It's a great experience. Hospitality is great. Austin is amazing," said Craig Fallick, an F1 fan visiting from New York.
In 2021, visitors to the race spent over $400 million in direct spending and nearly $200 million indirectly… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
City aims to get out of its own way with ‘fast-track’ permitting for Project Connect rail lines (Austin Monitor)
An ordinance aimed at streamlining permitting for Project Connect has been making its way through boards and commissions in recent weeks – the latest sign of progress toward new rail and bus lines approved by voters in 2020.
On Tuesday, staffers from the city’s Project Connect Office and the Austin Transit Partnership gave a presentation on the ordinance to the Zoning and Platting Commission.
The code changes, said Donna Galati with the Project Connect Office, are needed to “ensure that we don’t get in our own way as we implement Project Connect.”… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Watch our District 9 forum (Austin Monitor)
On Friday, all eight candidates running for City Council in District 9 participated in a forum hosted by KUT and the Austin Monitor. You can watch the forum, which was hosted by Austin Monitor reporter Sean Saldaña, below.
Joining Saldaña were candidates Zena Mitchell, Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, Greg Smith, Joah Spearman, Kym Olson, Ben Leffler, Linda Guerrero and Tom Wald… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Austin ISD: A voter guide to the candidates running for the Board of Trustees (Austin American-Statesman)
A majority of the seats on the Austin school board will be on the ballot Nov. 8. The election has the potential to create a major shift for the nine-member board at a critical time, as the district grapples with a recent exodus of teachers as well as declining enrollment and dwindling state funding. The board also could oversee major construction and repair projects in the coming years if voters approve a $2.44 billion bond package… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
Texas state trooper who responded to Uvalde shooting fired amid investigations into police response (Texas Tribune)
The Department of Public Safety has fired Sgt. Juan Maldonado, one of the state troopers who responded to the May school shooting in Uvalde that left 21 dead.
Maldonado is the latest law enforcement official — and the first state police officer — to be fired in the wake of the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, during which more than 300 officers from agencies across the state waited more than an hour to breach a door and kill the shooter… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Texas has a $27 billion surplus. Should it cut taxes or invest in infrastructure? (Dallas Morning News)
With state government poised to enjoy a massive budget surplus, lawmakers on Friday began debating in public how to use the money. Republicans who are likely to remain in control of the Legislature after next month’s election are talking tax cuts. Democrats are questioning that approach, saying shrewd investments in improving infrastructure and workforce training could help the state economy grow even faster. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, told an audience of tax professionals and people who represent businesses that at least a portion of the $27 billion surplus projected by Comptroller Glenn Hegar should go toward further reductions of school property taxes. “When you have excess funds, part of the money’s got to go back to the taxpayers,” said Bettencourt, who heads the Senate Local Government Committee. “That’s who actually gave it to you in the first place.” Bettencourt didn’t endorse a suggestion by Gov. Greg Abbott that at least half of the $27 billion surplus be applied toward a property tax cut… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
TCU is the only Texas team with a chance at the playoffs (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
TCU finished one of its more memorable, and expensive, weeks in its 150 year history that included an appearance by Ke$ha, Ludacris, the return of the Flying T logo, homecoming, and Taylor Swift’s Midnights. TayTay technically did not do anything TCU related, but it just feels like whatever she did this week permeated every conversation on earth. On Tuesday, Ke$ha performed on campus for the students; on Friday night, Ludacris performed as part of the start to basketball season; both served as warmup acts for No. 8 TCU’s football game against No. 17 Kansas State. Those respective shows were reportedly quite entertaining, but, for sheer entertainment, it’s hard to beat a TCU football game these days. These games have everything… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[HEARINGS/MEETINGS]
Monday
Tuesday
(5:30PM) Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission - Regular Meeting Agenda
(6PM) Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission - Special Called Meeting Agenda
Wednesday
Thursday
[BG PODCAST]
Episode 168: Market Talk - Lobbying in Philadelphia with Mustafa Rashed of Bellevue Strategies
Today's episode (168) features a discussion on entrepreneurship and lobbying with Mustafa Rashed, Founder and President, of Philadelphia-based Bellevue Strategies.
He and Bingham Group CEO A.J. also discuss current municipal issues in the Philadelphia market.
Enjoyed this episode? Please like, share, and comment!