#NEWS // BG Reads | January 26, 2023
[BINGHAM GROUP]
Bingham Group Associate Wendy Rodriguez attended yesterday’s Texas Tribune conversation with Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. Check out her recap, and along with a video link to the full interview.
[AUSTIN COUNCIL]
[AUSTIN METRO]
Public Safety Commission calls out APD’s resistance to training academy reform (Austin Monitor)
The city’s Public Safety Commission criticized the Austin Police Department for stonewalling a committee formed by City Council in 2021 to review the police training academy curriculum as part of a broader push to “reimagine” public safety.
“Just to summarize, two years ago, maybe longer, the City Council, which is supposed to run this city, passed a resolution creating the curriculum review process and put some citizens on that,” Chair Rebecca Bernhardt told APD leadership during a?Jan. 9 meeting . “And in that resolution, it said you were supposed to let them into trainings, and now we’re in 2023, and they still can’t get into trainings.”?…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
Wilson Capital's 80-story skyscraper plan hits snag (Austin Business Journal)
Wilson Capital’s plan to build what would be the?tallest tower ?in the Lone Star State has hit a minor snag.
The developer’s design for the apartment high-rise, set to reach 1,035 feet above downtown Austin at 410 E. Fifth St., failed to gain approval from the city's Design Commission during a Jan. 23 review, leaving Wilson Capital, architect HKS Inc. and landscape architecture firm Nudge Design needing to revise the project based on recommendations made by the board.
The board voted nearly unanimously, excluding an abstention from Commissioner?David Carroll , that current plans for Wilson Tower do not meet the city’s urban design standards.
At the request of Wilson Capital's legal counsel,?Leah Bojo ?of Austin-based Drenner Group PC, the monition passed without a time constraint before the developer would have to again present the proposal for approval.
"I think the building is spectacular and I think the landscape is strong," said Commissioner?Aan Coleman , president of landscape architecture firm Coleman & Associates. "I don't think there is enough public benefit. It is the way the building is interacting with public space that I think needs some tweaking."…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
Del Valle ISD drops $25M for land east of Austin, plus more deals (Austin Business Journal)
Del Valle Independent School District has made a huge purchase in one of Austin’s most sustainable neighborhoods in order to construct three new schools serving all grade levels.
The district purchased 149 acres for more than $25 million — or $167,785 per acre — in Whisper Valley,?a zero-energy capable neighborhood ?in Austin’s eastern outskirts with more than 7,000 planned homes, according to a Jan. 10 announcement. The district plans to build three new schools there.
This marks the first land acquisition in Whisper Valley for use outside of residential homes, according to the announcement. At full buildout, plans call for the neighborhood to include office parks, restaurants, entertainment venues and 160 acres of village-style retail, according to previous reporting.
“By purchasing this land, we are strategically planning for district growth and educationally exceptional facilities,” Del Valle Superintendent Annette Tielle said in a statement. “As we see a continued expansion of industry in our district with new residents coming every day, our priority is to plan forward so we stay in front of growth, ready to welcome the next generation of Del Valle students.”…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
After fumbled Uvalde shooting response, Texas senator wants to make it easier to sue law enforcement officerS (Texas Tribune)
State Sen.?Roland Gutierrez , who represents Uvalde, said Tuesday that he is leading legislation to make it easier for families of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims to sue the state and police officers over the botched law enforcement response.
The San Antonio Democrat and other Democratic senators are introducing four new pieces of legislation that seek to increase gun safety and law enforcement accountability. The news came during a press conference, where they were flanked by several of the victims’ families.
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“We’re not asking for the moon and the stars. We’re asking for commonsense solutions,” Gutierrez said…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
Texas Republicans passed major voting restrictions in 2021. They're not done yet. (Houston chronicle)
Texas Republicans spent most of the 2021 legislative session focusing on election security — and this year, it’s a top priority for them again. GOP leaders are discussing a range of election security measures, from higher penalties for voter fraud to broader power for the attorney general to prosecute election crimes. Many of them target Harris County, which Republicans have spent the past two years chastising for back-to-back elections blunders. “Harris County is the big problem,” said state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who plans to file close to a dozen election bills this legislative session. “You’ve got the nation’s third-largest county that has had multiple problems with multiple election officers, to the point where one had to resign, and the problem is that it’s too big a piece of the electorate to ignore.”…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
[NATION]
The improbability of George Santos’ $199 expenses (Politico)
Rep. George Santos’ congressional campaign reported dozens of transactions just cents below the threshold that would have triggered a requirement to preserve spending records — an unusual spending pattern that is now part of broader complaints about alleged financial improprieties.
Santos, who?admitted in December ?that he faked parts of his biography, already faces a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission alleging his campaign repeatedly reported suspicious expenses. Those included eight charges of exactly $199.99 at an Italian restaurant in Queens and another $199.99 charge at a Miami-area hotel where rooms do not usually go for less than $600 per night. The specific amount matters because campaigns?are required by law to keep ?receipts or invoices for expenses greater than $200…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
America's eggs-istential crisis (NPR)
Americans love eggs. And it is a consuming love. We each eat about 280 eggs a year (more than half an egg per day).
But lately, that love is costing us dearly: The price of eggs has?tripled ?since the pandemic began and egg shortages are hitting parts of the country. That combination has created a rare window of opportunity for substitutes.
The price of most food?has risen over the last year ?and while that has caused a lot of shock and hardship for people across the country, the price of eggs has struck a particular chord. Eggs are often seen a cheap, reliable source of protein — a go-to when other things get expensive.
When the price of eggs goes up, people get emotional.
"It's a hot button for consumers," says Bill Lapp, president of?Advanced Economic Solutions , a food industry consultant. "It's similar to driving down the highway and seeing gas prices at $5.30."…?(LINK TO FULL STORY)
[MEETINGS/HEARINGS]
TODAY
[BG PODCAST]
Bingham Group Associate Hannah Garcia and CEO A.J. review the week in Austin politics including:
Mayor Kirk Watson's Community Impact interview:?bit.ly/3iRqqGD
Austin Water's recent audit report:?bit.ly/3D3PrWd
The Austin Council's first meetings of 2023:
Work Session (1.24.2023):?bit.ly/3XsOJK3
Regular Meeting (1.26.2023):?bit.ly/3HjWHzy
Episode 181
The BG Podcast is also available on?Apple Podcasts ,?Soundcloud , and?Spotify .
Bingham Group works to advance the interests of businesses, nonprofits, and associations at the municipal and state level.
CONTACT US FOR A FREE DISCUSSION ON YOUR MATTER AT:?[email protected]