Archive for August, 2007
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
Lackluster Lee Leffingwell told reporters earlier this week that he wants to “tweak” the city’s economic development policies to make them more transparent when handing out tax breaks to existing businesses or those who promise to relocate here. Good enough. A fair and open process would benefit everyone ...
Posted in 2008 Elections, Growth, City Council, News | 18 Comments »
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
When Jennifer Kim, council’s chief envoy to the Keep Austin Weird Committee, asked to be reimbursed for the fish she had purchased for her office aquarium, even the bureaucrats at City Hall must have rolled their eyes. Austin politics is a fishbowl, and asking citizens to fork over for ...
Posted in 2008 Elections, City Council, News | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, August 28th, 2007
State Rep. Patrick Rose has already been under fire from many fellow Democrats for making nice with House Republicans, especially embattled Speaker Tom Craddick. He has since professed his loyalty to his party's caucus, though rumors abound of a last minute reconciliation attempt with Craddick.
He didn’t help himself last ...
Posted in rumor, 2008 Elections, State, News | 6 Comments »
Monday, August 27th, 2007
This email is making the rounds today. Debbie Russell makes the case for an even earlier Futrell exit...and maybe even a strong mayor form of government?
The email in its entirety after the jump:
Posted in Follow-Up, City Council | No Comments »
Monday, August 27th, 2007
Washington sources are reporting that Rick Perry, fresh from his 39 percent showing in the Texas governor’s race, will be tapped as chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association and its 2008 efforts.
The news is mildly surprising not just because of Perry’s anemic re-election last year in Texas but because the ...
Posted in News | No Comments »
Monday, August 27th, 2007
At the urging of Mike Martinez, our city council is taking another close look at single member districts. They have Chartered a Commission and given former mayor Gus Garcia the reigns. I'll spare you the blow by blow, but if you want to read about it go over to InFactDaily ...
Posted in City Council | No Comments »
Thursday, August 23rd, 2007
The controversy has been brewing for months — Pedernales Electric Cooperative board members accused of a high-salaried, high-handed management style while co-op members say they want to open up the process and institute democratic leadership.
Now a powerful state senator has entered the fray, promising legislative reforms if the PEC board ...
Posted in State, News | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007
The political rumor mill continues to churn with whispers that State Rep. Patrick Rose (D- Dripping Springs) could find himself with not one, but two opponents next year.
Trial lawyers Movers and shakers in his own party may have recruited a candidate to challenge the "Craddick D" in the primary. ...
Posted in rumor, State | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
There are way to many openings here for puns and cruel jokes, so we are just gonna give it to you straight:
Brewster's gonna be all wet. Yeah, its sink or swim time for this one. He will be in over his head. That's right, you can give him ...
Posted in City Council | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
In Fact Daily reported last week on a city policy that we think you should know about. Apparently, the city will be purging its campaign finance records before 2005.
While we here at APR don't know that there is a grand conspiracy here, we do believe that this policy should ...
Posted in 2008 Elections, City Council | 1 Comment »
Monday, August 20th, 2007
The jockeying for position to run for Austin Mayor in two years would be comical if not for the fact that.... well, come to think of it, it is comical. Lee Leffingwell, no one’s favorite uncle, against Brewster McCracken, everyone’s irritating kid brother.
The most recent clash came over the ...
Posted in rumor, City Council | 3 Comments »
Friday, August 17th, 2007
About this time of year those in the political realm begin to hear rumors about who is and isn't running for re-election. We here at the APR will spare you the tedium that is our lives and not post every single time we hear someone isn't running for office.
Every ...
Posted in rumor, 2008 Elections, State | 1 Comment »
Thursday, August 16th, 2007
No pun intended, but the Hatesman beat us to this cop story one:
Police union president resigns
Working on getting you the rest of the story before the spin cycle sets in...
I got his resignation letter right here:
To: APA Members
From: Jim Beck
Date: August 16, 2007
Subject: APA Presidency Change
Effective immediately, I am resigning from my position ...
Posted in Cops 'n' Robbers, News | 3 Comments »
Thursday, August 16th, 2007
Word on the street Avenue is that the Perez Sisters of Las Manitas turned down that contentious loan after all.
Gee, I'd hate to think Oppel at the Hatesman had anything to do with this
Posted in rumor, Growth, City Council, News | 3 Comments »
Thursday, August 16th, 2007
The eager-to-spend-our-money Austin bureaucracy is recommending that City Council award a New York firm a consulting contract to figure out why it costs so much to provide water and waste water services.
The cost is more than $400,000. Or as City Manager Toby Futrell calls it, “pocket change.” ...
Posted in City Council, News | No Comments »
