city council

City Council to Vote on Phase Two of Downtown Austin Plan

Jude Galligan | March 12, 2009 |

On today’s city council agenda, item #4 is a vote to fund phase two of the Downtown Austin Plan. The city and downtown Austin stakeholders have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in time and money to design a downtown befitting a world class city.

Laura Morrison, Lee Leffingwell, and Mike Martinez are expected to align themselves against downtown. After all, if you study the Statesman you’ll realize that it’s en vogue to hate on downtown. Though, these council members will vote against downtown under the guise of fiscal responsibility.

Dont’ be fooled!

Politically they are posturing themselves to support a comprehensive plan for the city. Something that could take years, will certainly require more expensive consultants, and just as easily could be thrown out as they seem to want to do with the Downtown Austin Plan. The City’s shelves are thick with research studies and improvement plans which have never been implemented.

I hope I’m wrong. We should know by lunchtime how each council member voted.

Waller Creek Tunnel – council approves budget for engineering review

Jude Galligan | March 5, 2009 |

Waller Creek Tunnel project inches forward. According to the ABJ, “Austin City Council approved an agreement with Austin-based H.R. Gray to provide engineering services for the Waller Creek Tunnel project. The contract amount is up to $300,000. H.R. Gray will conduct an engineering review of the Waller Creek Tunnel project’s design and construction plans.”

Baby steps.

Bill Spelman

Jude Galligan | February 28, 2009 |

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4waRVxV_Flk]

The light is shining bright on Downtown Austin, at least as much as city council place 5 is concerned. Bill Spelman is running, unopposed, for Austin city council place 5. Spelman, professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, is also the chair of the Waller Creek Citizens Advisory Committee and an advocate for the Waller Creek Tunnel Project.

Perhaps even more relevant to Downtown Austin’s interests is Spelman’s curriculum vitae includes research in criminal justice, police operations, prison policy, and urban economic development.

Go Bill!

DANA elects new leadership

Jude Galligan | February 2, 2009 |

If you live in Downtown Austin, or have an interest in its growth, then you should consider joining DANA. The Downtown Austin Neighborhood Assocition recently transitioned its leadership team. Outgoing President Marshall Jones remains on the board, while Jamie LaGarde takes his new role as President. Marshall has been President of DANA for the past two years. This is a tireless and, often, thankless job. Of course, these positions are volunteer without pay. Marshall always had the ability to approach political challenges with grace and class. I can comforatbly speak for all DANA members when I thank him for his commitment to making DANA the knowledgeable, influential, and social organization it is today. With over 1,000 members and growing, Marshall and the presidents that preceded him can be proud of what they’ve created.

Leaving the board is Jim Furrow and Michael McGill, though each will remain active DANA members, and you can expect they will continue to be vocal stakeholders in the Downtown community.

Welcome the new DANA Board:

Jamie LaGarde – President (Austin City Lofts)
Roger Cauvin – Vice President (Plaza Lofts)
Randy Hammelman – Treasurer
Lindsay Wiebrand – Secretary (Gables West)
Larry Schooler (404 Rio Grande)
Bill McCann (360)
Greg Anderson (360)
Josh Allen
Will Steakley (360)
Jude Galligan *your’s truly* (Sabine on 5th)
Marshall Jones (Five Fifty 5)
David Weaver (Plaza Lofts)
Shayama Golden (Railyard)

Roundup – Austin politico's websites

Jude Galligan | January 30, 2009 |

Sheryl Cole - Place 6 incumbant — Sheryl Cole - Place 6 incumbent

These days its pretty much unacceptable to not have a website if you are running a campaign. You should be able to do a Google search for “candidate’s name + city council” and your campaign page should be #1 or #2 on the search results page. Some of you candidates have work to do!

Mayor:

Brewster McCracken – http://www.brewstermccracken.com
Lee Leffingwell – http://www.austinleadership.com
Carol Strayhorn – http://www.caroleforaustin.com

City Council:

Chris Riley (place 1) – http://www.chrisforaustin.com
Mike Martinez (place 2) – http://www.martinezforaustin.com
Perla Cavazos (place 1) – http://www.voteperla.com
Rick Cofer (place 1) – http://www.rickcofer.com
Bill Spelman (place 5) – http://www.billspelman.org
Sheryl Cole (place 6) – http://keepsherylcole.com

Candidate’s in green are those which I am currently supporting. I think the best coverage of city hall comes from the BurntOrangeReport.com and Wells Dunbar’s (Austin Chronicle) City Hall Hustle. If you find bias, it should be easy to filter.

Okay, everyone with local political aspirations, you should right now purchase FirstnameForAustin.com!