The Austin Chronicle 2020-01-10

44.7 MB·English

by  The Austin Chronicle

VOTE NOW! 2019-20 MUSIC POLL BALLOT ON P.9
HOW TO SHARING
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bl AUSTIN’S 2020 FILM
P.16 FEST CALENDAR
OUR 1990 PREDICTIONS P.40
OF LIFE IN 2020, AND NEW
MONEY FOR NOTHING:
PREDICTIONS FOR 2050

AUSTIN MUSICIANS
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SPECULATE ON HOT
IT’S THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY
MONEY SPENDING

OF BEETHOVEN ALL YEAR
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E y e b a l l i n g t h e Y e a r A h e a d
JANUARY 10, 2020
VOLUME 39, NUMBER 19
austinchronicle.com
CONTENTS
JaNuaRy 10, 2020
VOlume 39, number 19
PUBLISHER Nick Barbaro
aSSocIatE PUBLISHER Cassidy Frazier
20 coVer story:
EDITORIal
EdItoR Kimberley Jones Vision 2020
NEwS EdItoR Mike Clark-Madison
aSSocIatE NEwS & QmmUNIty EdItoR Sarah Marloff
aRtS Robert Faires
food Jessi Cape
ScREENS Richard Whittaker
mUSIc Raoul Hernandez
wEB James Renovitch
CHRONEVENTS
SPEcIaL ScREENINgS & commUNIty LIStINgS
Beth Sullivan
aRtS LIStINgS & food EvENtS
Wayne Alan Brenner
cLUB LIStINgS Greg Stitt

STaff wRITERS cover by Jason stout/
Kevin Curtin, Michael King, Austin Sanders Getty imaGes
CONTRIbuTINg wRITERS
fILm Marjorie Baumgarten
food Emily Beyda
day tRIPS Gerald E. McLeod 4 Feedback
faStER tHaN SoUNd Rachel Rascoe
mR. SmaRty PaNtS R.U. Steinberg
PRODuCTION 10 ciVics 101 24
PRodUctIoaNR tm daINRaEgcEtRo RZ eJkaes oBna Srbtaoruot 6 news 24 calendar
dIREctoR of dIgItaL SwtREaBt dEIgRyE cMtiochRa Berli aBna rBtnaerrtyt 6 austin at large 28 arts eVents Beginning/ apxh’, “A Rock About the
gRaPHIc dESIgNERS Jeff Gammill, Sam Summerlin Size of a Small Avocado,” and A Wild and Precious Life: A
Staff PHotogRaPHERS John Anderson, Jana Birchum, by mike clark-madison Memoir
David Brendan Hall
PRoofREadERS Jasmine Lane, Kat McNevins, 10 public notice 29 Qmmunity by sarah marloff
James Scott, Greg Stitt
aDVERTISINg & by nick barbaro 16 34 community eVents
maRkETINg 11 Naked City; Death Watch; South Congress day trips by Gerald e. mcleod
advERtISINg dIREctoR Cassidy Frazier Stabbing; A Better Austin; more
SENIoR accoCUaNrto lEyxnE cPUhtilIlivpEsS, JLeoriasl dR iCcohrwdienre, 16 Just Vote, oK? Navigating the high-speed Election 35 soccer watch by nick barbaro
acMcaorUisNat MExirEacbUatl,I vGElSo rDiaa vWidil lKialempspoen, 2020 madness by mike clark-madison 39 Food eVents
ocPLEaRSaStIfIoIENdSS c/LoEogRadLI NNaottoIcRE TSr aBcoeb Tbhyu Lremaathn 41 moVie listings The Grudge, Invisible Life, Just Mercy,
EvENtS &c LPIERNotm &o tPIUoBNLSI cmm RaUENLLataIgmtEIERod NKISaa rETeamnmaila yR rB oPugrreicnress 20 VIsIOn 2020 20 46 Lsipkee ca iBaols ss,c Mrideneignhitn Fgamsily, 1917, Reality Queen!, 63 Up
LUv doc/cIRcULatIoN/SPEcIaL EvENtS Dan Hardick
StREEt tEam Cassie Arredondo, Kelsey Baker, 48 showtimes
Hunter Bartlett, Andrea Dane, Ashley
Greenstein, Katie Rose Gurkin, Elias Huerta, 56 recommended this weeK Trail of Dead eschew
Morgan MAenlferenddoe zR, iSosa,v aCnonkaah T rOepvrineo, ,A Anlalyh iW Paerrreezn, nostalgia on the eve of their 25th anniversary; plus
NatIoNaL advERtISINg Voice Media Group Joanna Newsom, Josh Rouse, Leftover Salmon, Marco
(888/278-9866, www.vmgadvertising.com) Benevento, Blackalicious, Black Tusk, DaveFest 5, Honk!
OffICE STaff Prom, Doug Kershaw, Unknown Hinson, and more
coNtRoLLER Liz Franklin 58 roadshows + liVe music
offIcE maNagER/SUBScRIPtIoNS Carrie Young
cREdIt maNagER cindy soo
accoUNtINg aSSIStaNt Chelsea Taylor
INfo dESk Zach Pearce Austinchronicle.com/events
SyStEmS admINIStRatoR Brandon Watkins
mILk-EyEd mENdER Hank
PRactIcINg aLPHaBEt aERoBIcS Smiley
CIRCulaTION 20 the View From here by kimberley Jones 50 musIc 52
Perry Drake, Tom Fairchild, Ruben Flores,
AEBnrridcar deM wJc aGKnieNdnroenferre,mry sS, , R uGBezrreaeatndntt,ed MJoJonoen hlGicnnohasneo zSrn,a i,Jml eaBssmr,,o eTBorseik lMlys SGLemusuhmtoibetprarikrnlelianez,,,, 22 ohfe prreed’isc tlioonos Kbiyn tgh ae tC yhoroun, 2iC0l5e0 s Atanoftfher round 50 Fbay srtaecrh etlh arans scooue nd
Zeb Sommers, Bryan Zirkelbach 52 hot taKes Austin musi-
CONTRIbuTORS 26 arts & culture cians sound off on uses
Brant Bingamon, Rob Brezsny, Steve Davis,
Rosalind Faires, Lina Fisher, Doug Freeman, for the scene’s new Hotel
Jen SorSenasme nH, uMrti,c hJoasehl TKoulapnedc,k Ti,o Lma nTcoem Moryreorws,, 26 250 candles For a musical superman Austin has lots O$3cc mupilalionncy a Tnanxu walilnydfall of
Jay Trachtenberg, Mary Tuma planned for Beethoven250, the big bash for a composer you
should get to know better by robert faires
baCk
36 FOOd
65 the luV doc
comix
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Letters to the editor must be signed with
full name and include daytime phone number,
full address, or email address. Letters should
hellfire awaitS interests for their own personal gain, and no be no longer than 300 words.
matter how long and luxurious their lives may We reserve the right to edit all submissions.
Dear Editor, be, only Dante’s Inferno describes their eternal Letters may not be edited, added to, or
This moment in history demands the attention future. We will vote them out. We will take their changed by sender once we receive them.
of our leaders in Congress. Public servants jobs. We will take a stand. General email address: [email protected]
such as Sen. Cornyn, Sen. Cruz, and [U.S. Rep.] Naiman Rigby Letters online: austinchronicle.com/feedback
Williams must ask themselves how they will Mailing address: The Austin Chronicle,
explain their actions to their maker when the time PO Box 4189, Austin, TX 78765
Paradigm Shift
comes … I know they are all God-fearing Christians
because they wouldn’t dare let anyone forget it. Dear Editor, updated daily austinchronicle.com/postmarks
We have seen diseased, unattended, helpless Below is a copy of a letter I have sent to both
children in cages; climate emergencies escalating Sens. Cornyn and Cruz:
beyond our nightmares; a corrupt, impeached Evidence clearly shows that the president region, and costing our treasury trillions of dol-
president whose debts are backed by foreign mon- used his office to extort the president of Ukraine lars. This is of no consequence to the presi-
ies and who pays himself for his constant vaca- to announce an investigation into the Bidens dent. His only concern is his own self-interest.
tions at his own properties with taxpayer dollars. in exchange for vitally needed military aid. This If you vote to acquit the president, history will
All this, and now the U.S. is on the brink of hot is a violation of his oath of office and certain judge that your only concern was in preserving
war again in the Middle East. All this after giving grounds for impeachment and removal. You are the interests of the president and not the coun-
up our position in Turkey and handing evil totalitar- an intelligent and educated person, so I know try. You would have betrayed your oath of office.
ians like Erdogan, Putin, and [Kim Jong] Un any- that, despite your protestations to the contrary, Voting to acquit the president may not pre-
thing they want with no peace, nothing in return. you know this too. However, because of the cult- serve your seat in the Senate. A war with Iran
What will God say to our leaders in Congress like devotion of the president’s supporters who will be costly. It will result in the revulsion of
if they are complicit now in the destruction of constitute most of your voters, you dare not say most American voters already weary with end-
#AustinMusicAwards America and everything it ever stood for? If they so in public nor vote for removal accordingly. less wars in the Middle East. The revulsion may
are not fascists, we will know because we will This has brought us to a place where the be such that it not only causes the loss of your
see them stand up and act in the best interests president has assassinated the second-most seat, but the demise of the entire Republican
of Americans everywhere. If they are not fascists, powerful person in Iran in order to divert atten- Party. Resolving paradoxical situations requires
we will know because they will attack all these tion from his impeachment through the ensuing a paradigm shift. Rather than basing your judg-
diseases corrupting and rotting away the body violent reactions and counter-reactions by the ment on political expediency, perhaps you could
of our republic and every bit of our integrity. If U.S. and Iran. This may lead to a regional war think about what is best for the country.
they fail the people now, they will reveal them- in the Middle East lasting decades, killing thou- Larry Kelly-Mahaffey
selves as fascists intent to overthrow American sands of Americans, millions of people in the
Voting ends January 28.
Winners perform live at The
Austin Music Awards, March 11.
BALLOT On p.9 Or OnLine AT:
AUSTINCHRONICLE.COM/
MUSICPOLL
thiS week on The
AusTin ChroniCle
show on kooP 91.7fm
Tune in to our weekly show on
KOOP Community Radio, Fridays at
3pm. This week, News staff Mike Clark-
Madison, Sarah Marloff, and Austin
Sanders talk about how to be a better,
more informed citizen in 2020.
Find past episodes on the Chronicle’s
A/V page: austinchronicle.com/av.
4 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JANUARY 10, 2020 austinchronicle.com
austinchronicle.com JANUARY 10, 2020 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE 5
QuoTE WEEk
of the
“I’m horrified that Trump’s lawless assassination – of an Iranian leader on Iraqi soil
– is now threatening the lives of soldiers and civilians. We must stand against further
escalation. We must build a massive anti-war movement. War is not the answer.”
– U.S. House candidate Mike Siegel
headlines
WaR dRums
If this is 2020, we might be at war
with Iran. In response to the U.S. assassination of
Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, Iranian forces
fired missiles at military bases in Iraq where U.S. sol-
diers are stationed, and leaders of both countries
exchanged threats of more attacks. Despite demands
from the Iraqi government that the U.S. military
leave the country, American officials say they refuse
to withdraw. On Wednesday, President Donald
Trump announced additional sanctions on Iran.
tWo foR WaRRen
The big presidential
campaign news of the week was the endorsement
of Sen. Elizabeth Warren by former San Antonio
Mayor (and former presidential candidate) Julián
Castro. If that wasn’t big enough, Castro was
followed by Austin City Council Member Paige
Ellis, who declared, “As with Julián Castro, I am
inspired by Elizabeth Warren’s positions to stand
up for everyday people and to stand up for envi-
ronmental protection.”
un-confedeRated
The 5th Circuit Court
of Appeals last week declined to revive a lawsuit Mike Siegel, the 2018 Democratic nominee in CD-10 who’s in a three-way primary
against UT-Austin over the 2017 removal of this year, spoke Monday at the anti-war rally organized by the Austin chapter of
several statues from the South Mall that honored on Democratic Socialists of America at the Texas Capitol. DSA leader Heidi Sloan, a
s
Confederate “heroes.” The ruling, which incorpo- r candidate in neighboring CD-25, also spoke; another anti-war “day of action” at
e
rated a similar case concerning monuments in San nd the Capitol is planned for this evening (Thursday, Jan. 9, 5pm).
A
Antonio, affirmed a lower court’s ruling that the n
h
Sons of Confederate Veterans had not shown that Jo
removing the statues violated their free-speech Take It From a Ninja ...
rights.
can We get a choo choo?
Capital
Metro’s sole MetroRail will finally resume You know, You could just not saY anYthing. MaYbe trY that.
Saturday service this weekend, Jan. 11. To make
up for the long break due to construction, Cap I don’t do resolutions very well, so my Presi dent Apesh*t, for whom “not being about Austin’s lawlessness, without telling
Metro has added three extra daily trips to “serve intention for 2020 – a state of mind to seek, ninja” has been his go-to design for living us how these two lives could have been
more customers” as well as extended service not a project to complete – is to “be more since the mid-Eighties. How’s that working saved if only the people living on Austin’s
hours – the last train will now depart from ninja.” You know, move quicker and lighter, out for him? streets were in his care rather than Adler’s.
Downtown after 7pm. with less baggage, more flexibly and less There’s no real upside for Abbott to getting
visibly, roll better with life’s punches, and Our Fine GOvernOr, DOinG TOO Much his hands dirty doing something useful to
tax season Foundation Communities is the like. (Not all ninja are warriors.) It also Look at the big wet rotten tomato in the end homelessness in Texas, but you know,
again offering free tax support for individuals and means knowing when to do less, rather than Governor’s Mansion. Before the blood had doing nothing and minding his business is
families who make less than $55,000 annually (for too much, and staying clear of paths one dried at the tragic murder/suicide scene on always an option, as is simply leaving peo-
households with more than four people, the income can’t retrace or tee- South Congress (see ple without housing alone. Nothing is forc-
eligibility increases by $5,000 for each family tering limbs one p.13), Greg Abbott ing him to not be ninja here, and popping
member). Prosper Centers are located throughout can’t reattach. austIN at LargE was making noise off like a talk-radio caller during the after-
the city with one location in Round Rock, and are With just 2% of by about how the perpe- noon drive (“Greg from Pem ber ton, you’re
Mike clark-Madison
open Jan. 20 to April 15, 2020. 2020 under our belt, I trator was surely on the air!”) not only annoys and appalls
already see some homeless, which most Austinites but makes his own path to
BuRn not The Travis County Commissioners folks who should meant that blood victory here more tenuous.
Court issued a burn ban for the unincorporated have been more ninja, now trapped in was on Mayor Steve Adler’s hands, or some- Let’s posit that what Abbott wants is a
areas beginning Jan. 7 and expiring Feb. 5, pend- embarrassing public poses instead of quiet- thing. Once this rather easy guess proved return to the conventional GOP consensus
ing more rainfall and further county action. ly achieving their goals. That’s not counting correct, Abbott brayed further to reporters continued on p.10
ONLINE//LocaL PoLiticians ResPond to soLeimani assassination| moRe fRom the camPaign tRaiL |austINchrONIcLE.cOm/NEws
6 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JANUARY 10, 2020 austinchronicle.com
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austinchronicle.com JANUARY 10, 2020 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE 7
8 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JANUARY 10, 2020 austinchronicle.com
0 winneRs PeRfoRm live at the
2
0 AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS
2
-
9 wednesday, maRCh 11, 2020
1
0
2
BEST OF BEST Jazz BEST AUSTIN BEST MUSIC THE RUlES:
THE YEAR PERFORMING O Atlas Maior MUSICIANS INDUSTRY Please mail to:
BANDS O Elias Haslanger’s MUSIC POll
Church on Monday • EntriEs must bE postmarkEd by
Band of the Year O Jeff Lofton Bass industrY hall of faMe Tuesday, JaN. 28, 2020. the austin Chronicle
O A Giant Dog Blues O Ephraim Owens O Brendan Bond O Charles Attal Po Box 4189
O Black Pumas O Gary Clark Jr. O Collin Shook O Nick Clark O Nancy Coplin • maauils Tini Nthcihsr boaNllicolte o.cr ovmot/mE uosnilcinpEo altl . austin, tX 78765
O Dallas Acid O Sue Foley O Daniel Durham O Eric “Emo” Hartman
O Hovvdy O Peterson Brothers latin O Alex Gehring O Roland Swenson • no hand dElivEriEs ac cEpt Ed.
O Shinyribs O Carl Weathersby O Como Las Movies O Lolita Lynne O Graham Williams • onE ballot pEr EnvElopE. only Ballots
O Jimmie Vaughan O Gina Chavez • photocopiEd ballots? nEvEr. with a fUll name and
BOes Bte ninegw D aecatd countrY OO GMrounpeoy FCahnictahsama dOru SMtesp/hpeenr cBuidswsieolln MOu sPioco pnheoht Gohgarnaapher • ballot-stuffing may bE punishablE. mailiBneg C aodUdnRteesds. will
O Blood O Charley Crockett O Superfónicos O Daniel Dufour O David Brendan Hall REqUIRED INFORMATION:
O Nolan Potter’s O Croy & the Boys O JJ Johnson O Roger Ho
Nightmare Band O Jesse Dayton Metal O Danny Lion O Gary Miller
O Sir Woman O Mike & the Moonpies O Duel O Brannen Temple O Todd V. Wolfson
O Vapor Caves O Jonathan Terrell OO GSklaeslesitnogn guitar equipMent rental NAME
Musician of the Year dJ O Portrayal of Guilt O Gary Clark Jr. O ATX Backline
O Christelle Bofale O DJ Mel O The Well O James Petralli O Boss Radio AddrEss
O Bill Callahan O Chorizo Funk O Adrian Quesada O Nomad Sound
OO GShaaryk eCyl aGrrka Jvre.s OO DMJix Here lRlao gYeelrlsa pOun Akrmy OO JRaecdkdie V Voelknaseornt OO RSooucnk dnc Rhoecllk R Aenutsatilns City stAtE Zip AGE
O Jackie Venson O Soundfounder O Big Bill
O Pleasure Venom horns instruMent repair EMAil phoNE
electronic O Sailor Poon O Alex Coke O Austin Vintage Guitars
BEST TEXAS O Bayonne O Xetas O Big Wy’s Horns O Joe’s Amps
RsOonE BglCa ocfkO tPhuRem YDaesa, I“rNCoGlorSs” OOOO GPLVorahiupmo osRotre l taCbhnaeedvc A ecOsalibesnervatory pOOOop WKLoaaudl kyRe Rerb aLieunckceans kOOOeY KJMBaaioskzoae K nrSa dFtz.sr aCenyloaiffr liOOOV eSSS wtoMruaiutticsth hi McAe uduBs soOitcoinnk Merusic MOOu sABFilocua uscntnkiond Fn aMrpteiurotsonicf i t pOOOos BBDtiraelalnride G a BBrroiustncsidkostm rOOOad KKKiOUAoT OZsXItP 8 a 998t81.i.7.o79FnFFMMM
OO GPLaaatnrtydy ” CGlarirffik nJr, .“, R“Tivheirs” eOxp CearlilMioepnet Maulsicals OO TSyCd Snuepye Wrsrtiagrht OO JAonnt hDoenays Farrell OO ALauwstreenn cBea iBleoyone O HA(HeuAasltAtihnM AM) lulisaincciaen fso r OO BMiilslyh kPae Wrkiensstell OO KSuVnR RXa 9d1i.o7 F10M0.1FM
OO HM“NYoiekovoeuvn d&”Ly ot,h o“ekC MGatoohooenddp rinaiel ”s, OOOO DGTLihaototllldlrae esH Mn Aa aDrczriaiadswrnn Arkestra rOOOoc BGBkoloab cF kSe vcPehisrnteoild Feirre MOOOis cEHM.mei icnnialrsyhi t HGMreiuomrMtbbeeenlrenkt to liOOOV eTZM rMaaiscruhhgs iCEincor W nVnsneatenlkluleyer MOOOu sKSPiIeicMdt JesSo ri FnuB oralau nNcnakedslwatitos iGoctrknoove pOOOro JCDdihamurni cnEse yn“r FoRreeinscchhie” Smith rOOOec ABBoiLnrgKtd oH Vnseietnn’orsyy rlR’ese Vcoinrydls & Gifts
alBuM of the Year folk/Bluegrass O Spoon O Indrajit Banerjee (sitar) O Cactus Cafe O Kevin Curtin O Adrian Quesada O Breakaway Records
O Black Pumas, Black O The Deer O White Denim O Bob Hoffnar (pedal steel) O Cheer Up Charlies O Doug Freeman O Omar Vallejo O End of an Ear Records
OOO GTHPhouaermvy vDa dCesylea, rrH,k De Jaorv .N,y T oLh iHifsta eLrrma n d OOOO PLLWieatoytttol eLyd iMGn &era iWzffiainrrne sOOou BJlal/akrce&k L BPlouymdas OOO JKKeyeffmvi nJ Wo Rhaunrsnssteeorl nl( (m(usakanuwdle)oleli)n) OOO CEMmoonhptaiirnweek Cntoanl tCrolul bRoom MOOu sRKiaacchahrloe nl RSapsecaoreman MOu sASSiau cHtn rui lRarl dCadadoiyoiuo, nKs thervyoi w n Connor, OOOO EFSWoexaeputlnlesod rdSl oGeood aG lRRloeeeorccydoo rRrddesscords
O TC Superstar, R&D O Alesia Lani songwriter new cluB instruMent store O Blue Monday, O Whetstone Audio
hip-hop/rap O Mélat O Robert Ellis O 04 Center O Austin Vintage Mike Buck, Sun Radio
O Abhi the Nomad O Tomar & the FCs O Sabrina Ellis O 523 Thompson Guitars O The Breaks, Confucius recording studio
O Blackillac O Patty Griffin O Far Out Lounge O South Austin Music & Fresh, KUTX O Arlyn Studios
O Harry Edohoukwa world Music O Will Johnson O Parker Jazz Club O Strait Music O Jamaican Gold, O The Bubble
OO KLayddid E Jaornthes OOO LGHearyur dpL oiPn rMeoaosfsa sOtr Dinagvisd Ramirez liOV eR saodiuon Mdi lekngineer OO STowmitcmhye’ds DOrnum Shop O LAReircfttk B oMaf kcteNhreu, lKDtOyia, OlK, PU TX OOO EGPusotbouldaic rD yHa Rin-eFnciyo’srding
OO MKioknoe Vyi lClahmicihzaar OOOOO BWNDCeaeoatrnarhrnhri eeC iJs nRh eL Hroffuisdordmiroeiikdgasenurez OOOOO MMPCJaahiamkurxeil si D eM MP eWiaaneynomeeerllusw wriatzr th MOOOu sABMSRilacfaeurh d ireMcaigeoarersa rCNa i LMdsoigoseffo huNn etMncie,gg o Y &hen tdB, a eye,r rOOOOad LJALiooaonuhrd iprnsyie e ELLr oG.a sDwnaoeglenleaearrdloitY cteoOOlM BKeMpVyrioicliteshts oiDaeonerinx lB o/Sefntiie sl&ieMn n herz
Vocals Best record laBel Volstead O Taylor Wallace O David Levy
OO SCahbrirsitneal lEe lBlisofale OO HKeoeloledde cSkcales O BCGooanlnlnetiirneye Wnthailt Cmlourbe , OO GCararlh Tahmie Rleynolds
O Eric Burton O Modern Outsider O Margaret Wright,
O Tameca Jones O Nine Mile Skylark
Lounge
O Trey Privott O Spaceflight
Austin Music Hall of Fame Extreme Heat
Thor Harris
is Roky erickson in the Chronicle hall of fame? what about willie? (Yes!) Pamela Hart
What’s the Hall of Fame about, and why should you vote for these people? Visit the poll ballot Octopus Project
@austinChronicle
online at austinchronicle.com/musicpoll for previous winners and more. Carolyn Wonderland #austinmusicawards
Please Choose one of the following nominees: _________________________________
otheR:
save a stamP - vote online today at
austinchronicle.com JANUARY 10, 2020 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE 9
news arts & culture food screens music
austIN at LargE continued from p.6 LdC developments
on homelessness: heavy on maintaining public order and
cleaning the streets, treating social services as charity rath-
er than policy, and branding those without housing as sin-
ners in need of redemption, rather than accepting them as suit set; ZaP Zinger; ashes for ash?
the poor among us. The South Congress case, even this
early in the story, highlights how that approach has not As Austin wakes to the new year, the Land Development development commissioners, who said it was important infor-
worked, and Abbott is bringing more attention to its fail- Code rewrite process moves on in all its spastic glory: mation and “I’m afraid it’ll never get heard outside of here.”
ings. As this story has developed, it’s become worryingly • A Feb. 18 trial date has been set for the lawsuit against By Wednesday afternoon, Development Officer Brent Lloyd
evident that an inadequate and perhaps even inept police the city by citizens claiming a right to protest rezonings – thus had heard it, and hastened to reassure: “Except in a few
response, rather than any policy decisions at City Hall, requiring a three-fourths vote of the Council to rezone their instances, new regulations included in the proposed code
allowed what could have been a routine central -city encoun- property – even as part of an LDC rewrite. The trial will take revision wouldn’t create nonconformities, and in no case
ter to end with two lives lost. Abbott has since last summer place in a Travis County courthouse and is expected to take would they render lawfully existing businesses in violation of
tried to play Austin’s commendable cops against its crazy two days. The suit was filed Dec. 12 by the Gray & Becker code. Wheatsville Grocery, Lucy in Disguise, and most of the
liberal lawmakers, but the South Congress case may law firm, whose Doug Becker issued a statement this week commercial uses mentioned would remain fully conforming.
instead show us quite clearly why homelessness is not and welcoming the fast track: “We believe that a quick answer to … In cases where nonconformities do result, the proposed
should not be a crime. the legal issues raised in our lawsuit is in everyone’s best code wouldn’t prevent existing businesses from continuing
interest. The outcome of the case depends upon the Court’s to operate or from making repairs/modifications.” Kiolbassa,
They DOTh PrOTesT TOO Much, MeThinks legal interpretation of a few provisions of the Texas Local having just heard that response at press time, remains skep-
An initial clamor to recall Adler et al. arose from the Government Code. The current uncertainty benefits no one.” tical, wondering why then the existing “Safe Harbor” provision,
anger being crudely, dumbly stoked by Abbott. Since then, • “Use It or Lose It” is a new video from longtime local guaranteeing that right to continue operating, was specifically
a political action committee called Our Town Austin filmmaker and teacher Steve Mims, highlighting removed from the new code. And there we must
emerged to mount a recall drive in earnest; its stated mis- the right to file a rezoning protest and encourag- leave the story, for this week at least…
sion has, like a dirty snowball, picked up more of the usual ing people to do so. Clocking in at exactly one PuBLIc
grievances to justify a recall, including the new Land minute, it’s short on nuance, but fun and to the Austin state hospital Open house: The Texas Health
NOtIcE
Development Code, because that train is never late. point: youtu.be/GlojnyBcawo. See it soon; it may and Human Ser vices Commission and Dell Medical School
But wait, you may ask, didn’t LDC opponents already be obsolete by Feb. 19. by host an open house this Friday, Jan. 10, about the upcom-
nick
fight and badly lose this battle at the ballot box in 2018? • The Zoning and Platting Commission held ing ASH construction, including a walking tour of the
Yes, they did, and the Our Town Austin (the possessive pro- their first meeting of the year on Jan. 7 and, barbaro 15-acre building site (on the western side of the 95-acre
noun says so much) squad of active Nextdoor commenters among other things, passed a unanimous resolu- campus). It’s 2:30-4:30pm at ASH Bldg. 626 (Nifty Fifty
likely does not appreciate how much more difficult a chal- tion asking City Council to look at amending the diner), 4110 Guadalupe (and again at 3-5pm on Fri., Jan.
lenge it faces here – a three-step process (first the petition sections of the LDC dealing with nonconforming 24). Officials will discuss “the hospital’s history and the
drive, then the recall election, then the special elections to uses in commercial zones. Which is something none of us benefits for the community and the state,” but Preser va tion Austin reps.
replace those recalled) that, even if everything breaks their have probably ever thought about, but according to a presen- will be there asking different questions: Why do the plans include “demoli-
way, will last well into 2021. tation prepared by Commissioner Jolene Kiolbassa, many tion of the many historic buildings on campus, including the only two sur-
That’s a long time to maintain a bad attitude, let alone to commercial establishments around town – Wheatsv ille Co-op, viving structures built for African American patients, [instead of taking]
act out in the streets and at public hearings to produce Lucy in Disguise on South Congress, Mi Madre’s, and Joe’s state and federal tax credits for historic preservation that could have been
enough spite to power a recall drive that, as it now stands, Bakery, to cite a few examples, along with many or most of used to convert them into new and compatible uses”? And: “Was this site
would sweep out Kathie Tovo and Ann Kitchen as well, the city’s mortuaries, auto repair shops, and storage facilities chosen because it would be easier to justify demolition of historic build-
despite their opposition to the holistic Adler agenda. It’s – would be out of compliance with the proposed code. And ings for a desperately needed new facility in order to save areas with more
just not very ninja. Neither is the brilliant idea that these this would put strict limits on improvements, expansions, open space and less significant buildings for future private, for-profit,
cranky people should simply protest their rezoning under and even repairs to the facilities. The resolution asking commercial and residential redevelopment?” As you might expect,
the new LDC. That’ll show ’em! No means no! Council to act passed unanimously; one of the strongest voic- Preservation Texas has an online petition on the topic, with lots more info
Let’s say the courts rule that individual property owners es for it was Bruce Evans, one of ZAP’s more reliable pro- at www.preservationtexas.org/saveash. n
will have the same rights under Texas law to protest the
LDC rewrites as they do now to challenge changes to their cIVIcs 101 dutY now for the future
own zoning, or – if they and their like-minded neighbors
own a sufficient amount of property – to the zoning of near- Thursday 1/9 saTurday 1/11
by parcels. That would raise the threshold for approval by
austIN Fast start A pitch competition with a purpose rEaDy, sEt, PLaNt! Plant seedlings to improve wildlife habitats, reduce
City Council to nine votes (three-fourths of 11, rounded up);
from the city and the Austin Young Chamber. 5:30pm. Eastside erosion, and improve water quality! 9am-noon. Richard Moya Park, 10001 Burleson. Free.
the LDC rewrite garnered seven on first reading. Tech Hub, 2416 E. Sixth. Free. www.austintexas.gov/smallbiz. Also Thursday, Jan. 16: 10am-1pm. Boggy Creek Greenbelt, 2300 Rosewood. www.treefolks.org.
Much has been made of the thousands of people who wEst austIN DEms ENDOrsEmENts For district saFE BaBy acaDEmy Learn how to keep babies safe and sound. 9am.
have pretended to file protests under this fantasy scenario. attorney, county attorney, sheriff, and judicial races. 6:45pm. Seton Northwest, 11113 Research. Free. [email protected].
But it would take many times that number – at least as Howson Library, 2500 Exposition. www.westaustindemocrats.org. Also Sunday: 9am. St. David’s, 3000 N. I-35.
many people, probably more, as needed to force a recall FrIday 1/10 DrIP IrrIgatION wOrkshOP Learn how to install a system. 10am.
Freedom Home Baptist Church, 3405 Oak Springs Dr. Free. www.tcmastergardeners.org.
election – to use this mechanism to create the across-the-
Last Day FOr trEE rEcycLINg Travis County resi- caNDIDatE DEBatE & FOrum Hosted by Black Austin Democrats,
board walkbacks of LDC density that Our Townies desire. dents can give their holiday tree new life by dropping it off at: Pflugerville Area Dems, East TC Dems, South East Dem Alliance, and Northeast TC
Otherwise, we’ll end up with piecemeal patchworks of zon- West Service Center (4501 FM 620); East Service Center (6011 Blue Dems. 11am-4pm. Hanovers 2.0, 16912 N. I-35. Free. www.easttraviscountydemocrats.com.
ing in sensitive areas – fertile ground for many worse out- Bluff); Del Valle Adult Softball Complex (3614 FM 973, Del Valle);
1431 Collection Station (2625 Woodall Dr., Leander). chIckEN kEEPINg cLass / cOmPOstINg cLass Learn how
comes, from the Our Town perspective, than what we have to keep food waste out of the landfill. Chickens at 11am; composting at 12:15pm.
now. Especially if they recall their own Council allies! And tExas schOOL saFEty summIt On creating safer Manchaca Library, 5500 Manchaca Rd. Free. www.austintexas.gov/composting.
schools to improve students’ lives. 8am-4pm; Sat., 8am-noon.
create a whole new set of land-use strategies that develop- 5701 Springdale. $150. events.esc13.net/schoolsafety. NamI wOrkshOP FOr FamILy mEmBErs For people who have
ers and landowners can wield against neighborhoods! 2020 ButLEr awarDs Celebrate the community’s 2019 lForevee d(r eognisetsra twioitnh r eaq umireendt).a wl whwe.anlathm iccoenntdraitlitox.no.r g1.pm. Austin State Hospital, 4110 Guadalupe.
(Remember, the threshold to trigger protest rights is an accomplishments. 4pm. Metz Rec Ctr., 2407 Canterbury. Free. canatx.org.
aBOLItION OF POLIcINg Attend for a workshop, developed by Critical
amount of land, not a number of people.) Ain’t nothing very sOcIaL JustIcE mIxEr See what UT’s Law Expunction Resistance, on understanding police work and practical resistance. 2pm.
ninja about that. n Project is doing to help clear Texas arrest records. 6:30pm. Texas MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop. www.atxanarchistblackcross.wordpress.com.
Advocates for Justice, 3121 E. 12th. www.fb.com/texasadvocatesforjustice.
10 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JANUARY 10, 2020 austinchronicle.com