So if you bother to move to the outskirts of Austin, you must be doing so to get a big house on a big lot on a quiet street, close to “good” schools, for much cheaper than Central Austin. If you do so, you have no right to complain that you can’t walk to the store.

Well, people in Oak Hill and Southwest Austin apparently want their cake and to eat it too. As much as I am an avid proponent of denser development and public transit, I find it disingenuous of the community leaders in that area to now start blaming the Save Our Springs ordinance for the fact that their neighborhoods aren’t (and may never be) more pedestrian friendly and dense.

Tomorrow night, the city’s planning staff will present the tentative Future Land Use Map (FLUM) and plan documents to stakeholders for one last discussion before the planning commission and city council vote on it. David Richardson, who lead the effort at the neighborhood level, complains to Community Impact that the SOS ordinance blocks any and every kind of good development because

landowners cannot develop or put impervious cover, which is anything from rooftops to parking lots, over more than 25 percent of an individual landowner’s property, in the area called the contributing zone.

Mr. Richardson complains that you can’t put in denser muliple-use development that would make walking and biking more appealing because of the “roadblocks” like this.

The SOS ordinance *should* be a roadblock. Its intent is to discourage development, which causes water pollution in the sensitive contributing zone and the more sensitive recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer. If you want to live in a densely developed area, move to Central Austin!

Heralded by a City press release and a brief story buried inside the second section of today’s local daily, the 580-page document entitled Public Safety Police Operations is replete with fascinating factoids and plenty of opinions about what the police department, emergency management services, and the police monitor should be doing differently. Those who are more comfortable with report lite will find an executive summary on pages i through xiii. This document is an effort outsourced from the office of the city auditor, to the tune of $315,000. The local daily item bears this anodyne heading “Audit of police suggests ways to cut costs: Officials working to put many suggestions in place.”

There’s much more to the report than that, and it should not vanish without more comment than what runs along the lines of “we’re already doing what’s important and we’re doing it well and anything we’re not doing is because it’s not important.” The report, a year in the making, contains, according to the city auditor’s site, 123 recommendations, including 107 for the police department, 8 for emergency services, 7 for the police monitor, and one for the city manager’s office. The auditor’s site continues, “APD concurred with 89 recommendations, PSEM with 7, OPM with 7 and the City Manager’s Office did not concur with its recommendation.”

Among the many discussions of matters I’ve wondered about myself is a lengthy consideration of the cost of special events that use the streets and parks, as well as a discussion of the assignment of law enforcement officers and how the cost is figured and assessed. This portion of the report begins at section 5.4.2 (page 230, ending at page 244), concerning the special events unit of the police department. Other topics of interest include matters related to homeland security, traffic enforcement, training, the area or district commands, organization generally, and much, much more.

My favorite recommendation, and the police chief disagrees entirely with it, is to discontinue “air enforcement,” otherwise known as the airplane, plus the helicopter that rattles windows, shines searchlights into houses, awakens the innocent from their sleep many nights a week, and serves no apparent useful purpose. If I read the table correctly, this little item is budgeted to cost us a mere $1,691,400 for fiscal year 2008-09. And let’s not forget that fuel costs are rising. This recommendation is discussed in detail on pages 579-81. “This recommendation would save the city about $1 million annually in operating and insurance costs. The re-deployment of staff would result in an annual savings (cost avoidance) of $691,400.”

The dial-tone was buzzy and full of static and then it disappeared altogether. This was Monday at 9:00 am; it returned at a little before 5 pm yesterday. That makes over 24 hours without a land-line. And yes; I’m a laggard when it comes to adopting technology, which means it’s POTS or nothing. And let me just say, that the lodgings that promise Internet access don’t always have it up and working or working well. I blame only myself for any Luddite tendencies, but I blame the torrential downpour, aging infrastructure, and the telco for the problem. One variant or another strikes many neighborhoods south of the river from time to time, making life especially unpleasant for businesses. But that’s another story.

It’s South by Southwest, remember, and school’s out and lots of us are taking breaks from work to entertain visitors from far and wide. Here’s what I found when I sought a way to check in. I did not try the City’s free WiFi in the same building, but I did stop in at the Austin Java now serving as a cafe and more in City Hall. The tables are sturdy, the chairs are excellent, and the people are friendly. Even though attendance at SxSW this year seems to be a little light, going by street presence of people with lanyard i.d., there were plenty of attendees at Austin Java. The connection’s good. Food and coffee are available beginning at 7 am (great for early birds!). I know someone who’s returning to try the Eggs Benedict. Acoustics aren’t good, but that’s the only drawback.

For the extremely reasonable cost of a cup of coffee and some pastry or another beverage and an ice-cream cone from the cafe, Ventana del Soul came to my rescue another time during the POTS outage. There, also, I found out-of-town SxSW attendees. This is a great place for people to keep in mind for meetings, formal or in- and large or small. The signal is strong but a little slow; it’s great there there are so many electrical outlets. The natural light is a plus, and the people are always very pleasant. Those waiting may read some of the many up-to-date magazines, and there are board games, too. Supporting Ventana del Soul supports its mission.

Best of all was the Howson branch of the public library. Howson is a reader’s place and so was exceptionally quiet for working. Sign-up for access was quick and simple, with no need to possess or show a library card. Desks aren’t that many, but I worked at one. The height was ergonomically correct, there was sufficient work surface, and the electrical outlets were on the desktop. The signal was strong and downloads were instantaneous. I’ve never taken a laptop to the library, but I certainly will again. Next, I think I’ll try Carver and Ruiz branches.

Wooldridge Square is on the network serving the APL system, I see; when the day is sunny though, even Wooldridge shade probably won’t help with screen visibility. I don’t know what’s the best on-line directory to free Austin hotspots. The ones I tried were just ones I remembered hearing about. So this was my first adventure. Of course, an on-line directory is of no use when it’s needed for the reasons I needed it; nevertheless, it would be very helpful to bookmark a few directories for the future. The directory of access points at Auscillate is extensive; I wonder whether there’s one even better.

Some of you may have arrived a day or two before SXSW to partake of all that Austin has to offer before things get crazy. We’re not called the Live Music Capital fer nuthin’ brother! Check out some cool stuff available over the next few nights. These are pretty much all local Austin artists and this is a chance to see a longer set with a smaller crowd than next week. It’s a pretty eclectic mix.

Tonight 

• The Dicks at Room 710 - They lost original guitarist Glen Taylor in 1997, but the reunited Dicks are still worth checking out. See some real honest-to-goodness Austin punk history.
• Elliott Smith Tribute Night at Emo’s - Zykos, Lions, Lalaland, Rite Fylers & others
• Mystic Knights of the Sea at Continental Club - Hear Charlie Sexton (yes, of “Beat’s So Lonely” and Bob Dylan backing fame) do roots rock covers with his brother Will and Mike Buck on drums. You can’t say you’ve been to Austin if you haven’t seen a band at the Continental even if it means paying for their overpriced cover and drinks. At least you’re supporting the local economy.
• Dale Watson - Ginny’s Little Longhorn - A hike from downtown, but you won’t get any more real country than Dale Watson at Ginny’s. Just don’t piss anyone off while you’re there.

Friday Night 

• Faceless Werewolves at Waterloo Records - CD Release Party at 5pm
• Sons of Hercules with Pat Todd & the Rank Outsiders and Jesus Christ Superfly at Lambert’s - San Antonio’s garage punk purveyors will push their wares. If you’ve never seen them (and most locals have), they’re a must…if only to see towering frontman Frank Pugilese channeling Iggy Pop among others. He’s got the street cred. His band opened for the Sex Pistols when they swung through San Antonio on that infamous American tour when I was still watching Krofft Superstars.
• Asylum Street Spankers at Momo’s - They of “Stick Magnetic Ribbons” and gospel brunch fame. Made up of many longtime Austin musicians.
• Grupo Fantasma at The Parish

On this morning’s rodeo edition of the KVET country-music oldies show, there was a very good Obama commercial aimed at KVET’s demographic. I was surprised. I have just within the past couple of days seen an annoying Clinton television commercial with turning windmill blades, bales of hay, and a faux-folksy voiceover. >>> Evidence of Obama’s active campaigners is to be found everywhere. It’s just about impossible to leave a vehicle for more than five minutes anywhere on the street in close-in East Austin without finding a notice under a windshield-wiper upon your return. It was from one of these that I found a reference to the Texas Precinct Captains domain, yet another manifestation of the Obama campaign’s on-line presence. >>> When the T. Don Hutto private-prison facility was under consideration for repurposing as a detention center for confining families with little children behind bars, the proximity of Taylor to Austin was considered to be a drawback, reports the current issue of the New Yorker; a document paraphrased in the article “observed, with striking cynicism, that Taylor was too close to Austin, which had nonprofit and community organizations that ‘have typically been very strong advocates for immigrants.’” Among those organizations, of course, would be the Civil Liberties Union and the immigration law clinic at the law school here. (I last wrote about the CCA Hutto unit a little over a year ago, since which time some things have changed and much has not.) Federal District Judge Sam Sparks comes in for a fair share of attention. The author writes as though the presence of chicken livers and gizzards on the menu of a public dining establishment is something completely new to her, and she does not fail to include the obligatory mentions of Louie Mueller’s and of Rudy Mikeska’s. >>> I love Austin’s role as a host city for people from small towns (and larger ones) all over Texas. It’s fun to see UIL basketball coaches, players, and players’ families at the rodeo parade (Texas Independence Day parade) and then to see the same cast of characters, plus those in town for the rodeo and livestock show, wandering the Drag and checking out Allens Boots and other draws on South Congress. It’s always a surprise to see just how many people sporting starched wardrobes and small-town haircuts still exist beyond the bounds of Austin. >>> The big entertainment names at the rodeo are playing indoors and they’re the ones mentioned in the ads, but all the most enjoyable local acts will take to the outdoor stage, and there’s something wonderful to hear every day. Among the favorites scheduled to play in the open air are: Pauline Reese, Carolyn Wonderland, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jimmy LaFave, the Hudsons, Patricia Vonne, Los Texmaniacs (a great personal favorite), the Boxcar Preachers, and Doug Moreland, plus a great bill with twin polka and oompah favorites the Bohemian Dutchmen and the Walburg Boys

While listening to Tejanoman Chris Tristan yesterday evening on Univision station Recuerdos 107.7-fm, I heard Clinton and Obama campaign ads almost back to back. I can’t even decide which one I thought was more effective and wonder what the experts think.

I don’t know who the narrator is for the Obama ad, but he speaks at an urgent pace. This ad contains English-language sound-snippets from Obama’s speeches. It is marred by annoying swelling Coplandesque background music. In its favor, on the other hand, is that Obama speaks in Spanish at the end to give the little blurb affirming that he approved the ad. The theme throughout, repeated more than once, is “Obama me esta hablando a mi,” and at the very end this phrase is capped with “y te habla a ti tambien,” immediately following which Obama gives his short statement in Spanish. The theme is education and health care and building a better future. I’m not sure how to convey the tone of the Spanish phrases quoted above (without the proper markings on the vowels), but it’s very emphatic, underlining that “Obama is speaking to me” and then “to you as well.”

In the Clinton ad heard, Henry Cisneros speaks in a conversational tone. Clinton makes the ending announcement in English. I can’t yet find a link for this on line but the main pitch is to vote early, because the Texas primary could be decisive in the battle for the White House. Cisneros introduces himself, says that it’s important to vote before Election Day, and announces a number to call in order to learn the location of a nearby early-voting location and arrange, if necessary, for a free ride to the polling place. The fact that I can’t remember everything in the ad speaks against it; on the other hand, the voice of Cisneros is very familiar and soothing. I used to see him often in the Capitol grounds and he was always at ease when he was about to speak with reporters, with no fumbling for notes or anything like that, just talking extemporaneously and comfortably. Here’s an English-language video version that I think is somewhat close to what I heard on the radio, but the radio ad is specific to our state. I know that the radio ad speaks of “nuestra amiga” and says that Clinton is working so that everyone in Texas may have a better life. Cisneros says that Clinton has a special affection for Texas. There are faint strains of an unaccompanied conjunto-style accordion to be heard in the background. I heard the Cisneros ad for Clinton in Spanish again this morning, but it just doesn’t seem to be as good at catching the ear immediately from the very first words in the way that the Obama ad does. But I may be alone in that opinion. I’ve seen no television ads for any presidential candidate, in English or in Spanish.

Here’s part three of the transcript along with some photos I took along the way.

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Here’s part two of the transcript and another photo (the candidates and the President of UT). I’ll have photos from the media room later tonight.

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While I was sitting in a waiting-room that will go unnamed, my eye was caught by a full-page ad in a national shelter magazine. Among the residences featured in the ad was one very close to IH-35 and its frontage roads. Some houses even closer did eventually sell, but only after major noise-reduction measures were implemented. No prices are shown for two of the three houses shoehorned onto steep lots on Riverside (1107A and 1107B) and being marketed by the same team marketing the house in the ad; the third, which is the one in the magazine ad, is “offered” at $979,000. The appraisal roll shows A and B as condominium properties. So, when it comes to these properties, somebody bought the land at a low price for that part of town, going by the history of the appraised value, and has invested a substantial amount to place new and tall housing on them, wagering, no doubt, that they will be toured by prospective buyers at the “quiet” times of day or the “quiet” days of the week, whenever they may be.

The Austin Independent School District is makiing bets on the future of Austin real estate, too. In a feature in today’s local daily about Linder Elementary (”Crowding puts Linder Elementary in a bind,” byline Raven L. Hill), conditions at just one school are examined. If anyone missed the process leading up to school-bond elections, this article points up how important it is for everyone to follow it next time around. Here’s a quotation from the article, indicating that, apparently based on speculative real-estate predictions, entire generations of elementary-school attendees are to be deprived of even the possibility of a new school or one without large numbers of portable buildings: “District officials said they don’t want to build an elementary in Southeast Austin because of projected housing trends over the next 10 to 15 years. Apartments along Riverside Drive, where many Linder families live, are prime locations for high-priced condominiums.” The bet is that those projects now planned, some of which may never be built, will be too expensive for any households with children. I’d like to know just who those unnamed district officials are.

People who find that a perch atop highway-land is just what they like may be less rare than one would think. That’s their business. But when it comes to school-district assessments of the future Austin real-estate market, I’d like to know whether those unnamed officials have kids and, if so, where those kids attend school. I’d also like to know why they weren’t willing to speak for attribution. Just wondering.

Austin’s in the throes of influenza season. Grown people sound like babies with the croup and tiny children sound like tubercular old men. >>> “Be prepared” is the motto. Scouts from all over Texas were prepared, here to parade up Congress to the Capitol and meet with the governor this past Saturday. I was prepared, too. My camera was not. I love it when Austin plays host to visitors from all over the Lone Star State. I love seeing all the parents who spend at least one day, and perhaps two, of a precious weekend in escorting their scouting offspring to this big annual event, which never receives the publicity that it really should. I noticed that many of those in uniform were betaking themselves and their outdoor appetites straight to Threadgill’s. >>> Winning friends and influencing people sometimes seem not to be our mayor’s strong suit. A commencement speech he delivered at A&M in December elicited a two-column letter of outrage in the February issue of the Texas Bar Journal. Although A&M does offer transcripts of some graduation addresses, this is not among them. The letter-writer heard the address as “an unsolicited, unprovoked, and completely unwarranted diatribe against the legal profession,” reporting that “at one juncture, he called those in the profession ‘blood-sucking lawyers.’” He invites all who take exception to the remarks reported to write to Will Wynn, telling him why. >>> I received a free teaser issue of a fancy-pants magazine called Garden & Gun. Its “Below the Line” feature touts just-over Carnaval, calling Austin “an eclectic city.” That’s one way to describe us. Are we of interest to the gun side or the garden side of this publication? I can’t help but wonder. >>> But, then, I succumbed to the flu and it ate all my energy and half my brain-power for almost a week. The in-house expired cough-suppressant (a generic product, not the NyQuil of Alvin Crow “Blues” fame) was no good after January of the year 2000, so I probably last felt this bad an entire decade ago. It’s good to return to the land of the living in Austin.

Update 18 February: The local daily picks up on the mayoral anti-attorney diatribe today (byline Sarah Coppola, scroll down; in the hard copy this item falls under a “scuttlebutt” heading and is emphasized by being printed on a gray background), getting the name of the bar publication wrong but reporting that, although he refused to comment or “discuss the speech,” it has been learned that Wynn has sent a letter of apology. Said to be in it is this: “I am sorry if those comments upset anyone.” Isn’t that some of the well-known and commonly used language of false repentance?