Cahn: Jesus commanded us to engage in productive economic activity

Austin activist Adam Cahn gives us a sober reminder this Sunday that Jesus' teaching on wealth is often misunderstood and is sometimes misapplied in political discourse:

We understand that people will take scripture out of context to suit their agenda, but that doesn't lead to a productive discussion.  Nowhere is this more true than with Jesus' discussion of money in the Gospels.  Consider the following: 

1. People LOVE to talk about how, at times, Jesus didn't have a lot of money (Matthew 8:20), but they neglect to mention that He had A LOT of rich friends: 

For Adam's other two, see http://acahnman.blogspot.com/2015/11/three-popular-misconceptions-regarding.html

Go home, Texas Music: you're drunk

Today's mainstream Country music is far from Johnny Cash. It's not even Johnny Paycheck.

LEHMBERG WATCH: Prosecutor to challenge Dem favorite in DA race

An attorney who went after Rosemary Lehmberg following her drunk-driving arrest is reported to be in the heat over on the Democrat ticket. A rumored Republican challenger has yet to emerge.

According to the Austin American-Statesman:

Prosecutor Gary Cobb may have some company in next year’s race for Travis County district attorney after all.

Clock Boy situation could have easily been averted

"Clock Boy" Ahmed Mohamed's family is suing we the taxpayers for $15 million, and questions have arisen about how his situation may have been handled differently.

While we're concerned about the trend in public schools of using law enforcement to carry out discipline, we would like to suggest a long-forgotten alternative that requires no police intervention and could go a long way in preventing lawsuit abuse and this kind of misbehavior in our school hallways, regardless of a student's family's political or religious beliefs ...

Austin's ghost highways (or a history of Austin's ill-fated east-west traffic solutions)

Transportation planners hard at work on a 290/I-35 intersection circa 1970.

Building a successful east-west corridor is nowhere near a new challenge for Austin. Cutting through some of the most environmentally sensitive and visually attractive land in the Texas Hill Country has raised the ire of many residents throughout the years, particularly environmentalists.

This is a cycle we've been stuck in for over half a century is being repeated in Oak Hill as the Oak Hill Parkway is encountering some opposition. This time, by tree preservationists.

If you look carefully around town you will see the right-of-way and other tell-tale signs of preparation for several, aborted east-west routes through Austin. Below are few of those would-be projects from the annals of Austin transportation planning. Have a good cry when you're sitting in traffic tomorrow morning.

'Y' no solution to east-west Austin traffic?

Anyone who has ever driven east-to-west in Austin knows that there is something structurally wrong with transportation planning in the Capital City. And it's been that way for more than half a century.

That's why we have nothing but sympathy for the residents of Oak Hill. Once a sleepy small town to Austin's west with prolific arbors and rocky vistas, the area is now suburbia with one of the worst traffic snarls of the region due in part to Austin's horrendous planning for the future: "the Y."

However, even the overdue solution for that is facing resistance.

Austin's affordability reaching critical mass

Urban sprawl ... thanks in part to big government

If we ever needed more reasons to be concerned about Austin's growing affordability problem, news coverage this week provided plenty.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, the city is considering ways to cut down on the number of APD squad cars in surrounding suburb driveways -- an admission that the city is becoming less affordable for necessary public servants such as law enforcement officers. In other words, the backbone of the city is headed to the 'burbs.

Austin officials are in the early stages of developing an array of monetary incentives to get hundreds of police officers living in suburban communities to become city residents ... that could include a one-time moving expense payment, monthly stipends for owning a home in the city or a month of free rent for apartment dwellers.

Fmr. Bush aide: Obama Admin intelligence reports 'doctored'

Joe Allbaugh, FEMA director during the 9/11 attacks (public domain photo)

President George W. Bush's FEMA director and gubernatorial chief of staff pulled no punches during a call-in segment with an Austin radio station this morning.

"We are a ship without a captain as far as I can tell. Pentagon staff are instructed to keep quiet or retire -- If they go public while they are in uniform they are subject to penalties or court-martialing," said Joe Allbaugh on KOKE-FM, 98.5, Tuesday morning.

Troxclair: Affordable housing dollars should go to ... affordable housing

The Austin City Council Audit and Finance Committee reviewed a city auditor's report that revealed some disturbing news regarding the stewardship of tax dollars earmarked for "affordable housing."

According to the Austin American-Statesman:

The report, which examined programs in the city’s Neighborhood Housing and Community Development department, also said the city lacks “clear goals and numerical targets” for affordable housing so “any outcome can be seen as a success.” The department also overstated the amount of affordable housing created over three years by roughly 3,000 units, the audit said. ... 

“If we’re putting money to this purpose we need to make sure that it is translating into affordable housing,” [District 8 City] Council member Ellen Troxclair said.

Full story at: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/audit-austin-isnt-properly-monitoring-affordable-h/npPPS

Meanwhile, the City of Austin continues its war on poorer areas of town in the name of "redevelopment." Exhibit A: the East Riverside Corridor Master Plan, which will no doubt boost rent on some of the more affordable apartments and rental properties in town.

Cahn: Formula 1 never had the consent of the governed

F1 has been a tremendous tourism draw for Travis County, attracting some of the world's wealthiest patrons of motor sports. The Elroy-based Circuit of the Americas has been a success, though attendance has (as expected) dropped some after the scent of new asphalt diminished.

So when Gov. Greg Abbott agreed to reduce the state's tax contribution from $25 million to $19.6 million, criticism -- especially from those in nations accustomed to corporate welfare and mounting public debt -- complained. F1 magnate Bernie Ecclestone even threatened the future of Austin F1 races (welcome to Texas).

Travis County activist blogger Adam Cahn sums up our thoughts nicely -- though we would like to add that there are plenty of private-sector solutions available here in the Land of the Free (e.g. more NASCAR-style sponsorships). 

Formula 1 subsidies never had the consent of the governed, either locally or statewide. ... That being said, if organizers want to hold future races hostage to continued subsidies from the state of Texas, they should feel free to not let the door hit them in the rear end on the way out. 

Read more.

Children actually SAVE parents money in the long run

About 120 women are suing drug company Endo because an alleged packaging error they say resulted in unplanned pregnancies ... and, along with that, the expense of raising children.

The class action lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania last week. The class members hail from 26 states, and it is unclear at the time of writing if a Texan is among them. According to the suit, the birth control pill manufacturer distributed pills (see full list at the bottom of this post) in 2011 with incorrect markings and packaging -- resulting in 113 unforeseen pregnancies in 26 states. Fully 94 of the women carried the babies to term. Other state courts have rejected similar lawsuits.

The class is reportedly seeking millions in damages, including, in a few cases, the costs of raising children through adulthood (allegedly because of the birth control goof-up). While many prestigious sources put the cost-estimate of raising a child from 0 to adulthood at $200,000 to $250,000, that's not a universally held figure.

According to one source we found, a money management site called TheSimpleDollar.com, children can actually bring in money at certain points along the way. Here's the breakdown from author Trent Hamm, based on a working husband and working wife with two children in Iowa at the onset of the Obama Administration (costs have certainly gone up since then, but bear with us!). His comments are in italics below and are worth a read (full article).

Travis GOP, Democrat leaders square off on amnesty ruling

While the Fox Business Republican Presidential Debates were taking place, another significant discussion was underway on Austin's Fox affiliate.

The Travis County Democratic Party's Executive Director, JD Gins, appeared with Travis County Republican Party's Matt Mackowiak Tuesday night regarding the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling on the Obama Administration's amnesty policy.

Watch the other debate from last night here: http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/46940181-story

Mackowiak: Sanctuary city policies defy common sense

Click image for full view of comic in the Austin American-Statesman

Travis County GOP Vice Chairman Matt Mackowiak shared his thoughts on sanctuary city policies in the Austin American-Statesman this week.

Asked about sanctuary cities and the Steinle murder, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said, “This horrific crime, and terrible as it is, is not a reflection of what sanctuary cities were established to do.” 

Do sanctuary cities make sense to you?

More:
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/opinion/mackowiak-ending-sanctuary-cities-would-stop-preve/npHH5/

Dickey: Carson can win undecided voters if he stands firm

Screenshot from Fox 7.

From his opinion on ancient Egyptian pyramids to his denominational affiliation to his recollection of whether he was offered a scholarship to West Point, presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson has been the subject of an overabundance of media interrogation on relatively minor issues, lately.

"There's a double standard at play here," said James Dickey, Chairman of the Travis County GOP on the Fox 7 News Edge Monday evening. "... There was nowhere near as much [media] scrutiny given to our President when he ran."

Anti-taxpayer lawsuit filed by the City of Austin thrown out of court

An attempt by the City of Austin to loosen taxpayer protections was thrown out of court today.

The city has 30 days to appeal, according to the Austin American-Statesman:

The city filed the unprecedented lawsuit in August to seek the reappraisal of thousands of Travis County commercial properties and vacant lands. The lawsuit had also asked the court to strike down “equal and uniform” provisions in state law that allow a property owner to protest a value higher than the median value of comparable properties. 

More: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/judge-dismisses-austins-commercial-property-apprai/npHhM/

Asian market 'Star Wars' trailer features gobs of new footage

Look what we ran across after searching for that "mule" video!  Lots of new scenes we haven't seen in the U.S. versions, and maybe even a functional use of that dreaded lightsaber crossbar.

Enjoy your weekend, and keep the Internet free.

Watchdog: 'Bravery should not be confused with mulish stupidity'

"Heh-heh ... 'mule!'"

In the same way conservative opposition to liberal machinations is referred to as "backwards," "judgmental," and any variation of "-phobic," Kenric Ward with Watchdog.org's Texas Bureau coins a new phrase for liberal grandstanding.

Is the persistence of the downtown Austin liberal establishment in building an unnecessarily large civil courthouse in a congested area an example of political courage or "mulish stupidity?"

Recount possible in Pflugerville

Community Impact News is reporting that a recount is possible in a tight City Council race in Pflugerville:

After Travis County poll results showed Pflugerville City Council candidate Rudy Metayer received 44 fewer votes than his opponent Mike Heath in the Nov. 3 City Council Place 5 race, Metayer plans to petition the county for a recount, the candidate announced Nov. 5

We'll keep an eye on this.

Meanwhile, if you have any voting irregularities to report, please let us know in the comments below. Also, the Secretary of State has a form for formal complaints.

Proposed regs send Uber back to the hose-and-buggy days

Screenshot from Twitter.

Transportation network company Uber is taking to both social media and some horse-and-buggy days tactics to oppose potential City of Austin regulations on the popular ride-sharing service. See the press release from Austin's Uber franchise below, and learn more about the new "Kitchen Plan."

Veterans Day Parade to go on despite political correctness

A Veterans Day parade is a community celebration that should never be politicized. 

Sadly, a change in the official billing for the Travis County/City of Austin Veterans Day parade reflects a degree of behind-the-scenes politicking and social engineering.

The wording has gone from a proud headline reading "Presented by Travis County and the City of Austin" to a disclaimer: "... not an official Travis County or City of Austin activity" (see screenshots of the county's Veterans Day Parade web page below).

Judge Eckhardt angrily rebukes voters, calls rejection of bond 'not a rejection of the project'

Judge Sarah Eckhardt, via Facebook

It was the first election night in memory that Travis County Republicans got everything they wanted.

All state constitution amendments supported by the Travis GOP passed by wide margins.

The $1,000-per-pet Pflugerville animal shelter was rejected.

News of the defeat of the so-called "bathroom ordinance" in Houston enlivened conservatives.

And earlier that day, a proposal to remove support from the annual downtown Veterans Day parade because of its inclusion of Confederate soldier tributes was tabled in a county meeting.

But most auspicious to Austin-area conservatives was the defeat of the $287 million civil courthouse bond.

Results from the civil courthouse/constitutional amendments election

Returns from the Nov. 3, 2015, Texas Constitutional Amendment Election will start flying in after 7 p.m. Check below for final results later tonight. For up-to-the-minute tallies, please consult the following links:

State results (after 7 p.m.)
County results (after 7 p.m.)
Early voting results (county)


 √   = PASSED / WINNER
 X   = FAILED
* = QUALIFIES FOR RUNOFF

LEHMBERG WATCH: appeal of police shooting case likely a political move

In a legal maneuver being called "a political move," Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg announced she intends on appealing the dismissal of an Austin policeman who shot a bank robber.

“Whatever it takes to put that in motion, that is what we did this morning. I intend to pursue it as far as it takes," Lehmberg said, via the Austin American-Statesman.

On Oct. 29, a federal judge dismissed a manslaughter charge against former Austin police officer Charles Kleinert. The opinion referred to an 1890 federal Supreme Court ruling that protects law enforcement from prosecution in the line of duty.

Kleinert shot the robber in 2013 -- a move criticized as reckless by prosecutors. The robber was shot once in the neck and soon died.

Lehmberg, who was convicted that same year of, and served 45 days for, drunk driving, will likely appeal Kleinert's dismissal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.