Tag: austin

Politics, politics7 Comments

Property Tax, Travis county, Austin

Mark Cathcart

There are a number of threads running through the posts on this blog about Austin and Texas. One key aspect of them is how things get paid for, and what gets paid for. Since Texas(bigger than Germany, approx. 7/8 the Population of Germany) has no income tax, as boasts about it’s low corporate taxes, apart from the 6.25% sales tax, property tax is key. Property tax, the valuation and assessment of properties has become both increasingly complex, and for many long term residents, unaffordable. Among those arguing for greater density in Austin, there are calls for better transportation, more affordable … Continue reading Property Tax, Travis county, Austin

politics, Politics, religion, waterLeave a comment

Pray for rain?

Mark Cathcart

Anybody else mildly offended that #ATXCouncil starts with a prayer invocation that blames the drought on sin and insufficient prayer? — Dan Keshet (@DanKeshet) May 15, 2014 I’m completely baffled, and offended by this. Anyone who has jumped aboard the knowledge train about water in Texas, and doesn’t see why this is a bad thing, just hasn’t thought it through. If you believe in God, I can’t see how you can pray for rain. The amount of rain needed to make a real difference would be gargantuan. A major news item in the last 24-hours has been the announcement by … Continue reading Pray for rain?

Life, Politics, politics, travel5 Comments

Transportation leadership failure

Mark Cathcart

On Tuesday I wrote about “Austin and Alcohol tourism” and speculated on the lack of an alternative transport policy as a leadership failure. I said: Rather than rally behind what most transport conscious users and urbanization advocates believes would be hard, but right choice to put a rail line of some sort, straight down Lamar from North West Austin, [Mayor] Leffingwell used his last state of the city to rally behind the current rail proposal. And today Leffingwell lived up to that speculation. The outgoing Mayor is reported by the Austin Statesman as saying in relation to making space on … Continue reading Transportation leadership failure

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#swimaustin – Aquatic Interactive Town Hall

Mark Cathcart

Yesterday evening I got to participate in the panel component of the City of Austins’ Parks and Recreation dept. Aquatic Interactive Town Hall meeting – LIVE from GW Carver Museum. There is a full video of the proceedings online via the Citys ATXN online network, here. I learned a number of things, importantly that many of the pools will have extended hours this summer, starting June 6th, will be uniformly open at 8am during week days, with some opening at 7am. Many will also stay open until 8pm during the summer. The Aquatic Division operates 50 public pool facilities, which include … Continue reading #swimaustin – Aquatic Interactive Town Hall

Life1 Comment

Austin and Alcohol tourism

Mark Cathcart

I’m not trying to conflate two separate subjects with this post, but finally people are starting to get part of the real need for alternate transport options in Austin. Urban Rail and Drink Driving. NPR posted a link to this KUT segment/web page to it’s facebook page today. I listened to the story as I drove to work this morning on Morning Edition. Providing additional transport isn’t enough, it will need a generational change. However, generational change needs real leadership to solve this problem and that’s been distinctly lacking from the “Rail or Fail” Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, and departing Governor of … Continue reading Austin and Alcohol tourism

Life, musicLeave a comment

Flash Mob Austin: Operation Happy

Mark Cathcart

Mission date: March 15th, 2013 Mission time: 9:45-10:45a.m. Meeting Place: St Davids Episcopal Church, E 7th, San Jacinto. Mission description: Dance as a group, inspired by Pharrell Williams Happy and the 24hoursofhappy website. After a mission briefing between 9:45 and 10:00 a.m., agents will disperse and assemble at assigned positions along East 6th Street. At 10:15 a.m. an agent will come along 6th St playing happy, the other agents will come out from the sides and dance along behind the Happy Agent. We will dance from San Jacinto to Red River, turn and come back. Agents are requested not to … Continue reading Flash Mob Austin: Operation Happy

Life12 Comments

Density, M/F and “Character”

Mark Cathcart

Over on Dan Keshets’ “Austin On Your Feet” blog, Dan posted yesterday what I think was a follow-up to a long twitter conversation a number of us had. His post is about the City of Austins’ CodeNext project. Dan is an advocate for greater density in Austin, and as the name of his blog implies and the about page says “has lived and worked in central Austin near downtown without a car since 2005”. I’ve had the feeling that a lot of those advocating for greater density, and especially the acceptance by the central neighborhoods of much more permissive multi-family … Continue reading Density, M/F and “Character”

politics, Politics, travel1 Comment

Lavaca – Off road slalom course

Mark Cathcart

Next week sees the much heralded launch of the “rapid bus” in Austin. That’s a subject of huge importance and not to mention, massive debate and possibly deception. In order to prepare for this, the city has been making major changes, especially downtown creating priority lanes for buses, and new bike lanes. What is abundantly clear is the main in town south north route, Lavaca won’t be ready. While the priority lanes were being created, there has been major sewer work going on, the road surface has been ripped up, not just re-striped, lanes have been out for days just … Continue reading Lavaca – Off road slalom course

Life, politics, travel2 Comments

Mor on parking

Mark Cathcart

@DanKeshet @cathcam Warehoused cars get driven far less often. It’s not perfect but best we can hope for right now. — Mike Dahmus (@mdahmus) January 2, 2014 @cathcam Yup. I’m trying to understand if they’re “needed” because required by policy, required by investors, or desired by devs. — Dan Keshet (@DanKeshet) January 2, 2014 I got some interesting responses on twitter about my parking madness post. Yes, if was writing a critical analysis, I should have covered all those points, but then the blog entry wouldn’t have been as catchy and would have taken too long to read. Here are … Continue reading Mor on parking