Although some activists in Austin's minority community have vowed for months that they would oppose AISD's $389 million bond issue, a more formal effort has emerged. The Coalition for Quality Education, chaired by KAZI talk show host Rev. Frank Garrett and dedicated to defeating the bonds, declared itself by appointing a treasurer last week. The bond election is April 13; early voting begins on March 23... -- R.A.
Speaking of the school bonds, in a scene being played out among many of the city's environmental groups, the Austin Sierra Club's political committee agonized over its endorsement decision Monday night. Committee member Buzz Avery suggested that the group opt for a "no-endorsement" because, he said, "This is an educational issue, not an environmental issue." Commitee member Craig Smith, however, pointed out that the bonds will affect the environment." They could be one of the most important elements in achieving a compact city or, on the other hand, the money could be used for growth magnets in [environmentally sensitive areas in the southwest]." Member Sarah Shaw, who also serves on the executive committee, pushed for taking a stand one way or the other: "We are the Sierra Club and we have credibility. We shouldn't wimp out." The club's final recommendation will be released next week... -- A.D.
On city stationery, Mitchell sent a two-page letter January 9 to the College of Cardinals complaining about Elliot's behavior. "We are writing to respectfully request your assistance. We have a problem in Austin, Texas. The problem is Father Bill Elliott of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. We have never seen anyone associated with the Church be so divisive and negative as Father Elliott has been in Austin," says the letter, which the Chronicle obtained through the Open Records Act.
Writing of Elliott, Mitchell says, "He is not acting as a good loving Christian should. He has not preached peace and harmony among neighborhoods. Instead he has been the incendiary voice of neighborly hatred and discord, racial mistrust and race-based political divisiveness... He promotes inter-racial distrust and fear by organizing political hit squads. He is further destabilizing our neighborhood rather than helping us rebuild it... Father Elliott is recklessly fueling racial confrontation and sabotaging our hard work."
Mitchell does not ask the Vatican to remove Elliott. Instead, he says, "We hope you will... work with us to help resolve our problem."
Neither Elliott nor Mitchell would not comment on the letter. Letesia Cantu-McGarrahan of the Guadulupe Association for Independent Neighborhoods (GAIN) said that Elliot may have gotten on Mitchell's bad side this fall when he enlisted the support of Rev. Marvin Griffin, the pastor of the predominantly black Ebenezer Baptist Church, and other neighborhood leaders in asking that ARA members make space on their board for representatives from GAIN and from other east side neighborhoods that are slated for development. (Elliot's wish was granted when the city council approved the ARA board -- with four neighborhood representatives added -- last November.)
Cantu-McGarrahan, who emphasized that her group is now working well with the ARA board, said that the letter shows Mitchell's inability to deal with dissent. "When anybody disagrees with his viewpoint, then he says they are spreading misinformation and lies."
Mitchell hasn't received a response from the Vatican. There might be a reason: By sending it to the College of Cardinals, Mitchell may have made a mistake. The group only meets when the Pope dies. -- R.B.
Freeport's mine, which contains the world's largest known gold deposit, shut down for part of Sunday and all of Monday due to the violence. It was unclear on Tuesday if the mine was running again. Each day the mine is shut down costs Freeport millions of dollars.
During a phone interview on Monday night, the source in Irian Jaya said that nine Freeport employees were "badly wounded due to the attack." Some were injured by stones thrown by the villagers. Two were shot with arrows. Two villagers, Jacob Makuker and Otis Tabuni, were hit by gunfire from the Indonesian military. No deaths were reported.
According to the source, numerous buildings owned by Freeport were damaged during the incident. "Everything that belongs to Freeport has been damaged, except the airport, the Sheraton Inn, and the environmental center, because those sites are heavily block-aded by the military," said the source. At one point, some 3,000 locals headed for the Timika airport, but were stopped by Indonesian dictator Suharto's troops.
The protesters included members of the Amungme, Dani, Ekari, and Biak tribes. Many of the protesters were employees of the Freeport mine and they have demanded to speak directly with Freeport CEO Jim Bob Moffett and Suharto. They gave the pair two days to fly into the Timika airport. If their demand is not met, they have threatened to burn down the airport.
Several press reports have said that the Indonesian military was sending more troops to the region. Freeport officials did not return several phone calls from the Chronicle. -- R.B.
Over the past year, the NHC -- which administers federal funding and other resources for neighborhood development projects -- has been under fire from Eric Mitchell. The Place 6 councilmember has often criticized the department for delaying his pet redevelopment projects, and regularly insinuated that Hispanics have disproportionately been the recipients of more NHC funding than blacks.
As the lead NHC administrator, and as a Hispanic who may have been perceived as being aligned with Hispanic opposition to Mitchell's Eastside redevelopment initiatives, Rodriguez was a likely target for Mitchell's ire and skepticism. According to City Hall insiders, Mitchell had asked the city manager to find a replacement last December. (Mitchell did not return phone calls from the Chronicle.)
That replacement is Assistant City Manager Marcia Conner, a black female, who was selected, says City Manager Jesus Garza, because she had the smallest work load of the four assistant city managers. As part of Conner's job change, one department that she oversaw -- the small and minority business resources department -- will shift to city finances tsar Betty Dunkerley.
Garza denies that politics was the impetus for Rodriguez's removal, and says that Rodriguez was needed to fill a newly created administrative job at the city: federal grants coordinator for all the city departments. A necessity, says Garza, in light of the recent trend toward decreased federal funding. To focus on the new task, Rodriguez also loses oversight of his remaining share of city departments, including the Health and Human Services Department and the Library Department, which will also go to Conner. The Parks and Recreation Department will report directly to the assistant to the city manager.
Rodriguez declined to speculate on whether politics played a part in his sudden reassignment: "The city manager asked me to do this, and that's all I know." And while Rodriguez will at least, in title, remain an assistant city manager, he could see a wage cut in the future. Asked the likelihood of a pay cut, Garza responded, "Not yet. I mean, I don't know... That's a personnel decision."
Regardless of the politics behind the decision to reassign Rodriguez, the turn of events may reflect what this newspaper has said all along -- four assistant city managers may be at least one too many. -- A.M.