Postmarks

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Developing Concerns

Editor:

I read with interest the letter from Patrick Goetz ["Postmarks: Neighborhood Group to Blame," July 13] describing the Rosedale Neighborhood Association opposition to my company's plans for development at the corner of 45th and Lamar. Let's set the facts straight.

Over a period of years dating from 1985, Live Oak Development assembled the block of property bounded by 44th, 45th, Marathon, and Lamar. Several development proposals were considered, including a mixeduse project not unlike our development at 29th and San Gabriel. These various designs included retail, multifamily, and office components. While it is true that these plans were not pressed forward, it had nothing to do with any expressed opposition from Rosedale Neighborhood Association. The reasons were purely economic. In fact, none of our plans were ever presented to Rosedale Neighborhood Association, so they didn't really have a chance to "pitch a fit." The only time our group ever met with Rosedale Neighborhood Association was to explain our plans for development of the east half of the block. Those meetings were cordial and productive.

Live Oak Development has enjoyed a history of successful dealings with neighborhood associations (witness Gabriel's Court and The Carillon at Westover and Exposition) and have no reason to believe at any time during our ownership of the Marathon properties that a reasonably presented idea, sensitive to neighborhood concerns, would not have had a fair and thorough hearing from both Alta Vista and Rosedale.

Very truly yours,

Daniel W. Herd, President

Live Oak Development

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Negotiate in Good Faith

Editor:

The exchange of letters and blame flying between Scott Barnes and Patrick Goetz ["Postmarks," July 6, 13, and 20] shows the best and worst of Austin's democratic process. While it is good that people are interested in how Austin grows, the process is painful, slow, and too often lacking in civility.

In times of cheap energy, national builders have dictated the development of Austin. Austin's "auto-eroticism" is both symbolic of our freedom and our curse. The city has ignored its Master Plan, so mistakes have been made with infrastructure, commerce, industry, and housing. The city's past and present ad hoc solutions have created in-hock programs and budgets. Neighborhood associations will always resist changing the urban landscape if they do not believe it is broken or cannot find consensus on change.

Resolving the issues of urban redevelopment and repair requires a system[atic] approach matched with patience and persistence. Austin needs to explore a broader range of options. People like Carter and Brooke Bruce or Live Oak Development must find ways to collaborate with neighborhood associations. Austin has offered large corporations tax abatements to locate here when they employ just 20% of our citizens. Those abatements should be redirected to redevelop failing shopping centers, affordable housing, and industrial centers. The city of Austin, ANC, and others would do well to create a process and a program that would serve our neighborhoods better, one that puts stakeholders and knowledgeable, neutral third parties on the same side of the table. The Bruces' reaction is understandable, but the city suffers the loss of creative input, dialogue, and compromise when stakeholders refuse to come to the negotiating table not only in good faith, but understanding the issues we must face together at the micro and macro level.

David Richardson

Managing Director

Austin Metro City Club

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Swartz Speaks

Editor:

Congratulations to Mike Clark-Madison on a fair-minded story about the new Texas Monthly ["Pride of the Yankees?," July 20]. Just one small thing -- I did not leave Texas Monthly for Talk as stated, but for The New Yorker. Two years later, I accepted an offer from Talk, from which I left to return to Texas Monthly.

All best,

Mimi Swartz

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Burka on Burka

Editor:

In his article about Texas Monthly's coverage of George W. Bush, Mike Clark-Madison describes me as a Democrat ["Burka on Bush," July 20]. I would like to correct that characterization. I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican, and I find little to admire in either political party. Since I care who my statewide officials are going to be, I vote in the primary of the party whose nominees are most likely to win those races. Until recently, this was the Democratic Party; now it is the Republican Party. Accordingly, I have voted in the Republican primary for the past two elections. If someone asks me what my political beliefs are, I usually describe myself as a conservative Democrat, an allegiance to a faction that no longer has any viability, if indeed it exists at all. This is my way of distancing myself from the contemporary versions of the two major parties and indicating that I think Texas was very well served by people who governed in the conservative Democrat tradition: Sam Rayburn, Lyndon Johnson, John Connally, Lloyd Bentsen, Bill Hobby, Bob Bullock, and Pete Laney.

Paul Burka

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Sounding Off About Smith, Treanor

Editor:

I'm not one to write e-mails like this, but I felt the urge after reading Mambo John's story in this week's Chronicle ["You Can Leave Your Hat On," July 20].

I've never known the Chronicle to be the least bit political, as in the way it's run, but what do I know since I've never worked there or stepped foot in the office? But after looking at this week's cover with Evan Smith on his J-Crew truck on the front and seeing the cover story was about the "New Texas Monthly" ["Pride of the Yankees?"] I got a bad taste in my mouth. That bad taste grew into a gag reflex when I read Mambo John's story.

The Texas Monthly is up there in the ranks with GSD&M when it comes to politics and how many asses you have to kiss to get the top or even on the platform. So, why is its editor on the cover of the publication that I've always thought personified the complete opposite, personified Austin? Maybe I just thought wrong. Maybe Mr. Smith used the same tactics on the Chronicle as he uses on his staff. Who knows?

What I do know is rather than a little blurb on the bottom of the cover stating "Mambo John Treanor by Andy Langer p. 56," Mambo John should have been sporting the cover. I guarantee he wouldn't be wearing his Land's End duds parked on an old beat-up truck like it was his own. He'd be parked behind his drum kit sporting maybe one of his homemade hats, or at the very least a smile.

That's Austin and that's what the readers of the Chronicle want to see, not some overpaid yuppie whose ego doesn't need any more swelling. Of course, what do I know?

Chris Bash

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Don't Insult Jim Morrison

Editor:

Please tell Raoul Hernandez ["Live Shots," July 20] that saying "[Billy] Idol gives good Jim Morrison" is, to this Morrison fan, blasphemy. Idol gives good Idol; only Morrison gave good Morrison. Someone should tell Manzarek that, too.

Thanks,

Christine Anderson

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The Sound and the Fury

Editor:

I would like to comment on Barry Pineo's review of Will Rogers Follies ["Exhibitionism," July 20] regarding the sound. Although the audio equipment must operate under extreme conditions, nor am I immune from making mistakes, to say that the sound "almost never works" is an exaggeration. When considering the heat, sweat, and ambient environmental noise that I must overcome, I've been pleased with the technical results. I am not aware of any audience complaints.

I am curious how much Barry contributed financially at intermission that might help Zilker Theatre Productions update their aging equipment. He could have pointed out in his review what many audience members do not realize, and that is: a significant percentage of ZTP funding comes from hillside donations. Even though many elements determine the quality of our productions, funding is essential.

Maybe next time Pineo reviews a show, he should pay more attention to the performance instead of contemplating what an asshole he is! Will Rogers said, "Never met a man I didn't like" but Barry Pineo hadn't been born yet.

Bill Mester

Sound design/board op

Zilker Theatre Productions

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Jeff Whittington Memorial Fund

Editor:

We read Editor Louis Black's remembrances of Jeff Whittington ["Page Two," July 20], and got a better understanding of what a special person he was. We've never met Jeff, but are friends of his parents, Harold and Nil Whittington of Temple. Harold and Nil also think Jeff was uniquely talented, creative, and a good friend to many people.

We thought your readers would like to know that a memorial fund has been set up for Jeff at the Contemporary Arts Center, 3011 N. Third St., Temple, TX 76501.

Thank you

David and Linda Domelsmith

Temple

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Defining Piracy

Editor:

In the July 13 edition there was a review of books about women pirates ["Pirate Jane"]. The author cited two women of the ancient world, Queen Tomyris and "Queen" Artemisia. The author states that Queen Tomyris defeated Cyrus the Great and beheaded him in a naval battle on the Volya River. She also states that "Queen" Artemisia defeated King Xerxes "Greek" Navy at the straits of Salamis. Both of these stories are completely inaccurate.

Queen Tomyris was Queen of the Massagetae, a people that lived Northeast of Persia. She did defeat Cyrus the Great, but it was a massive land battle. Cyrus was killed in the battle but he was not beheaded. Neither army had a naval contingent, The Volga River is approximately 1,000 miles from the battlefield.

Queen Artemisia was the queen of the Greek city of Halicarnassus in Asia Minor, which was then a part of the Persian Empire. She commanded a naval contingent of Greeks from Asia Minor, which was part of the Persian King Xerxes' Navy. As such, she took part in the Persian invasion of Greece. The main part of the Persian fleet was Phoenician, Egyptian, and Cypriot. All of these nations then being part of Persian Empire. The Greek Navy defeated the much larger Persian Navy at the straits of Salamis, thereby forcing the Persian Army to eventually retreat from Greece.

Neither of these incidents can be called piracy because they were conflicts between sovereign states.

My sources are History of the Persian Empire by A.T. Olmstead and The Hisfooces by Heradotus.

Alan Pearl

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The Aggravations of Neighborhood Associations

Editor:

Scott Barnes is correct in asserting that the rapid growth Austin has experienced in the last 10 years has made it difficult to maintain the quality of life Austin has been known for ["Postmarks: The Cost of Big Business Incentives," July 20]. Barnes is also is correct in pointing out that neighborhood associations could play a vital role in helping to manage the development and redevelopment of the urban core in such a way as to maintain and perhaps even vastly improve the quality of life in our community. Unfortunately, the evidence to date suggests that, rather than taking the lead making progressive steps toward mitigating the negative effects of growth, neighborhood associations have exclusively worked to prevent any change in the status quo, largely by using dangerously out-of-date zoning codes as a cudgel to beat progressive and creative developers over the head until they give up in defeat and add to the urban sprawl by building out in the ETJ where no one will bother them. Of course when this happens, everyone in Austin loses, as the VMT (vehicle miles traveled) increases, the air quality degrades, and the pristine natural beauty that once surrounded the city gives way to concrete and asphalt.

Picture a city with lots of affordable housing, with sufficient density to support local amenities so that many activities can be undertaken as a pedestrian, but still, with lots of trees. Picture a city with pristine hill country to the west, and fertile, rich farms and industrial centers to the east. Picture a city with lots of revenue, good schools, and a public transportation system so developed that everyone relies on it. No more school buses and no more traffic jams. Picture clean air and a healthy community. This is the vision some of us have for Austin, and we invite the neighborhood associations to join us in this vision.

Patrick Goetz