Naked City

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport unveiled a statue of the late Rep. Barbara Jordan on Nov. 15, in the terminal that also bears her name. Jordan was the first black woman to break through many societal barriers, including the first in the Texas Senate and the first to represent Texas in the United States Congress. The statue, located in the baggage claim area, was sculpted by California artist Bruce Wolfe. The ceremony featured Austin American-Statesman columnist Dave McNeely reading comments from famed PBS journalist Jim Lehrer, who was unable to attend due to illness. It also featured music by the Barbara Jordan Elementary School choir and Conspirare and was attended by Jordan's sister Rosemary McGowan and Jordan's partner Nancy Earl. (Photo By Jana Birchum)

Quote of the Week: "Many terrorists are now being interrogated. Many terrorists have been killed. We've liberated a country. We recognize our greatest security is found in the relentless pursuit of these cold-blooded killers." -- President Bush, as he signed the Homeland Security Act.

Young Jenna and Barbara Bush turned 21 this week and presumably threw away their fake IDs. The twins celebrated in an undisclosed location.

The Mayor's Task Force on the Economy presented its initial report and recommendations for jump-starting local business while keeping Austin weird (see below and "Austin@Large").

In a bit of rare good business news -- at least for us -- Temple-Inland announced it's consolidating its paper-products division and relocating several hundred employees to Austin.

U.S. Courthouse, The Sequel: The General Services Administration is looking to the southwest part of Downtown -- not the northeast, as local leaders had hoped -- for a site for the planned federal facility. Options for the GSA now include the Intel building and the proposed Whole Foods Market HQ site. The feds expect to decide by March.

The city Historic Landmark Commission has recommended historic zoning for 3810 Speedway, the former A&P neighborhood grocery now owned by Hyde Park Baptist Church, which (of course) wants to demolish the building against the neighbors' wishes. Next stop: Planning Commission.

No council meeting this week, but the Dec. 5 agenda already promises plenty o' fireworks, with a public hearing on the proposed noise ordinance (see "Dancing About Architecture") taking center stage.

Stealth U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft passed invisibly through town Saturday as the "keynote speaker" for a Driskill Hotel meeting of the board of directors of the National District Attorneys Assoc. He reportedly spoke about "security," "crime," and "terrorism" before the 98-member DAA board, most of whom are said to be "elected" officials.