Naked City

One or more activists with an artistic bent turned this U.S. Marine Corps recruiting billboard on Riverside Drive into an anti-war statement last week. The altered billboard didn't last long -- an employee of Reagan National Advertising pretty quickly covered it up with an ad for the Air Force Reserves. (Photo By Stefan Wray)

Quote of the Week: "They got captured by the Democratic National Committee blowing smoke up their rears and telling them what great Americans they were. So now they've gone from making a statement to 'doing the right thing.' They think they are Rosa Parks II." -- The always sensitive Dave Beckwith, spokescreature for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, giving his take on the Senate Dems' inconveniently successful walkout.

The New Mexican Standoff continues at press time; after being turned down flat by the Texas Supreme Court, GOP leaders -- after a secret (and likely illegal) meeting of the rump Senate -- imposed fines on the Texas 11 to "compel" their return to Austin to submit to re-redistricting. On Saturday, more than 5,000 citizens braved record heat to rally against Perrymandering at the Capitol. See p.18.

At City Council, the budget battle got pretty hot, pretty fast last week, as dozens of Austin firefighters expressed their displeasure with the department's "squad/quint" restructuring plan. See p.22. On tap this week -- community services, including social-service contracts, parks, and libraries, are all facing big cuts. Budget briefings are today at 2pm; public hearings begin at 6pm.