Beside the Point
City Council takes action on Spring condos, and another homelessness ordinance
By Wells Dunbar, Fri., Nov. 25, 2005
Many in chambers left after Spring's approval, popping corks on "not affordable, but more affordable" champagne bottles, no doubt. They missed approval of Lee Leffingwell's ban on coal-tar based pavement products, which passed despite industry opposition, as well as the final public input on the city's homeless ordinances. With more than 300 people signed in (but most not wishing to speak), a concern of those in opposition was how the ordinances (specifically solicitation) would affect Austin's day labor community. Earlier that evening, before speaking against the amendments, House the Homeless President Richard Troxell was honored by council, it being National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and all. Furthering the surreality, Troxell was preceded by a proclamation designating it Spaghetti Warehouse day. Honoring the longtime Warehouse District fixture, the mayor said his children loved dining at their centerpiece trolley car. Solution: Let the homeless into the San Franciscan-themed eatery; call it Kerouacland.
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