Naked City
News briefs from Austin, the region, and beyond
Fri., Nov. 14, 2008
When Your PC Needs a PI
When do computer repairmen become criminal investigators? It may seem like a strange thing to ask, but the Institute for Justice has condemned the state's Private Security Bureau for failing to answer that very question at its meeting last month. A year earlier, in October 2007, the bureau handed down an interpretation of last session's House Bill 2833, writing that "computer repair or support services should be aware that if they offer to perform investigative services, such as assisting a customer with solving a computer-related crime, they must be licensed as investigators." Since then, computer repair firms have been left wondering if they must have licensed private investigators on staff ("Computer Crash? Call a PI!" July 4). The bureau's board tabled a discussion of the language at its July 23 meeting, putting the decision off until October, when they again declined to alter the interpretation. Institute for Justice Executive Director Matt Miller, who is also lead attorney for a group of repair firms suing the state for what they say is poorly defined legislation written by PI industry lobbyists, said they're "disappointed" by the continuing failure to clarify the rules. – Richard Whittaker
Gender Inequity at UT
A report released last week by the University of Texas Gender Equity Task Force found that female professors make, on average, roughly $9,000 less a year than their male counterparts, with a gap of around $4,500 for non-tenure-track faculty. The report also identified inequity in other areas, including hiring practices, professional climate, and leadership. The task force cited a 2006 study by the American Association of University Professors, which placed UT second to last out of 12 peer institutions ranked according to the percentage of tenured female professors. The task force conducted a survey that found 14% of female faculty felt they had been sexually harassed. The report noted that much of the inequity stems from a "leadership gap." Female professors hold only 9% of endowed chair positions, while female professors make up 19% of the faculty. Department chairs allocate resources and are a powerful voice in hiring, promotion, and salary decisions. The report recommends that the university develop a five-to-10-year plan to reduce or eliminate gender inequity. – Justin Ward
Bye Bye, Biodiesel
As of last month, diesel car and truck drivers can no longer fill up with 100% biodiesel at Junior's Beer and Wine, near UT campus on 29th Street. Thanks to city code violations – discovered following complaints by a neighbor said to be long averse to the beer-centric business – Junior's tank and pump have disappeared, along with the roughly 2,000 gallons of biofuel they sold per month. Capt. Jeff Solomon of the Austin Fire Department said Junior's tank lacked the secondary containment unit, proper ventilation, and steel bumpers required by city codes, which he said are based on internationally accepted fire regulations for biodiesel (though biodiesel boosters argue that because the fuel is less dangerous than petrol, the codes need not be so strict). A fuel tank must also sit 15 feet from any building and five feet from the property line – impossible in Junior's awkward-shaped lot, said owner Mark Boyden. That, coupled with the estimated $3,000 needed to make the changes, drove Boyden to simply remove the tank. "There's no way I could afford to make that kind of investment," he said. Austin's only biodiesel retail location for 100% biodiesel is now Eco-Wise, at 110 W. Elizabeth near South Congress. – Daniel Mottola
No KLRU2 for You!
In a move sure to irritate public broadcasting fans, Time Warner Cable last week dumped KLRU2 from Channel 20 on its lineup. The sister channel to KLRU is still available on Channel 255 for anyone paying for Time Warner's digital service. The move was made to free bandwidth for more HD channels, according to Stacy Schmitt, Time Warner vice president of public affairs. "We're providing our customers with what they want, and that is more high-definition channels," she said. Cable companies around the country are migrating channels to their digital tiers, a strategy widely interpreted by consumer advocates as an attempt to prod people toward high-end services. KLRU2, which is exclusive to Time Warner, generally broadcasts repeats of programs that aired on KLRU, as well as a few national shows. For viewers, it primarily provides an opportunity to catch shows easily missed in the lineup of the main channel. KLRU General Manager Bill Stotesbery says he is "disappointed" by Time Warner's decision. He first learned about it when a staffer read about it on Time Warner's website. – Kevin Brass
Duncan's Rising Star
General Manager Roger Duncan of Austin Energy has joined the board of the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C., coalition that advances energy-efficiency initiatives through public-private partnerships. Duncan was selected to sit on the board with the CEOs of Pacific Gas & Electric, Duke Energy, Southern California Edison, and the Edison Electric Institute, said the ASE board, because he is "recognized globally as a driving force for energy efficiency and clean energy." Duncan already sits on the State Energy Advisory Board – to which he was named by Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman – where he advises the feds on state energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. – K.G.
Settlement Approved in APD Shooting
On Nov. 6, City Council approved a $1 million settlement with the family of Kevin Brown, who was fatally shot by Austin Police Department Sgt. Michael Olsen on June 3, 2007. Brown died from two gunshot wounds to the back, fired by Olsen in the courtyard of an East Austin apartment complex after a short foot chase that began in the parking lot of the now-defunct Chester's Nightclub. Olsen had been alerted to the possibility that Brown was carrying a concealed weapon. When Olsen confronted Brown, he ran. A gun was found approximately 30 feet from Brown's body (for more, see "The Journey of a Gun," Oct. 5, 2007). APD Chief Art Acevedo concluded that the shooting was "avoidable" and fired Olsen. Olsen appealed his termination to the Civil Service Commission but lost. Reportedly, an additional $500,000 payment to an heir of Brown's is still possible, pending the results of a paternity test. – Jordan Smith
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