Headlines / Quote of the Week
Fri., March 28, 2025
Election Forthcoming: We’ve got an election coming up in Travis County May 3, dealing with some issues in Austin suburbs and the formation of municipal utility districts in the area. If you aren’t registered to vote, the deadline to register for this election is Thursday, April 3. Early voting begins Tuesday, April 22. You can look at a sample ballot right now at votetravis.gov.
Whoops, Dropped My War Plans: The Trump administration is continuing to spin the accidental release of top secret war plans to a journalist in a group chat last week. On Monday, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed that he obtained details of an attack against Houthi militia in Yemen from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth two hours before the attack began. “The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing,” Goldberg wrote. Hegseth initially accused Goldberg of lying. Trump called him a sleazeball. Now, administration officials have settled on a “nothing to see here” approach.
SCOTUS with the Mostest Power: Trump is running to the Supreme Court in his efforts to summarily fire thousands of federal employees. Attorneys from his administration asked the court on Monday to block a ruling from a California judge which reinstated employment for more than 16,000 fired workers. The New York Times describes the ruling as one of over 40 restraining orders issued by federal judges nationwide against various Trump efforts in the last two months.
Tesla Attacks: As the seemingly unconstitutionally appointed leader of the seemingly unconstitutionally created Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk has had a direct hand in the firings. And people are pissed. Protests have surged outside Tesla dealerships around the world, including here in Austin. This week, the APD’s Bomb Squad was called to a dealership on North Highway 183 after a suspicious device was spotted. APD removed the device, saying it was intended to start a fire. The FBI is asking the public to be vigilant.
Evictions on the Rise: Travis County landlords filed more eviction suits last year than they have since 2014, according to a report by BASTA. Last year’s 13,209 evictions represent an increase of 25% from the previous year. KUT reports that the increased eviction filings come as lawmakers consider HB 32, a bill which would reduce the rights renters currently have in the eviction process, allowing landlords to evict them within 10 days of filing suit.
Hail Scaling Up: For some longtime Central Texas residents, it feels like thunderstorms these days more often include hail. Hailstones, some as large as baseballs, fell across Central Texas Monday night, breaking windshields and blanketing some areas in an eerie mist. KUT reports that insurance agents have paid out more claims on account of hail in recent years and that scientists are studying the connection between more frequent hailstorms and global warming.
Glass Houses: Briscoe Cain might be jealous of Austin. The Republican representative’s HB 274, which would have created a “District of Austin” to give state lawmakers control over our city’s affairs, is going nowhere. It did get a committee hearing last week, however, with Cain opining that Austin has proven incapable of governing itself, citing a perceived spike in crime. Dallas Rep. Rafael Anchía pointed out that crime stats in Deer Park, represented by Cain, are higher than Austin’s. “There’s a parable in the Bible about a glass house and throwing stones,” Anchía said. “And I’d ask you to reflect.” The bill died in the House Wednesday.
Lists of Trans Texans: Why is the Department of Public Safety collecting the names of transgender Texans who have changed the sex listed on their IDs? KUT obtained internal documents showing that DPS employees have been collecting the information of drivers who request gender changes and sending it to an email address created for the data. The collection comes as state Republicans are considering HB 2549, which would require that all state-issued IDs list an individual’s sex as determined at birth, erasing legal recognition of gender transitions. UT-Austin’s Lauren Gutterman told the Chronicle last week that such measures remind her of Nazi Germany and put transgender Texans at risk for violence.
Keeping Art Local: Excluding local artists from big community decisions is a problem? This is the first we’ve heard of it. But maybe yes, as the city has pulled consideration of three public art projects at the Austin-Bergstrom airport after concerns from Council members that they would be executed by non-locals. “I’d like to encourage staff to get creative on how we can engage with local artists at this specific phase of the expansion program,” Council Member Vanessa Fuentes wrote of the artistic contretemps.
Protesting Anti-Queer Legislation: Texans rallied for LGBTQ rights on Monday at the Capitol, protesting over 200 anti-queer bills filed by Republican lawmakers at this year’s legislative session. Activists with advocacy organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, Lambda Legal, the Texas Freedom Network, and Black Freedom Factory spoke at the “All in for Equality Advocacy Day” and Austin drag artist Brigitte Bandit led cheers. Morgan H. Davis, a transgender man who resigned his state job rather than obey an order to investigate the parents of transgender kids, told the crowd that it is these Texans who are most at risk right now, but also encouraged them, saying, “You are the light. You are the ones that are going to win.”
Seeing Trans Texans: Speaking of rallies, a Trans Day of Visibility Rally will be held on Monday from 2:30pm to 5:30pm on the south steps of the Capitol building. “In a time when transgender rights are under assault by the federal and many state governments, it is essential for us to be heard, for us to be seen,” said organizer Melody Tremallo. “To show the world we’re just people, with hopes and dreams, just like everyone else.”
That’ll Do It: The Dallas-based Stream Realty is moving forward with the revamp of Dirty Sixth (which they would like us to call Old Sixth, but good luck). Their approach is to preserve historic buildings rather than bring in new construction. Meanwhile, keeping pedestrians out of the road has seemingly had a positive effect, as the Austin Police Department released data showing fewer instances of violent crime. The Austin Monitor interviewed preservationists this week who expressed approval for the new direction for the Sixth Street overhaul.
Quote of the Week
“You all know we got Gov. Hot Wheels down there. Come on, now. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot-ass mess, honey.”
– Rep. Jasmine Crockett speaking about Greg Abbott while addressing the Human Rights Campaign event
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