• Can’t we all just get along? Ten prominent Hispanic citizens made their displeasure with City Manager Marc Ott public last week, inspiring much hand-wringing, hemming, hawing, and odes to “diversity”; see “City Hall Hustle,” and “City Hall Firestorm.”
• After a logjam of a meeting last week, City Council is backed up again this week, taking up decisions on Austin Energy‘s wood-burning biomass plant (see “AE Defends Biomass Plant“), the Oak Hill Neighborhood Plan, and an ordinance putting teeth in local campaign finance laws.
• A crazy week for Capital Metro: A major route overhaul was implemented, the board confirmed that increased fares will take effect Oct. 13, and the potential for a bus driver strike loomed. See “Bus Drivers Back at the Table.”
• The Democratic National Convention closes today (Thursday) with Barack Obama’s acceptance speech. The Republican Convention begins Sept. 1 in Minneapolis, home to Sen. Larry Craig’s men’s room shenanigans. Tap, tap!
• Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney and independent Ralph Nader have submitted their paperwork to be included as write-in presidential candidates. (You have to file to be a write-in? Only in Texas.)
Quote of the Week
“All of us [are] driven by the simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do, that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.” – Michelle Obama, addressing the Democratic National Convention
This article appears in August 29 • 2008.