There’s been so much post-election panic in the air focused on Trump’s America, it’s perhaps too conveniently easy to forget that we have our own state government circus coming to town in a scant six weeks. As usual, Texas’ state legislators have even more heinous things in mind for us than do their national counterparts; but on the other hand, there may be more openings for progressive policies to take hold at the state level, as urban influence grows, and as, for instance, problems with our health care and school finance systems become ever more urgent.
So, once you get past Thanksgiving, and Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday, perhaps block out four days next week for a pair of two-day conferences presenting different takes on a legislative preview.
The 2016 Dare Texas Summit, presented by the Center for Public Policy Priorities next Wed-Thu., Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the Hyatt Regency, 208 Barton Springs Rd., is “the place to connect with allies and share policy solutions ahead of the Texas Legislative session.” There’s a wide variety of panels, in a number of tracks: Health and Wellness, Economic Opportunity, Education, Invest in Texas, and “And beyond” – and an impressive lineup of speakers including several levels of Texas lawmakers, plus a closing plenary address by Mark McKinnon, political operative and co-founder/co-host of The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth, speaking about the craziness that was Election 2016. The $250 registration fee will help support CPPP’s excellent work. Check out the full schedule and speaker list at www.cppp.org/daretexas.
City Summit 2016, presented by Glasshouse Policy and the Austin Monitor, and sponsored by Downtown Austin Alliance, is a two-day summit, Fri.-Sat., Dec. 2-3 at Google Fiber Space, (201 Colorado) that intends to preview the legislative session from a city’s perspective, exploring the often contentious relationship between the state of Texas and the cities within it. There are currently five panels announced: groundwater regulation, rural broadband access, public school finance, annexation policy (with Sarah Eckhardt and Don Zimmerman!), and land development issues, specifically regarding sales of surplus state land (such as the Grove, the Triangle, and perhaps someday the Austin State Hospital grounds). $15 per day, or $25 both days. www.atxsummit.com
Anthropos Arts is a great local organization, connecting at-risk youth with local, professional musicians for mentorship and musical instruction – with a long track record of successes getting kids graduated from high school, and moved on to music scholarships, and music careers. #GivingBluesday is a special benefit event for them on Tue., Nov. 29, at the Antone’s upstairs space, 305 E. Fifth, to celebrate the annual philanthropy day. A $30 ticket includes food from House Park BBQ, specialty cocktails, music from Rooney Pitchford, a silent auction, and the raffling of a very cool-looking mosaic mirror Barcelona guitar, created by Austin artist Shanny Lott, a replica of the Gibson art guitars that were placed around Austin in 2010. More info and advance tickets at www.betterunite.com/givingtuesday.
This article appears in November 25 • 2016.