Beside the Point

Brewster's brewing a whole new role for himself

"...The slow summertime blues at City Hall – Council doesn't..."

July 18, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

City's chief information officer avoids indictment, but his firing is still a mystery

"...possible and vague "misuse of city resources." But if the unprecedented amount of axe-grinding comment-trolls populating the Statesman's reporting..."

July 11, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Making a bonfire out of a campfire

"...Of all the indignities newly resigned Director of Com­mun­ications Acuña suffered in..."

June 27, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Another Futrell protégé leaves City Hall

"...Send the robocalls to voice mail, and stuff the mailers where..."

May 9, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

It's nickel-and-dime time at City Hall

"...At the Chronicle's press time Wed­nes­day, City Council was wrapping up..."

April 25, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Spring fever: Council members' minds adrift

"...Banging this column out a couple of hours before the Chronicle's initial round of City Council endorsement meetings, BTP..."

April 4, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Pollen count moves up as sales-tax receipts slide

"...springtime's bright, high haze wasn't distracting enough, here in the Live Oak Capital of the World, there's always enough..."

March 28, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Gentlemen's agreements, single-member districts, and more

"...One of the tortured arguments during the bloodletting over single-member districts at..."

March 7, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Single-member districts proposal shoehorned into discussion and vote, barely in advance of city's election-setting deadline

"...The Feb. 19 memo from City Attorney David Smith rescheduling..."

Feb. 29, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Futrell's City Hall reign comes to a quiet end, while council thinks "affordable" Downtown

"...This is the way the Tobyocracy ends...."

Feb. 22, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Marc Ott takes over as city manager, and BTP sends a fond farewell

"...– it'll be a regular Lonely Hearts Club in the City Council chambers. Many a city staffer – not..."

Feb. 15, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Zoning and development action doesn't come any hotter and heavier than last week's City Council meeting.

"...who salivate in salacious anticipation of my esteemed colleague Katherine Gregor's latest low-down treatise on building up, the zoning..."

Feb. 8, 2008 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

What awaits council under the tree

"...Once the stockings are unstuffed and the wrapping paper's swept away,..."

Dec. 28, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside The Point

Solicitation Ordinance changes/expansions off the table, at least for now

"...of discussion, protest, and one exceedingly painful public hearing, the abominable expansion of the Solicitation Ordinance has melted away?..."

Dec. 14, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside The Point

City Council racing to get tasks done before end of year

"...Think you're rushed with the holidays approaching? Consider the busy shoppers at City Council,..."

Dec. 7, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Council on deck to approve slip-n-slide water deal with LCRA

"...know your toilet time is primo), I must recognize the powers of the platform afforded me. Not that markets..."

Nov. 9, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Disneyland has its civic virtues

"...what you're thinking: Coming off a two-week absence, doesn't the voice of "BTP" owe his dozens of readers an..."

Nov. 2, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

The politics of panhandling

"...scant seven City Council sessions before year's end and then elections in 2008, everybody's feeling a little needy. Neighborhoods..."

Oct. 5, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

The budget passes, and the feathers fly

"...It gets said a lot, but it bears repeating: The City Council meeting adopting the $2.5 billion fiscal year..."

Sept. 14, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Council sharpens its pencil before tackling public safety budget

"...Reading the city manager's executive summary of the fiscal year 2008..."

Aug. 24, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

If it's August, it must be budget-making time at City Hall

"...Town Lake didn't roil with blood, and the solar panels atop City Hall didn't turn as black..."

Aug. 3, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Can council seize the reins at City Hall?

"...Afghanistan's beleaguered citizenry as he was with Austin's at the peak of his popularity – just think how long..."

July 20, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

A weird week at City Council

"...You'd be excused last week if you thought the water at City Hall had been dosed with something..."

June 29, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

The budget circus rolls into town

"...Hall's Night of a Thousand Czars! Thrill! to a PowerPoint presentation so great, it requires not one! – not..."

June 15, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

With only one meeting to go until summer break, City Council should be mob scene

"...borderline heresy, but BTP's never cared too much for The Sopranos. While the production values, verisimilitude, and leisurely pacing..."

June 8, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

We know what won't be going in at Webberville ... at least for now

"...They don't know what's going to go there, but they..."

May 25, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Going where no analogy has gone before ...

"...Watching Toby Futrell's now-notorious Star Trek analogy in the midst of City Council's turbulent financial forecast last week,..."

May 11, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

Just one word: canvas

"...turn a joke. City Council discussing water conservation? Work the toilet angle while they wax crapper. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs..."

April 20, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

If this was a good year, what's a bad one look like?

"...In the laudatory welter of adulation that was City Manager Toby..."

April 13, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Beside the Point

City Council is showing classic old reruns this week

"...week-old break-room doughnuts and generally far more heinous than the crimes they depict. See CSI: Miami pulling David Caruso..."

April 6, 2007 News Column by Wells Dunbar

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