In Lakeway
May 7 Council election
Let’s Make Lakeway Even Better!
Nina4Lakeway! Check out my WEBSITE: https://www.nina4lakeway.com/ and my FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/Nina4Lakeway
SIGNS are going up, BIG roadside signs and yard signs. If you want a yard sign delivered, let me know nina4lakeway@gmail.com
Donations are gratefully accepted; they will help me win a seat in this crowded election.
–Venmo: use @Nina4Lakeway
–PayPal: There is a PayPal button on the campaign website (link above).
–Check: Make it out to Nina Davis Campaign Fund and contact me for the mailing address or to have it picked up.
Here is a brand new POLICY POSITION for my campaign—it isn’t even on my campaign site yet. (Full details on the development proposal are below under Special Joint City Council & Zoning & Planning Commission Meeting.)
The Stratus proposal to (finally) complete The Oaks and connect Main Street
In my opinion, rejecting the proposal would be a financial disaster and a transportation nightmare for Lakeway.
Anyone worried about the density of this development needs to realize that far worse has already been approved and is on the way for that area. Rejecting this proposal on density grounds would do no good. But, it would do a great deal of harm–we would lose Main Street.
I’m not happy about it, but (based on what is known now) I think Lakeway should take the deal. BUT, don’t bother pretending it is a great development or that residents favor it. Admit that it is extortion by Stratus, enabled by the gross mismanagement of past administrations, such that we are stuck with numerous dense projects AND we now have no good options to get Main Street connected. If the city builds that segment of Main Street and the bridge, the cost for engineering and construction is estimated at $5MIL. Sure, the city could sue Stratus, but litigation is never the quick, simple or cheap way to get results.
Before signing anything, the city should at least try to negotiate and improve the development. Items really needed include reducing the number of apartments as needed so that the buildings are 3-story and NOT 4-story, more workforce housing (15-25% instead of the paltry 5% offered), moving the townhouses to the apartment side so the park is a full 16 acres, generous parking areas so everyone can use the park, and a trolley to connect that entire area to The Square at Lohmans above and The Oaks shopping area below.
The documentation must be airtight as to the timeline for start and completion of the road, with heavy fines if violated. Also, make it clear that no additional variances will be approved down the line, so Stratus doesn’t nickel and dime the city to death like Legend Communities habitually does.
For complete info and to see how I came to this conclusion, read the material below under Special Joint City Council & Zoning & Planning Commission Meeting.
Town Hall Series
The City is hosting a series of Town Halls with City Manager Julie Oakley. Four meetings are planned for 2022, and the first will be on Thursday, Feb. 17, 5:30-6:30PM, at City Hall. The discussion with CM Oakley and various city staff members will cover local development, along with permits, code compliance and other aspects of the building & development services department. The event can be watched online here– https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Fun Run/Walk for Animals
Texas Animal Fund is hosting a Fun Run/Walk at Lakeway City Park on Feb. 26. Funds raised will benefit a spay/neuter program in the Rio Grande Valley, where the level of unaltered cats and dogs is critical. Go here for details and to register to participate or sign up as a volunteer: https://www.texasanimalfund.org
Lake Travis Community Library DELIVERS
The library offers a Monthly Home Delivery service. Patrons who are unable to visit the library or bookmobile due to diminished mobility can pick favorite authors with current titles, and they will be delivered by a volunteer. If you or someone you know needs this service, call at (512) 263-2885 for details and sign-up.
Special Joint City Council & Zoning & Planning Commission Meeting held Feb. 9.
Starting with some history, Stratus developed the commercial part of The Oaks (HEB and the rest) back in 2015, then ignored the residential portion of the project, as well as failing to build Main Street heading toward Lohmans. For over a year now, the city has strongly urged Stratus to complete the project, Main Street in particular.
The meeting was informative, yet incredibly frustrating. Here are the highlights:
–For the 24-acre tract (sitting between HEB and Legend’s very dense City Center development approved in 2021) the NEW PROPOSAL is for 261 multifamily units (1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, with amenities) in 5 buildings up to 4 stories high, on the Birrell side of Main Street, plus 28 townhouses (2 or 3 stories) and a 14-acre park on the Rolling Green side of Main Street. With a total of 289 units, that comes to 12 units per acre (which is medium density).
–Compare this to what was approved in the Stratus PUD back in 2014—100 patio homes, a 200-room 5-story hotel, and assorted tidbits no one recalls at this point (but NO PARK). That comes to 300 units on 24 acres—slightly MORE dense than the new proposal.
–As to dense development, the City Manager showed a drawing of ALL the developments in the Lohmans/Main Street area. Several of them—some built, others on the way, and a few likely dead on the vine—were already approved with more dense housing than 12 units per acre. Looking at that patchwork of disjointed city planning over the last decade should make us all weep.
–Stratus has zero interest in building the patio homes and hotel, so unless the city agrees to changes, nothing will happen—just like nothing has happened since HEB and The Oaks were allowed to open without adequate roadways to handle the traffic. That includes Main Street; thanks to mishandling by city officials back in 2014-15, the legal document requiring Stratus to build the road WAS NOT SIGNED.
–The Main Street segment on this tract goes over a creek. Turns out the area is environmentally sensitive. So, traditional bridge construction with pilings in the creek bed would require state and federal environmental review; that equals YEARS of delay in building the bridge and the road. The solution is $$$$$. It will cost roughly an additional $1.8 Mil to build the bridge spanning 140 feet over the creek, bringing the cost to build the bridge up to $3.1 Mil. Stratus says the 26 townhomes are needed to pay for the extra cost to build the bridge without triggering environmental concerns and delays.
–Stratus indicated that, once agreement is reached and the PUD changes are approved, it could complete the fancy bridge and its segment of a 4-lane Main Street in about 1 year. After that, building of the rest of the development would commence. Legend is committed to completing its segment of Main Street by November of 2023. The long-threatened widening of 620 through Lakeway remains an ominous cloud over the city, with no hard timeline.
And these are my primary concerns:
–The Stratus rep was vague and inaccurate, corrected multiple times by officials and city staff on many different points. To every suggestion, he sort of agreed, even when he should have said “No.” That is never good…. Overall, my impression was the proposal isn’t very serious, and I question if Status would really move forward promptly, if the city agreed. Is this just another delaying tactic, trying to keep the city from suing? The PUD Committee has been working with Stratus for a long time now, so they are in the best position to judge. But, if Stratus is screwing around, then the city needs to cut bait, build the bridge and the road, and then sue Stratus to recoup some of the cost.
–The city needs to be SURE Stratus is right about the bridge issue and capable of building it without triggering environmental concerns and resulting delays.
–The city must nail Stratus down to a timeline for start and completion of Main Street, with heavy and enforceable fines if dates are missed. The same goes for the bridge issue.
–I’m happy to see high-end apartments in the center of town. Seniors downsizing or escaping yard work, as well as newcomers to town, need that option. Plus, residents sick of paying high property taxes will have a local apartment alternative.
–Stratus agreed to 5% of the apartments being in some form of work-force/affordable housing program. That is only 13 units, which is ridiculous. The city should negotiate that up to 10% or 20%. Our business owners are unable to hire restaurant and retail workers, due to the lack of housing awful commute, and Lakeway will benefit if our teachers, first responders and medical workers are able to live in our community.
–As far as traffic—who can really say at this point? A traffic study will be done. People living in this development may well drive less, due to the nearly amenities. That is doubly true for those who also work here; they will no longer be commuting. The graphic showing the many dense development already approved in the area—Legend’s Square on Lohmans and all the rest—makes it clear that Lakeway officials have been approving dense development for decades. Hitting the brakes now—and sacrificing Main Street—might be emotionally satisfying, but is it logical?
–Walkability was mentioned a lot, but walking is feasible here for less than half the year. Have Stratus look into running a trolley, looping from HEB, past the park, up between the apartments and the town homes, and even connecting to Legend’s mess above.
— I REALLY want that park, for all of us. Residents are always asking for more green space and natural areas, for public use and as breathing room for our wildlife. Well, this would be 12 acres of it, right in the center of town, including a gorgeous pond. And surely the park would be a boon to the homes on neighboring Rolling Green, who have long fought building next to them. BUT, generous parking areas, along Main Street and down at the bottom on the park must be added, so people from all over town can use it.
In the end, there was no vote, as this was just a work session. Council agreed city staff should continue working with the developer with an eye to moving forward, also working on communicating all this to residents and gathering feedback. As always, I urge people to watch the meeting and form their own opinions. https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/154254
Texas elections
Early voting is Feb. 14-25 for the March 1 PRIMARY RACES. Dems and Reps choose candidates to face off in November for congressional and legislative offices, plus State Board of Education and judicial seats. Feb. 18 is the last day to apply to vote by mail in this election.
Lakeway’s early voting location is Lake Travis ISD Educational Development Center, 607 Ranch Road 620 North; this is near Kollmeyer and Lake Travis Elementary School But, you can vote at ANY early voting location in Travis County. Go here to see your ballot and get answers to all your election questions: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/17/texas-primary-election-2022-voter-guide/?mc_cid=96c4eebded&mc_eid=fc281ae7cc
This 7-minute video covers the 3 Republicans trying to beat Ken Paxton in the March primary for Attorney General, by hammering Paxton as unfit to serve due to the multiple federal indictments pending against him for many years now. Watch: Embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton fights for political life in GOP primary 2/4/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/03/ken-paxton-attorney-general-primary-texas/
Daring Mighty Things
NASA scientists have started the 7-phase alignment process on the Webb telescope, now orbiting Earth 1 million miles out. Estimates put operational status at late summer. The alignment of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has begun 2/3/22 https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-alignment-begins
Back to me….
Running for Council is definitely interesting—as in the Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times.
Just in case I am not the LAST person on the planet to stumble onto Wordle, give it a try. (It is a good thing there is only 1 word per day, or I would get NOTHING done). https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html
Loving the figure skating at The Olympics. Nathan Chen’s blowout win was sweet redemption! Watch his awesome long program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zVL9WY3dUw The latest Russian doping scandal is shocking but not really a surprise; Russia is currently banned from international competition due to widespread state-sponsored doping scheme at the 2014 Olympics. However, Russian athletes are allowed to compete if they prove they are drug-free. Clearly, some Russian athletes are finding ways to compete with drugs on board. Figure skating has long been rife with bizarre doings, from Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan’s whacked knee in 1994, through MANY sexual abuse allegations, to the judging scandal in 2002 that resulted in gold medals awarded to TWO teams in the pairs competition.
Here’s a good book I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):
Robert B. Parker’s Bye Bye Baby, by Ace Atkins (2022)—This is the 8th book in Atkins’ continuation of Parker’s excellent Spenser detective series. The first few books were a bit rocky, but Atkins has broken the code; in this one, he even got Hawk pitch-perfect. I really needed some comfort fiction, and this book was perfect.
Our deer herd is happy and healthy. Here are some recent photos.
The Coronavirus
Worldwide, reported Covid-10 cases soared past the 400 million mark last week.
Countries are on wildly different paths now, some deep in the worst throes of Omicron infections and deaths, but others rushing to declare themselves done with the pandemic.
Poland’s Omicron surge is just beginning, with new cases skyrocketing; the country has only vaccinated 57% of the population, the lowest rate in Europe. During the last 2 weeks, Iran reported new cases doubling every 24 hours; as of Feb. 4, half of its 290-member Parliament had Covid. Since early February, Turkey has had record daily case numbers, with soaring deaths as well; Turkey’s president announced Feb. 5 that he and his family had Omicron. Russia has reported new cases at record levels for weeks now, including Feb. 11 at 200,000 cases. South Korea is also reporting more new cases than ever before. On Feb. 4, Japan reported 100,000 daily cases, a new record. Hong Kong’s Covid surge has resulted in severe restrictions including business closures, a ban on public gatherings, and mandatory use of an app that requires proof of vaccination to enter shopping and restaurant districts.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada tested positive on Feb. 1, along with family members; fully vaccinated and boosted, he was in isolation after being exposed.
As of Feb. 4, India’s Omicron surge had crested, with daily infections finally starting to decline.
Many European countries, including Britain, France, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and Denmark, are essentially ending their Covid restrictions. This is generally due to a combination of high vaccination rates, sharp Omicron downturn, insecure politicians, and overwhelming public exhaustion over all things pandemic.
Australia, with 95% of adults vaccinated, has lifted lockdowns and stopped contact tracing, indicating the country is ready to live with Covid. Its citizens aren’t so sure; Facebook groups are doing their own contact tracing, and people in many areas remain at home.
China is strictly policing The Olympics, making every attempt to keep Covid from passing to Chinese residents. All participants (from athletes to media) arrive in the country via special planes and are met by medical personnel in hazmat suits. After passing rigorous testing, the participant is assigned to a bubble that ONLY includes the competition venue/assigned housing/official transportation in between; no shopping, sight-seeing or restaurants are allowed. And, the housing facilities are surrounded by 10’ fences with armed guards. Everyone is tested daily; that comes to over 70,000 tests done PER DAY. Several headline athletes have tested positive, forcing last minute withdrawal from competition. To keep human workers to a minimum, robots perform many cleaning and food service duties. The human workers who are in the bubbles will live there inside 2 months; they will quarantine when the games are over, not allowed to go home until March.
In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have decreased 66%, hospitalizations are down 33%, and deaths decreased 2%. We are averaging 187,000 new cases per day. 99,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 2,400 people per day.
Last week, the US passed the milestone of 900,000 dead people from Covid-19. That is like burying the entire population of San Francisco, or of Indianapolis. The US has suffered more Covid deaths than any other country in the world, whether calculated by total numbers or proportion of population, despite free and safe vaccines being available to all for the past year. (Indeed, HALF the deaths occurred after vaccines were available, so those deaths were avoidable.) Due to idiotic vaccine conspiracy theories and Omicron, the latest 100,000 of America’s pandemic death toll were added in under 2 months. Experts project the 1 million mark being reached by April.
Some states, especially those where Omicron hit early and has now eased, are relaxing Covid restrictions. The strategy is to shift from the pandemic outlook to an endemic one, where people learn to live with Covid. (Also, officials up for election soon or just desperate to shore up polling are looking to endear themselves to pandemic-weary voters.) Delaware dropped its indoor mask rule last week, and it will drop mask rules for schools as of March 31. New Jersey is dropping its statewide mask rule for schools as of March 7; however, localities will be allowed to require masks as needed. New York dropped its statewide indoor mask rule last week. Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Rhode Island followed suit. California also signaled that rules on masking and mass gatherings will soon be modified.
Amazon announced Feb. 11 that fully vaccinated employees could work without masks,
However, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Oklahoma are still recording record new case numbers, with overwhelmed hospitals.
Rapid tests will be available to Medicare enrollees, from local pharmacies at no charge. This federal program should be running by early spring.
On Feb. 11, the FDA gave emergency approval to a new monoclonal antibody drug by Eli Lilly that effectively fights Omicron infections. The drug, called bebtelovimab, is given as a quick intravenous injection by a health care provider and must be administered within seven days of the onset of symptoms.
In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 17%. In the last 2 weeks, cases decreased 62%, hospitalizations dropped 30%, and deaths are up 23%. We are averaging 16,000 new cases and 202 deaths daily. As of now, there are nearly 10,000 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.
Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity
Worldwide, 10.3 billion shots have been given, with 54% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated.
A big change in vaccines may be coming. Researchers are experimenting with NASAL SPRAYS instead of shots. This would deliver the vaccine directly to the location the virus invades and colonizes, providing early protection to vulnerable airways. Also, this type of vaccine is easier to administer than an injection and is more appealing to many people.
Africa has only vaccinated 11% of its population. Significant vaccine supplies are on hand, but funds are needed to organize distribution throughout the continent, in order to get shots in arms.
Australia is welcoming VACCINATED visitors, as of Feb. 21.
Austria is the first western country to require by law that all adults be vaccinated for Covid-19, starting Feb. 5. Only very narrow medical exceptions exist. By March, heavy fines will be assessed on those violating the law. Currently 76% of the population is vaccinated.
Canadian truckers, protesting vaccine requirements, have staged blockades at several US border crossings over the last week. The result is an increasingly serious stoppage of trade across the border. US car manufacturers have shut down production due to the blockade. If Canada allows this to continue, the US supply chain will be severely impacted.
In the US, 64% of the entire population is fully vaccinated (no change since January). Average shots administered per day decreased to 569,000. 91 million booster shots have been given.
Moderna’s vaccine for adults was granted full use approval by the FDA on Jan. 31. Pfizer’s vaccine received full use approval last August.
On Feb. 11, the FDA announced a 2-month delay in approval of vaccines for kids under 5, in order to collect more data.
GET BOOSTED. The US lags all other wealthy nations in booster administration, with less than 30% of the population boosted.
Again, GET YOUR BOOSTER. As have many other studies, the CDC found that being vaccinated strongly protects people from dying of Covid, but getting boosted takes the protection to a whole new level. Only 1 in a million boosted people die from Covid.
In 2020 and 2021, the leading cause of death among police officers in the US was Covid-19. Vaccination rates are notoriously low among police.
T-Mobile will fire corporate employees not fully vaccinated by April 2, unless they received an exemption on medical, religious or state law ground. Oddly, this does NOT apply to most workers at the company’s retail stores.
The US Army, with a 97% vaccination rate, is starting the process of dismissing roughly 3,000 service members who have failed to get vaccinated, as required by law. The Navy, Air Force and Marines have already dismissed a miniscule number of unvaxed troops. National Guard members are also required to be vaccinated, as part of the military’s combat readiness requirement, but they have another month to get vaccinated.
Since SCOTUS cravenly voided the OSHA mandate for vaccines in large businesses, companies are at the whim of state laws that vary widely. So, Disney DOES require workers to be vaccinated in California, but it does NOT require workers to be vaccinated in Florida. Plus, in Texas, asking CUSTOMERS about vax status can get a business fined or result in loss of state licensing. Before, companies scouted states to locate in based on taxes and regulations; now, they must look at how state vaccination rules will impact them.
In Texas, only 59% of all residents are fully vaccinated (no change since January).
Recent Covid articles I recommend….
Covid booster effectiveness wanes after 4 months, but still provides protection against hospitalization, CDC study shows 2/11/22 https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/11/covid-booster-effectiveness-wanes-after-4-months-but-still-provides-protection-study-shows.html
Vastly unequal US has world’s highest Covid death toll – it’s no coincidence 2/6/22 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/06/us-covid-death-rate-vaccines
US Covid death toll surpasses 900,000 2/4/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/04/us-covid-death-toll-surpasses-900000
“Light at the end of the tunnel”: Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations down as omicron wave appears to crest 2/2/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/02/TEXAS-OMICRON-HOSPITALIZATIONS/
U.S. Has Far Higher Covid Death Rate Than Other Wealthy Countries 2/1/22 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/01/science/covid-deaths-united-states.html
A Conversation with Dr. Fauci. 1/31/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/podcasts/the-daily/we-need-to-talk-about-covid-part-2-a-conversation-with-dr-fauci.html