I came across a couple articles last week that are particularly helpful in understanding the pandemic–how it has developed and how it is likely to continue over the next several months or longer. If interested, here they are:
–Why the Coronavirus Is So Confusing 4/29/20 https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/pandemic-confusing-uncertainty/610819/?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200505&instance_id=18228&nl=the-morning®i_id=122311001&segment_id=26626&te=1&user_id=85e9340cba19164d75f3915211a487be
–Three potential futures for Covid-19: recurring small outbreaks, a monster wave, or a persistent crisis 5/1/20 https://www.statnews.com/2020/05/01/three-potential-futures-for-covid-19/?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200505&instance_id=18228&nl=the-morning®i_id=122311001&segment_id=26626&te=1&user_id=85e9340cba19164d75f3915211a487be
As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.
Texas craziness….
Republican-governed states opened up with abandon, despite failing to show promise as far as curbing the disease or improving their scant testing. Texas charged ahead. Gov. Abbott dropped any show of waiting to see if his May 1 opening of other businesses caused a surge in cases; he allowed salons to open May 8, with gyms following on May 18. That pretty much leaves only bars and entertainment centers closed for now.
Speaking of salons, the owner of an upscale salon in Dallas decided to open back in April—because she felt entitled to do so. She was repeatedly cited by police; she mouthed off to the judge and tore up her citation, which got her fined and sentenced to 7 days in jail for contempt. But, then somebody’s PR machine kicked into overdrive. Somehow, this wealthy, middle-aged woman was portrayed as a desperate mother trying to feed her kids. Enough people bought into the lies to net her Go Fund Me campaign over $500,000. (She already received federal relief funds for her business.) Dan Patrick, the Texas Lt. Governor who previously volunteered his generation to die of COVID-19 in order to save the economy for the grandkids, paid her fine. And Gov. Abbott did two crazy things. First, he issued a blistering attack on the Dallas police and court system for daring to punish a business owner trying to make ends meet; he totally glossed over the fact that it was HIS order that closed her business AND that specified the fine and jail sentence for those violating the order. Second, he amended his order to state that NO AUTHORITY could jail anyone in Texas deciding not to abide by the order. So much for rule of law. Some closure rules remain, but according to the governor himself, there is no penalty for anyone declining to follow them. Only in Texas….
Here in Lakeway….
City Council broached a controversial topic at its May 4 meeting. Held online, with the same restrictive citizen participation scheme used since March, the meeting featured a report by the Charter Review Committee (CRC). Chair Dave DeOme droned on quite a while with committee recommendations; members Todd Buikema and Tom Kilgore spoke very briefly on a couple points. A key thing to understand is the CRC’s primary task is fixing the city’s current election statutes, which violate the Texas constitution. Back in 2014 (oddly enough, when DeOme was mayor and current Mayor Sandy Cox was on Council) the city decided to amend its charter to extend the terms of the mayor and council members from 2 to 3 years. Charter amendments must be approved by voters, which happened in November of 2014. The problem is that the Texas Constitution requires (back then and now) that when local officials are elected for longer than 2 years, a candidate must win by majority vote, instead of just plurality vote, and it requires use of a place system. Lakeway’s new rules didn’t cover any of that, making them unconstitutional. Somehow, this didn’t come to light until 2018. (Officials blamed the city’s lawyer for everything.) Since then, Lakeway has limped along under its OLD rules (2 year terms, etc.) as best it can, and will try to fix the gaffe when legally allowed to do so–in the November, 2020 election.
DeOme basically said that since voters approved 3 year terms in 2014, we should implement that now by putting majority required, run-off elections as needed, and the place system on the November ballot. Assuming the measure passes, all would be well. BUT, not so fast. In 2014, voters only agreed to 3 year terms. The complicated place system required to implement that would completely change the city’s electoral scheme. In addition to possible run-off elections (both expensive and time-consuming), candidates would be able to pick the place they felt better about winning, potentially gaming the system. The alternative is simply returning to 2-year terms. Sure, there is more turnover, but that is far better than a place system.
The term issue aside, the CRC also reviewed the charter as a whole and recommended many other changes, some minor and some major. One major change is election-related and has to do with WHEN elections are held. Everyone knows that elections happen on Tuesday in November, right? Not in Lakeway, which traditionally elects local officials in May. Why? Because the low voter turnout that the odd timing guarantees makes it easy for the city’s old guard to control the outcome. (For example, in May of 2018, only 18% of registered voters showed up to vote for the mayor and 3 council seats.) Curing that low voter turnout is the best possible reason to move city elections to November, when state and federal election are held and voters are engaged and far more likely to bother to show up to vote. Another excellent reason to have Lakeway’s elections in November is money; Lakeway must hold elections in November for state and federal contests, so having city elections in May doubles the cost. Finally, electing officials in May means they immediately face the summer budget process; if elected in November, they would have an additional 6 months to learn the system before tackling arguably the most important and complex part of the job. May election proponents tried to argue that in November the din of state and federal elections would drown out city matters, and that city elections should be kept apart from partisan elections. (Like all the “social clubs” here don’t tell members how to vote!) The city attorney made it clear that if the May/November election issue is put on the ballot, it would be separate from the term issue and so would not interfere with fixing Lakeway’s constitutional problem. Not surprisingly, it came out that this was the most contentious issue the CRC encountered. Also, the euphemism “robust discussion” got quite a workout Monday night….
Nothing much was decided at the Council meeting. CRC is to work with the city attorney to draft language covering the various options. The attorney is to seek guidance from state officials. City staff is to collect voter turnout statistics for recent May and November elections.
To watch the meeting’s recording, go to link below, click on City Council, and then choose the May 4 meeting. Scroll down on the left to item 5–Presentation from charter review committee. https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Meeting-Videos—Council-ZAPCO
To better understand the discussion, access the companion materials by clicking on the link below, scrolling down for City Council Meeting Packet, and selecting May 4. The Charter Review information is near the top of the resulting PDF. https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Back to me….
My build-a-bookcase project continues. Last week, I painted the old wine boxes. (I’m using gorgeous blue paint left over from last fall’s project, when I painted my front door.) The boxes still need a second coat.
Also, I put on my mask and zipped out to HEB for perishables last week. As usual, mid-morning on a weekday was a calm time there, with no crowding or waiting. I was happy to see everyone wearing masks. If a business wants my money now, they need to require all employees and customers to wear masks, to reduce the chance of infection for everyone.
Plus, I cut my hair, not just trimming up the front—all around. It may not look terrific from the back, but the cats haven’t said a word. And, now I don’t have to risk getting sick to avoid shaggy hair in Texas summer heat.
I STILL haven’t seen a parked newborn fawn in person, but I do appreciate all the sweet photos and videos posted online by the lucky folks.
Happy Mother’s Day! My daughter called, and my best friend sent a cat-themed care package; she knows me well, and truly that is the best gift of all.
Perspective is key, and it helps to see what changed in the last week.
A week ago (May 3), there were 3,563,335 confirmed cases and 248,135 deaths. As of today, there are 4,180,137 confirmed cases and 283,852 deaths.
In the US, a week ago there were 1,187,768 confirmed cases and 68,587 deaths. Today, there are 1,367,638 confirmed cases and 80,787 deaths.
In Texas, a week ago there were 31,548 confirmed cases and 867 deaths. Today, there are 38,869 confirmed cases and 1,088 deaths.
In Travis County, a week ago there were 1,756 confirmed cases and 52 deaths. Today, there are 2127 confirmed cases and 60 deaths.
A week ago, we had 26 confirmed cases in Lakeway’s zip codes of 78734 and 78738. Today, we have 33 confirmed cases.
Things I wonder about:
–On the world stage, at least since WWII, it used to be “the ugly Americans,” as we pushed our way into every situation and took charge, for better or worse. Now, it is “the stupid Americans,” as we completely and very publicly fail at handling each and every aspect of this pandemic, from preparedness, to testing, to lockdown, to opening up. Just how far can America fall?
–Will the emerging risk to children posed by COVID-19 change things, as opposed to the current acceptance of risk to older and compromised people?
–Is it just me, or is having to wipe down groceries with disinfectant before putting them away the MOST ANNOYING THING EVER?
–Is it time to turn on my sprinklers?