During the month of January, local artist Lynn Zwern’s contemporary impressionistic watercolors will be on display in the meeting room of Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing).
Citizens Police Academy—registration open NOW
Register NOW for Lakeway Police Department’s 2025 Citizen’s Police Academy, starting on Feb. 25, with classes Tuesday evenings, from 6-9pm, through May 13. The program is a 30-hour block of instruction giving the public a working knowledge of law enforcement and the department’s policies and operational practices. Police officers, supervisors and civilian personnel cover a different area of police work each week. The objective of the Lakeway Citizens Police Academy is building a better understanding between citizens and the police department through education. Class is limited to 30 people, a background check is required, and the program is free of charge. [NOTE: I did this course last spring and recommend it to anyone interested in how the Lakeway Police Dept. works. A plus is that, as an Academy Alum, you will have the opportunity to volunteer for various roles supporting law enforcement.] Go here for more info and to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1378/Citizens-Police-Academy
Cool, Comms, Collected Workshop Series starts Jan. 22 at the Library.
A series of 5 weekly workshops will start on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 5:30-7:00PM, at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). FREE event! Open to adults plus kids 5th grade and up, the interactive workshops offer unique inter-generational activities centered around shifting how we interact with fellow classmates, co-workers, and local residents. Skills to be developed include communication, leadership, teamwork, and personal growth. The leader is Lakeway resident Stephanie Threinen, and the schedule is:
Jan. 22 Curiosity: Never Be Bored Again!
Feb. 26 The Art of Storytelling
March 26 Active Listening is a Superpower
April 23 Popping Bubbles: Collaborative Problem Solving
Worried about wildfire risk here in Lakeway? Lake Travis Fire and Rescue offers FREE risk assessment of your property. An expert comes and walks the exterior of your home with you, discussing problem areas and solutions, then following up with a written assessment. [I did this a few years back and found it very helpful.] Sign up for your free assessment today by emailing wildfire@ltfr.org In addition, City of Lakeway has a wildfire page with a lot of good info and resources to explore: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/235/Wildfire-Readiness
Special Olympics needs volunteers.
The Special Olympics Texas Winter Games returns to the Lake Travis area Feb. 14-16. If you’re interested in volunteering to help with the events, go here: https://www.sotx.org/become-a-volunteer
Art at City Hall
During January and February, the City Hall Art Gallery (1102 Lohmans Crossing, open 8AM-5PM weekdays) features local artist Guy Burchak. Meet the artist on Tues., Jan. 21, 5:30PM during a reception in the lobby before that evening’s Council meeting. Go here for info on the display and about how to apply to present your own art at this venue: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2040/City-Hall-Art-Gallery
Garage Sale at LAC—member registration opens Jan. 21
REGISTER early to get a booth at the first Lakeway indoor garage sale of 2025, happening on Sat., March 15, 8AM-noon, at Lakeway Activity Center. LAC members can register starting Jan. 21; cost is $30. Non-members can register starting Feb. 4; cost is $35. For info and registration, go here and click on the Garage Sale tab: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog
Council and Mayor applications now accepted
City of Lakeway is now accepting applications from residents to run for Mayor and for Council (3 seats available). These are volunteer/non-salaried positions with a 2-year term. Deadline to file is Feb. 14. Our local election is on May 3. Go here to review the Candidate Packet, including the application needed to apply: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2227/Candidate-Packet
Council Meets on MONDAY, Jan. 27 (delayed from Jan. 21 due to weather), 6:30PM at City Hall.
UPDATE–Meeting moved to Jan. 27 due to weather.
Lakeway Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6:30pm, at City Hall, will look at a housing development putting 82 homes on 13 acres on Kollmeyer Drive, placing 6 Charter amendments on the ballot, limiting sidewalk use, banning heavy trucks from Flint Rock Road and Serene Hills Drive, calling the City Elections for May 3, and more. Consequential Agenda items include:
ITEM 13: Financial Report
ITEM 14: Citizens Participation for Items NOT on the Agenda
ITEM 15: Update/Discussion as to the Economic Development Committee’s BUY LOCAL Campaign
ITEM 16: Request to change zoning of 13.36 acres located at 15115 Kollmeyer Drive from Agricultural and R-6/SF Residential to Planned Unit Development/PUD, in order to build 82 single family homes. NOTE: Last October, ZAPCO reviewed the developer’s initial plan of 130 homes and voted unanimously to recommend denial of approval. ZAPCO reviewed this second plan for 82 homes on Jan. 5 and voted 4:3 to recommend approval.
ITEM 17: First Reading of ordinance change limiting sidewalk use to pedestrians, bicycles, electric bicycles, and electric personal assistive mobility devices.
ITEM 18: First reading of ordinance making it an offense to operate heavy trucks on Flint Rock Road and Serene Hills Drive, with some exceptions and a fine of $500.
ITEM 23: Discussion and possible action as to 6 proposed City Charter amendments, with new language and some alternate options provided by the City Attorney. NOTE: As discussed at recent Council meetings, the 6 changes Council may place on the May ballot for residents to approve or disapprove are:
Prop A Eliminating City Treasurer;
Prop B Eliminating City Building Commission;
Prop C Eliminating Board of Ethics;
Prop D Changing how members are appointed to ZAPCO (the only standing Commission/Board left if Prop B and C eliminate CBC and Ethics), as well as how long members serve and how they can be removed, with the primary change being giving each Council Member the power to appoint a ZAPCO member instead of the Mayor appointing all of them subject to Council approval as is now the case. [NOTE: This one has 3 alternate versions, so the City Attorney’s Prop D chart is attached.];
Prop E Having the City Manager review Police Department policy and procedure changes instead of Council as is now the case; and
Prop F Allowing the City Manager to live anywhere within Lake Travis Independent School District boundaries, instead of within City of Lakeway as is now the case.
ITEM 24: Ordering a General Election on May 3, to elect the Mayor and 3 Council Members.
ITEM 25: Ordering a Special Election on May 3, to reauthorize a local sales and use tax in the City of Lakeway at the rate of one fourth of one percent (1/4%) to provide revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets.
ITEM 26: Ordering a Special Election on May 3, to revise the City Charter.
ITEMS 28/29: Executive Sessions on legal intervention as to West Austin Business Park and on legal issues related to City Center.
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. Monthly Meeting: Tue., Jan. 21, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Speakers will be Brian Pena (President of the UT Democrats) and Robert Norris (President of Grandparents for Public Schools).
Banned Book Club: Tue., Jan. 28, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). The book is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
Brown Bag Concert Lunch
On Thursday, Jan. 23, from noon-1PM, bring your lunch and drop by the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) to enjoy the Lake Travis Fiddlers. FREE event!
A commemorative tile in the Lakeway Activity Center courtyard is a great way to honor a loved one, a special occasion or a valued group, even advertise a business. Deadline to order ‘Pave The Way’ tiles this winter is January 31, 2025. Call for info: 512-261-1010.
Black History Month Story Walk
During February, take a walk along City Hall Trail (1102 Lohmans Crossing Rd.) and read about the significant contributions African Americans have made to America, celebrating Black History Month. Exhibit officially opens on Jan. 31.
TexArts Productions
TexArts has 2025 productions scheduled, presented at its NEW theater located in the heart of Lakeway at 1110 Ranch Road 620 South. Go here for details and to buy tickets: https://www.tex-arts.org/upcoming-productions
Feb. 14-March 2: Tick, Tick … Boom!
July 11-Aug. 10: Bye Bye Birdie
Brown Bag Concert Lunch
On Thursday, Feb. 13, from noon-1PM, bring your lunch and drop by the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) to enjoy A Capella Texas, offering up world-class harmonies. FREE event!
Austin Symphony tickets make a great VALENTINES Day gift…
TICKETS NOW ON SALE for “A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra.” This will be Lakeway’s 5th annual collaborative concert experience featuring members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and talented musicians with the Lake Travis High School Band and Orchestra. Concert is on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 4PM, at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center (3324 Ranch Rd 620 South). Info and tickets here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest
The Odd Couple—tickets on sale Jan. 27 to LAC members
The Lakeway Players present their “female version” of Neil Simon’s classic play The Odd Couple, running Feb. 27-Mar. 1, at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Tickets go on sale Jan. 27 to LAC members, Feb. 3 for non-members. Bring your own dinner; doors open 6:30PM, with the curtain rising at 7:30PM. Go here for info and tickets:https://www.thelakewayplayers.com/
Sunday Concert Series–SungEun Park on Piano
On Sunday, March 2, 4PM, pianist SungEun Park performs at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). She has extensively performed as a solo pianist and chamber musician throughout Korea, Italy and the United States. FREE event!
Heritage Trail Bus Tours—register NOW to ride in March
Registration is OPEN for the next FREE historical bus tours taking place Friday, March 28 at 10 AM, noon, and 2 PM. Tours begin and end at Lakeway City Hall. Start with a tour of the historic Liebelt Cabin, before boarding a bus (featuring restrooms). Tours covering around 20 historical locations are narrated by a member of the Lakeway Heritage Committee, in about an hour.More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1171/Heritage-Trail
SCAM ALERT—Virtual Kidnapping Scam in Lakeway
On Jan. 6, Lakeway police officers were flagged down by a frantic citizen who said he was on the phone with someone who had kidnapped his child and was making demands. Officers were able to determine quickly that the resident’s family members were all safe. According to police, this was a “virtual kidnapping scam,” which is a fraud scheme designed to exploit a parent’s fear for their child’s safety. Very likely, the caller was attempting to obtain monetary benefit. The matter is under investigation. Lakeway residents are reminded to be cautious of unusual phone calls from unknown sources. You can always reach out to the Lakeway Police Department if you receive an unusual, threatening or suspicious phone call by contacting at (512) 261-2800. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=2005
Need a RIDE? Want to VOLUNTEER to drive seniors?
Chariot is a FREE service providing rides (for medical appointments and grocery shopping) to non-driving folks age 60 and over. Chariothas been operating across Central Texas (including Lakeway!) since 1988. Riders must be mobile to use the service; wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Mission statement: “Chariot enriches lives and communities by providing transportation and socialization to non-driving seniors, helping them to age in place.” Volunteer drivers, who must be over 21 with a high school diploma or higher plus a valid driver’s license, are critical to Chariot’s success and use their own vehicles. Click this link or call 512-445-5552 for info and to either set up a ride or volunteer as a driver: https://chariot.org/
Daring Mighty Things
There’s a new camera in town. Well, it is in Chile, actually. The Dark Energy Camera (with the cool nickname of DECam), captures stunning images of galaxies that are far, far away. The above image by DECam shows the Antila Cluster, which is about 130 million light-years from Earth. (Image credit: Dark Energy Survey.) Dark Energy Camera captures thousands of galaxies in stunning image 1/6/25 https://www.space.com/the-universe/galaxies/dark-energy-camera-captures-thousands-of-galaxies-in-stunning-image
In the wee hours of Jan. 16, Blue Origin launched its first New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral. (Image credit: Miguel J. Rodríguez Carrillo/Getty Images.) The unmanned mission was considered a success after just 12 minutes, when the rocket’s upper stage reached orbit. However, the second step, landing the reusable first stage on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean, failed. Assuming progress over the next couple years, New Glenn’s reusable first stage could compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9. New Origin is owned by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos. And, of course, the New Glenn rocket is named after John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launches massive New Glenn rocket into orbit on 1st flight 1/17/25 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launches-massive-new-glenn-rocket-into-orbit-on-1st-flight-video
The 7th test flight of Starship was a disaster for SpaceX. Luckily, this was an unmanned flight. The mega-rocket launched from Boca Chica, Texas, late afternoon on Jan. 16, heading eastward. The booster dropped away and returned to the launchpad, where it was caught by two mechanical arms on the launch tower. But, the ship itself soon exploded. Instead of a 1-hour flight (including deploying several dummy satellites) before splashing down into the Indian Ocean, the upper-stage spacecraft abruptly disintegrated into an enormous debris field just 8 minutes after launch. (Image credit: Marcus Haworth, via Reuters.) The FAA had to ground flights and divert aircraft, warning pilots about a “dangerous area for falling debris of rocket Starship.” Dozens of flights diverted, delayed after FAA warned of SpaceX rocket debris 1/16/25 https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/16/dozens-of-flights-diverted-delayed-after-faa-warned-of-spacex-rocket-debris-.html?campaign_id=4&emc=edit_dk_20250117&instance_id=145001&nl=dealbook®i_id=122311001&segment_id=188511&user_id=85e9340cba19164d75f3915211a487be
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
Texas far-right Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk (shown above) strikes again. (Image Credit: US District Court, N. District of Texas.) His court has long been known as the best place to file ultra-conservative lawsuits. The Amarillo District Judge was blisteringly overruled by the US Supreme Court back in 2024, when it said he erroneously allowed anti-abortion doctors (including a dentist) to bring a case in his court despite their obviously lacking standing to sue. Now, Kacsmaryk is allowing 3 states–Idaho, Kansas and Missouri—to use his court for their attacks against abortion. Kacsmaryk doesn’t bother explaining how those states can sue in a Texas court, instead of using their own courts. They demand the Food and Drug Administration prohibit telehealth prescriptions for abortion drugs, require THREE in-person office visits to a doctor before getting a prescription, and limit pills use to the first 7 weeks of pregnancy (instead of the current 10 weeks). Texas judge says states can revive challenge to abortion pill access nationwide 1/17/25 https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-telehealth-weeks-judge-03706a1e95fc7725684be582a00a6700
This clear and informative 3-minute video is something every woman of child-bearing age should watch. If you’re pregnant, here is what you should know about the medical procedures that could save your life, especially if you live in an abortion-ban state. 1/4/25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COzhr3EO8bc
In Washington state, a small pilot program has PHARMACISTS prescribing abortion pills. (Image credit: Jackie Molloy for The New York Times.) Other states are preparing to start their own such programs, trying to accommodate not only their own residents’ needs but those of people living in red states with abortion bans. Currently, 40 states allow pharmacists to prescribe some medications, and they are trained to do so. Since states regulate this, federal law cannot directly intervene, even when Washington, DC, is controlled by Republicans. However, Trump’s incoming FDA chief might create regulations allowing only doctors to prescribe mifepristone, the first pill in the two-drug medication abortion regimen. Either way, expect litigation. Abortion Pills Prescribed by Pharmacists Are Newest Effort in Abortion Fight 1/7/25 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/07/health/abortion-pills-pharmacist-prescribe.html
Back to me….
Hope everyone is ready for the winter interlude that is forecast for Lakeway, starting pretty much now and extending through the coming week. One night dipping below freezing is fine, but we tend to get into trouble when there are several nights in a row like that. Plus–wintry mix is coming our way, so forget about getting on the roads until temps warm up considerably. Lots of helpful info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=2013
On Jan. 6, Washington DC had a major snowstorm. (Image credits: Smithsonian National Zoo.) At least a couple new residents were pleased. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo posted this 1-minute video, showing giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao playing in the snow. Still acclimating to their new home, the pair makes their public debut to zoo visitors on Jan. 24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebcCgSRobc4
Here are some photos of our deer herd that I took in the last couple weeks in Old Lakeway.
Coronavirus Update
Covid-19 activity is hard to gauge right now, since CDC charts have not been uniformly updated. On data updated as of Jan. 11, testing showed a slight drop, while deaths were rising. ER visits are only updated as of Jan. 4, showing a plateau then. Hospitalizations show a rise, but that data is from Dec. 28. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
Last fall’s edition of the Covid-19 vaccine is available in local pharmacies. This new vaccine was formulated to work against recent variants, so everyone is urged to get vaccinated. Consider getting it along with your annual flu shot. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for the best timing, if you recently had Covid or recently got vaccinated. If you want to be protected this winter, start here: https://www.heb.com/pharmacy/vaccinations
NYTimes recently published a new article on Covid at this time. Experts predict this winter will see the usual surge of Covid cases. A new variant, called XEC, is causing nearly half of Covid cases in America. Happily, XEC is very similar to the past variants that the current vaccine was designed to fight, so if you get the updated shot you are well protected this winter. Covid symptoms remain much the same: exhaustion, cough, congestion, fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, head and body aches, plus loss of the sense of taste or smell. If you have symptoms, experts advise taking a home test; if it is negative but symptoms persist, take a second test in 48 hours. Paxlovid is still the usual treatment for Covid, but doctors have other options now. Covid remains lethal to some patients, and Long Covid still incapacitates many others. What to Know About Covid Right Now 1/15/25 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/well/covid-symptoms-test-vaccine.html
During the month of January, local artist Lynn Zwern’s contemporary impressionistic watercolors will be on display in the meeting room of Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). Plus, meet the artist at a reception on Saturday, Jan. 11, 1:00-2:30PM.
2 Ways to Recycle your Christmas Tree
Lakeway’s Public Works Department will accept holiday trees from residents through Jan. 10, 7AM-3:30PM. Drop off is at 3303 Serene Hills Drive. Remove all decorations from the tree prior to recycling. Full info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/62/Public-Works
OR, Waste Connections will pick up live Christmas trees with regular garbage collection, through January 10. BUT, trees must be cut into 3 feet sections, with all decorations removed.
FREE Pet Spay/Neuter Clinic Jan. 8-12 in East Austin–VOLUNTEERS Needed.
Austin Animal Center and Greater Good Charities have teamed up to offer a spay/neuter clinic for cats and dogs in Travis County. Location: Travis County Exposition Center (7311 Decker Lane, Austin, TX 78724). FREE; first come/first served. Running from Jan. 8 through Jan. 12, registration and drop-off begin at 7:30AM daily, continuing until 10AM or until that day’s schedule is full. Must be a resident of Travis County; bring PROOF of residency (ID or piece of mail). Pets must be at least 2 LBS and 2 months old. Full rules and info here: https://www.austintexas.gov/event/free-community-spayneuter-clinic-clinica-comunitaria-gratuita-de-esterilizacion
And, they still need VOLUNTEERS to help organize and supervise the animals, as well as assist the medical team. Go here for full info and to sign up: https://tinyurl.com/2zbk2dmt
Puzzle Exchange at the Library
On Saturday, Jan. 11, 10:30-11:30AM, drop by Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) and swap out your jigsaw puzzles with ones that will be new to you. (Puzzles must be in good condition, well-packaged and include all pieces.)
Donate Blood at Lakeway Activity Center.
The next blood drive at LAC is on Saturday, Jan. 11, 8am-noon. The event is always well organized, clean and friendly. You will be done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause and helps countless people. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES!
The November blood drive had VERY few donors. I was shocked, as Lakeway generally leads the way for giving and volunteerism. What could be more important than giving blood to save lives? Plan to donate on Jan. 11. Plus—talk this up to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers. Let’s start 2025 right and get the LAC Ballroom filled with blood donors.
While walk-ins are welcome (until 11AM), those with appointments have priority. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here– https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/
Jewelry Making for Adults at the Library
On Thurs., Jan. 16, 10:30—11:30AM, adults can stop by Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) to learn how to make your own craft jewelry. Staff member Beth Yoder will provide all needed supplies.
Next Council Meeting set for Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The meeting is the 3rd Tuesday because that Monday is a holiday. About a week in advance, check here (scrolling down to City Council items) for the Agenda: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Lake Travis Democrats
—Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Speakers will be Brian Pena (President of the UT Democrats) and Robert Norris (President of Grandparents for Public Schools).
—Banned Book Club: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). The book is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
On Thursday, Jan. 23, from noon-1PM, bring your lunch and drop by the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) to enjoy the Lake Travis Fiddlers. FREE event!
A commemorative tile in the Lakeway Activity Center courtyard is a great way to honor a loved one, a special occasion or a valued group, even advertise a business. Deadline to order ‘Pave The Way’ tiles this winter is January 31, 2025. Call for info: 512-261-1010.
Black History Month Story Walk
During February, take a walk along City Hall Trail (1102 Lohmans Crossing Rd.) and read about the significant contributions African Americans have made to America, celebrating Black History Month.
Scholarship Opportunity
Waste Connections continues its annual scholarship program in 2025. 12th graders (private, public or home-schooled) planning to attend a university, college, junior college, technical, or trade school for an undergraduate level degree or trade certification are eligible, as long as a parent or legal guardian is signed up for trash and recycling services with the City of Lakeway (account must be in good financial standing). Application DEADLINE is April 12, 2025. Info and application are here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1993/Waste-Connections-Scholarship
Mid-afternoon on Dec. 30, a red-hot metallic ring measuring 8 feet in diameter and weighing 1,100 pounds crashed into a village in the southern part of Kenya. (Image credit: Kenya Space Agency.) Happily, no one was hurt. Kenyan authorities retrieved the item, which was soon identified as space debris, likely a rocket’s separation ring. Identification of the rocket/launching agency is in progress. So far, authorities have no explanation as to how such a huge piece of equipment could return to Earth intact, instead of disintegrating into harmless bits during re-entry. Space debris crash in Kenya village believed to be from leftover rocket hardware 1/2/25 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/space-debris-crashes-into-kenyan-village-believed-to-be-leftover-rocket-hardware
Multiple threats have been made recently about bombs hidden at Starbase, the South Texas SpaceX headquarters, or actually inside rockets located there. The threats are under investigation by the FBI. (Image credit: SpaceX.) Currently, the next launch out of Starbase will be another Starship test flight, which could happen as early as Jan. 10. FBI probes ‘bomb threats’ made against SpaceX rocket at South Texas launch site 1/3/25 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2025/01/03/fbi-spacex-threats-starship-rocket-boca-chica-texas-launch-site/77437123007/
Back to me….
So, 2025 certainly had a lousy start. But, last year was heinous, and I don’t expect anything better this year.
I’m seeing our bucks starting to group back together, so it looks like rut season is done. Here are some photos I took in the last couple weeks in Old Lakeway.
Coronavirus Update
Covid-19 activity continued to rise over the last 2 weeks. Indicators (test positivity, ER visits, hospitalizations and deaths) rose as of Dec. 28. As always in winter, the upward trend was bolstered by holiday travel and gatherings. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
As of Dec. 28, national wastewater viral testingINCREASED from moderate to HIGH. Texas as a state still tested LOW.https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/index.html
This fall’s edition of the Covid-19 vaccine is available in local pharmacies.
Have you gotten the UPDATED Covid-19 shot? I got mine in early October; during 13 days of poll working, several of my co-workers caught Covid, but I did not. If you want to be protected this winter, start here: https://www.heb.com/pharmacy/vaccinations
Kids age 5-8 can create holidays cookies and learn kitchen techniques as well as safety in the Monday,Dec. 23, noon-2PM workshop at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Tuition is $70 and includes everything needed. Go here for complete info and to reserve a spot: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTMzNTM2NTI=
Lakeway’s Trail of Lights
Enjoy all the holiday light scenes at the annual Trail of Lights. It continues nightly 6PM-midnight throughout December. The walkable display is located below City Hall, at 1102 Lohmans Crossing Road. More parking is available at the adjacent Activity Center,105 Cross Creek. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/721/Trail-of-Lights
Bee Cave on Ice
Running now through Jan. 5, theHill Country Galleria hosts an ice skating rink in the Central Plaza. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Hours are Mon.-Thur. 3pm-9pm (last session at 8pm); Fri. 12pm-9pm (last session at 8pm); Sat. 10am-10pm (last session at 9pm); and Sun. 10am-7pm (last session at 6pm). The fee is $15/hour, except $10 on Tuesdays (fees include skate rental). More info and you can make reservations here: https://www.hillcountrygalleria.com/event/bee-cave-on-ice/2145577106
Take holiday photos at Lakeway Activity Center.
The LAC courtyard (105 Cross Creek) is decked out for the holidays, making it the perfect backdrop for last minute family photos. Stop by to take your photos during regular business hours: 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday.
Menorah Lighting at Lakeway City Hall
Starting Wednesday, Dec. 25, at 5:30PM, meet outside the front lobby of City Hall each evening through Jan. 2 for the Menorah Lighting.
Give the Gift of the Symphony.
Make the holidays special by giving the Gift of Symphony. EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW ON SALE for “A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra.” This will be Lakeway’s 5th annual collaborative concert experience featuring members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and talented musicians with the Lake Travis High School Band and Orchestra. Concert is on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 4PM, at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center (3324 Ranch Rd 620 South). Early bird ticket prices range from $15 to $50; or, opt for the VIP option to meet the musicians at a special dinner the evening before the event. Info and tickets here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest
Santa needs your help, making Christmas bright for local families.
12:31 is a LOCAL, registered, 501(c)(3) group,with over 7,000 members serving students and families within LTISD. (Tax ID number–EIN: 88-2279325.) For Christmas, the group hopes to provide gifts to the kids and necessities for more than 40 local families. That is a lot of wish lists to fill, and Santa needs your help. Email mike.dahlhauser@twelvethirtyone.org or go here to join the Facebook group and see what you can do for our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/twelve31
Teen Art Contest Winners on Display at the Library
During December, all the winning entries will be on display in the meeting room of Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). Students in grades 6 through 12 creates original pieces of art inspired by their reading experiences. Stop by to view all 6 award-winning entries and 8 honorable mentions.
Lakeway’s Garbage Collection Schedule for the Holidays
For the holiday weeks of Christmas and New Years, trash and recycling collections by Waste Connections will be adjusted.If your regular collection day is Wednesday, collection will be delayed until Thursday. If your regular collection day is Thursday, collection will be delayed until Friday. If your regular collection day is Friday, collection will be delayed until Saturday. Full info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1666/Holiday-Service-Schedule
Got books to donate? LAC Library needs kids/young adult books.
Maybe take time over the holidays to clear out the old and bring books in good condition to the Lakeway Activity Center library (105 Cross Creek). The library especially needs books for children and young adults.
Pave the Way at LAC.
A commemorative tile in the Lakeway Activity Center courtyard is a great way to honor a loved one, a special occasion or a valued group, even advertise a business. Deadline to order ‘Pave The Way’ tiles this winter is January 31, 2025. Call for info: 512-261-1010.
If you are traveling over the holidays or only occupy your home here part-time, Lakeway Police Department provides a House Watch program, at no charge. Just let them know, and officers will perform close patrols of the address and contact you if anything appears suspicious. Call 512-261-2800 for info and go here to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1305/House-Watch-Request
Recycle your Christmas Tree.
Lakeway’s Public Works Department will accept holiday trees from residents Dec. 26 through Jan. 10, 7AM-3:30PM. Drop off is at 3303 Serene Hills Drive. Remove all decorations from the tree prior to recycling. Full info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/62/Public-Works
New Years—Polar Bear Plunge.
On Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9-10AM, swing by Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) with your towel and DIVE INTO 2025! This FREE event is fun for all ages. After your bracing plunge, warm up with delicious refreshments and snacks, and relax in the cozy warming location. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2034/Polar-Bear-Plunge
JANUARY
Art at the Library
During the month of January, local artist Lynn Zwern’s contemporary impressionistic watercolors will be on display in the meeting room of Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). Plus, meet the artist at a reception on Saturday, Jan. 11, 1-2:30PM.
Puzzle Exchange at the Library
On Saturday, Jan. 11, 10:30-11:30AM, drop by Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) and swap out your jigsaw puzzles with ones that will be new to you. (All puzzles must be in good condition, well-packaged and include all pieces.)
Donate Blood at Lakeway Activity Center.
The next blood drive at LAC is on Saturday, Jan. 11, 8am-noon. The event is always well organized, clean and friendly. You will be done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause and helps countless people. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES!
The November blood drive had VERY few donors. I was shocked, as Lakeway generally leads the way for giving and volunteerism. What could be more important than giving blood to save lives? Plan to donate on Jan. 11. Plus—talk this up to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers. Let’s start 2025 right and get the LAC Ballroom filled with blood donors.
While walk-ins are welcome, those with appointments have priority. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here– https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/
Lake Travis Democrats
—Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Speakers will be Brian Pena (President of the UT Democrats) and Robert Norris (President of Grandparents for Public Schools).
—Banned Book Club: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). Our book is “Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou.
On Thursday, Jan. 23, from noon-1PM, bring your lunch and drop by the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) to enjoy the Lake Travis Fiddlers. FREE event!
Lakeway COUNCIL
Council met on Dec. 16. Six members attended the meeting, all in person, with Councilmember Brynteson absent (due to illness). RESULTS:
ITEM 12 (within the Consent Agenda): Authorize spending up to $70,000 on a feasibility study for the Birrell Street Bridge (to connect with Lohman’s Spur, part of the 2022 Transportation Bond). UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, along with the rest of the Consent Agenda.
ITEM 16: Financial Report. THE CITY IS $340,000 TO THE GOOD, AS OF END OF NOVEMBER.
ITEM 17: Citizen’s Participation for Items NOT on the Agenda. NO ONE SPOKE.
ITEM 18: WCID17 Quarterly update. GM JASON HOMAN DISCUSSED THE COMPANY’S STRUCTURE, UPCOMING EXPANSION, OUTREACH, ETC. RATHER THAN WATER AVAILABILITY.
ITEM 19: Lakeway Inn and Spa’s Request for $175,000 from the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds (to be used for marketing in 2025). UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 20: Request to Approve Replat of 5.59 Acres at 570 Rupen (for 11 single family residential lots, zoned R-1). UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 21: Plan Update on Butler Park in Rough Hollow.
–Provide the same parking layout as previously shown (41 spaces, 2 handicap)
–$113,000 (recently reduced from $160,000) – Bike park features
–$ 67,000 – Shade structures to ensure more playability throughout the day
–$ 20,000 – Concrete masonry unit (CMU) dumpster enclosure versus a wooden fence
–$ 19,500 – Practice Ball Wall
Staff noted that the project remains within the $1.9MIL budget. Plus, if needed, funds could be drawn from the Highland Parks Fund (roughly $500K), which can ONLY be used for Rough Hollow parks. CONSENSUS was for staff to continue with all the suggested items, including all the planned parking (marking some spaces for golf carts), and allowing local biking groups to provide input on the mountain bike route (which is designed for beginners, ages 6-10).
ITEM 22: Lakeway Use of License Plate Readers—Request for Policy Review and Program Approval (pursuant to pilot program during 2024). UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED (as permanent program.)
ITEM 23: Discussion and Action on Charter Change Amendments.
At the last meeting, Council agreed to consider placing 6 Charter amendments on the May ballot, out of 17 suggestions by the Charter Review Committee. The 6 items were discussed, but NO ACTION was taken (due to Councilmember Brynteson being absent). CONSENSUS was direction to staff/City Attorney to adjust the ballot language, as NOTED IN BOLD BELOW, with Council voting at a January meeting on whether or not any of the 6 items will be placed on the May ballot:
–Proposition A Eliminating the Office of City Treasurer: Shall Section 4.06 be deleted, thereby eliminating the volunteer office of City Treasurer, and other Charter provisions be amended as necessary to remove references to the City Treasurer?
If approved, Section 4.06 and all references to the City Treasurer in Sections 4.01, 8.01, 8.11, and 8.15 would be deleted in their entirety; and the current duties of the City Treasurer will be assumed by the City’s Finance Director and other employees in the Finance Department, with an independent audit of the City’s finances still performed each year by an outside accounting firm.
NO CHANGES.
–Proposition B Eliminating the City Building Commission: Shall Section 7.06 be deleted in its entirety, thereby eliminating the City Building Commission, which is responsible under the City’s development ordinances for determining whether to grant certain variances and waivers, and to make view-blocking determinations under the City’s View Protection Corridor Overlay Ordinance?
If approved, Section 7.06 of the City Charter will be deleted in its entirety, and Council will assign by ordinance the current duties of the City Building Commission to the Planning and Zoning Commission, or to the Building and Development Services Director.
REMOVE MENTION OF VIEW BLOCKING. ADD THAT DUTIES WILL BE MOVED TO OTHER GROUPS.
–Proposition C Eliminating the Board of Ethics: Shall Section 7.05 be amended in its entirety, thereby eliminating the Board of Ethics?
If approved, Section 7.05 would be deleted in its entirety and the reference to the Board of Ethics in Section 11.05 would also be deleted. Council would still be required to adopt a City Ethics Ordinance, which applies to all City officials, employees, and members of City Boards, Commissioners, or Committees.
THE ARGUMENT WAS LARGELY OVER RELYING ON STATE ETHICS RULES OR ADOPTING HIGHER STANDARDS FOR LAKEWAY (AND THE DIFFERENCES IN ENFORCEMENT).
–Proposition D Changing the Process for Appointing Members of City Boards and Commissions and Changing the Terms of Office of Each Member of a Board or Commission: Shall Section 7.01 be amended to change the process for appointing members of City Boards and Commissions so that the Mayor and each Council member shall nominate a person for a one-year appointment to each Board or Commission, subject to Council approval?
If approved, all appointments to City Boards and Commissions would be standardized. At the present time, appointments to some Boards and Commissions are made by the Mayor subject to Council approval, for a term of office that runs concurrently with the Mayor’s term of office; but members of some Boards and Commissions are individually appointed by the Mayor and each Council member, still subject to Council approval, for a term of office that runs concurrently with the Mayor’s term of office in some cases, or for 2-year terms in other cases. If approved members of all City Boards and Commissions would be appointed in a uniform process for a one-year term of office.
CITY ATTORNEY NOTED THAT STATE LAW REQUIRES BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS MEMBERS TO SERVE FOR 2 YEARS AND ONLY BE REMOVED FOR CAUSE, PUTTING THAT GROUP OUTSIDE THIS PROPOSED CHANGE. THAT LEAVES ONLY ZAPCO TARGETED, FOR NO STATED REASON, DESPITE BEING A NON-BINDING COMMITTEE. ARGUMENT OVER 1 YEAR TERM AND OVER THIS ENTIRE ITEM BEING CREATED TO REMOVE PEOPLE WHO CERTAIN COUNCILMEMBERS DISLIKE. REQUESTED MULTIPLE LANGUAGE OPTIONS, INCLUDING GIVING COUNCIL POWER TO START REMOVAL PROCESS OF ZAPCO MEMBERS.
–Proposition E Changing the Approval Process for Police Department Policies and Procedures: Shall Section 4.07 be amended so that the policies and procedures adopted or changed by the Chief of Police for the Police Department shall be approved by the City Manager and reported to the Council at least annually, instead of having the City Council approve them when adopted by the Chief of Police?
If approved, the Chief of Police would still adopt such written rules relating to police policies and procedures, but instead of having those approved by Council, the City Manager would approve them and report to the Council at least annually regarding the new or revised Department policies and procedures.
MORE ARGUMENT, THIS TIME OVER COUNCIL’S DUTY TO ASSESS POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS OPPOSED TO THE CITY MANAGER DOING SO. NO SPECIFIC LANGUAGE CHANGES WERE REQUESTED. REPEATED REFERENCES TO COUNCIL’S HANDLING OF POLICE MATTERS SEVERAL YEARS AGO RESULTED IN ADDING A THIRD ITEM TO THE EVENING’S EXECUTIVE SESSION (BELOW).
–Proposition F Revising the Residency Requirement for City Manager: Shall Section 4.01 be amended to require the City Manager reside within the boundaries of the Lake Travis Independent School District, instead of within the City limits?
If approved the requirement that the City Manager reside in the City limits would be modified, to require the City Manager to reside within the Lake Travis ISD boundaries within a reasonable time after accepting the appointment.
NO CHANGES.
ITEMS 23, 24 and 25: Executive Sessions on Consultation with Attorney/Police Personnel Matters, Personnel Matters/City Treasurer and on West Austin Business Park legal intervention. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
The above image shows the Christmas Tree cluster. Also known as NGC 2264, it is in the Milky Way galaxy, about 2,500 light-years from Earth. (Image credit: NASA/CXC/SAO.) The stars forming the cluster are very young, less than 5 million years old (compared to Earth’s sun, which is 5 billion years old). NASA space telescopes give Christmas Tree Cluster a festive makeover 12/19/24 https://www.space.com/the-universe/the-christmas-tree-cluster-gets-a-festive-makeover-photos
Mini-chopper Ingenuity was only intended to try a few test flights in the thin atmosphere of Mars, but she ended up flying for nearly 3 years, functioning as a valuable scout for companion rover Perseverance and sending amazing aerial photographs back to Earth. (Image credit: NASA.) Then–last January–disaster struck, and rotor damage kept Ingenuity from ever flying again. Perseverance moved on, leaving Ingenuity alone. But, now, NASA experts have assessed the chopper, finding systems (rotors aside) operational, sensors functioning, and batteries recharging normally. So, Ingenuity has a new role–weather station, recording telemetry, taking images every sol and storing data on board. For now, Perseverance is still within range to transfer Ingenuity’s findings to Earth, but that will change soon. Ingenuity can store 20 years of data, and it will be up to NASA to send humans to Mars, in order to and collect Ingenuity and her decades of data, along with the many samples that Perseverance is collecting from Mars. After crashing on Mars, NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter could live on as a weather station for 20 years 12/11/24 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/mars-rovers/after-crashing-on-mars-nasas-ingenuity-helicopter-could-live-on-as-a-weather-station-for-20-years
The above image shows the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters. (Image credit: Francesco Pelizzo.) This formation is about 400 light years away from Earth. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241209.html
If Santa drops a drone down your chimney this year, the linked article will help you fly it legally. After all, drones are everywhere these days—in the skies and in the news. (Image credit: James Abbott.) Per the article, recreational pilots must complete the online (and free) Trust test, which teaches you the general rules for flying drones. With drones, weight is key; drones weighing less than 0.55 pounds can be flown recreationally without having to register with the FAA, but drones weighing weigh between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds must be registered. Online registration costs $5 per drone and is valid for 3 years. Generally, you can fly up to 400FT above ground level; if your drone is within 400FT of a structure/building, you can fly up to 400FT above that. You must keep your drone within your visual line of sight at all times during flight and if flying an FPV drone with goggles, you will need a spotter to maintain visual line of sight of the drone for you. Obviously, there are rules against flying in restricted airspace such as close to airports, military bases and other sensitive areas. (Yes, there’s an app for that—B4UFLY.) Note that states have their own rules, especially as to privacy. Finally, commercial pilots must be certified and are subject to even more guidelines. Drone regulations: everything you need to know for safe and legal drone flight 12/16/24 https://www.space.com/drone-regulations-everything-you-need-to-know
SpaceX has petitioned for a special election to incorporate its Starbase site in Boca Chica, TX, as a city, which it claims will become the Gateway to Mars. (Image credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune.) The spaceport, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, is 25 miles east of Brownsville, in Cameron County. Spread across acres of previously undeveloped land, Starbase includes launch pads, office space and dozens of portable homes for employees. However, it is surrounded by environmentally sensitive areas and public parkland. SpaceX wants to turn its Texas launch site into a city 12/12/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/12/spacex-starbase-city-texas-cameron-county/
Elon Musk and SpaceX face at least three federal reviews over compliance with reporting rules aimed at protecting national security, the New York Times reported on Dec. 17. (Image credit: REUTERS.) The Air Force, the Defense Department’s inspector general, and the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security all have ongoing reviews. “Elon Musk and his rocket company, SpaceX, have repeatedly failed to comply with federal reporting protocols aimed at protecting state secrets, including by not providing some details of his meetings with foreign leaders,” the Times report said. In addition, The Times said the Air Force recently denied Musk high-level security access, citing potential security risks. American allies including Israel flagged concerns that Musk could share sensitive data. Plus, Musk reportedly has held multiple private calls with Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, raising security concerns. Elon Musk, SpaceX face federal reviews over security, NYT reports 12/17/24 https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/elon-musk-spacex-face-federal-reviews-over-security-nyt-reports/ar-AA1w2r0I
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
In September of 2021, Texas banned most abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy. Then, in summer 2022, Texas expanded that ban to ALL abortions from the moment of conception, except to save the life of the pregnant patient. Texas, like most states, has a maternal mortality committee, responsible for reviewing maternal deaths and near-deaths. The committee’s last report, released in September, showed that maternal deaths surged in 2020 and 2021 (even with COVID deaths excluded). But, forget about disclosure of maternal deaths in the post-Roe years of 2022 and 2023. Thecommittee is skipping forward to review deaths from 2024. Omitting review of the first 2 years under the abortion ban is no coincidence. In addition, the Texas Legislature is working to remove Texas from the federal maternal death tracking system, blocking disclosure of how many Texas women have been killed by the state’s abortion ban. Texas committee defends decision to skip reviews of post-abortion ban maternal deaths 12/6/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/06/texas-maternal-mortality-committee-deaths/
Texas AG Ken Paxton has sued a New York doctor for violating Texas abortion laws. Everyone knew it was coming, but this seems to be the first suit by a red state desperate to interfere in the laws of a blue state. Paxton accuses Dr. Margaret Carpenter of mailing abortion pills from New York to a 20-year-old woman in Collin County who was 9 weeks pregnant, after a telemed health appointment. Paxton demands a Texas court block Dr. Carpenter from continuing to violate Texas law, and order her to pay $100,000 for every violation of the state’s near-total abortion ban. (So, $100,000 for the Collin County patient, plus $100,000 for each and every other Texas patient getting pills mailed by Dr. Carpenter.) Not only is abortion legal in New York under Roe rules, that state has (wisely) adopted a shield law protecting providers from out-of-state investigations and prosecutions, allowing doctors to mail abortion pills into states that have banned the procedure. Paxton argues that Texas women should be prohibited from accessing abortion in other states because it’s illegal in Texas. Really? Nothing else works that way, but for the extreme right, state lines amount to prison bars, trapping Texas women inside the state. Bet on this case—or one very like it—heading for the US Supreme Court very soon. Ken Paxton sues New York doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills to Texas woman 12/13/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-paxton-abortion-pill-mail-lawsuit/
Back to me….
My kitty girls all have birthdays in December. Maxie turned 18, Tulip turned 14, and Peanut turned 12. So, all month around here, lots of new toys and catnip everywhere…. Plus, all the dried salmon chunks (SO stinky!) they can eat–they ADORE those.
Happily, all 3 cats have been very good about the Christmas decor this year. Ho, Ho, Ho!!!
Our deer herd is still doing the rut dance. The females hang out together and seem to be very happy campers. But, I feel sorry for the bucks, each of whom is off on his own for 2-3 months. It isn’t easy being the most studly buck in the history of the world (even if that’s just in your overly-antlered head). Here are some photos I took in the last couple weeks in Old Lakeway (all does, except for one baby buck).
Coronavirus Update
Covid-19 activity ticked upward over the last 2 weeks. Indicators (test positivity, ER visits, hospitalizations and deaths) increased as of Dec. 14. As always in winter, look for the upward trend to continue as holiday travel and gatherings spread Covid, along with flu and everything else. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
As of Dec. 14, national wastewater viral testingINCREASED from low to MODERATE. Texas as a state tested LOW (up from MINIMAL levels last time).https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/index.html
This fall’s edition of the Covid-19 vaccine is available in local pharmacies.
Singalong Christmas Show at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, there are TWO showings for Sing We Now of Christmas: 2PM and 4PM, at LAC(105 Cross Creek). This will be the 24th year for local singers to present an annual Christmas show. Price of admission is an UNWRAPPED TOY for a child up to age 17 (for LTLov’s Green Santa to distribute to children in needy local families.)
Bee Cave on Ice
Running now through Jan. 5, the Hill Country Galleria hosts an ice skating rink in the Central Plaza. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Hours are Mon.-Thur. 3pm-9pm (last session at 8pm); Fri. 12pm-9pm (last session at 8pm); Sat. 10am-10pm (last session at 9pm); and Sun. 10am-7pm (last session at 6pm). The fee is $15/hour, except $10 on Tuesdays (fees include skate rental). More info and you can make reservations here: https://www.hillcountrygalleria.com/event/bee-cave-on-ice/2145577106
Christmas at the Library
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, 6:30PM, head over to Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) for their Holiday Party. Enjoy games, crafts, refreshments, PLUS there will be a VERY SPECIAL GUEST to awe the tots and pose for fun photos.
Coffee with a Cop
On Tue., Dec. 10, 8-10AM, stop by Whataburger (2011 RR 620 South) to meet Lakeway police officers in a relaxed setting. Ask questions, have a chat, and enjoy a hot beverage as well. Info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1571/Coffee-With-A-Cop
Lake Travis Democrats—Get Early Bird Rate on Holiday Party NOW.
—Banned Book Club Holiday Party: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 6PM at Grill-on Tex Mex (107 RR 620 South.
—Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Speakers will be Brian Pena (President of the UT Democrats) and Robert Norris (President of Grandparents for Public Schools).
—Banned Book Club: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). Our book is “Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou.
Movie Night: A Christmas Story at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Friday, Dec. 13, at 6PM, bring the family over to the LAC parking lot (105 Cross Creek) for a FREE outside showing of the holiday film, A Christmas Story, on the massive LED screen. Bring blankets and chairs, and enjoy hot chocolate and food from vendors. Later, stroll through the Trail of Lights next door at City Hall. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2109/Christmas-Movie
Classical Ballet: The Nutcracker at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Sunday, Dec. 15, 3PM at LAC (105 Cross Creek), Metamorphosis Dance presents excerpts from The Nutcracker. This FREE performance is sponsored by Lakeway Arts Committee. More info here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2212/Nutcracker
TexArts Productions
TexArts has holiday and 2025 productions scheduled, presented at its NEW theater located in the heart of Lakeway at 1110 Ranch Road 620 South. Go here for details and to buy tickets: https://www.tex-arts.org/upcoming-productions
Through Dec. 15: Elf–The Musical
Feb. 14-March 2: Tick, Tick … Boom!
July 11-Aug. 10: Bye Bye Birdie
Lakeway’s Trail of Lights
Enjoy all the holiday light scenes at the annual Trail of Lights. It starts on Dec. 6 and continues nightly 6PM-midnight throughout December. The walkable display is located below City Hall, at 1102 Lohmans Crossing Road. More parking is available at the adjacent Activity Center,105 Cross Creek. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/721/Trail-of-Lights
(Results of Council’s Dec. 2 Charter Review meeting are posted below, at the end of this section.)
Holiday Music at the Library.
On Friday, Dec. 20 at 3PM, enjoy holiday music at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). This FREE event is courtesy of local musician and classical guitarist Mark Anthony Cruz.
Give the Gift of the Symphony.
Make the holidays special by giving the Gift of Symphony. EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW ON SALE for “A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra.” This will be Lakeway’s 5th annual collaborative concert experience featuring members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and talented musicians with the Lake Travis High School Band and Orchestra. Concert is on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 4PM, at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center (3324 Ranch Rd 620 South). Early bird ticket prices range from $15 to $50; or, opt for the VIP option to meet the musicians at a special dinner the evening before the event. Info and tickets here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest
Santa needs your help, making Christmas bright for local families.
12:31 is a LOCAL, registered, 501(c)(3) group,with over 7,000 members serving students and families within LTISD. (Tax ID number–EIN: 88-2279325.) For Christmas, the group hopes to provide gifts to the kids and necessities for more than 40 local families. That is a lot of wish lists to fill, and Santa needs your help. Email mike.dahlhauser@twelvethirtyone.org or go here to join the Facebook group and see what you can do for our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/twelve31
Swim Center is CLOSED for Renovations.
The Lakeway Swim Center is undergoing a full deck resurfacing and is CLOSED from Nov. 21 through Dec. 18 [UPDATED] to complete the project. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/84/Swim-Center
Lane Closures Continue on Lohmans Spur.
Utility work is ongoing related to the future extension of Lohmans Spur into the new City Center development area. As a result, the right northbound lane of Lohmans Spur, on BOTH sides of Lohmans Crossing, has been closed since Oct. 7 and will continue that way for several weeks. Expect congestion and delays at the Lohmans Crossing light near the Police Station.
Teen Art Contest Winners on Display at the Library
During December, all the winning entries will be on display in the meeting room of Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). Students in grades 6 through 12 creates original pieces of art inspired by their reading experiences. Stop by to view all 6 award-winning entries and 8 honorable mentions.
House Watch
If you are traveling over the holidays or only occupy your home here part-time, Lakeway Police Department provides a House Watch program, at no charge. Just let them know, and officers will perform close patrols of the address and contact you if anything appears suspicious. Call 512-261-2800 for info and go here to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1305/House-Watch-Request
Lake Travis Community Library DELIVERS.
For those homebound due to mobility or medical issues, staffwill deliver books, DVDs, audios and more, on a monthly basis. Call (512) 263-2885 to get started.
New Years—Polar Bear Plunge.
On Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9-10AM, swing by Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) with your towel and DIVE INTO 2026! This FREE event is fun for all ages. After your bracing plunge, warm up with delicious refreshments and snacks, and relax in the cozy warming location. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2034/Polar-Bear-Plunge
Council met on Dec. 2–CHARTER REVIEW.
All Council members attended in person on the dais. Only 5 Charter Review Committee members attended (Chairperson Louis Mastrangelo, Sanjeev Kumar, Troy Dunson, Brad Heilman, and Erik Mulloy). RESULTS:
ITEM 6: Council/Charter Review Committee WORKSHOP. Charter Review committee members presented their 17 suggested Charter changes. Council’s goal seemed to be understanding where each suggestion originated (a Councilmember, City Manager, City Attorney, etc.), its purpose (housekeeping or something substantive), and the priority placed on it. (17 ballot proposals would be impractical; Council hopes to limit it to 5 or so items for residents to vote on in May.)
ITEM 7: DISCUSSION of Proposed Charter Amendments. After Charter Review Committee exited, Council had a limited discussion. In most cases, it was just to rank items by priority; few subjective comments were made. The 17 suggested changes were put into 3 categories (rejected, just handle via ordinance, and consider for Charter change), as follows (the numbers refer to item placement on the original list of 17 suggestions.)
Consider for Charter change—
#1 Removal of City Treasurer Role: Amendments to remove the Treasurer position and redistribute its responsibilities to the Finance Director.
#2 Elimination of City Building Commission (CBC): Repealing provisions for a Building Commission whose remaining functions can be moved to the Zoning and Planning Commission (ZAPCO) and Board of Adjustment (BOA).
#7 Board of Ethics Removal: Eliminating the Board of Ethics, with responsibilities managed via ordinances.
#13 Board Appointments: Updating the appointment process [in fact, the proposal is a radical overhaul of the city’s committee appointment process and our volunteer system] and terms for board, commission, and committee members.
#16 Police Department Governance: Allowing the City Manager to approve police policies and procedures.
#17 Residency Requirement Removal: Removing the residency requirement for the City Manager.
Handle via ordinance—
#5 Contingent Appropriations: Changing the budget contingency fund requirement to a minimum percentage of revenues.
#6 Property Tax Payments: Transitioning property tax collection to the County Tax Assessor.
#12 Public Records Access: Modernizing references to public record availability per the Texas Public Information Act.
#15 Interim City Manager Roles: Establishing clear provisions for temporary or interim City Manager appointments.
Rejected—
#3 City Attorney Management: Updating governance to ensure the City Attorney is managed by the City Council.
#4 Municipal Judge Appointment: Shifting the appointment of the Municipal Judge to the City Manager with Council approval.
#8 City Secretary Title Update: Renaming the City Secretary to City Clerk, with corresponding updates throughout the Charter.
#9 Court Clerk Title Update: Changing the title of Court Clerk to Court Administrator.
#10 ZAPCO Jurisdiction Revision: Removing references to the Zoning and Planning Commission regulating development in the ETJ.
#11 Council Term Limits Clarification: Adding language to clarify term limits and election cycle requirements.
#14 City Manager and Staff Relations: Clearly defining boundaries between the City Council and the City Manager’s supervisory roles.
Council’s deadline (per state law) for calling a May election as to Charter changes is Feb. 14. Council instructed the City Attorney to prepare ballot language for the 6 items prioritized above for Charter change (items 1, 2, 7, 13, 16 and 17), if possible to be reviewed and discussed at the Dec. 16 Council meeting.
No, the above image isn’t my technical screw up. It is Cosmic Latte, the official color of our universe. It is what experts say the result would look like if all the stars, planets and everything else in the universe got tossed into a really big blender. (Image Credit: Karl Glazebook and Ivan Baldry.) https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241201.html
Currently, NASA is working on decommissioning the aging International Space Station. In continuous service since 1998, ISS is now considered a problem child with constant repairs, unexpected breakdowns, and increasing safety concerns for the humans stationed there. Plans are for ISS, in 2031, to be sent into a “safe, controlled deorbit.” Some of the station should burn up during re-entry, with anything left ending up in “remote ocean territory.” Nasa recently announced that Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been chosen (via a contract valued at $843 million) to design the deorbit vehicle that would guide the ISS in total (all 450 tons of it) to its fiery death. Now, people are starting to question whether that suicide dive could harm Earth, including by polluting air and water. Agencies worldwide are asking questions; one thing missing is solid international law covering this kind of thing. Suggested options include disassembling the ISS in space and returning it to Earth in chunks, as cargo on Earth-bound ships. Another option might be jettisoning pieces of the station outward into deep space. Will the International Space Station’s 2031 death dive cause pollution problems? 12/4/24 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/will-the-international-space-stations-2031-death-dive-cause-pollution-problems
Last week, NASA announced delays in the Artemis program, specifically the crewed missions previously planned for 2025 and 2026. Instead, Artemis 2 won’t take a crew of astronauts sling-shotting around the moon in an Orion capsule before 2026, and Artemis 3 won’t land astronauts in an Orion capsule on the moon until 2027. The reason for the delay was, basically, space travel is hard. (Image above is of uncrewed Artemis 1’s successful launch in 2022, credit: Getty.) NASA delays Artemis 2 moon mission to 2026, Artemis 3 astronaut landing to mid-2027 12/5/24 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/nasa-delays-artemis-2-moon-mission-to-april-2026-artemis-3-lunar-landing-to-mid-2027
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
Want your holiday donations to support your views in the current political climate? A recent New York Times article profiled a great option this way:
The Abortion Pill Sustainability Fund, a subsidiary of the nonprofit Healthcare Across Borders, offers a way to support doctors risking their safety to offer this essential care, allowing them to reach more women in need. The fund works with a network of doctors who operate on a sliding-scale basis. The Abortion Pill Sustainability Fund partly reimburses doctors for the free or low-cost care they’re offering, helping them to stay afloat. Supporting Local News, and Doctors Taking a Risk 11/29/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/29/opinion/charity-holiday-gift-local-news-doctors.html
Texas continues to shame the nation and kill its own residents. In 2023, Porsha Ngumezi, the 35-year old mother of 2, died at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, after suffering a miscarriage at 10 weeks. Instead of performing the standard dilation and curettage/D&C procedure to clear her uterus and stop the hemorrhaging, the obstetrician on duty delayed, through 2 transfusions, causing her an agonizing and drawn-out death. Experts say it was completely unnecessary. They blame Texas’ strict yet vague abortion law, which includes fines, loss of license and jail time for medical professionals violating it. A Third Woman Died Under Texas’ Abortion Ban. Doctors Are Avoiding D&Cs and Reaching for Riskier Miscarriage Treatments 11/25/24 https://www.propublica.org/article/porsha-ngumezi-miscarriage-death-texas-abortion-ban?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature
Back to me….
Yes, it is finally fall in Texas. So, instead of sweating on morning walks, my nose runs.
Somehow, it is already Christmas season. Last week, my neighbors and I got St. Andrews decked out for the holidays.
For our deer herd, rut season continues, with solitary bucks wandering around trying to look all tough and studly, while does hang out in groups talking trash about the boys. Or, so it seems to me…. Here are some photos I took in the last couple weeks in Old Lakeway and in The Hills.
The Lakeway Swim Center is undergoing a full deck resurfacing and is CLOSED from Nov. 21 through Dec. 10 to complete the project. (The Dec. 7 swim meet has been CANCELLED.) More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/84/Swim-Center
Lane Closures Continue on Lohmans Spur.
Utility work is ongoing related to the future extension of Lohmans Spur into the new City Center development area. As a result, the right northbound lane of Lohmans Spur, on BOTH sides of Lohmans Crossing, has been closed since Oct. 7 and will continue that way for several weeks. Expect congestion and delays at the Lohmans Crossing light near the Police Station.
WEST library location is OPEN.
The new library addition, known as West, is now OPEN. Located on 71 in Spicewood (21209 State Hwy. 71 78669), West is a newly renovated 5,000-square-foot facility providing easy access to library services for Bee Creek, Briarcliff, Rough Hollow, Spicewood, and Travis Settlement, plus the Sweetwater and West Cypress Hills developments. At West, patrons will find books, audiobooks, magazines and DVDs, as well as public computers with printing services, a dedicated children’s area, a study room, a covered patio, and a drive-thru window for reserve pick-up and returns. A notary public, interlibrary loans and the library’s digital collection will also be available. West is managed by Assistant Library Director Raj Kamat, who has been with the Lake Travis Community Library for over 6 years. Currently, West is open Monday: 10am – 7pm; Tuesday: 10am – 4pm; Wednesday: 10am – 4pm; and Saturday: 10am – 4pm. See the Lake Travis Community Library fundraising page for naming opportunities still available at West: https://laketravislibrary.org/fundraising/
Lakeway TRASH COLLECTION over Thanksgiving holiday runs one day late.
Waste Connections WILL collect garbage and recycling during Thanksgiving Week (Nov. 25-30). Scheduled collections on Monday-Wednesday will be as usual. If you are scheduled for Thursday collection, that will bump out to Friday. If you are scheduled for Friday collection, that will bump out to Saturday.
House Watch
If you are traveling over the holidays or only occupy your home here part-time, Lakeway Police Department provides a House Watch program, at no charge. Just let them know, and officers will perform close patrols of the address and contact you if anything appears suspicious. Call 512-261-2800 for info and go here to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1305/House-Watch-Request
Need a RIDE? Want to VOLUNTEER to drive seniors?
Chariot is a FREE service providing rides (for medical appointments and grocery shopping) to non-driving folks age 60 and over. Chariot has been operating across Central Texas (including Lakeway!) since 1988. Riders must be mobile to use the service; wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Mission statement: “Chariot enriches lives and communities by providing transportation and socialization to non-driving seniors, helping them to age in place.” Volunteer drivers, who must be over 21 with a high school diploma or higher plus a valid driver’s license, are critical to Chariot’s success and use their own vehicles. Click this link or call 512-445-5552 for info and to either set up a ride or volunteer as a driver: https://chariot.org/
Lake Travis Community Library provides TECH HELP.
Drop in from noon to 2PM Monday-Thursday and work with one of the tech coaches (1938 Lohmans Crossing). They can help with questions about your smartphone, tablet, computer OR any of the library’s own services like the Libby app. They also provide help via email or phone, and there is a weekly ZOOM session. More info is here: https://laketravislibrary.org/tech-coach/
Lake Travis Democrats—Get Early Bird Rate on Holiday Party NOW.
Make the holidays special by giving the Gift of Symphony. EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW ON SALE for “A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra.” This will be Lakeway’s 5th annual collaborative concert experience featuring members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and talented musicians with the Lake Travis High School Band and Orchestra. Concert is on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 4PM, at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center (3324 Ranch Rd 620 South). Early bird ticket prices range from $15 to $50; or, opt for the VIP option to meet the musicians at a special dinner the evening before the event. Info and tickets here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest
Bee Cave on Ice
Running now through Jan. 5, the Hill Country Galleria hosts an ice skating rink in the Central Plaza. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Hours are Mon.-Thur. 3pm-9pm (last session at 8pm); Fri. 12pm-9pm (last session at 8pm); Sat. 10am-10pm (last session at 9pm); and Sun. 10am-7pm (last session at 6pm). The fee is $15/hour, except $10 on Tuesdays (fees include skate rental). More info and you can make reservations here: https://www.hillcountrygalleria.com/event/bee-cave-on-ice/2145577106
Tentatively, the Dec. 2 Special Meeting will be a joint session with Council and the Charter Review Committee. If, so, the group will explore the 17 Lakeway Charter changes recently proposed by the committee. Two of the items were voted down by residents in 2020. Several items were suggested by staff as procedural clean up measures. But, other items would make substantive changes to how the city operates, particularly as to volunteers and committee appointments, as to the Ethics Committee, as to our elections, and as to the power distribution among Mayor, City Manager and Council. Changes that Council accepts must be voted on by residents, likely in the May, 2025, local election. During the week prior to Dec. 2, check here for the Agenda and Meeting Packet: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
(Results of Council’s Nov. 18 meeting are posted below, at the end of this section.)
TexArts Productions
TexArts has holiday and 2025 productions scheduled, presented at its NEW theater located in the heart of Lakeway at 1110 Ranch Road 620 South. Go here for details and to buy tickets: https://www.tex-arts.org/upcoming-productions
Nov. 22-Dec. 15: Elf–The Musical
Feb. 14-March 2: Tick, Tick … Boom!
July 11-Aug. 10: Bye Bye Birdie
Light Up the Plaza
On Friday, Nov. 29, head over to Hill Country Galleria for its Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, in the Central Plaza. Event runs 5PM-9PM; tree lighting is set for 6:30PM. Family fun includes live music, ice-skating, giveaways, face painting and refreshments. FREE admission and parking. More info here: https://www.hillcountrygalleria.com/event/light-up-the-plaza/2145577001
Drop off Green Santa gifts for kids at the library by Dec. 3.
LTLov’s Green Santa program provides gifts and toys to local children and families in need. Suggested gifts include sports equipment, dolls, puzzles, gift cards, toddler toys, and art supplies. Drop off donations by Tue., Dec. 3, at Lake Travis Community Library(1938 Lohmans Crossing). Cash donations are also accepted via Venmo. Info here: https://ltlov.org/#green-santa
Lights On!
Lakeway kicks off the holiday season on Friday, Dec. 6, at 6PM, with the official lighting of the Trail of Lights. This FREE annual family event takes place in the Lakeway City Hall Parking Lot (1102 Lohmans Crossing); additional parking is available nearby at Lakeway Activity Center and the Justice Center. In addition to the light ceremony, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves will be there to meet children, listen to holiday wishes, and pose for photos. Plus—live music, s’mores and a variety of food from local vendors, and more holiday cheer. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1427/Lights-On
Lakeway’s Trail of Lights
Enjoy all the holiday light scenes at the annual Trail of Lights. It starts on Dec. 6 and continues nightly 6PM-midnight throughout December. The walkable display is located below City Hall, at 1102 Lohmans Crossing Road. More parking is available at the adjacent Activity Center,105 Cross Creek. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/721/Trail-of-Lights
Singalong Christmas Show at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, there are TWO showings for Sing We Now of Christmas: 2PM and 4PM, at LAC(105 Cross Creek). This will be the 24th year for local singers to present an annual Christmas show. Price of admission is an UNWRAPPED TOY for a child up to age 17 (for LTLov’s Green Santa to distribute to children in needy local families.)
Movie Night: A Christmas Story at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Friday, Dec. 13, at 6PM, bring the family over to the LAC parking lot (105 Cross Creek) for a FREE outside showing of the holiday film, A Christmas Story, on the massive LED screen. Bring blankets and chairs, and enjoy hot chocolate and food from vendors. Later, stroll through the Trail of Lights next door at City Hall. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2109/Christmas-Movie
Classical Ballet: The Nutcracker at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Sunday, Dec. 15, 3PM at LAC (105 Cross Creek), Metamorphosis Dance presents excerpts from The Nutcracker. This FREE performance is sponsored by Lakeway Arts Committee. More info here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2212/Nutcracker
Holiday Music at the Library.
On Friday, Dec. 20 at 3PM, enjoy holiday music at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing), courtesy of local musician and classical guitarist Mark Anthony Cruz.
New Years—Polar Bear Plunge.
On Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9-10AM, swing by Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) with your towel and DIVE INTO 2026! This FREE event is fun for all ages. After your bracing plunge, warm up with delicious refreshments and snacks, and relax in the cozy warming location. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2034/Polar-Bear-Plunge
Council met on Nov. 18.
RESULTS–All members attended the meeting, in person on the dais.
ITEM 11 (part of the Consent Agenda): Allowing golf course maintenance (and the noise it produces) to start at 6:30AM YEAR-ROUND (instead of just during the summer, May-Sept., but 7AM the rest of the year), with city staff able to grant permission for a 6AM start time on a limited basis (up to 6 days a year).
–The Item was pulled from the Consent Agenda. In discussion, members agreed that the early start allowed for the summer was NOT intended to extend year-round. However, especially in light of NO public objections this time around, members were open to golf course needs, since it is one of Lakeway’s oldest and largest businesses. Council UNANIMOUSLY AGREED to a 6:30AM daily start time, as a 6-month trial, with review in May. (Residents should document and report any violations—activity/noise prior to 6:30AM–so they can be part of that review.)
ITEM 13: Citizens Participation for items NOT on the agenda.
–One person spoke, regarding a chronic problem with dogs allowed off leash at City Park.
ITEM 14: Financial Report.
–At the start of the fiscal year, the city is $537,000 to the good, budget-wise, largely due to timing of various revenues and expenditures that will likely balance out as the year progresses.
ITEM 15: Amending the Hillsong PUD Agreement, which covers 25.949 acres at 15617 Flint Rock Rd., specifically changing the commercial use of the 3.09 acre portion (now owned by Travis County Emergency Services District Six/Lake Travis Fire and Rescue) to GUI so that a fire station (50’ max height) can be built there, plus replacing the approved public park with a $567,000 fee-in-lieu and allocating impervious cover between the 3.09 acre portion and the 22.859 acre home build portion (126 residences).
–UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. (Don’t get too excited; construction on this fire station won’t start before 2030.)
ITEM 16: Approval of a 100-year Special Use Permit so that a general use STORAGE FACILITY CAN BE BUILT IN ROUGH HOLLOW, specifically on 4.5 acres at 1900 Highlands (adjacent to the traffic circle). [NOTE: The storage facility was added in a PUD Amendment back in 2021, when terms were renegotiated; community benefits (including dedication of parkland as promised in the original PUD) were balanced with financial incentives to the developer (including additional condos and this storge facility). However, city code establishes guidelines for approval of special uses like storage facilities, including evaluating the effect on the neighborhood and considering whether it would be a nuisance. Lakeway has long denied storage facilities within city limits. In 2019, the same developer tried to add a storage facility to a Town Center/Tuscan Village 2 mixed use tract; ZAPCO reviewed the request per code guidelines and unanimously denied it, such that the developer withdrew the proposal. Surely, Rough Hollow deserves the same consideration and protection as central Lakeway.]
–After very brief discussion and 2 residents commenting against it, CouncilUNANIMOUSLY APPROVED a storage facility in Rough Hollow.
ITEM 17: Creating an Animal Shelter Advisory Committee to oversee care of lost, stray, abandoned and surrendered animals at Lakeway’s Animal Control Facility. Proposed committee members: 1) Veterinarian Heidi Moore; 2) Councilmember Jennifer Szimanski; 3) Animal Control Officer Andrea Greig; 4) Mike Dwinal of Highland Lakes Canine Rescue; and 5) Police Lt. Jason Brown.
— UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEM 18: Discussion/possible action re: role of the Economic Development Committee.
–After discussion, Council asked for a formal EDC report at the December or January Council meeting, so that further action could be taken then.
ITEM 19: Resolution casting the city’s 10 votes in the election for 5 seats on the Travis County Appraisal District Board of Directors. (Lakeway previously nominated Thomas Kilgore, Gretchen Vance, Matt Sherman, Jim Gray and Ken Bautsch.)
–After discussion about giving all 10 votes to 1 nominee to maximize chances of getting a non-Austin person elected, Counsel AGREED (6/0/1 Szimanski abstaining) to give all 10 votes to Thomas Kilgore.
ITEM 20: Discussion/possible action re: Rebel Park and Sailfish Park. (A report by Mayor Kilgore was recently added to the Meeting Packet, indicating the issue is finding the best way to correct errors made when these properties were deeded to the city in 1995 as parkland, even though the tracts may not meet the state definition of parkland.)
–Council discussed the issue, and a few residents made comments. By state law, parks—but not green space–must be ADA compliant, now exposing the city to liability. Due to steep topography, neither tract is suitable for development as a park, though the land is valuable as green space, for humans and for wildlife. Some of the land likely could be used for homes or commercial purpose, which no one favors. An additional complication is that several adjacent homeowners have built docks that encroach on these tracts, resulting in title problems. The city might normally sell the submerged land to them, except that parkland cannot be sold without voter approval; in 2012, the city tried to get voter approval to sell the submerged land to those homeowners, but that failed. Possible solutions mentioned in discussion included doing a deed correction/revision, trying another ballot initiative, somehow changing the designation from parkland to green space, and taking action to cause the land to revert to the donor (Lakeway Civic Corp.) which could request a zoning change and then re-gift it to the city as green space, etc. (NOTE: the city attorney was skeptical that some of the suggestions were legal options.) After discussion, COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF to pursue the possibility with LCC of deed correction/revision as first choice and ballot initiative as second choice; returning the land to LCC was not favored.
ITEM 21: Executive Session on West Austin Park legal intervention.
In the above image, a distant and tiny Earth is setting behind the moon’s bright edge, as seen from an external camera on the outbound Orion spacecraft during day 6 of the Artemis 1 mission on November of 2022. (Image credit: NASA, Artemis 1.) https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241120.html
Starship is loud. REALLY loud. New studies show that SpaceX’s new Starship rocket far exceeds projected maximum noise levels, generating a sonic boom so powerful it risks property damage in the densely populated residential community near its South Texas launch site. (Image credit: Meridith Kohut for The New York Times.) Starship is as tall as a 30-story building, and it generates 10 times as much noise as the Falcon 9 rocket that SpaceX now uses to get cargo and astronauts to orbit. For residents of South Padre Island and Port Isabel, just 6 miles from the launch site, the noise during the October test flight was the equivalent of standing 200 feet from a Boeing 747 plane during its takeoff. It was about 1.5 times as loud on the ground as the Concorde sonic boom; when supersonic Concorde jets were still in service, the US banned them from flying over domestic land. In South Texas, car alarms go off, and normal life is disrupted in countless ways with every launch. Structural damage is being documented. There are dozens of homes in Boca Chica village, less than two miles from the launchpad, and in rural areas nearby. The area is also surrounded by a national wildlife refuge and state park that are home to several endangered or threatened birds and turtles, which may also be harmed by the noise and vibrations. SpaceX plans to launch its very loud mega-rocket from 2 sites near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as well as from South Texas. Per SpaceX, as many as 400 launches will happen in the next 4 years. SpaceX Starship’s Sonic Boom Creates Risk of Structural Damage, Test Finds 11/18/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/us/politics/spacex-starship-sonic-boom-damage.html
On Nov. 18, a federal judge in Wyoming struck down 2 state laws that ban surgical abortion and pills used in medication abortion, as violating the Wyoming constitution. The judge found that Wyoming’s Life Act and Medication Abortion Ban “impede the fundamental right to make health care decisions for an entire class of people, pregnant women.” As a result, abortion is now available in Wyoming until fetal viability. The state is expected to appeal to the Wyoming Supreme Court. Judge strikes down Wyoming’s abortion laws, saying they violate state constitution 11/19/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/judge-strikes-wyomings-abortion-bans-saying-violate-state-constitution-rcna180731
Federal laws allow pills used in medication abortion to be accessed by women nationwide. Now, several states with abortion bans are challenging the federal laws with the antiquated pronatalist argument. The attorneys general of Idaho, Kansas and Missouri claim that abortion access is causing them to lose population, with decreased births inflicting “a sovereign injury to the state itself.” This is the latest twist in the Texas case purposely placed with abortion foe Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, the only sitting judge in the Northern District of Texas; last year, the US Supreme Court found the doctors who originally brought the case lacked standing. Kacsmaryk is likely to buy the argument that states need to make women have more babies, sending the case up to the far-right 5th Circuit Appeals Court; the next stop will be SCOTUS, again. The New Anti-Abortion Argument Takes Us Back to the 19th Century 11/18/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/opinion/abortion-medication-courts.html
Back to me….
If you are planning to cook for Thanksgiving—and even if you aren’t—here is a tip: CLEAN THE FILTER IN YOUR DISHWASHER. If this isn’t on your list of routine fun chores, trust me, it should be. The filter collects food bits, so build up causes your dishwasher to smell, function poorly, leak, and break down. Paying a big plumber’s bill is even worse when it is to fix something totally preventable, like a clogged dishwasher filter.
Plus, this is easy to do. Pull the lower rack out of the way and inspect the bottom of your dishwasher for something looking like a filter. (As with so much in life, your cell phone’s flashlight helps a lot with this.) Remove the filter. Gag. Dump the worst of the mess into the garbage can. Use an old toothbrush to scrape off the rest, then scrub the filter with your favorite cleaner. Replace the filter. Vow to do this chore regularly. Brag to your friends and scare them into doing this, too.
Rut season is underway, so watch for adult deer rampaging through the streets. Actually, things are generally much more sedate than that; this is Lakeway, after all. I have seen deer on most of my recent morning walks, often groups of several placid females–mature does, plus females born earlier this year and too young to be of interest to the VERY mature buck invariably lurking with high hopes just outside each group. (Happily, Lakeway’s bucks are morally superior to Matt Gaetz, in that regard.) Here are some of the photos I took in the last couple weeks.
Long term studies of 2020 Covid patients show that getting Covid—even a mild case—DOUBLES THE RISK of having a heart attack or a stroke over the next THREE YEARS. For reasons not yet understood, the risk was heightened for people with blood type A or B. This is just 1 more reason to stay current with your Covid-19 vaccination. COVID-19 may increase heart attack and stroke risk for years 10/9/24 https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/10/09/covid-19-may-increase-heart-attack-and-stroke-risk-for-years
This fall’s edition of the Covid-19 vaccine is available in local pharmacies.
Join the Lakeway community on Monday, Nov. 11, at 11AM, at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) to honor our military veterans. Check here for more details as the date nears: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2142/Veterans-Day
Lane Closures Continue—Lohmans Spur
Utility work is ongoing related to the future extension of Lohmans Spur into the new City Center development area. As a result, the right northbound lane of Lohmans Spur, on BOTH sides of Lohmans Crossing, is closed starting Oct. 7 and continuing for several weeks. Expect congestion and delays at the Lohmans Crossing light near the Police Station.
Give Blood at Lakeway Activity Center.
The next blood drive at LAC is on Saturday, Nov. 16, 8am-noon. The event is always well organized, clean and friendly. You will be done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause and helps countless people. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES! While walk-ins are welcome, those with appointments have priority. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here: https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/
College Gameday
On Sat., Nov. 16, 11AM, head over to Lakeway Swim Center Field (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) for a Watch Party and Tailgate. Catch the Texas Longhorns wrapping up their .SEC season, playing the Arkansas Razorbacks, the with the game streamed live on a giant LED screen. Plus– featuring food vendors, yard games, inflatables, face painting, and more. Info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2077/College-Gameday
On Monday, Nov. 18, 5:30-6:30PM, stop by Lakeway City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing) for a reception with light refreshments and view the winning entries in the Lakeway Photo Festival.
Art Demonstration at the Library
Drop in at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing), on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 10:30-11:30AM, to catch a painting demonstration by artist Penny Jamrack. Plus, her watercolor and acrylic paintings are on display in the meeting room all month.
Lake Travis Democrats Club
Monthly meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Speaker is Bruce Elfant, Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar.
Banned Book Club: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). The book is Carl Hiaasen’s Squeeze Me, a novel filled with political intrigue and social absurdity.
Holiday Party: Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6PM at LaQuinta Inn & Suites (1943 Medical Drive in Lakeway). Enjoy food, music, and fun with your Dem friends. Details and ticket sales will be announced soon, but save the date!
Drop off Unwanted Medications at Lakeway Police Station.
Monday through Friday, 8AM-5PM, residents can drop off expired/unwanted controlled pharmaceuticals AND over the counter medications at Lakeway Police Station (1941 Lohmans Crossing). Just go inside, and the volunteer at the reception desk will assist in depositing items into the secure bin. (Liquids and needles are NOT accepted.)
Books, Puzzles and Games Available at Lakeway Activity Center.
There are TWO lending libraries at LAC. Little Free Library out front is a bin containing adult hardbacks, and children’s books. Inside, Room E has paperbacks (for adults and kids), plus jigsaw puzzles and games. Call 512-261-1010 for more information or to make a donation.
House Watch
If you are traveling over the holidays or only occupy your home here part-time, Lakeway Police Department provides a House Watch program, at no charge. Just let them know, and officers will perform close patrols of the address and contact you if anything appears suspicious. Call 512-261-2800 for info and go here to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1305/House-Watch-Request
TexArts Productions
TexArts has holiday and winter productions scheduled, all presented at its NEW theater located in the heart of Lakeway at 1110 Ranch Road 620 South. Go here for details and to buy tickets: https://www.tex-arts.org/upcoming-productions
Nov. 22-Dec. 15: Elf–The Musical
Feb. 14-March 2: Tick, Tick … Boom!
Lights On!
Lakeway kicks off the holiday season on Friday, Dec. 6, at 6PM, with the official lighting of the Trail of Lights. This FREE annual family event takes place in the Lakeway City Hall Parking Lot (1102 Lohmans Crossing); additional parking is available nearby at Lakeway Activity Center and the Justice Center. In addition to the light ceremony, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves will be there to meet children, listen to holiday wishes, and pose for photos. Plus—live music, s’mores and a variety of food from local vendors, and more holiday cheer. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1427/Lights-On
Lakeway’s Trail of Lights
Enjoy all the holiday light scenes, traditional and modern, at the annual Trail of Lights. It starts on Dec. 6 and continues nightly 6PM-midnight throughout December. The walkable display is located below City Hall, at 1102 Lohmans Crossing Road. More parking is available at the adjacent and connected Activity Center,105 Cross Creek. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/721/Trail-of-Lights
Singalong Christmas Show at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, there are TWO showings for Sing We Now of Christmas: 2PM and 4PM, at LAC(105 Cross Creek). Price of admission is an UNWRAPPED TOY for child to age 17 (for LTlov’s Green Santa to distribute to children in needy local families).
Movie Night: A Christmas Story at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Friday, Dec. 13, at 6PM, bring the family over to the LAC parking lot (105 Cross Creek) for a FREE outside showing of the holiday film, A Christmas Story, on the massive LED screen. Bring blankets and chairs, and enjoy hot chocolate and food from vendors. Later, stroll through the Trail of Lights next door at City Hall. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2109/Christmas-Movie
Classical Ballet: The Nutcracker at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Sunday, Dec. 15, 3PM at LAC (105 Cross Creek), Metamorphosis Dance presents excerpts from The Nutcracker. This FREE performance is sponsored by Lakeway Arts Committee. More info here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2212/Nutcracker
Council met on Nov. 4 for a Special Meeting.
RESULTS: All 7 members attended the meeting, all in person.
ITEM 8: Discussion of the city’s legislative agenda for the upcoming 89th session of the Texas Legislature. [NOTE: The Consent Agenda included an item approving Kilgore, Brynteson and O’Brien as the Legislative Subcommittee.]
After discussion, Council UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED watching for related legislation as to staff’s 6 suggested items plus 2 more items, as follows:
Oppose any legislation that would erode authority of home rule cities;
Oppose any legislation that creates unfunded mandates;
Oppose any legislation that changes sales tax from destination to origin;
Support legislation that allows cities alternate methods for publications of legal notices;
Support legislation that expands allowable uses for Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds including proposed City of Lakeway carve out to provide for sports as an acceptable use for HOT funds;
Support legislation that will make beneficial amendments to HB 3167 (Shot Clock Bill), including applying it to ALL regulatory bodies and not just to municipalities;
Allow police to use non-lethal weapons; and
Provide standardized protection of all peace officers’ records/personnel files.
ITEM 9: Discussion and action on a Capital Improvement Plan and a City Fund Subcommittee.
Amidst repeated and unprofessional sniping by one Council Member against 2 others, Council agreed on the need for establishing a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as a sub-fund of the existing Capital Reserve Fund. The CIP would identify upcoming improvement projects (such as renovating City Hall, road work, etc.) with a cost estimate and time line, allowing Council to dedicate funds as needed. Goals are streamlining the annual budget process and funding projects over time, making bond requests the last resort and relatively rare. Further, Sherman, O’Brien and Kilgore agreed to serve on a new (and temporary) CIP Subcommittee to get this project up and running. STAFF WAS DIRECTED to draft a resolution declaring the above, to be included in the Consent Agenda of the next Council meeting.
ITEM 10: Discussion of Council objectives for FY 2025 and beyond.
During discussion, including input from Staff Department Heads, the following priorities for the next year were mentioned:
Charter Review completed and language drafted for the May ballot;
Launching the Loyal to Lakeway project (retail expansion/retention);
Emergency management, including costs;
Strengthening the noise ordinance;
ETJ issues;
Stratus parkland (including looking at building a wedding venue/small events venue there, possibly with HOT Funds and including a trolley connecting the 5 Lakeway hotels);
Sidewalk ordinance (restricting use by bikes, carts, etc.);
Create a new no-camping ordinance directed at the homeless;
620 traffic mitigation;
Water conservation (make sure all ordinances support this);
Better communication with HOAs and other residential groups;
Wildfire prevention;
Traffic mitigation on Flint Rock, Highlands and Serene Hills;
Clarify responsibilities of Economic Development Committee members and city staff;
Comprehensive Plan update; and
Review of the Tri-City Emergency Management set-up, including Bee Cave and The Hills possibly adding an Assistant to report to Director Yousofzoy, and a review of what Travis County emergency services continues to do for us.
The Orion Nebula, shown above, is an immense nursery for stars. It is only 1,500 light-years from Earth and positioned in the same spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy as our Sun. (Image credit: Fenyes Lorand.) https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241104.html
Nov. 8 was the beginning of the end for the International Space Station. A SpaceX Dragon cargo vehicle intentionally bumped ISS just so, boosting it into a slightly higher Earth orbit. (Image credit: NASA/Don Pettit.) This is a frequent utility procedure, to keep the ISS from falling out of orbit due to Earth’s gravitational pull, but previously the boost was delivered by a parked Russian Soyuz. The ISS has been in continuous use for 25 years, and Dragon’s handling the boost procedure was in order to collect data so SpaceX can design a deorbit vehicle; sometime after 2030, that vehicle will shove the decommissioned space station downward, causing it to plunge into the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX Dragon fires thrusters to boost ISS orbit for the 1st time 11/8/24 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/spacex-dragon-fires-thrusters-to-boost-iss-orbit-for-the-1st-time
On July 4, 1054 AD—nearly 1,000 years ago–people on Earth noticed a new bright light in their sky. It started out so bright it was easily seen even during the daytime; after about 2 years, it became too dim to see even at night. It was a supernova, and the above image (which we call the Crab Nebula) is what modern instruments show us today as the remnants of that long-ago explosion, that happened 6,500 light-years from Earth. (Image credit: NASA/ESA and Jeff Hester/Arizona State University.) A star exploded almost 1000 years ago and left us with the gorgeous Crab Nebula. Here’s how to see it 10/25/24 https://www.space.com/the-universe/stars/a-star-exploded-almost-1000-years-ago-and-left-us-with-the-gorgeous-crab-nebula-heres-how-to-see-it
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
More reports of Texas women dying from Trump’s abortion ban:
— Josseli Barnica, age 28, wanted to give her daughter a sibling, but she experienced a miscarriage at 17 weeks. However, her fetus failed to emerge fully, and she suffered in a Houston hospital bed for 40 hours while doctors dithered. Afraid of legal repercussions, they refused to speed up the delivery or empty her uterus to deter fatal infection. Three days after she finally delivered a stillborn fetus, Josseli Barnica died of massive infection. Medical experts say her death was preventable; they also call her case horrific. A Woman Died After Being Told It Would Be a “Crime” to Intervene in Her Miscarriage at a Texas Hospital 10/30/24 https://www.propublica.org/article/josseli-barnica-death-miscarriage-texas-abortion-ban
—Nevaeh Crain was 18 years old and 6 months pregnant on the day of her baby shower, when she became ill, feverish and vomiting. The first hospital said she had strep and sent her home without investigating her sharp abdominal cramps. At the second hospital, she tested positive for sepsis but doctors said her fetus had a heartbeat and sent her home. The third hospital—20 hours into her ordeal—finally admitted her, bleeding and crying in pain. But, an obstetrician insisted on two ultrasounds to “confirm fetal demise.” By then, her blood pressure had plummeted and her organs were failing. Within hours, Nevaeh Crain died. Instead of receiving prompt and life-saving care like other emergency patients, pregnant women in Texas are medically untouchable. A Pregnant Teenager Died After Trying to Get Care in Three Visits to Texas Emergency Rooms 11/1/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/nevaeh-crain-death-texas-abortion-ban-emtala/
On Nov. 3, 111 Texas OB-GYNs released a letter to elected state leaders, urging them to change abortion laws they say have prevented them from providing lifesaving care to pregnant women. They referenced recent reporting on two Texas pregnant women who died after medical staff delayed emergency care. Per the letter: “Josseli Barnica and Nevaeh Crain should be alive today. As OB-GYNs in Texas, we know firsthand how much these laws restrict our ability to provide our patients with quality, evidence-based care.” In 2021, Texas lawmakers passed a law prohibiting doctors from performing an abortion after six weeks. It allows members of the public to sue doctors or anyone who helps perform an abortion for $10,000. In addition, doctors who violate the law risk losing their medical license and spending life in prison. Texas OB-GYNs urge lawmakers to change abortion laws after reports on pregnant women’s deaths 11/3/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/03/texas-ob-gyn-letter-abortion-laws/
On Nov. 5, Amarillo voters resoundingly rejected a proposal to make it illegal to use local streets and highways to obtain an out-of-state abortion. Proposition A lost by 20 percentage points, making conservative Amarillo the first Texas city to reject an anti-abortion ordinance placed on a citywide ballot. Residents have debated the issue at Council meetings for the past year. Supporters promoted the ordinance as a way to stop “abortion trafficking.” Debate centered on enforcement. Amarillo residents could have sued someone for violating the ordinance, with awards beginning at $10,000. Some doubted that Amarillo had jurisdiction to create such a law. (Regardless, many Texas communities have passed similar laws.) Amarillo voters reject abortion “travel ban,” a rare rebuke of anti-abortion movement in Texas 11/5/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-abortion-travel-ban-vote-amarillo-election-2024/
Abortion was on the Nov. 5 ballot in 10 states: RESULTS.
Missouri: Voters passed (52%) a law enshrining in the state constitution abortion rights until fetal viability, reversing the current complete abortion ban.
Arizona: Voters passed (62%) a law establishing abortion as a fundamental right under the state constitution, using the Roe. v. Wade viability standard.
Florida: 57% voted to end the current 6-week abortion ban and instead add abortion rights to the Florida constitution. But, Florida requires a 60% super-majority to revise its Constitution, so Trump’s abortion ban remains in effect.
South Dakota: Voters (41%) failed to approve allowing abortion in the first trimester, so the current full abortion ban remains in place.
Nebraska: Voters had to choose between 2 opposing propositions, and campaign ads seemed aimed at confusion. The one that narrowly passed (55%) mirrors current law and only allows abortion in the first trimester; the other measure that protected abortion rights got 49% of the vote.
Colorado, Maryland, New York, Montana: Voters passed by wide margins laws that guarantee abortion protection, so that current laws allowing abortion cannot be changed.
Rut season is underway. I only managed a couple morning walks lately, due to poll working and other stuff, but one morning I came across 3 does in a yard, being stalked by a very interested mature buck. (One doe was melanistic—darkly pigmented—which is a common anomaly in the Texas Hill Country, with no adverse health issues. I call them chocolates.) The does ignored their suitor for awhile, then suddenly 2 of the does ran off, with the buck racing after them out of sight. That left the third doe contentedly munching in the yard and looking quite pleased with herself. Here are photos of that little group.
Coronavirus Update
Covid-19 infections may have leveled off, ending the downturn seen in the last month or so. Indicators (test positivity, ER visits, hospitalizations and deaths) flattened or ticked up slightly, as of Nov. 2. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
WELCOME to my ALL-POLITICS blog covering the November 2024 Election. (If you missed earlier editions, check below.) Don’t worry, the regular non-politics blog will post next weekend, and with the election over things should soon shift back to normal.
Election Basics
VOTING
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Hours are 7AM-7PM.
If you requested a MAIL IN BALLOT but now prefer to vote in person, BRING THE MAIL IN BALLOT to the polling place and surrender it.
By state law, voters may NOT use cell phones or other electronic devices in the polling place. Voters may not electioneer, including wearing apparel with a political message. Voters can bring written materials to the polling place, but these materials CANNOT be shared with other voters (not even spouses.) Also—GUNS are NOT allowed in polling places, by state law.
For obvious reasons, there is a shortage of poll workers nationwide, and that definitely includes Texas. If you have to wait in a long line to vote, that is a big reason why.
SAMPLE BALLOT
There is MUCH more being decided than the Presidential race. Be sure to vote in ALL races, top to bottom of the ballot (preferably for DEMOCRATS.) Go here and enter your address to see the elections and candidates: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Sample_Ballot
Three seats on the Texas Supreme Court are on the ballot. The abortion issue makes 2024 the year we can put Democrats on the high court, instead of the 100% Republican bench Texas has had for DECADES. Republican incumbents Jimmy Blacklock, John Devine and Jane Bland ALL recently upheld the abortion ban and voted against Texas women needing medical care to deal with doomed pregnancies.
VOTE FOR Democrat Colin Allred, to get rid of Cancun Cruz and make the world a better place. (Image credits: USA Today, Forward Blue.) https://colinallred.com/
Allred is endorsed by ALL 5 MAJOR NEWSPAPERS IN TEXAS.
The Austin American Statesman endorsed Allred on Oct. 20, deriding Cruz for his focus on pandering to the extremist wing of his party and calling Cruz “a tired act, seduced more by a culture wars mentality intent on owning the libs and fanning inflammatory rhetoric on social media than on passing meaningful legislation for Texans.” As for Allred: “Texans need a new leader in the Senate who can get things done. Their pick for U.S. senator should be Colin Allred.” With the Statesman’s endorsement, Allred secured all five major newspaper editorial board endorsements. Allred also earned the endorsements of Dallas Morning News,Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Austin American-Statesman Endorses Allred: “Texans need a new leader in the Senate who can get things done.”10/20/24 https://colinallred.com/news/austin-american-statesman-endorses-allred-texans-need-a-new-leader-in-the-senate-who-can-get-things-done/
Allred appeared with Kamala Harris at Oct. 25 Houston mega-rally.
Allred: “Everything is bigger in Texas except for Ted Cruz. He’s too small for our state.” (Image credit: American Statesman.) Watch Allred’s 11-minute speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fmffo1HlXc
If you live in Lakeway’s part of Texas House District 19, your Texas House delegate is now Republican Ellen Troxclair, thanks to a ridiculous gerrymander in 2021 that pulled a small chunk of Travis County away from Austin and dumped us in with 4 rural western counties. Democrat Dwain Handley is challenging Troxclair. Check out Handley’s website: https://handley4texas.com/
VOTE for Handley in Texas House District 19, AND VOTE DEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT.
Texas Senate District 25
The Texas Senate seat for the Lakeway area is District 25, and since 2013 it has been held by Republican Donna Campbell. Now, Democrat Merrie Fox is challenging Campbell. Check out her website: https://drmerriefox.org/
VOTE for Fox in Texas Senate District 25, AND VOTE DEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT.
US House District 10
Lakeway is the western afterthought added to the immense blob situated well east of Austin, next to Houston, that is the Texas 10th Congressional District. (See map image above and look for the orange outline.) The House seat in DC has been held since 2005 by far-right Republican Michael McCaul. Now, DemocratTheresa Boisseau is challenging McCaul.Check out her website: https://www.theresa4texas.com/
VOTE for Boisseau in US House District 10, AND VOTE DEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT.
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
SHINY NEW POLLS
SWING STATES: Harris leads as of Nov. 2. [UPDATED on Nov. 3.]
Brand new polling done through Nov. 2 in the 7 swing states shows Harris leading in Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Georgia. The candidates are tied in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Trump leads in Arizona. (Image credit: NY Times.) Harris and Trump Battle to the Wire in Swing States, Times/Siena Polls Find 11/3/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/03/us/politics/harris-trump-times-siena-poll.html
These new poll results tell the real story of this election—smart women vs. not-so-smart men. (Image credits: NY Times.)
According to a recent Pew poll, the gender gap is 17 points, with Trump ahead 8 points among men and Harris up 9 points among women. (See above.)
The gap by education is 29 points, with Trump ahead 10 points among people without a college degree and Harris ahead 19 points among those with one. (See above.)
Broken up by gender AND education, the gaps are driven by men WITHOUT a college degree and women WITH a college degree, with an overall difference of 43 points. (See above.) Men without college degrees and women with college degrees are at opposite ends of the spectrum politically, and experience essentially separate economies, so they give priority to distinct sets of character traits and issues, not to mention their differences as to abortion, health care and children. A Democratic and a Republican Pollster Agree: This Is the Fault Line That Decides the Election 10/30/24 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/30/opinion/gender-education-gap.html
COMPARE POLICY
ELECTIONS
HARRIS voted to certify the election results in 2020. As president of the Senate, she will preside over the election certification process in Congress whether she wins or loses the election. She is committed to free and fair elections and to the peaceful transfer of power. She condemned the events on January 6, 2021, as an attempt to overturn the election results. She led the White House push for enhanced voting rights, which Democrats say will be a top priority if she is elected to the presidency. She supports changes to the Supreme Court, including term limits for justices and a mandatory ethics code.
TRUMP does not recognize Joe Biden as the legitimate winner of the 2020 election. Trump has not committed to accepting the certified results of the 2024 election. He would consider pardoning the people convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump supports restrictions on voting rights, including documentation of U.S. citizenship and requirements on mail-in ballots, and believes proposed changes to the Supreme Court will be unsuccessful.
CRIME/GUNS
HARRIS voted for the First Step Act and says more criminal justice reform is needed. She supports the federal decriminalization of marijuana. She has long supported red-flag laws restricting gun ownership for people who might harm themselves or others, plus background checks and restrictions preventing concealed carry in schools. She supports allowing gun manufacturers to be sued in court. She owns a Glock for personal safety reasons.
TRUMP supports the First Step Act and supports a ballot referendum to legalize adult marijuana use in Florida. He opposes restricting access to guns for people who might harm themselves or others, as well as background checks or restrictions that would prevent concealed carry in schools. He opposes allowing gun manufacturers to be sued in court. He owns guns.
EDUCATION
HARRIS supports student loan debt forgiveness. She opposes book bans and restrictions that limit how schools can teach about systemic racism, LGBTQ+ issues and sexuality. She opposes laws denying transgender people access to bathrooms that match their gender identities and school policies that discriminate based on gender identity. Harris has two step-children, and frequently speaks about her own childhood as a public-school student.
TRUMP opposes canceling student loan debt, but he backs income-based repayment plans. He opposes teaching students about systemic racism. He favors schools teaching only traditional gender roles. He opposes allowing transgender students to use bathrooms or play sports on teams that correspond with their identified gender. He opposes access to gender-affirming care youth. He and his children went to private schools. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2023/presidential-candidates-2024-policies-issues/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template
HARRIS/WALZ Campaign
NEW Endorsements
Eminem endorsed Harris at her Oct. 22 Detroit rally, saying: “People shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution or what people will do if you make your opinion known. I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.” At Detroit Rally for Kamala Harris, Eminem Endorses and Obama Raps 10/23/24 https://time.com/7096316/eminem-barack-obama-kamala-harris-campaign-detroit-michigan/
Beyonce endorsed Harris at her Oct. 25 Houston rally, saying: “Imagine our daughters growing up, seeing what’s possible, with no ceilings, no limitations. … I want a world where my children and all of our children, we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided. … It’s time for America to sing a new song. Our voices sing a chorus of unity. They sing a song of dignity and opportunity. Are y’all ready to add your voice to the new American song?” Harris rallies with Beyoncé in Texas as Trump sits for hours with Joe Rogan 10/25/24 https://www.npr.org/2024/10/25/nx-s1-5164491/donald-trump-joe-rogan-texas-kamala-harris-beyonce
LeBron James, basketball superstar, endorsed Harris on Oct. 31. He posted: “What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!” LeBron James endorses Kamala Harris in presidential race against Trump10/31/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/31/politics/lebron-james-endorses-kamala-harris/index.html
Bad Bunny, Puerto Rican musician, endorsed Harris on Oct. 28, the same night one of Trump’s guest speakers at the Madison Square Garden rally called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage.” [Plus—Nicky Jam WITHDREW HIS ENDORSEMENT of Trump due to the Puerto Rico being smeared at Trump’s MSG rally. Several other celebrities (Jennifer Lopez, Aubrey Plaza, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Sunny Hostin, Rosie Perez, and more) reinforced their support of Harris, after this misbegotten rally.] Who is Tony Hinchcliffe? Bad Bunny endorses Harris after comedian’s Trump rally set 10/28/24 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/28/tony-hinchcliffe-puerto-rico-joke-austin-comedian-trump-rally-bad-bunny-endorse-kamala-harris/75891596007/
Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Harris on Oct. 30. A Republican and the former governor of California said: “I will always be an American before I am a Republican. That’s why, this week, I am voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. … Trump will divide, he will insult, he will find new ways to be more un-American than he already has been, and we, the people, will get nothing but more anger.” Arnold Schwarzenegger endorses Kamala Harris 10/30/24 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/10/30/2024-elections-live-coverage-updates-analysis/arnold-schwarzenegger-endorses-kamala-harris-00186252
Barbara Bush, daughter of former president George W. Bush, endorsed Harris on Oct. 29. She said: “It was inspiring to join friends and meet voters with the Harris-Walz campaign in Pennsylvania this weekend. I’m hopeful they’ll move our country forward and protect women’s rights.” George W. Bush’s daughter Barbara backs Harris 10/29/24 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4958962-barbara-pierce-bush-endorses-harris/
Susan Ford Bales, daughter of Republican President Gerald Ford, endorsed Harris on Oct. 21. Bales said: “Harris recognizes the goodness and greatness in our country, and will defend the rule of law and our Constitution.” Former President Gerald Ford’s Daughter Endorses Kamala Harris 10/21/24 https://www.newsweek.com/republican-president-gerald-ford-daughter-endorses-kamala-harris-1972308
Harris appears on Saturday Night Live Nov. 2 [Updated Nov. 3]
Harris guested on SNL on Nov. 2. (Image credit: NBC.) Watch this 8-minute clip of the show’s 2024 Pre-Election Cold Open, with Harris interacting with Maya Rudolph, plus cast members portraying Trump, Walz, Biden and Emhoff. (Harris shows up at the 6-minute mark.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Funs6yyEw
Harris speaks at The Ellipse in DC Oct. 29.
Over 75,000 people attended the Harris rally at The Ellipse in Washington, DC., on Oct. 29, making this the largest campaign event of the year by far. Harris symbolically closed her campaign where Trump fomented an insurrection in 2021. (Image credit: Getty.) Watch Harris’ speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5t7EmrrGs4
Harris: “This election is more than just a choice between two parties and two different candidates. It is a choice about whether we have a country rooted in freedom for every American or ruled by chaos and division. Donald Trump has spent a decade trying to keep the American people divided and afraid of each other. That is who he is. But, I am here tonight to say: that is not who we are. I offer a different path. And I ask for your vote. Here is my pledge to you: I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to make your life better. I pledge to listen: To experts, to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make, and to people who disagree with me. I pledge to approach my work with the joy and optimism that comes from making a difference in people’s lives. And I pledge to be a president for ALL Americans. And to always put country above party and self. The United States of America is not a vessel for the schemes of wannabe dictators. The United States of America is the greatest idea humanity ever devised: a nation big enough to encompass all our dreams, strong enough to withstand any fracture or fissure between us, and fearless enough to imagine a future of possibilities. So, America, let us reach for that future. Let us fight for this beautiful country we love. And in seven days, we have the power—each of you has the power—to turn the page and start writing the next chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told.” Harris gives closing argument speech at the Ellipse, offering “a different path” than Trump10/31/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-speech-ellipse-donald-trump-2024-election/
Harris rally in Michigan with Michelle Obama Oct. 26
Michelle Obama—“I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m a little frustrated that some of us are choosing to ignore Donald Trump’s gross incompetence while asking Kamala to dazzle us at every turn. I hope that you will forgive me if I’m a little angry that we are indifferent to his erratic behavior, his obvious mental decline, his history as a convicted felon, a known slum lord, a predator found liable for sexual abuse — all of this while we pick apart Kamala’s answers from interviews that he doesn’t even have the courage to do, y’all. … I am asking y’all from the core of my being to take our lives seriously. Do not put our lives in the hands of politicians — mostly men — who have no clue or do not care about what we, as women, are going through. If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother will become collateral damage to your rage.”(Image credit: AP.) Michelle Obama says she’s a ‘little angry’ at the hesitation to vote for Harris 10/26/24 https://www.npr.org/2024/10/26/nx-s1-5166173/michelle-obama-kamala-harris-donald-trump-abortion
Harris rally in Houston with Colin Allred, Beyonce, Willie Nelson Oct. 25
Harris guested on Brene Brown’s Unlocking Us podcast: VP Kamala Harris on Courageous Leadership and Winning in 2024. (Image credit: Brene Brown.) Therapy-speak and 80s hairstyles: will Harris’s Brené Brown sit-down swing white female voters? 10/28/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/28/kamala-harris-brene-brown-interview
Harris rally in Atlanta with Pres. Obama, Springsteen, Samuel L. Jackson, Tyler Perry, Spike Lee and more Oct. 24
Walz answered policy questions and exuded small town common sense in this live appearance with the hosts. Watch his full appearance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llUr5Y3DQjM
Your vote, your choice, as Julia Roberts reminds women.
Vote Common Good created a simple yet arresting new Harris ad, narrated by actress Julia Roberts who points out that voting is done in private and no one needs to know how a person votes. Of course, that includes an overly controlling spouse. (Image credit: Vote Common Good.)
The far-right is hysterical over this ad (a strong sign that the ad was needed AND is seen as effective). On Fox News, Charlie Kirk said the ad “is the embodiment of the downfall of the American family.” And, Jesse Watters said a spouse holding opposing political views and daring to vote differently is the same as cheating sexually and thus grounds for divorce. (Yes, these people ARE nuts.) Watch their comments here, plus MSNBC’s take on it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmp4GnmS-0AConservatives in furor over Julia Roberts ad 10/31/24 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4964265-kamala-harris-ad-julia-roberts/
What happens in the booth stays in the booth–that is George Clooney’s message for male voters.
Vote Common Good also made an ad featuring actor George Clooney asking men to think about those they love the most when voting. In the perfect complement to the recent Julie Roberts ad aimed at women, her Pretty Woman/Ocean’s Eleven co-star reminds men that what happens in the booth stays in the booth. (Image credit: Vote Common Good.) Wonder if the far-right, which savaged Julia Roberts for her companion ad, will go off on Clooney for violating the sacred “bros vote together” code or some such nonsense….
On Oct. 29, Jimmy Kimmel spoke to Republicans, presenting his case for Harris/Walz: Tonight’s monologue is for Republicans. If you have someone in your life who is either planning to vote for Trump or thinking about it, please send this to them. Ask a Republican you love and respect to watch this. The whole thing. As a personal favor to you. We are a week away from the election so make sure to get out and vote on Tuesday, November 5th. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy0zq8YzY9w
The NYTimes Editorial Board eviscerates Trump in one perfect paragraph.
Democratic Governors are a fun and loyal bunch. Several of them dressed up this Halloween to honor their pal, Gov. Tim Walz, copying his appearance in various campaign photographs. Govs. Moore of Maryland, Healey of Massachusetts, Mills of Maine, Murphy of New Jersey, and Whitmer of Michigan all “treated” Walz. The above images (credits: Politico) show Moore as a hunter and Whitmer holding a pig. The in costume this year for Democratic governors 10/31/24 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/10/31/2024-elections-live-coverage-updates-analysis/the-silly-season-00186617
TRUMP/VANCE Campaign
The perfect shot of these clowns…. (Image credit: NY Times.)
Old 45
Still VERY old and increasingly addled. Still lying. Still a racist and a misogynist. (Image credits: AP and Trump campaign email.)
Trump is conning the electorate AGAIN.
Trump has been saying for months that he could only lose this election if DEMS cheat. As the campaign closes, he is even more adamant, saying he has plenty of votes, he is ahead by a lot, he is guaranteed to win, he cannot possibly lose a free and fair election, etc. Trump even says, repeatedly, that if God were counting the votes he would win by a landslide. Truth is—the race is very close. For better or worse, we are a starkly divided nation when it comes to presidential picks, and neither will win by a landslide. But, when Trump says he has the election in the bag and cannot lose unless there is fraud, he is paving the way for claims, when he DOES LOSE THE ELECTION, that there MUST have been fraud. His supporters will be primed to believe it, because he has preached this circuitous reasoning for months. Trump is already poisoning trust in yet another US election 11/1/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/01/politics/trump-poison-trust-election-analysis
Trump vows “to protect women whether they like it or not.”
Out of the blue and in his weave-bonkers way, Trump at an Oct. 30 rally in Wisconsin double-downed on his bizarre plan to woo the women’s vote by promising to protect us. Trump said: ‘Well, I’m going to do it, whether the women like it or not,’” Trump said. “I’m going to protect them.” This 38-second link plays Trump’s rally statement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXwlcos5E8k&list=RDNSE-5sGYguihM&index=4 Can no one on his staff convince him this comes across as stalker rhetoric, considering his recent sexual assault conviction, his life-long history of demeaning women, and his self-declared “victory” in taking away the right to reproductive health care of OUR OWN CHOICE? Harris responded this way: ““Donald Trump thinks he should get to make decisions about what you do with your body, whether you like it or not. … His remarks are very offensive to women in terms of not understanding their agency, their authority, their rights and their ability to make decisions about their own lives including their own bodies.” Donald Trump vows to be protector of women ‘whether they like it or not’ 10/30/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/31/donald-trump-women-protector-wisconsin-rally
Trump threatens Liz Cheney with deadly violence.
Trump, at an Oct. 31 campaign event in Arizona went off on former Representative Liz Cheney, a lifelong Republican. Trump said: “She’s a radical war hawk. Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? Let’s see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face.” Trump also, as he so frequently does with women, went on to attack Cheney’s intelligence, calling her “very dumb,” a “stupid person” and “the moron.” Watch Trump’s remarks in this 1-minute clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47_XcdW7A7A Cheney responded: “This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death. We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.” Trump says ‘war hawk’ Liz Cheney should be fired upon in escalation of violent rhetoric against his opponents 11/1/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/01/politics/donald-trump-liz-cheney-war-hawk-battle/index.html
Trump simulates oral sex at Milwaukee rally.
At a Nov. 1 rally in Milwaukee, Trump was having mic problems (NOT a euphemism) and reacted by sexually stroking and then performing oral sex on his malfunctioning microphone. (Image credit: AP.) Maybe the whole tech issue was staged, and this was just a continuation of Trump’s “all penis, all the time” theme at recent rallies, his shot at wooing the manosphere vote. Watch (go to the 3-minute mark, after clearing the room of kids) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL8eX9fCZnUWhy did Donald Trump simulate oral sex with his microphone at Milwaukee rally? 11/2/24 https://www.nj.com/politics/2024/11/why-did-donald-trump-simulate-oral-sex-with-his-microphone-at-milwaukee-rally.html
Do you want fries with all the lies?
Hey—where’s Trump’s hairnet? Also, the McDonald’s where Trump staged his bizarro “man of the people” promo in swing state Pennsylvania was CLOSED during Trump’s 25 minutes of customer service. The five “customers” were loyalists who had practiced their roles. Notice that when Trump handed food through the drive-through window, he did not take payment or make change—because, that’s too hard for him. The whole ridiculous mess was just another stab at discrediting Harris, alleging (for some weird reason and with zero evidence) that she didn’t work at a California McDonalds as a teenager. But, the real takeaway is that when Trump was asked if he now supports increasing the minimum wage (what the REAL employees of McDonalds are paid); Trump REFUSED TO ANSWER. (Image credits: AP and NYTimes.) Trump thrusts McDonald’s into the political arena in final days of campaign 10/20/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/20/politics/mcdonalds-donald-trump-pennsylvania/index.html
Trump says the Israeli hostages are dead, and he would have made deal with Hamas.
With no inside info and in order to further his political agenda, Trump talked to Saudi State TV on Oct. 22. On the hostages, Trump said: “Many of them have been killed and I’m sure many of them are dead. It’s a very sad thing what’s going to happen when they find out that there are very few hostages, which is probably what they’re going to find out. … I think pretty early on, there were a lot that were gone. And, you know, just God rest their souls to live that way and, you know, these were largely young people that were having a good time at a festival. Life was a bowl of cherries. Right. And they’re dead.” Trump also claimed he could have—somehow—forced Hamas to released hostages early on. How lovely all that must have been for hostage families to hear. Trump Talks to Saudi State TV About The Hostages Being Held By Hamas: ‘Many of Them Are Dead’ 10/22/24 https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-talks-to-saudi-state-tv-about-the-hostages-being-held-by-hamas-many-of-them-are-dead/
Trump sued by Central Park 5.
Another lawsuit has been filed against Trump, this time by the “Central Park Five” over “false and defamatory” statements he made about them during the September presidential debate. Now in their 50s, the five men (all Black or Hispanic) claim in a federal suit that Trump knew he was acting with “reckless disregard” for the truth when he said during the debate with V-P Harris that they pleaded guilty to crimes connected to the beating and raping a woman in New York City, and that the five teenagers “badly hurt a person, killed a person” in the attack. The group was pressured into giving false confessions in the1989 case of a jogger who was raped in Central Park. Then, Trump took out full-page ads that ran in several New York City newspapers that read in all-caps, “BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY. BRING BACK OUR POLICE!” The 5 teens were all exonerated in 2002 when DNA evidence linked another person to the crime. ‘Central Park Five’ members sue Trump for defamation after his debate comments on 1989 case 10/21/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/21/politics/central-park-five-trump-defamation/index.html
Trump’s plan would bankrupt Social Security in just 6 years.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) reviewed the fiscal results of Trump’s proposals — including ending end taxation of Social Security benefits, scrapping taxes on tips and overtime, imposing new tariffs, and expanding deportations. The CRFB estimated Social Security funds could run out by 2031. The biggest cost stemmed from Trump’s proposal to do away with taxation of Social Security benefits, which has a $950 billion price tag. The next big-ticket item is ending payroll taxes on tips and overtime pay, which would cost about $900 billion. Changes on tariffs and immigration could add $400 billion to Social Security’s cash deficit. (Image credit: AP.) Social Security funds could run out in 6 years under Trump plans: Analysis 10/21/24 https://thehill.com/business/4944798-social-security-funds-could-run-out-in-6-years-under-trump-plans-analysis/
Trump takes “locker room talk” literally.
At an Oct. 19 rally in Pennsylvania, Trump rhapsodized for 10 minutes about the generous size of Arnold Palmer’s penis. (“All man! … When he took showers with other pros, they came out of there and they said, ‘Oh my god, that’s unbelievable.’”) Trump also called Kamala Harris a “shit vice president.” The MAGA crowd cheered both remarks. What candidate in their right mind would go to the most critical swing state in the country and swoon a deceased golfer’s penis size? The answer is he’s not in his right mind. And he hasn’t been for a long time. But, he IS desperate for voters, and this is part of pathetic Trump’s attempt to suck up to young American ‘bros’ and win over the manosphere. (Trump also oohed and aahed over Elon Musk’s phallic-shaped rockets at his MSG rally. Trump is waving male genitalia like a flag, to grab the attention of men in America.) Vulgar and nasty are his norm. Crass is the point. (Image credit: Getty.) Size matters: 2024 becomes the genitalia campaign 10/21/24 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/21/trump-arnold-palmer-comments-campaign-closing-00184763
BELIEVE HIM
On Oct. 27, the NY Times Editorial Board starkly made its case against Trump and for Harris, as shown in the above image (credit: NY Times). Stark. All caps. Trump’s own words. Irrefutable. Just this: “DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE WILL PROSECUTE HIS ENEMIES, ORDER MASS DEPORTATIONS, USE SOLDIERS AGAINST CITIZENS, ABANDON ALLIES, PLAY POLITICS WITH DISASTERS. BELIEVE HIM.” There is so much more that could be written about Trump, his deficiencies, and his excesses. About his crimes and his sins. About his facilitators and his henchmen. But, why bother? Those 23 words say it all. They also highlight the cowardice of The Washington Post and LA Times, whose billionaire owners last week announced sudden no-endorsement policies (with staff resignations and massive subscription cancellations in consequence). In just 23 words, New York Times made the case for a Harris presidency 10/28/24 https://www.fastcompany.com/91217605/new-york-times-editorial-trump
Trump vows to put RFK, Jr. in charge of America’s public health.
The man who says he has worms in his brain is going to “go wild” with health, vaccine and food policies in America. Trump has started touting RFK. Jr. as his health expert for a second administration. Trump: “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. we have. And he’s going to work on health and women’s health and all of the different reasons, because we’re not really a wealthy or a healthy country. I told Bobby, ‘I want you to take care of health, I want you to look at the food and the food supply and what we put on the food and all sorts.” At his NYC rally, Trump said: “I’m gonna let him go wild on the food. I’m gonna let him go wild on medicines.” Of course, RFK, Jr. has no medical training or credentials and is famous for saying that NO vaccine is safe (polio, measles, diphtheria, and other deadly diseases included). For his part, RFK, Jr. is delighted, telling anyone who will listen that Trump has promised him control of public health agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Trump’s transition team quibbles about that. Maybe it is just the brain worms talking. Maybe not. Trump putting an non-credentialed poser and avowed vaccine skeptic in charge of America’s public health sounds plausible, given howTrump bungled the pandemic so profoundly that millions of us died for no reason. (Image credit: NYTimes.) Trump: RFK Jr. will work on ‘health and women’s health’ 10/31/24 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4965304-trump-rfk-jr-will-work-on-health-womens-health/
Trump says America is the world’s garbage can (and immigrants are the garbage).
At an Arizona rally on Oct. 24; Trump ranted: “We’re a dumping ground. We’re like a — we’re like a garbage can for the world. That’s what’s happened to us. We’re like a garbage can.” Of course, Trump’s “garbage” is immigrants—specifically dark-skinned people who seek to enter the US, legally or not. Forget garbage cans–Trump’s mind is a cess pool. Harris’ response: “This is someone who is a former president of the United States, who has a bully pulpit, and this is how he uses it, to tell the rest of the world that somehow the United States of America is trash. The president of the United States should be someone who elevates discourse and talks about the best of who we are and invest in the best of who we are, not someone like Donald Trump, who is constantly demeaning and belittling who the American people are.” (Image credits: REUTERS.) Trump calls US ‘garbage can for the world’ in latest anti-immigrant rhetoric 10/25/24 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-calls-us-garbage-world-latest-anti-immigrant/story?id=115149893
Trump’s heinous Madison Square Garden rally
Hate, rage, racism, xenophobia, lies. Trump and his gutter-grazing guests spewed nastiness non-stop. It guarantees headlines, is far easier to generate than actual policy, and it might capture votes from Trump’s last best hope—the American manosphere. The chosen site hosted an American Nazi rally back in 1939. Trump’s 2024 rally bore many similarities. Back in 1939, the Nazis cried: “Germany is for Germans only” as the rationale for WWII and the Holocaust. (Jimmy Kimmel aptly called Trump’s MSG gang “The Turd Reich.) In 2024, Trump advisor Stephen Miller (he crafted Trump’s racist immigration policy, including family separation at the border) ranted: “America is for Americans and Americans only.” And Trump’s rally proved that 2024 has no shortage of hate-speech and racist rage. A speaker said Democrats need to be slaughtered. One of Trump’s pals called Harris the Antichrist and said Democrats are F&%#ing degenerates. Fired-by-Fox-News Tucker Carlson called Harris “Samoan-Malaysian and low IQ.” Palestinians AND Jews were mocked. Profanity was the norm. But, some previously unknown comedian hit the trifecta for offensive remarks. Trump’s featured speaker, he said that Latinos: “love making babies because there’s no pulling out. They don’t do that. They come inside, just like they did to our country.” And, he said Blacks “carve watermelons” instead of pumpkins. Plus, he called Puerto Rico: “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean.” Remember, the rally was held in New York City, where millions of Latinos, Blacks and Puerto Ricans live. So, I guess it is only the Caucasian manosphere that Trump is courting. ALSO, remember that Trump himself just 2 days prior called America the world’s garbage can; the lame comedian was just following Der Fuhrer’s lead with sick garbage jokes. (Image credit: NYTimes.) Trump’s New York homecoming sparks backlash over racist and vulgar remarks 10/27/24 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/27/trumps-madison-square-garden-racist-00185770
On Oct. 29, Roberto González Nieves, Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico, issued an open letter, calling on Trump to apologize for the remarks made at his rally that grossly mischaracterized and attacked Puerto Rico and its people. (See image above; credit: Newsweek.) Puerto Rico’s Archbishop Asks Donald Trump to Apologize Amid Rally Backlash 10/28/24 https://www.newsweek.com/archbishop-san-juan-de-puerto-rico-donald-trump-apology-1976360
The MSG fiasco scored Harris an endorsement (from Bad Bunny) and lost Trump an endorsement (Nicky Jam withdrew his Trump endorsement in disgust). Many celebrities (Jennifer Lopez, Aubrey Plaza, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Sunny Hostin, and more) with Puerto Rican connections urged support of Harris. Full List of Puerto Rican Celebrities to Denounce Trump Rally Remarks 10/30/24 https://www.newsweek.com/puerto-rican-celebrities-denounce-trump-rally-remarks-1977107
Trump as America’s abusive daddy–Tucker Carlson should have stayed away.
The pundit who Fox News blamed for the $787MIL it had to pay Dominion Voting Systems for defamation is not on Trump’s rally circuit. At an Oct. 23 Georgia rally Tucker Carlson said a re-elected Trump returning to office would be meting out punishment. That isn’t news, but the wacky way Carlson made his point was way weird. Carlson: “If you allow your hormone-addled 15-year-old daughter to slam the door and give you the finger, you’re going to get more of it. Dad comes home and he’s pissed. He’s not vengeful, he loves his children. Disobedient as they may be, he loves them … And when Dad gets home, you know what he says? You’ve been a bad girl. You’ve been a bad little girl and you’re getting a vigorous spanking right now. And no, it’s not going to hurt me more than it hurts you. No, it’s not. I’m not going to lie. It’s going to hurt you a lot more than it hurts me. And you earned this. You’re getting a vigorous spanking because you’ve been a bad girl, and it has to be this way.” Tucker Carlson is fantasizing about Daddy Donald Trump spanking teenage girls 10/24/24 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/24/tucker-carlson-speech-trump-spanking
Trump’s impossible tax cut.
Trump is now desperate enough to say he’ll eliminate ALL income taxes. He doesn’t even have a CONCEPT for this one. Just another lie to get votes, win the election, and avoid prison. (Image credit: Getty.) Trump doubles down on replacing income taxes with tariffs in Joe Rogan interview 10/26/24 https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/26/trump-joe-rogan-election-tariffs-income-tax-replace.html
Musk has rapidly become Trump’s right-hand billionaire.
In just a couple months, Musk went from annoying the world via his audacities related to X, Tesla and SpaceX, to doing so by becoming Trump’s super-rich but socially awkward bro. (Image credits: Getty, NY Times.)
Musk raised the bounty for Trump voters to $1MIL per day, randomly awarded.
No wonder Elon Musk is being called Trump’s REAL running mate. Musk is pushing a petition aimed at registered voters in Pennsylvania and other swing states that will decide the presidential election. The petition simply supports the First and Second Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. BUT, those signing the petition are entered into a random daily raffle to win $1 million until Election Day. Of course, it is illegal to pay people to vote or register to vote. Still, Musk has awarded $1MIL to several people. The US Justice Department promptly warned Musk’s super PAC that the giveaway might violate federal laws that criminalize offering cash for voter registration. Plus, Philadelphia’s DA filed suit on Oct. 28, saying Musk and his PAC are violating the state’s lottery laws. The suit demands the scheme be stopped immediately. Philadelphia DA sues Elon Musk and his super PAC over $1M sweepstakes 10/28/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/28/politics/elon-musk-philadelphia-lawsuit/index.html
Musk says Trump’s policies in second term would tank the economy.
And America’s economic ruin is just fine with Musk, because nothing can threaten the richest man on Earth. But, for the rest of us…. Well, per Musk, crashing the economy is all a part of Trump’s plan. His tariffs will kill trade. Deporting millions of immigrants will crush the food industry and other key businesses, causing prices to spike as supplies dwindle. On and on. But, per Musk, nothing to worry about. Elon Musk Makes Shocking Confession on His Plans After Trump Victory 10/29/24 https://newrepublic.com/post/187662/elon-musk-confession-economy-trump-victory
What is Musk REALLY after from Trump?
Suddenly throwing all that money (over $120 million, so far) at Trump’s campaign, attending rallies, plus all the pro-Trump activity on X—clearly, Musk REALLY wants Trump back in the White House. Wonder why…. Favorable terms for his electric cars/Tesla? Even MORE favorable terms than he already has for his spaceships/SpaceX? Favorable treatment of X? Control over bitcoin? The power to call the shots on government regulation (or maybe NO regulation at all) of AI? What about the fact that Musk (who has a very high security clearance due to his work with NASA) frequently talks directly to Putin (just like Trump does)? Maybe becoming Trump’s new ultra-rich BBF has something to do with Putin and Russia. Maybe Musk’s new Trump obsession is a really big reason for electing Harris instead. Trump has the world’s richest man on his side. What does Musk want? 10/22/24 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6e6zzwnllo
Why has Donald Trump shown his darkest side these last few days?
Historian Timothy Snyderexplains Trump’s dire and dark closing arguments in his Nov. 2 substack.Heurges Americans to go to the polls and instead open the door to the light:
Trump is energizing his base for the authoritarianism he hopes to bring about. And he is preparing his voters for complicity. If you vote for Trump, you are voting for the candidate who wants “Hitler’s generals” and calls Americans “the enemy within.” If you vote for that, you bear the responsibility for the crimes to come. Please don’t.
Most importantly, Trump is trying to demoralize the majority of Americans who do not want him to ever hold office again.
Trump is leveraging the traumas of the twentieth century. His Nazi talk is meant to set a dark tone for election day. He wants Americans to be shocked and afraid. But we should be firm and hopeful. We should vote for the world we want to see.
Trump is showing us the enormous power we have. Horrible futures are possible, but only if we vote for them, or don’t vote at all. We have the power to hold off those futures. To prevent them from ever coming about.
Trump is a bully you can topple with your little finger. Or at least with the hand that casts the vote. All we have to do is go to the polls. We can close the door to that darkness.
The problems that we face can be solved. Beautiful futures are also possible. They begin with the little miracle of voting. We can open the door to the light.https://substack.com/home/post/p-151070143
DNC runs billboard bearing “Hitler’s generals” quote outside Trump rally.
The Democratic National Party deployed a mobile billboard ahead of Trump’s Oct. 24 rally in Las Vegas, highlighting Trump’s praise of Hitler’s generals, as recently reported in The Atlantic : “I need the kind of generals that Hitler had.” (Image credit: DNC.) DNC hits Trump over reported praise of Hitler’s generals in mobile billboard 10/24/24 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4950488-dnc-trump-praise-hitlers-generals-mobile-billboard/
Trump is today’s American Fascist.
Robert Reich in his Oct. 25 Substack borrows from America’s vice-president back in 1941-45, who wrote this: “The dangerous American fascist is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did in Germany in a Prussian way.” That is SO Donald Trump. (Image credit: Getty.) https://robertreich.substack.com/p/henry-wallace-and-american-fascism
In her Oct. 26 substack, historian Heather Cox Richardson quotes the pamphlet extensively, How well it applies Trump and MAGA today is CHILLING. Read on: “Fascism is government by the few and for the few. The objective is seizure and control of the economic, political, social, and cultural life of the state. … The people run democratic governments, but fascist governments run the people. …The basic principles of democracy stand in the way of their desires; hence—democracy must go! Anyone who is not a member of their inner gang has to do what he’s told. They permit no civil liberties, no equality before the law. … Fascism treats women as mere breeders. ‘Children, kitchen, and the church,’ was the Nazi slogan for women. … Fascists “make their own rules and change them when they choose. They maintain themselves in power by use of force combined with propaganda based on primitive ideas of ‘blood’ and ‘race,’ by skillful manipulation of fear and hate, and by false promise of security. … Fascists understood the fundamental principle of democracy—faith in the common sense of the common people—was the direct opposite of the fascist principle of rule by the elite few. So they fought democracy…. They played political, religious, social, and economic groups against each other and seized power while these groups struggled. … Americans should not be fooled into thinking that fascism could not come to America, the pamphlet warned; [w]e once laughed Hitler off as a harmless little clown with a funny mustache.” For more and Richardson’s excellent analysis, check out her substack: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-26-2024
Listen to John Kelly, Trump’s former Chief of Staff and a Marine General, on Trump‘s sick crush on Hitler, desire to use the military against US citizens, lack of respect for our military, and more.
THIRD former Trump official labels Trump a Fascist.
Trump’s former Defense Secretary Mark Esper suggested Wednesday that he agreed with the assessment that the former president meets the definition of a fascist. Esper told CNN on Oct. 23 that he has no reason to doubt John Kelly’s “honesty or integrity” in relaying Trump’s previous comments. He encouraged the audience to look up the definition of fascism, as Kelly did, and ask whether Trump falls “into those categories.” “It’s hard to say that he doesn’t, when you kind of look at those terms. But, he certainly has those inclinations. And I think it’s something we should be wary about.” Esper joins Gen. Mark Milley, Trump’s chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and John Kelly, Trump’s former White House chief of staff as having had long and close contact with Trump during his administration and now publicly state he is unfit to serve as president due to his strong fascist beliefs. (Image credit: NYTimes.) Mark Esper: Trump ‘has those inclinations’ toward fascism 10/23/24 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/10/23/2024-elections-live-coverage-updates-analysis/esper-backs-kelly-00185125
Trump’s racist rant over funeral of a murdered Hispanic veteran. Plus, more on Trump demanding generals like Hitler had.
A recent piece in The Atlantic by Jeffrey Goldberg offers 2 crucial insights into Trump.
First, in 2020, Trump told the grieving family of 20-year old Army private Vanessa Guillén, brutally murdered on a Texas military base by a fellow soldier, that he would help pay for her funeral. Trump never paid a dime, but he DID repeatedly curse her with derogatory racist epithets. Here is what an investigative reporter at The Atlantic found:
In April 2020, a 20-year-old Army private, was bludgeoned to death by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood, in Texas. The killer, aided by his girlfriend, burned Guillén’s body. Guillén’s remains were discovered two months later, buried in a riverbank near the base, after a massive search.
Guillén, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, grew up in Houston, and her murder sparked outrage across Texas and beyond. Fort Hood had become known as a particularly perilous assignment for female soldiers, and members of Congress took up the cause of reform. Shortly after her remains were discovered, Trump himself invited the Guillén family to the White House. With Guillén’s mother seated beside him, Trump spent 25 minutes with the family as television cameras recorded the scene. He made a promise: “If I can help you out with the funeral, I’ll help—I’ll help you with that,” he said. “I’ll help you out. Financially, I’ll help you.”
Later, Trump asked advisors in a meeting, “Did they bill us for the funeral? What did it cost?” According to attendees, and to contemporaneous notes of the meeting taken by a participant, an aide answered: Yes, we received a bill; the funeral cost $60,000. Trump became angry. “It doesn’t cost 60,000 bucks to bury a fucking Mexican!” He turned to his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and issued an order: “Don’t pay it!” Later that day, he was still agitated. “Can you believe it?” he said, according to a witness. “Fucking people, trying to rip me off.”
Second, Trump’s long-standing frustration with military leaders who pushed back on his most egregious policies, culminated in this:
“I need the kind of generals that Hitler had,” Trump said in a private conversation in the White House, according to two people who heard him say this. “People who were totally loyal to him, that follow orders.” This isn’t breaking news, as the sentiment was reported in previous books on Trump’s 4 years in office. For instance, The Divider: Trump in the White House, Peter Baker and Susan Glasser reported that Trump asked John Kelly, his chief of staff at the time, “Why can’t you be like the German generals?” In addition, Trump’s complete lack of respect for our military heroes and inability to grasp the concept of duty and sacrifice have been reported for several years, from his derision of Sen. John McCain, to his personal revulsion toward injured veterans, to calling our war dead “suckers and losers,” and much more. The article meticulously documents these and many, many more of Trump’s shocking and disgraceful comments about the military. Trump: ‘I Need the Kind of Generals That Hitler Had’ 10/22/24 https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/trump-military-generals-hitler/680327/?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20241023&instance_id=137573&nl=the-morning®i_id=122311001&segment_id=181143&user_id=85e9340cba19164d75f3915211a487be
The 101 worst things Trump has done SO FAR—and that is just scratching the surface.
Anyone not convinced a second Trump administration would be anything other than chaotic, bizarre and dangerous might want to look over Robert Reich’s list of 101 past Trump failures. America cannot afford to go back to that. The 101 worst things about Trump’s shambolic presidency 11/1/24 https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-101-worst-things-about-trumps
Creepy JD … He’s really NOT growing on people, not even MAGA people.
Vance is better at being Trump than Trump is these days. (Image credit: Getty.)
Vance promised Trump will end Temporary Protected Status.
At Arizona campaign events in late October, Vance spoke repeatedly about Trump’s highly restrictive immigration preferences and mass deportation plans. Vance: “What Donald Trump has proposed doing is we’re going to stop doing mass parole. We’re going to stop doing mass grants of Temporary Protected Status. … We also have to deport people, not just the bad people who came into our country, but people who violated the law coming into this country. We’ve got to be willing to deport them.” Vance seemed to include DACA/Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigrants in the group for mass deportation. (Image credit: AP.) Vance Vows an End to Programs for Legal Immigrants 10/22/24 https://www.sanjuandailystar.com/post/vance-vows-an-end-to-programs-for-legal-immigrants
Vance has always pushed hatred in America.
Back in 2021, Vance’s profile in The American Conservative included this quote: “I think our people hate the right people.” For Vance, MAGA was “our people” and “the right people to hate” were the liberals in America. Back then, Vance was just practicing for top billing in American politics; now, he is a headliner. And he is pushing the politics of hate full-time—attacking vulnerable immigrants with his lies about pet-eating or touting completely false claims about the economy, crime, voter fraud, gas prices—anything to rile up far-right voters to make a slug-fest of the presidential election. (Image credit: NYTimes.) Who Are the ‘Right People’ to Hate? https://www.thebulwark.com/p/vance-trump-and-the-politics-of-hate
Vance on Rogan, 2 small and boring men trying to project testosterone….
Joe Rogan gave Vance approval and free rein on a wide variety of topics in a 3-hour chat on Oct. 31. Vance said:
“If you are a middle-class or upper-middle class white parent, and the only thing that you care about is whether your child goes into Harvard or Yale, obviously that pathway has become a lot harder for a lot of upper-middle class kids. The one way that those people can participate in the DEI bureaucracy in this country is to be trans.”
Trump will win “the normal gay guy vote.”
“Women celebrate their abortions.”
“Testosterone levels in young men are connected to conservative politics.”
Early Voting Continues Through Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Plan to VOTE EARLY, through Nov. 1. There may be a short line, but the line on Election Day will be MUCH LONGER.
Lakeway’s closest voting location is the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). The LAC polling place is open 7AM-7PM (noon-6PM on Sunday), EXCEPT that on the last 2 nights of Early Voting (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1) hours at LAC are extended until 10PM.
You can vote early at any polling location in Travis County. Area options are Lake Travis ISD Educational Development Center (607 Ranch Rd 620 N, at Kollmeyer) and Bee Cave City Hall (4000 Galleria Pkwy.) Their hours are 7AM-7PM (noon-6PM on Sunday).
There is MUCH more being decided than the Presidential race. League of Women Voters published a useful Guide. Printed versions are usually available at Lake Travis Community Library. For the online version, go here and scroll down to select English or Spanish: https://lwvaustin.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=334869&module_id=474680#gsc.tab=0
Butler/Rough Hollow Park Plan Update Meeting
On Monday, Oct. 28, 6PM, stop by the Butler/Rough Hollow Park Plan Update Meeting at the Highland Village Pavilion (901 Highlands Blvd., next to the Rough Hollow Lakeway Welcome Center). Get an update on plans plus a timeline for completion on this Rough Hollow park, which was funded by the 2024 Lakeway Parks Bond. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1969
Pumpkin Parade at the Library!
On Thursday, Oct. 31, 10:30-11:30AM, bring the little ones in costume to Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). They can parade around and collect treats from scary stations.
Lake Travis Community Library is sponsoring an art contest for students in grades 6 through 12. Just create an original piece of art inspired by your personal reading experience. Friends of the Library will provide cash prizes, and a selection of entries will be displayed in the library’s meeting room in December. Entry deadline is Nov 1. Go here for the rules and entry form: https://laketravislibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-Teen-Art-Contest-Brochure.pdf
Texas Arbor Day Tree Planting Event
CANCELLED on Oct. 30, due to anticipated rainy weather.
Sign up now to participate on Sat., Nov. 2, at 10AM in Lakeway’s second time being part of Tree City USA. Residents will work with Parks and Rec Dept. to plant trees in Lakeway. Location for planting will be announced soon! Everyone gets a free lunch, but the first 30 folks to sign up will also get a tree to take home and plant. Get more info and sign up here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2079/Texas-Arbor-Day
Lane Closures—Lohmans Spur
Utility work needs to be done related to the future extension of Lohmans Spur into the new City Center development area. As a result, the right northbound lane of Lohmans Spur, on BOTH sides of Lohmans Crossing, is closed starting Oct. 7 and continuing for several weeks. Expect delays at the Lohmans Crossing light near the Police Station.
Library closed Nov. 4-10.
Lake Travis Community Library will be closed for a week, Nov. 4-10, in order to prepare for the opening of West (the new branch on 71), including moving items in the collection and training new staff. However, Bookmobile service will continue as normal. (All due dates will be extended until the Lakeway location reopens and reserves will be held for an extra week.) More info here: https://laketravislibrary.org/library-closure-faqs/
Lake Travis Democrats Club
—Watch Party: On Nov. 5 starting at 7PM, cheer on Harris/Walz by joining LTDems and Voices for Progress at a local Watch Party. Location is Meridian 98, in the Sonesta Hotel (12525 Bee Cave Pkwy, Bee Cave, TX 78738).
–Monthly meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Speaker is Bruce Elfant, Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar.
TexArts has holiday and winter productions scheduled, all presented at its NEW theater located in the heart of Lakeway at 1110 Ranch Road 620 South. Go here for details and to buy tickets: https://www.tex-arts.org/upcoming-productions
Nov. 2-Nov. 9: Roald Dalh’s Willy Wonka JR
Nov. 22-Dec. 15: Elf–The Musical
Feb. 14-March 2: Tick, Tick … Boom!
Need a RIDE? Want to VOLUNTEER to drive seniors?
Chariot is a FREE service providing rides (for medical appointments and grocery shopping) to non-driving folks age 60 and over. Chariot has been operating across Central Texas (including Lakeway!) since 1988. Riders must be mobile to use the service; wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Mission statement: “Chariot enriches lives and communities by providing transportation and socialization to non-driving seniors, helping them to age in place.” Volunteer drivers, who must be over 21 with a high school diploma or higher plus a valid driver’s license, are critical to Chariot’s success and use their own vehicles. Click this link or call 512-445-5552 for info and to either set up a ride or volunteer as a driver: https://chariot.org/
Veterans Day Observance
Join the Lakeway community on Monday, Nov. 11, at 11AM, at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) to honor our military veterans. Check here for more details as the date nears: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2142/Veterans-Day
Council met on Oct. 21.
RESULTS: All members attended the meeting, all in person.
ITEM 14: Financial Report–The fiscal year ended with accounts $420,000 to the good.
ITEM 15: Citizens Participation for Items NOT on the Agenda–1 person spoke.
ITEM 16: Staff Report on Cell Tower site feasibility on City properties –Report’s conclusion: Staff’s investigation confirmed a legitimate need for improved cell service in western Lakeway. The proposed site by KGI Wireless is likely the best option, as no other city-owned properties are suitable for achieving the same level of coverage. The alternative site suggested by local developers is less effective, though staff lacks the technical expertise to definitively compare its advantages. NO ACTION NEEDED. (See next item.)
ITEM 17: Special Use Permit approving a Cell Tower at 3303 Serene Hills Drive–After lengthy public comment (100% against this item), an executive session to confer with legal counsel, and some dais discussion, it became clear that a majority of members (Sherman, Vance, Byrnteson and Szimanski) were NOT in favor of this. Sherman moved to deny the SUP. After discussion, that changed to a motion that the city, as the land owner and the party on whose behalf KGI was acting, withdraw the request for an SUP to build a cell tower at 3303 Serene Hills Drive; that MOTION PASSED 6/1 (Forton voted against). Here is a very interesting slide from KGI’s presentation, particularly as to the monetary value of the SUP to the city ($600,000-700,000 over 25 years):
ITEM 18: Special Use Permit approving a Dairy Queen with a drive-through window on 0.8337 acres at 219 RR 620 South–UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 20: Charter Review Committee Report. [The draft changes in the meeting packet include some extreme items.] –Committee Chair briefly reviewed the 17 items brought to Council for consideration as changes to Lakeway’s Charter (requiring voter approval, likely on the May, 2025 ballot). NO ACTION TAKEN, other than directing that a JOINT WORK SESSION of Council and Charter Review Committee be held in November or December, for detailed review and discussion. [Two of the items were voted down by residents last time. Several items were suggested by staff as procedural clean up measures. Other items would make substantive changes to how the city operates, particularly as to volunteers and committee appointments, as to the Ethics Committee, as to our elections, and as to the power distribution among Mayor, City Manager and Council. Those interested—especially currently serving committee members–should check the Meeting Packet, read through the Report and red-lined ordinances for Item 20, and be ready to submit comments prior to the upcoming Work Session.]
ITEMS 21 and 22: Preliminary Plan and Final Plat approval for Tuscan Village Section 2, being 7.04 acres at 1935 Lohman Crossing–Both Items were UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 23: Council Legislative Subcommittee–Kilgore, Brynteson and Szimanski volunteered to serve on a Council Legislative Subcommittee, which was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 24: Assessment of recent noise ordinance change allowing golf course maintenance 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily May 1st through September 30th–Staff reported the change seemed to work well over the summer. The Golf Course Manager demanded Council make the early start time effective year-round; staff was instructed to put this matter on the November Agenda, for Council’s consideration. [Yet again.]
ITEM 25: Ordinance change to eliminate the golf course building setback for fences (to allow fences to be placed on the property line)–UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEMS 26-28: Executive Sessions for: Real Property/Rebel Park and Sailfish Park, West Austin Business Park, and Personnel Matters/City Manager–NO ACTION TAKEN on Rebel Park and Sailfish Park. NO ACTION TAKEN on West Austin Business Park. As to City Manager, it was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED to approve his performance evaluation, have Council Member O’Brien and Mayor Kilgore conduct a review with him, and award him a 5% salary increase effective Oct. 1.
The above image was taken on Oct. 12, showing Comet Tsuchinshan over the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. (Image credit: Brennan Gilmore.) https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241014.html
On Oct. 13, SpaceX had a crucial first with Starship’s 5th test flight, which was uncrewed. Everything worked as planned. 1–-The gigantic ship launched out of South Texas without a glitch. 2–Just 7 minutes later, the booster section (known as Super Heavy) returned to its launch mount, caught by the “chopstick” arms of the launch tower. 3—An hour after launch, the ship itself splashed down in the Indian Ocean. (The above image shows the catch; image credit: Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images.) NASA selected the partially reusable craft as the first crewed lander for its Artemis moon program, now scheduled for launch in September of 2026. SpaceX catches giant Starship booster with ‘Chopsticks’ on historic Flight 5 rocket launch and landing 10/13/24 https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-flight-5-launch-super-heavy-booster-catch-success-video
On Oct. 14, NASA’s Europa Clipper launched from Florida via SpaceX, headed for Jupiter’s moon, Europa. (Image credit: NASA TV.) The astrobiology mission will study the ocean hidden under the moon’s icy crust. The probe should reach Europa in April of 2030. SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launches NASA’s Europa Clipper probe to explore icy Jupiter ocean moon 10/14/24 https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-europa-clipper-launch
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
Abortion is the TOP single issue in the upcoming election, inspiring women to register and vote for Kamala Harris and driving conservative women to dump Trump. That dynamic is obvious in Arizona, where an abortion ban is on the ballot in November. One-third of AZ Republicans support a constitutional amendment establishing abortion as a fundamental right. The New York Times recently interviewed Republican women in Phoenix who are splitting from the GOP over abortion. Watch the 4-minute video here: They Were Loyal Republicans — Until Trump and Abortion Bans 10/11/24https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OCINcjv584
Kansas, Idaho and Missouri have started another round of legal attacks on the abortion medication mifepristone. Last week, officials filed requests to require that mifepristone be dispensed in person instead of by mail, as well as bar the drug’s use after 7 weeks of pregnancy instead of 10 weeks. Also, they want to require 3 prior in-person doctor office visits; now, no in-person visits are required. All of this would to make it hard or even impossible to get mifepristone, now used in most abortions nationally. The states are suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a federal court in Texas, where the US Supreme Court returned the case last June. Then, SCOTUS ruled that anti-abortion doctors and related groups lacked legal standing to sue and maintained some federal changes that eased access to the medication. Now, Kansas, Idaho and Missouri argue they have legal standing because the pills “undermine state abortion laws and frustrate state law enforcement.” 3 states renew their effort to reduce access to the abortion drug mifepristone 10/16/24 https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifespristone-state-lawsuit-f03bfe0d9b9fc04e4c8b01a1c6d16851
In Florida, a federal judge ruled last week in favor of local TV stations, after the state tried to suppress a pro-abortion rights television ad. To be sure Florida got the message, the judge ruled: “To keep it simple for the State of Florida: it’s the First Amendment, stupid.” The TV ad was created by Floridians Protecting Freedom, which is behind the “Yes on 4 Campaign” promoting a ballot measure seeking to overturn Florida’s six-week abortion ban and enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. State officials acting on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ orders threatened to bring criminal charges against broadcasters airing the ad, saying its claims endanger public health. The judge held that Florida’s threats were “viewpoint discrimination” and wrote that the abortion group presented “a substantial likelihood of proving an ongoing violation of its First Amendment rights through the threatened direct penalization of its political speech.” It’s the First Amendment, stupid: Federal judge blasts DeSantis administration for threats against TV stations 10/17/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/17/media/florida-judge-tv-abortion-rights-ad-health/index.html
The number of abortions increased from 2020 to the end of 2023, despite the fall of Roe v. Wade and immediate abortion bans being enacted in many states. In the 13 states with abortion bans, women traveled to states allowing abortion or obtained abortion pills online. The only states with bans where abortions DROPPED were Texas, Idaho, and Oklahoma. Nationwide, in 2024 abortions have continued to rise 12% over the 2023 rate. (Image credits: NY Times.) Abortions Have Increased, Even for Women in States With Rigid Bans, Study Says 10/22/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/22/upshot/abortions-rising-state-bans.html
Back to me….
I’m a poll worker for Early Voting, and I will also work Election Day. This is the 4th election we have had in 2024, and I worked the others, too. But, this election is different in many ways. Due to the presidential race, turnout this time is VERY high, including many people who don’t vote very often and aren’t familiar with the process. Plus, with the polarized nature of national politics and the high stakes involved this time, everyone is on edge. Still, voters are amazingly patient and pleasant, making the long hours well worth it; the tiny number of people who are otherwise really can’t spoil that. Here are 5 tips:
VOTE EARLY (through Nov. 1). Election Day will have long lines.
State law prohibits electioneering at the polling place, including voters wearing apparel with a political message.
Voters with mobility issues do NOT need to wait in line. Come directly inside, and you will vote right away. (For those who need it, curbside voting is available at LAC.)
If you received a mail-in ballot but prefer to vote in person, BRING THE MAIL-IN BALLOT with you to the voting site.
Your paper ballot is NOT a souvenir to take with you. The ballot MUST be fed into the ballot counter before you leave the polling place, in order for your vote to be counted.
The National Zoo in DC has pandas again! The new pair, Bao Li and Qing Bao, arrived this month, on loan from China. They are in quarantine and will be ready to greet the public in January. Meet the Pandashttps://nationalzoo.si.edu/dcpandas
Rut season has started. I haven’t yet seen the chasing and aggression of rut, but it happens every year, late fall into winter. Here are recent photos I took in Old Lakeway.
WELCOME to my ALL-POLITICS blog covering the November 2024 Election. (If you missed earlier editions, check below.) Don’t worry, the regular non-politics blog will post next weekend, with the 2 blogs alternating into November. Luckily, I have no life….
Early Voting is Oct. 21-Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
If you requested a MAIL IN BALLOT but now prefer to vote in person, BRING THE MAIL IN BALLOT to the polling place. Once it is cancelled, you can vote normally. But, without it, the rules only allow you to vote provisionally.
By state law, voters may NOT use cell phones or other electronic devices in the polling place. Voters can bring written materials, but these materials CANNOT be shared with other voters (not even spouses.) Also—GUNS are NOT allowed in polling places, by state law.
For obvious reasons, there is a shortage of poll workers nationwide, and that definitely includes Texas. If you have to wait in line to vote, that is a big reason why.
SAMPLE BALLOT
There is MUCH more being decided than the Presidential race. Be sure to vote in ALL races, top to bottom of the ballot (preferably for DEMOCRATS.) Go here and enter your address to see the elections and candidates: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Sample_Ballot
Volunteer here in the Lakeway area. LT Dems are working with Western Travis County Democrats (a group of local Dem Precinct Chairs) to organize activities including mailings, block walks/lit drops and more. Go here (at the link, scroll down to GOTV and click on More Info) to sign up and help GET OUT THE VOTE this fall: https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/copy-of-club-activities
Donate here in the Lakeway area for local impact. The activities listed above that local Dem groups are spearheading take MONEY. Printing, postage, signs—it adds up. Donations are needed. ACT BLUE makes donating easy and secure. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/western-travis-democrats-1
Three seats on the Texas Supreme Court are on the ballot. The abortion issue makes 2024 the year we can put Democrats on the high court, instead of the 100% Republican bench Texas has had for DECADES. Republican incumbents Jimmy Blacklock, John Devine and Jane Bland ALL recently upheld the abortion ban and voted against Texas women needing medical care to deal with doomed pregnancies.
VOTE FOR Democrat Colin Allred, to get rid of Cancun Cruz and make the world a better place. (Image credits: USA Today, Forward Blue.) https://colinallred.com/
Allred wiped the debate floor with Cruz, who was his usual repellent self. Allred: “Cruz is never there for us when we need him. When the lights went out in the energy capital of the world, he went to Cancún. When a mob was storming the Capitol, he was hiding in a supply closet. And when the toughest border security bill in a generation came up in the United States Senate, he took it down.” ALSO: “I can’t image that the doctor comes in and says, ‘so there’s a problem with the baby…but there’s nothing I can do because Ted Cruz thinks he knows better. Cruz isn’t pro-life. It’s not pro-life to deny women care so long that they can’t have children anymore. It’s not pro-life to force a victim of rape to carry their rapist’s baby. … Understand that when Ted Cruz says he’s pro-life, he doesn’t mean yours.” (Image credits: WFAA and Texas Tribune.)
The stars are all in alignment on this—a super DEM challenger in Allred, abortion and democracy concerns as the top issues for voters, and the world’s most hated Republican incumbent in Cancun Cruz. 2024 really could be the year Texas turns blue—on a Senate seat, anyway. Ted Cruz really could lose 10/18/24 https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/ted-cruz-colin-allred-debate-texas-election-rcna175703
Texas House District 19
If you live in Lakeway’s part of Texas House District 19, your Texas House delegate is now Republican Ellen Troxclair, thanks to a ridiculous gerrymander in 2021 that pulled a small chunk of Travis County away from Austin and dumped us in with 4 rural western counties. Democrat Dwain Handley is challenging Troxclair. Check out Handley’s website: https://handley4texas.com/
VOTE for Handley in Texas House District 19, AND VOTE DEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT.
Texas Senate District 25
The Texas Senate seat for the Lakeway area is District 25, and since 2013 it has been held by Republican Donna Campbell. Now, Democrat Merrie Fox is challenging Campbell. Check out her website: https://drmerriefox.org/
VOTE for Fox in Texas Senate District 25, AND VOTE DEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT.
US House District 10
Lakeway is the western afterthought added to the immense blob situated well east of Austin, next to Houston, that is the Texas 10th Congressional District. (See map image above and look for the orange outline.) The House seat in DC has been held since 2005 by far-right Republican Michael McCaul. Now, DemocratTheresa Boisseau is challenging McCaul.Check out her website: https://www.theresa4texas.com/
VOTE for Boisseau in US House District 10, AND VOTE DEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT.
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
UPCOMING DEBATES
NONE. The Harris campaign accepted CNN’s invitation for a second debate, to be held Oct. 23. But, Trump is too scared to face her again and instead cowers over on Fox News. So, CNN will host a Town Hall for Harris on Oct. 23. As Deadline for Another Debate Passes, Trump Again Rejects a Rematch 10/10/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/10/us/politics/debate-trump-harris-deadline.html
SHINY NEW POLLS
Harris in the lead
Polling by CBS News Oct. 8-11 shows Harris leading Trump by 3 points nationally, as well as by 1 point in battleground states. Additional subject matter polling showed marked splits by party on everything from state of the economy to hurricane relief. (Image credit: CBS News.) CBS News Trump-Harris poll shows one election, two worlds: How information, beliefs shape tight campaign 10/13/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-harris-poll-how-information-beliefs-shape-tight-2024-campaign/
Guardian’s national Election Tracker shows Harris leading by 2 points.
Polling by NBC News conducted Oct. 4-8 among 1,000 registered voters showed Harris and Trump TIED. Abortion is the top motivating issue, and10% said they might change their mind before voting. There is a HUGE gender gap; Harris wins with women 55%-41%, while Trump wins among men 56%-40%. Harris’ other strengths are with non-white voters and younger voters. Trump takes rural voters and white voters. (Image credit: NBC News.) ‘Dead heat’: Trump pulls even with Harris in NBC News poll 10/13/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/dead-heat-trump-pulls-even-harris-nbc-news-poll-rcna174201
Harris Leads in PA, Trump Leads in AZ.
A key poll taken Oct. 7-10 shows Harris leading Trump by 3 points in Pennsylvania, the third Times/Siena poll to show her controlling the swing state with the most Electoral College votes. Harris’ strong abortion policy gives her a 20-point advantage over Trump. He was up by 5 points in Arizona, due to preference for his economic policies. Trump Leads in Arizona as Harris Holds an Edge in Pennsylvania, New Polls Show 10/12/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/12/us/politics/times-siena-arizona-pennsylvania-polls.html
COMPARE POLICY
UKRAINE–Where Harris and Trump stand.
Brookings did an excellent dive into how Trump would handle Ukraine in a 2nd term, vs. how Harris would. (Image credit: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton.)
TRUMP: Not surprisingly, the bottom line is that Trump would cut all aid to Ukraine and force a disastrous settlement with Moscow. (The article points out that JD Vance is even more explicitly anti-Ukraine that Trump and openly pushes a pro-Putin stance.)
HARRIS, on the other hand, is on the record as valuing an independent Ukraine as necessary for the security of Europe and all democratic nations. She has pledged to stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies.
On tax policy, Trump would prioritize income tax cuts for wealthier Americans and corporations; Kamala Harris would raise taxes on those groups.
Harris would expand the child tax credit for families with newborns; Trump says he would eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits and overtime. Both candidates would jettison taxes on tipped income.
Per the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, both candidates would increase deficits and debt, but Trump’s increase is double that of Harris.
The Harris campaign’s tax plan includes expanding the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, and providing down payment assistance for first-time home buyers. To help cover the costs, the campaign proposes raising the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent. Low and middle income households would benefit the most.
Trump’s tax plan includes extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reducing the corporate tax rate to 15 percent, and (he says as a candidate) eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits. The wealthiest would benefit the most, but there would be substantial long-term economic challenges. Future generations would inherit a significant debt burden. These tax cuts would contribute to a large increase in public debt and hinder long-term economic growth. Trump vs. Harris: Who Will Rack Up Most Debt for the US? 10/7/24 https://www.newsweek.com/harris-trump-tax-plan-fiscal-budget-national-debt-1964840
CLIMATE CHANGE—Where Harris and Trump stand.
Do you believe that climate change is largely driven by human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels? If not, is there a different cause you would cite?
HARRIS calls climate change an existential threat and says the United States needs to act urgently to address it. As a presidential candidate in 2019, she presented a $10 trillion climate plan calling for investing in renewable energy, holding polluters accountable, helping communities affected by climate change and protecting natural resources. As California Attorney General, she prosecuted oil companies for environmental violations. As Vice President, she was the tie-breaking vote in the Senate for the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided about $370 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below their 2005 levels by the end of this decade.
TRUMP told The Washington Post’s editorial board in 2016 that he is “not a great believer in man-made climate change.” He has also long rejected climate science, sometimes calling global warming a “hoax.”
Do you believe climate change is making disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires and heat waves more intense?
HARRIS says the US must take action to fight climate change in the face of increasing drought, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and sea level rise. As Vice President, Harris announced more than $1 billion in grants in 2022 for states to address flooding and extreme heat exacerbated by climate change. “The frequency has accelerated in a relatively short period of time,” she said. “The science is clear. Extreme weather will only get worse, and the climate crisis will only accelerate.’’
TRUMP, at a rally in March 2022, mocked the threat posed by sea-level rise and the nation’s concern with combating climate change: “And yet you have people like John Kerry worrying about the climate! The climate!” In 2019, Trump exclusively blamed forest mismanagement for more destructive and deadly wildfires, rather than climate change; scientists say no amount of forest management can stop wildfires in a more flammable world.
Do you support clean-energy tax credits such as those for electric vehicles?
HARRIS, in 2022, cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides hundreds of billions of dollars in government subsidies for electric cars and other clean-energy technology, including tax credits for clean-energy and energy-efficiency home projects. She is a proponent of electric vehicles and as Senator supported a national zero-emissions vehicle standard. In May, she visited Detroit to announce federal grants for smaller companies making electric-vehicle parts.
TRUMP, in a 2023 campaign ad, promised to roll back President Biden’s electric vehicle policies and subsidies. (Image credit: Washington Post.)
–The Atlantic on Oct. 10, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, only the 5th time since its founding in 1857 that The Atlantic has endorsed a presidential candidate. It endorsed Harris because: “She respects the law and the Constitution. She believes in the freedom, equality, and dignity of all Americans. She’s untainted by corruption, let alone a felony record or a history of sexual assault. She doesn’t embarrass her compatriots with her language and behavior, or pit them against one another. She doesn’t curry favor with dictators. She won’t abuse the power of the highest office in order to keep it. She believes in democracy. These, and not any specific policy positions, are the reasons The Atlantic is endorsing her.”https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1860/10/the-election-in-november/306549/
—Milwaukee’s conservative radio talk show host Charlie Sykes endorsed Kamala Harris. “This is not about whether I agree on tax policy or agree on student loan debt, which I don’t. It’s about whether we are going to have fidelity to democratic norms. It’s whether or not you are going to be a decent person or someone who is going to tear apart the fabric of this country.” (Image credit: Charlie Sykes.) https://charliesykes.substack.com/p/why-im-voting-for-kamala-harris
Harris: Special Report With Bret Baier on Fox News Oct. 16
Harris walked into hostile territory and stood her ground, despite an overbearing host who repeatedly interrupted her and got in the way of her message. When Baier tried to pass off a sanitized clip of Trump skirting his “enemy inside” comments, Harris refused to let it slide and quoted exactly what Trump is really saying about sending the military after liberals who disagree with him; she explained why that is so dangerous. (Baier later said he made a mistake in the Trump clip he played.) Too bad Trump doesn’t have the nerve to appear on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show. (Image credit: Fox News Media.)
We The People: An Audio Town Hall With Kamala Harris & Charlamagne Tha God Oct. 15
This wide-ranging interview, taking place in Detroit, aimed to cement support among Black voters; the show reaches over 8 million people, many of whom are racial minorities. Topics ranged from Harris’ career as a prosecutor to her plan to make first-time home-buying more affordable. (Image credit: Breakfast Club Power.)
Both Kamala Harris and Tim Walz were interviewed on the CBS show’s Election Special. (Image credits: CBS.)
Kamala Harris quotes:
“Israel has the right to defend itself, and how it does that matters.”
[On whether the US has sway over Netanyahu] “The US has an important alliance with the Israeli people.”
“We have cut the flow of illegal immigration by half. We have cut the flow of fentanyl by half. But we need Congress to be able to act to actually fix the problem.”
“The economy is thriving. But, prices are still too high, including groceries.”
[On how she will pay for her economic proposals to help working Americans, especially young families] “Well, one of the things is I’m gonna make sure that the richest among us, who can afford it, pay their fair share in taxes. It is not right that teachers and nurses and firefighters are paying a higher tax rate than billionaires and the biggest corporations.”
“Ukraine must have a say in its future, and there will be no success in ending the war without Ukrainian participation. If Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kiev right now.”
“What the American people want is a leader who can build consensus and figure out compromise with common sense solutions.”
“I believe in my soul and heart that the American people are ready to turn the page.”
Tim Walz quotes:
“Trump spends his time tearing down states rather than lifting up the things we do best.”
“Here in Minnesota, we are so optimistic we walk on water half the year.”
“Let’s debate policy in a real way, and let’s try and find an objective truth again.”
Trump quotes:
Trump was a no-show. He accepted the network’s invitation to participate in the election special with an interview. But, he cancelled at the last minute, breaking a 50-year CBS tradition of all presidential candidates appearing on the show. As Scott Pelley noted in the show’s intro: “We fact-check every story.” Yet again, Trump runs and hides from the truth, facts, and disclosure to the public.
Kamala Harris guested on the hugely popular podcast geared toward younger women, Call Her Daddy. Her staff estimates this reached over 5 million people, many of whom don’t access traditional media. (Image credit: AP.) Quotes and more:
“Family comes in many forms. I think that increasingly, you know, all of us understand that this is not the 1950s anymore.”
“There are a whole lot of women out here who are not aspiring to be humble. A whole lot of women out here who have a lot of love in their life, family in their life and children in their life. And I think it’s really important for women to lift each other up.”
“When a woman — and, in particular, if she has children — if she is economically reliant on her abuser, she’s less likely to leave. Because most women will endure whatever personal, physical pain they must in order to make sure their kids have a roof over their head, or food. So one of the ways that we know that women are able to walk away from abuse — and there are many layers to her being able to do that — but one of them is: Does she have the economic freedom to be able to do that? Right? So one of the ways that we know we can uplift the ability of women to have choices is uplift the ability of women to have economic health and well-being. — and that the Harris campaign supports them leading more self-determined lives.”
“You can look at my career to know what I care about. I care about making sure that people are entitled to and receive the freedoms that they are due.”
Harris states her abortion stance, as well as what Trump has done and would do next on abortion, in an 8-minute video clip, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KCRsjPCiCI
Harris was a guest on The View, talking to its female hosts. Unlike at her other recent appearances, she unveiled a new substantive policy. As President, she will expand Medicare to cover in home health care, so seniors can age in place. Her goal is to lower costs, and specifically to ease the emotional and economic burden on the sandwich generation—Americans who are caring for their elderly parents as well as their own children. Her plan will be paid for with funds saved by expanding Medicare’s power to negotiate drug prices. In addition, Harris said she plans to have a Republican in her Cabinet. Her staff estimates this reached over 2.5 million people, many of whom don’t access traditional media. (Image credits: ABC and NYTimes.)
Harris was interviewed for over an hour by long-time acquaintance Howard Stern. Her staff estimates this reached over 10 million people, many of whom don’t access traditional media. (Image credit: SiriusXM.)
Harris appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. At the end, they cracked open cans of Miller High Life. Her staff estimates this reached over 3 million people, many of whom don’t access traditional media. (Image credit: CBS.) Quotes and more:
[On Trump secretly shipping Covid test kits to Putin in 2020] “I ask everyone here and everyone who is watching: Do you remember what those days were like? People were dying here. You remember how many people did not have tests and were trying to scramble to get them? Trump thinks Vladimir Putin is his friend. What about the American people? They should be your first friend.”
“People are exhausted by Donald Trump’s old tired playbook.”
“People are ready for a new generation of leadership that is about solutions, common sense, and finding common ground. That is what I’m offering.”
Harris on Univision town-hall event in Las Vegas Oct. 10
Harris appeared at a Univision Town Hall in Las Vegas on Oct. 10. Harris said: “Real leadership is about solving the problems on behalf of the people. … It’s literally about do we support our democracy and the Constitution of the United States, or are we going to go on the path of somebody who is a sore loser and lost the election in 2020 and tried to have a violent mob undo it.” (Image credit: Univision/Getty.)
Tim Walz had a strong outing on Fox News Sunday, firmly making the Democratic case for abortion: “The restoration of Roe versus Wade is what we’re asking. This puts the decision with the woman and her health care providers. … The real issue here is women being forced into miscarriages, women being forced to go back home, get sepsis, potentially die. Maternal mortality rates in Texas have skyrocketed off the charts because of this. This is bad policy. … They see it as an election issue. We see it as a right of women to make their own bodily decisions.” He also insisted Trump would sign an “outright nationwide ban.” (Image credit: Fox News.)
Walz was introduced by Kimmel as “America’s sweetheart.” Walz said: “You can pass common sense gun laws without infringing on the second amendment. Our first responsibility is to protect our kids. … Countries with as much gun ownership as the US but also common sense laws in place—their children don’t get shot in schools.” (Image credit: Randy Holmes.)
Harris will expand Medicare to cover in-home senior care, plus add vision and hearing coverage.
Harris announced a new policy on Oct. 8. As President, she will expand Medicare to cover in home health care, so seniors can age in place. That will lower costs; in particular, it will ease the burden on America’s sandwich generation, caring for their elderly parents as well as their own children. This benefit will be paid for with funds saved by expanding Medicare’s power to negotiate drug prices. Per the Harris campaign: “These plans are common sense. They can help family caregivers work, and save both families and the federal government money by allowing seniors to stay in their homes instead of being sent to nursing homes. Medicare at Home will also reduce hospitalizations.”
Previously, Harris announced plans to enlarge Medicare’s negotiation power to cover ALL drugs. Harris will also expand Medicare to include hearing and vision coverage. Finally, she will end the existing practice of states seizing a deceased patient’s home to recover Medicaid costs; currently, rural and minority families, in particular, are harmed.
Note: Trump has NO PLAN for in-home care for seniors. Trump has NO PLAN to expand Medicare negotiation for drugs. Republican politicians are generally supported by large donations from pharmaceutical companies and thus OPPOSE this.
Harris publicly released her current medical report in full on Oct. 12, as all modern-day presidential candidates have done with the notable exception of Trump. The report states that Harris, age 59, has “the physical and mental resiliency required to successfully execute the duties of the presidency.” She last had a full exam in April of 2024 (with all normal findings including blood work), and she is up to date on preventive care. Details include seasonal allergies, wears contacts for nearsightedness, takes a vitamin D supplement, is at low risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, works out daily, eats healthy, does not smoke, and drinks alcohol occasionally/in moderation. Read the medical report in full here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VP-Harris-Health-Summary.pdf
Harris had this to say: “[Trump] is not being transparent…. He refuses to release his medical records. I’ve done it. Every other presidential candidate in the modern era has done it. He is unwilling to do a 60 Minutes interview like every other major party candidate has done for more than half a century. He is unwilling to meet for a second debate…. It makes you wonder, why does his staff want him to hide away?… Are they afraid that people will see that he is too weak and unstable to lead America? Is that what’s going on? For these reasons and so many more, it is time to turn the page.”
Harris gets her second Vogue cover: The candidate for our times.
Renown fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz did the recent photo shoot and caught the candidate perfectly—professional and ready for the job, but clearly a warm and decent human being. (Image credit: Annie Leibovitz/Vogue.) Kamala Harris stars in her second Vogue cover — and the two couldn’t be more different 10/11/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/11/style/kamala-harris-second-vogue-cover/index.html
Harris hits the right note with hecklers.
It can be useful–and fun–knowing your opponent is also appearing in the same area, in super-busy swing states. At a recent rally in La crosse WI, MAGA hecklers tried to interrupt Harris when she gutted Trump on his 3 far-right SCOTUS appointments who killed Roe. With a wide smile and a friendly wave, Harris told them: “Oh, you guys are at the wrong rally. I think you meant to go to the smaller one down the street.”Harris shuts down rally hecklers with two-sentence Trump jab 10/18/24 https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/harris-trump-heckler-wisconsin-rally-b2631781.html
Harris lets Trump speak for himself.
At rallies lately, Harris has made the bold move of showing clips of Trump at his own events, complete with his spouting the most outrageous things. At one rally, she played a montage of his most fascist remarks, including his “enemy within” rant. Effective! But, at an Oct. 18 rally at the United Auto Workers Local 652 in Lansing, MI, Harris got very specific. She played a perfectly on point a video clip with Trump’s remarks from earlier in the week where he belittled auto workers—just like the folks attending her rally. Trump said: “Auto factories don’t build cars. Just take them out of a box, and they assemble them. A child could do it.” Devastating! Harris plays Trump’s remarks on auto workers … to auto workers 10/18/24 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/10/18/2024-elections-live-coverage-updates-analysis/harris-in-michigan-00184456
Republican women choose Harris, to protect reproductive rights.
Abortion is the TOP single issue in the upcoming election, inspiring women to register and vote for Kamala Harris and driving conservative women to dump Trump. That dynamic is obvious in Arizona, where the abortion ban is on the ballot in November. One-third of AZ Republicans support a constitutional amendment establishing abortion as a fundamental right. The New York Times recently interviewed Republican women in Phoenix who are splitting from the GOP over abortion. Watch the 4-minute video here: They Were Loyal Republicans — Until Trump and Abortion Bans 10/11/24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OCINcjv584
Walz strikes gold again for DEMS—Mining the State College Demo.
Tim Walz coined the priceless “weird” designation for Trump and Vance. He just has a knack for cutting to the chase and stating things simply. Now, he has noticed that Trump and Vance, as well as most of the political elite, were educated at certain institutions. So were most past presidents and vice-presidents. But, Walz and Harris both went to state colleges—fine institutions but not snooty places like Harvard and Yale. Yet, both Trump and Vance claim to represent common Americans and try to cast their DEM opponents as out of touch elitists. Walz isn’t letting them get away with that. As he said in his DNC acceptance speech: “Now, I grew up in Butte, Nebraska, a town of 400 people. I had 24 kids in my high school class, and none of them went to Yale.”At a PA rally, Walz targeted Vance even more sharply:“You go off to Yale, you get a philosophy major, write a best-selling book, trash the very people you grew up with, just don’t come back to Erie and tell us how to run our lives.” This strategy could well mobilize state college voters who didn’t grow up with money; they went to schools near home, worked hard, and likely had an outside job to cover tuition. They may consider people who went to posh institutions as snobs who are acting superior. Harris went to Howard and Univ. of CA, while Walz went to Chadron State College and Minnesota State University. These are all good schools but definitely in the “state college” category. In contrast, Vance and Trump (University of Pennsylvania) and Vance (Yale) are the only all-Ivy League GOP ticket in U.S. history. (Illustration by Bill Kuchman/POLITICO; source images via Getty Images and iStock.) The Overlooked Demographic That Is a Huge Opportunity for Democrats 10/8/24 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/10/08/state-college-voters-democrats-demographic-00182520
TRUMP/VANCE Campaign
The perfect shot of these clowns…. (Image credit: NY Times.)
Old 45
Still VERY old and increasingly addled. Still lying. Still a racist and a misogynist. (Image credits: AP and Trump campaign email.)
Why would ANYONE vote for this loser?
This sums up DJT perfectly: “Donald Trump is a rapist, fraudster, traitor and 34 times felon. He is a bigot, racist, misogynist and xenophobe. He is unfit and unwell, a Russian-backed extremist who wants to end the global economic system that has made us prosperous, end the Western alliance that has keep us safe, and end our democracy that has kept us free.” Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium Chronicles 10/11/124 https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/vp-harris-brings-the-joy-to-arizona
Dave Bautista Shreds Trump’s Masculinity.
Jimmy Kimmel Live on Oct. 18 premiered a video where WWE star and actor Dave Bautista takes on Trump, calling him “a weak, tubby toddler.” And, that may have been the nicest thing he said about flabby old 45. Watch the 2-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGxwn_N9DtE
How Trump Killed Every Business He Touched.
Richard Reich’s 3-minute video will remind you of Trump’s many business failures—steaks, vodka, football team, board game, mortgage company, travel agency, 2 magazines, bike rally, airline company, university, charity, ice cubes, a network, casinos, several hotels, on and on and on…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbh9SW5Cgqg
The marketing guy who created The Apprentice tells all about the REAL Donald Trump.
John D. Miller of NBC marketed the TV show and now apologizes for creating the monster America elected as President in 2016. The article is linked and worth a read, but here are some highlights:
I want to apologize to America. I helped create a monster. To sell the show, we created the narrative that Trump was a super-successful businessman who lived like royalty. In fact, Trump declared bankruptcy four times before the show went into production, and at least twice more during his 14 seasons hosting. The imposing board room where he famously fired contestants was a set, because his real boardroom was too old and shabby for TV. Thousands of 30-second promo spots that spread the fantasy of Trump’s supposed business acumen were beamed over the airwaves to nearly every household in the country. The image of Trump that we promoted was highly exaggerated. In its own way, it was “fake news” that we spread over America like a heavy snowstorm. I never imagined that the picture we painted of Trump as a successful businessman would help catapult him to the White House.
I discovered in my interactions with him over the years that he is manipulative, yet extraordinarily easy to manipulate. He has an unfillable compliment hole. No amount is too much. Flatter him and he is compliant. I also found Trump remarkably thin-skinned. He aggressively goes after those who critique him and seeks retribution. I learned early on in my dealings with Trump that he thought he could simply say something over and over, and eventually people would believe it. While we were successful in marketing “The Apprentice,” we also did irreparable harm by creating the false image of Trump as a successful leader. Now America is facing a critical choice. Should this elderly, would-be emperor with no clothes, who is well known for stretching and abandoning the truth, be president again? We Created a Monster: Trump was a TV Fantasy Invented for The Apprentice 10/16/24 https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2024-10-16/we-created-a-tv-illusion-for-the-apprentice-but-the-real-trump-threatens-america
Fan Boy Trump
Bob Woodward’s new book, War, contains several nasty bomblets about Trump. (Image credit: Getty.) One is that in 2020 Trump “secretly sent Putin a bunch of Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines and ventilators for his personal use.” Recall that, at that time, Americans were dying in droves; both ventilators and Covid testing were scarce. So, of course, Trump sent test machines and ventilators to his pal Putin, for his personal use in Russia. The book also reveals that Trump has had SEVEN phone calls with Putin since leaving office. Several passages in the book disparage Trump, and Woodward states he is unfit to lead. Bob Woodward’s War: the explosive Trump revelations 10/10/24 https://theweek.com/politics/bob-woodwards-war-the-explosive-trump-revelations
Trump has major cognitive lapse near start of PA town hall, standing on stage swaying to music for 39 minutes, as baffled crowd departs early.
The event didn’t even start well at his Oct. 14 Town Hall at the Greater Philly Expo Center. Trump answered an early question from the audience on grocery prices with his standard rally riff on Hannibal Lecter. Trump also missed Election Day by 2 whole months, when he randomly urged people to vote on January 5. But, THEN things turned STRANGE. A couple participants got light-headed in the over-heated room and required medical assistance; that happens all the time at large rallies, and the speaker—including Trump–just keeps going. But, this time (just 30 minutes and 5 questions into the Town Hall), Trump suddenly announced there would be no more questions and instead had his team play his favorite songs (from Hallelujah to YMCA). Trump: “Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music. Let’s make it into a music fest. Who the hell wants to hear questions right? Isn’t that beautiful?”Trump stood on stage, mostly alone, doing that odd thing he calls dancing but really just swaying and flapping his tiny hands—for 39 MINUTES. Crowd members were confused, looking for the joke or a surprise guest. Soon, they gave up and started filing out. Eventually, a staff member came out and guided Trump off the stage. At her own rally that night, Kamala Harris said this: “Trump appears lost, confused, and frozen on stage as multiple songs play for 30+ minutes and the crowd pours out of the venue early. Hope he’s okay.” (Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty.) ‘Let’s Just Listen To Music’: Trump Turns Town Hall Into Concert 10/14/24 https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/10/15/lets-just-listen-to-music-trump-turns-town-hall-into-concert-prompting-mockery-from-harris/
Trump is still gaga and has a bonkers meltdown Oct. 15 in Bloomberg News interview with Economic Club of Chicago.
Trump refused to confirm he has spoken repeatedly to Putin since 2020: “But I will tell you that, if I did it, it’s a smart thing.” He also refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. When repeatedly asked about taxes, tariffs and economics (it WAS an economic event), Trump waffled, meandered and quarreled with moderator John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News. As Heather Cox Richardson noted, Trump showed up an hour late, and things soon got ugly. When Micklethwait corrected Trump’s misunderstanding of the way tariffs work, Trump replied in front of a room full economic experts: “It must be hard for you to, you know, spend 25 years talking about tariffs as being negative and then have somebody explain to you that you’re totally wrong. … You’ve been wrong about everything…. You’ve been wrong all your life on this stuff.” Trump’s aimless stories went further off topic and became more outlandish, attacking the press, Fed Chair Jerome Powell, and U.S. autoworkers in South Carolina (whose work he called “childish”). When Trump commented that federal judges must be young when nominated, Micklethwait dared to reply: “You’re a 78-year-old man running for president.” Not surprisingly, Trump later complained he was somehow “hoodwinked” into doing the event. Journalist David Rothkopf of Deep State Radio wrote: “The past 24 hours seem to have been a dividing line in the Trump campaign…and in Trump. He went from being periodically adrift and sporadically demented to being 24/7 unfit and in need of permanent medical attention. He’s one cloudless night away from baying at the moon.” (Image credits: NY Times and Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images.) HRC’s Letters from an American Oct. 15 https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-15-2024
Trump lies about saving John Deere jobs.
One of Trump’s wild stories during the Oct. 15 in Bloomberg News interview with Economic Club of Chicago (see above) was how he saved hundreds of American jobs with John Deere. Per Trump, the company recently cancelled plans to open a manufacturing plant in Mexico after Trump threatened it with tariffs. Problem: John Deere denies it all, and there is no evidence the company ever planned on expanding to Mexico, much less cancelled anything die to Trump. And, this isn’t the first time Trump has spun lies at events to make himself look good; recently, he has faked endorsements, lied about various Harris policies and defamed her personally, and thrown out patently absurd numbers to bolster whatever wild claim he is currently making—from immigrant crime stats to FEMA policy. (Image credits: John Deere.) Fact check: John Deere says Trump’s story about how he saved US jobs with a tariff threat is fictional 10/16/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/16/politics/trump-fact-check-john-deere-economy/index.html
EXHAUSTED Trump cancels events again and again, clearly off his game.
60 Minutes Election Special, CNN Town Hall, CNBC’s Squawk Box, keynote speaker at a huge National Rifle Association event, on and on—Trump cancels big events at the last minute. Other appearances, he declines, even in swing states where he should be eagerly campaigning. Clearly, he’s exhausted; he zoned out for a 39-minute music siesta at a recent Town Hall. At other recent events, Trump was “low energy” at best; during more than 1 interview, his eyes drooped shut and he seemed to nod off briefly. He is noticeably out of sorts, as well, not even trying to answer town hall questions from voters and sparring testily with moderators; at a Detroit rally on Oct. 18, he grimaced and paced in fury when his mike lost power. Typically, he falls back into the arms of Fox News and does some silly curvy couch lovefest with hosts who just let him ramble. Trump can’t handle a decent campaign schedule, so how could he handle the rigors of leading the free world as President of USA? Not well, obviously. (Image credit: Anna Watts/NYTimes.)
Trump has regressed to speaking at a 4th grade level.
In an interview on the Oct. 7 anniversary, Trump was asked about Gaza’s future and said: “It could be better than Monaco. It has the best location in the Middle East, the best water, the best everything. It’s got, it is the best, I’ve said it for years. You know, I’ve been there, and it’s rough. It’s a rough place, before the, you know, before all of the attacks and before the back and forth what’s happened over the last couple of years.”https://hughhewitt.com/former-president-trump-on-the-anniversary-of-the-10-7-massacre-in-israel
PROBLEM: Trump has never been to Gaza.
QUESTION: Is this Trump lying yet again, or is it another result of Trump’s dementia? I think it is the latter, the latest gaffe in the increasingly more frequent torrent of screw ups he is making on the campaign trail, as detailed in the item just above. Image credit: Getty.) Fact check: No evidence for Trump’s claim he has been to Gaza 10/8/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/08/politics/trump-gaza-fact-check/index.html
Trump trashes Detroit … while at an event IN Detroit.
During remarks while campaigning IN DETROIT, at the Detroit Economic Club on Oct. 10, Trump said: “Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s the president. You’re gonna have a mess on your hands.” Some things never change, and one is that Trump is a racist. (Image credit: AP.) Michigan’s leaders were not amused.
Mayor Mike Duggan: “Lots of cities should be like Detroit, and we did it all without Trump’s help.”
Attorney General Dana Nessel: “This guy is calling us ugly and then asking us out on a date.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: “Detroit is the epitome of ‘grit,’ defined by winners willing to get their hands dirty to build up their city and create their communities — something Donald Trump could never understand. So keep Detroit out of your mouth. And you better believe Detroiters won’t forget this in November.”
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes: “Trump always has something nasty to say about places where you find a lot of hard-working Black folks.
Trump didn’t appear on 60 Minutes but STILL embarrassed himself over it.
Trump cancelled his appearance on 60 Minutes’ Election Special, but he then had to watch Harris participating as planned and doing a fabulous job. Not surprisingly, he went batshit crazy, immediately posting on his failing social media site: “60 Minutes replaced Harris’ answers to make her look better, in a giant Fake News Scam that must be investigated, starting today!” Then, Trump amped up the drama with this post: “UNPRECEDENTED SCANDAL!!! The Democratic ticket must concede the Election.”Soon, his hysteria climaxed with this post: “The Greatest Fraud in Broadcast History. CBS should lose its license, and it should be bid out to the Highest Bidder, as should all other Broadcast Licenses, because they are just as corrupt as CBS — and maybe even WORSE!” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel issued this statement in response: While repeated attacks against broadcast stations by the former President may now be familiar, these threats against free speech are serious and should not be ignored. As I’ve said before, the First Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy. The FCC does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage. FCC chair denounces Trump’s calls for CBS to ‘lose its license’ over Harris’ ‘60 Minutes’ interview 10/10/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/10/media/fcc-rosenworcel-trump-cbs-license-60-minutes/index.html
Apprentice Film Opens in US
The Apprentice is playing at local theaters. The new bio-pic covering Trump’s NYC heyday stars Sebastian Stan as young Trump and Succession’s Jeremy Strong as his fixer, Roy Cohn. Trump fought the film’s release due to the very unflattering details of his younger days, but he lost. It depicts Trump raping his first wife, as she alleged in divorce filings. It also shows that it was mob lawyer Cohn who taught Trump the 3 rules he lives by: “1. Attack, attack, attack. 2. Admit nothing, deny everything. 3. No matter what happens, you claim victory, and never admit defeat.” Cohn also introduced young Trump to Roger Stone and Rupert Murdock.
The porn industry is organizing against Trump. Hey, the more the merrier…. Seventeen pornographic film actors recently announced a $100,000 ad campaign, Hands Off My Porn, warning that Trump’s Project 2025 would END PORN (as well as a lot more of what we now consider “free speech”). The online ads will run on porn sites in the states that will decide the presidency: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Since Young and middle age men are the biggest consumers on these sites, this very direct appeal could cost Trump some of his base. Porn stars launch campaign against Project 2025 targeting swing states 10/8/24 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4922640-hands-off-my-porn-project-2025/
Trump: BAD GENES.
Trump continues attacking immigrants. This time, it isn’t just falsely accusing them of eating pets or taking over apartment complexes. He has moved on from calling dark-skinned immigrants “filth” and “vermin” and saying they are “poisoning the blood” of America. Trump’s latest is this: “How about allowing people to come to an open border, 13,000 of which were murderers, many of them murdered far more than one person, and they’re now happily living in the United States. You know now a murder, I believe this, it’s in their genes. And we got a lot of bad genes in our country right now.” He was talking to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. What ALL of Trump’s racist comments on immigrants have in common is how they echo Hitler and the Nazis and their Eugenics War against Jews. (By the way, the 13,000 number Trump uses is false on at least 2 levels. 1st, any immigrants who committed murder are in prison—not at all the same as “happily living in the US.” 2nd, that report doesn’t show current figures; it goes back SEVERAL DECADES, including the 4 years Trump was in charge.) Trump on immigrants: ‘We got a lot of bad genes in our country right now’ 10/7/24 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/07/trump-immigrants-crime-00182702
But, remember—Trump’s mother was an immigrant. Two of Trump’s 3 wives were immigrants, producing 4 of his 5 children. So, at the very least Trump’s kids inherited a lot of bad genes, right? (Image credit: Michelle Gustafson/NYTimes.)
Trump’s partisan lies harm North Carolina hurricane victims.
In North Carolina, Trump’s false claims deriding federal aid caused mayhem as well as delay of services to hurricane survivors in desperate need. FEMA had to suspend relief efforts due to reports that armed militia were hunting federal workers. A man was arrested and charged with threatening FEMA workers with an assault rifle. Currently, FEMA has resumed outreach while taking precautions to protect workers. Arrest made after threat to FEMA in North Carolina as hurricane relief operations continue 10/15/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fema-crews-relocate-reported-threats-armed-militia-hurricane-helene-relief/
Trump rants about Aurora, CO during rally there.
At an Oct. 11 rally, Trump visited Aurora, CO, the city he has claimed for months is a warzone controlled by blood-thirsty immigrant gangs; he says they are the most violent creatures on the planet and have taken over entire neighborhoods. Local officials insist that is wild hyperbole, with local crime actually on the downturn and no serious immigrant issues. They deny that gangs control any building or part of the city, which is the basis of Trump’s attacks on Aurora. That did not stop Trump from ranting for over an hour about immigrants pouring across the border straight out of insane asylums. He proposed “Operation Aurora,” a nationwide effort targeting undocumented gang members for arrest and deportation. He also vowed to enact the death penalty “for any migrant that kills an American citizen or a law-enforcement officer.” Aurora’s Republican Mayor, Mike Coffman, invited Trump to tour the city: “I’m excited for you to come here so I could show you that the narrative that is being presented nationally about this city isn’t true, that there are no apartment complexes under gang control, that the city’s not under gang control, Venezuelan gang control.” Trump rallies in Aurora — a city he has demonized as overrun by migrant crime 10/11/24 https://www.npr.org/2024/10/11/nx-s1-5147400/donald-trump-aurora-colorado-rally
Trump’s tragic legacy: Family Separation that orphaned 1,300 children.
During his first administration, Trump directed his border patrols to separate immigrant children from their parents as families crossed the southern border. They called it “zero tolerance.” Adults were detained, and the children with them were sent somewhere else. Over 5,000 kids as young as newborns were kept in cages, transferred around to various facilities, moved across state lines–all with NO RECORDS KEPT as to their parents or other family members; in many cases, even the children’s names were lost in the shuffle. Despite continuing efforts by the Biden Administration for nearly 4 years now, about 1,300 children remain ALONE in the US, with no identification and no way to trace adult family members. Trump’s extreme and inhumane immigration policy made them orphans. Oscar-winning filmmaker Errol Morris’s new documentary, Separated, is based on NBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff’s book. It details the horrors of Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy that started in 2017.The film ran the first half of October at the IFC Center in New York and is now in theatrical distribution. It will be aired on MSNBC in December.
Trump’s tacky merch is MADE IN CHINA, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
So much for his MADE IN AMERICA mantra. Trump, who frequently rails against foreign-made goods sold in America, sells merch mostly made elsewhere. That makes HIM one of those he says are “ripping off America.” For instance, Trump’s God Bless America Bibles are MADE IN CHINA. (Image credit: The Guardian.) Tons of Trump-branded merchandise is labeled as made outside the United States. These include drinking flasks, jackets, baseball caps and woolly hats made in China, shirts and jackets made in Vietnam, and towels made in Bangladesh. So, if he gets re-elected, this threatened sky-high tariffs on all imported products would hit his own goods, jacking up prices to compensate. Donald Trump’s Tariffs Would Hit His Own Businesses 10/18/24 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps-tariffs-would-hurt-his-own-businesses-1969817
Things are still STORMY for Trump…
In May, Trump was convicted of covering up a hush-money deal with Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. Now, right before the 2024 election, he tried to do the same thing. AGAIN. (Image credit: Getty.) The latest fiasco stems from negotiations Trump had with Daniels as to the amount she owed him for legal fees in a defamation case that she lost. Trump’s team offered to take a lower amount IF SHE AGREED TO STOP TALKING about Trump; they offered her a $30,000 hush-money discount. The way the deal was structured would look like legal fee reimbursement, with the hush-money hidden—a lot like Trump’s 2016 scheme. Daniels refused, paid the full amount owed, and turned all the documentation over to MSNBC. Rachel Maddow broke the story on Oct. 16; watch a 13-minute clip here: https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/maddow-s-bombshell-reporting-trump-trying-to-pay-stormy-daniels-to-be-quiet-again-221947973843
Musk is going 100% Founder Mode for Trump. It isn’t just that Elan Musk went over to the Dark Side in 2024, when he turned Trump. Musk IS the Dark Side, or at least Dark MAGA—he even had a hat custom made. Musk is, of course, using his X platform to push Trump’s most vile lies about immigrants, hurricane aid, and more. (Musk himself is an immigrant; born in 1971 and raised in South Africa, he moved to Canada in 1988. He became a US citizen in 2002.) Must created an Elect Trump PAC and is funding it with untold millions. Musk even crashed Trump’s Oct. 5 Pennsylvania rally, jumping around oddly and freaking people out in his “Dark MAGA” persona. (Seth Meyers nailed that: “Dude’s jumping like he’s trying to reach the rope ladder on a rescue helicopter: ‘This rally sucks, get me out of here!’”) Watch The Musking of Trump, Robert Reich’s 25-minute video from 10/12/24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVL5rsCHrYw
In addition, Musk will pay up to $47 million for names of 1,000 voters in swing states (Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Michigan) who are likely Trump voters. (Imagine the good that $47MIL could do in Gaza, or in hurricane ravaged North Carolina, or if applied to countless worthy causes.) Musk’s PAC has created a petition supporting aspects of the Constitution. Each person who recruits a signatory gets $47 (the amount comes from the election winner being our 47th president). The supposedly energized Conservatives who sign will be targeted to turn out and vote for Trump. (Image credits: NY Times and AP.) Elon Musk’s PAC offers $47 payouts to refer swing state voters to sign petition 10/7/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/musk-pac-signature-47-pay-refer-swing-state-voters-sign-petition-rcna174310
Trump says he would use the military to “handle’ his opponents on the left.
During an Oct 13 Fox News interview, Trump said: “I think the bigger problem are the people from within. We have some very bad people. We have some sick people Radical left lunatics.” [Trump went on to mention Congressman Adam Schiff as one of the people he was talking about.] “I think it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military, because they can’t let that happen.” The Harris campaign responded: “Trump is suggesting that his fellow Americans are worse ‘enemies’ than foreign adversaries, and he is saying he would use the military against them. Taken with his vow to be a dictator on ‘day one,’ calls for the ‘termination’ of the Constitution, and plans to surround himself with sycophants who will give him unchecked, unprecedented power if he returns to office, this should alarm every American who cares about their freedom and security.” (Image credit: NYTimes.) Trump suggests using military against ‘enemy from within’ on Election Day 10/13/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/13/politics/trump-military-enemy-from-within-election-day/index.html
Trump’s Chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff calls him “a fascist to the core.”
Retired U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley calls Trump “a fascist to the core.” This was just one bombshell reported in veteran journalist Bob Woodward’s new book, War. Milley served as Trump’s Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—Trump’s top general—during the entire administration. Per Milley: “Trump is the most dangerous person ever. I had suspicions when I talked to you about his mental decline and so forth, but now I realize he’s a total fascist. He is now the most dangerous person to this country. A fascist to the core.” Trump’s top general calls ex-president ‘fascist to the core’ and ‘most dangerous person to this country,’ new book says 10/11/24 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-fascist-general-woodward-book-b2627972.html
Robert Reich: Trump’s closing argument: full-throated fascism.
Reich’s Oct. 16 Substack uses Trump’s own recent statements to prove he meets the 5-pronged definition of fascism, concluding:
Trump’s closing argument of the 2024 election is full-throated fascism. Trump has always had fascist tendencies. But fascist thuggery has now become the core of his presidential campaign.
Fascism is organized around the hierarchy of male dominance. The fascist heroic warrior is male. Women are relegated to subservient roles. In fascism, anything that challenges the traditional heroic male roles of protector, provider, and controller of the family is considered a threat to the social order. Fascism seeks to eliminate homosexual, transgender, and queer people because they are thought to challenge or weaken the heroic male warrior.
The rejection of democracy in favor of a strongman depends on galvanizing popular rage against perceived enemies, outside the nation and within. This popular rage draws on bigotry directed against supposedly inferior, subhuman groups, who are assumed to threaten the “purity” of the dominant group. That bigotry is supposedly justified by social Darwinist survival of the fittest, which is thought to strengthen the race or dominant group as a whole.
The dominant group maintains itself through tests of its strength, as exemplified by heroic warriors. Strength, violence, and the heroic warrior are centered on male dominance and the subjugation of women. All of these five core elements find expression in Trumpian fascism. All can also be found in the current Trump Republican Party. (Image credit: Robert Reich.) https://robertreich.substack.com/p/trumps-fascism-is-now-in-the-open
Creepy JD … really NOT growing on people, not even MAGA people. (Image credit: Getty.)
With Trump both uninterested in governing and mentally unfit for the challenge, if the GOP ticket is elected, it will be Vance (age 39) in charge. Quite possibly, the team’s arrangement is that Trump promptly resigns and Vance ponies up a broad pardon insulating him from all federal charges. Or, Trump keeps his title but returns to Florida to decay in peace, and Vance just takes over. Either way, America is stuck being run by a political novice whose 2 philosophical mentors (anti-social billionaire Peter Thiel and dystopian blogger Curtis Yarvin) are both nihilists who insist our country is evil and must be destroyed and then rebuilt as a dictatorship with the flavor of a corporate start-up and a Christian nationalist twist. The chaos, loss of rights and personal freedoms, and economic ruin of THAT cannot be imagined by people used to living in a democracy. Would the GOP allow Vance to go that far? Well, the GOP hasn’t stopped Trump from doing ANYTHING in the last decade, so it appears that all Vance has to do is package his plan with enough power grabs and monetary incentive to appease conservative politicians, and they would be good to go. Since joining the GOP ticket, Vance has shown that he is Trump on a very good day—smarter, slicker, and more sinister; Vance is far better at being Trump than Trump himself. If Vance gets in the White House, he will never leave.
As Heather Cox Richardson noted: Vance wants to dismantle the secular state. He wants to replace that state with a Christian nationalism that enforces what he considers traditional values: an end to immigration—hence the lies about the legal Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio—and an end to LGBTQ+ rights. He supports abortion bans and the establishment of a patriarchy in which women function as wives and mothers even if it means staying in abusive marriages. Vance insists this social structure will be more fulfilling for women than becoming “childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made.“ In 2021, Vance called American universities “the enemy” and said on a podcast that people like him needed to “seize the institutions of the left, and turn them against the left.” In a different interview, he clarified: “American “conservatives…have lost every major powerful institution in the country, except for maybe churches and religious institutions, which of course are weaker now than they’ve ever been. We’ve lost big business. We’ve lost finance. We’ve lost the culture. We’ve lost the academy. And if we’re going to actually really effect real change in the country, it will require us completely replacing the existing ruling class with another ruling class…. I don’t think there’s sort of a compromise that we’re going to come with the people who currently actually control the country. Unless we overthrow them in some way, we’re going to keep losing. We really need to be really ruthless when it comes to the exercise of power.” Heather Cox Richardson 10/15/24 https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-15-2024
Politifact checks Vance. (Spoiler–he lies even better than Trump.)
Vance confirmed to reporters earlier this month that a second Trump administration would end Planned Parenthood: “On the question of defunding Planned Parenthood, look, I mean our view is we don’t think that taxpayers should fund late-term abortions.” As for late-term abortions, in reality that is not a valid concern. In 2021 and per the CDC, 93.5% of abortions were done at or before 13 weeks’ gestation, 5.7% of abortions were done between 14 and 20 weeks, and 0.9% were performed at or beyond 21 weeks. Late-term abortions happen very rarely–when the fetus has a fatal condition or the mother’s life is at dire risk. Vance in particular objected to federal funds being used for abortions, which means he lied or is woefully ignorant of federal law. As Jenny Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood noted: “By law, federal funds cannot be used to provide abortion care at any point in pregnancy — but Planned Parenthood health centers do use federal funds to provide cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing and treatment, and many other essential reproductive health care services. ‘Defunding’ Planned Parenthood would only deepen and expand the public health crisis we’re already in thanks to Donald Trump, causing more people to suffer and die for lack of basic reproductive care.” Unfortunately, that seems to be the goal of both Trump and Vance. (Image credit: AP.) Vance says a future Trump administration would defund Planned Parenthood 10/5/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/vance-says-future-trump-administration-defund-planned-parenthood-rcna174211
Vance on mass deportation.
Vance says 10% of the people living in America are (as he terms them in the most dehumanizing way) “illegal aliens” and need to go. Vance also says that another 15% of the people living in America have what he calls “an irregular situation” (whatever THAT means) with the law and need to go. So, Vance proposes mass deportation of 25% of the current American population. That is 1 out of 4 of us. That is 83 million people. Exactly, HOW would he get that job done? Planes? Busses? Logistically, it is impossible. Morally, it is horrific. (Image credit: REUTERS.) Watch Rachel Maddow’s 5-minute segment on Trump’s “bad genes” riff and on Vance’s vow to deport tens of millions sends dark message 10/7/24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B41H3aY5UsE
5 TIMES, Vance REFUSES to say Trump lost in 2020.
Vance guested on Lulu Garcia-Navarro podcast, The Interview, and it was released on 10/12. The host posed a lot of tough questions, including on Vance’s many policy flip flops in recent years. But, the most striking thing that happened was Vance’s flat out refusal to answer her simple question on who won the 2020 election. Vance ducked and ran FIVE times, and each time he was more derisive and dismissive toward the host. Vance REALLY has a nasty problem with women. (Image credit: Philip Montgomery for NY Times.)
Vance and Trump don’t really believe that they ought to abide by the will of the voters. If they win in November, no matter by how narrow a margin, they’ll say it was a mandate. If they lose, they’ll say it was fraud.
Vance finally has an answer to the big question, just not the right answer.
At an Oct. 15 rally in Williamsport, PA, Vance finally found a way to answer whether Trump lost the 2020 election: “So, did Donald Trump lose the election? Not by the words that I would use, OK?”Vance says ‘no’ Trump did not lose the 2020 election 10/16/24 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/16/politics/vance-trump-2020-election-results/index.html
Ending on a positive note–several positive notes, actually.
There IS good news out there. TONS of it. Truly—I stumble across it all the time. America is NOT the hellscape that Trump, Vance and all of MAGA endlessly shriek about. For one thing, a dockworkers’ strike that could have majorly damaged the economy was settled in JUST 3 DAYS. One the other hand, the situation in the Middle East is certainly worrisome, but blaming America or its leaders for it is a huge stretch and smells strongly of a far-right agenda. I am still hoping for a meaningful ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and that the situation among Israel and Lebanon and Hezbollah calms down. But, in the meantime, below are some very positive trends in our country.
The number of migrants crossing the southern border has fallen sharply.
Fentanyl deaths have dropped meaningfully. Fentanyl is less available.
Nationally, fatal overdoses from all street drugs dropped 12.7% in October, even better than September’s 10.6% drop, according to the CDC. For years now, fentanyl has caused most of these deaths. October was the 6th consecutive month showing a decrease, as well as providing the largest improvement. Assuming the trend holds, 2024 will be the first year since 2020 with less than 100,000 overdose deaths. Nonfatal overdoses have also decreased significantly. Fentanyl deaths in the U.S. have dropped faster than expected, CDC says 10/17/24 https://www.npr.org/2024/10/17/nx-s1-5155960/fentanyl-overdose-deaths-dropping-cdc-says
Vance and Trump both claim that immigrants are responsible for smuggling fentanyl into the US. Actually, almost 90% of fentanyl enters the U.S. through legal ports of entry, transported by people who are here legally. Almost half of them are Americans. Indicators show a fentanyl supply shortage in the US, which means Biden’s efforts to counter the drug flow from Mexico and put pressure on China to stem the manufacture of precursor components may be working. How the DOJ’s major takedown of a neo-Nazi group contradicts MAGA’s worldview 10/6/24 https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/peckerwoods-gang-indictments-fentanyl-rcna173853
Crime rates in America are way down.
In 2023 (last year stats are available), violent crime overall dropped 3%. Murders and non-negligent manslaughter dropped nearly 12%; rapes decreased more than 9%.2024 shows every sign of continuing the trend of reversing the pandemic crime spike. Law enforcement agencies in the biggest municipalities in the U.S. — communities with at least 1,000,000 people — showed the biggest drop in violent crime last year — nearly 7%. FBI finds violent crime declined in 2023. Here’s what to know about the report 9/23/24 https://apnews.com/article/fbi-crime-statistics-trump-harris-election-5bff94ec67f509740bbb53fb99576d5a
The economy is blazing.
As the latest cover of The Economist proclaims: The American economy is the envy of the world. We are NOT just doing OK; we are surging, improving, rising and setting records in every segment. Unlike many of our allies, America avoided a post-pandemic recession. We not only beat inflation—we executed the toughest of landings, a soft one. Interest rates are coming down. Jobs are strong, with a record number of new jobs added and the unemployment rate extremely low. Industry is humming along, and GDP is up. The stock market sets record highs on a regular basis; last week, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average both hit record highs. Gas prices are down, and even supermarket prices are stabilizing. Salaries are up. And, Americans are not dying in droves from Covid-19 and terrified of what the pandemic would do to our families and our communities. So, YES, we are better off than 4 years ago, and the future looks bright. The American economy: The envy of the world 10/19/24 https://www.economist.com/special-report/2024-10-19
Pandas are back.
Giant pandas returned to the National Zoo in DC last week. 3-year-old male Bao Li and female Qing Bao landed at Dulles International Airport on a custom-painted FedEx cargo plane, known as the “Panda Express.” After a brief quarantine, they will settle in on a 10-year loan from China. Maybe “panda diplomacy” will ease tensions between China and the US. (Image credits: Roshan Patel/National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.) Pandas from China return to Washington, D.C., after beloved animals left National Zoo last year 10/15/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pandas-from-china-returning-national-zoo/
Jimmy Carter got to vote.
President Jimmy Carter, age 100, voted in Georgia last week, having reached his stated goal of living long enough to VOTE FOR KAMALA HARRIS. His phenomenal life of service continued for many decades after his presidency, and what a satisfying thing it must be to attain that particular goal. (Image credit: David Goldman/AP.) Jimmy Carter votes in Georgia, fulfilling wish to live long enough to cast ballot for Kamala Harris 10/16/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jimmy-carter-vote-kamala-harris/
Utility work needs to be done related to the future extension of Lohmans Spur into the new City Center development area. As a result, the right northbound lane of Lohmans Spur, on BOTH sides of Lohmans Crossing, will be closed starting Oct. 7 and continuing for several weeks. Expect delays at the Lohmans Crossing light near the Police Station.
Band in the Hills Concert
On Sunday, Oct. 13 at 4PM, enjoy a FREE concert in the Hurst Creek Sculpture Garden. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks. Parking is available at the nearby Justice Complex (104 Cross Creek). More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1862/Sunday-Afternoon-Concert-Series
Origami Class at the Library
On Monday, October 14, 4:30PM, all ages are invited to Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) to learn how to create seasonal origami shapes, thanks to Outreach Librarian Karen Ballinger. Learn to make a spooky ghost, bat, and pumpkin, just in time for Halloween.
Lake Travis Democrats Club
SPECIAL Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) will be a WATCH PARTY for the Colin Allred/Ted Cruz DEBATE, plus Representative Vikki Goodwin and other Texas candidates who stop by.
Phone Bank#1 on Saturday, Oct. 19, 1PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). This event will remind folks that Early Voting starts soon! You can do this completely on your smart phone, but most people find it easier to use a laptop to access the database, so bring one if you can. Help us win in November by calling voters to remind them to vote!
Banned Book Club on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). Our book is Autocracy Inc. — The Dictators Who Want to Run the World, by Anne Applebaum.
Phone Bank#2 on Saturday, Oct. 26, 3PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). This event will remind folks who have not yet voted that time is running out! You can do this completely on your smart phone, but most people find it easier to use a laptop to access the database, so bring one if you can. Help us win in November by calling voters to remind them to vote!
On Wed., Oct. 16, 9:30AM-12:30PM, there is a FREE drop off of hazardous materials at Lake Travis Regional Reuse and Recycling Center (3207 Neidhardt Drive). This service is available to residents of Lakeway, Bee Cave and The Hills, plus customers of WCID 17, Hurst Creek MUD and Lakeway MUD. Bring photo ID or water bill as proof of eligibility. To be accepted, items MUST be in their original labeled containers (for proper disposal). For paint, 30 gallon containers (full or not) is the maximum per household. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Items NOT accepted include: light bulbs, medical waste such as needles and prescriptions drugs, ammunition, tires, electronics and more. (Full list of accepted and prohibited items is at the link below.) Use the following link (or call Lakeway Solid Waste at (512) 314-7514 or email solidwasteclerk@lakeway-tx.gov for assistance) to make a reservation: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACA728A1F4C07-51569315-household#/
Witches Ride
Time to fly! On Sat., Oct. 19, 5:30-9PM, bring bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, skates, scooters, wheelchairs, golf carts, wagons, or simply walking shoes and meet up at the Live Oak Golf Course’s Driving Range for a magical “flight” down Lakeway Drive. Spectators along the route will also have fun, catching candy treats. FREE EVENT. The PARADE starts at 6PM, followed by a CARNIVAL at Lakeway Activity Center, with food and beverage vendors, games, a dunk tank, euro-bungee, photo booth, a movie, and more. Info here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/1882/Witches-Ride
Oktoberfest at the Galleria
On Sat., Oct. 19, 2-6PM, head over to the Hill Country Galleria’s Central Plaza Lawn for Oktoberfest fun, including live music, yard games, face painting, balloon art and contests, with festive foods and imported beers/local lagers on offer. Bring blankets and chairs to stay awhile. FREE admission. Go here for info: https://www.hillcountrygalleria.com/event/oktoberfest-at-hill-country-galleria/2145584735
Quilt Raffle for Library West—buy tickets in October.
During October, stop by the Friends Bookstore at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) to buy a chance to win a quilt donated by the Ladies of the Lake Quilt Bee. Purchase one raffle ticket for $5 or three for $10 to raise funds for the library’s second location, West. The drawing will be held on Thursday, October 31, at noon.
Early Voting: Oct 21-Nov. 1
Plan to vote earlyOct. 21-Nov. 1 and avoid waiting in LONG LINES on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7AM-7PM.) Lakeway’s closest voting location is the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). The LAC polling place will open at 7AM and close at 7PM, EXCEPT on the last 2 nights (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1) closing time is 10PM. (Also, Sunday hours are noon-6PM.) You can vote early at any polling location in Travis County. (Note that LAC and just a few other busy locations are open late the last 2 nights, with 7PM the standard closing time.) When does early voting start? Here’s where Travis County voters can cast their ballot https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2024/09/03/travis-county-early-voting-locations-dates-2024-presidential-election/74983464007/
These tours always fill up! Sign up early for a Lakeway historical bus tour, happening on Friday, Oct. 25, at 9:15AM, 11:15AM, and 1:15PM. FREE tours start at Lakeway City Hall, so you can also take a look inside the historic Liebelt Cabin. Go here for info and to register: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1171/Heritage-Trail
Nosferatu “A Symphony of Horror”
On Sat., Oct. 26 at 7PM, enjoy a classic horror film at Lakeway Activity Center. This vintage thriller will be accompanied by the Lake Travis High School Chamber Orchestra. Tickets are $7. Dress like a vampire for the contest! Concessions available. Go here for tickets (click on Events tab): https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI5ODE3MTQ=
Lake Travis Public Safety Day AND Drug Take Back Initiative
On Sat., Oct. 26, from 11AM-2:30PM, head over to Lake Travis Elementary School (just off 620, at 15303 Kollmeyer Drive) for the 13th Annual Lake Travis Public Safety Day. FREE EVENT! This fun and educational event allows community members to interact with first responders and learn about what they do and the tools and resources they use to keep us all safe. Agencies attend from across Central Texas, bringing their helicopters, police cars, motorcycles, ambulances, fire trucks, rescue boats, ATVs, K-9’s, horses, fire mitigation equipment, incident command centers, SWAT apparatus, casualty tents, buses and more. Go here for info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/529/Public-Safety-Day
On Monday, Oct. 28, 6PM, stop by the Butler/Rough Hollow Park Plan Update Meeting at the Highland Village Pavilion (901 Highlands Blvd., next to the Rough Hollow Lakeway Welcome Center). Get an update on plans plus a timeline for completion on this Rough Hollow park, which was funded by the 2024 Lakeway Parks Bond. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1969
Pumpkin Parade at the Library!
On Thursday, Oct. 31, 10:30-11:30AM, bring the little ones in costume to Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). They can parade around and collect treats from scary stations.
Teen Art Contest—Entry Deadline is Nov. 1.
Lake Travis Community Library is sponsoring an art contest for students in grades 6 through 12. Just create an original piece of art inspired by your personal reading experience. Friends of the Library will provide cash prizes, and a selection of entries will be displayed in the library’s meeting room in December. Entry deadline is Nov 1. Go here for the rules and entry form: https://laketravislibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-Teen-Art-Contest-Brochure.pdf
Texas Arbor Day Tree Planting Event
Sign up now to participate on Sat., Nov. 2, at 10AM in Lakeway’s second time being part of Tree City USA. Residents will work with Parks and Rec Dept. to plant trees in Lakeway. Location for planting will be announced soon! Everyone gets a free lunch, but the first 30 folks to sign up will also get a tree to take home and plant. Get more info and sign up here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2079/Texas-Arbor-Day
TexArts Productions
TexArts has holiday and winter productions scheduled, all presented at its NEW theater located in the heart of Lakeway at 1110 Ranch Road 620 South. Go here for details and to buy tickets: https://www.tex-arts.org/upcoming-productions
Nov. 2-Nov. 9: Roald Dalh’s Willy Wonka JR
Nov. 22-Dec. 15: Elf–The Musical
Feb. 14-March 2: Tick, Tick … Boom!
Puzzle Exchange at the library
On Saturday, Nov. 9, 10:30-11:30AM, drop by Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) and swap out your jigsaw puzzles with ones that will be new to you. (All puzzles must be in good condition, well-packaged and include all pieces.)
Veterans Day Observance
Join the Lakeway community on Monday, Nov. 11, at 11AM, at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) to honor our military veterans. Check here for more details as the date nears: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2142/Veterans-Day
Daring Mighty Things
The above image shows Comet Tsuchinshan, which passed the Sun and is now approaching Earth. (Image credit: Daniel Korona.) It will be closest to us mid-October and visible then to the naked eye. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240930.html
Our Sun is going wild lately, emitting gigantic solar flares. The above image shows a flare on Oct. 8 (Image credit: NASA/SDO). These massive explosions cause eruptions of solar particles and magnetic fields, possibly disrupting power grids on Earth. But, the extreme solar activity will also give us gorgeous auroral displays (see below). Severe solar storm could supercharge auroras across US, impact power grids, NOAA warns 10/9/24 https://www.space.com/severe-solar-storm-geomagnetic-storm-auroras-power-grids-october-10-11-2024
The above image from New York resulted Oct. 10 from our Sun’s recent massive geomagnetic storm, as discussed and shown from the Sun’s perspective above. (Image credit: Getty Images/ Roy Rochlin.) This article has lots more gorgeous images. ‘It was 3 hours of magic’: Spectacular auroras thrill stargazers across the world (and internet) as intense geomagnetic storm batters Earth 10/11/24 https://www.space.com/spectacular-auroras-photos-thrill-skywatchers-from-geomagnetic-storm-october-2024
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requiring an investigation of the anomaly that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket experienced during the Crew-9 astronaut launch for NASA on Sept. 28. The upper stage experienced off-nominal de-orbit burn after deploying the crew capsule; this resulted in the upper stage landing outside the targeted area of the ocean. SpaceX has been forced to pause launches until the matter is resolved. The company’s investigation will be overseen by the FAA, which said the inquiry is not optional. (Image credit: SpaceX.) FAA requires investigation of anomaly on SpaceX’s Crew-9 astronaut launch 10/1/24 https://www.space.com/faa-investigation-spacex-crew-9-launch-anomaly
Because of Hurricane Milton (shown above as seen from the ISS on Oct. 7), four astronauts will stay on the International Space Station a few days longer than planned. NASA postponed the return of SpaceX Crew 8, which docked with ISS on March 3, several times since Oct. 7 due to weather issues; currently, the earliest departure date is Oct. 13. The capsule will splash down in the Atlantic off the Florida coast, so NASA is hoping things calm down soon. (Image credit: NASA TV.) Hurricane Milton forces NASA, SpaceX to delay Crew-8 astronauts’ return to Earth 10/7/24 https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-8-astronauts-return-earth-delay-hurricane-milton
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
Harris/Walz on reproductive rights.
On Oct. 6’s Call Her Daddy podcast, VP Harris talked about reproductive rights and much more. Here is an 8-minute video clip, where Harris stated her abortion stance, as well as what Trump has done and would do next on abortion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KCRsjPCiCI
On Oct. 6, Gov. Walz had a strong outing on Fox News Sunday, firmly making the Democratic case for abortion: “The restoration of Roe versus Wade is what we’re asking. This puts the decision with the woman and her health care providers. … The real issue here is women being forced into miscarriages, women being forced to go back home, get sepsis, potentially die. Maternal mortality rates in Texas have skyrocketed off the charts because of this. This is bad policy. … They see it as an election issue. We see it as a right of women to make their own bodily decisions.” He also insisted Trump would sign an “outright nationwide ban.” (Image credit: Fox News.) Watch a short clip of the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEQrb4OOl-Q
In Texas, the abortion ban is having a very negative effect on the OB-GYN workforce, per a study by a health care consulting firm. As a result, 20% of practicing OB-GYNs are considering leaving Texas, and 13% will retire early. In addition, a majority of medical residents specializing in OB-GYN say the abortion law is a factor in whether they will remain in Texas after training. ‘I could not help but cry’: Texas abortion bans causing 1 in 5 OB-GYNs to consider leaving 10/8/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/08/Texas-obstetrics-gynecology-abortion-survey/
The US Supreme Court ruled on Oct. 7 to ban abortions in Texas yet again. This time, SCOTUS said hospitals in Texas can continue to refuse emergency care for reproductive patients, while the Biden Administration appeals a January 5th Circuit Appeals Court decision against EMTALA. The Biden administration argues that a federal law, EMTALA, requires emergency rooms to provide abortions if a pregnant patient’s health or life is at serious risk, even in states where the procedure is banned. (The law applies to emergency rooms that receive Medicare funding, which most hospitals do.) Supreme Court declines Biden’s appeal in Texas emergency abortion case 10/7/24 https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-emergency-abortion-texas-bf79fafceba4ab9df9df2489e5d43e72
Louisiana became the first state tochange the status of mifepristone and misoprostol, the 2 drugs used in medication abortion, to classified drugs. This status is used for drugs with a potential for dependency or abuse, such as Ambien or Xanax; mifepristone and misoprostol do not have that potential. However, possessing a classified drug without a prescription is a crime punishable by 5 years in prison. Abortion is already illegal in Louisiana, so the drugs can’t be prescribed for that. But, experts worry that the new law will limit the use of the drugs to treat other life-threatening conditions, putting women’s health at risk. The drugs are used to treat miscarriages, induce labor, prepare the cervix for surgical procedures and stop postpartum hemorrhaging — a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention and occurs in 5% of pregnancies. Even a short delay to access drugs with the controlled designation could cause patients to die. Worse, perhaps, is that providers feel the law is a “scare tactic,” to deter doctors and pharmacists from prescribing and dispensing the medications even when needed urgently. Louisiana’s new abortion pill law may delay lifesaving care for women, doctors say 9/30/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/louisianas-new-abortion-pill-law-may-delay-lifesaving-care-women-docto-rcna172673
After Trump’s SCOTUS killed Roe v. Wade in summer of 2022, Georgia had a 6-week abortion ban. Then, on Sept. 30 a Republican-appointed judge ruled that law was inhumane, as proven by the women dying from it; his ruling made abortion legal up to 22 weeks. That lasted just 7 days, when the Georgia Supreme Court reinstated the abortion ban on Oct. 7. Among other things, this proves that life or death matters CANNOT be left to the states or the whims of local judges. Georgia Supreme Court reinstates state’s 6-week abortion ban 10/7/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/georgia-supreme-court-reinstates-states-6-week-abortion-ban-rcna174336
“The Lighthouse” is a music video released by Stevie Nicks in late September. It doesn’t mention any medical procedure, but the lyrics about lost rights and power plus the images of sign-carrying abortion rights demonstrators make things very clear. In a written statement released with the song, Nicks explained she wrote it in response to the repeal of Roe v. Wade, as a rallying cry for women. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJDCYh5iWQs “This is an anthem,” Nicks said. Stevie Nicks Releases Anthemic Response to the Reversal of Roe v. Wade, ‘The Lighthouse’ 9/26/24 https://variety.com/2024/music/news/stevie-nicks-lighthouse-single-women-roe-wade-1236157494/
Blood of the Lamb, by playwright Arlene Hutton opened its New York premiere Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters September 23. Margot Bordelon is directing. Inspired by the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, the thriller is set in a Dallas airport, where a pregnant woman finds herself detained and up against an unexpected adversary: a court-appointed attorney assigned to represent the unborn child. Performances continue through October 20. Abortion Rights Thriller Blood of the Lamb Opens New York Premiere 9/23/24 https://playbill.com/article/abortion-rights-thriller-blood-of-the-lamb-opens-new-york-premiere-at-59e59-september-23
Back to me….
I’ve been busy with Precinct Chair stuff, including delivering yard signs and block walking. We have had some great volunteers this year, which is super!
Phone banking is coming up soon; anyone wanting to help should check the Lake Travis Dems blurb near the top of the blog for dates and times.
As for yard signs, supply is nearly gone, but if you need a Harris/Walz or Colin Allred sign, email macwestie99@gmail.com
REMEMBER, Early Voting starts Monday, Oct. 21, at Lakeway Activity Center (and the other usual area locations). See you at the polls!
Here in Lakeway, I saw the same happy little deer group (two bucks, several does and a few fawns of both genders nearly all grown up) on Vanguard two mornings running last week, and I got these photos.
Have you gotten the UPDATED Covid-19 shot? Last Wednesday, I had an appointment at HEB Pharmacy here in Lakeway and got an updated Covid-19 shot AND a flu shot, in record time. If you want to be protected from winter ills, start here: https://www.heb.com/pharmacy/vaccinations
Still need Covid test kits? FREE Covid Test Kits are available again. The federal government will ship you 4 test kits via USPS, for no charge. Go here and complete your name and mailing address: https://special.usps.com/testkits
