Nina–write or wrong in Lakeway

Recent articles I recommend….

Dr. Fauci has a lot to say, and we need to hear it all.  ‘A whole lot of hurt’: Fauci warns of covid-19 surge, offers blunt assessment of Trump’s response   11/1/20 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fauci-covid-winter-forecast/2020/10/31/e3970eb0-1b8b-11eb-bb35-2dcfdab0a345_story.html

Don’t worry, Dr. Fauci is safe from Trump’s petty wrath.  As a career federal employee and esteemed director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, he is protected by federal civil service regulations from being fired or demoted for political reasons.  Trump says he might fire Fauci. Technically, he can’t  11/2/20 https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/02/can-trump-fire-fauci/

A recent CDC study of 101 households with a confirmed COVID patient isolating at home showed that over half of the  people living with those patients went on to test positive within 5 days.  This short video has tips on reducing this risk.  What you can do to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 to the people you live with 11/2/20 https://www.clickondetroit.com/health/good-health/2020/11/02/what-you-can-do-to-reduce-the-risk-of-spreading-covid-19-to-the-people-you-live-with/

Don’t be put off by the headline; this article is a fascinating examination of how the coronavirus shaped BOTH sides of the presidential campaign.  ‘This f—ing virus’: Inside Donald Trump’s 2020 undoing   11/7/20 https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/07/this-f-ing-virus-inside-donald-trumps-2020-undoing-434716

In the World

Last week was the 20th anniversary of the first expedition to the International Space Station, as a joint Russian/American team docked with the new station and brought it to life.  https://www.nasa.gov/feature/space-station-20th-expedition-1-arrives-at-the-international-space-station

Created, maintained and expanded by funding from many countries and the hard work of countless experts, this enduring monument to peaceful scientific excellence is a plus on humanity’s balance sheet.  On a clear night, look up and watch the ISS glide by; 250 miles above, it orbits every 90 minutes.  https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/home.cfm

In the US

Again, we have twin crises demanding attention: the election and the pandemic. 

ELECTION–Success!

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As for the election, Joe Biden won the presidency.  And, Kamala Harris will be the FIRST ever female vice-president.  What an enormous RELIEF.  Hearing the Saturday morning announcement  made it totally worth having been glued to MSNBC and Steve Kornacki’s awesome Big Board for all the days AND nights since Nov. 3. 

Biden-Harris overwhelmingly won the popular vote AND the electoral college vote to end the horror show we endured for 4 years.  Trump hasn’t conceded, but common decency is not in his nature; happily, there is no need, as a legal matter, for the loser to do anything.  If necessary, he will be forcibly removed in January, and (after extensive White House decontamination), the Biden family will move in, and the new administration will take charge.  The damage done in crucial areas like COVID mitigation, orderly staff hand-overs, seamless military policy, etc.–not to mention America’s world standing–will be considerable, but obviously Trump has no regard for such things.

The German magazine Der Spiegel captured the essence of America’s sea change, contrasting a past cover showing Trump beheading Lady Liberty with a 11/7/20 cover showing Biden replacing the head of Lady Liberty.  Der Spiegel Reprises Famous Trump Cover After Biden Win https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/der-spiegel-reprises-famous-trump-cover-after-biden-victory-1.9296379

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But, this COVID election highlighted the vastly differing voting laws across our 50 states.  Since the right to vote is basic to our democracy, voting standards and protections should be balanced across the country, not subject to inroads by state legislatures or governors, of either party.  ALL Americans should be able to:

— register to vote easily;

— vote by mail if desired;

–deliver ballots to secure and accessible drop-off boxes, as an option to mailing; and

–vote early in person if desired.

Not only would these options protect voting rights and promote participation in elections, they would result in TIMELY and accurate election results—which the 2020 election proved is NOT currently the case in many states. 

The states that struggled with delayed results did so because their legislatures failed to offer voting options.  Those states lacked early in-person voting, so voters had to choose between voting by mail or risking COVID infection at over-crowded voting locations on Election Day—resulting in an enormous number of mail-in ballots.  Texas, on the other hand EXTENDED its usual in-person early voting period from 12 days to 18 days; the result was people safely voting in record numbers AND officials being able to tabulate totals, including hefty but not overwhelming mail-in ballots, by midnight on Election Day.  Critically, the late-result states also refused to allow mail-in ballots to be processed before Nov. 3, even though officials knew early on that an avalanche of mail-in ballots was coming and begged their legislatures and governors for leeway to handle it.

Obviously, steps need to be taken to facilitate fast and reliable ballot handling by USPS, as opposed to the strategic disabling of the mail system than happened in 2020.  

CORONAVIRUS–continued grim failure….

Last week, America reported new cases in record numbers—well over half a million cases in less than a calendar week—surpassing peaks from last spring and summer.  Over 57,000 Americans are now hospitalized with COVID, very close to record highs in the past.  The death toll is also near record levels, with well over 1,000 Americans now dying every day. 

Also last week, Trump‘s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and several other West Wing staffers were newly diagnosed with COVID, in the fourth (disclosed) White House outbreak since last summer.

President-Elect Biden has already declared COVID mitigation to be a priority.  Details on his plans are to be announced as early as Nov. 9.

In Texas

We had HUGE voter participation for this election.  And, over half of the registered voters in Texas voted early.  (735,000 more Texans voted EARLY this year than voted in the ENTIRE 2016 presidential election, including on Election Day.)  In the end, 66% of the 17 million registered Texas voters cast ballots in the 2020 general election.  Texas failed to turn blue this year, but maybe next time….

In Lakeway

We only had propositions on the ballot this time, no elections.  Of the 7 proposed Charter changes, 5 passed and 2 failed (D and E). 

The FAILED proposals concern the City Manager and volunteer treasurer.  Our City Manager will continue to be required to live in Lakeway (which reduces the candidate pool and increases the salary to be paid).  There will continue to be a volunteer treasurer listed in the Charter; since this function has long been performed by paid Finance Dept. staff, I doubt anything will change as a practical matter. 

The PASSED proposals were:

–A: Our annexation process will follow state law.

–B: Our mayor and council members will serve 2 year terms.

–C: Successive terms of our officials will be limited to 3 terms (6 years straight, and up to 7 years straight in the case of a partial 1 year term).

–F: How we handle ballots when a candidate dies or withdraws will follow state law.

–G: How we issue bonds will follow state law.

Council, at its Nov. 2 online meeting, among other things, ­­:

–Hired an Assistant City Manager, Joseph Molis;

–Created a standing Economic Development Committee (9-15 members to be appointed by Mayor Cox), its meetings to be PRIVATE and NOT subject to the Open Meetings Act; and

–Instructed staff to investigate an annual “High Quality Event” for Lakeway to sponsor (to further the work of the Economic Development Committee and preparatory to hiring an Event Coordinator).

Go here to watch this Council meeting online—https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/89648

The next Council meeting is Nov. 16.  I’m guessing it will be in-person, but who knows….

Finally, I am told the 2020 deer count is underway.  This is a full month ahead of the timeline used for the last 3 annual counts, so comparisons will be problematic.  These previous counts indicated a slightly decreasing deer population in Lakeway, which was supported by the city’s own statistics on things like collisions, carcass pick-ups and resident complaints—all dwindling as well.  Hopefully, the results of the 2020 count will be released to the public before any Council action is taken.  Not only was Lakeway’s decades-long culling barbaric and inhumane, it was also unnecessary and failed to reduce the deer population long-term since Hill Country deer simply wandered inside city limits to take advantage of available resources and territory.  As a practical matter, past culling cost the city hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars; now, with the COVID economy reducing tax revenue, Lakeway has no funds to waste.  By the way, the Wildlife Advisory Committee last met in February and seems to have been disbanded, although it is still listed on the city site.  While other committees have met sporadically or not at all during the pandemic, their monthly meetings are still listed on the city calendar, then cancelled if nothing urgent comes up; WAC has not appeared on calendars since June.

Back to me….

Great quote: “What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.”  It is from a poem by the late Charles Bukowski, whose work seems unpalatable overall.  But, it feels like there is a lot of fire lately….

I recently fell in love with the old TV series Justified  (2010-2015), escaping ugly reality with something very different, watching all 6 seasons of stellar entertainment in record time.  Yet, that show’s distinctive theme song perfectly captures 2020 – “Long Hard Times to Come.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9BEoG0e-L8  But, I’m hoping the recent election signifies a turn-around on that theme.

Otherwise, marathon election-watching was punctuated with fall cleaning and coping with some changes on my online job.

The deer are less visible, as they always are this time of year.  But, here are a few recent photos. Also, a cheeky squirrel….

Update on The National Zoo’s panda cub (he squeaks a lot in this one)–PandaStory: Nine Weeks Old https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/pandastory-nine-weeks-old?fbclid=IwAR0xqhpmqvm-Yj2HbEi_ylHlqg-H6I7CnXUrK1Nry4_FlgxdmPFtmwz1YFU

In this video, cubbie is sleepy and naps though his exam–PandaStory: 11 Weeks Old https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/pandastory-11-weeks-old

Perspective is key….. 

Worldwide, we passed 50 million Covid cases on November 7.

In the US, we passed 10 million Covid cases on November 6.

In Texas, there are now over 6,000 people hospitalized (with this number climbing steadily), the daily death rate recently has been well over 100 people, and the positivity rate now exceeds 10% (and is also climbing steadily).  El Paso remains the hardest-hit area, with makeshift hospitals and morgues, as well as military medical assistance; the city is also under a judicial shutdown order that has so far survived legal challenge by restaurant owners and by AG Paxton, acting on behalf of Gov. Abbott.  But, many other areas across the state are surging.

Recent articles I recommend….

–Helpful tips: 7 ways to stay healthy (and sane) during the fall coronavirus surge 10/17/20 https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/17/health/covid-fall-surge-ways-to-stay-healthy-wellness/index.html

–“Death certificates may record the coronavirus as the cause of death, but in a larger sense vast numbers of Americans died because their government was incompetent.”  America and the Virus: ‘A Colossal Failure of Leadership’ 10/22/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-united-states.html

–This article demonstrates that it isn’t lockdowns ruining the economy–it is the pandemic.  Failing to control COVID dooms our economy, as well as killing us in droves.  Iowa Never Locked Down. Its Economy Is Struggling Anyway. 10/22/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/business/economy/economy-coronavirus-lockdown-iowa.html

In the US

The news remains dominated by the election and the coronavirus.  At this point, the two incendiary issues are impossible to separate.

Regarding COVID, the nasty concept of herd immunity KEEPS popping up.  That is due to the White House not only advocating it now as an option but leaking clues this is nothing new.  For months, I have suspected this was the Trump administration default strategy.  It explains their do-nothing approach, as well as their interference with any state or local official who DOES try to stop COVID.  That is why they ignored medical experts and politicized masks/social distancing, and why Trump and others have insisted for MONTHS that it is going away, we are turning the corner, and there is no reason to be afraid. This, despite America having lost over 230,000 people–more deaths than any other country in the entire world.  Now, the White House is finally to the point of admitting this is policy.  No lockdowns, no closures, no testing, no contact tracing, no masks, no social distancing—just pretend all is well. 

For example, just today, several members of the vice-president’s immediate staff tested positive, but Pence will continue campaigning throughout the nation this coming week, rather than isolate per CDC guidelines for those exposed.  Truly, with all the rallies (with no masks or social distancing) in the very states currently surging with new cases and full hospitals, the Trump campaign is actively spreading COVID-19.  Cheap, easy, deeply stupid, with zero regard for human life—herd immunity has Trump written all over it.

This article sets out the White House endorsement of herd immunity, which seems to rest largely on the advice of Dr. Scott Atlas, the radiologist who Trump discovered on Fox News and ensconced on the Coronavrus Task Force in place of actual epidemiology experts Drs. Fauci and Birx.  White House embraces a declaration from scientists that opposes lockdowns and relies on ‘herd immunity.’ 10/13/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/world/white-house-embraces-a-declaration-from-scientists-that-opposes-lockdowns-and-relies-on-herd-immunity.html

Of course, medical experts worldwide—epidemiologists, immunologists, infectious disease specialists, virologists, and physicians in the trenches treating COVID patients—vociferously condemn herd immunity as reckless, futile, inhumane, based on a fallacy, and likely to result in MILLIONS of needlessly dead Americans. Why is that?

–Even people in low-risk groups can suffer serious damage to heart, lungs, or other organs.  Children are not invulnerable; some develop an inflammatory syndrome that can be fatal.  A growing group of survivors remain ill to some extent for many months.   We don’t begin to understand the long-term effects of even mild cases of this new disease.

–HOW are we supposed to protect the old and the vulnerable, with society fully open and no precautions taken generally?

–Herd immunity, in the history of the world and its myriad diseases, has NEVER been achieved without the benefit of a vaccine.  So, assuming how it would work with COVID-19 is just guesswork. 

–One ugly guess is how many people would need to get (and survive) COVID, before we approach herd immunity.  The usual estimate is 60-80% of the population.  To date, about 8% of Americans have been infected.  So, the goal is to do the last few months again and again—9 more times—and see what happens then?

–Another ugly guess is the death toll.  Most experts say millions of Americans would die, if this experiment proceeds.  Of course, minorities have been disproportionately hard-hit so far, and that would continue.

–The horrific process of trying to achieve herd immunity would max out our medical system–over-flowing hospitals, exhausting supplies of everything from PPE to steroids and other palliative drugs, and compromising medical personnel.  The result of that havoc would be excess deaths.  Remember when a stated goal of bending the curve was to avoid overwhelming hospitals, to minimize deaths?

–Herd immunity requires that those who recover get long-term immunity.  That is NOT the case with many viruses, such as regular flu and the common cold.  Although rare so far, re-infection IS being seen with COVID-19, even at this early stage.

But, don’t believe me.  Here are several articles, from a variety of respected sources, detailing the horrors of herd immunity.  Take your pick.

—Herd Immunity? Or ‘Mass Murder’? 10/19/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/opinion/coronavirus-herd-immunity.html

—We cannot rely on magical thinking: Herd immunity is not a plan 10/16/20 https://www.statnews.com/2020/10/16/we-cannot-rely-on-magical-thinking-herd-immunity-is-not-a-plan/?utm_content=buffer06023&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=facebook_organic&fbclid=IwAR31l3xA5N-OoU6ecnolpCvuNvY9WJo4Noo_WgmIoqJDFJdKj_PMSN90c58

—Fauci Attacks Herd Immunity Declaration Embraced By White House As ‘Total Nonsense’ 10/15/20 https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2020/10/15/fauci-attacks-herd-immunity-declaration-embraced-by-white-house-as-total-nonsense/#17d4791e458d

—THE JOHN SNOW MEMORANDUM: ongoing project originally published in The Lancet 10-14-22.  This is the rebuttal to The Great Barrington Declaration.  Here, in an ongoing collaboration, medical experts condemn the herd immunity strategy. https://www.johnsnowmemo.com/

—Scientific consensus on the COVID-19 pandemic: we need to act now: Any pandemic management strategy relying upon immunity from natural infections for COVID-19 is flawed 10/15/20 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32153-X/fulltext

—A Viral Theory Cited by Health Officials Draws Fire From Scientist 10/19/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/health/coronavirus-great-barrington.html

—Atlas, Paul Mislead on Preexisting COVID-19 ‘Immunity’ 10/13/20 https://www.factcheck.org/2020/10/atlas-paul-mislead-on-preexisting-covid-19-immunity/?fbclid=IwAR32inN1AdSL3M5x57ZCyUFPfUKY9JBe3WwKT_6HnlzGWZW_HZqNiXKaWU0

—Letting COVID-19 spread to achieve herd immunity is “unethical,” WHO chief says 10/13/20 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-herd-immunity-unethical-world-health-organization/

The ELECTION—coming soon….

The election is just over a week away.  Finally! The second and last debate curbed the worst impulses of our combative president (though he still lied like a rug), allowing Biden to set out clear policy on things like COVID response, foreign interference in our elections, immigration reform, and climate change.  Plans, goals, policy—sounds like someone knows how to govern.  Refreshing!

On a lighter note, here are 2 politically inspired but super-fun musical numbers.

Beauty and the Beast tunes up for the pandemic.  “Try not to be so grouchy, have some faith in Fauci, wear a mask, wear a mask, wear a mask!”  https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1317690911174905857?s=21&fbclid=IwAR3-ZxzgRmDMiszy1VosvoE_FC2K2V-WfIXFqTGFCHu_A8IdeKMT3tAHKMs

This lyrical take on Evita may be the BEST ad yet from The Lincoln Project.  Covita–“I broke my promise, won’t keep my distance…. Don’t cry for me, Secret Service….” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tZVnbDq9B4

In Texas

78% of eligible voters statewide are registered for the current election.  Amazingly, of the 850,000 eligible voters in Travis County, 97% are registered (breaking all records). 

A record turnout for voting is expected in Texas, possibly as high as 75-80% of eligible voters; 65% voted in 2016.

Already, over 7 million votes have been cast in Texas—more than in any other state.  With another week of early voting still to go, that amounts to 80% of the TOTAL votes cast in 2016 (including election day).  Whether standing in line to vote early or mailing in ballots, Texans are making a political statement.

In Lakeway

Early voting ends Oct. 30.  Our location is Lakeway Activity Center, next to City Hall on Cross Creek.  This site shows you the current wait time for any Travis County polling place.  https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/elections/wait-time-map.html

If you requested and received a mail-in ballot but prefer to vote in person, be sure to take your mail-in ballot.  A special clerk at the start of the voting process will have you sign a paper to cancel the mail-in ballot, and then you proceed to vote normally.

The election includes SEVEN propositions for Lakeway voters.  See my previous blog for details on these propositions.  (I voted YES on all of them, except for Proposition C.  That one would extend successive terms of service by local officials from the current 2 terms to 3 terms.  That is a change from 4 years to 6 years straight, and up to 7 years if someone served a partial term; that seems excessive.  I voted NO on Prop C.)

If you are still looking to receive your mail-in ballot OR want to track the status of a ballot you already mailed back, go here— https://votetravis.com/vexpress/submit.do Scroll down to Voter LookUp near the bottom.  Add name and birth date (you can skip the unique identifier).  Select BBM Status (Ballot By Mail).  It will tell you the status of your ballot.  For info or help–Travis County Tax Office Voter Registration Division 512-854-9473.

Ballots can be mailed in (with voters urged to do so as early as possible) or dropped off at approved sites; there is ONLY 1 approved site per county.  The Travis County site is out by the airport.  (Voters must drop off completed ballots IN PERSON and show ID.  Voters in Texas CANNOT drop off mail-in ballots at polling places.) 

Council, at its Oct. 19 in-person meeting, accepted the initial report from its Economic Advisory Committee.  Suggestions included making Lakeway friendlier to business, creating an annual signature event, and taking advantage of the coming 620 reno to “reshape the corridor.”  All this is to be managed by a new standing Economic Development Committee.  Details were sparse.  Among other things, Council also 1) adopted the Thoroughfare Plan discussed previously;  2) awarded $50,000 in HOT funds to the second annual Lake Travis Film Festival; and 3) directed the City Manager to create Lakeway’s Coronovirus Relief Program and sign the Interlocal Agreement to accept CARES Act funds for it from Travis County.  Go here to watch this Council meeting online— https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/87344

The next Council meeting is billed as a Work Session, on Nov. 2.  Online only or in-person?  Who knows….

Finally, Mayor Cox, in her Oct. 22 Facebook Live talk, stated the western segment of the Main Street extension will break ground in 2021.  This is the Legends segment branching off Lohmans opposite The Hills entrance.  Unfortunately, the missing center segment (behind HEB and on land still owned by Stratus) is very problematic.  It was announced at a recent Council meeting that Stratus never signed the agreement to build this segment of road, so all the city can do is try to leverage cooperation via the PUD, which has not worked so far.  Likely, a lawsuit will be required.  As the mayor mentioned, it would be disastrous if Main Street is not completed by the time 620 is shut down for widening and long-term restructuring, which could happen as early as 2022.  In addition, she teased a coming re-statement of the Rough Hollow development agreement.

Back to me….

I voted mid-morning the first Thursday of early voting and only had a short wait.  VERY happy to get that done!

Maxie got a good report on her blood work, so all is well.

My back yard, even though tiny, has vexed me since moving into St. Andrews in 2018, and I finally gave up on handling it myself.  Weeds, dirt, bugs, snakes—ugh, no thanks.  A wonderful yard service spent an afternoon hacking back the overgrowth and then a full day re-doing the tattered ground covering and replacing the variegated mulch and pebbles with lovely slate gravel.  Now, instead of cursing every time I look out there, I grin.

Our deer continue to post for close-ups, but a couple squirrels nearly upstaged them.

Here are a two new baby panda video updates.  What a chunky cutie!

—The Baby Panda Is Now Crawling and Barking and Packing on the Pounds 10/15/20 https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/10/15/the-baby-panda-is-now-crawling-and-barking-and-eating-fruitsicles/?fbclid=IwAR01H_DPBBTzjqJPhr79ugoL-4S29bVnsBcZJth4WSj4MtC4OILz6cnWMFQ

—The National Zoo’s Baby Panda Is Two Months Old and Cuter Than Ever  10/23/20 https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/10/23/baby-panda-national-zoo-is-two-months-old/

Perspective is key….. 

Worldwide, many countries are preoccupied with COVID flare-ups, but at least America provided comic relief with shockingly poor handling of the pandemic while running the least democratic election in the history of our supposed democracy.

In the US, another COVID surge is the worst October surprise of all.  We exceeded 8 million cases on Oct. 12.  The total will go over 9 million any day now.

In October, the rise in cases was steady, and then it spiked last week. The U.S. topped 65,000 new cases on Thursday, Oct. 22.  This was the highest tally since the July peak.   It was immediately followed by over 85,000 new cases on Oct. 23.  In the spring, heavy cases were concentrated in the northeast.  Summer infections raged in the south and west.  Now, the outbreaks are scattered in pockets across the country, often in rural areas with limited medical resources.

Hospitalizations rose 40% in October.  So far, over 500,000 Americans have been hospitalized.  Those who survive face heavy medical bills; even if they have insurance, many are seeing surprise big-ticket billing items.

Death counts are flat so far, but this lagging indicator is sure to rise soon.

In Texas, last week’s new daily cases were nearly as high as back in August.  Hospitalizations continue to climb.  As of Oct. 23, over 5,000 Texans were hospitalized, up from 3,600 on Oct. 11.

Hot spots include Dallas, El Paso, Amarillo and Lubbock.  Austin and Travis County show numbers among the lowest in the state, so far.

Recent articles I recommend….

Need to know the difference between Covid-19, cold and flu symptoms?  Here’s a handy chart.  (Convert the temperature reading to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.)  Coronavirus symptoms: how to tell if you have a common cold, flu or Covid 10/5/20 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/05/coronavirus-symptoms-how-to-tell-if-you-have-a-common-cold-flu-or-covid

Good info on masks: What We Know So Far About Masks and Coronavirus  10/6/20 https://blogs.webmd.com/webmd-doctors/20201006/mask-coronavirus-what-we-know?fbclid=IwAR2_m88y-aRGnMuNGnvGD6v6SfFVBrfwn-oZZ5Wasdz-Hg_NnkvASTStyRI

Dr. Fauci has an update: Fauci: ‘We had a superspreader event in the White House’  10/9/20 https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/520409-fauci-we-had-a-superspreader-event-in-the-white-house

In the US

Crazy times as the election looms….

First, we suffered through a presidential debate with one participant acting like a cross between a spoiled toddler and a rabid hyena.  Debate procedure rules, agreed to by both sides, were ignored by Trump.  Later, it was disclosed that the entire White House contingent arrived at the debate location too late to be tested on-site for COVID-19—as both sides had agreed—yet, the debate proceeded.  And, it surprised no one that the Trump staff and family attending the debate did so WITHOUT MASKS—even though both sides agreed masks would be worn by the audience. 

Then, the First Couple and what seems like most of the government contingent in Washington, DC, contracted COVID-19.  White House staff, Trump campaign staff, even Pentagon officials tested positive and/or had to isolate due to exposure.  Guess America hasn’t turned the corner after all….  And, there is a very obvious reason for that.

If, as many have said, refusing to wear a mask now is like driving while drunk, then the Trump administration amounts to an inbred clan of unapologetic substance abusers who very predictably caused a multi-vehicle pile-up of epic proportions.  Not only were many reckless “drivers” injured, but so were countless others who just happened to be in the vicinity.  But, here is where the drink driving metaphor fails: each of THOSE infected people exposed THEIR contacts to the infection, and on and on.  (This is especially true, since little contact tracing has been attempted; with the White House refusing to release vital info like Trump’s last negative test date, it is impossible to know who is at risk.)  Plus, countless medical personnel attending the ill were put at risk.  All this happened due to the Trump administration’s long-running, blatant, and reckless refusal to follow the simple advice of medical experts—wear masks, social distance, and avoid mass gatherings. 

America has a super-spreader president. He puts us all – and himself – at risk https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/05/trump-republicans-coronavirus-super-spreader-risk?utm_term=e626a9dc20bb4d7b2337f442a9ffa980&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUS&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=GTUS_email

From the pathological to the sublime…. Also in Washington DC , this tribute on The Elipse features 20,000 empty chairs.  As overwhelming as this image is, remember—each chair represents TEN dead Americans.  And counting….

America now has over 219,000 dead.  The pandemic is raging out of control in many states including Wisconsin (where hospitals are overwhelmed), Utah, Montana, Wyoming and other western states. 

I am proud to support Joe Biden and look forward to his capable guidance in defeating COVID-19 and in healing our divided nation.  

In Texas 

Ballots are now in the process of being mailed to Texans who requested to vote by mail.  Here is how to check on your ballot.  Go here—https://votetravis.com/vexpress/submit.do  Scroll down to Voter LookUp near the bottom.  Add name and birth date (you can skip the unique identifier).  Select BBM Status (Ballot By Mail).  It will tell you the status of your ballot.  For info or help–Travis County Tax Office Voter Registration Division 512-854-9473 tax_voters@traviscountytx.gov www.traviscountytax.org

Ballots can be mailed in (with voters urged to do so as early as possible) or dropped off at approved sites.  (Voters must drop off completed ballots IN PERSON and SHOW ID.  Voters in Texas CANNOT drop off mail-in ballots at polling places.) 

Gov. Abbott did his best to limit voting in Texas during a pandemic by reducing ballot drop off locations to 1 per county, with an October 1 order.  While arguably workable for rural counties with small populations, a single drop-off location is ludicrous in urban areas, including Houston’s Harris County which has nearly 5 million people spread across 2000 square miles. Gov. Greg Abbott limits counties to one absentee ballot drop-off location, bolstering GOP efforts to restrict voting https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/01/greg-abbott-texas-vote-mail/

Last week, a federal district court struck down this order, as violating the voting rights of elderly and disabled Texans likely wanting to vote by mail and hand-deliver ballots to be sure they are counted.  Of course, Gov. Abbott and his felonious AG Ken Paxton have appealed.  As of now, an appeals court has placed a hold on multiple ballot drop-offs, pending review.  This will likely go at least to the Texas Supreme Court.  Abbott’s limit on drop-off locations stands, for now  https://www.statesman.com/news/20201009/abbottrsquos-order-limiting-ballot-drop-off-sites-stands-for-now

In a VERY related matter, the Trump campaign is suing to limit ball drop off options nationwide, with some successes and some failures.  Judge throws out Trump campaign’s Pennsylvania lawsuit https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-pennsylvania-lawsuits-15e9dfeede4ddee5086611f0dd7b63a0

Finally, be careful at the polls. Gov. Abbott’s mask order specifies that voters, poll workers and poll watchers are NOT required to wear masks.

In Lakeway

Council, at its Sept. 28 meeting, FINALLY adopted the 2021 budget and set the property tax rate.  After months of threatening a significant tax hike, the final vote was 7-0 for keeping the 2019 and 2020 rate of 16.45 cents per $100 valuation.  That means that, if your home is valued the same as last year, then the Lakeway share of your property tax bill will be the same as it was last year.  (Sorry—your tax bill as a WHOLE will go up, because the other taxing entities—Travis County, LTISD, your MUD, etc.—are increasing their tax rates.  Lakeway gets less than 10% of what we pay in property taxes.)

Sure, they got to the right result, but why did it take them so long?  Since June, everyone except Smith was totally dismissive about the Lakeway portion of our property tax bills “only” going up $50-$100 bucks to pay for all the shiny things they wanted.  Suddenly, those SAME people found it against their principles for homeowners to pay $1 or EVEN 1 CENT extra in taxes to Lakeway next year. The epiphanies just kept rolling in, from one council member to the next, until every last one of them had a Come to Jesus moment right there on camera.   Again—correct result, but one heck of a weird process.

Council also presented a report on the Planned Unit Development (PUD) for The Oakes (HEB and all the rest) with Stratus Properties.  Several discrepancies were disclosed, but the major one relates to the still-missing road connecting Main Street to Lohmans.  Absent that critical artery, in the FIVE years now gone by since the stores opened, we have gotten used to short-cutting through parking lots to avoid 620, but that isn’t optimal or safe.  Turns out, Stratus NEVER SIGNED THE AGREEMENT requiring them to build that road for the city; Stratus also NEVER POSTED A BOND guaranteeing they do this.  Interestingly, Lakeway Deputy City Manager Chessie Zimmerman was in charge of managing this PUD; she left the city’s employ in 2017, going to work for Stratus.  Conflict of interest, perhaps?  Also, Dave DeOme was Mayor of Lakeway 2009-2015, while the PUD was negotiated and HEB and the other stores were allowed to open without the road being built or the paperwork even being signed; residents unhappy about this may want to complain to him.  And—surprise!—Stratus has not responded to recent requests to remedy these issues.  Council voted Sept. 28 to press Stratus to move forward with the road.  This will end up in court.  Go here to watch this Council meeting online—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Early voting for the November 3 election starts Oct. 13 and ends Oct. 30.  Our location is Lakeway Activity Center, next to City Hall on Cross Creek.  (You CANNOT early vote at Randalls as in past elections).

This site shows you the current wait time for any Travis County polling place.  https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/elections/wait-time-map.html

The election includes SEVEN propositions for Lakeway voters.  While no local officials are up for election, these are proposed changes to the City Charter, which is basically Lakeway’s Constitution.  Aside from the two items relating to the terms of our elected officials (Prop B and C), these are basically housekeeping measures.

I’m not going to waste time discussing the bizarrely named Save Lakeway campaign, except to say that I won’t be following the advice of five fuddy-duddies, who are backed by the felonious developer they sold Lakeway to decades ago.  I am voting YES for all EXCEPT Prop C, which gets a big NO.

Specifically:

Proposition A—This matches Lakeway’s annexation process to state law. I’m voting YES.

Proposition B–This brings the Charter into compliance with the state Constitution as far as our officials being elected for 2 year terms (as they always have been).  I’m voting YES.

Proposition C—This extends successive terms of service from the current 2 terms to 3 terms (from 4 years to 6 years straight, and up to 7 years if someone served a partial term). That seems excessive.  I’m voting NO.

Proposition D—This would change things, so that our City Manager no longer has to live within the Lakeway city limits.  That requirement limits the candidate pool and means we have to pay more in salary to offset Lakeway’s high home costs.  I’m voting YES.

Proposition E—This deletes the volunteer Treasurer, moving those duties to Finance Department staff (as currently exists).  I’m voting YES.

Proposition F—This defers to state law on how to handle ballots when a candidate dies or withdraws before the election.  I’m voting YES.

Proposition G—This defers to state law on issuing bonds.  Council (by super-majority of 5 out of seven votes) would be able to approve issuance of bonds.  I’m voting YES.

For more info, download a PDF from the City’s site, here– https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/427/Election-Information

Or, check out this recent Statesman article Lakeway looks to polls to resolve its city charter issues https://www.statesman.com/news/20201005/lakeway-looks-to-polls-to-resolve-its-city-charter-issues?fbclid=IwAR1RF1AMy5ejKokpCEqIZWxexvagbB27umfcS0HfUF_ifv6gmmnSjE8FezI

But, do you REALLY want to get the skinny on Charter changes and understand how Council rashly appointed former mayors and ex-council members (plus a couple good guys) to the Review Committee and then failed to rubber-stamp the majority’s self-serving recommendations, resulting in mayhem and all those ugly signs studding certain yards in Old Lakeway?  Then you need to watch the Charter Reviews items in Council meetings held on May 4, June 1, and July 6  Enjoy!  https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Back to me….

My mail-in ballot arrived last week.  I will try voting in person at the Activity Center next week.  If it is crowded or doesn’t feel safe, I will mail my ballot from Westlake. (Lakeway’s post office is a black hole in the best of times.)

I got my last overdue medical matter tended to AND picked up my new glasses.  (My eyes felt better immediately!)  Maxie had her annual exam.  In addition to her vaccination, she got poked for a geriatric blood panel.  “Geriatric”–talk about adding insult to injury!  We refer “Senior,” thank you very much.

Lovely weather we had there for a bit, then summer closed back in on us.  Still, our deer are already working on their winter coats.  Here are some of my favorite recent photos.

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Here is a fun panda cub update from The National Zoo.  It’s a boy! Smithsonian National Zoo says giant panda cub is a male  https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/dc/smithsonian-national-zoo-panda-cub-is-a-boy/65-30e941d8-299b-42e6-b86c-b26697c8d73a?fbclid=IwAR3jK0kZB-Gs_DGKdtPJkS7awlE1ualbrlBfQ5hOVAY8M_SKTg3GYcpdXuA

Perspective is key….. 

Worldwide, new cases soared.  Last week, there were over a million new cases in a 3 day period, the sharpest increase ever, due to surges in Europe and the United States and continued outbreaks in India, Brazil and other countries.

In the US, daily new case totals tend to be 50,000 or higher now.  On Oct. 9, we had over 61,000 new cases; only the worst days of the summer surge had higher numbers.  Experts say we need to reduce that to less than 20,000 new daily cases.  Things are going in the wrong direction, as we face election gatherings, cold weather and major holidays.

In Texas, hospitalizations are rising.  Two weeks ago, on Sept. 27, 3217 Texans were hospitalized with COVID.  As of today (Oct. 11), that number is 3622.  Also, the testing positivity rate fluctuates from 6% to 9%, but it never drops close to the safe range of 2%.

Articles I recommend, if you missed them earlier….

Dr. Anthony Fauci provides an update. Fauci at odds with Trump: Downplaying virus threat ‘not a good thing,’ no ‘normal’ until at least mid-2021  9/11/20  https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fauci-odds-trump-downplaying-threat-good-thing-normal/story?id=72952834&cid=social_fb_abcnp&fbclid=IwAR1zm3e7knE6c99Unsc2AyjXXznGESA3m-IOVMhsJ86iGVXigFoKgVG-nEc

Guidance from recognized experts on testing, treatments, vaccines, herd immunity, fall/winter plans and more–definitely worth a close read. What the Fall and Winter of the Pandemic Will Look Like  9/18/20  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/opinion/coronavirus-fall-winter.html

More good and practical advice is in this article. Stop Expecting Life to Go Back to Normal Next Year  9/15/20https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/opinion/coronavirus-precautions.html

But, THIS is the article everyone needs to read, then read again, forward, and talk about.  Tomás Pueyo wrote the most important analysis of the coronavirus last spring, The Hammer and the Dance.   Now, he shows how America can manage COVID-19 as it inevitably ebbs and flows all over the country, using “fences”—not actual fences, of course, but policies put in place and enforced to keep out infections.  To Beat the Coronavirus, Build a Better Fence.  From the article: No country has been able to control the virus without a fence. Fences are not enough to stop the virus on their own, but they’re a necessary part of the solution. European countries and U.S. states had hoped otherwise. They were deluded. They opened their arms to their neighbors too soon and got infected in the hug.  They need to realize that not every country or state is effectively fighting the virus. Why should their citizens sacrifice so much for so long, with lockdowns and business closures, only to waste their efforts when their neighbors visit? And as long as states fail to control their borders, the coronavirus will come back. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/14/opinion/politics/coronavirus-close-borders-travel-quarantine.html

As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.

In the US

We suffered yet another loss, in a year that has specialized in sneak attacks, relentless blows, vicious mayhem, and more death than we can contemplate.  Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of cancer on Sept. 18.  Every American woman owes her a debt, for not only paving our way with her own achievements but for flying into the fray and removing obstacles for us all.  Notorious RBG, indeed.

This NY Times podcast captures her essence (transcript also available if you prefer to read.)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and the Battle for Her Seat https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/21/podcasts/the-daily/ruth-bader-ginsburg-supreme-court.html?rref=vanity

Here is a good article from 2016, in her own words. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Advice for Living https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/opinion/sunday/ruth-bader-ginsburgs-advice-for-living.html

I’ll never forget this image, of hundreds of her former law clerks lining up on the Supreme Court steps to greet her casket.  Then, in pairs, they took shifts standing vigil at her side during 2 days of public viewing.

This video shows the Supreme Court ceremony and vigil, including the clerks’ tribute, the eulogy, official statements, and comments from people who came from across the nation to say goodbye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e692Lx08RU

This video shows the U.S. Capitol Memorial Service for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqxHqVVhz4M

Panning out from one searing loss to over 200,000 Americans dead from COVID-19, this article pays tribute.  With Flags, Crosses and Photos, Mourning 200,000 Dead  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/us/covid-deaths.html

In Texas 

An Austin artist observes the death of each Texan from coronavirus (15,500 as of now).  ‘These Are Real People Dying’: Why an Artist Filled His Yard With Flags   https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/insider/front-page-200k-deaths.html

Official COVID reporting in Texas took several serious hits recently.  The result was detailed in a NY Times piece, concluding this: “Inconsistencies and problems with Covid-19 data collection in Texas have clouded the picture of the pandemic’s trajectory in the state, to the point that some residents and officials say they cannot rely on the numbers to tell them what is really going on.” Conflicting Virus Data in Texas Raises Distrust of the Government  9/13/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/13/us/texas-virus-data.html

Then, the state decided to make sweeping changes, so that it now reports 3 DIFFERENT positivity rates (percentage of tests showing infection). Texas officials change how the state reports positivity rate after testing backlogs skewed coronavirus data 9/14/20 https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/14/texas-coronavirus-positivity-rate/

Soon after, Gov. Abbott declared the positivity rate would no longer be relied on as far as when to re-open.  Instead, he will look at hospitalizations, specifically the percentage of COVID hospitalizations compared to all hospitalizations.  If COVID hospitalizations are over 15% for 7 days, then additional restrictions may be needed. Texas re-openings tied more to COVID-19 severity than to spread 9/18/20 https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/18/texas-reopening-coronavirus/

And, Gov. Abbott then continued re-opening Texas, allowing elective surgeries again and permitting restaurants, retail, office, etc. to open up to 75% capacity (from 50% previously).  Of course, Texas continues to perform less and less tests, just like the White House prefers.

In Lakeway

The Sept. 21 Council meeting was held IN PERSON at City Hall, after online meetings since February and with only 3 days notice. The somewhat good news is that Council agreed to a nominal increase of the property tax rate.  They will adopt what used to be called the effective rate but is now known as the no new revenue rate (being 16.53 cents per $100 of property valuation, compared to the current rate of 16.45 cents per $100); this rate will bring in the same amount of funds to the city for next year as it got this year, excluding new properties.  Previously, Mayor Cox and Council threatened to assess a 3.5% tax increase, then a 2% increase.  Now, there will technically be a 0% increase, but due to how this is calculated some properties will be charged more.  The frilly new expenditures they wanted (4 new staff positions and various new vehicles) are still in the budget.  But, it turns out that sales tax revenue to date was higher than projected, plus staff was suddenly able to trim planned expenditures here and there.  It is a shame that Mayor Cox and our Council members even considered raising taxes during a pandemic and ended up with this mediocre result, but at least they recognized the folly of doing anything more extreme after many, many residents objected.  And how nice that a path allowing them to have their cake and eat it too appeared out of nowhere….

Unfortunately, our deer remain at risk, with this year’s count still (as far as has been disclosed) set for October instead of the usual December and with roughly $40,000 in the 2021 budget available to partially fund culling the herd.

Going by an Executive Session description for the Sept. 21 meeting, it seems Lakeway is suing a former city attorney for bad legal advice.   However, no public action was taken at the meeting, and no details were released.  Could it be over the city’s long but losing campaign to pay Mayor Cox’s personal legal fees?  Or, possibly related to the city’s election reform that violated the Texas Constitution?  Or, it is regarding the Cherry Knoll fiasco?  Or, pretty much anything involving Legends?  Considering the city’s many legal misadventures in recent years, the possibilities are endless….

There IS a rumor going around that City of Lakeway is trying to annex the Crosswinds/Hornsby area just outside current bounds and abutting Rough Hollow.  And, it sounds like many of those homeowners are fighting mad about the power play.  With decades of abuse from that development, on their properties and on their Lake Travis frontage, it seems to me those folks have suffered enough.

Council will FINALLY adopt the 2021 budget and set the property tax rate (see details above) at the special Sept. 28 Council meeting.  The Agenda has MUCH MORE on tap, as well.  This includes moving ZAPCO monthly meetings from Tuesdays to Mondays and awarding a $163,558 annual landscape contract (for work at “various locations”).  Far more interesting is a review of the Planned Unit Development for The Oakes (HEB and the rest); this could be juicy, or it could be another whitewash.  Also, the city is adopting a Thoroughfare Plan, despite still having way too few actual thoroughfares.  Finally, an Executive Session item reveals a complaint against the police department, with no details given.  

Unfortunately, the Meeting Packet for the meeting has nothing helpful on most of the agenda items (the budget being the exception).  This means that Citizen Participation, while offered, is largely moot on most items; it is hard to submit a written comment BEFORE the meeting, as required, when no info is supplied past a headline-style Agenda.

For whatever reason, this meeting is back to ONLINE only. Go here to see the Agenda and Meeting Packet for Sept. 28– https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

If you want to make a public comment, you must arrange it BEFORE the meeting. To send written comments to Council and/or request to speak at the meeting, go here and create a Public Comment Form—https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch Council meetings online, live or after the fact—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Finally, Lakeway had a rash of stolen vehicles last week.  The city notice mentioned that most cases involved unlocked cars, many with the keys left in the vehicles.  Seriously?   Lock your vehicles, remove valuables, and secure your keys.  Better yet—clear the junk out of your garage and park your car in there, for maximum security and minimum neighborhood clutter.

Back to me….

I ventured out to The Galleria for an eye exam and then shopped for a much-needed pair of new glasses.  Even THIS is a different experience due to COVID, but Lenscrafters is doing a great job keeping everything clean and safe.  Again, I heartily recommend doing this type thing on a Tuesday morning—I was the only customer.

Also, I gave in to my doctor’s plea and finally got the shingles vaccine.  (Well, the new Shingrix vaccine requires 2 shots, so I’ll get the second round in 2-6 months.)  I also got a tetanus booster that was over-due.  Since I’m not even close to reaching the deductible on my health insurance, I called around and found that HEB Pharmacy charges significantly less for both vaccines than other area options.  The pharmacist warned my arms would be sore, and he was not kidding!   

The rain was welcome, but it did cancel a few morning walks.  However, the deer posed nicely when I did get out, and here are some of my favorite shots.

The National Zoo’s panda cub suddenly LOOKS like a panda—covered in black and white fur, and very chubby. Check out this adorable video as Cubbie squeaks and grunts its way through a quick medical exam (including a DNA swab to ascertain gender)–The Baby Panda Is One Month Old https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/09/21/the-baby-panda-is-one-month-old/?fbclid=IwAR1qVXh8cV_XMnW4PMKb_80l4TyOuN9dc3vd3L4G2F0NYDDq9UCymh-g0IQ

Perspective is key….. 

Worldwide, the total number of COVID-19 deaths passed the 1 million mark today.  What a sea of suffering from something that did not even exist a year ago….

In the US, we hit the 7 million case mark on Sept. 20, just 3 weeks after reaching 6 million cases.  Steady for awhile at a high plateau, the number of new infections is now edging upward, with totals as high as 53,000 new cases per day recently.  Worst of all, 200,000 Americans were dead from COVID-19 as of Sept. 15.  This was less than 4 months since May 26, when what seemed an impossible 100,000 people had died.

In Texas, the daily death counts remain high.  New cases are rising despite inadequate testing, and hospitalizations are creeping upward.  Again.

It is clear who we can and cannot trust, so I recommend these recent articles from Dr. Anthony Fauci:

—Fauci debunks theories of low CDC coronavirus death toll: ‘There are 180,000-plus deaths’ in U.S. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/01/fauci-debunks-theories-of-low-cdc-coronavirus-death-toll-there-are-180000-plus-deaths-in-us.html?fbclid=IwAR2fSXhSbfyxWhdarQ7JPm_0O9iSwS6yMOdh7tw2i2tF2j7Cug78LnQPPwg

—Fauci says U.S. needs to ‘hunker down’ for fall and winter  https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fauci-says-u-s-needs-hunker-down-fall-winter-n1239798?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&fbclid=IwAR02lTJtUFAoW3Q8ShQMp3m1Bp9pjhPV98N5AMz7OjRQiM9391VlGXYiMAc

I also recommend this article–How Did the ‘Best-Prepared Country’ Become a Horror Story? 9/13/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/12/opinion/sunday/donald-trump-coronavirus.html

As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.

In the US

SO MANY political tell-all books came out the last 2 weeks, the western edge of the country caught fire, and we observed both Labor Day and the 19^th anniversary of 9/11.  Of course, 197,000 Americans missed that milestone, having died in the current tragedy of COVID.  I wonder how many more of us will die before the 20^th anniversary?  Another 200,000?  More?  Will there be a safe and effective vaccine a year from now?  Or is that just another lie?

It is natural to compare 9/11 and the pandemic, despite their fundamental differences.  What I heard repeatedly last week was a sense of nostalgia, a feeling we were better off back then, as bad as it was at the time. It seemed to boil down to feeling that in 2001 we were at least united.  Now, our division along every axis—party and race just being the start of it—seems insurmountable.  With all the anger and hate, and the screaming matches online amongst ourselves and also in the media, being united isn’t even palatable.  Maybe in 2020, thanks to all the over-sharing in recent years, we just know each other far too well.

As for the books, I highly recommend soothing eye drops and:

–Peter Strzok’s Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump

–Michael S. Schmidt’s Donald Trump v. The United States: Inside the Struggle to Stop a President

–Bob Woodward’s Rage.

But, the several trashier books published recently are also fun reads and VERY illuminating.

As for the fires, I recommend prayer.  Also, if you can do it, donations.  The Red Cross is always a good choice  https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/wildfire-relief.html

Another option is Greater Good, which sends teams and funds local groups assisting people, pets and other animals in harm’s way.  https://store.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/93573-2020-disaster-response

For 9/11, I recommend this article: ‘We’re the Only Plane in the Sky’  https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/09/were-the-only-plane-in-the-sky-214230

Without politicizing the tragedy, it tells the story of the moments and hours after it happened, from the viewpoint of staff and media who had traveled with President Bush to a school event in Florida.  It shows how they made their way home during an unprecedented threat. They were scared, too.

This last recommendation is also non-partisan.  Bruce Springsteen wrote us all a song.  It is quintessential Bruce & E Street Band, only missing Clarence ….  Listen to “A Letter to You“ here.    You’ll feel better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQyLEz0qy-g

In Texas 

Schools and universities started up, some in person.  Football games were played, with people in the stands.  We’ll soon see the results of all that.

Gov. Abbott started signaling that he is going to ease restrictions on bars.  The way he and TABC caved to bars already, letting them operate as restaurants without having kitchens by selling pre-packaged food, makes this nearly a non-issue. Surely the point has been made, over and over, in state after state–bars spread COVID.

In Lakeway

Mayor Cox mentioned in her Facebook talk last week that early voting is no longer allowed at schools or grocery stores.  So, starting Oct. 13, Lakeway’s early voting will be held at the Activity Center.  (Thanks to Gov. Abbott’s idiocy, masks are NOT required at the polls.)

People are still complaining about the raised medians on 620.  Personally, I plan my trips to eliminate left-hand turns and prefer anything that minimizes collisions on this hazardous and unavoidable roadway. 

Council again discussed the budget and raising our property tax rate as high as 3.5% (the max they can go with triggering an election for approval), at its Sept. 8 special meeting.  Yet again, no final decision was made.  However:

1. They are still planning action against our deer.  Mayor Cox stated that the annual deer count would be done 2 months early this year (in October), so that, depending on the results, Council would have time to take action against the deer.  (Whether this would be TTT or TTP was not specified, but both include inhumane trapping.)  For that purpose, roughly $40,000 was set aside in the budget; the latest estimate for culling was $120,000-$170,000, so apparently the rest will come out of the Capital Fund cookie jar.  However, they fudge it, this money comes from our taxes.  Funding and killing aside, changing the timing of the deer count is unfortunate, since the trend data gleaned won’t match up with that from the last 3 years, when the count was done in early December.  Deer counts are all about trends; a single count is considered worthless.
2. Mayor Cox yet again stressed she wants to give city staff an across-the-board raise.  This is in addition to the 4 new positions and 2 vehicles that would require a property tax increase.  She insists she wants to “take care of our people.”  Surely, the RESIDENTS of Lakeway are the people she should be taking care of by NOT raising taxes at this difficult time.  If they can manage to avoid furloughs of staff, that would be lovely, but anyone who expects a RAISE during a pandemic is way too entitled—even by Lakeway’s standards.
3. The online meeting was the usual technical nightmare.  City staff had repeated problems getting connected.  Sound quality was laughable, and the extended time lag between Council and others was tedious.  The sole resident who signed up for Citizen Participation was able to connect, but his comments were garbled by the system and unintelligible.  Lakeway has had the same amount of time as the rest of America to figure out remote meetings and adopt Zoom instead of this decrepit system.  If only the city had a Communications Director to handle these things….  Oh, wait, we do. 

Council will consider budget issues one last time at its Sept. 21 meeting.  It will adopt a budget and set the tax rate at the special Sept. 28 meeting.  All meetings will limp along online in non-Zoom fashion. Go here to see the Agendas and Meeting Packets (posted 3 days prior)–https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

If you want to make a public comment, you must arrange it BEFORE a meeting. To send written comments to Council and/or request to speak at the meeting, go here and create a Public Comment Form—https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch Council meetings online, live or after the fact—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Back to me….

I took advantage of the current COVID lull by catching up on medical appointments cancelled in the spring and early summer.  Both my primary and dermatologist are very worried about another surge in Texas this fall.

We not only got needed rain but glorious jacket weather…in September!  Cuddling with cats and a blanket is my idea of paradise.  It only lasted 24 hours, but it was terrific.

My favorite living author, Louise Penny, has her latest book, All the Devils Are Here, sitting at #1 on the NY Times Bestseller List today.  Well deserved!  This is the 16th book in the author’s amazing Gamach series.  I just finished it and think it, after a couple uneven recent books, may be her very best.  Instead of her usual Canadian setting, this book is set in Paris; it lets readers travel abroad safely, and it also highlights characters who were previously under-used.  Amazon will send you one.  Also, the Lake Travis Community Library has it. 

The book uses a quote from Thomas Hobbes that struck me. “Hell is the truth seen too late.”  Think about that.  Seems to me it applies universally– to politics, the pandemic, even that unfortunate relationship, Facebook post, or failed recipe….

The deer continue to amaze.  Fawns born in spring are now nearly as tall as their moms with rapidly fading spots.  Enjoy a few of my favorite photos!

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Panda cub updates:

–The National Zoo’s PandaCam updates show Mei Xiang caring for her thriving baby panda. https://www.fox5dc.com/news/national-zoos-latest-pandacam-shows-mei-xiang-care-for-baby-panda-in-reminder-there-is-joy-in-this-world?fbclid=IwAR3FHzDZ7QQsLBC7RWzIZG78oJ5tv01QB2nV3jmygwjUTRzEbSL5RCiCsZ4

–Mom grabs a snack and wee cub complains very cutely.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqbtS_kkYyU&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2C-1ciQLJXGeL9MgT_fFHMDTFzuuKPFV68rVg5NB1ECgt1xaECXG2fQXg

Perspective is key….. 

Worldwide, we are closing in on 30 million cases and 1 million deaths.  I’m feeling numb to numbers, which may be for the best.  India has lurched into second place, behind America, for confirmed cases.  Considering India has 4 times the number of people that America does, it will likely at some point take over our sad #1 spot.  However, India’s death rate is relatively low, in part because its obesity rate is very low (while America tends toward obesity, a serious complicating factor for surviving COVID).

In the US, this past week we averaged 38,000 new COVID infections per day.  We averaged 748 COVID deaths per day.  And this is the plateau, down from the horror show of July but still far worse than May-June.  Experts warn that when this lull ends (and it will end), the surge will be FAR worse that July was, due to the high plateau. 

In Texas, deaths were reported in the last week at an average of 103 per day.  (Yes, that means that of the 748 Americans who died per day last week, 103 were Texans.)  Right now, the state site is again strewn with multiple warnings of data discrepancies.  While the positivity rate (8.11 today) and hospitalizations (3,319 today) are reported as dropping, is that data accurate?

This article helped me re-think some things–When It Comes to Covid-19, Most of Us Have Risk Exactly Backward.  It is clear that COVID-19 will be around for the foreseeable future, to a greater or lesser extent as things ebb and flow.  Unless and until a safe and effective vaccine becomes available, we have to decide how best to live with it.  The author’s suggestion of balance—if I decide to do this somewhat risky activity, then I need to counter that with extra precautions in another area—works for me.  It is certainly better than the wild abandon that in many cases greeted relaxing of official restrictions this summer and resulted in surges in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Texas and many other states. The idea of trade off—do this but compensate for it by NOT doing that—might work for parents with the unenviable task of wrestling kids through the pandemic lifestyle.  As the article concludes: “Instead of asking why we can’t do certain activities, we might consider what we’re willing to give up to do them more safely. Even better, we might consider what we’re willing to give up so others can do them, too.”  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/opinion/coronavirus-schools-tradeoffs.html

As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.

In the US

The last 2 weeks of political conventions showcased the best and worst of the nation.  In case anyone needs to know my take on which was which, I’ll just include a shot of a spectacular yard sign that I spotted recently in Old Lakeway.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which until recently was among the most respected medical authorities in the world, abruptly announced that asymptomatic people do not need to be tested for Covid-19, even if they’ve been in close contact with an infected person.  Medical experts on every level (including the American Medical Association, past CDC officials, and several state health agencies) protested that testing was the only way to control COVID-19, with several refusing to abide by this rash and unsupported pronouncement.  This was Dr. Anthony Fauci’s reaction: “I was under general anesthesia in the operating room [for removal of a vocal cord polyp] and was not part of any discussion or deliberation regarding the new testing recommendations … I am concerned about the interpretation of these recommendations and worried it will give people the incorrect assumption that asymptomatic spread is not of great concern. In fact it is,” said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/fauci-coronavirus-cdc-testing/index.html

Given the Trump administration’s repeated nonsensical statements that America should TEST LESS, in order to minimize the number of cases, this headline says it all: CDC was pressured ‘from the top down’ to change coronavirus testing guidance, official says  https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/cdc-coronavirus-testing-guidance/index.html

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also crumbled against governmental pressure, granting emergency use approval to the unproven treatment known as convalescent plasma.  (Similar rash approval by the FDA of hydroxychloroquine had to be withdrawn when that malaria drug proved unhelpful against coronavirus and caused potentially lethal side-effects.)  Statements were made at a White House press conference that preliminary data showed 35% positive results, which turned out to be UNTRUE :  F.D.A. ‘Grossly Misrepresented’ Blood Plasma Data, Scientists Say https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/health/fda-blood-plasma.html

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn soon apologized for his “over-statement.” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/fda-chief-apologizes-for-overstating-plasma-effect-on-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR11sMvUXBriFDZOHFDuRXTVx7Xln78IZ_7Nelql3p0OQ8MzxTIxmCYQSVw

The final act of this fiasco came with the FDA’s firing of public relations employees.  Two P.R. Experts at F.D.A. Have Been Ousted After Blood Plasma Fiasco https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/health/blood-plasma-fda.html  As Rachel Maddow concisely noted on her MSNBC show, “This was not a PR problem.”   

Both these developments were orchestrated at the start of the Republican National Convention, seemingly to provide cover for months-long negligence.  The GOP proceeded to re-write America’s pandemic history by referring to it in the PAST TENSE.  Yet, 4,200 Americans died of COVID-19 during the convention’s 4 day run.

Schools and colleges are re-opening in some fashion across the country.  Here are 2 ways to keep an eye on COVID-19 cases at these institutions:

K-12 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/08/28/906263926/how-many-coronavirus-cases-are-happening-in-schools-this-tracker-keeps-count

Colleges  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/covid-college-cases-tracker.html

In Texas 

The COVID situation in Texas appears to be improving.  Unfortunately, the state’s handling of data just gets worse and worse.  The official website habitually has one or more notes as to a discrepancy, caveat, data dump, backlog, inconsistency, or other glitch indicating that the numbers reported are NOT accurate or current.  This article covered the problem: Turns out, Texas Gov. Abbott’s key metric in fight against COVID is unreliable https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/texas_legislature/article/Turns-out-Texas-Gov-Abbott-s-key-metric-in-15498291.php?fbclid=IwAR3vE1E-G3R5uPV-xaSLkf6QxQgB5TK10so-XxKrf3sKGDzJW-677GepbNE

One result of the data errors is chronic miscalculation of the “positivity rate”—the percentage of positive tests.  The goal is 2%, while experts say 5% or higher is dangerous; Gov. Abbott  repeatedly says up to 10% is tolerable.  The reported Texas positivity rate has fluctuated from 25% to 12% in August.  (The positivity rate reported today is 12.24%.)  A Texas health department official summed things up this way: “I don’t know what we truly know right now.”  https://www.statesman.com/news/20200818/virus-positivity-rate-dips-to-112-officials-say-fluctuation-due-to-backlogged-test-results

Also, testing in Texas has decreased sharply.  Right when data is needed to assess safety to re-open schools, the state is testing less–far less–instead of more.  As of today, Texas is only testing 28% of the amount needed to mitigate spread of the virus.  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-testing.html

Just a reminder—state law continues to require masks in public and to prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people.

In Lakeway

Lake Travis Community Library is back!  Curbside pick-up of materials reserved online re-started last week.

TXDOT is re-working 620 from Lohmans Crossing to Lakeway Boulevard, replacing the chicken lane though our business district with barrier medians.  The goal is to reduce accidents from left-hand turns in this busy and high-speed corridor.  As always, change is hard….  Residents will need to plan their trips to make right-hand turns or use intersections to access businesses on the far side of 620. 

Council at its Aug. 17 meeting voted 6/1 to increase our property taxes up to the 3.5% maximum that is allowed by law, without forcing a vote by residents.  Mayor Cox, in particular, insisted the city needs the extra funds to create 4 new city positions and purchase new vehicles. 

Whether Lakeway will return to culling our deer remains unclear.  Council voted to do so back in January, pending receipt of cost data from the Wildlife Advisory Committee (WAC).  At WAC’s February meeting (the last before Council suspended non-essential committees due to the pandemic), a written cost estimate was passed around on the dais, with members careful not to state the figures out loud for the record.  If this estimate was passed along to Council, it was never discussed at a public meeting.  Yet, at the Aug. 3 budget session, Mayor Cox mentioned the 2021 budget included $8,500 for an annual deer census, plus $36,500 for WAC as part of contingency committee funding.  To my knowledge, WAC never spent the $45,000 city funding it got in 2020.  It is unclear if the $81,500 combined amount or a higher amount for deer culling is included in the proposed budget, in part due to the fact that budget spreadsheets have not been included in meeting packets available to the public during online Council meetings.  Raising our property taxes for new city hires, vehicles, etc.—that is bad enough during a pandemic that has hurt everyone financially.  Raising our taxes to return to Lakeway’s decades-old, controversial and barbaric destruction of our deer is outrageous.

Council may consider budget issues again at its Sept. 8 meeting (held on a Tuesday due to Labor Day) and its Sept. 21 meeting.  It will adopt a budget and set the final tax rate at the special Sept. 28 meeting.  All meetings will be online.

Go here to see the Agendas and Meeting Packets (posted 3 days prior)–https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

If you want to make a public comment, you must arrange it BEFORE a meeting. To send written comments to Council and/or request to speak at the meeting, go here and create a Public Comment Form—https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch Council meetings online, live or after the fact—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Back to me….

I lucked out last week with a skilled Spectrum technician who fixed more than he broke. Internet, cable, DVR and phone all working properly–how refreshing!

This killer heat has one advantage—it is too much for the weeds in my yard.  I know they will return, but for now my back and I are enjoying the reprieve.

I took another pass at trimming my hair.  It is definitely not at the “perfect” stage, but practice does make better.

Lakeway’s deer continue to enchant on my early morning walks.  Enjoy a few of my favorite photos!

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Pandas are irresistible, so I have been following the newborn addition at the National Zoo.  The cub was caught on camera recently, just a week old and SO tiny but strong (and very LOUD), as attentive mom Mei Xiang rolled away for a quick drink of water.  https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/national-zoo-panda-cub-seems-strong-as-markings-start-to-appear/2404954/

Perspective is key….. 

Worldwide, there have been over 25 million COVID-19 cases and 850,000 deaths.

In the US, there have been over 6 million cases and 187,000 deaths.  If those numbers seem out of proportion to the world figures just above—they are, and not in a good way.  America has 4% of the world’s population, but to date we have suffered 25% of all COVID cases and 22% of all COVID deaths.

In Texas, over 12,500 residents have died of COVID-19, more than any other state except NY, NJ and CA.  Per capita, Texas has had 42 deaths per 100,000 people.  While declining from July highs, 100-300 Texans are still reported dying each day. 

I highly recommend this article—The Unraveling of America: Anthropologist Wade Davis on how COVID-19 signals the end of the American era  8/6/20. It is not a short read, but I find it to be devastatingly on point.  Count after count, the analysis leaves me reeling.  I wish I could argue the conclusions, but they ring true in every case.

From the article:

For the first time, the international community felt compelled to send disaster relief to Washington. For more than two centuries, reported the Irish Times, the United States has stirred a very wide range of feelings in the rest of the world: love and hatred, fear and hope, envy and contempt, awe and anger. But there is one emotion that has never been directed towards the U.S. until now: pity. As American doctors and nurses eagerly awaited emergency airlifts of basic supplies from China, the hinge of history opened to the Asian century.
…

COVID-19 didn’t lay America low; it simply revealed what had long been forsaken. As the crisis unfolded, with another American dying every minute of every day, a country that once turned out fighter planes by the hour could not manage to produce the paper masks or cotton swabs essential for tracking the disease. The nation that defeated smallpox and polio, and led the world for generations in medical innovation and discovery, was reduced to a laughing stock as a buffoon of a president advocated the use of household disinfectants as a treatment for a disease that intellectually he could not begin to understand.

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The American cult of the individual denies not just community but the very idea of society. No one owes anything to anyone. All must be prepared to fight for everything: education, shelter, food, medical care. What every prosperous and successful democracy deems to be fundamental rights — universal health care, equal access to quality public education, a social safety net for the weak, elderly, and infirmed — America dismisses as socialist indulgences, as if so many signs of weakness.

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For better or for worse, America has had its time.

Click here to read the entire article–

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/covid-19-end-of-american-era-wade-davis-1038206/?fbclid=IwAR0G0apNGbhnCnfvy_JJxXBd7DIQJT9_oNpOi5l0KWO_J-mvGJ1gx1w8YwY

Well, after that, a lighter read is definitely needed, and this one has very practical info on floor fans, vented masks, gloves, how to sanitize surfaces, and more.

UC Davis experts detail common mistakes about COVID-19  https://health.ucdavis.edu/health-news/newsroom/uc-davis-experts-detail-common-mistakes-about-covid-19/2020/07

As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.

In the US

The Democratic presidential ticket will be Joe Biden-Kamala Harris, and decisive steps have already been announced to guide the nation out of the pandemic swamp it has been mired in for months longer than other affluent countries.

Nation-wide, our always inadequate testing has dropped in recent weeks.  (That is particularly true in Texas.) There is no good reason for this, and it seems to be due hints/suggestions/orders from the White House to slow down testing in order to hide the true scope of infections.  Coming as this does when schools are being ordered to open for in-person learning or face loss of funding, it is clear our children and school staffers are being played as political pawns.

‘We’re Clearly Not Doing Enough’: Drop in Testing Hampers Coronavirus Response 8/15/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/15/us/coronavirus-testing-decrease.html

Coronavirus testing in Texas plummets as schools prepare to reopen  8/10/20 https://www.texastribune.org/2020/08/10/coronavirus-testing-texas/

Shamelessly, the White House has mounted a blatant attack on the US Postal Service, stating publicly that reductions in staff, overtime, equipment and overall funding will make it impossible for USPS to deliver mail-in ballots in November.  Citizens will be forced to choose between exercising their right to vote and staying safe from COVID-19.

Postal Crisis Ripples Across Nation as Election Looms  8/15/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/15/us/post-office-vote-by-mail.html

In Texas 

So far, August numbers for cases, hospitalizations and deaths seem better than we suffered through in July.  Unfortunately, the operative word is “seem.”  The state site has been plagued with glitches, backlogs of data, lost data, suspiciously found data, changed-in-how-it-is-reported data, and overall nonsensical results.  For instance, the testing positivity rate rose steadily from a July 30 low of 12% to a high on Aug. 12 of 24%.  (Keep in mind that the goal is 2%, and 5% is dangerous.)  Then, the state announced it “found” a backlog of 124,000 test results; adding those in, the positivity rate immediately dropped to 16%.  Even if ALL those 124,000 mystery tests were somehow negative, the rate would not have dropped that much.

Texas officials blame coding errors and a system update for recent COVID-19 testing data issues  8/14/20 https://www.texastribune.org/2020/08/14/texas-coronavirus-testing-dshs/

At this point, the data is unreliable, whether due to the White House-mandated shift in reporting or other factors.  Related to that, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where hospitals suddenly send data now, instead of to the CDC, had its director abruptly resign last week, no reason given.  THAT has a familiar stench….

HHS chief information officer abruptly resigns 8/14/20 https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/14/hhs-chief-information-officer-abruptly-resigns-395710

In Lakeway

The Lake Travis Community Library closed last week, due to an employee testing positive for COVID-19.  Since re-opening in late May for curbside pick-up only, they were doing a lovely job, with patrons being able to reserve books and DVDs online then pick them up safely.  This service helped many people get back a bit of normalcy back, and it is greatly missed.

Council had its first true budget meeting on Aug. 2.  The mayor was clearly ready to raise taxes, and all the council members followed her lead.  Paltry attention was given to budget cutting or pulling from the contingency fund.  Instead, a consensus was reached on adding at least 4 new city positions and increasing services in several areas, paid for with a tax increase.  They justified this by saying a homeowner’s Lakeway property tax bill would only increase by $50 or so. 

But, of course, that is NOT the end of the story—far from it.  Lakeway is just 1 of several entities that levy tax on our real property.  The biggest share by far of the property taxes we pay goes to the schools/LTISD.  Then, Travis County takes a big chunk.  Then, the MUD you happen to be in takes a bite.  Finally, the health district office and EMS take funds.   Just look at your property tax bill to see these entities and their share of your taxes.  You can bet that all of these entities are also considering whether to raise the tax rate on us and by how much.  The $50 extra Lakeway will slap us with is just the beginning.  All told, once each entity hits us up more money, every Lakeway homeowner could get a property tax bill that is several hundreds of dollars higher than last year.

Most of us, whether retirees or young families, are facing extra expenses now, in addition to reduced, uncertain or completely missing income.  Even the cost of groceries has increased and will continue to do so due to effects of the pandemic. 

So, it be nice if Lakeway officials would decide to be part of the solution, by holding the tax rate or even reducing it during the pandemic as other local cities are doing.  Instead, it looks like Lakeway will just be part of the problem, as usual.

Council meets Monday, Aug. 17, at 6:30pm.  Another online meeting, this one is primarily dedicated to budget issues.  They will likely vote to raise our property taxes at this meeting.  In addition, Legends has 3 items (change in preliminary plan, annexation, and zoning) on the agenda; Council will rubber-stamp them as always, and Legends will continue to clear-cut pristine land in Rough Hollow, turning it into hundreds of tract homes as cheaply as possible in accordance with decades-old regulations, per its sweetheart deal with City of Lakeway.  Go here to see the Agenda and Meeting Packet for Aug. 17–https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

If you want to make a public comment, you must arrange it before the meeting. To send written comments to Council and/or request to speak at the meeting, go here and create a Public Comment Form—https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch the meeting online, live or after the fact— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Back to me….

To be candid, I’m feeling pretty negative lately.  It isn’t just that the pandemic issues are going on for so long.  But, IT DIDN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY, and that is what gets to me.  Other countries reacted well to the pandemic, took the steps experts suggested to safeguard the populace, and are now enjoying a careful return to society AND recovered economies.  Then, there is America, still wallowing in COVID-19, due to it’s own craven stupidity.

Well, over the last couple weeks, I made a trip to Walmart for essentials and was happily surprised to find everyone wearing a mask (correctly, for the most part).  I highly recommend timing shopping expeditions for Tuesday mornings—fewer folks are out, and they seem to be the sane ones….   I love HEB’s pharmacy for heartworm pills for my cats (cheapest rate available); a nice bonus now is that they deliver free of charge, as well.  Best of all, I made the initial visit to a new dentist, Eaddy Dentistry in Lakeway Commons (new for me—they have been in Lakeway for many years).  It felt odd to take my mask off around people, but their scrupulous attention to safety was reassuring, and I was pleased with quick and professional handling of x-rays, exam, and cleaning.

Oops, I lied—best of all was celebrating the 13^th anniversary last week with my senior kitty, Maxie.  She was born in a shelter on Maui, and every last thing imaginable about our lives has changed since she joined the family in 2007.  She loves belly-rubs and being brushed, gives great hugs, dances around like a ballerina, has a very distinctive voice and the wisest eyes, and effortlessly keeps her 2 little sisters in line.  She’s a doll….

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Also, the deer I see on my early morning walks now are stunning.  The herd is grouping together already, the bucks joining up with the does, fawns and yearlings.  This seems to happen earlier every year.

Here are some of my favorite recent photos, including a nice showcase for camera-loving bucks.  Enjoy!

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Perspective is key….. 

Worldwide, confirmed cases surged past the 20 million mark on August 9.

In the US, confirmed cases flew past 5 million on August 6.  Deaths total over 172,000 and average well over 1,000 Americans per day.  

In Texas, the data reliability issue was discussed above.  Confirmed cases in Texas surged over the 500,000 mark on Aug. 11.  Sadly, Texas is still reporting triple digit deaths every day.  324 deaths on Aug. 12 was a record daily loss, but 200-300 Texans reported dead each day has been the norm in August.  As of today, 9,983 Texans have died of COVID-19. 

I’m not sure why August 1 seemed like a major landmark, but even The Texas Tribune thought so.  Its article chronicling the last several months is valuable, if only as a cautionary reminder of how often we underestimated COVID-19 and did exactly the wrong thing–Here’s how the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded in Texas since March  7/31/20 https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/31/coronavirus-timeline-texas/

As more and more states are overrun with infection, whether for the first or the second time, the best take I have seen on an effective response is this proposal by the Association of American Medical Colleges–The Way Forward on COVID-19  7/29/20 https://www.aamc.org/covidroadmap/roadmap

Another great response is this July 22 open letter to national and state political leaders, signed by hundreds of health professionals-–https://uspirg.org/news/usp/top-healthcare-professionals-send-letter-us-leaders-saying-it%E2%80%99s-time-shut-back-down-start

As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.

In the US

Putting the November election aside (as if anyone can do that….), the biggest issue now seems to be whether, when and how to re-open schools for in-person learning.  To be sure, I don’t have school-age kids, but my view is that we just don’t know enough about COVID-19 to open schools in the immediate future. There is a reason that “novel” is part of the formal name of this virus–it is new and unknown. This virus has been a step ahead of even our best experts, surprising them time and time again, and always for the worse. We are now starting to understand that people who recover (even those who had a “light” case) often have long-term, possibly permanent, complications. Children DO get seriously ill and die from COVID-19.  Plus, kids cannot be relied on to mask and social distance; they spread everything to the adults around them, and they will spread this virus to their families and to school support staff. Opening schools in areas with uncontrolled infection rates (5% or higher) would simply be an experiment, and experimenting on our kids and educational staff is wrong.  Finally, opening schools will expose entire communities to possible (likely?) super-spreader events that could wreak havoc, starting with our medical resources.  The best treatment of these issues I have seen is here—Why Is There No Consensus About Reopening Schools?  7/29/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/magazine/schools-reopening-covid.html

In Texas 

The Texas Medical Association provided this chart, for those who have been exposed to COVID-19, have symptoms, and/or were tested and are waiting for results.  It shows what to do and for how long.  In Texas and across the country, otherwise functioning adults don’t seem to understand these basic concepts and are exposing others instead of isolating themselves.

In Lakeway

Council’s July 26 meeting included a big disappointment for those of us looking forward to robust selection of city officials at November elections, instead of the old guard controlling the results every May.  It was announced the Charter change proposal that Council approved for this at the previous meeting was a no-go.  After 3 months of deliberations, with the city attorney attending Council meetings and participating in the discussions, he announced that he was informed by his law partner that state law currently does not allow such a change.  This was confirmed by consultation with Travis County Clerk and the Secretary of State’s office.  How in the world did the city attorney not research this previously?  It makes me wonder what else has slipped through the cracks.

Council meets Monday, Aug. 3, at 6:30pm.  Another online meeting, this one is primarily dedicated to budget issues.  (News flash—there’s not enough money.)  Go here to see the Agenda and Meeting Packet for Aug. 3–https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

If you want to make a public comment, you must arrange it before the meeting. To send written comments to Council and/or request to speak at the meeting, go here and create a Public Comment Form—https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch the meeting online, live or after the fact—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Back to me….

Last week, I made my monthly grocery run to HEB.  Everyone I saw wore a mask and at least tried to social distance.  The big excitement was finding Lysol disinfectant spray on the shelf, the first time I have seen that handy item stocked anywhere since February.

The photogenic deer I see on my early morning walks now are vying with my beloved cats as far as providing the highlights of each day for me.  Enjoy!

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Perspective is key….. 

July really did a number on us.

In the US, there were 2,727,853 confirmed cases on June 30. By July 31, there were 4,705,045 confirmed cases.  Last spring, the grim American daily death toll was over 2,000 (mostly from the New York tri-state area).  Then, as the virus was brought under control in the northeast, American deaths dipped to less than 1,000 per day, then well under 500 per day by summer.  In July, that changed, with deaths climbing, exceeding 1,000 per day the second half of the month, going as high as 1,865 on July 28.

In Texas, record daily confirmed case numbers started appearing back in June and continued most of July, with positive testing rates soaring as high as 18%. (2% is the recommended goal, and 5% or higher is dangerous.)  In the entire country, only California, Florida and New York have more cases than Texas.  Texas also had record hospitalization rates, with Houston, Dallas and especially the Rio Grand Valley facilities overwhelmed.  As for daily death rates, Texas not only set records in July, it posted a triple digit total for the first time on July 9 (105 dead) and did the same 15 more days in July; the highest daily deaths figure was 322.  As of June 30, 2,424 Texans had died from Covid-19.  By July 31, 6,569 Texans had died.

Travis County had 9,527 confirmed cases as of June 30.  By July 31, that had more than doubled to 20,745.  Deaths more than doubled as well, going from 124 on June 30 to 274 on July 31.

Locally, Lakeway’s primary zip code of 78734 had 62 cumulative cases reported as of June 30.  By July 31, the number was 202.  (Local hospitalizations and deaths are not reported.)

Also, in what seemed an intentional insult but may have been a cover-up as well, the COVID-19 statistics available to the public and used by officials for planning purposes were tampered with.  If we can’t trust the reported statistics on COVID-19, we are in even worse trouble. Here is one account–

How Many People in the U.S. Are Hospitalized With COVID-19? Who Knows?  7/31/20 The Trump administration told hospitals to stop reporting data to the CDC, and report it to HHS instead. Vice President Mike Pence said the information would continue to be released publicly. It hasn’t worked out as promised. https://www.propublica.org/article/how-many-people-in-the-us-are-hospitalized-with-covid-19-who-knows?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletter&utm_content=feature

Let’s hope August is kinder to us all.

A recent article resonated with me.  Here is how it starts:

“It is still hard to absorb that a virus has reshaped world behavior, halted or altered travel, strained the economy and completely reshaped the nature of public spaces and human interaction.

It is also hard to absorb that this may not be a quickly passing phase, an inconvenience for a season, but something that the world is forced to live with for years, even assuming that a vaccine is soon found.

The idea that years of planning for graduations and weddings, home purchases and retirement, might all come to a screeching halt is humbling and disorienting. The confusion over how and when children can safely return to school and adults can safely return to work is frustrating because it leaves people’s lives in the lurch.

The idea that face coverings and elbow bumps may be the new normal is a shock to the system.

It seems that on multiple levels, society is being tested, and often failing.

People are rebelling against isolation, and against science and public health. They want the old world back, the pre-Covid-19 world back, but it cannot be had. The virus doesn’t feel frustration or react to it. It’s not aware of your children or your job or your vacation plans. It’s not aware of our politics.

The virus is a virus, mindless, and in this case, incredibly efficient and effective. It will pass from person to person for as long as that is possible. The political debate over mask wearing is a human concern, one that works to the virus’s benefit.”

For more, read this article by NY Times columnist Charles M. Blow.  American Horror, Starring Donald Trump  7/12/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/12/opinion/coronavirus-donald-trump.html

As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.

In the US

Remember back in early spring, when some people assumed COVID-19 would just naturally fade away in summer?  THAT didn’t happen–just another way this is NOT the flu.

Even in the many states where coronavirus is completely out of control, re-opening of schools for in-person classes is being debated. This is largely due to immediate and full opening being demanded by the White House, which stated “Science should not stand in the way of school openings.”  Actually, the opposite is true–scientifically proven methods and clear standards crafted by medical experts should be followed to open schools only as much and when it is safe to do so, in order to safeguard the health of kids, teachers, support staff, their family members, and the entire community.  Nothing has the capacity to be a super-spreader more than our schools.  Obviously, opening depends on infection rates in the area.  (So, the teen parties, crowded beaches, packed bars, and other reckless behavior that resulted in surging infection rates will cause delayed school openings and, by extension, slower economic recovery. There are always consequences to stupidity….)  Also, student age and grade levels are relevant, since student behavior, attention span, subject matter, necessary teacher intervention, etc. vary widely; elementary schools will need to be handled differently from high schools.  Nothing should be based on political tantrums, and the convenience of parents really isn’t a priority, either. Pandemics aren’t fair, and they don’t care what any of us want. Texas and other states are learning that the hard way right now.

This editorial in today’s Statesman got it right– Texas needs to set COVID metrics for school reopening https://www.statesman.com/opinion/20200717/editorial-texas-needs-to-set-covid-metrics-for-school-reopenings

In Texas 

Gov. Abbott still refuses to take the action needed to control coronavirus, after his earlier mistakes sent it on the current rampage.  Turns out even his Republican party is angry with him, for failing to mandate their in-person convention could take place in severely Covid-ravaged Houston and for belatedly requiring masks.  Well, no one likes a coward…

Hospitals across the state are in trouble, many low on ICU beds and others completely full generally and sending patients to distant facilities.  Austin is turning the convention center into surge space.  Many cities have ordered refrigerated trucks, as local morgues are full.

Until a state is handling COVID-19 responsibly with curbed infection rates, well-functioning hospitals, adequate testing, and prompt tracing, the economy won’t recover and businesses will continue to suffer.  That is what makes the abbreviated shutdown Texas did in the spring so infuriating.  We were part-way there, but Abbott chickened out and pulled the plug, opening up the state with abandon and in complete disregard for expert guidance and HIS OWN previously itemized standards.  All our efforts back then were wasted, and we are currently in a far worse situation as far as infection rate, hospitalizations and deaths.   At this point, thanks to so many egregious mistakes and the resultant rebellious public opinion in many parts of the state (extending even to law enforcement), we are so deep into this mess that Abbott’s recent mask requirement and closing of bars is not nearly enough.  Only a full shutdown can stop COVID-19 in Texas now, and that would likely need to be enforced via the National Guard.

The Texas Medical Society provided this chart, for those trying to gauge the risk of various activities.

In Lakeway

At the July 6 Council meeting, they voted for November ballot proposals to revise the Lakeway Charter on 2 key election-related points (as well as several minor issues).  First, a proposal will change the term of service for officials from the current 3 years (which violates the Texas Constitution) back to 2 years; maximum of 6 consecutive years of service is also up approval. Second, voters will get to decide if city elections should move from May (when very low voter turnout allows the old guard to control the results) to November (when people expect to vote, and state and national elections bring up to 75% of registered voters to the polls).  The election will be formally called at the next Council meeting, July 20.  Council could change its mind or tweak the ballot language at that meeting.

Another interesting topic at the July 6 meeting was possible creation of a Health Unit (possibly in cooperation with Bee Cave and/or The Hills), which would work with Austin Public Health.  The hope is that a local office would give access to local data (confirmed cases, hospitalizations, etc.), provide tracing of local outbreaks, and get more and/or free testing set up in our area.  Funding could come from Lakeway’s share of the CARES Act funds (still not released by Travis County).  Council only agreed to investigate this further.

Also, Police Chief Radford gave an extensive report, including statistics on traffic stops by race, use of force, etc., in Lakeway over the last 3 years.

Council meets Monday, July 20, at 6:30pm.  This is another online meeting. Agenda items include finalizing the ballot language and officially calling a Nov. 3 election for Charter changes, plus several other matters.

If you want to make a public comment on these issues, you must arrange it before the meeting. To send written comments to Council and/or request to speak at the meeting, go here and create a Public Comment Form–https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to see the Agenda and Meeting Packet for July 20–https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Go here to watch the meeting online, live or after the fact—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Back to me….

The last 2 weeks, I took every precaution against coronavirus infection, in light of the horrific statistics locally.  Even more than I have done the last 4 months, I stayed home.  When I left the house, it was mostly just for early morning walks, and I wore a mask even then. Otherwise, I only did a curbside DVD and book pick-up at the library and a curbside kitty drop-off at the vet of my precious Tulip for an early depo shot (due to a scary allergy situation). 

At least our gorgeous deer are enjoying summer.  The new fawns are mature enough to be out and about with the does now.  I got some fun photos.

• 

• 

Perspective is key….. 

In the US, 2 weeks ago America had just broken the mark of 3 million cases.  ALREADY, we are approaching the 4 million case mark.  How could that happen?  America now routinely reports over 70,000 new cases each day.  The US death toll, which had dropped since spring (in large part because experience improved our medical response), is starting to surge.

In Texas, 2 weeks ago (on July 6), confirmed cases had just hit 200,000, having taken 17 days to rise to that level from the 100,000 mark that we took several months to reach.  The state took only 11 days to exceed 300,000 cases on July 17.  The number of Texans hospitalized is well over 10,000, and the daily death toll has been in the triple digits most of the past week.  The statewide positivity rate is 16-17% in recent days, and it is as high as 25-30% in specific areas.

Locally, cases are spiking with the rest of the state.  2 weeks ago, there were 159  cases in Lakeway’s zip codes of 78734/78738.  Now, we have 264 cases.

No end in sight….

Loved this article, that asks Dr. Anthony Fauci and other experts how they manage real life during a pandemic (buying groceries, haircuts, mail, masks, plane trips, etc.). How Fauci, 5 other health specialists deal with COVID-19 risks in their everyday lives 7/3/20 https://www.boston.com/news/coronavirus/2020/07/03/how-fauci-5-other-health-specialists-deal-with-covid-19-risks-in-their-everyday-lives

If you aren’t concerned about the current COVID surge in Texas, check out these articles from inside our hospitals.

Houston https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=639&v=LkyXhPYbX0c&feature=emb_title

San Antonio https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/07/02/texas-hospital-crowded-coronavirus-marquez-pkg-newday-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/coronavirus/

Rio Grande Valley https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/04/texas-coronavirus-rio-grande-valley-hospitals/

As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.

In the US

The US continues to fail spectacularly, amassing more cases and deaths than any other country.  European countries that have controlled the virus now ban entry of Americans.

In Texas 

In the last 2 weeks, the spike in COVID cases and hospitalizations has worsened.  Every record—most daily new cases, most hospitalizations, most deaths—was shattered again and again.  The positivity testing rate in major cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio) is 20-25%–the highest in the country.  Last week, Gov. Abbott (finally and far too late) issued a state-wide mask order and limited gatherings to 10 people, as well as closing bars and scaling restaurants back to 50% capacity.  Officials throughout Texas begged residents to stay home and forego 4^th of July gatherings, as hospitals are in surge capacity and predicting even that will be exhausted by mid-July.  Somehow, the Texas Republican convention is still planned to take place IN PERSON in downtown Houston July 16-18.

In Lakeway

A June 20 party was held in Spicewood, with up to 300 local teens (including high school juniors and seniors from Lakeway).  The annual tradition known as “Pongfest” not only featured underage drinking but had several kids in attendance who were exposed to COVID-19, had been tested, and found out soon after the party they were positive for the disease.  Austin Public Health tried to investigate, but known attendees refused to rat out friends at this illicit event.  Even the location and the parents facilitating the event have been kept secret. 

As of June 20, Travis County stats showed 83 positive cases in the 78734 and 78738 zip codes; as of today, in just 2 weeks, that total has doubled, to 167.

The city’s fireworks event was cancelled, and all parks were closed over the long holiday weekend.

Council meets online 6:30pm on Monday, July 6.  The agenda includes another round of discussion on Charter changes to go on the November ballot.  This may well be the final vote on a proposal to fix that pesky problem of Lakeway’s current election protocol violating the Texas Constitution; this has to do with 2 or 3 year terms for Council and the mayor. Just as important is whether to move city elections from May (when very low voter turnout allows the old guard to control the results) to November (when people expect to vote, and state and national elections bring up to 75% of registered voters to the polls).  November elections would mean fewer elections and save us money, plus result in officials representing the entire community, but Council Members Kumar and Howell prefer May when just the right people vote; Council Member Smith and Mayor Cox have declared themselves undecided.

If you want to make a public comment on these issues, you must arrange it before the meeting. To send written comments to Council and/or request to speak at the meeting, go here and create a Public Comment Form–https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to see the Agenda and Meeting Packet for July 6–https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Go here to watch the meeting online, live or after the fact—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Back to me….

Last week, I reluctantly kept a doctor’s appointment for annual thyroid cancer follow up; many things can be done online, but a doc cannot palpate a neck on Zoom.  Also, I have gotten my grocery run to HEB stretched out to once a month, and last week it was time for that (at least, everyone wore a mask).  Tulip’s annual vet visit was also due; I opted to stay in the car and talk to Dr. Terrell on the phone as he did the exam and vaccinated her; happily, my precious girl got a good report.

July 3 was the 4^th anniversary of my mom’s death.  I still see or hear something and think, just for a second, “Gotta tell Mom….”  But, she would have hated each and every aspect of what we are living through now.

Also, a black and white puddle rolling through my yard today turned out to be 3 baby skunks.  Cute!

• 

• 

Perspective is key

Worldwide, confirmed cases went from 9 million to over 11 million in just 2 weeks.  And there is no end in sight.

Texas cases stood at 114,881 on 6/22; in the last 2 weeks, they shot up to 195,239.  On 6/22, there were 3,711Texans hospitalized; today, 8,181 Texans are in hospitals. 

Travis County had 6,339 cases on 6/22; there are 11,679 cases today.

Is there any question that we are in crisis?