Tonight Texas Public Radio hosted a town hall focused on transportation issues at the UTSA Downtown campus. Terry Gildea, TPR reporter, served as moderator of a panel consisting of Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, Keith Parker, President & CEO, VIA Metropolitan Transit, Julia Diana, Office of Environmental Policy, City of San Antonio, Michael Miles, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), and Dr. Heywood “Woody” Sanders, UTSA, Urban Studies Department. About 50 people attended the town hall and provided the majority of questions for the panelists. With so much focus on toll roads these days I was afraid the discussion would be primarily about toll roads. However, the questions and discussion focused on a variety of topics and provided some insight in opportunities. Read more…
Newspaper circulation continued to fall by 10 percent during the last 6 months according to an article by the NY Times quoting information from the latest report by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The decline marked a steady decrease that has put circulation now at a level not seen since the 1940s. The largest drops occurred with the San Francisco Chronicle at 25.8 percent and the Dallas Morning News with a weekday sales drop of more than 22 percent. Many have heralded the steady decline of newspapers in America as the industry struggles to find its new business model. But as I look at the industry as a simple outsider it appears many within the industry still desire to hang on to old distribution models at the expense of content, something that takes on the appearance of cannibalism in a struggle to survive. Read more…
As if there wasn’t enough to do in Congress Rep. Joe Barton-TX thinks the issue of the BCS should be dealt with in Congress. Feeling the BCS championship system is an issue our leaders should deal with in Congress he’s been pushing for overturning the BCS and instituting a playoff system. In fact he equates it to “communism.” Now it appears he’s rallied people to help push other members of Congress through with PAC dollars. The Playoff PAC has been formed to fight the BCS in Congress by supporting candidates or members who see things their way. Their first member to support is Rep. Barton, of course. But to elevate this to PAC level status and target candidates in support of their ideas? Too much time and money on their hands if you ask me. Read more…
Tonight the City of San Antonio’s Planning and Developments Services Department revealed the vision for River North and started a rezoning process that will involve a series of public meetings and hearings. Early in 2010 City Council will vote to rezone the area to prepare for the expected redevelopment of the area into mixed use that will hopefully spark a collection of condos, shops, restaurants, and offices. It is a part of the goal of many to help rebuild the urban core of San Antonio and bring more people to live in the area. Tonight the proposed zoning map was shown to about 40 people who showed up for a public hearing at the Central Library. It’s the beginning of a process but from what I saw I’m pretty much pleased where this is going. Read more…
It’s been a while since blogged about living downtown so maybe it’s time for an update. After last Saturday’s fun and the great weather this weekend it’s been the perfect time to enjoy the experience downtown by getting out. Last weekend started off with Chalk It Up sponsored by ArtPace. It’s a collection of artists, students, and children who use Houston Street from about Main Street to Alamo Plaza as their canvas. Lots of kids got to have some fun playing in the street and drawing their most creative impressions. What was even better was to see the other people who came down to enjoy the art and weather. But that’s just the start of the fun happening downtown. Read more…
Today Scott Stroud wrote in his column in the Express-News about how Mayor Julian Castro is facing big challenges barely into his first year in office. First Castro is faced with the decision over CPS’s future investment in the South Texas Nuclear Project, an issue that has been controversial since it was first introduced by CPS. In a time when San Antonio is experiencing strong growth making sure there will be a reliable energy source for the future has created the need for a critical decision. Now, after meeting with the Express-News editorial board, Castro appears ready to take on the next infrastructure need of the city – water. But these aren’t the only issues Castro is ready to tackle. High on his list are transportation, education, and development of the urban core of the city. So will Castro’s legacy as mayor be investments in San Antonio’s infrastructure? Read more…
Tomorrow night is National Night Out – Texas. I add the Texas part because Texas actually celebrates the night in October instead of the national celebration in August. Here in San Antonio it’s a pretty big thing with celebrations going on across the city. The San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department will be celebrating their 75th anniversary with a dance at the Berta Almaguer Studio from 6:30 – 10 p.m. Oct. 6th. Here in the downtown area we’ll be celebrating at the Radius Center from 6 – 8 p.m. Oct. 6th. sponsored by the Downtown Residents Association. It should be a great event with refreshments, games and other activities planned by the Association. I’m sure there are other celebrations planned across the city. Read more…
Yesterday Chicago lost in its bid to become an Olympic city in the first round of voting even after a personal appeal from Pres. and Mrs. Obama. GamesBids.com, a site that heavily watches such bidding competition, keeps a bid index that rates various aspects of a city’s bidding prospect. Going into the voting they raised Chicago’s chances to 61.24, up 1.23 points, but not enough to overtake Rio’s index of 61.42, a drop of 0.19 points. On Sept. 10th GamesBids.com had moved Chicago from last place to second place and Rio from second to first, overtaking Tokyo. What I find interesting and completely insane is how conservatives and conservative blogs have jumped on Obama after the loss as if he created the situation. Did these people all of a sudden become Olympic movement experts? Read more…
Yesterday a friend passed away into the hand of God. He wasn’t real close but he was a friend. He had problems as all of us do but he couldn’t seem to deal with them. In the end they got the best of him and took his life. Many times I tried to help him escape those problems and issues but it was his choice to stay where he was. It doesn’t make the hurt any easier in thinking about it. He was a human being like all of us, a child of God. Tomorrow I talk to another like him and hopefully change the direction. Eric will always live in my memories as a wonderful person regardless of his issues. Eric will be the one I use as a guidepost to hopefully help others. God bless you Eric. May you finally find rest.
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