BG Reads 5.22.2024

🗞️ Bingham Group Reads - May 22, 2024

May 22, 2024

Bingham Group Reads

Presented by:

www.binghamgp.com

May 22, 2024

Today's BG Reads include:

🟣 Sit down with Austin’s new city manager, T.C. Broadnax (KXAN)

🟣 Georgetown is fastest-growing city of its size for third-straight year (Austin Business Journal)

🟣 City investigating after report says APD officers used facial recognition against policy (KXAN)

🟣 Spain, Norway and Ireland say will recognize Palestinian state (NPR)

Read On!

[BINGHAM GROUP]

[AUSTIN METRO NEWS]

Sit down with Austin’s new city manager, T.C. Broadnax (KXAN)

Several weeks after starting as Austin’s next city manager, T.C. Broadnax sat down with KXAN to talk about his time in the role so far and what to expect from him in his first 100 days.

Broadnax put out a memo with some of his priorities earlier this month, which included hiring a new police chief, getting a contract signed with the Austin Police Association and addressing Austin’s homelessness issues.

“I think that a city manager gleans from the council. And so understanding those priorities, whether it’s hiring a police chief, whether it’s really trying to figure out how we get better at our homelessness response systems, or get many of our capital projects moving, and understanding the gaps in other service delivery issues and challenges that the city has had — that’s how I came about that list,” Broadnax said… (LINK TO FULL STORY)

See also:  

Georgetown is fastest-growing city of its size for third-straight year (Austin Business Journal)

For the third-straight year, Georgetown is the fastest-growing city of at least 50,000 people by percent change, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Other Austin-area cities weren't far behind.

Georgetown's population reached 96,312 last year, according to newly released city-level data for the 12-month period spanning July 2022 to July 2023. That represents a gain of roughly 9,250 people from the year before — the eighth most in the country among cities of any size based on numeric gains.

An analysis of the data also shows that the city north of Austin grew 10.6% year-over-year, making it the fastest-growing city of at least 50,000 people. Kyle, south of Austin, ranked No. 2 with a 9% increase to 62,548 people, up from its third-spot ranking last year, while Leander, northwest of Austin, saw a 7.6% boost in population to 80,067 people, according to the data.

At least in Georgetown, the rapid population gain is no surprise. The city, which is about 30 miles north of Austin, has been a target for employers and homebuilders because of its proximity to big highways, large swaths of open land and a strong base of talent. Companies that have set up shop in Georgetown in recent months and years include GAF Energy LLC, CelLink Corp., US Farathane Corp., Hanwha Advanced Materials LLC and ZT Systems… (LINK TO FULL STORY)

City investigating after report says APD officers used facial recognition against policy (KXAN)

The City of Austin said it is investigating after documents obtained by The Washington Post showed at least 13 instances of outside police departments providing results of facial recognition searches to Austin Police Department officers since the city banned the use of facial recognition nearly four years ago.

“When allegations are made against any department staff, we follow a consistent process.  We’ve initiated that process to investigate the claims. If the investigation determines that policies were violated, APD will take the necessary steps. We will not be able to comment until after the investigation is complete,” the City of Austin stated.

On June 11, 2020, the Austin Council Council unanimously voted to adopt a resolution that, in part, prohibited the use of facial recognition across all City operations. Resolution 20200611-95 passed following 11 consecutive days of Austin demonstrations and protests against police brutality related to the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Mike Ramos in Austin... (LINK TO FULL STORY)

Audit points out deficiencies in city’s criminal background checks (Austin Monitor)

Although the city has improved its processes for conducting criminal background checks on prospective employees being considered for sensitive positions, a report from the city auditor’s office shows some gaps in the Human Resources Department’s process that could result in “legal, financial, and reputational risk for the City.”

That’s one of the conclusions from an audit recently conducted by the Office of the City Auditor. Although auditors noted that the city’s Human Resources Department has recently made some improvements in its process, those changes do not “ensure departments correctly identify positions that require a (criminal background check) and (do) not ensure departments fill those positions with individuals who pass” such a check.

Auditors noted that certain positions require a criminal background check, but many do not. The problem comes when individuals with criminal histories are put into positions with financial responsibilities or which involve contact with “vulnerable populations” – including children, the elderly and disabled… (LINK TO FULL STORY)

[TEXAS NEWS]

Amid record homelessness, a Texas think tank tries to upend how states tackle it (Texas Public Radio)

In October, Florida will become the latest state to ban homeless camping. Starting in January, any city that does not enforce the ban can be sued, by the State Attorney General or by a local business or resident.

"We're gonna have clean sidewalks. We're gonna have clean parks. We're gonna have safe streets," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, when he signed the new law in March.

If there are not enough beds available in homeless shelters, the law will also let cities designate their own temporary shelter sites, something former President Trump supports and has called "relocation camps."

Florida is among a handful of states that has passed tougher laws on homelessness in recent years — including Kentucky and Texas â€” and lawmakers in about a dozen states have debated such legislation. Most all of them are taking guidance from the lobbying arm of a conservative Texas-based think tank, which aims to upend homelessness policies that have had bipartisan support for two decades… (LINK TO FULL STORY)

[US/WORLD NEWS]

FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg to resign following report detailing sexual harassment at agency (Wall Street Journal)

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Martin Gruenberg bowed to pressure to resign from the bank regulator after an external investigation found widespread sexual harassment at the agency and lawmakers of both parties berated his leadership.

In an email to staff Monday, Gruenberg said he would resign once a successor had been confirmed, avoiding a scenario that would leave FDIC Vice Chairman Travis Hill, a Republican, as the agency’s acting chairman.

“It has been my honor to serve at the FDIC as Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Director since August of 2005,” Gruenberg wrote to staff, according to an email reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. “In light of recent events, I am prepared to step down from my responsibilities once a successor is confirmed.”

He said he would continue to fulfill his responsibilities in the meantime, “including the transformation of the FDIC’s workplace culture.”

The White House said that President Biden would soon nominate a new FDIC chairman and that it expected the Senate to move quickly to confirm the nominee… (LINK TO FULL STORY)

Spain, Norway and Ireland say will recognize Palestinian state (NPR)

The leaders of Ireland, Spain and Norway announced their countries would formally recognize Palestinian statehood in the coming days, with other member states in the European Union expected to follow their lead soon.

The Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz, said he would be recalling the country's ambassadors from the three states for consultations.

Ireland has long supported the Palestinian cause on the global stage, and political leaders there have been particularly vocal since the start of the current conflict in Gaza… (LINK TO FULL STORY)

[2024 Austin City Council Race Watch]

This fall will see elections for the following Council Districts 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, and Mayor.

Declared candidates so far are:

Mayor

District 2

District 4

District 6

District 7 (Open seat)

District 10 (Open seat)

_________________________

🔎 Have questions or in need of lobbying services? Fill out Bingham Group’s Service Interest Questionnaire and let us see how we can help.

SHARE BG READS FEEDBACK HERE

⬇️

Copyright (C) " target="_blank">unsubscribe