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- BG Reads 9.20.2023
BG Reads 9.20.2023
🗞️ BG Reads | News - September 20, 2023
September 20, 2023
In today's BG Reads:
🏠 Council to consider joint hearing with Planning Commission on code amendments
🤠 Gov. Greg Abbott says special legislative session on “school choice” coming in October
🚀 A NASA astronaut approaches a year in space, the longest time for any American
🎙️ TWO BG Podcasts today (Eps. 217 and 218) focus on economic development
Read on!
[BINGHAM GROUP]
On this episode Bingham Group CEO A.J. Bingham welcomes Larry Holt, our newest consultant to the show. Larry has deep experience in Texas municipal and state economic development, and will assist in developing Bingham Group's practice in this area.
On this episode Bingham Group CEO A.J. Bingham and firm Economic Development Consultant Larry Holt discuss NXP Semiconductor's incentive proposal before the city of Austin.
➡️ Check out our red lined City of Austin org chart. The changes reflect the many changes in city leadership since February 2023.
➡️ You can view those here: BG Blog: Tracking City of Austin Leadership Changes (Updated September 1, 2023).
[AUSTIN METRO NEWS]
Council to consider joint hearing with Planning Commission on code amendments (Austin Monitor)
Mayor Kirk Watson wants everyone in Austin to know that City Council will be holding a hearing on changes to the Land Development Code. Specifically, Council will be considering comments on proposals to allow three units per lot in single-family residential districts, allowing tiny homes and RVs to serve as accessory dwelling units and eliminating the dwelling unit occupancy limit for residential uses.
“We want to make sure that we have the credibility as we go forward with these – with significant, robust, complete, total notice – whatever’s the right word,” said Watson at Tuesday’s Council work session.
The Planning Commission and Council will each hold public hearings on the three proposed changes to the code. In addition, prior to either of those hearings, Council and the Planning Commission will meet in a joint session for a public hearing on the three proposals. The city has not held joint hearings in the past, but state law provides for such hearings… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
📺 Tomorrow @10AM: Austin City Council Regular Meeting (9.21.2023 Agenda)
Opinion: City Council can bring U.S. CHIPS Act funding to Austin by
approving NXP’s proposal (Austin American-Statesman Op-Ed)
(Gary Farmer - Chairman and interim CEO of Opportunity Austin) - On Thursday, September 21, the Austin City Council will vote on an incentive agreement to support a $291 million capital investment by longtime Austin chip company NXP Semiconductors to improve its facilities and increase domestic manufacturing capacity for the automotive and industrial markets, a national priority, right here in Austin.
This investment, known as Project Live Oak, will help our city to continue to thrive as a global technology hub, creating jobs and helping the U.S. regain its leadership in global semiconductor manufacturing.
An endorsement by the City Council would allow NXP to pursue funding from the historic U.S. CHIPS Act, a potential once-in-a-generation opportunity that will help strengthen and expand U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. With the exciting possibilities the CHIPS Act has to offer, Project Live Oak will further validate Austin on the global stage as a leader in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing. I urge our city leaders to support this investment in our people and our future… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
And in other Austin Metro News:
🦗 One reason you're seeing so many crickets? Our hot, dry summer. (KUT) -> LINK TO FULL STORY
[TEXAS NEWS]
Gov. Greg Abbott says special legislative session on “school choice” coming in October (Texas Tribune)
Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday his long-awaited special session on “school choice” will start next month while promising political consequences for lawmakers who stand in the way of his priority legislation.
“There’s an easy way to get it done, and there’s a hard way,” Abbott said on a tele-town hall about the issue. “We will take it either way — in a special session or after an election.”
Lawmakers have long expected the special session to start in October, but this is the most specific Abbott has been about the timing yet. And his blunt remarks about the politics mark an escalation of pressure on Republicans in the Texas House who have been a roadblock to the proposal.
“If we do not win in that first special session, we will have another special special session and we’ll come back again,” Abbott said. “And then if we don’t win that time, I think it’s time to send this to the voters themselves.”… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
And in other Texas News:
➡️ Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asks state auditor to review Ken Paxton impeachment (Texas Tribune) -> LINK TO FULL STORY
➡️ ‘Crisis’: Dallas has more than 3,400 vacancies on city staff (Dallas Morning News) -> LINK TO FULL STORY
[NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS]
A NASA astronaut approaches a year in space, the longest time for any American (NPR)
Astronaut Frank Rubio is approaching a year in space, after breaking the record for the longest space trip in history by an American.
Rubio, who is from Miami, graduated from the NASA astronaut program in 2019. He was launched into space for the first time on Sep. 21, 2022, and will reach the one-year milestone on Thursday.
Last Monday — Sept. 11 — he surpassed Mark Vande Hei's previous record of 355 days for the longest spaceflight by an American astronaut, NASA said.
"It's been a mixed emotional roller coaster to a certain degree because personally, it was an incredible challenge, and it was difficult," Rubio said Tuesday in an interview from the International Space Station. "Professionally, it was incredibly rewarding. It's a huge honor and it's a privilege to represent our office and our team this way."… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
OTHER NEWS:
➡️ Tuberville to try going around his own blockade to confirm Marine commandant (The Hill) -> LINK TO FULL STORY
➡️ America’s biggest landlords can’t find houses to buy either (Wall Street Journal) -> LINK TO FULL STORY
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