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December 10, 2025

✅ Today's BG Reads include:

🟪 Central Austin residents push back against proposed six-story development at former Rosedale school site (KVUE)

🟪 Austin Energy employee defrauded the utility of nearly $1 million, audit says (KUT)

🟪 TownLake YMCA expansion would add housing, office and restaurant space to downtown Austin property (KUT)

🟪 The city of Austin has an unlimited parking fee waiver program that could save lives during the holidays (KVUE)

🟪 Glenn Hamer resigns as CEO of Texas Association of Business weeks after sexual assault allegations (Texas Tribune)

🟪 A divided Fed is expected to cut rates for a 3rd straight time (NPR)

🟪 Democrat wins Miami mayor's race for the first time in almost 30 years (NBC News)

READ ON!

[FIRM NEWS]

[Blog] Austin 2026: The New Rules of Economic Development at City Hall

Learn more about Bingham Group’s new practice — and review all of our services here: binghamgp.com/services

[CITY OF AUSTIN]

🏛️ Tomorrow @10AM: Austin City Council Meeting

• Agenda

• Video Link (ATXN 1)

🏛️ City Manager Executives and Advisors Staff Visual Chart

🏛️ City of Austin Org Chart (as of July 2025)

ℹ️ 2025 Essential Resources for Navigating the City of Austin

[AUSTIN METRO NEWS]

✅ Central Austin residents push back against proposed six-story development at former Rosedale school site (KVUE)

Known for its calm streets and close‑knit feel, Austin’s Rosedale neighborhood may soon look very different if plans move forward for a six‑story apartment building on the old Rosedale Elementary campus.

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) is in the process of selling the now-vacant school property to housing developer OHT Partners. The school has been unused since 2022, when students and programs were relocated to a new facility on Silvercrest Drive. In October 2024, the AISD Board officially declared the site as surplus property.

OHT Partners said the proposed development includes 435 residential units and a parking garage. Longtime resident Darrell Azar, who has lived in Rosedale for 50 years, voiced concerns about the impact of the development. 

“It’d be nice to be able to get to sleep at night,” he said. “You can’t walk the streets. It would be like living downtown.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Austin Energy employee defrauded the utility of nearly $1 million, audit says (KUT)

Auditors say an Austin Energy employee defrauded the city-owned utility of nearly $1 million over six years.

According to an investigation out this week, Mark Ybarra falsified credit card payments to contractors and pocketed $980,000 between 2017 and 2023. Ybarra resigned that year and was indicted on a first-degree felony theft charge by the Travis County district attorney in August.

Ybarra worked at the publicly owned utility since 2014. Prior to his resignation, he performed maintenance and handled third-party contracts for upkeep at Austin Energy facilities. It was in that role he was able to use credit cards to contract out maintenance work that, the city's audit says, was fraudulent.

Ybarra is accused of charging the Austin Energy credit card, paying vendors that had addresses connected with him or his family — or vendors that were completely fake.

The utility told auditors that Ybarra was not required to get manager approval before making the payments, though it says that process has since changed. The utility says it’s retooled its contracting processes as a result of the City Auditor’s investigation — including requiring the use of management-approved contracts instead of allowing payments through credit cards… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ TownLake YMCA expansion would add housing, office and restaurant space to downtown Austin property (KUT)

The TownLake YMCA in downtown Austin is planning a renovation and expansion of its nearly 5-acre property to include housing, an early education center and other commercial and community spaces.

The nonprofit proposed the project to the City Council on Tuesday, an early step in the development process.

Kathy Kuras, president and CEO of the Greater Austin YMCA, said the project would address a number of issues the city is trying to solve, including a lack of affordable housing and quality childcare downtown, and the limited resources available for elderly residents.

“This project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the health and well-being of the entire community by reimagining the Townlake YMCA,” she said… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ The city of Austin has an unlimited parking fee waiver program that could save lives during the holidays (KVUE)

December marks a dangerous peak on Texas roads. More drunk driving crashes occur in December than any other month in the state, driven by the rush of holiday parties and festive gatherings.

As Austinites hit Sixth Street and downtown venues for celebrations, city officials are highlighting a local resource that could be the difference between a parking ticket and a devastating DWI – and they say it’s drastically underused.

The city of Austin wants to spare you from jail time and, more importantly, save lives in the process.

The city's Parking Ticket Waiver Program allows you to leave your vehicle in a paid city parking spot overnight without fear of the fine, provided you choose a safe ride home.

Here is the step-by-step process… 🟪 (READ MORE)

[TEXAS/US NEWS]

✅ Glenn Hamer resigns as CEO of Texas Association of Business weeks after sexual assault allegations (Texas Tribune)

Glenn Hamer on Tuesday resigned as president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, one of the state’s most influential business groups, two weeks after he was sued over allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

His resignation was announced by TAB Chair Bill Jones, who added that Megan Mauro, who previously served as the group’s vice president and chief of staff, would continue serving as interim CEO. Hamer was put on administrative leave after the lawsuit was filed while TAB conducted a “full internal investigation.”

In November, a woman, identified as “Jane Doe” in her court filing in Travis County, accused Hamer of sexually harassing and assaulting her before retaliating against her using his position at TAB… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey files for Tarrant County judge, forgoing eighth term in Congress (Texas Tribune)

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, is running for Tarrant County judge, according to a source with knowledge of his plans, marking a surprise last-minute pivot for the seven-term congressman who was expected to run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

Instead, shortly before Monday’s 6 p.m. filing deadline, Veasey decided to seek the Democratic nomination for Tarrant County’s top elected office, bringing an end to his tenure in Congress that began in 2013.

“This decision is about where I can best serve the people of Tarrant County,” Veasey said in a statement. “It’s about strengthening our party, opening the door for new leadership and ensuring that our community continues to thrive.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ How the political tide turned on Mark Welsh, the four-star general ousted as Texas A&M president (Texas Tribune)

At first glance, Mark Welsh III’s credentials appeared unimpeachable.

An Air Force Academy graduate turned four-star general who served as the military branch’s highest-ranking officer. Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M for seven years. Aggie blood ran through him — his father, siblings, and four children all graduated from the College Station university.

But almost immediately after he was named interim president in mid-2023, some members of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, who oversee the university, were raising concerns.

“We really need to vet this guy,” John Bellinger, a university regent appointed earlier that year, wrote to then-Vice Chair Robert Albritton. “From what I have heard along with this and other articles, I have many questions.”

Bellinger shared a link to a post from Texas Scorecard, a conservative website read by many of the state’s Republican elected leaders. The post highlighted Welsh’s public statements advocating for boosting women in the military and diversity in the workforce. Just weeks earlier, the same website emphasized that it was former President Barack Obama who appointed Welsh to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overseeing 660,000 service members of the U.S. Air Force.

The regents weren’t the only ones who were apparently bothered… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ A divided Fed is expected to cut rates for a 3rd straight time (NPR)

The Federal Reserve is again expected to lower its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point Wednesday, in an effort to support a weakening job market. But stubborn inflation and delayed economic data could complicate the Fed's decision, leading to more-than-usual disagreement within the rate-setting committee.

A rate cut could make it slightly cheaper to borrow money to buy a car, expand a business or carry a balance on a credit card. The Fed also lowered rates at its last two meetings, but the decisions were not unanimous, highlighting the competing pressures that the central bank is facing.

Inflation is still well above the Fed's target, which would ordinarily call for keeping interest rates elevated. But unemployment has also been creeping up, which would typically point toward lower rates. Fed policymakers are divided on which of those problems is more urgent… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Behind Paramount’s relentless campaign to woo Warner Discovery and President Trump (Wall Street Journal)

Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison knew his latest bid for Warner Bros. Discovery was in trouble when the company’s CEO, David Zaslav, started ghosting him. Paramount had spent the morning of Dec. 4 finalizing its sixth bid to acquire all of Warner: an all-cash $77.9 billion offer. But Paramount was worried that Warner had already settled on their preferred dance partner: Netflix. “Just tried calling you about new bid we have submitted,” Ellison texted Zaslav.

“I heard you on all your concerns and believe we have addressed them in our new proposal. Please give me a call back when you can to discuss in detail.” He didn’t hear back. Sensing trouble, Ellison followed up, saying Paramount had offered a package that covered all the issues Warner had raised, including the need for “strong cash value” and “speed to close.” “It would be the honor of a lifetime to be your partner and to be the owner of these iconic assets,” he texted, according to a regulatory filing.

On Friday, Ellison’s concerns were realized. Warner and Netflix announced a deal for the streaming giant to acquire the iconic Warner and HBO properties for $72 billion, a proposed merger that could radically reshape entertainment. Ellison’s father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a Trump ally, called the president after the Netflix deal was announced and told him the transaction would hurt competition, according to a White House official and a person familiar with the matter.

An Oracle spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. During a visit to Washington in recent days, David Ellison offered assurances to Trump administration officials that if he bought Warner, he’d make sweeping changes to CNN, a common target of President Trump’s ire, people familiar with the matter said. Trump has told people close to him that he wants new ownership of CNN as well as changes to CNN programming. The White House declined to comment.

A White House official said they don’t comment on Trump’s private conversations. Not ready to give up, Paramount on Monday launched a hostile takeover effort for Warner, taking its case directly to shareholders. Ellison says his offer for Warner is a better deal for shareholders and more likely to pass regulatory muster. Paramount said its offer provides shareholders $18 billion more in cash than Netflix’s… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Democrat wins Miami mayor's race for the first time in almost 30 years (NBC News)

Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayor’s race, NBC News projects, giving the party control of the office for the first time in almost three decades in another victory for Democrats ahead of next year’s pivotal midterm elections.

Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner, won 59% of the vote to 41% for Republican Emilio González, a businessman and former city manager who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. González conceded Tuesday night, his campaign confirmed.

"Tonight, the people of Miami made history. Together, we turned the page on years of chaos and corruption and opened the door to a new era for our city — one defined by ethical, accountable leadership that delivers real results for the people," Higgins said in a statement Tuesday night.

While the Miami mayor’s race is technically nonpartisan, the Republican-affiliated candidate has won every election since 2008, and an independent candidate won before then, locking Democrats out of the office since their last win in 1997. But while Miami-Dade has moved dramatically toward Republicans in the last few elections, Democratic former Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly carried the city itself last year... 🟪 (READ MORE)

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