ATX PULSE 7/17/24: Musk to Move X to ATX // APD Chief Search Narrows to 2 // I-35 Funding Moves Forward // 232-Unit Mixed Use Project Coming to Dirty 6th //

ATX Pulse

Everything YOU NEED TO KNOW about Austi5.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

By Matt Mackowiak

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Today’s Weather: H: 99° / L: 78°. Latest forecast from Fox 7 Austin’s Zack Shields here.

TOP NEWS

~ “Elon Musk plans to move X, SpaceX HQs to Texas,” Austin Business Journal’s Brett Wistrom — “Elon Musk's Austin empire is about to grow a lot more.

The enigmatic serial entrepreneur and world's richest man said July 16 on X that he will move X's headquarters from San Francisco to Austin. He also said that he will move Space Exploration Technologies Corp. from Hawthorne to its Starbase in South Texas where it is developing plans to one day send humans to Mars.

It appears to be a reaction to California's newly signed law that bans schools from notifying parents about students gender identity. 

"This is the final straw," he wrote. "Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas."

It remains unclear where exactly X might plant its headquarters or how many of its employees might come along with it. It's also unclear how many employees X currently has. In 2023, the New York Times reported the company had eliminated 80% of its 7,500 employees, which would have left it with about 1,500. The social media platform has seven open positions in Austin, although some of those job postings indicate the workers could operate remotely or from other X offices.

The move further cements Musk's influence on the Austin area and, more broadly, the state of Texas.

"I did make it clear to Governor Gavin Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children," Musk wrote in another post on July 16. But there may be a lot of other factors, ranging from crime to taxes.  

"Have had enough of dodging gangs of violent drug addicts just to get in and out of the building," Musk posted.

The move, announced around 2:30 p.m. CT, follows years of Musk's outrage about California's laws and politics that seemed to largely start with the state's regulations aimed at curbing the spread of the Covid-19 virus early on in the pandemic in 2020. At the time, he threatened to move Tesla's headquarters out of California, which he later followed through on by moving Tesla's headquarters to the Austin area in 2021.

That was followed by a flurry of local activity from Musk's other companies. SpaceX has been expanding its operations in Bastrop County near the operations of his other company, The Boring Co., which appears to be using the site as its headquarters. His brain-chip interface company Neuralink has also been expanding here.

X, formerly known as Twitter, didn't initially announce any plans to leave California after Musk purchased it for a reported $44 billion in 2022.

However, there was speculation that the tech magnate might move the company's headquarters to Austin. And Gov. Greg Abbott even used Musk's new platform to post a message at the time saying "Bring Twitter to Texas to join Tesla, SpaceX & the Boring company."

Musk later said he was open to the idea of a second HQ for X in Austin but had no plans to move the company's existing HQ out of California.

Earlier this year, X said it was building a “Trust and Safety Center of Excellence” in Austin, with Bloomberg reporting plans to hire 100 in-house agents focused on content moderation.

In April, the company said that Kylie McRoberts would be in charge of building out the new center, though it was unclear where in Austin that hub may be located or if McRoberts would work full-time there.

X's California headquarters, which it set up in 2011, is about 800,000 square feet. Late last week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the company planned to sublease its San Francisco headquarters. For perspective, Google's new "sail tower" in downtown Austin — which it has yet to move into — has about 800,000 square feet of office space.” Austin Business Journal

~ “Search narrows for new APD chief of police,” KXAN’s Julianna Russ, Brianna Hollis and Grace Reader — “The City of Austin has named two finalists in the search for the next chief of police, according to city officials.

Those two candidates are Lisa Davis, the assistant chief of the Cincinnati Police Department and Jeffrey Norman, the chief of the Milwaukee Police Department.

Below is a breakdown of those cities’ populations according to the latest census data.

• Milwaukee: 563,305

• Cincinnati: 309,153

• Austin: 974, 447

KXAN will get the chance to speak directly with the candidates next week.

Lisa Davis

Davis currently serves as an assistant chief over Cincinnati PD’s investigations bureau.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she has served as Cincinnati’s assistant chief since 2019, and has worked at the department for roughly 30 years.

“She created a city-wide problem-solving unit trained to address crime and disorder in chronically violent locations, reducing overall crime and increasing the quality of life for area residents,” according to information provided about the candidates sent in an internal memo to the mayor’s office and city council.

She was also recently in the running for chief positions in Toledo, Ohio and Oakland, Calif., according to various news outlets.

Jeffrey Norman

Norman has served with the Milwaukee Police Department since 1996, and in 2021, he was sworn in as the chief of the department.

Prior to taking on the role of chief, he worked as a detective in the robbery, violent crimes and homicide divisions. He also served as a lieutenant in both the property crimes division and the metropolitan division.

“While a commander of Milwaukee’s District 3, Chief Norman instituted robust community engagement for his team, a mission he still holds today,” the city’s internal memo about the Austin chief candidates states.

Norman has appeared on various national news outlets over the course of the past two weeks to discuss the police department’s role with the RNC in town this week.

Austin Police Association president calls on new chief to ‘take care’ of current officers

“Whoever comes in has got to look out for the people we have right now,” said Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock. “If we don’t take care of the people we have now, nothing else is going to fall into place.”

More than 350 officers have retired or resigned since the beginning of 2022, according to the department’s data portal, and APD is currently short 340 officers. A spike in separations occurred in March of last year around the time the police contract expired.” KXAN

~ “Revitalization of Austin’s Sixth Street advances with plans for 232-unit mixed-use project,” Community Impact’s Ben Thompson — “A push to revitalize East Sixth Street downtown is progressing, most recently with the initial approval of plans for the first major residential addition coming to the bar-heavy block.

The big picture

In recent years, Stream Realty Partners took control of dozens of parcels along East Sixth as part of a strategy to improve and redevelop portions of the historic strip.

The firm is eyeing a transition from today's more rowdy nightlife scene to an all-day environment for visitors, with new options such as eateries; shops; and more pedestrian-friendly features, such as farmers markets and concerts. Leasing activity began earlier this year.

The expansive program now called "Old 6th" first came together in response to the many deteriorating or vacant buildings on the block; the prevalence of bars over other types of establishments; and safety concerns stemming from frequent violent incidents, including a shooting in 2021.

"The folks that have been there for a long time are crying out for help. The police officers are wringing their hands and pulling their hair out; they don’t know what to do. But we all agree: You’ve got to change the mixes of uses again back to where it used to be," said attorney Richard Suttle, representing Stream, during a 2022 city commission meeting.

Stream's plans also led to the adoption of new building regulations on East Sixth allowing for taller construction along some of the corridor that could bring in new housing, hotels and office space. And even with those transformative plans, Stream still aims for the district to remain an entertainment and tourism destination.

What's happening

Given that the Old 6th initiative is centered in the Sixth Street Historic District, much of Stream's renovation strategy must first move through Austin's Historic Landmark Commission before that work can proceed.

Nearly two dozen sites have been reviewed by commissioners so far this year for updates such as building rehabilitation, and conversions from bars or commercial space into restaurants and other uses.

Most recently, the commission signed off on the first larger mixed-use project in the district: the redevelopment of 611 E. Sixth St. into hundreds of new apartments. The approval came after several adjustments aimed at making the new building facade fit in with its historic surroundings on the block.

The proposed 184,000-square-foot Grant Building is being developed by Ryan Cos. The existing property owned by a New York-based LLC will be turned into a six-story, 232-unit residential complex.

The development will feature 10,000 square feet of street-level commercial space, 14,000 square feet for amenities and leasing, and a two-level parking garage.

Stream Senior Vice President Paul Bodenman said the landmark commission's July 3 approval of the Grant proposal represents another step in East Sixth's rejuvenation.

"We are excited to see the Grant development progress. With the enthusiasm around the opening of The Dead Rabbit pub last week and Grant Plaza moving through the Historic Commission, combined with the forward momentum of our projects, the future of Old 6th is becoming a reality," he said in a statement.” Community Impact

~ “Funding freeze for I-35 expansion denied in heated CAMPO vote,” KUT’s Nathan Bernier — “An attempt to freeze funding for the Interstate 35 expansion through Central Austin until the project’s impact on air quality can be more fully assessed was easily defeated Monday in a vote by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s planning board. The 22-member panel allocates billions in federal transportation cash throughout the Austin area.

The political clash saw a handful of City Council members – anxious about the environmental effects of the highway expansion – face off against elected officials from Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays and Williamson counties. The suburban politicians were backed by the Travis County commissioners on the CAMPO board.

“Both jurisdictions that this project passes through, the city of Austin and Travis County, have expressed concerns about the overall impact of the highway expansion on air quality,” Austin City Council Member Alison Alter said, citing new EPA regulations that found previously acceptable levels of air pollution would no longer meet new rigorous standards. “Again and again, we have heard that air quality is a major concern.”

A decade of construction starts this year on the I-35 expansion along an 8-mile stretch from U.S. Highway 290 East to Ben White Boulevard. The project involves adding more lanes to the highway, including two “managed lanes” in each direction that would be restricted to vehicles with two or more people in them.

Alter’s proposal would have made funding for the I-35 project contingent upon the completion of two air quality studies: CAMPO’s Regional Mobile Emission Reduction Plan and the Austin MSA Climate Plan, both of which will take stock of existing emissions and suggest plans to reduce them.

Alter’s measure also urged TxDOT to help pay for large decks over the main lanes, which will be lowered 30 to 40 feet below ground level through much of Central Austin. The city of Austin is seeking more than $800 million to pay for installing those “caps” plus any amenities on top such as parks, fountains, trees or buildings. UT Austin plans to pay for installing caps from 15th Street to Dean Keeton Street.

“This project impacts all of our communities alike, both commuters and residents, so we all have a vested interest in ensuring that this is the best project as possible,” Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes said.

Their concerns were met with skepticism by suburban leaders, who emphasized TxDOT’s commitment to integrate any air quality study results into the project plan – portions of which won’t start being constructed until 2026.

“We’ll certainly incorporate those findings or best practices or whatever their recommendations could be,” TxDOT’s Austin District Engineer Tucker Ferguson told the board. It remained unclear if the recommendations could be implemented if they concluded the highway expansion’s effects on air quality can’t be mitigated, which is what critics contend.

“I understand the concerns. I know they’re honest and real,” Caldwell County Commissioner Edward Theriot said. “But I think it would be fiscally irresponsible to delay and jeopardize that funding.”

The meeting at times grew tense as officials from different jurisdictions sparred over the merits of the highway expansion, a plan that has been navigating through funding approvals since at least 2013, when the CAMPO board first endorsed it.

“Madame chair, I’m going to call the question,” Burnet County Judge James Oakley at one point declared, a move intended to cut off debate as Alter was asking TxDOT officials a series of pointed questions.

“Really? This is a major decision and you’re not even going to let us ask?” Alter responded. Oakley turned away and held up his hand to her. Members in the audience, many of them opponents of the highway expansion, began applauding.

Alter was allowed one final minute to ask questions before the vote. But her motion, which would have required a two-thirds majority to pass, was decisively defeated. Only fellow Council members Fuentes, Paige Ellis and Natasha Harper-Madison (voting by proxy) and Travis County Representative Amy Pattillo supported the measure.

The CAMPO board then voted to allocate about $4 billion to the I-35 project through what’s typically a routine bureaucratic action – amending CAMPO’s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) for 2025-2028. This list of federally funded projects, updated every two years, was CAMPO’s most valuable ever, according to manager Ryan Collins.

The massive spending plan was open to public comment for a month starting March 15. CAMPO held six open houses and a total of 20 people attended. The agency said it received 355 comments in person and via email before the deadline. Another 250 comments came in after the deadline.” KUT

THE BLOTTER

~ “2 fugitives with Austin-area ties added to Texas most wanted list,” via CBS Austin — “Two fugitives with strong ties to Austin and nearby Bastrop have been added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday.

Fabian Martinez Toribio, 25, and Octavio Cruz Hernandez, 32, both have extensive criminal histories in the Austin area. The DPS is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of either suspect.

Martinez Toribio is wanted by Austin police for aggravated sexual assault of a child, a charge dating back to January 2024. He also faces a Travis County warrant from February for drug possession. Despite being previously deported in 2018, Martinez Toribio was arrested again in October 2023 by Manor police for resisting arrest and drug possession before bonding out of jail.

"Martinez Toribio has strong connections to Travis County, particularly Austin and Pflugerville," said DPS spokesperson Jane Smith. "We believe he may still be in the area."

Cruz Hernandez, wanted in neighboring Bastrop County since April for alleged sex abuse of a child under 14, also has a history of arrests in the Austin metro area. In 2019, he was convicted in Travis County of driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 in the vehicle. After deportation, he returned and was arrested again in 2022 by Kyle police for another DWI offense.

"Cruz Hernandez has ties across Travis, Hays, and Bastrop counties," Smith added. "He's been seen in Austin, Kyle, Dripping Springs, and Cedar Creek."

Officials warn that both men are considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached by the public.

Tipsters can provide information via the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS, the DPS website, or Facebook.” CBS Austin

COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S COURT

~ “Travis County unveils plans for federal funding, seeks public feedback,” Community Impact’s Haley McLeod — “Travis County commissioners received an update July 16 regarding the five-year strategic plan being developed to secure federal Community Development Block Grant funding for fiscal years 2024-28.

Annually, the county receives grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money is intended to support affordable housing and suitable living environments—including infrastructure—and expand economic opportunities.

By the numbers

The county is expected to receive a little over $1.6 million in CDBG funding for FY 2024-25, coupled with an additional $612,500 from local and state affordable housing programs.

Considering the feedback received by community surveys and comments, county staff have proposed a list of projects for the county to tackle over the next year with CDBG funding:

• Cardinal Hill Estates road improvements (design): $150,000

• Cardinal Hill Estates road improvements (construction): $850,000

• Northridge Acres wastewater system improvements (design): $150,000

• General infrastructure fund: $149,772

• Administration and planning (20% cap): $324,943

Plans for the remaining funding will be aimed toward addressing disparities in homeownership, according to county documents.

Staff indicated $562,500 will be allotted toward the construction of affordable housing for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers or to provide downpayment assistance for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers. The remaining $50,000 will be used for administrative costs.

All the county’s funds must be used in the unincorporated areas of the county. Many of the local municipalities receive their own CDBG funding.” Community Impact

OTHER NEWS

~ “Hays County homeowners, environmental groups fight wastewater treatment plant on Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone,” KVUE’s Jenni Lee — “The steady stream of people moving to Central Texas means a constant need for housing. But some Hays County homeowners and environmental groups are fighting a proposed wastewater treatment facility that would service a new housing development over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, or where water enters the aquifer.

Their concern was heightened by a new extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, law that releases the builder from stricter aquifer protection measures. 

Milestone Community Builders, an Austin developer, plans to build a wastewater treatment plant near FM 1626 and State Highway 45. The plant would serve the builder's proposed Hays Commons Development, a residential and commercial proposal that sits on 500-plus acres of land. 

Nearby homeowners said that the plant will negatively impact their water quality, the Edwards Aquifer and even Barton Springs Pool. They worry it could also affect the air quality. 

Homeowner Keith Whittington moved to Manchaca in 1995. 

“We love it out here … It's been a very quiet area," Whittington said. 

But his way of life in rural Hays County may be changing. 

“The proposed development for Milestone would bring a minimum of 1,500 to 2,000 people into this area," Whittington said. 

It would also bring a new wastewater treatment plant. 

Mike Clifford is with the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance. He said the proposed plant will pollute hundreds of private and community wells. 

"They're going to be irrigating treated sewage over the recharge zone where we are here. And when you do that … if the soils aren't thick enough, it will just leach down into the aquifer," Clifford said. 

Water for the entire city of Hays would also be affected. Hays is a community with 249 residents in the county with the same name. 

Lydia Bryan-Valdez is mayor pro tem.  She declined an interview but sent KVUE this statement: 

"The City of Hays has significant concerns about the wastewater treatment plant proposed by Hays Commons Development, which includes the land application of treated effluent [known as a 'TLAP'] in an environmentally sensitive recharge area of the Edwards Aquifer. The area where the effluent would be applied is directly behind our homes, our city hall and, importantly, our water wells. The city uses those wells to provide safe drinking water to its residents as well as other customers. In fact, TCEQ already approved a new groundwater well that, if Hays Commons’ wastewater treatment facility is approved, will be located only 20 feet from the boundary of the effluent field. For these reasons, the city of Hays will request a contested case hearing on Hays Commons Development’s TLAP application. The City hopes TCEQ will give serious consideration to the environmental and public health issues raised by the proposed TLAP." 

Clifford said the proposed wastewater treatment plant would even affect the water at Barton Springs Pool because it draws from the Edwards Aquifer.   

"All the sudden, Barton Springs, instead of being this clear flowing pool, would turn into a cloudy, polluted pool," Clifford said.” KVUE

SPORTS

~ AUSTIN FC: “Austin FC vs. FC Dallas: Our Copa Tejas championship match prediction and preview are in,” Austin American-Statesman’s Colby Gordon — “Austin FC has a trophy on the line Wednesday. 

In what has turned into the Copa Tejas championship match, the Verde & Black face FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium and can win the in-state competition for the third straight year with a victory or tie, while a loss sees the hosts claim the title like they did in the cup’s inaugural year in 2021. 

The clubs have split their previous two meetings this season, each winning at home.

Here’s what you need to know about the match as Austin FC (8-9-6, 30 points) enters its biggest game of the season to date for more reasons than one: 

More at stake than just Copa Tejas

Austin FC has hung its hat during its brief existence on being successful in Copa Tejas — a competition between the three Texas teams that's part of the regular MLS schedule and determined by the games against each other — and a three-peat would signify a productive first five months of the season, especially considering its roster situation entering the year. It also would give the club a boost heading into Saturday’s anticipated match against Charlotte when highly touted new signings Osman Bukari and Mikkel Desler can play for the first time. 

But equally important is keeping or increasing the distance between itself and its rival to the north in the Western Conference standings. 

The Verde & Black are in 10th place, one spot out of the final playoff position, with Dallas (7-11-5, 26 points) sitting right behind them. A Dallas win would not only take the cup but also thrust it directly into the playoff conversation. 

As noted in this space multiple times, there are no must-wins in the MLS prior to September. But Austin FC would do itself a big favor with a victory to take a seven-point lead over Dallas and the other three teams behind it going into the final 10 games of the season.” AAS ($)

~ “Why Texas DB Jahdae Barron switched to Michael Huff’s No. 7 jersey: it’s all about legacy,” Austin American-Statesman’s Danny Davis — “Since Monday, the Omni Hotel in Dallas has been the center of the Southeastern Conference’s universe.

Football players and coaches from LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Vanderbilt kicked off SEC media days on Monday. Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee were featured a day later.

On Wednesday, it's Texas’ turn in the spotlight. Just two weeks after it officially joined the SEC, Texas will be represented at media days by head coach Steve Sarkisian, quarterback Quinn Ewers, defensive back Jahdae Barron and left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State also will meet with the media.

"It's going to be exciting just to see new coaches, new players that I kind of know from social media and things like that," Barron said. "But it's going to be a cool experience, just to kind of connect with the new conference we're in."

Paying homage to a Texas legend

Speaking of things that are new, Barron will wear a new jersey number this season. After four years wearing No. 23, Barron has switched to No. 7.

He originally chose 23 as a way to honor his late friend, Tardrick Fowler, who died in 2020. But a reflective Barron recently said that, "I've done a lot in that number to represent him. He's still with me, no doubt, but it was time to live on my legacy because obviously it's my last year here in burnt orange and so I want to kind of live it out and do it the right way."

For Barron, the right way meant to acknowledge a legendary Longhorn. In an offseason video announcing his decision to return to Texas for a fifth season, Barron was greeted by former UT defensive back Huff at the team facility. Barron was then handed a No. 7 jersey by Huff, a two-time All-American and four-year starter who wore that number from 2002-05.” AAS ($)

CULTURE

~ “Garth Brooks to be inducted into ACL TV’s Hall of Fame, marking the start of show’s historic 50th season,” KXAN’s Abigail Jones — “The Austin City Limits TV show is getting ready to celebrate its golden anniversary later this year, and it’s bringing in a special guest to honor along the way.

Austin City Limits, or ACL, is a music performance television show that appears weekly on PBS, dating back to October 1974. It’s the longest-running music program in television history, according to its website.

Austin PBS and ACL have been gearing up to celebrate the milestone. Earlier this year, they announced the undertaking of a project to digitize and preserve all 50 seasons of the show.

The series announced Tuesday it will add to the celebrations by inducting Garth Brooks into its Hall of Fame.

Brooks will be honored at the 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame celebration on Sept. 5, where he and his band will perform at ACL’s home studio – ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin.

This will mark the first time in ACL’s 10 years of the Hall of Fame that only one inductee will be honored at the event. Last year’s inductees were Trisha Yearwood and John Prine. Past inductees include Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, B.B. King, Alejandro Escovedo, Darrell Royal, the ACL Crew itself, and many more.

According to ACL, Brooks’ previous cameos on the show include his time anchoring ACL’s 25th Anniversary broadcast season with a pair of appearances. His return will launch the series’ 50th season.

Musical highlights and Brooks’ induction from the Hall of Fame ceremony will air as a special hour-long broadcast of ACL as a highlight of the program’s golden anniversary which premieres on September 28, 2024, on PBS. 

“To be part of anything Austin City Limits is and always has been an honor,” Brooks said. “I am humbled and grateful to not only be a part of the 50th Anniversary, but to be inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame is over the top.”

Garth Brooks has longtime ties to ACL, with three performances on the show under his belt. He first appeared on the program in 1990, during Season 15, at the beginning of his career, and returned a decade later to both open and close ACL’s milestone Season 25 with two hour-long episodes, according to ACL.

Brooks also returned in 2021 for a pair of intimate, non-broadcast events to close Studio 6A on the University of Texas campus, the soundstage where the program first started recording in 1974. He performed the benefit shows as solo, acoustic sets in front of sold-out audiences of 200 people per night as a fundraiser for Austin PBS, according to ACL.

“Garth is a special friend—there’s no one else quite like him,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “He never forgets his roots, or the people who were there for him in those early days. He hit the ACL stage just as his career was taking off, kicked off our 25th anniversary season, and now almost 25 years later, it’s our turn to honor him.” …

The Hall of Fame event is open to the public and a limited number of tickets will be on sale online August 2.” KXAN

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

~ LIVE MUSIC: Chris Brown. Moody Center (Austin, TX). Doors, 6:30pm. Show, 7:30pm. $210 and up. More info here.

COOL JOB ALERT

~CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF). Apply here.