How to lobby City Council

Like America –– Travis County turnout was down

Turnout across the country was down significantly from 2020. According to the most recent figures, Trump actually got 1.5 million fewer votes than he got when he lost. But Harris got 15 million fewer votes than Biden. For what it's worth, I think Biden would have gotten even fewer if he had remained in the race....

Locally, the story was similar: the total turnout in Travis County dropped by 26,000 between 2020 and 2024 –– from roughly 612,000 to 586,000. That happens to align almost perfectly with the drop in support for the Democratic nominee. Biden got 425,000 and Harris got 398,000, a gap of 27,000.

A heartwarming tribute to a City Hall legend

On Thursday City Council voted to name the staff bullpen behind the Council chambers in honor of Kay Guedea, the longtime City Council liaison for the city manager's office. Among her many administrative duties are handling purchases for Council offices, including APN subscriptions! Perhaps most importantly, she oversees the provision of lunch (and sometimes dinner) for Council and staff during Council meetings.

Council also voted to rename the first-floor kitchen in honor of Kay's husband of 62 years, Joe Guedea, who is also a part-time city employee who is a fixture in the kitchen during Council meetings.

Kay has been in her current role since 1998 and has been a city employee since 1975.

One after another, Council members spoke of their love for "Ms. Kay."

"She's the person who can get anything done, whether it's big, small or mundane," said the mayor. "She is a rock who everyone can count on. But more than that, she is someone who spreads love."

Many of them cited her propensity for hugs and sincere expressions of love.

"That's what you can expect when you have the opportunity to see Ms. Kay," said Natasha Harper-Madison. "It's a big hug and an 'I love you.' And when things aren't going so great, it's a big hug, I love you, and an 'I'm praying for you.'"

After giving everyone on the dais a hug, Kay said in brief remarks that she and Joe were "truly grateful and blessed to share this journey with you."

"We may not remember the names but may we always remember the love," she said. "Love for what we do, love for those we do it with, and love for those we do it for: the citizens of this great city."

How to lobby City Council

Yesterday City Council narrowly voted to allow customers of Wheatsville on S. Lamar to consume alcohol on-site. The grocery co-op had to seek a waiver from a rule that prohibits serving alcohol within 300 feet of a school. The store happens to be within that range of the Ann Richards School.

Wheatsville offered a case study in effective lobbying to win the day, just as a month earlier another business making the same request, Torchy's on S. Congress, was the poster child of bad lobbying.

What did Wheatsville do right?