President's Letter

Fall 2016 Newsletter

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

In the coming days we will face two very important decisions. Thesedecisions will both take place on November 8 (early voting is October 24– November 4). At the top of the ballot will of course be the choices forU.S. President. At the bottom of the ballot will be Austin’s $720 milliontransportation bond proposal, Proposition 1.

Supporters of the proposition, led by Mayor Steve Adler explain that the proposal, an eight-yearplan which is the largest in the City’s history has three components: 1) $482 million to pay forwork on major Austin streets, including traffic signal improvements, bike lanes, sidewalks, centermedians, transit changes and streetscape beautification. Those streets are East Martin LutherKing, Burnet Road, East Riverside Drive, Airport Boulevard, Guadalupe Street and North andSouth Lamar. The primary recommendations for South Lamar, the closest corridor to ourneighborhood include removing the center turn lane and installing a landscaped median, twotravel lanes for cars in each direction, a bike lane on each side divided from the car lanes by acurb or another landscaped median, and wide sidewalks divided from the bike lanes; 2) $137million for bikeways, trails, sidewalks and street repairs citywide, and 3) $101 million forexpansions of major roads in West and Northwestern Austin. Those roads include Loop 360, FM2222, Lakewood Drive, Spicewood Springs Road, Anderson Mill Road and Parmer Lane.Supporters further state that Austin must address its transportation problems with a largeproposition that is big enough to address the terrible transportation congestion within our City.The city has created a website that will calculate the increase in property taxes eachhomeowner can expect to pay under the new bond (http://www.austintexas.gov/page/2016-bond-financial-and-tax-impact).

Opponents of the proposition, led by Roger Falk of the Travis County Taxpayer’s Unioncounter that the bond proposal is no traffic congestion fix. They argue that the bond envisions room for everything exceptcars. Opponents also reject the increase in tax figures provided by the City. Councilmember Ora Houston believes thatthe bond resulted from a closed process orchestrated by a number of business, development and enthusiastic interestgroups, rather than the community and the entire Austin City Council. A further argument of opponents is that theproposition will actually limit mobility by reducing turn lanes, erecting center medians, and closing certain curb cuts.

A gondola system is also being considered by The Central Texas Regional MobilityAuthority, The City of Austin and Capital Metro. The proposed 8-mile gondola linewould run above South First, from Slaughter Lane to Guadalupe and Martin LutherKing Jr. Boulevard. The 10-person gondolas would be suspended on cantilevers frompoles planted in the existing city right of way, or from U-shaped structures extending overthe street. The system would run 19 hours every day on short intervals, with a minuteand a half or less wait time between each “climate-controlled” gondola.It’s an exciting time to be living in Galindo!

Best to All,Susan Littleton, GENA President

2016 OfficersPresident

Susan Littleton

Vice PresidentKathryn Kawazoe

SecretaryAlexis Francois

TreasurerBob Price

SCC RepresentativePatty Sprinkle

ANC RepresentativePatty Sprinkle

ZoningMarshall Davis

CommunicationsRob Albertson

Upcoming Events:GENA Meeting /

Post-Election PizzaSocial,

Monday, Nov 14th,South Austin RecCenter, 7pm

*SundayfundaymasBuild-A-Bike, Dec18th, ABGB, 1pm

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Bluebonnet StudiosRob Albertson, CommunicationsAiming to help tackle rising rents in central Austin, Galindo-based non-profit Foundation Communities is set to open their22nd affordable housing community at South Lamar'sBluebonnet Studios. Designed by Forge Craft Architects, incollaboration with Dick Clark & Associates, the building isconstructed with green-building principles and designed suchthat the 107 units surround a central courtyard.

The apartments will be available for those earning less than$27,000 per year. Each unit comes furnished with all utilitiespaid, and rent prices will range from $400-$700. Of the 107units, 22 of the apartments are reserved for the area’s homeless and low income veterans, while five units are dedicatedto local musicians. There will also be on-site support services such as educational programs, financial stability programs,

and community support - including access to the food pantrythrough the Central Texas Food Bank. Bluebonnet Studios islocated at 2301 S. Lamar Boulevard.

Foundation Communities is a local, homegrown nonprofit. Theyprovide affordable, attractive homes and free on-site supportservices for thousands of families with kids, as well as veterans,seniors, and individuals with disabilities. They offer an innovative,proven model that empowers their residents and neighbors toachieve educational success, financial stability, and healthierlifestyles. They own and operate 22 communities all over Austin andin North Texas.

For more information on Foundation Communities and how you candonate or volunteer, please visit www.foundcom.org

We WANT (okay, need) You!Our next meeting on Nov 14th will help shape the Galindo neighborhood for 2017 with our annual officer elections...andwe need you! All positions will be up for election. We will take nominations from the floor, in addition to the recommendedslate from the nominating committee. But those wishing to be an officer must be an official (paying) member in goodstanding - and must be a member at least 10 days before elections...so join GENA today!

Join GENA!Bob Price, TreasurerGENA is the recognized representative association for theneighborhood receiving this newsletter. So if you’re gettingthis newsletter, you live in GENA boundaries, and GENAexists to represent YOU! The best way for GENA to makesure it represents all the various viewpoints of neighbors isfor all of those neighbors to get involved. We have meetingsevery other month on third Mondays. The next will beNovember 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the South Austin Rec.Center. Come meet some neighbors! (Yes, that’s thesecond Monday, not the third – we’re trying not to conflictwith neighbors’ Thanksgiving plans.)

One way to participate is by joining the association as adues paying member, which makes you eligible to vote atGENA meetings on Association business and issues.Annual member dues are only $20 per household. Dues areGENA’s only regular source of funds. You are eligible to joinif you live within the area bounded by Oltorf, South First,Ben White, and the Union Pacific Railway. We’re nearingthe end of 2016, so you can pay $20 now and be current inyour membership from the date of payment through the endof 2017 – such a deal! The quick and easy way to payannual dues is online, via the “membership” button at ourwebsite, www.gena.org. Alternately, you can bring cash or acheck to a general meeting.

Whether you’ve been here forever or are a new resident, Ihope you’ll get involved or stay involved with yourneighborhood association.

Galindo Neighborhood Association

PO Box 41232

Austin, TX 78704

Sidewalk Project Approved!Kathryn Kawazoe, Vice PresidentThe City of Austin has approved GENA’s NeighborhoodPartnering Program application. Using funds remainingfrom the donation by the Denizen’s developers toimprove traffic issues on streets adjacent to thatdevelopment, we now have a matching grant/cost-shareto fill in the missing sidewalk along the east side of S.5th St. The new sidewalk will be installed by the Citybetween Cumberland and Juanita and will allow saferpedestrian circulation along the busiest street in theneighborhood. This portion of the sidewalk will servepedestrians walking along S. 5th to/from Oltorf andBarton Springs Rd., South Austin Park (including thetennis center and the rec. center), and the 4 adjacentbus stops. The other portion of the donation was usedsimilarly a few years ago for the sidewalk along the westside of S. 5th St. to the north of the Denizen (around toBarton Skyway).

GENA will meet part of the required 30% neighborhoodportion of the cost with park work days, when neighbors’volunteer hours will count towards the sidewalk project.Stay tuned to the GENA yahoogroup for info on theseevents.

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ROB ALBERTSONREALTOR®

South Austin Specialist

512.653.8939robalbertson@realtyaustin.com

15 YEAR GALINDO RESIDENT10 YEARS IN REAL ESTATE

Since 2014 I’ve sold 27 properties in South Austin,

and a third of those were in Galindo.

galindo neighborhood

Call Rob 512.653.8939 for your FREE Galindo home valuation.

Rely on

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Join the Galindo Conversation!The Yahoo Group is GENA's official email notificationplatform and is open to ALL residents. Get info on

garage sales, crimewatch, elections, parks, city eventsand much more. To subscribe, please visit: https://

groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/GalindoNeighborhood/info

Also join the Galindo Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GalindoNA/

The purpose of the Galindo Neighborhood Association is to seek to improve the quality of life in theneighborhood in matters such as land use, traffic control, social functions, environmental protection, public

services, and other matters of neighborhood concern.

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If you see a newsletter delivered to a vacant home, please remove it so that it doesn't invite the wrong attention.And please recycle when you are finished reading.

Galindo Featured Neighbor:Ruby Roa by Susan Littleton, PresidentWhen did you first move into Galindo Neighborhood?

Ruby Roa: I moved into the Galindo neighborhood in 1987having purchased a home on Terrell Hill Drive from Mr. andMrs. Leo Holden.

What are your first memories about the area?

Ruby Roa: This was an old neighborhood with beautiful bigoak and pecan trees. From the hill I live on, I could see thedowntown skyline and, to the east, the St. Edward’sUniversity campus.

Describe some of your neighbors who lived around youwhen you first moved to Galindo?

Ruby Roa: My neighbors were mostly young single peopleand married couples. It was important to everyone to keepa beautiful lawn. The Holden’s who still lived in theneighborhood were friendly, great neighbors as was Mrs.Margarite Murphy, next door. Mrs. Murphy told me that thehouse (my current residence) was available and for saleback in 1987. We would all gettogether with her family on a weeklybasis. They’re gone now but the newneighbors are there when help isneeded. Busy times mean we mostlyjust wave at one another.

You worked for Austin Energy formany years. Describe your time atthat position.

Ruby Roa: I worked for the City ofAustin for 27 years and retired fromAustin Energy 16 years ago. I startedas a clerk answering the phone forutility customers wanting servicesturned on or off. I progressed fromservice representative to billingsupervisor, then manager of theRosewood Zaragoza Branch. I helpeddevelop a pilot program for electronicmeter reading and one to collect baddebts. During our billing systemconversion, I was responsible for hiringtemporary employees to supplement regular staff.

At one point during my tenure, I organized over 70 people tojoin the American Federation of State, County and MunicipalEmployees (AFSCME union), in order to win job upgradesfor workers who were not being equitably paid. Picketing forrecognition of grievances was my favorite part of that effort.I also enjoyed organizing fiestas for Cinco de Mayo,

Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas parties for employees.The most important thing I learned working for Austin Energywas to be persistent and to ask the question, “Why?”

You were named the Austin American Statesman 2012Volunteer of the Year. What volunteer work are youmost proud of?

Ruby Roa: In 2012 the Austin American Statesman gaveme the Volunteer of the Year Award for the work I begandoing upon retirement. It seemed to begin in earnest when Ivisited an elderly lady on behalf of our church. This womanwho lived one block east of IH35 had not eaten in three daysnor taken her medication for two weeks. When I went intothe kitchen to heat her a can of soup, I saw there was nokitchen floor, only dirt. This made me so very sad but, mostof all, it made we really angry. I couldn’t believe that acitizen lived in such substandard housing so close to theCapitol of the State of Texas. I organized volunteers fromour congregation to build her a floor.

That was the beginning of my recruiting others from thechurch and later from Austin Interfaith congregations tocorrect societal wrongs. I believe that NOBODY in this city,

state or country should be living insubstandard housing. This experienceand the memories of stories my mothershared with me about growing up pooron a farm south of San Antonio mademe realize that there are still manypeople who struggle to live withoutbasic needs. Since then I have tried todo what I can to be a voice for thepoor, to educate families about theirrights, and to teach citizens andtenants to ask “Why?” In volunteering,I am guided by the Austin IndustrialFoundation’s “Iron Rule” of organizing:“Never do for others what they can dofor themselves.” The aim is to teachand empower others to do forthemselves. We must not lose sight ofour neighbors, especially those whohave basic needs. In these volunteerefforts, I am thankful for learning fromand supporting Austin Interfaith, TexasLow Income Housing Information

Services, and the charitable arms of San Jose CatholicChurch. Since being retired, I have also served terms on theElectric Utility Commission and the Austin Housing Authority.

What do you enjoy the most about Galindo?

Ruby Roa: I love our central location so near everything andthe surviving core of homes built in the 40’s and 50’s.

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And if you also didn’t already know, you’ll be delighted tohear that we have two Pokestops in the park, where you cancollect free virtual provisions for the game on your phone.There is also an active Pokegym on the Salvation Armysidewalk, where players can have their pokemon go head tohead in contests. At the exact time of this writing, it looks likethe most powerful pokemon in that gym is some kind ofbipedal four-head pineapple creature. It’s all very interesting.

Meanwhile, it’s still perfectly fine just to go for a nice simplewalk in the park. Bring your dog! But please do rememberthat our park is not an “off leash” park, and you should pickup after your pooch. See below for the City of AustinOrdinance.

As for me, after a catastrophic water landing, the drone iscurrently grounded, and I may next be seen in the park flyinga Delta Super Bat kite like the one I had when I was a kid.

(A)Except as provided in Section 3-4-4 ( Public Areas WhereRestraint of a Dog is Not Required ), an owner or handler ofa dog shall keep the dog under restraint.

(B) A person holding a dog on a leash or lead shall keep thedog under control at all times.

Source: 1992 Code Section 3-3-2(A) and (B); Ord. 031009-9; Ord.031211-11.

South Austin ParkBob Price, TreasurerWe are lucky to have a nice big city park, South Austin Park,right in the middle of our neighborhood. In addition to theSouth Austin Rec Center and the Tennis Center located onthis big parcel, the park also provides a lot of plain old openand shady green space. The park may be bigger than yourealized; about a third of its area is to the west of the reccenter, continuing all the way to West Bouldin Creek. Overthe years, different outdoor activities have come in and outof style, and our park has been available for them all.

Recently I found myself with my wife and my 68 year oldmother in the park, strolling across the big lawn along S. 5thstreet. While I flew my toy remote controlled quadcopterdrone over and around the trees, with impressive skill andprecision, the ladies played Pokemon GO. If you’ve seenpeople standing around in little groups in the park, staring attheir phones, they’re likely playing Pokemon GO. For a fewweeks there, everyone was ga ga for this game. If you’veseen people standing around in little groups in the park,staring at their phones, they’re likely playing Pokemon GO.For a few weeks there, everyone was ga ga for this game. Ifyou don’t already know, Pokemon GO is played on yoursmart phone by going to specific places around town andhaving your virtual beasties (pokemon) do virtual battle witheach other on your tiny phone screens.

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