September 14, 2006 05:53 - Play it again, W
Commentary
By Bill Peterson
One of the current presidential administration's worst features is the lack of a really dead-on presidential impersonator. Here we come to the rescue.
Like Woody Allen seeking just the right supporting actor for "Play It Again, Sam," "Annie Hall," and "Stardust Memories," we've found him. Check here, here and here.
Unfortunately, Tony Roberts is plenty busy enough as president of Theatre Authority, an operation set up by entertainment unions to run benefit performances. One shouldn't suspect that he would want to play George W. Bush, anyway.
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September 14, 2006 05:56 - Good vibrations? Or good money gone bad?
Commentary
By Bill Peterson
KYLE – City councilmembers in Kyle still can't decide if they want to increase their property tax exemption for senior citizens from $6,000 to $30,000 or $40,000. But after councilmembers decided to put up $40,000 for a Beach Boys concert, you can't say they don't care about the elderly.
The increased tax exemption for the elderly would cost about half as much as the city is fronting for the concert promotion. And is it really worth $40,000 to bring in The Beach Boys, who've rested on very old laurels for such a long, long time? They haven't done a cool single since 1966. Two of the original members no longer are among the quick. The band that's been calling itself The Beach Boys since 1998 really is one original member, Mike Love, along with Bruce Johnston (Brian Wilson's first tour replacement) and a bunch of other guys.
Being fair, the expenditure wasn't a slam-dunk, passing the council only 4-3, with Mike Moore, Linda Tenorio and Todd Webster in opposition. Mayor Miguel Gonzalez argued that the "Thunderpalooza" event, to be held Nov. 3-4 at Thunder Hill Raceway, is a perfectly good way to spend hotel tax money, which is supposed to promote tourism.
Concert promoters expect 25,000 to attend the event, which will headline Eddie Money the first day and The Beach Boys on the second. Tickets cost $60 for each day. Among the performers will be The Edgar Winter Band, Rick Derringer, Mark Farner and Jessie Colin Young.
And maybe we shouldn't scoff, anyway. In June, the major surviving members of the Beach Boys united atop the Capital Records building in Hollywood to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Pet Sounds and the double-platinum certification of a greatest hits compilation, Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of the Beach Boys. On that occasion, Mike Love and Brian Wilson both indicated that the survivors might perform together in the future.
What if it happens in Kyle? In that case, $40,000 for all the publicity and good vibrations, as it were, would be a bargain.
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September 14, 2006 05:59 - Sophisticated suspects
Commentary
By Bill Peterson
SAN MARCOS – Another mark of growing sophistication in Hays County has been struck with the commissioners court's decision to hand $50,000 to the district attorney for outside help in the prosecution of campaign fraud.
In the past, the office of Hays County District Attorney Mike Wenk has been quite well-enough equipped to handle petty crooks like shoplifters and pot dealers, or help the attorney general frame sexual predators at fast food restaurants on the highway. But now the office needs more help because it's up against sophisticated suspects – politicians.
The DA needs a little outside help to investigate allegations of fraud in a bid to set up an Austin Community College (ACC) campus in San Marcos, followed by the Kyle Klips matter. So, the commissioners are coughing up $50,000 from their legal expense funds so the DA can hire experts.
County prosecutor Wesley Mau has confirmed in two reports that he's looking into Kyle Klips, the anonymous campaign flyer urging voters to remove Todd Webster from the Kyle City Council this past spring. Mau hasn't said how deep the investigation will run, but Kyle officials have turned over the results of their own investigation.
The larger problem, evidently, stems from 60 affidavits alleging signature falsification on the petition to put ACC on the ballot in San Marcos. ACC officials later called off the March election. The episode caused state representative Patrick Rose to sever ties with his long-time political consultant, Mark Littlefield, who led the petition drive in San Marcos.
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