The Wheel Squeeked Loudly Enough

There was a meeting at two this afternoon between LCRA, neighborhood leaders, Todd Baxter, someone from Sen. Barrientos' office and some other utility-related government officials. Lo and behold, the meeting was short and LCRA relented. They agreed for now to trim the trees as they had in the past (8-10' away from the lines) and to set up meetings with a neighborhood committee to discus future plans for the lines.

We learned this news at a 6:30 meeting in the park where there were many cheers and quite a bit of champagne (probably in violation of park rules). So it turns out that the squeeky wheel actually does get the oil. I'm sure it didn't hurt that our representative is on the committe that regulates utilites.

So thank you Tom, Danny, Jamie, Maria, Cathy, Ilona and all those other people that put so much effort into saving the trees. Thank you LCRA for changing your mind and listening to us. Thanks to the media that publicized the issue, including the Austin Chronicle, News 8 and KVUE. No thanks to the Austin American Statesman and KTBC where were conspicuously not interested. Corporate toadies, both of them.