opinion James S. Robbins Opinion columnist Published 10:00 p.m. UTC Aug 2, 2018 “Keep Austin Weird” is a longtime city motto. Now the challenge for Texans may be to keep Austin Austin. The Texas capital has been reviewing names of streets, parks and public buildings honoring major figures of the Confederacy. But last week the city’s Equity Office also suggested that a broader secondary review could encompass renaming anything honoring anyone with ties to slavery, including town namesake Stephen F. Austin. Austin, who died 25 years before the Civil War broke out, is remembered as the “Father of Texas” for establishing the first successful American settlements in 1825. Many places — cities, a county, colleges and schools — bear his name. But Austin promoted slavery in Texas and resisted abolition efforts by the Mexican government. The Equity Office considered it “within the spirit” of the anti-Dixie effort to … [Read more...] about Politically correct effort to rename Austin proves Donald Trump was right
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Austin, Texas considers renaming city over slavery ties
City leaders in Austin, Texas are weighing a proposal to change the city's name over its founder's pro-slavery stance. Austin's Equity Office included a suggestion to rename the city in a wide-ranging report about existing Confederate monuments. Among the sites recommended for change were Littlefield Street, named for Confederate Army Major George Littlefield; Sneed Cove, named for Sebron Sneed, Confederate provost marshal; and Confederate Avenue, a street located in a historically black neighborhood. The group also recommended that the city make a formal request to the Texas Historical Commission to remove any Confederate-related markers from city properties. Also listed as up for review was the city's name itself, as well as the Stephen F. Austin Drive and Stephen Austin Recreation Center. Known as the "Father of Texas," Austin is credited with bringing the first 300 American families to the territory. He later served as the Republic of Texas secretary of state under President … [Read more...] about Austin, Texas considers renaming city over slavery ties
A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty got to see his mother one last time
By Jerry McDonald | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: May 7, 2018 at 6:00 pm | UPDATED: May 7, 2018 at 6:28 pm OAKLAND — Stephen Piscotty took his usual place in the Athletics lineup Sunday, playing right field and going 0-for-3. Then, following a 2-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles, Piscotty went home to Pleasanton and said good bye to his mother for the last time. Gretchen Piscotty, 55, died less than a year after being diagnosed with ALS, a neuromuscular disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Stephen Piscotty, 27, wasn’t with the A’s Monday night for their series opener against the Houston Astros. A’s manager Bob Melvin said Piscotty may be with the team Tuesday. After that, there’s a possibility Piscotty could take a bereavement leave when the A’s depart after Wednesday’s game for a 10-game road trip to New York, Boston and Toronto. Melvin said he spoke with Piscotty “a little bit last … [Read more...] about A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty got to see his mother one last time
Oakland Athletics: Stephen Piscotty absent after mother’s death
OAKLAND — Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty is absent today at the Oakland Coliseum after the death of his mother, Gretchen, on Sunday night. The Stanford product and Pleasanton, Calif. native was by his mother’s side on Sunday night, as she passed from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. “As an organization, certainly the players, we have heavy hearts for him,”said manager Bob Melvin, who spoke with Piscotty late on Sunday night, and texted with him on Monday. “We know what he’s been going through, and he’s been going through it for quite a while now. We really feel bad for him. He’s really close with his mom.” In three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Piscotty hit .276 with 38 home runs and 163 RBIs. Last April, he signed a six-year, $33.75 million extension, but in December, Gretchen, 55, was diagnosed with ALS, and he requested a trade to be closer to her. The … [Read more...] about Oakland Athletics: Stephen Piscotty absent after mother’s death
A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty loses mom, less than year after her ALS diagnosis
The mother of Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty has died, less than a year after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease. Gretchen Piscotty died Sunday night from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the A's said Monday. She was diagnosed with ALS in May 2017 when her son was with St. Louis. The Cardinals traded him to Oakland in December in part to allow Piscotty to be closer to his home in the East Bay suburb of Pleasanton during his mother's terminal illness. The A's stressed they had targeted Piscotty beginning last July and were in search of a right-handed hitting outfielder. "The Athletics organization extends its deepest condolences to the Piscotty family on the loss of Gretchen," executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane said. "She was a devoted wife and mother, whose legacy will live on through her husband, Mike, and their sons Stephen, Austin and Nick." The A's planned to honor Gretch by pledging to match up to $50,000 in donations made to the ALS … [Read more...] about A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty loses mom, less than year after her ALS diagnosis