Mazel! Austin's Jewish 'Hood Becomes Official !! (house, gated, live in)

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

No, it should not be officially renamed. The community, of course, can call it whatever they want.

Same goes for Manchaca, Menchaca, Manshack,.... whatever.....

[FueledByBlueBell]

Could someone explain what is happening with the the wiring of the electric poles?

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by FueledByBlueBell

Could someone explain what is happening with the the wiring of the electric poles?

Yeah, this.

I'm just puzzled about the City of Austin's involvement, really.

If the area is not being renamed, and there aren't going to be official "signs", and all it means is that members of the Jewish community who live there can walk around in that area on their sabbath without violating religious strictures, and the City of Austin is being asked to do nothing to recognize it in an official capacity and not to spend city funds on it, I've got no problem with it.

[Trainwreck20]

Could someone explain what is happening with the the wiring of the electric poles?

It sounds like the utility wires end at one side of a pole, and then start up separately on the other side - or something like that that causes the wire to be non-continuous. Anyway, the city has to approve changes that will put a 'placebo' wire across the tops of those poles, so the upper 'boundary' will be unbroken. The city is essentially approving technically unnecessary changes to utility poles, which to me is fine as long as there are no performance or safety issues.

[TexasHorseLady]

And are we paying for it with tax moneys? That's the slippery slope that I'm concerned about, no matter what the religion, given the current political climate.

[Trainwreck20]

No, no tax money....the cost is being covered by donations or whatever.

Any costs to do such installation with be paid for with private monies, according to Jay Rubin, CEO of the Jewish Community Center.

[FueledByBlueBell]

So the wires need to be non-continuous? Still confused.

[TexasHorseLady]

Okay, well, if they're paying for it, there's no official City of Austin recognition, and it impacts no one but their congregation, doesn't bother me one bit. More power to 'em.

[Trainwreck20]

So the wires need to be non-continuous? Still confused.

No, they need to be continuous, but are not; therefore the city is agreeing to make them continuous as long as the cost is covered by private entities.

[Becca123]

There is an eruv up in the town where I am currently living. Moving to Austin in a few weeks. But, no one will notice the eruv. You look up and its hard to tell which is the eruv and which are the phone wires. It will just mean seeing more observant Jews walking on Saturdays.