Right Field U-Hauls/Busses

ah yes, the neighbors who we've cordially invited over for beer and crawfish boils.. i'm sure they really hate us.

the noise complaint is just silly. 10 guys on a bus. three buses. 30 guys... and then a whole ******* stadium of fans. like the bus guys really make it that much louder.

as far as the ambulance to the softball field. there is NO problem getting down comal street. that is EASY!...

HOWEVER, there is a HUGE problem with getting down E 20th Street (along the softball field's first base side).. the same side where an ambulance would make it's way onto McCombs Field if it was needed.

and at the same time, i've seen team buses make their way down that road with cars packed on both sides. it isn't pretty, but they do it. and they also make the turn onto Comal with at least 5-10 feet of room before hitting one of our parked buses.

so i think there is a lil misinformation in regards to the emergency vehicle access issue.


i admit i've heard cussing, but it is minimal. and when people get obnoxious and drunk they're asked to leave. it has happened, but not much. i know of one guy to fall down and he was climbing the ladder. the idiot did it twice in a row. he wasn't even a few feet up the ladder.


opposing fans love us... opposing players who get thrown out of the game love us. ask the two mizzou guys we tried to persuade to have a beer with us but chickened out. we welcome them to Austin as they first arrive and walk around the outfield wall. we show them where their practice balls went out of the park...

the right fielders have a blast with us. we get in some of their heads and they get made, flick us off, curse.... but when its all over there is always a wave. from both sides.
 
there is a simple enough answer to this. just get parking passes and park in left field like we do!
Pike
 
I emailed the mayor to bring his attention to this issue and ask for a public forum at which Longhorn fans could be heard. This was his response:

Your e-mail below was forwarded to me for a response. I would like to encourage you to use the General Citizen's Communication portion of a Council meeting to express your views to the entire Council. The following are the rules for citizen communication. This is a popular portion of each Council meeting so the 10 slots fill quickly. If you are interested, the next available meeting is February 14 and the signup begins at 9 a.m. this Thursday. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

General Citizen Communication

A maximum of 10 individuals may address Council for three minutes on topics of their choice, not necessarily related to the agenda items, during the general citizen communication portion of the meeting. Citizen communication is scheduled for 12:00 noon. A person who intends to speak during Citizen Communication must register in advance with the Office of the City Clerk.

The registration period for a given meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. 14 days before the meeting and ends at 4:30 p.m. the following Thursday or when 10 citizens have signed up to speak -- whichever comes first. Speakers are listed in the agenda in the order in which their registrations were received.

Registration can be done by fax (974-2374), phone (974-2210), e-mail [email protected] or in person in the Office of the City Clerk, Suite 1120, City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street, between Lavaca and Cesar Chavez Streets, by providing the following information: meeting date, name, address (including zip code), telephone number, and topic. A confirmation e-mail or fax will be sent along with your speaker number.
 
As another owner of the right field hardware, I want to commend the general outrage on this thread. But outrage only gets us so far. I recall several similar threads a few years ago when the legislature decided to let the powers that be charge us all for tailgate parking downtown. Everyone huffed and puffed, and John Kelso wrote a scathing editorial, and last I checked I still shell out $5/spot/day every Friday afternoon before a home game. A few posters have already started acting, but we're going to need more if we want results.

I'd like to suggest two courses of action. First, we need to contact the AAD for baseball, not Deloss Dodds. He's the figurehead, but he's not going to take time to help us. Even if he did, he'd just tell the AAD to do it. At my job I can't really spend much time on the phone, so if someone else can contact the AD's office, ask who is oversees baseball operations, and get a phone number for the rest of us to call, it would be great. Post the phone number, and everyone who can should flood the guy's voicemail with pleas that he contact UTPD or APD and tell them UT is against the no-parking. If dozens of people all call the same person, I think we'll have a good chance of winning over a champion at the athletics department.

Second, if the athletics department doesn't have enough clout to call off UTPD, then we will have to go to the City Council. Following up on the prior posts, I drafted a shell of an email requesting time at the next meeting. We request a time slot beginning at 9:00 tomorrow, so I suggest that everyone copy the following text into an email, fill it out, and send the request at 9:00 tomorrow. One of us is bound to get a spot. From there we'll have two weeks to create and assemble testimonials, even solicit the endorsement of the athletics department, and we can show up, drop a bunch paper on the council, address each of the reasons the APD has given us for their action, and implore the Council to direct the APD to take down the signs. Here's suggested text, just fill in your name, address, etc., and click send at 9:00 tomorrow.

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to request time to address the City Council during the February 14 General Citizen’s Communication regarding the topic of the newly restricted parking along Comal Street near the UT baseball field.

Here is the necessary information required to make the request:
Meeting Date: February 14, 2008
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Topic: No-parking zone on Comal St.

Regards,
<name>
 
I agree with this approach. I also am looking to talk with the UTPD's liason in the APD, a guy named Sheldon Salisbury. I want to hear the APD side of this.

From what I've heard thus far, this was all done unilaterally by a few people in the UTPD and the APD. I think the city just rubber stamped the APD's recomendations. Based on that, and assuming/praying that we can get the athletic dept on our side, I think this fight is winnable.

But I also agree that we need action from people. The powers at be need to know that the UT community does not agree with this action and will not tolerate it. Words on a message board alone will not cut it.
 
Maybe DeLoss' sr. associate athletic director can help us. From his title, it appears he is an attorney.


Name: James G Worley
E-mail: [email protected]
Title: Sr Assoc Athletic Dir, JD
College/Department: Intercollegiate Athletics
Office Phone: +1 512 471 7084
 
I just received an email from Jim Baker, Assistant Athletic Director in charge of events for men's athletics. Basically, we are on our own against the city. Here is what he said:
I appreciate your e-mail and I have talked with our Chief about it. I told him that we have no dog in this fight since we have no ownership with tickets or own the street. This is strictly a city decision and you need to work it out with them. I’m aware of his concerns and his officers with the busses and potential problems they can and may or may not have caused. Sorry we can not be of any help.

Here is my reply:

I appreciate your response and we will take it up with the city. I have to disagree with one point. While it is true the final say came from the city (they put up the signs). This all started with Chief Dahlstrom's discussions with the APD and inaccurate reporting of the conditions on Comal. The University of Texas Police Department started this ball rolling and did so in an inaccurate and reflexive manner. As an alumni and proud supporter of the University, I think that is a sad thing.

I apologize for any inconvenience this issue causes you, your staff, or anyone affiliated with Texas baseball. It is unfortunate that we all have to deal with this immediately prior to what hopes to be a very successful baseball season. I believe this situation could have been handled much better with a little communication.

Yet, I still believe a mutually beneficial solution can be reached among the bus owners and the parties with complaints or concerns. I will strive to reach that solution so Texas' most loyal fans can continue to root on their favorite team as they have for decades.



Baker copied Deloss on his email, I added Powers to mine. Even if the athletic department wants to be neutral, the administration should know about the problems that the UTPD has caused.

OK, guys. We need to fight city hall. So all of you with connections to anybody in city government. Now is the time.
 
You're saying the signs have been up...for a long time? or were put up recently?

My contact says they only paint curbs if signs have already been in place and parking problems are still an issue. My contact has a little discretion in these matters, but has minions bringing these issues to the table.

Also, if this were truly an Emergency Vehicle issue, typically a Fire Lane (red curb) is established.

Weird.

...and if it's "i before e except after c", then why is weird spelled the way it is?

Weird.
 
The signs have been up for 3-4 months. They've been moved around due to construction. They have held off on enforcement because the only concern is parking during baseball season. Guess what starts up this month? That's right, baseball season.

I'm curious as to the lengths they will go to enforce the no parking. How hard is it to tow a bus?
 
I don't know, but I wouldn't mess with a tow truck driver ... or a Jedi. I believe you'd get your *** kicked.
 
To update the situation, we have gotten a spot to address the City Council. We'll have three minutes, and I'm not sure the exact time, but I would like to encourage, even beg, everyone who has an interest here to plan to attend the meeting. You won't have to do much, and it will probably be pretty anti-climactic, but the more people in the audience we can point to in support of our position the better.

We only have three minutes, so the plan right now is to stand up, briefly summarize what has happened, tell the council that we contacted APD and were given the following reasons for their action, then address why each of those reasons is ill-founded or misleading.

This is where I'd like some input. As I understand it, the reasons they gave were safety, noise complaints, and needing a right of way for emergency vehicles. As for safety, we will offer them photos to illustrate that every vehicle out there has a safety rail, and assert that there has not been an injury, reported or actual, in the last eight years. There is no safety risk.

With regard to the noise complaints, we can attack this by asserting that there is no city ordinance preventing noise during the hours of the day that the game is played, and the small noise created by the fans in the outfield certainly does not overwhelm the noise generated in the stadium itself.

And as for the emergency vehicle right of way, we will point to city ordinances that require that for any street usage, the city demands a 15 foot clear path be preserved. Even with cars parked on both sides of the street that much space remains.

We'll conclude with testimonials from citizens about how the fans and team love and treasure this unique aspect of the Disch, and that given that there is no legitimate reason to stop it, the council should direct APD to continue to allow the public this fair use of the streets.

If anyone has something to add, suggestions are welcome. Specifically I'd like to solicit testimonials from baseball players/staff. I don't know if anyone who reads this can get testimonials from people like that, but I think the more people who carry some name recognition who we can get to sign a statement, or even just offer us a quote, the better a chance we'll have to persuade the council to act in our favor.

I will post more details as I get them, several of us are meeting to discuss a plan of action tonight, but in the meantime, anyone who can, call people of influence and get a quote.
 
Keep me posted on details Chaser. My girlfriend and I have been watching ball games from the buses for 2 years, and would love to help.
 
chaser, keep us updated on a time. i'll round up the troops.

hookem.gif
 
Thanks for setting this up! I'm going to try to make it in from Houston depending on what work looks like. I just worry that this is a glorified sounding board or citizen ***** session. But it is the best we got right now.

In the meantime, I'm still trying to track down the number of Sheldon Salisbury or Stansbury, the UT liason at APD. He's the one that requested the signs. I want to hear his story on the neighberhood complaints and I want to see the actual complaints. I asked our friend, the Chief of UTPD, for the guy's number but he hasn't responded. I'm really not shocked that he does not want to help us. After all, the gist of our argument is that he was and is an *** and was factually wrong in his assertions.

I know we had some posters say they know people in the right of way, street and sign, parking, whatever it is called department. The information we really need is who gave the final approval, i.e. rubber stamped the APD request, and whether there is a system for reversal or appeal. I've been banging my head against the wall trying to read Austin City code and ordinances and have not found it, but I'll keep looking. I know that no law is set in stone, especially parking laws.

It is important to find this info out because I'm worried that even if we give the most masterful piece of three minute oratory ever and leave everyone in tears, the city council may just not pay attention at these monthly citizen gripe sessions. Or they will "take it under advisement" and sit on their hands forever.

Just thinking out loud and trying to make sure all our bases are covered. Thanks again for all the support. I really hope we can make this happen.
 
I don't really have a dog in this hunt... BUT...

In the 20+ years I've been going to the games I've NEVER seen an accident like someone falling off the bus. I have however seen numerous extremely drunk and disorderly people on these buses and Uhauls and more of the same milling around them. I've also personally seen and heard WAY inappropriate language coming from folks on some of these vehicles directed at players on the field and fans before and after games. This type of behavior never helps keep (or get) UT or COA officials on "our" side.

My guess is that this issue is being caused by the fact that these buses are being parked there 365 days a year now and not just for game days or the days immediately prior to game days. While I understand that the spots are limited and getting one has gotten more and more competitive, surely most (at least many) of you would agree that these vehicles are eyesores the other 330 days a year.
 
FWIW UTPD Chief Dahlstrom is a former APD officer so I am sure he would know where to get stings pulled if needed. I know Sheldon Sailsbury and will see if I can find a contact number for him.

I used to sit out on Hal's School bus and dont ever recall any person falling off a bus, fight, or anything. Of course fighting city hall is always a uphill battle
catfight.gif
 
I've seen drunk and inappropiate behavior at every football tailgate I've ever been to as well. I guess we should ban tailgating because some people don't know how to act responsibly. And nobody has ever used inappropriate language inside Dish-Falk.

I assure you that the people who own the buses know that they have/had a good thing going. Tremendous efforts have gone on to police individual actions. If someone does something inappropriate they are told to shut up or leave. And that has led to ZERO incident reports or police reports coming from the people in right field for the three years I have been there.

Punishing the current people in right field for what happened years ago is asinine and unfair.
 
InRightField... I'm not arguing the point that you're attempting to make. However, you don't make a point countering what I believe was my main point about the buses being parked their year round.

Again, I'm not opposed to the tradition. I think it's always been kind of cool to have this added level of fan participation. However, with that said, I don't think you (or anyone) has the God given right to be on that street watching a game for free.

Plus, UT COULD be a bit PO'ed that some buses are charging admission and simply trying to get some of those fans inside the stadium.

Just food for thought...
 
I appreciate you ignoring my point, so we are equal. I'll happily address your point about the buses. First, the buses are not there year round. They are usually parked there a month or two prior to the season and removed after the season is over. I'd say 6 months. Second, check the law, there is nothing illegal about leaving an operable, properly tagged, registered and inspected vehicle (under 9,000 lbs, which our bus is) in a legal parking place indefinetly. Third, UT owns all of that property. I doubt they are worried about property values considering they want to develop it all themselves. Fourth, have you ever seen the Texas Sports Bus? It is more asthetically pleasing and worth more than most of the homes in that neighberhood.

As for the admissions thing, if paying money to watch the games were what this is about, I assure you each bus owner would gladly pay any fee the University wanted to charge. Send a UT person out in the middle of a game and charge for tickets for all I care. Also, people do not charge for admission to their buses. One bus asks for donations because the owner spent a ton of money building it with his own hands. The others let just about anyone, including opposing fans, come up to enjoy the games.

And, sorry, I do have a God given LEGAL right to sit upon my vehicle, legally parked on a public street. And I also have the right to petition my government and protest when they try to enforce a stupid law.

I don't want to argue, but when you try to rationalize something which is so clearly wrong I have to respond.
 
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40...I hear you. It's just like all of those freeloaders that stand along the left field fence at the women's softball games.

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Didn't someone mention that Tommy's son is part owner of one of the buses, or something to that effect? Seems he would be a good source for soliciting high-powered quotes from within the program.

Best of luck in this battle, ladies and gentlemen. For what it's worth, I think the right field buses at the Disch have become an institution for college baseball in the state. When I think about college baseball fans in Texas, I think about the Tech Hecklers, the upper deck student section at A&M, and the wild bunch/UHaul trucks at Disch-Falk.

Hope you guys can pull it off!
 
I hate to suggest a simple solution, but it seems to me that a parking ticket would probably be between $20 and $50. Why not just add that to the cost of the tailgate and ask your attendees to chip in and pay for the ticket? I agree it's a pain in the ***, but sometimes the dedicated tailgater has to adapt and overcome.
 
harmons son is not part owner of one of these buses...that is an incorrect statement. so that option of pulling strings doesnt exist
 
and a parking ticket is not an option that has been presented...the only option is for them to tow a bus to their tow yard at our expense. If tickets were an option we would all pitch in to pay them.
 
It seems to me that you should then just keep the engine idling and idle forward a bit anytime you see a cop. Seriously, adapt and overcome.
 
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