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Austin cuts $95 million from

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its budget, shrinking funds to

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parks, homelessness services and

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more after the fallout from Prop

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Q. Find out how those cuts affect

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you. And for folks in Sandy Creek,

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efforts to clean up after the July

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4th floods are still ongoing.

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We'll hear about ways you

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can help.

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Plus art groups seeking affordable

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studio space find

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sanctuary in a downtown Austin

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church.

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We've got more on how they secured

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the space and what that means for

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the Austin arts community.

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Coming up.

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The Austin Signal is a production of

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KUT News, hosted by Miles

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Bloxson.

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And Jason Miller brings us this week

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in Texas Music History.

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That's next on Austin Signal.

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Hi there Austin.

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It is Friday, November 21st.

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Finally Friday.

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I know what you're thinking.

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The weekend is almost here.

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I'm Miles Bloxson.

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This is the Austin Signal and thanks

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so much for joining us here today.

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A quick headline to start, the

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Austin Independent School District

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Board of Trustees early this

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morning approved a plan to

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close 10 schools and relocate dual

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language programs.

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The move is expected to help the

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district generate more than $20

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million, eliminating its

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19.7 million dollar

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budget deficit.

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Superintendent Matias Segura

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says the district will discuss

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in the spring another plan to close

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more schools and redraw attendance

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boundaries.

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That plan could be voted on next

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fall.

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The AISD board also voted

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to approve turnaround plans for

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12 campuses that receive three

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consecutive failing or unacceptable

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grades from the state.

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You can find more on that plan at

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KUT.org.

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The city of Austin cut $95

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million from its budget last night

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during its city council meeting.

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The cuts happened after Prop Q

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failed to pass this past election.

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Prop Q would have raised property

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taxes to generate $110

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million in additional funds for

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the city.

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The original budget passed by city

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council in August had already

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factored those funds into the new

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budget. So with voters rejecting

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Prop Q, cuts to the budget

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had to be made.

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The breakdown where the cuts were

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made, We have City Council reporter,

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Luz Moreno-Lazano here

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joining us.

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Luz, great to talk with you.

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Hi, Miles.

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So with City Council initially

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factoring this $110 million

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into their budget before it was

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approved by voters, this feels a

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little like counting your eggs

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before they hatch, shall we say?

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Is this normally how things are done

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when it comes to the budget?

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What is normal, you

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know, like what is normal anymore?

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You know, typically the city council

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does adopt a budget and a

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tax rate to support that budget.

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And in it, they build things like,

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you now, they put in money for

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police and fire and

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parks and libraries.

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And yes, this time around, they knew

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that they wanted to do more

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with some of the money and they had

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to ask voters to do it.

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So.

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You know, depending on,

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you know, what the city council is

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trying to do that particular year,

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normally the tax rate is large

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enough. Now, you now, things are a

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little complicated this year with

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like the end of federal funding and

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property tax rate caps, and all of

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that has kind of factored into like

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a limited amount of revenue that the

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city was able to generate.

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Okay, and initially they had a

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plan for that $110 million,

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right? That's right, that's right.

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Yes, they had originally

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planned to cover a lot of things.

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One of the biggest chunks of it was

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to support homelessness services.

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They were gonna do shelters and

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rapid rehousing and permanent

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supportive housing and they had all

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of these plans to support

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homelessness.

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They were also focused on public

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safety and park improvements.

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And so all of that was part of this

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110 million.

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So now they cut 95 million.

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Is that all from where they had

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hoped to use those Prop Q dollars?

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Yeah, I think so.

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I think, you know, they, they kind

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of went through and were like, okay,

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we, we had plans for this 110

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million.

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We're gonna have to either slash all

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of it or figure out how to make

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things work and move them around and

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subtract from other areas to support

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some of their priorities.

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So they ended up slashing a

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95 million, they are moving

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some money over from their reserve

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fund, which is essentially like a

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city savings account to kind of help

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offset things but They made it very

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clear from the beginning that they

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had a couple of main focus areas

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and that included EMS

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services, making sure that they have

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enough to keep ambulances staffed.

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That included homelessness efforts

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and that was like, you know, it's

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not every piece of homelessness that

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they hoped, but it was some.

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And they wanted to have 24 hour

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coverage for people who are in

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mental health crisis and having

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people be able to respond to that.

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And so they were really focused on

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those main priorities and so they...

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Kind of came in and were like, this

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is how much money and what we need

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to do and what we need work

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with within the budget that we have.

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Where else were things cut-

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Yeah, you know, parks saw a pretty

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big cut. You know, part of the

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110 million was wanting to

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fund new staff to maintain

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parks and grounds maintenance.

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You know we've seen the city wanting

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to invest more in green spaces and

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we just don't have the staffing to

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maintain them.

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Originally they were hoping to fund

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60 new positions and now

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that has dwindled down to like 15.

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You know, some of the homelessness

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services that they were hoping to

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add on to included rapid rehousing

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and included bridge

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sheltering.

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So those kinds of things were all

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part of it.

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I think one of the other big things

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was like EMS in addition to

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staffing was also supposed to get

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new equipment and other things that

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were going to help them as you're

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trying to sustain and grow their

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department.

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And that was also part of some of

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cuts we saw yesterday.

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And how will this affect us folks

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living here in Austin?

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I mean, you named a number of things

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there, but.

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What are the big things?

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I think EMS is probably going to be

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the biggest one.

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And when you think about it, you

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don't think about EMS all the time,

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right? You're really only calling

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911 when there's an emergency,

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and it might be one of your worst

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days.

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But if you do call 911,

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you want them to be able to respond

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as quickly as possible.

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And so that's one of the biggest

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things that this is doing is,

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how can we ensure that the

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ambulances across the city

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are fully staffed?

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So that they can respond in a timely

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manner.

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They did say that there are more

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things that they need to be doing to

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kind of improve that response

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time, but that's probably the

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biggest one.

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Also like homelessness, I think a

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lot of people are concerned with

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people living unhoused

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and trying to solve that

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problem means giving people access

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to shelter and services to help them

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do that. And so we'll start to see

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some of these things kind of come

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into fruition this year with this

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budget.

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You know, Luce, I'm not a

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mathematician, but they

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plan for an additional $110

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million, but they only cut

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$95 million.

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Are there more cuts to come?

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There aren't.

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So they moved that money from their

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reserve fund that we kind of talked

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about earlier.

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So, I mean, you know, the city

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council does have that money there

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for a rainy day.

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And so, you know, they weren't as

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thrilled as, as they wanted to be

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in, in moving some of that money

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over, but it does help kind of fund

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some of these high top priorities.

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So.

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We've been speaking to Luz

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Moreno-Lezano, City Council reporter

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for KUT.

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Luz, thanks so much for talking to

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us. Thanks, Miles.

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With this past rain and flood watch,

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Travis, Williamson, and Hayes

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County were under a

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small watch until early this

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morning. It would absolutely make

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sense if memories of July 4th

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floods come to mind, but for

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some of us, those reminders

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of that tragic day are more lasting

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as the cleanup from wrecked home and

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property persists.

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KUT's Williamson County reporter,

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Kailey Hunt, has been

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following these ongoing cleanup

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efforts. She joins us today.

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Kailey, how are you today?

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I'm alright Miles, how are you?

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Doing great!

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So what is happening this weekend?

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Yeah, so this weekend the Austin

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Disaster Relief Network is

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holding a cleanup event in

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Sandy Creek.

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That's a community located just

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outside of Leander in Northwestern

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Travis County.

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They're among the hardest hit areas

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during the July storms

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and floods.

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00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,279
10 people died, over 200 homes

287
00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,658
were damaged or completely lost.

288
00:08:35,659 --> 00:08:37,678
So they are asking for volunteers

289
00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:38,749
to come out.

290
00:08:38,750 --> 00:08:40,729
For one big last push to

291
00:08:40,730 --> 00:08:42,349
try to clean up some properties for

292
00:08:42,350 --> 00:08:43,749
these folks before the Thanksgiving

293
00:08:43,750 --> 00:08:44,749
holiday.

294
00:08:44,750 --> 00:08:46,019
And you've been keeping up.

295
00:08:46,020 --> 00:08:47,779
With these folks since the floods,

296
00:08:47,780 --> 00:08:49,699
what's been going on with them?

297
00:08:49,700 --> 00:08:52,339
Yeah, so, you know, we're

298
00:08:52,340 --> 00:08:54,279
nearing five months now since

299
00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,939
the disaster happened.

300
00:08:56,940 --> 00:08:58,219
Many, many of the residents that

301
00:08:58,220 --> 00:08:59,679
I've spoken to in the Sandy Creek

302
00:08:59,680 --> 00:09:01,579
area are actually

303
00:09:01,580 --> 00:09:03,699
still homeless, technically.

304
00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:05,199
You know, they're still living in

305
00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,279
trailers or even tents out

306
00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:08,859
on their properties that still have

307
00:09:08,860 --> 00:09:10,859
debris buried three,

308
00:09:10,860 --> 00:09:12,599
four feet into the ground.

309
00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,519
So they are, you now,

310
00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:16,279
still awaiting some disaster relief

311
00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:17,299
funds.

312
00:09:17,300 --> 00:09:18,779
And trying to work through what

313
00:09:18,780 --> 00:09:20,369
their next steps are going to be.

314
00:09:20,370 --> 00:09:21,929
So it's still a lot of work to be

315
00:09:21,930 --> 00:09:22,869
done. Absolutely.

316
00:09:22,870 --> 00:09:24,809
And you've talked with Sarah

317
00:09:24,810 --> 00:09:26,849
Ashworth, a lead volunteer with

318
00:09:26,850 --> 00:09:28,569
the Austin Disaster Relief Network,

319
00:09:28,570 --> 00:09:30,469
and this was during a cleanup

320
00:09:30,470 --> 00:09:31,409
a few weeks ago.

321
00:09:31,410 --> 00:09:33,069
Let's listen to what she had to say

322
00:09:33,070 --> 00:09:34,389
about these cleanups.

323
00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,539
Almost three four foot higher

324
00:09:41,540 --> 00:09:44,379
than it was all this settlement and

325
00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:46,299
and all it like this tiles and

326
00:09:46,300 --> 00:09:48,119
glass and it's just like it wasn't

327
00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:49,959
there and

328
00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:51,739
then we'll find you know animal

329
00:09:51,740 --> 00:09:52,740
bones and

330
00:09:54,930 --> 00:09:55,956
Obviously, initially there was bones

331
00:09:55,957 --> 00:09:56,957
being found...

332
00:09:59,530 --> 00:10:01,409
And what are other volunteers saying

333
00:10:01,410 --> 00:10:02,739
about this?

334
00:10:02,740 --> 00:10:05,559
Yeah, so you heard from Sarah there.

335
00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:07,439
She's a really involved

336
00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:08,859
volunteer. She's been there since

337
00:10:08,860 --> 00:10:10,699
the initial days after the

338
00:10:10,700 --> 00:10:11,759
disaster.

339
00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:13,339
During that cleanup too, I also met

340
00:10:13,340 --> 00:10:15,219
with a lady who actually drove

341
00:10:15,220 --> 00:10:17,419
in four hours from the Houston area

342
00:10:17,420 --> 00:10:19,879
just for a Saturday cleanup.

343
00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:21,719
And she says, for her, it's really

344
00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:23,659
important because she herself is

345
00:10:23,660 --> 00:10:25,659
a disaster survivor and she

346
00:10:25,660 --> 00:10:28,329
knows that recovering.

347
00:10:28,330 --> 00:10:30,269
From these types of events,

348
00:10:30,270 --> 00:10:31,589
you just can't do it alone.

349
00:10:31,590 --> 00:10:33,029
You have to have community, you have

350
00:10:33,030 --> 00:10:34,069
to volunteers.

351
00:10:34,070 --> 00:10:35,869
And so that was her big message that

352
00:10:35,870 --> 00:10:36,909
she wanted to get out to the

353
00:10:36,910 --> 00:10:37,499
community.

354
00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:38,959
Yeah, volunteers are definitely

355
00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:40,459
important and you know, we're almost

356
00:10:40,460 --> 00:10:42,319
in December and it's about to

357
00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,199
possibly get colder and we just had

358
00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:45,879
thunderstorms in the area with a

359
00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:46,819
flood watch.

360
00:10:46,820 --> 00:10:48,779
Is there any additional urgency

361
00:10:48,780 --> 00:10:50,439
to get things cleared before the

362
00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,458
weather gets, you know ugly?

363
00:10:52,459 --> 00:10:53,519
Absolutely.

364
00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:54,559
Yeah. You know, I mentioned

365
00:10:54,560 --> 00:10:56,999
obviously folks want to get some

366
00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,079
properties cleaned up before the

367
00:10:58,080 --> 00:10:59,759
Thanksgiving holiday, but I think

368
00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:01,319
the more pressing issues, like you

369
00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:02,439
said, it's been raining.

370
00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:03,819
It's been stormy.

371
00:11:03,820 --> 00:11:05,639
The RVs and even

372
00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:06,459
tents, I don't know if you've ever

373
00:11:06,460 --> 00:11:08,519
been camping in the rain, they leak,

374
00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,759
right? Like they leak water.

375
00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:12,899
So, you know, folks are in

376
00:11:12,900 --> 00:11:15,199
uncomfortable physical, you,

377
00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:16,479
know, just situations.

378
00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,319
And then to add onto it, you

379
00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:19,419
know, lots of folks are still

380
00:11:19,420 --> 00:11:21,099
traumatized. So every time it rains

381
00:11:21,100 --> 00:11:22,200
or thunderstorms,

382
00:11:23,370 --> 00:11:25,269
you know, it brings back memories of

383
00:11:25,270 --> 00:11:26,189
the July floods.

384
00:11:26,190 --> 00:11:28,089
And so, yeah, there is

385
00:11:28,090 --> 00:11:30,089
some urgency to try to help these

386
00:11:30,090 --> 00:11:32,379
folks get a new homes.

387
00:11:32,380 --> 00:11:33,779
And Kailey, you just came into the

388
00:11:33,780 --> 00:11:35,179
studio straight from a rally that

389
00:11:35,180 --> 00:11:36,419
was happening in front of the

390
00:11:36,420 --> 00:11:38,459
Capitol about disaster relief.

391
00:11:38,460 --> 00:11:40,139
What was going on there?

392
00:11:40,140 --> 00:11:40,969
That's right. Yeah, we were.

393
00:11:40,970 --> 00:11:42,889
Actually across the street from

394
00:11:42,890 --> 00:11:44,289
the Capitol in front of the

395
00:11:44,290 --> 00:11:45,290
governor's mansion.

396
00:11:46,290 --> 00:11:48,409
Yeah, so there were dozens

397
00:11:48,410 --> 00:11:50,249
of flood survivors from

398
00:11:50,250 --> 00:11:52,029
Sandy Creek, along with survivors

399
00:11:52,030 --> 00:11:53,969
from Hurricane Harvey as well,

400
00:11:53,970 --> 00:11:55,349
just people from all across the

401
00:11:55,350 --> 00:11:57,509
state. They are coming together and

402
00:11:57,510 --> 00:11:59,469
asking the governor to

403
00:11:59,470 --> 00:12:02,189
establish a $500 million

404
00:12:02,190 --> 00:12:04,829
disaster relief fund for

405
00:12:04,830 --> 00:12:06,449
just Texans to provide them with

406
00:12:06,450 --> 00:12:08,389
immediate, you know,

407
00:12:08,390 --> 00:12:10,149
direct monetary relief.

408
00:12:10,150 --> 00:12:12,269
For folks who who survive these

409
00:12:12,270 --> 00:12:14,029
these types of events and they're

410
00:12:14,030 --> 00:12:16,289
asking him to create that fund using

411
00:12:16,290 --> 00:12:18,409
money from the rainy day fund, right

412
00:12:18,410 --> 00:12:20,329
so They say

413
00:12:20,330 --> 00:12:21,829
transferring over money from The

414
00:12:21,830 --> 00:12:23,349
Rainy Day Fund for an actual rainy

415
00:12:23,350 --> 00:12:24,350
day

416
00:12:25,250 --> 00:12:27,489
Yeah, that's what it's for, right?

417
00:12:27,490 --> 00:12:28,969
And I know we talked about this

418
00:12:28,970 --> 00:12:30,209
earlier in our conversation, but

419
00:12:30,210 --> 00:12:31,709
remind us, what is going on this

420
00:12:31,710 --> 00:12:33,469
weekend with Austin Disaster Relief

421
00:12:33,470 --> 00:12:34,209
Network?

422
00:12:34,210 --> 00:12:35,769
Yeah, so just to put it out there

423
00:12:35,770 --> 00:12:37,349
again, Austin Disaster Relief

424
00:12:37,350 --> 00:12:39,529
Network, they are gonna hold a big

425
00:12:39,530 --> 00:12:41,509
cleanup event in Sandy Creek.

426
00:12:41,510 --> 00:12:43,409
You can go onto their website

427
00:12:43,410 --> 00:12:45,989
to learn more just about who's

428
00:12:45,990 --> 00:12:48,009
eligible to volunteer.

429
00:12:48,010 --> 00:12:49,369
Most everybody, if you're above the

430
00:12:49,370 --> 00:12:51,629
age of 16, can volunteer.

431
00:12:51,630 --> 00:12:53,929
What types of supplies you need,

432
00:12:53,930 --> 00:12:55,909
closed-toe shoes, gloves.

433
00:12:55,910 --> 00:12:58,049
And yeah, sign up, figure out what

434
00:12:58,050 --> 00:12:59,129
you can do out there and help people

435
00:12:59,130 --> 00:12:59,569
out.

436
00:12:59,570 --> 00:13:00,769
And what's been your biggest

437
00:13:00,770 --> 00:13:02,669
takeaway from like being in the

438
00:13:02,670 --> 00:13:04,069
space with these people like going

439
00:13:04,070 --> 00:13:05,848
through what they're going through?

440
00:13:05,849 --> 00:13:07,629
Yeah, you know, it's tough.

441
00:13:07,630 --> 00:13:08,869
I grew up in Leander,

442
00:13:10,630 --> 00:13:12,529
just around the, only like five,

443
00:13:12,530 --> 00:13:13,869
10 minutes away from these folks who

444
00:13:13,870 --> 00:13:15,529
were affected by the floods in Sandy

445
00:13:15,530 --> 00:13:16,909
Creek.

446
00:13:16,910 --> 00:13:18,649
It's emotional every time you go out

447
00:13:18,650 --> 00:13:19,789
there.

448
00:13:19,790 --> 00:13:21,289
The biggest thing I just want people

449
00:13:21,290 --> 00:13:23,189
to know is, is yeah, it has been

450
00:13:23,190 --> 00:13:25,129
four or five months, you know down

451
00:13:25,130 --> 00:13:27,289
the road since the disaster first

452
00:13:27,290 --> 00:13:28,729
struck, but people are still

453
00:13:28,730 --> 00:13:30,649
struggling. They need help.

454
00:13:30,650 --> 00:13:31,829
There's a lot of unanswered

455
00:13:31,830 --> 00:13:33,269
questions, just a lot uncertainty

456
00:13:33,270 --> 00:13:34,149
about.

457
00:13:34,150 --> 00:13:36,109
The future for these folks,

458
00:13:36,110 --> 00:13:37,529
and yeah, we want to make sure that

459
00:13:37,530 --> 00:13:38,939
we share those stories.

460
00:13:38,940 --> 00:13:39,739
Thank you so much.

461
00:13:39,740 --> 00:13:41,399
And we'll have a link with the

462
00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,399
Austin disaster relief network

463
00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,359
information in today's podcast,

464
00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,439
show notes at kut.org slash

465
00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:48,879
signal. We've been speaking with

466
00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,199
KUT's Williamson County reporter,

467
00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:52,919
Kailey Hunt. Kailey, thanks so much

468
00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:54,319
for talking with us today.

469
00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:55,320
Thanks, Miles.

470
00:13:58,790 --> 00:14:00,369
Up next, we'll hear from the Austin

471
00:14:00,370 --> 00:14:01,809
Creative Alliance about how they

472
00:14:01,810 --> 00:14:03,489
secured their new home, and we'll

473
00:14:03,490 --> 00:14:04,849
here from Jason Mellard with This

474
00:14:04,850 --> 00:14:06,330
Week in Texas Music History.

475
00:14:08,610 --> 00:14:10,769
This is Austin Signal, I'm Miles

476
00:14:10,770 --> 00:14:11,989
Bloxson and welcome back.

477
00:14:11,990 --> 00:14:13,949
Finding affordable studio space is

478
00:14:13,950 --> 00:14:15,469
a constant battle for Austin

479
00:14:15,470 --> 00:14:17,649
artists. It's a fight that sometimes

480
00:14:17,650 --> 00:14:20,189
ends with a musician or non-profit

481
00:14:20,190 --> 00:14:22,029
being pushed out of town, but

482
00:14:22,030 --> 00:14:24,329
it doesn't always end in a loss.

483
00:14:24,330 --> 00:14:26,409
From the KUT's art desk,

484
00:14:26,410 --> 00:14:28,349
Stephanie Federico reports on one of

485
00:14:28,350 --> 00:14:29,450
those victories.

486
00:14:31,169 --> 00:14:32,129
John Reedy can already see how it's

487
00:14:32,130 --> 00:14:33,729
all going to come to life.

488
00:14:33,730 --> 00:14:35,349
This is going to be a lot of kids

489
00:14:35,350 --> 00:14:37,449
lessons and rehearsals

490
00:14:37,450 --> 00:14:39,009
for dance concerts.

491
00:14:39,010 --> 00:14:40,429
There's a piano in here that's going

492
00:14:40,430 --> 00:14:41,459
to stay.

493
00:14:41,460 --> 00:14:43,219
He's walking me around the campus of

494
00:14:43,220 --> 00:14:45,339
a historic church downtown.

495
00:14:45,340 --> 00:14:47,419
Reedy is the CEO of Austin Creative

496
00:14:47,420 --> 00:14:49,359
Alliance, a nonprofit formed

497
00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:51,179
in 1974 to support the

498
00:14:51,180 --> 00:14:52,999
city's arts community.

499
00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,759
The group lost its longtime East

500
00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,219
Austin home in May after the

501
00:14:56,220 --> 00:14:58,359
building was sold and rents went up.

502
00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,279
Nine artists and three nonprofits

503
00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:01,619
were displaced.

504
00:15:01,620 --> 00:15:03,479
It's a familiar story, but

505
00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,319
this one's got a better ending.

506
00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:06,839
Austin Creative alliance was able to

507
00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,359
find a new space in just a few

508
00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,179
months and for less money than

509
00:15:10,180 --> 00:15:11,469
it had been paying.

510
00:15:11,470 --> 00:15:13,269
It's renting two floors from Central

511
00:15:13,270 --> 00:15:14,429
Christian Church.

512
00:15:14,430 --> 00:15:16,389
In turn, it's subletting studio

513
00:15:16,390 --> 00:15:18,029
space to artists and cultural

514
00:15:18,030 --> 00:15:18,929
groups.

515
00:15:18,930 --> 00:15:20,689
We're going to help them maintain

516
00:15:20,690 --> 00:15:22,449
this beautiful historic space.

517
00:15:22,450 --> 00:15:23,969
And they're going help the arts

518
00:15:23,970 --> 00:15:25,969
community access affordable

519
00:15:25,970 --> 00:15:26,909
space.

520
00:15:26,910 --> 00:15:28,829
How did it all come together?

521
00:15:28,830 --> 00:15:30,009
Austin Creative Alliance was

522
00:15:30,010 --> 00:15:31,309
connected to Central Christian

523
00:15:31,310 --> 00:15:33,009
Church through art.

524
00:15:33,010 --> 00:15:34,829
Pastor Lane Beamer had been an actor

525
00:15:34,830 --> 00:15:35,989
in California.

526
00:15:35,990 --> 00:15:37,789
He met Reedy a few years ago through

527
00:15:37,790 --> 00:15:39,149
a friend of a friend he had done

528
00:15:39,150 --> 00:15:40,689
plays with in the 90s.

529
00:15:40,690 --> 00:15:42,009
The two of them hit it off.

530
00:15:42,010 --> 00:15:44,189
It was a very just coincidental

531
00:15:44,190 --> 00:15:46,139
serendipitous connection.

532
00:15:46,140 --> 00:15:47,399
The two floors in the church

533
00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:48,659
building have been used by a

534
00:15:48,660 --> 00:15:50,199
performing arts school for about a

535
00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:51,199
decade.

536
00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:52,679
After the school closed shop three

537
00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:54,379
years ago, the church rented it out

538
00:15:54,380 --> 00:15:56,099
to a real estate firm.

539
00:15:56,100 --> 00:15:57,779
Then it moved out and the church had

540
00:15:57,780 --> 00:15:58,999
a blank slate.

541
00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:00,499
When Austin Creative Alliance was

542
00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:02,359
looking for a place to relocate, it

543
00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:03,879
reached out to see if they had space

544
00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:04,589
available.

545
00:16:04,590 --> 00:16:05,969
And I said, boy do we,

546
00:16:07,410 --> 00:16:08,499
come take a look.

547
00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:09,739
That's Pastor Beamer.

548
00:16:09,740 --> 00:16:11,579
And so when we walked with John

549
00:16:11,580 --> 00:16:13,639
and started talking about who might

550
00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:15,499
want what room, we

551
00:16:15,500 --> 00:16:17,279
really let go of the notion of

552
00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,099
what's been and

553
00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:21,159
said, well, what do the

554
00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:22,409
artists need?

555
00:16:22,410 --> 00:16:23,989
It was a puzzle figuring out who

556
00:16:23,990 --> 00:16:25,629
should go where, based on lighting,

557
00:16:25,630 --> 00:16:27,549
room size, and function, but the

558
00:16:27,550 --> 00:16:29,189
new tenants all had one need in

559
00:16:29,190 --> 00:16:31,989
common, affordable studio space.

560
00:16:31,990 --> 00:16:33,549
Rent varies for each of the 13

561
00:16:33,550 --> 00:16:35,089
studios in what's now called the

562
00:16:35,090 --> 00:16:36,549
sanctuary.

563
00:16:36,550 --> 00:16:38,429
Reedy says it comes to around $3

564
00:16:38,430 --> 00:16:40,309
per square foot per month,

565
00:16:40,310 --> 00:16:42,389
all utilities included.

566
00:16:42,390 --> 00:16:44,349
For comparison, space in the Canopy

567
00:16:44,350 --> 00:16:45,989
Arts Building in East Austin is

568
00:16:45,990 --> 00:16:48,169
around $30 a square foot.

569
00:16:48,170 --> 00:16:49,609
Sharon Anderson is the founding

570
00:16:49,610 --> 00:16:51,449
executive director of ATX

571
00:16:51,450 --> 00:16:52,949
Theater. One of the group's

572
00:16:52,950 --> 00:16:54,319
subletting studio space.

573
00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:55,839
There are lots of places where you

574
00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,019
can put on a concert or practice

575
00:16:58,020 --> 00:16:59,899
whatever, but

576
00:16:59,900 --> 00:17:01,759
there are not a lot of places that

577
00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,139
people who make performances

578
00:17:04,140 --> 00:17:06,239
can afford to rent.

579
00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,699
ATX Theater moved into a 660

580
00:17:08,700 --> 00:17:10,279
square foot room on the second floor

581
00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:11,419
earlier this month.

582
00:17:11,420 --> 00:17:12,919
It's going to require some

583
00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:14,318
adjustments of course, like for

584
00:17:14,319 --> 00:17:15,899
example that is clearly not a sound

585
00:17:15,900 --> 00:17:17,838
proof door, and we're

586
00:17:17,839 --> 00:17:19,179
going to have people singing and

587
00:17:19,180 --> 00:17:20,299
dancing and doing all kinds of

588
00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:22,179
things in here, so we just

589
00:17:22,180 --> 00:17:23,919
moved in. She plans to rent the

590
00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:25,379
space out for rehearsals.

591
00:17:25,380 --> 00:17:27,279
You can imagine all those cool,

592
00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,299
funky little garage band theaters,

593
00:17:29,300 --> 00:17:31,439
you know, that

594
00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:32,779
often rehearse in their backyard

595
00:17:32,780 --> 00:17:33,799
because they can't afford the

596
00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:35,199
expensive rehearsal spaces.

597
00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:36,359
They're gonna be pretty excited to

598
00:17:36,360 --> 00:17:38,099
get a space for $10 an hour instead

599
00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:39,579
of 25.

600
00:17:39,580 --> 00:17:40,519
Makes a big difference.

601
00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:41,999
Hopefully that extra 15 bucks will

602
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,799
go to pay actors or get nicer

603
00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,579
costumes or something.

604
00:17:46,580 --> 00:17:48,119
Beamer is glad the space is going to

605
00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:48,909
be used.

606
00:17:48,910 --> 00:17:51,389
It has a spirit and

607
00:17:51,390 --> 00:17:53,289
I think it's been feeling

608
00:17:53,290 --> 00:17:54,809
a little neglected.

609
00:17:54,810 --> 00:17:56,949
And so I really do believe that

610
00:17:56,950 --> 00:17:59,449
if buildings and

611
00:17:59,450 --> 00:18:01,489
rooms have

612
00:18:01,490 --> 00:18:03,789
their own spirit,

613
00:18:03,790 --> 00:18:05,629
the building is happy.

614
00:18:05,630 --> 00:18:07,389
He says the church has not always

615
00:18:07,390 --> 00:18:09,229
been a welcoming place, and he wants

616
00:18:09,230 --> 00:18:11,249
to quote, do damage control for

617
00:18:11,250 --> 00:18:12,389
Jesus.

618
00:18:12,390 --> 00:18:14,209
He hopes Austin Creative Alliance's

619
00:18:14,210 --> 00:18:15,469
presence will help bring neighbors

620
00:18:15,470 --> 00:18:16,670
in to see what's going on.

621
00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,619
That evangelism today is

622
00:18:20,620 --> 00:18:21,999
just letting people know you're a

623
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,459
Christian and not being a jerk.

624
00:18:24,660 --> 00:18:25,979
The opportunities to have people

625
00:18:25,980 --> 00:18:28,099
come in and out of here and

626
00:18:28,100 --> 00:18:30,039
have a pleasant experience and be

627
00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:31,519
supported and nurtured.

628
00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:33,219
The idea of sanctuary.

629
00:18:33,220 --> 00:18:35,299
Sanctuary not just for the religious

630
00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:37,099
community that's at the heart, you

631
00:18:37,100 --> 00:18:39,319
know, of the church,

632
00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,779
but we're really to be a safe space

633
00:18:41,780 --> 00:18:43,429
for everybody.

634
00:18:43,430 --> 00:18:44,989
The new tenants started moving in

635
00:18:44,990 --> 00:18:46,429
this month and all the studios

636
00:18:46,430 --> 00:18:47,849
should be full by the end of the

637
00:18:47,850 --> 00:18:48,649
year.

638
00:18:48,650 --> 00:18:50,509
I'm Stephanie Federico in Austin.

639
00:18:57,790 --> 00:19:00,169
Texas has so much music history.

640
00:19:00,170 --> 00:19:02,049
We learn something new all the time

641
00:19:02,050 --> 00:19:04,049
or every week with the help of Jason

642
00:19:04,050 --> 00:19:06,129
Mellard from the Center of Texas

643
00:19:06,130 --> 00:19:08,009
Music History at Texas State.

644
00:19:15,450 --> 00:19:17,409
This week in Texas music history,

645
00:19:17,410 --> 00:19:19,289
free jazz from Fort Worth hits the

646
00:19:19,290 --> 00:19:20,069
spot.

647
00:19:20,070 --> 00:19:22,229
On November 17th, 1959,

648
00:19:22,230 --> 00:19:23,509
one of the more legendary opening

649
00:19:23,510 --> 00:19:25,949
nights in jazz history took place.

650
00:19:25,950 --> 00:19:27,569
Ornette Coleman's quartet debuted at

651
00:19:27,570 --> 00:19:29,609
the Five Spot in New York City.

652
00:19:29,610 --> 00:19:31,349
The Fort Worth-born saxophonist was

653
00:19:31,350 --> 00:19:33,309
joined on stage by Don Cherry,

654
00:19:33,310 --> 00:19:34,589
Charlie Hayden, and Billy Higgins

655
00:19:34,590 --> 00:19:35,929
and supported their revolutionary

656
00:19:35,930 --> 00:19:37,749
Atlantic Records LP, The Shape of

657
00:19:37,750 --> 00:19:38,869
Jazz, to come.

658
00:19:38,870 --> 00:19:40,949
Informed by bebop, rhythm and blues,

659
00:19:40,950 --> 00:19:42,009
and Ornette's homilotic

660
00:19:42,010 --> 00:19:43,589
philosophies, the quartet was

661
00:19:43,590 --> 00:19:45,169
greeted by a collection of hipsters,

662
00:19:45,170 --> 00:19:47,269
aficionados, and even skeptics,

663
00:19:47,270 --> 00:19:49,109
all curious to see what this new

664
00:19:49,110 --> 00:19:51,309
turn in free jazz was all about.

665
00:19:51,310 --> 00:19:52,749
As Coleman described his innovations

666
00:19:52,750 --> 00:19:54,849
later in the liner notes of his 1960

667
00:19:54,850 --> 00:19:56,689
release, Change of the Century,

668
00:19:56,690 --> 00:19:58,109
the members of my group and I are

669
00:19:58,110 --> 00:19:59,949
now attempting a breakthrough to a

670
00:19:59,950 --> 00:20:02,209
new, freer conception of jazz,

671
00:20:02,210 --> 00:20:03,709
one that departs from all that is

672
00:20:03,710 --> 00:20:04,710
standard and cliché.

673
00:20:20,770 --> 00:20:22,229
The Five Spot, located at Cooper

674
00:20:22,230 --> 00:20:24,129
Square, just off the then-run-down

675
00:20:24,130 --> 00:20:25,829
Bowery, was already a hotspot for

676
00:20:25,830 --> 00:20:27,189
the newest in jazz when they booked

677
00:20:27,190 --> 00:20:30,169
pianist Cecil Taylor in 1957.

678
00:20:30,170 --> 00:20:31,489
But Ornette's arrival was a downtown

679
00:20:31,490 --> 00:20:32,549
sensation.

680
00:20:32,550 --> 00:20:34,229
Lines snaked around the block, and

681
00:20:34,230 --> 00:20:35,349
celebrities of the creative world

682
00:20:35,350 --> 00:20:36,749
like James Baldwin and Robert

683
00:20:36,750 --> 00:20:38,169
Rauschenberg found their way to the

684
00:20:38,170 --> 00:20:39,169
packed venue.

685
00:20:39,170 --> 00:20:40,289
The original two-week booking

686
00:20:40,290 --> 00:20:42,829
extended well into 1960.

687
00:20:42,830 --> 00:20:44,149
Coleman's stand at the Five Spot

688
00:20:44,150 --> 00:20:45,709
proved to be a pivotal moment in

689
00:20:45,710 --> 00:20:47,819
jazz and creative improvised music.

690
00:20:47,820 --> 00:20:49,239
Marking a shift in musical

691
00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:50,799
consciousness and practice that

692
00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:52,839
continues to resound in Texas and

693
00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:53,840
across the globe.

694
00:21:09,170 --> 00:21:10,429
You can hear music from the Lone

695
00:21:10,430 --> 00:21:12,269
Star State 24-7 on the

696
00:21:12,270 --> 00:21:15,829
Texas Music Experience at TMX.fm.

697
00:21:15,830 --> 00:21:17,769
Support for This Week in Texas Music

698
00:21:17,770 --> 00:21:19,709
History comes from Brain Audio,

699
00:21:19,710 --> 00:21:21,269
maker of a compact portable speaker

700
00:21:21,270 --> 00:21:23,329
featuring an internal subwoofer that

701
00:21:23,330 --> 00:21:25,309
produces deep bass sound.

702
00:21:25,310 --> 00:21:26,989
Engineered in the live music capital

703
00:21:26,990 --> 00:21:28,569
of the world, more at

704
00:21:28,570 --> 00:21:30,409
BrainAudio.com.

705
00:21:30,410 --> 00:21:32,569
That's B-R-A-N-E audio

706
00:21:32,570 --> 00:21:33,570
dot com.

707
00:21:36,980 --> 00:21:38,259
Don't forget, you can take Austin

708
00:21:38,260 --> 00:21:40,059
Signal with you wherever you go,

709
00:21:40,060 --> 00:21:42,099
just go to kut.org slash signal

710
00:21:42,100 --> 00:21:44,559
and subscribe to the podcast or

711
00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:46,019
search Austin Signal in your

712
00:21:46,020 --> 00:21:48,139
favorite podcast app and listen that

713
00:21:48,140 --> 00:21:48,959
way.

714
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:50,419
Austin Signal is made possible

715
00:21:50,420 --> 00:21:51,879
because of the work of the trusted

716
00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:54,219
reporters and music aficionados

717
00:21:54,220 --> 00:21:57,139
here at KUT News, KUTX,

718
00:21:57,140 --> 00:21:58,759
Texas Standard and the Texas

719
00:21:58,760 --> 00:21:59,659
Newsroom.

720
00:21:59,660 --> 00:22:01,119
Thank you for spending part of your

721
00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:02,699
day right here with us at the Austin

722
00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:03,579
Signal.

723
00:22:03,580 --> 00:22:05,499
We are listener supported public

724
00:22:05,500 --> 00:22:06,459
radio.

725
00:22:06,460 --> 00:22:08,279
On air live at KUT

726
00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,499
News at 90.5 on the KUT

727
00:22:10,500 --> 00:22:13,239
app and online at Kut.org

728
00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:15,099
slash Signal.

729
00:22:15,100 --> 00:22:16,619
That's where you can listen to

730
00:22:16,620 --> 00:22:18,339
previous episodes of Austin Signal

731
00:22:18,340 --> 00:22:20,319
and at KUt.org you'll

732
00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:22,199
find the daily reporting from

733
00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:23,500
the KUT newsroom.

734
00:22:24,550 --> 00:22:26,489
And that's it for today on

735
00:22:26,490 --> 00:22:27,969
Austin Signal.

736
00:22:27,970 --> 00:22:29,489
Kristen Cabrera is our managing

737
00:22:29,490 --> 00:22:30,909
producer.

738
00:22:30,910 --> 00:22:32,749
Rayna Sevilla is our technical

739
00:22:32,750 --> 00:22:33,809
director.

740
00:22:33,810 --> 00:22:35,289
And I'm Miles Bloxson.

741
00:22:35,290 --> 00:22:37,329
This is Austin Signal