1 00:00:09,410 --> 00:00:11,169 A new bathroom bill approved by 2 00:00:11,170 --> 00:00:13,089 Texas legislators has been in effect 3 00:00:13,090 --> 00:00:14,609 across the state for just over a 4 00:00:14,610 --> 00:00:16,449 week now. The law requires people 5 00:00:16,450 --> 00:00:18,289 to use public restrooms aligned 6 00:00:18,290 --> 00:00:19,729 with the sex they were assigned at 7 00:00:19,730 --> 00:00:21,329 birth, but there are still questions 8 00:00:21,330 --> 00:00:23,089 about how the law will be enforced, 9 00:00:23,090 --> 00:00:24,529 and here in Austin a lot of it 10 00:00:24,530 --> 00:00:26,129 depends on which building you happen 11 00:00:26,130 --> 00:00:26,929 to be in. 12 00:00:26,930 --> 00:00:28,849 Plus, the guiding hand behind the 13 00:00:28,850 --> 00:00:31,089 Volces Oral History Project 14 00:00:31,090 --> 00:00:32,688 is stepping down after a quarter 15 00:00:32,689 --> 00:00:34,209 century of documenting the story of 16 00:00:34,210 --> 00:00:36,609 Latinos in Texas and the US. 17 00:00:36,610 --> 00:00:38,369 Come hear her reflections on the 18 00:00:38,370 --> 00:00:39,919 work. That's up next. 19 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:41,919 The Austin Signal is a production of 20 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,079 K U T News, hosted by Jerry 21 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:44,899 Quijano. 22 00:00:44,900 --> 00:00:46,979 And the thirty-seventh street lights 23 00:00:46,980 --> 00:00:48,018 will be lit tonight. 24 00:00:48,019 --> 00:00:50,099 It's an Austin holiday tradition. 25 00:00:50,100 --> 00:00:51,619 But how did it come to be? 26 00:00:51,620 --> 00:00:53,219 And what does my mom have to do with 27 00:00:53,220 --> 00:00:55,059 it all? That's coming up next. 28 00:00:55,060 --> 00:00:57,059 It's right here on Austin 29 00:00:57,060 --> 00:00:58,060 Signal. 30 00:01:07,910 --> 00:01:09,509 Howdy out there, thank you for 31 00:01:09,510 --> 00:01:11,589 tuning in. This is Austin 32 00:01:11,590 --> 00:01:13,508 Signal, and you're listening on 33 00:01:13,509 --> 00:01:15,669 community-powered public radio 34 00:01:15,670 --> 00:01:17,269 K U T News. 35 00:01:17,270 --> 00:01:19,189 It's Friday, December 12th. 36 00:01:19,190 --> 00:01:21,189 I'm your host, Jerry Kehonnell. 37 00:01:21,190 --> 00:01:23,428 We're glad to have you here. 38 00:01:23,429 --> 00:01:25,269 A new bathroom bill has been in 39 00:01:25,270 --> 00:01:27,349 effect in Texas for just over a week 40 00:01:27,350 --> 00:01:29,189 now. The law requires people 41 00:01:29,190 --> 00:01:31,189 to use public restrooms aligned 42 00:01:31,190 --> 00:01:33,508 with their sex assigned at birth. 43 00:01:33,509 --> 00:01:35,508 But as KUT's Katy McAfee 44 00:01:35,509 --> 00:01:37,349 reports, how it's being enforced 45 00:01:37,350 --> 00:01:39,508 across Austin depends greatly 46 00:01:39,509 --> 00:01:41,109 on what building you happen to be 47 00:01:41,110 --> 00:01:42,110 in. 48 00:01:42,450 --> 00:01:43,969 Austin City Councilmember Mike 49 00:01:43,970 --> 00:01:45,489 Siegel stands with a group of 50 00:01:45,490 --> 00:01:47,169 transgender activists on the city 51 00:01:47,170 --> 00:01:49,009 hall steps Thursday afternoon to 52 00:01:49,010 --> 00:01:50,769 announce something big. 53 00:01:50,770 --> 00:01:52,689 Council members just unanimously 54 00:01:52,690 --> 00:01:54,369 approved his resolution to look into 55 00:01:54,370 --> 00:01:56,049 making city restrooms gender 56 00:01:56,050 --> 00:01:57,489 inclusive while complying with the 57 00:01:57,490 --> 00:01:58,949 state's new bathroom bill. 58 00:01:58,950 --> 00:02:00,629 I do believe this law will be struck 59 00:02:00,630 --> 00:02:01,829 down by the courts is 60 00:02:01,830 --> 00:02:03,029 unconstitutional. 61 00:02:03,030 --> 00:02:04,869 But until that happens, we 62 00:02:04,870 --> 00:02:06,789 want to send a message as a 63 00:02:06,790 --> 00:02:08,709 city that we are welcoming 64 00:02:08,710 --> 00:02:11,229 to our own residents, to visitors. 65 00:02:11,230 --> 00:02:12,109 And to everyone. 66 00:02:12,110 --> 00:02:14,269 But Siegel's plan won't come easy 67 00:02:14,270 --> 00:02:15,309 or cheap. 68 00:02:15,310 --> 00:02:16,989 One option is adding a single 69 00:02:16,990 --> 00:02:18,909 occupancy restroom to every city 70 00:02:18,910 --> 00:02:20,829 facility, a move that could cost 71 00:02:20,830 --> 00:02:22,989 more than $14 million. 72 00:02:22,990 --> 00:02:24,829 Another option is turning every 73 00:02:24,830 --> 00:02:26,429 city restroom into a single 74 00:02:26,430 --> 00:02:27,869 occupancy restroom. 75 00:02:27,870 --> 00:02:29,549 That option could cost more than 76 00:02:29,550 --> 00:02:32,189 $232 million. 77 00:02:32,190 --> 00:02:34,029 Speaking to the crowd, Ash Hall 78 00:02:34,030 --> 00:02:35,869 with the ACLU of Texas said 79 00:02:35,870 --> 00:02:37,389 they were heartened by the steps the 80 00:02:37,390 --> 00:02:38,429 city's taking. 81 00:02:38,430 --> 00:02:40,189 But Hall says they're holding their 82 00:02:40,190 --> 00:02:42,329 breath as enforcement continues. 83 00:02:42,330 --> 00:02:44,409 In the times ahead, we can expect 84 00:02:44,410 --> 00:02:46,489 to hear more reports about trans 85 00:02:46,490 --> 00:02:48,809 people facing discrimination in 86 00:02:48,810 --> 00:02:50,649 restrooms in government owned 87 00:02:50,650 --> 00:02:52,249 and operated facilities. 88 00:02:52,250 --> 00:02:53,849 Some of those may be in our city, 89 00:02:53,850 --> 00:02:55,379 some of them may be beyond. 90 00:02:55,380 --> 00:02:57,298 Under the law, individuals will not 91 00:02:57,299 --> 00:02:59,459 be held liable for using the wrong 92 00:02:59,460 --> 00:03:00,339 restroom. 93 00:03:00,340 --> 00:03:02,259 But the Texas Attorney General 94 00:03:02,260 --> 00:03:04,018 will fine political subdivisions, 95 00:03:04,019 --> 00:03:05,699 like Travis County, the City of 96 00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:07,939 Austin, and UT if they violate 97 00:03:07,940 --> 00:03:10,819 the law. Fines start at $25,000 98 00:03:10,820 --> 00:03:12,499 for the first offense and can grow 99 00:03:12,500 --> 00:03:14,899 up to $125,000. 100 00:03:14,900 --> 00:03:16,739 On the UT Austin campus, 101 00:03:16,740 --> 00:03:18,578 at least one gender-neutral restroom 102 00:03:18,579 --> 00:03:20,018 with multiple stalls has been 103 00:03:20,019 --> 00:03:21,939 changed to a women's restroom, 104 00:03:21,940 --> 00:03:23,779 and a new policy is in effect, 105 00:03:23,780 --> 00:03:25,699 stating only females, as they 106 00:03:25,700 --> 00:03:27,539 are defined in the bill, can enter 107 00:03:27,540 --> 00:03:29,779 female spaces, like restrooms, 108 00:03:29,780 --> 00:03:31,779 locker rooms, or changing rooms. 109 00:03:31,780 --> 00:03:34,018 UT did not directly answer questions 110 00:03:34,019 --> 00:03:35,379 about how the new law would be 111 00:03:35,380 --> 00:03:37,458 enforced, and neither did Travis 112 00:03:37,459 --> 00:03:39,219 County. Officials released a 113 00:03:39,220 --> 00:03:40,739 statement saying the county will, 114 00:03:40,740 --> 00:03:42,578 quote, follow all state laws and 115 00:03:42,579 --> 00:03:44,419 regulations, end quote. 116 00:03:44,420 --> 00:03:45,779 Over the weekend, a group of 117 00:03:45,780 --> 00:03:47,699 transgender activists tested how 118 00:03:47,700 --> 00:03:49,139 the Texas Department of Public 119 00:03:49,140 --> 00:03:50,659 Safety would enforce the law at the 120 00:03:50,660 --> 00:03:51,859 state capitol. 121 00:03:51,860 --> 00:03:53,699 The group used the restroom at 122 00:03:53,700 --> 00:03:56,018 first without issue, but activists 123 00:03:56,019 --> 00:03:57,699 say after they staged a peaceful 124 00:03:57,700 --> 00:03:59,619 protest in the rotunda, several 125 00:03:59,620 --> 00:04:01,939 DPS troopers flocked to the scene. 126 00:04:01,940 --> 00:04:03,859 They asked to see IDs for select 127 00:04:03,860 --> 00:04:05,139 people in the group before they 128 00:04:05,140 --> 00:04:06,659 could use the restroom a second 129 00:04:06,660 --> 00:04:08,499 time. Ray Vazquez, a 130 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:10,339 transgender woman, says she was 131 00:04:10,340 --> 00:04:12,319 singled out by DPS. 132 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,239 Honestly, in my personal 133 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,078 opinion, it seemed like they were 134 00:04:16,079 --> 00:04:18,319 not given guidance on how to enforce 135 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,158 this bill or enforce this 136 00:04:20,159 --> 00:04:21,759 new policy that had been put in 137 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:22,249 place. 138 00:04:22,250 --> 00:04:24,729 A DPS trooper later cited Vasquez 139 00:04:24,730 --> 00:04:26,089 and three other demonstrators with 140 00:04:26,090 --> 00:04:27,929 criminal trespass warnings, which 141 00:04:27,930 --> 00:04:29,769 bans them from Capitol grounds for 142 00:04:29,770 --> 00:04:30,649 a year. 143 00:04:30,650 --> 00:04:32,569 But Caleb Armstrong, a trans 144 00:04:32,570 --> 00:04:34,489 activist who is at the protest, 145 00:04:34,490 --> 00:04:36,329 says the bathroom bill is sure to 146 00:04:36,330 --> 00:04:38,699 have effects beyond Capitol walls. 147 00:04:38,700 --> 00:04:40,699 It makes it so 148 00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:42,539 you can't go to your 149 00:04:42,540 --> 00:04:44,539 kids band concert 150 00:04:44,540 --> 00:04:45,899 because you you're not allowed to 151 00:04:45,900 --> 00:04:47,659 use the bathroom that aligns with 152 00:04:47,660 --> 00:04:49,899 who you are at their school, 153 00:04:49,900 --> 00:04:51,739 or you can't go spend a 154 00:04:51,740 --> 00:04:53,819 day at the public park because 155 00:04:53,820 --> 00:04:55,259 you're terrified to go into the 156 00:04:55,260 --> 00:04:55,879 restroom. 157 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:57,319 Armstrong says, as long as the 158 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:58,999 bathroom bill is in effect, its 159 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,919 nebulous enforcement will push 160 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:02,439 trans people out of public life in 161 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:03,239 Texas. 162 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,080 I'm Katy McAfee in Austin. 163 00:05:10,340 --> 00:05:11,699 This is Austin Signal. 164 00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:13,299 Thank you for tuning in. 165 00:05:13,300 --> 00:05:15,219 You may recognize the stories from 166 00:05:15,220 --> 00:05:17,059 Volces Oral History Center. 167 00:05:17,060 --> 00:05:18,259 Maybe you've heard them right here 168 00:05:18,260 --> 00:05:19,619 on our airwaves. 169 00:05:19,620 --> 00:05:21,219 Based at the University of Texas 170 00:05:21,220 --> 00:05:22,579 since its founding in nineteen 171 00:05:22,580 --> 00:05:24,419 ninety nine, the center has gathered 172 00:05:24,420 --> 00:05:26,019 more than eighteen hundred oral 173 00:05:26,020 --> 00:05:28,019 history interviews and over twenty 174 00:05:28,020 --> 00:05:29,859 five hundred photographs, helping 175 00:05:29,860 --> 00:05:32,019 to document the story of the Latino 176 00:05:32,020 --> 00:05:34,019 experience in Texas and the United 177 00:05:34,020 --> 00:05:35,859 States and preserving that record 178 00:05:35,860 --> 00:05:37,539 for future generations. 179 00:05:37,540 --> 00:05:39,459 For a quarter of a century, Voces 180 00:05:39,460 --> 00:05:41,059 has been led by its founder, Maggie 181 00:05:41,060 --> 00:05:42,979 Rivas Rodriguez, but that 182 00:05:42,980 --> 00:05:44,099 is about to change. 183 00:05:44,100 --> 00:05:45,939 Next year, Rivas Rodriguez will 184 00:05:45,940 --> 00:05:47,859 be stepping down from Voices ahead 185 00:05:47,860 --> 00:05:49,139 of her retirement. 186 00:05:49,140 --> 00:05:51,139 Texas Standards David Brown spoke 187 00:05:51,140 --> 00:05:52,419 with her about the program and 188 00:05:52,420 --> 00:05:54,499 what's next, but first asks 189 00:05:54,500 --> 00:05:55,939 her to take us back to the 190 00:05:55,940 --> 00:05:56,940 beginning. 191 00:05:57,729 --> 00:05:59,649 We we started off wanting to do just 192 00:05:59,650 --> 00:06:01,488 audio and a friend of mine named 193 00:06:01,489 --> 00:06:03,408 Hector Galan who's a documentary 194 00:06:03,409 --> 00:06:05,809 film producer said, Don't do audio, 195 00:06:05,810 --> 00:06:07,488 do video because if we do a 196 00:06:07,489 --> 00:06:09,408 documentary it can be my like 197 00:06:09,409 --> 00:06:10,719 my field research. 198 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:10,989 Right. 199 00:06:10,990 --> 00:06:13,309 So we started off doing video 200 00:06:13,310 --> 00:06:15,149 because of Hector and I 201 00:06:15,150 --> 00:06:16,989 fell in love with video and it was 202 00:06:16,990 --> 00:06:18,509 so important that we start off at a 203 00:06:18,510 --> 00:06:20,029 time when oral history really was 204 00:06:20,030 --> 00:06:22,029 not doing a lot of video work, 205 00:06:22,030 --> 00:06:23,949 we started off doing video and 206 00:06:23,950 --> 00:06:25,949 I'm so glad we did because we still 207 00:06:25,950 --> 00:06:28,109 have those video interviews 208 00:06:28,110 --> 00:06:29,629 with people, including my parents 209 00:06:29,630 --> 00:06:31,509 who were both of this generation. 210 00:06:31,510 --> 00:06:31,939 Yeah. 211 00:06:31,940 --> 00:06:33,619 That are great treasures for all of 212 00:06:33,620 --> 00:06:34,309 us. 213 00:06:34,310 --> 00:06:35,829 Yeah, you know, i it's interesting 214 00:06:35,830 --> 00:06:37,349 that you come from the world of 215 00:06:37,350 --> 00:06:39,269 journalism initially, and 216 00:06:39,270 --> 00:06:41,189 I think that you have an 217 00:06:41,190 --> 00:06:42,469 appreciation for something that 218 00:06:42,470 --> 00:06:44,629 perhaps some of our listeners might 219 00:06:44,630 --> 00:06:46,469 not completely, and that is when you 220 00:06:46,470 --> 00:06:48,469 talked when you do these interviews, 221 00:06:48,470 --> 00:06:50,069 there's so much that winds up on the 222 00:06:50,070 --> 00:06:51,509 cutting room floor once it's 223 00:06:51,510 --> 00:06:53,429 condensed into a story that's 224 00:06:53,430 --> 00:06:55,349 fit for print, as they say. 225 00:06:55,350 --> 00:06:57,589 And and th there are gems, 226 00:06:57,590 --> 00:07:00,149 jewels, there's nuance and texture 227 00:07:00,150 --> 00:07:02,069 that if if you if it 228 00:07:02,070 --> 00:07:04,709 were just left to an article 229 00:07:04,710 --> 00:07:06,629 or an occasional piece or or 230 00:07:06,630 --> 00:07:08,469 what have you, it wouldn't do 231 00:07:08,470 --> 00:07:09,829 the full story justice. 232 00:07:09,830 --> 00:07:11,829 So a big part of what Voses 233 00:07:11,830 --> 00:07:14,069 seems to me contributes 234 00:07:14,070 --> 00:07:15,989 is having a much more full and 235 00:07:15,990 --> 00:07:18,389 rich story that's preserved. 236 00:07:18,390 --> 00:07:20,229 It's the preservation aspect 237 00:07:20,230 --> 00:07:22,309 of it and that and and having 238 00:07:22,310 --> 00:07:24,229 the complete story as well, it seems 239 00:07:24,230 --> 00:07:25,259 to me. 240 00:07:25,260 --> 00:07:26,619 That's such a great point, David, 241 00:07:26,620 --> 00:07:27,739 because it is one of my 242 00:07:27,740 --> 00:07:29,579 frustrations. If y probably 243 00:07:29,580 --> 00:07:30,859 in your career you've seen you've 244 00:07:30,860 --> 00:07:31,979 done the same thing where you've 245 00:07:31,980 --> 00:07:33,819 interviewed somebody and what 246 00:07:33,820 --> 00:07:35,740 ends up on the air is just a small 247 00:07:36,750 --> 00:07:38,269 small piece of what they said. 248 00:07:38,270 --> 00:07:39,949 It is frustrating. 249 00:07:39,950 --> 00:07:41,869 But it is true that that the that 250 00:07:41,870 --> 00:07:43,869 the real gold is that full 251 00:07:43,870 --> 00:07:45,389 interview. And one of my 252 00:07:45,390 --> 00:07:47,469 frustrations is that when 253 00:07:47,470 --> 00:07:49,469 people look at our website, 254 00:07:49,470 --> 00:07:51,789 vocescenter.org, 255 00:07:52,830 --> 00:07:54,589 if they look at our website they see 256 00:07:54,590 --> 00:07:56,269 the stories that have come out of 257 00:07:56,270 --> 00:07:58,269 those interviews, some people think 258 00:07:58,270 --> 00:07:59,709 that that is the oral history 259 00:07:59,710 --> 00:08:00,429 project. 260 00:08:00,430 --> 00:08:01,049 Right. 261 00:08:01,050 --> 00:08:02,809 And it's not. It is a journalistic 262 00:08:02,810 --> 00:08:04,159 interpretation of the interview. 263 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:04,599 Mm-hmm. 264 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:06,679 So to look at to see the entire 265 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:08,759 interview, you either have to 266 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:10,599 go to the repository, 267 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,439 which is the Nettie Lee Benson Latin 268 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,599 American collection on campus, 269 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,279 or we are trying to put as many 270 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,839 interviews as we can on YouTube. 271 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:20,839 So when you go to YouTube, 272 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:22,599 you can look up by collection like 273 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:24,599 World War II collection and you 274 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:26,279 can see some interviews of people 275 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,199 that we interviewed twenty five, 276 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,039 twenty-six years ago at the 277 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:31,239 very beginning. 278 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,079 And most of these people are no 279 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:34,279 longer with us. 280 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,119 But that is that is the the 281 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:37,959 beauty of having that 282 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,879 w that it can be those interviews 283 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:41,719 can be interpreted and 284 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:43,319 understood in different ways by 285 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:44,679 different people depending on your 286 00:08:44,680 --> 00:08:45,949 on your perspective. 287 00:08:45,950 --> 00:08:47,709 Yeah. I w I want to dig a little bit 288 00:08:47,710 --> 00:08:49,389 deeper into your early years as a 289 00:08:49,390 --> 00:08:51,309 reporter, which obviously shaped 290 00:08:51,310 --> 00:08:53,069 a lot of your appreciation for for 291 00:08:53,070 --> 00:08:56,189 this narrative approach that Vosis 292 00:08:56,190 --> 00:08:58,429 i has has developed. 293 00:08:58,430 --> 00:09:00,269 I understand that well 294 00:09:00,270 --> 00:09:02,269 before Vosis was initially 295 00:09:02,270 --> 00:09:04,189 conceived, you saw a need 296 00:09:04,190 --> 00:09:06,429 for more lat Latino representation 297 00:09:06,430 --> 00:09:07,789 in the industry at large. 298 00:09:07,790 --> 00:09:09,629 You were, I gather, among the 299 00:09:09,630 --> 00:09:11,229 committee that founded the National 300 00:09:11,230 --> 00:09:12,909 Association of Hispanic Journalists. 301 00:09:12,910 --> 00:09:13,869 Do I have that right? 302 00:09:13,870 --> 00:09:14,829 That is correct. 303 00:09:14,830 --> 00:09:16,349 Tell us a little bit about what you 304 00:09:16,350 --> 00:09:17,549 were hoping to accomplish there. 305 00:09:18,860 --> 00:09:20,539 Well, you know, I was a student here 306 00:09:20,540 --> 00:09:22,619 at U T and I graduated 307 00:09:22,620 --> 00:09:24,769 from U T in nineteen seventy six. 308 00:09:24,770 --> 00:09:25,369 Mm-hmm. 309 00:09:25,370 --> 00:09:27,369 And even in the seventies 310 00:09:27,370 --> 00:09:29,609 we were looking at the newspapers 311 00:09:29,610 --> 00:09:31,529 and the Daily Texas and we a lot 312 00:09:31,530 --> 00:09:33,688 of us did work at the Daily Texan, 313 00:09:33,689 --> 00:09:35,448 but the the number of stories that 314 00:09:35,449 --> 00:09:36,889 we could that we found in the Daily 315 00:09:36,890 --> 00:09:38,889 Texan or in the Austin newspaper, 316 00:09:38,890 --> 00:09:40,809 San Antonio newspapers, was 317 00:09:40,810 --> 00:09:42,649 really, really there were very few 318 00:09:42,650 --> 00:09:44,249 that were about the Latino 319 00:09:44,250 --> 00:09:45,369 experience. 320 00:09:45,370 --> 00:09:47,289 So what we didn't know was we 321 00:09:47,290 --> 00:09:48,729 didn't realize that the Kerner 322 00:09:48,730 --> 00:09:50,489 Commission report had come out and 323 00:09:50,490 --> 00:09:52,489 they had looked at the same issues 324 00:09:52,490 --> 00:09:54,568 of the the news new 325 00:09:54,569 --> 00:09:56,649 media was largely told 326 00:09:56,650 --> 00:09:58,489 through the perspective of 327 00:09:58,490 --> 00:10:00,169 people that were not part of these 328 00:10:00,170 --> 00:10:02,328 quote unquote minority communities. 329 00:10:02,329 --> 00:10:04,249 So our stories kept on getting lost. 330 00:10:04,250 --> 00:10:05,929 And so we were very aware of that. 331 00:10:05,930 --> 00:10:07,369 We were very you know, we as 332 00:10:07,370 --> 00:10:08,889 students were very aware of that. 333 00:10:08,890 --> 00:10:10,729 And we did a conference here in 334 00:10:10,730 --> 00:10:12,568 nineteen seventy-five that 335 00:10:12,569 --> 00:10:14,409 brought in people from all over the 336 00:10:14,410 --> 00:10:16,249 country to look 337 00:10:16,250 --> 00:10:18,568 at some of the issues facing Latinos 338 00:10:18,569 --> 00:10:20,568 in in the news media and 339 00:10:20,569 --> 00:10:22,409 what it meant to be part 340 00:10:22,410 --> 00:10:24,088 of the news media and try to get 341 00:10:24,089 --> 00:10:25,529 those stories told in the news 342 00:10:25,530 --> 00:10:27,289 media. So that it it really goes 343 00:10:27,290 --> 00:10:28,649 back to my college days. 344 00:10:28,650 --> 00:10:30,729 Well, flash forward, I ended 345 00:10:30,730 --> 00:10:32,729 up going to the Boston Globe 346 00:10:32,730 --> 00:10:34,568 and I was working at the Boston 347 00:10:34,569 --> 00:10:36,649 Globe from nineteen seventy 348 00:10:36,650 --> 00:10:38,489 nine to nineteen eighty two. 349 00:10:38,490 --> 00:10:40,409 And at the Boston Globe I was 350 00:10:40,410 --> 00:10:42,489 the first Hispanic they ever hired 351 00:10:42,490 --> 00:10:44,009 and there were you know, I had a lot 352 00:10:44,010 --> 00:10:46,249 of of black friends 353 00:10:46,250 --> 00:10:48,169 there and we would meet and we 354 00:10:48,170 --> 00:10:50,088 would talk about how can 355 00:10:50,089 --> 00:10:51,929 we get more perspective into 356 00:10:51,930 --> 00:10:54,088 the newspaper, how can we champion 357 00:10:54,089 --> 00:10:55,139 our stories. 358 00:10:55,140 --> 00:10:57,139 So we we we tried to 359 00:10:57,140 --> 00:10:58,979 to do as much as we could, 360 00:10:58,980 --> 00:11:00,979 but it was kind of 361 00:11:00,980 --> 00:11:03,059 the the entire thing was 362 00:11:03,060 --> 00:11:04,259 because we didn't have a lot of 363 00:11:04,260 --> 00:11:06,179 editors who could say, Well, that's 364 00:11:06,180 --> 00:11:07,539 a great story idea. 365 00:11:07,540 --> 00:11:09,219 And we didn't have enough reporters 366 00:11:09,220 --> 00:11:11,379 saying that story needs to be told 367 00:11:11,380 --> 00:11:13,219 and and it needs to be placed in 368 00:11:13,220 --> 00:11:15,459 a prominent part of the newspaper, 369 00:11:15,460 --> 00:11:16,739 not buried. 370 00:11:16,740 --> 00:11:19,059 So when I was at the Boston Globe, 371 00:11:19,060 --> 00:11:20,899 I got an invitation to be part 372 00:11:20,900 --> 00:11:22,899 of committee to 373 00:11:22,900 --> 00:11:24,579 plan a conference of Hispanic 374 00:11:24,580 --> 00:11:25,938 journalists. 375 00:11:25,939 --> 00:11:28,099 And that took place in nineteen 376 00:11:28,100 --> 00:11:29,938 eighty-two in San Diego. 377 00:11:29,939 --> 00:11:31,779 So we planned this thing for I 378 00:11:31,780 --> 00:11:33,139 don't remember if it was a year or 379 00:11:33,140 --> 00:11:34,419 whatever, but that but I was part of 380 00:11:34,420 --> 00:11:35,379 that committee. 381 00:11:35,380 --> 00:11:37,779 And I made sure at that point 382 00:11:37,780 --> 00:11:39,779 to reach out to as many Hispanic 383 00:11:39,780 --> 00:11:41,938 journalists in the New England 384 00:11:41,939 --> 00:11:43,938 region as I possibly could. 385 00:11:43,939 --> 00:11:45,779 And and so that was kind of 386 00:11:45,780 --> 00:11:48,099 the beginning of my involvement 387 00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:49,859 in what ended up being the National 388 00:11:49,860 --> 00:11:51,619 Association of Hispanic Journalists. 389 00:11:51,620 --> 00:11:53,379 But in San Diego at that conference 390 00:11:53,380 --> 00:11:55,219 in nineteen eighty two, 391 00:11:55,220 --> 00:11:56,739 there were something like seven 392 00:11:56,740 --> 00:11:58,019 hundred people at this conference. 393 00:11:58,020 --> 00:11:59,539 I had never seen so many Hispanic 394 00:11:59,540 --> 00:12:01,379 journalists in one place. 395 00:12:01,380 --> 00:12:03,299 And we had some of the 396 00:12:03,300 --> 00:12:05,459 same problems 397 00:12:05,460 --> 00:12:07,299 that sometimes we'd have what we 398 00:12:07,300 --> 00:12:08,818 thought was a really important story 399 00:12:08,819 --> 00:12:11,059 idea and it would get shot down. 400 00:12:11,060 --> 00:12:13,059 Or we had a really important story 401 00:12:13,060 --> 00:12:14,659 and it got buried. 402 00:12:14,660 --> 00:12:16,979 And and we didn't have 403 00:12:16,980 --> 00:12:18,818 just by being able to talk about 404 00:12:18,819 --> 00:12:20,659 these issues and try to come up 405 00:12:20,660 --> 00:12:22,659 with solutions that was so 406 00:12:22,660 --> 00:12:23,660 important to all of us. 407 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:28,879 That was a conversation between 408 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:30,959 Voss's founder Maggie Rivas 409 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:31,839 Rodriguez. 410 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:33,438 She was speaking with the Texas 411 00:12:33,439 --> 00:12:35,119 Standards David Brown. 412 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,039 You can hear their full interview at 413 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:38,879 Texas Standard.org. 414 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,399 And we're gonna have a link in 415 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:42,559 today's podcast show notes. 416 00:12:42,560 --> 00:12:45,679 That is at KUT.org 417 00:12:45,680 --> 00:12:47,679 slash signal. 418 00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:49,519 A quick note from the 419 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:51,439 KUT Newsroom happened 420 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:52,719 late yesterday afternoon. 421 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,319 Travis County is working to 422 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,319 exonerate four young men in the case 423 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,559 known as the Yogurt Shop Murders. 424 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:00,479 It's after Austin police identified 425 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:01,919 the man that they believe was 426 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:03,919 responsible for the 1991 427 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:05,599 killings of four girls. 428 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:07,919 Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen, 429 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,159 Maurice Pierce, and Forrest Wellburn 430 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,079 were all charged in 1999. 431 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,079 APD said in September they 432 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,079 believe Robert Eugene Braschers 433 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:17,039 committed the murders. 434 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:18,879 Brashers died in nineteen 435 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:19,759 ninety-nine. 436 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:21,679 We have more from KUT's 437 00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:23,039 government accountability reporter 438 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:24,239 Andrew Weber. 439 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,439 That is at KUT.org. 440 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,119 And we're gonna have more Austin 441 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:30,959 Signal coming up in 442 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:31,999 just a moment. 443 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,079 You are listening to community 444 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,679 powered public radio. 445 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:37,519 This is KUT News 446 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,519 90.5 or on the 447 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,679 K U T app and online 448 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:45,360 at K U T.org. 449 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,289 This is Austin Signal. 450 00:13:55,290 --> 00:13:57,129 Thank you for tuning in. 451 00:13:57,130 --> 00:13:59,049 The holiday season is upon 452 00:13:59,050 --> 00:14:01,049 us and it is a nostalgic 453 00:14:01,050 --> 00:14:02,968 one, taking time to listen back 454 00:14:02,969 --> 00:14:04,809 to stories about who we are as 455 00:14:04,810 --> 00:14:06,649 a people and why we do the 456 00:14:06,650 --> 00:14:08,649 things that we do and partake in the 457 00:14:08,650 --> 00:14:10,088 traditions that we do. 458 00:14:10,089 --> 00:14:11,929 Traditions of old old 459 00:14:11,930 --> 00:14:13,848 Austin particularly, like the 460 00:14:13,849 --> 00:14:15,688 37th Street lights, 461 00:14:15,689 --> 00:14:17,369 the installation slinging lights 462 00:14:17,370 --> 00:14:19,289 from house to house as cars and 463 00:14:19,290 --> 00:14:20,489 people pass through. 464 00:14:20,490 --> 00:14:22,009 How did it come to be? 465 00:14:22,010 --> 00:14:24,088 Well, somebody asked our ATX Wayne 466 00:14:24,089 --> 00:14:25,208 project about it. 467 00:14:25,209 --> 00:14:27,688 Let's take it back to a fresh-eared 468 00:14:27,689 --> 00:14:29,688 2019 Cherokee 469 00:14:29,689 --> 00:14:30,689 Honel. 470 00:14:31,849 --> 00:14:33,848 I already had plans to head over and 471 00:14:33,849 --> 00:14:35,848 see the lights on 37th Street this 472 00:14:35,849 --> 00:14:37,688 year. Then someone told me they 473 00:14:37,689 --> 00:14:39,369 wanted to come along and check it 474 00:14:39,370 --> 00:14:41,369 out. So off we went to explore 475 00:14:41,370 --> 00:14:43,289 the street pulsing with color and 476 00:14:43,290 --> 00:14:45,448 discover the origins of the lights. 477 00:14:45,449 --> 00:14:47,328 Just say like, my name is my name. 478 00:14:47,329 --> 00:14:48,199 My name is Anna Quijano. 479 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:49,169 Wait, do it again. 480 00:14:49,170 --> 00:14:50,170 Hi, my name is Anna Quijano and 481 00:14:50,849 --> 00:14:52,929 we're at the thirty seventh street 482 00:14:52,930 --> 00:14:53,930 light show. 483 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:55,920 And how how do you know me? 484 00:14:57,260 --> 00:14:58,260 I am Jerry's mom. 485 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:01,879 She'd just driven up from San 486 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:03,479 Antonio and we're looking out as the 487 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:04,839 darkest part of the night is 488 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:06,439 beginning to be illuminated with 489 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,679 glowing bulbs of electric color. 490 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,999 There's blue, red, green, yellow, 491 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,829 and everything in between. 492 00:15:12,830 --> 00:15:15,069 The lights are connected between 493 00:15:15,070 --> 00:15:16,109 right over the street. 494 00:15:16,110 --> 00:15:17,629 I mean over it looks like it could 495 00:15:17,630 --> 00:15:19,949 be power lines. 496 00:15:19,950 --> 00:15:21,789 But they're just like roped from 497 00:15:21,790 --> 00:15:23,469 across the street from each other. 498 00:15:23,470 --> 00:15:24,389 Looks pretty cool. 499 00:15:24,390 --> 00:15:25,909 She was probably thinking the same 500 00:15:25,910 --> 00:15:28,229 thing our question asker Liz Artega 501 00:15:28,230 --> 00:15:29,589 thought when she used to visit the 502 00:15:29,590 --> 00:15:30,709 lights as a kid. 503 00:15:30,710 --> 00:15:32,869 Yeah, they look pretty and all, 504 00:15:32,870 --> 00:15:34,749 but is this safe? 505 00:15:34,750 --> 00:15:36,109 You know, I went with my parents one 506 00:15:36,110 --> 00:15:37,949 year and my dad was an electrician 507 00:15:37,950 --> 00:15:39,789 and he was like, Oh man, this is 508 00:15:39,790 --> 00:15:41,669 this is a spider hazard for sure. 509 00:15:41,670 --> 00:15:43,348 Liz grew up in North Austin and 510 00:15:43,349 --> 00:15:45,188 visited the lights back in the early 511 00:15:45,189 --> 00:15:47,188 nineties. The festivities along 512 00:15:47,189 --> 00:15:49,109 the houses of thirty seventh street 513 00:15:49,110 --> 00:15:51,188 set a high bar for Liz's idea 514 00:15:51,189 --> 00:15:52,309 of Christmas. 515 00:15:52,310 --> 00:15:54,149 She just assumed everyone in 516 00:15:54,150 --> 00:15:56,068 central Austin loved Christmas 517 00:15:56,069 --> 00:15:57,909 this much, but not in the 518 00:15:57,910 --> 00:15:59,989 usual Santa Claus, Frosty 519 00:15:59,990 --> 00:16:01,749 the Snowman, chestnuts roasting on 520 00:16:01,750 --> 00:16:03,419 an open fire kind of way. 521 00:16:03,420 --> 00:16:05,098 It was like what made Austin weird. 522 00:16:05,099 --> 00:16:06,218 It was like one of those things. 523 00:16:06,219 --> 00:16:07,659 Like, oh yeah, that's why we call 524 00:16:07,660 --> 00:16:08,458 Austin weird. 525 00:16:08,459 --> 00:16:09,578 It's because we have things like 526 00:16:09,579 --> 00:16:11,578 this around a town around Christmas, 527 00:16:11,579 --> 00:16:12,859 which almost had nothing to do with 528 00:16:12,860 --> 00:16:13,649 Christmas. 529 00:16:13,650 --> 00:16:15,729 And so she wanted to know 530 00:16:15,730 --> 00:16:18,129 who started this odd Christmas 531 00:16:18,130 --> 00:16:19,969 adjacent celebration. 532 00:16:19,970 --> 00:16:21,729 Well, one of the people responsible 533 00:16:21,730 --> 00:16:23,729 for igniting the tradition is Jamie 534 00:16:23,730 --> 00:16:24,609 Lipman. 535 00:16:24,610 --> 00:16:26,448 He moved onto 37th Street in 536 00:16:26,449 --> 00:16:28,049 the late 1970s. 537 00:16:28,050 --> 00:16:29,889 He was stringing up his first set of 538 00:16:29,890 --> 00:16:31,409 lights when someone told him to try 539 00:16:31,410 --> 00:16:33,009 letting them hang straight down for 540 00:16:33,010 --> 00:16:34,179 a change. 541 00:16:34,180 --> 00:16:35,399 Well that's different. 542 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:36,919 So I went with it. 543 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:39,159 And a sort of a tic 544 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:41,239 tac toe cross piece 545 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,159 that I attached the lights to and 546 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,079 then pulled it up with a rope. 547 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:46,759 People could get in the middle of 548 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,819 the strings and spin around. 549 00:16:48,820 --> 00:16:50,499 Pretty soon the other residents on 550 00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:52,259 the street started hanging their own 551 00:16:52,260 --> 00:16:54,179 lights, then Jamie and another 552 00:16:54,180 --> 00:16:55,779 neighbor decided they wanted their 553 00:16:55,780 --> 00:16:58,179 houses to be connected by lights. 554 00:16:58,180 --> 00:17:00,099 Across the road, over 555 00:17:00,100 --> 00:17:02,259 someone's house who had no lights, 556 00:17:02,260 --> 00:17:04,499 you know, just in the trees, 557 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:06,659 and we connected and 558 00:17:06,660 --> 00:17:08,818 that was sort of the big 559 00:17:08,819 --> 00:17:10,818 catalyst for people to oh, 560 00:17:10,819 --> 00:17:12,739 I wanna put up lights, I wanna do 561 00:17:12,740 --> 00:17:14,419 this. So we ran with it. 562 00:17:14,420 --> 00:17:16,259 Jamie says the 37th Street lights 563 00:17:16,260 --> 00:17:18,099 hit their heyday in the late 80s 564 00:17:18,100 --> 00:17:20,019 and early 90s, but as the 565 00:17:20,020 --> 00:17:21,939 light displays grew, so did 566 00:17:21,940 --> 00:17:23,779 concern that the whole thing might 567 00:17:23,780 --> 00:17:25,539 be a safety hazard. 568 00:17:25,540 --> 00:17:27,859 Then the blackout of 1993 569 00:17:27,860 --> 00:17:29,779 happened. Jamie says he woke up 570 00:17:29,780 --> 00:17:31,779 one morning and walked out to find a 571 00:17:31,780 --> 00:17:33,539 city worker on a cherry picker 572 00:17:33,540 --> 00:17:34,899 removing the lights. 573 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:36,819 So, as a form of protest, the 574 00:17:36,820 --> 00:17:38,979 residents on 37th Street banded 575 00:17:38,980 --> 00:17:40,499 together and shut down the whole 576 00:17:40,500 --> 00:17:42,339 thing. Then they told upset 577 00:17:42,340 --> 00:17:43,859 visitors that they'd have to take it 578 00:17:43,860 --> 00:17:46,339 up with then Mayor Bruce Todd. 579 00:17:46,340 --> 00:17:47,589 So they did. 580 00:17:47,590 --> 00:17:49,509 Two days later they came back 581 00:17:49,510 --> 00:17:51,349 and put all the lights back up. 582 00:17:51,350 --> 00:17:53,189 And Mayor Todd walked 583 00:17:53,190 --> 00:17:55,109 down the street and said, Well, we 584 00:17:55,110 --> 00:17:56,629 messed with Christmas, we made a 585 00:17:56,630 --> 00:17:57,689 mistake. 586 00:17:57,690 --> 00:17:59,369 The lights burned bright until the 587 00:17:59,370 --> 00:18:01,209 mid-2000s when Jamie and some 588 00:18:01,210 --> 00:18:02,809 of his fellow neighbors moved out of 589 00:18:02,810 --> 00:18:04,729 the area. But thanks to the help of 590 00:18:04,730 --> 00:18:06,489 some new people on the block, the 591 00:18:06,490 --> 00:18:08,409 past few Christmases on 37th 592 00:18:08,410 --> 00:18:10,089 Street have been getting brighter 593 00:18:10,090 --> 00:18:12,169 and stranger, and that brings 594 00:18:12,170 --> 00:18:13,689 us back to this year. 595 00:18:13,690 --> 00:18:15,529 One of the first displays my mom and 596 00:18:15,530 --> 00:18:17,529 I bumped into was a science 597 00:18:17,530 --> 00:18:19,449 fair put on by stuffed 598 00:18:19,450 --> 00:18:20,329 animals. 599 00:18:20,330 --> 00:18:22,249 Which stuffing type exhibits the 600 00:18:22,250 --> 00:18:23,769 greatest cuddling force? 601 00:18:23,770 --> 00:18:26,089 Do stuffed balloon animals withstand 602 00:18:26,090 --> 00:18:27,688 the weather better than traditional 603 00:18:27,689 --> 00:18:28,809 balloon animals? 604 00:18:28,810 --> 00:18:30,569 What should I put in my pouch? 605 00:18:30,570 --> 00:18:31,609 Says the kangy. 606 00:18:31,610 --> 00:18:33,369 Does proximity to stuffed animals 607 00:18:33,370 --> 00:18:34,569 affect plant growth? 608 00:18:34,570 --> 00:18:36,729 The charmin bears wear underwear 609 00:18:36,730 --> 00:18:37,849 but not clothing. 610 00:18:37,850 --> 00:18:39,210 Why can't we see it? 611 00:18:40,750 --> 00:18:43,389 So not your typical 612 00:18:43,390 --> 00:18:45,329 light show so far. 613 00:18:45,330 --> 00:18:46,449 Not at all. 614 00:18:46,450 --> 00:18:48,129 Not all the houses on the streets 615 00:18:48,130 --> 00:18:49,969 are decked out in lights, but a 616 00:18:49,970 --> 00:18:51,329 good chunk of them are. 617 00:18:51,330 --> 00:18:53,169 People walk along both sidewalks 618 00:18:53,170 --> 00:18:55,329 dipping in and out of yards 619 00:18:55,330 --> 00:18:57,009 while cars drive down the road 620 00:18:57,010 --> 00:18:58,769 moving almost as slowly as the 621 00:18:58,770 --> 00:19:00,609 fascinated pedestrians. 622 00:19:00,610 --> 00:19:02,769 And the displays, yeah, 623 00:19:02,770 --> 00:19:04,130 they're still a little weird. 624 00:19:06,770 --> 00:19:08,689 I can't see. 625 00:19:08,690 --> 00:19:09,889 I think we have an idea. 626 00:19:09,890 --> 00:19:11,729 Oh, he's pole dancing. 627 00:19:13,180 --> 00:19:14,859 We walk down the streets weaving 628 00:19:14,860 --> 00:19:16,379 through the people and houses, 629 00:19:16,380 --> 00:19:18,299 searching out the perfect spots for 630 00:19:18,300 --> 00:19:20,139 my now influencer mom to 631 00:19:20,140 --> 00:19:21,499 snap some photos. 632 00:19:21,500 --> 00:19:22,699 I gotta document some of this on my 633 00:19:22,700 --> 00:19:23,700 phone. 634 00:19:23,949 --> 00:19:25,698 Even though I'm doing a story on it. 635 00:19:25,699 --> 00:19:27,619 Yeah, for my for my Instagram. 636 00:19:27,620 --> 00:19:28,620 Hello. 637 00:19:33,540 --> 00:19:34,819 I remember coming here with my 638 00:19:34,820 --> 00:19:36,739 family as both a young 639 00:19:36,740 --> 00:19:38,339 kid but then a lot also as a 640 00:19:38,340 --> 00:19:39,219 teenager. 641 00:19:39,220 --> 00:19:40,898 It was one of my favorite spots to 642 00:19:40,899 --> 00:19:42,019 go with many of my friends that 643 00:19:42,020 --> 00:19:43,359 lived around this neighborhood. 644 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:45,198 Robert Foster moved to 37th 645 00:19:45,199 --> 00:19:46,718 Street in 2015. 646 00:19:46,719 --> 00:19:48,559 He started rattling his neighbors to 647 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:50,239 gage their interest, and they 648 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,638 decided to bring glory back to 37th 649 00:19:52,639 --> 00:19:53,269 Street. 650 00:19:53,270 --> 00:19:55,029 The first year it was very small, 651 00:19:55,030 --> 00:19:56,468 but there was just these two kids 652 00:19:56,469 --> 00:19:57,908 that were just having the absolute 653 00:19:57,909 --> 00:19:59,109 best time of their life right 654 00:19:59,110 --> 00:20:00,869 outside my window during the light. 655 00:20:00,870 --> 00:20:02,228 And I just realized at that point 656 00:20:02,229 --> 00:20:03,908 that like we we just had to do it. 657 00:20:03,909 --> 00:20:05,269 Like we had to bring a little weird 658 00:20:05,270 --> 00:20:07,169 and little joy back to Austin. 659 00:20:07,170 --> 00:20:09,009 He says the lights on thirty seventh 660 00:20:09,010 --> 00:20:11,009 street embody the idea that 661 00:20:11,010 --> 00:20:12,929 Austinites are just a little 662 00:20:12,930 --> 00:20:13,559 different. 663 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:14,678 We come together. 664 00:20:14,679 --> 00:20:16,279 We also come together and we don't 665 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,359 want just to see Santa Claus 666 00:20:18,360 --> 00:20:19,799 and like a Christmas tree. 667 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:21,479 We wanna be creative, we wanna be 668 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,638 unique, we wanna revel 669 00:20:23,639 --> 00:20:25,479 in like the diversity that the 670 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:26,339 city has. 671 00:20:26,340 --> 00:20:28,259 Some people say there isn't much 672 00:20:28,260 --> 00:20:30,579 weird left in Austin anymore. 673 00:20:30,580 --> 00:20:31,698 For me, yeah. 674 00:20:31,699 --> 00:20:33,779 The lights were weird and they were 675 00:20:33,780 --> 00:20:36,019 cool. But what did my mom 676 00:20:36,020 --> 00:20:36,898 think? 677 00:20:36,899 --> 00:20:39,059 Would you say that 678 00:20:39,060 --> 00:20:41,300 that this experience was weird? 679 00:20:43,010 --> 00:20:44,849 Some of it was weird. 680 00:20:44,850 --> 00:20:45,729 Not a lot of it. 681 00:20:45,730 --> 00:20:47,569 A lot of it was just very 682 00:20:47,570 --> 00:20:49,649 creative to me. 683 00:20:49,650 --> 00:20:51,649 There's a few weird things, but I'm 684 00:20:51,650 --> 00:20:53,009 I wouldn't call they need to get 685 00:20:53,010 --> 00:20:54,239 weirder. 686 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,239 Jerry Quijano, K U T 687 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:57,240 News. 688 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:01,599 That story was reported in 689 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,599 December of 2019. 690 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:05,439 That was before our very 691 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:07,599 first AT Explained live 692 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:09,679 show. And our next AT 693 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:11,839 Explained Live Show is in the works, 694 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:13,599 and the show date is set. 695 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,679 It is May 21st next year 696 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:17,519 at the Bass Concert Hall, and 697 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,279 tickets are now available. 698 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:21,279 You can get yours by going to K U 699 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:22,959 T.org and finding out more. 700 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:24,159 We're gonna have a link in the 701 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:25,279 podcast show notes. 702 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,279 Again, that's KUT.org 703 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:28,639 slash signal. 704 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:30,479 And don't forget you can subscribe 705 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,559 to the ATXplained podcast 706 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:34,719 as well as Austin Signal 707 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:36,639 so that you never miss a thing that 708 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:38,319 we're working on, because we are 709 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:40,559 staying busy here at the KUT 710 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:42,399 studios, bringing you everything 711 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,559 that's been going on in Austin. 712 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:46,079 And this week has been a busy one. 713 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,239 KUT City Hall reporter Luz Moreno 714 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,159 Lozano had the story of the 715 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,159 downtown YMCA Town 716 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:53,199 Lake expansion. 717 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:54,639 The idea was brought to council 718 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:55,439 earlier this week. 719 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:56,959 They want to add housing and 720 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,879 restaurants and office space 721 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:00,879 to their current space with a little 722 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:02,319 bit of an expansion and a 723 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:03,439 renovation. 724 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:05,199 KUT's government accountability 725 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:06,959 reporter Andrew Weber also had the 726 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,199 story of an Austin Energy employee 727 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,199 accused of defrauding the city 728 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,039 utility out of more than a 729 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:13,919 million dollars. 730 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,319 These stories are at KUT.org 731 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,239 in addition to K U T's 732 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:20,239 healthcare reporter Olivia Almridge 733 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,139 covering the flu season. 734 00:22:22,140 --> 00:22:23,979 That we are in and going into 735 00:22:23,980 --> 00:22:24,859 through February. 736 00:22:24,860 --> 00:22:27,179 We have Waymo's passing AISD 737 00:22:27,180 --> 00:22:28,219 school busses. 738 00:22:28,220 --> 00:22:30,139 And we're wrapping up 2025. 739 00:22:30,140 --> 00:22:32,219 Our Sister Station K U T X 740 00:22:32,220 --> 00:22:34,139 is looking back at the year that 741 00:22:34,140 --> 00:22:36,059 was in Austin Music with the 742 00:22:36,060 --> 00:22:37,739 artists of the month and their 743 00:22:37,740 --> 00:22:39,579 favorite Austin songs 744 00:22:39,580 --> 00:22:40,779 of 2025. 745 00:22:40,780 --> 00:22:42,779 Again, K U T.org 746 00:22:42,780 --> 00:22:44,619 slash signal, or you can 747 00:22:44,620 --> 00:22:46,619 subscribe wherever you listen 748 00:22:46,620 --> 00:22:48,059 to your shows. 749 00:22:48,060 --> 00:22:50,059 Thank you for spending your week 750 00:22:50,060 --> 00:22:50,859 with us. 751 00:22:50,860 --> 00:22:52,939 We are listener-powered public 752 00:22:52,940 --> 00:22:54,859 radio, and we couldn't do what we 753 00:22:54,860 --> 00:22:56,539 do every single day without the help 754 00:22:56,540 --> 00:22:58,459 of our team. Kristen Gabrera 755 00:22:58,460 --> 00:22:59,579 is our managing producer. 756 00:22:59,580 --> 00:23:01,819 Rayna Sevilla is our technical 757 00:23:01,820 --> 00:23:03,739 director, and Jimmy Mass 758 00:23:03,740 --> 00:23:05,099 is our showrunner. 759 00:23:05,100 --> 00:23:07,419 I'm your host, Jerry Quijano. 760 00:23:07,420 --> 00:23:09,099 We will talk to you on Monday. 761 00:23:09,100 --> 00:23:10,700 Have a fantastic weekend.