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Pregnant migrant girls are being

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sent to a South Texas shelter where

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both the region and the facility

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lack the necessary care.

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The decision from the Trump

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administration was made against

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objections from officials inside

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the administration.

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That story is a collaborative effort

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between the Texas newsroom and the

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California newsroom, and we're gonna

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have more from their reporting

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coming up on today's show.

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The Austin Signal is a production

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of KUT News, hosted by

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Jerry Quijano.

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Plus, a new housing project in East

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Austin is combining affordable rent

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with support from musicians as

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they try to do their part to allow

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artists to afford to live in the

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city, what they've got going on, and

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how this could lay out a path for

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future projects.

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And new class times for students and

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staff in the Georgetown School

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District. The bell is about to

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ring. Do not be late, because

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Austin Signal is coming up next.

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Howdy out there.

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Thank you for tuning in.

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This is Austin Signal,

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and we are coming to you from

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listener-powered public radio,

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KUT News.

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I'm your host, Jerry Keconnell.

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It is Wednesday, February 11th.

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We're glad to be part of your

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day.

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Our top story, the Trump

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administration is sending pregnant

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migrant girls to a shelter in

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deep south Texas.

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The shelter is flagged as

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medically inadequate.

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And advocates for the children

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inside are worried that they're

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being concentrated here in Texas

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because of the state's abortion ban.

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This story is a collaboration

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between the Texas newsroom and the

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California newsroom.

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Mo's Bouchelle has been covering

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immigration for the Texas Newsroom.

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He reported on this story and he's

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with us today on Austin Signal.

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Welcome, Mo's.

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Always a pleasure, Jerry.

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So this is a collaborative story

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between the Texas New Room and the

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California news room.

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Tell us a little bit about how this

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story came together.

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How did you hear about this?

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Yeah, so I was working with a

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reporter for the California

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Newsroom, a guy named Mark

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Bettencourt, who's actually based

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in D.C., who started

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hearing from people within

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the Trump administration,

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within the Office of Refugee

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Resettlement, that there was

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concern there over

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this new policy of concentrating

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pregnant unaccompanied minors

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at one particular

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shelter in South Texas.

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Now, obviously, we are in Texas here

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in Austin.

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Uh... The uh... Did the policy shift

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is coming out of dc and

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so it seemed to make sense to kind

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of work together to try to try to

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get to the bottom was happening here

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and you actually made a visit down

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to south texas yeah i went i went

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down to the real grand valley uh...

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Uh... Talk to a bunch of folks down

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there and visited uh...

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San benito texAS where this

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particular shelters located

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This shelter is at the heart of your

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story. Can you tell us about the

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policy that's sending pregnant

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minors to this shelter?

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Absolutely so uh...

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What started last summer was a

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directive went out in the office of

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refugee resettlement is the agency

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responsible for the care of

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uh... Uh... Kids uh...

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In you know immigrant kids in the in

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its in its custody uh...

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The policy went out to concentrate

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all pregnant minors

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in this one particular place

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uh... It's uh...

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Shelter run by uh...

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For-profit company called urban

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strategies in San Benito, Texas.

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And this is a policy that

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breaks with long-standing practice

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at the Office of Refugee

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Resettlement. What was that old

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policy? So traditionally,

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the idea has been if you have a

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pregnant girl in US custody,

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she will be sent to whatever place

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might best accommodate

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her, a part of the country

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and a center that has

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the capacity to deal with

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potentially high-risk pregnancies,

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which if you are a minor and

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you're pregnant, then you are by

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definition high risk.

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In this case, the directive

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went out to say, no, actually we

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want all of the detainees

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who fit this description, all

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pregnant girls sent to this one

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particular place.

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That was a break from long standing

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practice.

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And why San Benito, I mean it's

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this tiny town in the border,

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in the valley of Texas,

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why San benito of all places?

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So a lot of the people that

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we've heard from within ORR

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and people outside, I should

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say as well, state with

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great confidence that this has to do

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with access to abortion.

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In the first Trump term, there was

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an ongoing effort to deprive

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detained girls access to abortions

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while they were in U.S.

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Custody.

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And in this case, they believe

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that by sending these girls

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to Texas, which has some of the

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strictest abortion restrictions

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in the country of almost complete

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ban, you will eventually

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kind of deprive

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them of access to abortion by

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having them here.

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Now, this will require other changes

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in rules at the federal level, but

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they see this as a step in that

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direction.

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Did these immigrant children who are

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in custody of federal officials, did

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they have any kind of protections

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prior to this policy

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change?

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Yeah, I mentioned in the first Trump

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term, there was an effort to stop

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them from getting abortions

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and that was litigated

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in 2017.

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There was a lawsuit that led to

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it's kind of a long story, but

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essentially led to a what

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you might call an agreement that

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then was translated into policy

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under the Biden administration.

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The policy was no,

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if there is a minor in custody

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that wants wants an

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abortion, she she has the

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right to that access no matter where

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she's kept in the country.

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Currently, it appears the Trump

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administration is changing those

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rules. Once those rules are changed,

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and you are detained

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in Texas, many

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people fear that will restrict

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or end their access

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to abortion.

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The article is over at KUT.org.

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It has a couple of photos of the

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shelter.

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One thing I wanted to ask Moe is

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that as you've been covering

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immigration for the Texas newsroom

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for the last few months, you have

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been working or trying to get

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information from federal officials

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more often. I feel like that is

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something that's happening across

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our newsroom.

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How difficult was it to build

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sources to be able to report out a

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story like this?

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Uh... We had a lot of trouble

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talking to people you know multiple

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emails and gotten went on answered

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uh... Eventually we did get some

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uh... Kind of boilerplate uh...

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Answers uh... In email from from

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federal agencies.

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I went down in person to

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this shelter just to kind

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of knock on the door after getting

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no reply to our emails for a

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long time.

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And that also, maybe not

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surprisingly, didn't yield great

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results.

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But we do have all the replies we

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got in our story online,

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what we did receive from them.

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We quote them in their responses and

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we quote our named sources

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within the government who often

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who in many cases might

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contradict what the official

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responses might be is

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there anything else that I haven't

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asked you about that you I mean I

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know it's hard to just jump into a

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really well yeah I mean the only

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Oh, yeah, I mean, the only the only
so

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so another part of this is just the

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fact that there's a lot of concern

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we have heard within our and then

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also experts we talked to outside

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of the agency, that this

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is not in the best interest of

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these kids in many cases,

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you know, if you had your choice of

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anywhere in the country to send

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pregnant minors, who

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are again, medically vulnerable by

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definition, why choose

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a part of the country that Struggles

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with some- Some healthcare access

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issues already right you know you

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could send them to a city in texas

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that has better access to

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specialized care or you can send

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them. To any other part of the

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country that has a better access two

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specialized care so you

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know the the deep concern on

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the part of many people is that

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whatever is happening is on its

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face.

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Bad for these kids that is not in

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their best interest when it comes to

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health and safety.

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We've been speaking with Moe's

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Bouchelle. He has been covering

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immigration for the Texas newsroom.

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His latest story was co-reported

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with Mark Betancourt of the

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California newsroom, you can read

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their story at kut.org and

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we're gonna have a link in our show

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notes for today.

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Moe, thanks for talking with us.

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Thank you, Jerry.

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As school districts across the state

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continue working to find creative

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ways to save some money, one

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district north of Austin is

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considering doing so by rearranging

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its school day.

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KUT's Kaylee Hunt reports a

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new bell schedule for Georgetown ISD

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is the district's attempt at cutting

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down on transportation costs.

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Georgetown ISD's newly adopted

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00:08:32,730 --> 00:08:34,548
Bell schedule includes earlier

289
00:08:34,549 --> 00:08:36,089
start times for the district's

290
00:08:36,090 --> 00:08:38,168
elementary and high schools.

291
00:08:38,169 --> 00:08:39,589
Middle schools will also start

292
00:08:39,590 --> 00:08:40,569
later.

293
00:08:40,570 --> 00:08:42,308
The district superintendent, Devin

294
00:08:42,309 --> 00:08:44,369
Patteville, says the idea is

295
00:08:44,370 --> 00:08:46,149
to make enough of a gap between

296
00:08:46,150 --> 00:08:48,209
start times so the same bus can

297
00:08:48,210 --> 00:08:50,139
serve all three school levels.

298
00:08:50,140 --> 00:08:52,079
So by spreading out with

299
00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,319
about 45 to 50 minutes between

300
00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:56,199
each level of schooling, we're able

301
00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,019
to reduce bus routes, which saves

302
00:08:58,020 --> 00:09:00,659
us close to a million dollars.

303
00:09:00,660 --> 00:09:02,539
Right now, the district runs on a

304
00:09:02,540 --> 00:09:04,579
schedule that has 60 minutes between

305
00:09:04,580 --> 00:09:06,179
elementary and high school start

306
00:09:06,180 --> 00:09:07,219
times.

307
00:09:07,220 --> 00:09:08,639
High school and middle school start

308
00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,019
time are only 20 minutes apart.

309
00:09:11,020 --> 00:09:12,859
That means most bus routes are only

310
00:09:12,860 --> 00:09:14,979
able to service two schools,

311
00:09:14,980 --> 00:09:16,499
either an elementary and a high

312
00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:18,239
school, or an elementary and a

313
00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:19,219
middle school.

314
00:09:19,220 --> 00:09:20,799
And that's expensive, says Clint

315
00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,899
Pruitt, Georgetown ISD's Executive

316
00:09:22,900 --> 00:09:24,459
Director of Support Services.

317
00:09:24,460 --> 00:09:26,279
He recently spoke at

318
00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:27,879
a meeting of the district's board of

319
00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:28,899
trustees.

320
00:09:28,900 --> 00:09:30,879
Each route equates to

321
00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,139
between $70,000 to $80,000,

322
00:09:33,140 --> 00:09:35,459
so you can see the potential savings

323
00:09:35,460 --> 00:09:37,319
are considerable if we're

324
00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:39,279
able to implement a balanced

325
00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:40,899
three-tier system.

326
00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:42,499
Superintendent Padaville says the

327
00:09:42,500 --> 00:09:44,279
new bell schedule and the resulting

328
00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,259
savings means the district will

329
00:09:46,260 --> 00:09:47,899
be in a better position to offer

330
00:09:47,900 --> 00:09:50,219
teacher and staff raises next year.

331
00:09:50,220 --> 00:09:51,799
So we're carrying a balanced budget

332
00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,459
into 2026, 27,

333
00:09:54,460 --> 00:09:55,659
but that doesn't allow us to

334
00:09:55,660 --> 00:09:56,939
increase teacher pay.

335
00:09:56,940 --> 00:09:58,739
In order to increase teachers pay,

336
00:09:59,740 --> 00:10:01,319
I have to lead the district in

337
00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,079
essentially eliminating more

338
00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,339
expenses or

339
00:10:05,340 --> 00:10:07,199
going with the deficit budget.

340
00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,149
There's no more new revenue.

341
00:10:09,150 --> 00:10:11,129
Pataville also recently announced

342
00:10:11,130 --> 00:10:12,949
a delay in opening two new

343
00:10:12,950 --> 00:10:15,509
schools until 2027.

344
00:10:15,510 --> 00:10:17,249
Elementary school number 12 and

345
00:10:17,250 --> 00:10:19,349
middle school number 5 were supposed

346
00:10:19,350 --> 00:10:21,149
to open this August.

347
00:10:21,150 --> 00:10:22,929
But Patavilles says the district is

348
00:10:22,930 --> 00:10:24,469
seeing slower than anticipated

349
00:10:24,470 --> 00:10:25,929
enrollment growth.

350
00:10:25,930 --> 00:10:27,629
Right now, the cost of opening the

351
00:10:27,630 --> 00:10:29,399
schools outweighs the benefits.

352
00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,419
When we look at student

353
00:10:31,420 --> 00:10:33,379
enrollment, it's pretty

354
00:10:33,380 --> 00:10:35,519
much tapering off in central Texas

355
00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,779
because of the state of economy and

356
00:10:38,780 --> 00:10:40,759
homeowner interest rates.

357
00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:42,869
Everything's staying real stable.

358
00:10:42,870 --> 00:10:44,689
David de Matthews is a professor

359
00:10:44,690 --> 00:10:46,469
in the Department of Educational

360
00:10:46,470 --> 00:10:48,389
Leadership and Policy at UT

361
00:10:48,390 --> 00:10:49,369
Austin.

362
00:10:49,370 --> 00:10:51,429
In his role, he helps train district

363
00:10:51,430 --> 00:10:53,349
administrators like Pataville.

364
00:10:53,350 --> 00:10:54,169
He says

365
00:10:54,170 --> 00:10:55,709
In a lot of districts across the

366
00:10:55,710 --> 00:10:58,189
state, people are looking everywhere

367
00:10:58,190 --> 00:11:00,129
to tighten their belts

368
00:11:00,130 --> 00:11:01,889
because there's just not enough

369
00:11:01,890 --> 00:11:03,219
money.

370
00:11:03,220 --> 00:11:04,999
DiMathias says saving a million

371
00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:06,759
dollars might not seem like a big

372
00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:08,339
deal when you consider the overall

373
00:11:08,340 --> 00:11:10,059
budget of a school district like

374
00:11:10,060 --> 00:11:11,979
Georgetown ISD.

375
00:11:11,980 --> 00:11:13,939
Last year, its budget was just over

376
00:11:13,940 --> 00:11:15,899
$260 million.

377
00:11:15,900 --> 00:11:18,619
But he says every bit counts.

378
00:11:18,620 --> 00:11:20,579
$1 million is equal to 10

379
00:11:20,580 --> 00:11:22,799
or more teachers' salaries.

380
00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:24,299
I'm Kaylee Hunt in Georgetown.

381
00:11:25,990 --> 00:11:28,029
And this is Austin

382
00:11:28,030 --> 00:11:29,869
Signal. We are listener-powered

383
00:11:29,870 --> 00:11:31,049
public radio.

384
00:11:31,050 --> 00:11:32,709
We're gonna take a break, but after

385
00:11:32,710 --> 00:11:34,309
the break, we're gonna talk a little

386
00:11:34,310 --> 00:11:36,469
Texas music history, a little Austin

387
00:11:36,470 --> 00:11:37,729
music history.

388
00:11:37,730 --> 00:11:38,669
And then we're going to talk about

389
00:11:38,670 --> 00:11:40,849
an affordable housing, a project

390
00:11:40,850 --> 00:11:42,889
that is being set up to keep

391
00:11:42,890 --> 00:11:44,869
those musicians here in Austin,

392
00:11:44,870 --> 00:11:46,629
hopefully for the foreseeable

393
00:11:46,630 --> 00:11:47,509
future.

394
00:11:47,510 --> 00:11:49,109
We've got more about those stories

395
00:11:49,110 --> 00:11:50,789
coming up after this break.

396
00:11:50,790 --> 00:11:51,929
This is Austin signal.

397
00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,299
This is Austin Signal,

398
00:12:00,300 --> 00:12:01,759
welcome back.

399
00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:03,539
Well, many decades and many moons

400
00:12:03,540 --> 00:12:05,659
ago, a set of historic

401
00:12:05,660 --> 00:12:07,519
recordings were created right here

402
00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,659
in Austin, caught on tape by

403
00:12:09,660 --> 00:12:11,959
a 21-year-old kid.

404
00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:13,659
Here's Jason Mellard from the Center

405
00:12:13,660 --> 00:12:15,499
for Texas Music History at Texas

406
00:12:15,500 --> 00:12:17,559
State University to tell us

407
00:12:17,560 --> 00:12:19,239
a little bit about it.

408
00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,039
In our listening to the five soul

409
00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:22,859
souls of Houston, Texas, we are

410
00:12:22,860 --> 00:12:25,039
singing in Austin, Texas on

411
00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:26,959
February the 12th for the

412
00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:28,899
Library of Congress in

413
00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:29,900
Washington.

414
00:12:33,970 --> 00:12:35,629
This week in Texas music history, a

415
00:12:35,630 --> 00:12:37,409
Houston gospel group stirs things up

416
00:12:37,410 --> 00:12:39,069
in Depression-era Austin.

417
00:12:39,070 --> 00:12:41,309
On February 12th, 1936,

418
00:12:41,310 --> 00:12:42,969
the Soul Stirrers made their first

419
00:12:42,970 --> 00:12:44,009
recordings.

420
00:12:44,010 --> 00:12:45,369
The influential gospel group didn't

421
00:12:45,370 --> 00:12:46,969
do so with a record company.

422
00:12:46,970 --> 00:12:48,269
Rather, it was 21-year-old

423
00:12:48,270 --> 00:12:50,089
folklorist Alan Lomax, who first

424
00:12:50,090 --> 00:12:51,589
captured their music for the Library

425
00:12:51,590 --> 00:12:52,829
of Congress.

426
00:12:52,830 --> 00:12:54,009
The Houston-based group was in

427
00:12:54,010 --> 00:12:55,409
Austin for the weekend, and Lomx

428
00:12:55,410 --> 00:12:57,069
took time off his studies at the

429
00:12:57,070 --> 00:12:58,949
University of Texas to set up the

430
00:12:58,950 --> 00:13:00,749
session. Lomax participated in

431
00:13:00,750 --> 00:13:02,269
thousands of such sessions in his

432
00:13:02,270 --> 00:13:03,969
career. And he described the four

433
00:13:03,970 --> 00:13:06,269
songs of these initial soul stirrers

434
00:13:06,270 --> 00:13:08,389
recordings as the most incredible

435
00:13:08,390 --> 00:13:09,929
polyrhythmic music you've ever

436
00:13:09,930 --> 00:13:10,930
heard.

437
00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:18,659
Though Lomax was ostensibly

438
00:13:18,660 --> 00:13:20,359
recording them as an example of folk

439
00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,519
culture for posterity, he surely

440
00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,200
recognized their popular potential.

441
00:13:28,550 --> 00:13:29,769
When singer R.H.

442
00:13:29,770 --> 00:13:31,489
Harris of Trinity, Texas joined the

443
00:13:31,490 --> 00:13:33,309
group in 1937, their style

444
00:13:33,310 --> 00:13:35,129
gelled, and their move to Chicago

445
00:13:35,130 --> 00:13:36,529
positioned the soul stirrers to

446
00:13:36,530 --> 00:13:38,009
influence the next generation of

447
00:13:38,010 --> 00:13:40,249
gospel performance and even duop.

448
00:13:40,250 --> 00:13:41,629
The commercial success grew in the

449
00:13:41,630 --> 00:13:43,409
1940s, but it would be another

450
00:13:43,410 --> 00:13:44,809
addition to the group that took them

451
00:13:44,810 --> 00:13:45,810
to the next level.

452
00:13:50,750 --> 00:13:53,129
You gave me water, you gave me w-

453
00:13:53,130 --> 00:13:54,429
When singer Harris left the

454
00:13:54,430 --> 00:13:56,649
Soul-Stirrers in 1950, a 20-year-old

455
00:13:56,650 --> 00:13:58,389
Sam Cooke took his place.

456
00:13:58,390 --> 00:13:59,849
Their biggest hit to date came the

457
00:13:59,850 --> 00:14:01,989
following year, Jesus Gave Me Water,

458
00:14:01,990 --> 00:14:03,969
and Sam Cook's smooth, lilting style

459
00:14:03,970 --> 00:14:05,569
and harmony with the Soul Stirrers

460
00:14:05,570 --> 00:14:07,949
set the standard for 50s gospel.

461
00:14:07,950 --> 00:14:09,049
So much so that the larger

462
00:14:09,050 --> 00:14:10,169
commercial gains and creative

463
00:14:10,170 --> 00:14:11,949
freedom of secular music beckoned

464
00:14:11,950 --> 00:14:13,769
CooKE. In a move controversial with

465
00:14:13,770 --> 00:14:15,329
some of their gospel fans, CooKe

466
00:14:15,330 --> 00:14:17,249
left the soul stirrers in 1957

467
00:14:17,250 --> 00:14:19,509
and crossed over into pop and R&B.

468
00:14:19,510 --> 00:14:21,449
The genius of you send me,

469
00:14:21,450 --> 00:14:22,409
bring it on home to me.

470
00:14:22,410 --> 00:14:23,609
And of course, a change is gonna

471
00:14:23,610 --> 00:14:25,209
come on the horizon.

472
00:14:25,210 --> 00:14:26,549
And all of it traces back to an

473
00:14:26,550 --> 00:14:28,109
Austin weekend where a Houston

474
00:14:28,110 --> 00:14:30,089
gospel group crossed paths with a UT

475
00:14:30,090 --> 00:14:31,789
student and the Library of Congress.

476
00:14:36,670 --> 00:14:37,969
You can hear music from the Lone

477
00:14:37,970 --> 00:14:39,809
Star State 24-7 on the

478
00:14:39,810 --> 00:14:43,369
Texas Music Experience at tmx.fm.

479
00:14:45,660 --> 00:14:47,499
He gave that woman

480
00:14:47,500 --> 00:14:49,599
water, gave a livin'

481
00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:51,559
a lovin' lastin' water, and

482
00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:53,299
was not in bread.

483
00:14:53,300 --> 00:14:55,399
Well, on that woman he had

484
00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,279
pity, she ran back

485
00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:58,149
to the...

486
00:14:58,150 --> 00:14:59,969
Rising rents are not just an issue

487
00:14:59,970 --> 00:15:02,009
for one set of industry workers here

488
00:15:02,010 --> 00:15:04,029
in the City of Austin, but for the

489
00:15:04,030 --> 00:15:06,209
live music capital of the world,

490
00:15:06,210 --> 00:15:07,709
getting musicians housed in Austin

491
00:15:07,710 --> 00:15:09,849
remains an ongoing issue.

492
00:15:09,850 --> 00:15:11,269
However, a small East Austin

493
00:15:11,270 --> 00:15:13,149
nonprofit has stepped in to

494
00:15:13,150 --> 00:15:14,009
help out.

495
00:15:14,010 --> 00:15:15,249
For more about that, we are talking

496
00:15:15,250 --> 00:15:16,429
with Chad Switecki.

497
00:15:16,430 --> 00:15:18,349
He wrote the story for KUT's

498
00:15:18,350 --> 00:15:20,109
Artbeat, and he's joining us now on

499
00:15:20,110 --> 00:15:21,209
Austin Signal. Chad, thanks for

500
00:15:21,210 --> 00:15:22,029
being with us.

501
00:15:22,030 --> 00:15:22,759
Thank you.

502
00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:24,479
So tell us a little bit more about

503
00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:25,839
this non-

504
00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:27,759
So Blacklands CDC is

505
00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,279
an organization that's been active

506
00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,039
in the Blacklands area of East

507
00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:32,899
Austin for decades now.

508
00:15:32,900 --> 00:15:34,159
And they're all about housing

509
00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,179
preservation and creating affordable

510
00:15:36,180 --> 00:15:37,919
housing for that community, that

511
00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,099
area, which we all know is being

512
00:15:40,100 --> 00:15:41,599
gentrified practically out of

513
00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:42,759
existence. So they're doing as much

514
00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:44,619
as they can to create new

515
00:15:44,620 --> 00:15:46,859
housing opportunities for folks.

516
00:15:46,860 --> 00:15:48,979
And what we're talking about here is

517
00:15:48,980 --> 00:15:51,019
they've got a tiny project

518
00:15:51,020 --> 00:15:52,479
that's gonna be called Arts Village

519
00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,359
that is going to

520
00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,519
eventually provide 10 Small

521
00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:58,259
homes, not apartments, but

522
00:15:58,260 --> 00:16:00,459
standalone small homes of

523
00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:02,319
about 500 square feet

524
00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,479
or less, specifically for musicians

525
00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:06,479
and priced at an affordable rate

526
00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,759
because as we all know,

527
00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:10,219
there's not a lot of money in music

528
00:16:10,220 --> 00:16:12,039
and living in this city

529
00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:13,599
becomes more expensive by the

530
00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,479
millisecond and so they are

531
00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:17,279
trying to step in and just see what

532
00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:18,999
can we create here that would maybe

533
00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:20,859
provide a tiny solution

534
00:16:20,860 --> 00:16:22,069
for some of these folks.

535
00:16:22,070 --> 00:16:23,729
You talked with one musician who's

536
00:16:23,730 --> 00:16:25,029
been a fixture around town, Thor

537
00:16:25,030 --> 00:16:26,989
Harris, and he talked about the cost

538
00:16:26,990 --> 00:16:28,169
of living here obviously, but the

539
00:16:28,170 --> 00:16:30,429
cost losing what makes Austin

540
00:16:30,430 --> 00:16:31,229
Austin, right?

541
00:16:31,230 --> 00:16:32,329
The musicians, the people who have

542
00:16:32,330 --> 00:16:34,589
been able to afford to live here and

543
00:16:34,590 --> 00:16:35,869
work here. What else did he have to

544
00:16:35,870 --> 00:16:36,889
say about this project?

545
00:16:36,890 --> 00:16:38,609
Well, you touched on a great point,

546
00:16:38,610 --> 00:16:40,389
because culture grows slowly and

547
00:16:40,390 --> 00:16:41,969
disappears quickly, right?

548
00:16:41,970 --> 00:16:44,349
Under bad circumstances.

549
00:16:44,350 --> 00:16:46,229
And so his point is, you

550
00:16:46,230 --> 00:16:47,969
know, no shade thrown at San

551
00:16:47,970 --> 00:16:49,829
Francisco or New York, but it is

552
00:16:49,830 --> 00:16:52,728
tough to exist there in those cities

553
00:16:52,729 --> 00:16:54,449
as an artist, as a musician.

554
00:16:54,450 --> 00:16:55,809
And for decades, both those cities

555
00:16:55,810 --> 00:16:57,948
were known as

556
00:16:57,949 --> 00:16:59,869
meccas for creativity and

557
00:16:59,870 --> 00:17:00,749
music.

558
00:17:00,750 --> 00:17:02,249
And Austin, much the same way.

559
00:17:02,250 --> 00:17:03,909
And we're, you now, in the process

560
00:17:03,910 --> 00:17:05,049
of losing that. I don't think we're

561
00:17:05,050 --> 00:17:06,719
at risk. We are in the process.

562
00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:07,719
Of losing that.

563
00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,739
His message or statement

564
00:17:09,740 --> 00:17:10,740
that he made to me was,

565
00:17:11,660 --> 00:17:13,299
we don't want to become the next

566
00:17:13,300 --> 00:17:15,379
Manhattan or the next San Francisco.

567
00:17:15,380 --> 00:17:17,279
And so there's the

568
00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,139
possibility that you can have a

569
00:17:19,140 --> 00:17:21,439
great little curative community

570
00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:23,098
that can be started by all these

571
00:17:23,099 --> 00:17:24,999
folks living in close proximity.

572
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,059
As I understand it,

573
00:17:27,060 --> 00:17:28,199
these homes are going to be kind of

574
00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:30,219
oriented toward a common area so

575
00:17:30,220 --> 00:17:31,220
you're going to have

576
00:17:32,690 --> 00:17:34,589
you know, like jam sessions of sorts

577
00:17:34,590 --> 00:17:36,249
possibly kind of out in the open.

578
00:17:36,250 --> 00:17:38,069
That's a really great, cool

579
00:17:38,070 --> 00:17:40,089
idea. The Blackland CDC is

580
00:17:40,090 --> 00:17:42,209
actually gonna be creating a

581
00:17:42,210 --> 00:17:44,109
tiny stage behind

582
00:17:44,110 --> 00:17:45,329
their own building.

583
00:17:45,330 --> 00:17:46,569
That's gonna be part of this

584
00:17:46,570 --> 00:17:47,749
eventually.

585
00:17:47,750 --> 00:17:49,709
That's separate effort, but

586
00:17:49,710 --> 00:17:50,509
related.

587
00:17:50,510 --> 00:17:52,829
And so, you know there's just on

588
00:17:52,830 --> 00:17:54,189
top of the good vibe is just from

589
00:17:54,190 --> 00:17:56,089
housing. You could also have just

590
00:17:56,090 --> 00:17:58,229
a really cool interaction

591
00:17:59,250 --> 00:18:01,009
of creatives and people who, you

592
00:18:01,010 --> 00:18:02,629
now. Thankfully, they don't have to

593
00:18:02,630 --> 00:18:04,509
worry about losing their

594
00:18:04,510 --> 00:18:06,349
homes and having

595
00:18:06,350 --> 00:18:08,109
to scrape together every nickel

596
00:18:08,110 --> 00:18:10,789
possible. They can be a little more

597
00:18:10,790 --> 00:18:13,069
freewheeling, I guess you might say,

598
00:18:13,070 --> 00:18:15,109
and embrace their

599
00:18:15,110 --> 00:18:17,209
creativity rather than having to

600
00:18:17,210 --> 00:18:19,069
function like a

601
00:18:19,070 --> 00:18:20,269
business person, like a creative

602
00:18:20,270 --> 00:18:22,009
entrepreneur, which has its

603
00:18:22,010 --> 00:18:23,309
benefits, but also some of these

604
00:18:23,310 --> 00:18:24,769
people aren't wired that way, and we

605
00:18:24,770 --> 00:18:26,589
should embrace that and allow

606
00:18:26,590 --> 00:18:28,589
for them to live good

607
00:18:28,590 --> 00:18:29,829
and decent lives.

608
00:18:29,830 --> 00:18:30,959
You mentioned that this is

609
00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:32,599
a tiny project what is happening

610
00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:34,419
here at 10 homes is the

611
00:18:34,420 --> 00:18:36,519
stated goal but this isn't meant to

612
00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,159
be kind of a cure-all right it's

613
00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,319
supposed to maybe lay out a plan for

614
00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:41,039
a way that to

615
00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:42,479
possibly move forward.

616
00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:43,679
So one of the individuals I spoke

617
00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:45,719
with in my story is

618
00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:47,519
higher up at the nonprofit housing

619
00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,599
opportunities for musicians and

620
00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,459
entertainers and they said

621
00:18:51,460 --> 00:18:53,499
that this is a good

622
00:18:53,500 --> 00:18:55,839
potential pilot program

623
00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:57,959
that you know just again it

624
00:18:57,960 --> 00:18:59,959
is happening on its own but

625
00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:01,919
it kind of happened very quickly and

626
00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:03,419
is still happening.

627
00:19:03,420 --> 00:19:04,939
They're still in the fundraising

628
00:19:04,940 --> 00:19:06,719
phase but it's something that I

629
00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,659
think everyone kind of sees

630
00:19:08,660 --> 00:19:10,459
a lot of potential in and you know

631
00:19:10,460 --> 00:19:11,819
not that it's going to be modeled

632
00:19:11,820 --> 00:19:13,739
exactly but

633
00:19:13,740 --> 00:19:15,979
what do they say uh

634
00:19:15,980 --> 00:19:17,919
success has many fathers and and

635
00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,139
failures and orphan and if this

636
00:19:19,140 --> 00:19:21,159
thing is successful then we could

637
00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:22,979
hopefully be seeing more of

638
00:19:22,980 --> 00:19:24,919
them sprouting up in other parts of

639
00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:25,769
the City.

640
00:19:25,770 --> 00:19:26,769
Yeah, you mentioned a little bit

641
00:19:26,770 --> 00:19:28,549
about, we're gonna have a link to

642
00:19:28,550 --> 00:19:30,109
your story in our show notes for

643
00:19:30,110 --> 00:19:32,009
today and at kut.org

644
00:19:32,010 --> 00:19:33,629
slash signal. In the story, you can

645
00:19:33,630 --> 00:19:35,129
see one of the homes already that

646
00:19:35,130 --> 00:19:37,089
has been built, but you

647
00:19:37,090 --> 00:19:38,469
mentioned there that they are still

648
00:19:38,470 --> 00:19:40,049
at the fundraising process.

649
00:19:40,050 --> 00:19:41,029
What stage is this?

650
00:19:41,030 --> 00:19:42,109
Process in.

651
00:19:42,110 --> 00:19:44,749
They've secured about a $200,000

652
00:19:44,750 --> 00:19:46,109
grant from the St. David's

653
00:19:46,110 --> 00:19:47,829
Foundation that I think is more just

654
00:19:47,830 --> 00:19:49,509
geared toward architecture,

655
00:19:49,510 --> 00:19:51,109
planning, design, and that sort of

656
00:19:51,110 --> 00:19:53,329
thing. And then the estimated cost

657
00:19:53,330 --> 00:19:55,509
is going to be about $2 million,

658
00:19:55,510 --> 00:19:57,749
which for ten homes in Austin,

659
00:19:57,750 --> 00:19:59,649
frankly, that's quite modest.

660
00:19:59,650 --> 00:20:01,689
And when I was talking to Thor, he

661
00:20:01,690 --> 00:20:03,629
was very much of the mind that

662
00:20:03,630 --> 00:20:04,989
we want to get different builders in

663
00:20:04,990 --> 00:20:06,489
there or different designers.

664
00:20:06,490 --> 00:20:07,549
Maybe you can get the folks from

665
00:20:07,550 --> 00:20:09,409
Icon Homes to 3D Printo Home, but he

666
00:20:09,410 --> 00:20:10,369
wants them all be.

667
00:20:10,370 --> 00:20:11,709
Kind of different, kind of a little

668
00:20:11,710 --> 00:20:13,329
funky and have their own character,

669
00:20:13,330 --> 00:20:15,449
just again, so it doesn't feel

670
00:20:15,450 --> 00:20:17,389
prefabbed or anything like that.

671
00:20:17,390 --> 00:20:19,509
And so currently in the fundraising

672
00:20:19,510 --> 00:20:21,609
stage to get the

673
00:20:21,610 --> 00:20:23,149
two million dollars that it's

674
00:20:23,150 --> 00:20:25,329
estimated this thing could cost.

675
00:20:25,330 --> 00:20:27,409
So it's a thing that when

676
00:20:27,410 --> 00:20:29,569
you hear everyone

677
00:20:29,570 --> 00:20:31,469
in Austin liking to

678
00:20:31,470 --> 00:20:33,429
beat their chest about us being

679
00:20:33,430 --> 00:20:35,269
live music capital and as much

680
00:20:35,270 --> 00:20:37,029
money as we've got flying around in

681
00:20:37,030 --> 00:20:38,709
the city all the time on the tech

682
00:20:38,710 --> 00:20:40,729
side. You would certainly hope that

683
00:20:40,730 --> 00:20:42,209
two million dollars wouldn't be that

684
00:20:42,210 --> 00:20:44,049
difficult to scrape together.

685
00:20:45,070 --> 00:20:46,909
We talked to somebody earlier on

686
00:20:46,910 --> 00:20:48,749
Austin Signal this week about an

687
00:20:48,750 --> 00:20:50,609
affordable housing complex in Travis

688
00:20:50,610 --> 00:20:51,729
Heights in the Travis Heights

689
00:20:51,730 --> 00:20:52,989
neighborhood. And we talked about

690
00:20:52,990 --> 00:20:55,029
how sometimes the pushback

691
00:20:55,030 --> 00:20:56,969
to those kinds of projects is the

692
00:20:56,970 --> 00:20:58,469
neighborhood that it's going to be

693
00:20:58,470 --> 00:20:59,529
placed in.

694
00:20:59,530 --> 00:21:01,189
For this kinds of project, I wonder,

695
00:21:01,190 --> 00:21:02,669
is there any community interest for

696
00:21:02,670 --> 00:21:03,019
support?

697
00:21:03,020 --> 00:21:04,719
These sorts of ventures?

698
00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:06,359
You know, given that it's being led

699
00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:08,439
by Blackland CDC and

700
00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,319
they have such a good

701
00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,239
track record in that community,

702
00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:13,519
and again, you know, talk about

703
00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,599
Thor, he's been a musician and a

704
00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,719
member of that board for 40 years.

705
00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:19,439
So I think there's enough equity and

706
00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,339
enough trust built, I

707
00:21:21,340 --> 00:21:23,259
mean, and, again, they're going to

708
00:21:23,260 --> 00:21:24,459
orient these homes so that you're

709
00:21:24,460 --> 00:21:26,339
not going to have people getting

710
00:21:26,340 --> 00:21:28,399
blasted out by music in

711
00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:29,599
the surrounding neighborhood.

712
00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:30,799
So I think I think they're going to

713
00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:32,939
be very Intentional

714
00:21:32,940 --> 00:21:34,319
and thoughtful around this kind of

715
00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:35,819
thing. So, I mean, you never know

716
00:21:35,820 --> 00:21:37,159
until the rubber actually hits the

717
00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:38,959
road But it seems like you got the

718
00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:40,859
right people leading the charge

719
00:21:40,860 --> 00:21:42,899
on this to

720
00:21:42,900 --> 00:21:44,879
Get the buy-in and get the trust and

721
00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:46,739
get Acceptance of doing

722
00:21:46,740 --> 00:21:47,799
something a little bit different,

723
00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:49,479
but that has some really good

724
00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:50,699
intentions behind it

725
00:21:50,700 --> 00:21:51,499
All right, we have been speaking

726
00:21:51,500 --> 00:21:52,679
with Chad Switecki.

727
00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:53,779
We're gonna have a link to his story

728
00:21:53,780 --> 00:21:55,619
at kut.org slash

729
00:21:55,620 --> 00:21:57,639
signal. And in today's podcast

730
00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:58,939
show notes, Chad, thanks for

731
00:21:58,940 --> 00:22:00,099
chatting with us.

732
00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:01,699
My pleasure, thanks, Jerry.

733
00:22:01,700 --> 00:22:03,579
And before we get out of here today,

734
00:22:03,580 --> 00:22:05,239
you may wanna take advantage of this

735
00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:06,819
early spring-like weather and spend

736
00:22:06,820 --> 00:22:08,679
some time out at Barton Springs

737
00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:10,179
Pool, because it's about to close

738
00:22:10,180 --> 00:22:12,019
for about three weeks.

739
00:22:12,020 --> 00:22:13,319
Austin Parks and Recreation says the

740
00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:14,519
closure will start the week of

741
00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:16,439
February 23rd, that's the week

742
00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,259
after next, and continue until

743
00:22:18,260 --> 00:22:19,349
March 13th.

744
00:22:19,350 --> 00:22:20,769
The reason for the closure is

745
00:22:20,770 --> 00:22:22,969
removal of old creek flow bypass

746
00:22:22,970 --> 00:22:25,149
infrastructure that is at risk of

747
00:22:25,150 --> 00:22:26,829
collapse and that would threaten the

748
00:22:26,830 --> 00:22:29,149
habitat of the endangered Barton

749
00:22:29,150 --> 00:22:30,969
Springs salamander and that

750
00:22:30,970 --> 00:22:32,789
we don't want and that is

751
00:22:32,790 --> 00:22:35,069
it for us here today on

752
00:22:35,070 --> 00:22:35,989
Austin Signal.

753
00:22:35,990 --> 00:22:37,949
We have more from today's show at

754
00:22:37,950 --> 00:22:40,109
kut.org slash signal and

755
00:22:40,110 --> 00:22:42,069
in today's podcast show notes.

756
00:22:42,070 --> 00:22:43,969
Thank you to Rayna Sevilla

757
00:22:43,970 --> 00:22:45,529
and Kristen Cabrera for making

758
00:22:45,530 --> 00:22:46,889
today's show happen.

759
00:22:46,890 --> 00:22:48,149
And thank you to you for spending

760
00:22:48,150 --> 00:22:50,069
part of your day here with us.

761
00:22:50,070 --> 00:22:51,469
We will be back tomorrow.

762
00:22:51,470 --> 00:22:52,470
Talk to you then.