Why can't the city website get it right?
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June 11, 2021 VO l . 4 0 • N O. 4 1
NAVIGATE TO
PAGE 14
BY BRANT BINGAMON
d-reno w ned tech capital.
Austin is a worl
e city we bsite get it right?
Why can’t th
Douglas laustsen’s overlookeD, overhearD P.26 BoulDin Creek Cafe: how open are they? P.34 luke wilson’s newest film P.38 the spiritual siDe of Quentin arispe P.46
juNe 11, 2021 What’s Your Function?
VoL. 40, No. 41 In 2012, when then-staff writer the city’s website, bedeviled with
Richard Whittaker reported on bugs and badly behind the times,
the launch of the city’s new We hAve
and explores other branches of
14 Cover Story
PUBLISHER Nick Barbaro
AN iSSue
aSSocIatE PUBLISHER Cassidy Frazier website, even then he noted the the story, including the subpar
EDITORIal work in progress was “far from COVID-19 vaccine sign-up
EdItoR Kimberley Jones
14 heLLsite.gov
managIng EdItoR James Renovitch
nEwS EdItoR Mike Clark-Madison Everything’s
perfect.” These days, as anyone
who’s attempted to navigate
by Kimberley portal that was outsourced to
a third-party vendor, and the
aSSIStant nEwS & QmmUnIty EdItoR Beth Sullivan
aRtS Robert Faires
online now. Why
can’t the city get austintexas.gov can tell you, “far Jones team of equity-minded idealists
food Jessi Cape it right? by brant
ScREEnS Richard Whittaker
bingaMon
from perfect” would be an upgrade. that was tapped to reinvent the
mUSIc Raoul Hernandez
In this week’s issue, contrib- site, only to have their work halted
CHRONEVENTS
SPEcIaL ScREEnIngS & commUnIty LIStIngS utor Brant Bingamon takes a look at midproject. That story starts on p.14. n
Kat McNevins
aRtS LIStIngS & food EvEntS
Wayne Alan Brenner
ONLiNe ThiS WeeK
cLUB LIStIngS Greg Stitt
STaff wRITERS
Kevin Curtin, Austin Sanders
CONTRIbuTINg wRITERS
fILm Marjorie Baumgarten
day tRIPS Gerald E. McLeod Mama Duke has contributed a track to
faStER tHan SoUnd Rachel Rascoe Proud Voices Austin’s interactive audio fest
tHE vERdE REPoRt Eric Goodman
mR. SmaRty PantS R.U. Steinberg Cover by zeke barbaro
/ getty iMages
PRODuCTION
PRodUctIon / aRt dIREctoR Zeke Barbaro
wEB / dIgItaL dIREctoR Michael Bartnett
wEB conSULtant Brian Barry
gRaPHIc dESIgnERS Pedro Diniz, Jeff Gammill,
Shelley Hiam
Staff PHotogRaPHERS John Anderson, Jana Birchum,
4 Feedback 38 Screens
David Brendan Hall
38 the Long & LoneLy gAme
PRoofREadERS Lina Fisher, Jasmine Lane,
James Scott, Greg Stitt
IntERnS Ramon Rodriguez, Monica Salazar,
6 News Luke Wilson steps into the
shoes of quiet footballing
Courtney Song, Morgan-Taylor Thomas, legend Rusty Russell for 12
Hannah Williford, Avery Wohleb 6 Austin At LArge Mighty Orphans
by Mike Clark-Madison
aDVERTISINg & by riChard whittaker
Courtesy of MaMa Duke
maRkETINg 8 pubLic notice 39 Atx teLevision festivAL
advERtISIng dIREctoR Cassidy Frazier by niCk barbaro
oPERatIonS managER Trace Thurman preview
SEnIoR accoUnt ExEcUtIvES Jerald Corder, civics 101
Carolyn Phillips, Lois Richwine 40 movie reviews Censor, The
accoUnt ExEcUtIvES David Kleppe, 10 Council; Women’s Jail; more Conjuring: The Devil Made Me
Marisa Mirabal, Gloria Williamson Do It, Holler, In the Heights, 12
24 Calendar
cLaSSIfIEdS/LEgaL notIcES Bobby Leath Mighty Orphans, Us Kids
EvEntS & PRomotIonS managER Karena Rogers
LUv doc/cIRcULatIon/SPEcIaL EvEntS Dan Hardick 44 showtimes
natIonaL advERtISIng Voice Media Group
(888/278-9866, www.vmgadvertising.com) 29 qmmunity 45 speciAL screenings
OffICE STaff by beth sullivan
26 Arts&Culture 46 Music Proud Voices Austin is Queering HeAring for All of Pride MontH Qmmunity contributor James
contRoLLER Liz Franklin
offIcE managER/SUBScRIPtIonS Carrie Young
cREdIt managER Cindy Soo Scott breaks down the innovative fest pairing queer-owned or queer-friendly small businesses and audio tracks
accoUntIng aSSIStant Chelsea Taylor 46 fAster thAn sound
Info dESk Zach Pearce 26 An unquiet And funded by raChel rasCoe from local queer artists like Mama Duke, Quentin Arispe, and Irielle Wesley.
SyStEmS admInIStRatoR Brandon Watkins
agREES tHat PoInt BREak IS a maStERPIEcE Hank pLAce Composer and audio 48 pL-Atx List Choctaw Wildfire’s
RIdE tHE cURREnt, BRaH Smiley artist Douglas Laustsen helps
us hear the sound of the city’s
first new LP in six years – MArk Your cAlendAr AFS Cinema is reopening, and we have the opening lineup.
CIRCulaTION marked with a release show at
money being spent Sagebrush – delivers a corker of
MArgin WAlker’s next MoVe Ex-Margin Walker principals announced this week the formation of a new
Perry Drake, Tom Fairchild, Ruben Flores,
Andrew Gerfers, Brandon Gonzales, Trey Gutierrez, by wayne alan brenner a NOLA moment; plus more
Brad Jander, Suzette Johnson, Brooks Lumpkin,
Eric McKinney, Grant Melcher, James Meshbane, 28 Arts review 50 Live music + streAming “live-music, creative events, and marketing agency” dubbed Resound, with 40 upcoming shows at Mohawk,
Norm Reed, Jonina Sims, Bill Smotrilla, “Elements of Expression” Empire Control Room & Garage, Antone’s, the Parish, and Paper Tiger in San Antonio all on the books.
Zeb Sommers, Bryan Zirkelbach events by greg stitt
CONTRIbuTORS Arts events
Carys Anderson, Brant Bingamon, Rob Brezsny,
Doug Freeman, Sam Hurt, Matthew Monagle,
Clara Ence Morse, Laiken Neumann, Jenny Nulf,
31 community events
dAy trips
54 Back dAY triPs & BeYond Captain Day Trips
Gerald E. McLeod files his monthly roundup
Marc Savlov, Jen Sorensen, Michael Toland, the Luv doc NorthPark Center
by gerald e. MCleod
Tom Tomorrow, Derek Udensi of sites, sounds, and sometimes smells to
32 the verde report comix
mr. smArty pAnts visit around the state, including the green
by eriC goodMan
space at NorthPark Center shopping mall in
34 Food 55 Classifieds Dallas (pictured right), featuring 3D printed
statues of women who have risen to the top
34 bouLdin creek cAfe 62 crossword of their professions.
Leslie Martin’s longtime vegan free wiLL AstroLogy
diner holds curbside steady,
prepares for return dAds deserVe nice tHings, too Looking
The Austin Chronicle (ISSN: 1074-0740) is published
by The Austin Chronicle Corporation weekly 52 times
by wayne alan brenner for Father’s Day gift ideas? Wayne Alan
per year at 4000 N. I-35, Austin, TX 78751. 36 bento picnic Founded in 1981 and Brenner – who is a father himself, so this
512/454-5766 ©2013 Austin Chronicle Corp. Leanne Valenti’s Japanese
All rights reserved.
homecooking venue exceeds committed to a pro- might all just be an elaborate *nudge nudge*
Subscriptions: One year: $150 2nd class.
Six months: $75 2nd class. the sum of its parts gressive point of view, to an audience of one – has made a list.
by wayne alan brenner JaMes eDwarD PhotograPhy / Courtesy of NorthPark CeNter
Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, TX. The Austin Chronicle
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
The Austin Chronicle, 4000 N. I-35, 37 food news buffet is an independent,
Austin, TX 78751. by wayne alan brenner locally owned and
unsolicited submissions (including but not
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operated alternative Everywhere you want to be in Austin: Austinchronicle.com/events
and résumés) are not returned. newsweekly.
2 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JUNE 11, 2021 austinchronicle.com
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Dear Editor,
Mailing address: The Austin Chronicle,
“Republicans Vow to ‘Re-Fund the Police’ by PO Box 4189, Austin, TX 78765
Seizing Local Control:
“State grabs power to dictate local public
safety budgets” [News, June 4].
This headline would have been unthinkable new BBQ
just a decade ago. The party formerly known as Dear Editor,
the Republican Party is a fascistic parody of the Hello, I love the article “Small Town Barbecue
The Austin Chronicle is proud to present ...
exact thing they spent a lifetime bemoaning and at Its Finest” [Food, June 4] because I am always
accusing the left of doing. So much for conser- looking for good new places to eat BBQ close to
vative use of governmental power and funds! where I live. I have always eaten at one place and
These barbaric contrarians have no agenda
“Th e Au st in Ch ro nic ”
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4 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JUNE 11, 2021 austinchronicle.com
austinchronicle.com JUNE 11, 2021 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE 5
News
QuotE of thE WEEk
“We need that conversation about what is the encampment plan,
because I don’t think there’s a real understanding yet.”
– Mayor Steve Adler at Council’s special called meeting on Monday, June 7
John Anderson
hEAdliNEs
City employees prepare Govalle Pool during its reopening on Saturday, June 5. Due to a
lifeguard shortage caused by a yearlong hiring freeze, the city’s Aquatic Division does Austin City CounCil meets today, Thursday, June 10,
not have enough lifeguards to open all of the city pools that would normally open at the at 10am, to tackle a lengthy 127-item agenda before its
beginning of June. So far, only seven of the city’s 34 pools have reopened this summer. July summer break. A final vote on raising the general
homestead exemption to the state maximum of 20% is
expected to pass. See p.10.
CAged in Controversy The Travis County
Commissioners Court postponed its vote earlier this
week on the design contract for a new $79 million
women’s jail facility at the Travis County Correctional
Complex in Del Valle. Criminal justice advocacy groups
have opposed the expansion, arguing that the funding
should be used to invest in alternative support pro-
grams and resources. Commissioners will vote on the
measure next week on Tuesday, June 15. See p.13.
AdA Collins Anderson, a legendary Black communi-
ty leader, died last week at the age of 99. Anderson was
the first Black member of Austin Community College’s
board of directors, serving 1982-86. In 2014 Anderson
donated $3 million to her alma mater, Huston-Tillotson
University, the largest gift in that school’s history.
BACk in the Blue The Austin Police Department’s
first new cadet class in more than a year is underway.
The 144th cadet class will be the first trained with the
Reimagined Police Cadet Training Academy curriculum
approved by City Council last month.
rememBer the AlAmo Alamo Drafthouse announced
it has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after com-
pletion of a sale to an investor group that includes
Altamont Capital Partners, Fortress Investment Group,
You Can handle the truth
John Anderson
and Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League. The movie
theatre chain said it plans to open five new locations
within the next year, including its first theatres in
Manhattan, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.
World ClAss Woes Beleaguered World Class
Austin’s local news, like its rock & roll, need never die, if we do our jobs right Holdings CEO and founder Nate Paul lost nine proper-
Five years ago last week, on June 1, I was Department, and a cast of hundreds to folks nodded their heads in agreement. ties in foreclosure auctions, including his Downtown
lying barely conscious in an emergency position Austin to win the U.S. Department They knew what was wrong, and as fate headquarters in the historic Hirshfeld-Moore House
room; it would be nearly a week before I of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge. would have it, none of them are still here to and the former 3M campus in Northwest Austin. Los
could stand up without assistance. That (That honor went to our swing-state friends fix the hellsite that remains. Angeles-based Karlin Real Estate LLC acquired most of
was a milestone on a long midlife jour- in Columbus, Ohio, although Austin When Brant Bingamon was working on the properties. Paul has threatened legal action; bellig-
ney of breakdown and recovery did get some consolation prizes.) this week’s cover story, he obtained a bunch erent protesters of unknown origin tried to disrupt the
that brought me back to these And I had just presented to of documents from the city via a public auctions; and Karlin’s team met resistance at 3M upon
pages, and back to a role in jour- AustiN Council the final report of its information request. Those did not include taking possession, leading the police to be called.
nalism that I had thought
would no longer exist by the
At lArgE Task Force on Community
Engagement, which I chaired.
several key items that we asked for, that
were responsive to the request, which we getting into the glo FloW Texas state Sen. Dawn
Buckingham, R-Lakeway, launched her bid to be land
time I hit 50. So when I read or by mik e cl a r k - Its top recommendation? Fix obtained through other means. The city is
commissioner, as incumbent George P. Bush launched
hear, as one often does, that
“local news is dying” … it hits a
ma dis o n the city website.
And here we are! The TFCE
currently asking the Office of the Attorney
General whether it is required to turn over his challenge to Attorney General (and Nate Paul bestie)
little different for me. was staffed by the same city one set of documents, which we already Ken Paxton. She’d be the first woman to helm the
In 2016, as I was working myself to comms shop that co-oversees austint- have – but sure, let’s ask Ken Paxton what General Land Office. As nature abhors a vacuum,
death, my non-journalism career was deep- exas.gov, and as we heard from Austinites he thinks. Meanwhile, that same comms ex-Council Member Ellen Troxclair on Wednesday
ly entwined with City Hall. I labored along- over months of work how bad the site was shop, under new management, is tasked kicked off her campaign to replace Buckingham in the
side Steve Adler, the Austin Transportation and how obvious the fixes were, those continued on p.8
Texas Senate.
6 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JUNE 11, 2021 austinchronicle.com
austinchronicle.com JUNE 11, 2021 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE 7
NEWs � cover story � arts & culture � food � screens � music
Wealth, and How to Grow It
Austin At LArge continued from p.6
the death of Javier Ambler is just one exam-
with responding to our inquiries about its ple. But too often, it’s a corny pose, and we
own performance. Awkward? A little bit. all know it.
I rehearse all this to lay out clearly just That barking watchdog act is what KXAN This Tuesday, the news organization at, and lots of homeowners really need help
how the Chronicle News Desk under my delivered when it reported on the massive ProPublica published “The Secret IRS Files: … but because it’s proportional, based on
stewardship tries to approach its relation- fail of the city’s online COVID vaccination Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal the home’s value, by far the biggest share of
ship with City Hall. I’ve written before portal, as Bingamon describes in our story. How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax,” based the benefit goes to the wealthiest people, in
about how, as Austin’s counterculture has This isn’t a dunk on them in particular, on “a vast trove of Internal Revenue Service the most expensive homes. And the exemp-
become its dominant culture, the “alterna- because it’s baked into the cake for local data on the tax returns of thousands of the tion does nothing for renters, in fact shifting
tive” perspective provided by the Chronicle journos, especially on TV, to be crusaders, to nation’s wealthiest people, covering more $27 million in tax burden onto the owners of
has instead made us the city’s paper of be “on your side!” railing against waste and than 15 years” – including Jeff Bezos, rental and commercial property.
record. I know that other journalists consid- fraud and abuse and corruption. However, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, Council has resisted this temptation before
er this a flaw on our part, feeling we’re too as our story shows, that framing led KXAN Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg – all leaked but is now poised to bite the bullet, swayed by
nice to our friends on Council and in local to get things exactly backward, thus not to them by an anonymous source. new state regulations that allow the exemp-
government, that we’ve gone native. helping anyone understand why things are The report is surprising only in that it’s not tion to not count against our tax cap (it’s
Certainly, my past work as a consultant and the way they are. You can handle the truth. really surprising at all: The rich are accumu- complicated), so they can tell themselves that
a campaign operative makes it important to Such frames and poses, designed to lating astounding wealth, while paying the move won’t cost the city any reve-
check myself, that I’m not failing to be as appeal to a focus-group version of the aver- shockingly little in taxes. Examples nue. But the fact remains that this
fair, as honest, and as authentic as readers age Central Texas TV news watcher (who,
PubliC
abound: Several of them often paid is a hugely regressive tax, and the
need the Chronicle to be. the data would suggest, likely lives outside no federal taxes; as Bezos’ net $100 that the poor homeowner
We’ve All Got Work to Do
the Austin city limits) are omnipresent, so
it’s always a little maddening to hear the
worth ballooned by $120 billion
over a 12-year period, he paid
NotiCE hanging on by a thread is going
to save next year will be passed
To my mind, the Chronicle’s role in the wailing and garment-rending about how 1.09% of that in federal taxes. by ni ck on in increased fees and costs
local news ecosystem is to explain why “local news is dying!” and thus good govern-
things around here are the way they are, ment will as well. I generally feel that the
Nor are the reasons a mystery, bar baro elsewhere, as surely as trickle-
or out of our control: The top tax down economics flow downhill.
and why people with power proceed along shrinkage of the news industry, which is rates are very low; corporate taxes are At the June 3 meeting, the exemption
certain paths and not others, and which inevitable due to technological change and even lower; and taxes apply only to income, passed unanimously on two readings, and
problems are new and which are longstand- increased audience diversity (usually not to wealth – and you can accumulate a it will be coming back this week for its third
ing, and the like. We provide situational framed negatively as “fragmentation”), has staggering amount of wealth without ever hav- and final. On the dais, several Council mem-
awareness, knowledge management, and led to a new and welcome atmosphere of ing much taxable income. Particularly if you bers moaned about how they didn’t really
institutional memory along with the details collaboration where once was pointless com- borrow against that wealth and never touch like to do this but felt as if their hands are
of current events. We do not, really, indulge petition, and the profession’s letting go of a the principal until you pass it down to your tied: The state says all homestead exemp-
in the performance of “investigative” or lot of systemic baggage that we’d convinced heirs, a strategy one tax expert calls “buy, tions have to be proportional, and lots of
“watchdog” journalism that consumes so ourselves was gospel. Those of us who’ve borrow, die.” We could increase those corpo- homeowners are hurting, and yeah we have
much of the time and treasure that both stuck with it – or in my case, returned to it rate tax rates or start taxing wealth accumu- to give everyone in Tarrytown $500 in order
journalists and audiences can afford to – care mostly about serving Austinites and lation, but we don’t. Like I said, no real sur- to give poor-homeowner-hanging-on-by-a-
devote to local news, all across the country. Texans (there’s increasing overlap between prise … but a good read at propublica.org. thread her $100, but the state says this is
It’s a common item on the menu of most the local and state press corps) with the time what we can do, so I guess I have to vote
alt-weeklies – a genre that remains distinct and resources we are able to wrangle from Another good read is on p.10 of this issue: yes. Well, actually, you don’t. You can pass
as a type of journalistic product, whatever our out-of-town corporate overseers, or beg Austin Sanders on the City Council debate the pending renters assistance package on
each paper’s role in its local political envi- and borrow from our philanthropic friends, last week on whether to double the city’s its own, and if you want to help the strug-
ronment may be. I think investigative or carefully scrimp and save over the homestead exemption from 10% to 20% of gling homeowner, you have other options
reporting has clear and vital uses; witness decades like your thrifty independent appraised value. Best guess is this will help besides giving her the short end of another
our friend Tony Plohetski at the Statesman Chronicle. If we remember to put your the median homeowner by about $141 a year regressive tax policy. (Utility rate structures
and KVUE, who has dragged into the light needs first and not ours, and to not cling to (remember, this is just on the city portion of come to mind, but that only leads to another
instances of shocking police misconduct worn-out foundations and frames, local the tax bill, a relatively small part of most snide reference about shit flowing downhill,
that had begun to be normalized, of which news in Austin, at least, need never die. n people’s total). And that’s nothing to sneeze so I’ll stop here.) n
CIVICS 101
F r i DAy 6 / 1 1 outcomes and likely impact of the 87th Texas See p.13. 9am. Online. traviscountytx.gov. city efforts to to build a Black embassy. 6-8pm.
legislative session. 2pm. Online. Free. cg4tx.org. Huston-Tillotson University, 900 Chicon.
Pre-Juneteenth eduCation & Well- lgbtQ+ business Cross-Country blackaustincoalition.com.
ness Fair COVID-19 vaccines available for s u n DAy 6 / 1 3 Multicity networking event for LGBTQIA business
owners. 6-7:30pm. Online. Free (registration ChiCken keePing Class 6-7pm. Online.
residents age 18 & up; call 512/972-5174 to
alternative energy shoW See Saturday. required). austinlgbtchamber.com. Free (registration required). austintexas.gov.
schedule. 11am-1pm. Blackland Neighborhood
Ctr., 2005 Salina. Free. austintexas.gov/health. suPPorting students’ needs Give input onGoinG
Bulletin BoArD Winter storm revieW task ForCe M o n DAy 6 / 14 on how AISD should use $155 million in COVID-
For the latest info, visit austintexas.gov/ Share your experiences during Winter Storm Uri. 19 relief funds. 6-7pm. Online. austinisd.org. Preservation Plan Working grouP
austin PubliC library bookmobile
covid19. Uninsured residents experiencing 6pm. Videoconference. winterstormtaskforce@ Visit the food pantry and receive free books for Covid vaCCines and our Community aPPliCations See p.11. Deadline: Mon.,
COVID-19 symptoms: Call CommUnityCare’s austintexas.gov, austintexas.gov. kids. 10am-noon. Navarro High School, 1201 Vaccine safety, side effects, myths, and facts. June 14. bit.ly/ATXpresplan.
hotline at 512/978-8775. Austin Public Health’s Payton Gin Rd. Free. library.austintexas.gov. 7-8:30pm. FB Live. fb.com/centralhealthtx. drive-uP hiv/sti testing No appoint-
vaccine preregistration system is at austintexas. s At u r DAy 6 / 1 2 CamPo transPortation PoliCy board ment necessary for free and confidential tests.
gov/covid19-vaccines, or 512/972-5560. Or
alternative energy shoW Vendors Amendments to the 2021-24 Transportation W e D n e s DAy 6 / 1 6 Fridays, 9am-noon. 2800 Webberville Rd.
find vaccines near you at vaccinefinder.org.
Improvement Program (TIP), among other action austintexas.gov/health.
showcase energy alternatives and smart home suPPorting students’ needs See
t h u r s DAy 6 / 1 0 technologies. 9am-5pm. Palmer Events Center, items. 2pm. Online. campotexas.org. Tuesday. 6-7pm. Online. austinisd.org. WiC mobile unit Resources and info about
900 Barton Springs Rd. $20-30; ages 15 & Austin Public Health’s supplemental nutrition
City CounCil See p.10. 10am. under, free. austin.altnrgshow.com. t u e s DAy 6 / 1 5 t h u r s DAy 6 / 17 program for qualifying pregnant women, new
Videoconference. austintexas.gov. mothers, and young children. Second Saturdays,
lege session Panel disCussion On the travis County Commissioners Court blaCk austin Coalition Learn more about 9am-1pm. 3000 Jones Rd. austintexas.gov/wic.
8 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JUNE 11, 2021 austinchronicle.com
news � cover story � arts & culture � food � screens � music
Shifting the Burden “The value of their property and their taxes
Doubling the homestead exemption, of have just gone up to the sky and they’re
Steve Adler
course, shifts tax burden toward other prop- taking their money and they’re leaving,”
erty owners. According to data provided by Renteria said. “So we need to give our peo-
the city’s Budget Office, that shift will ple here some relief.”
mostly be borne by apartment complexes
and “residential non-homestead” properties Shifting it Back?
– which staff says mostly consists of single- As for rental relief, which CM Greg
family rental properties. They’ll take on Casar and Mayor Pro Tem Natasha
about $13.6 million of the total $27 million Harper-Madison made a condition of their
reduction in homeowners’ taxes. Other support for a 20% exemption, Council is
commercial property owners (office, retail, considering its options. These include the
etc.) will take on about $11 million. (These approximately $188 million in federal
figures all assume a tax rate based on a 3.5% funding the city will receive through the
revenue increase.) American Rescue Plan Act; Council con-
The Budget Office says that the resident tinued its deliberations on a spending
owner of a $400,000 home (roughly the framework for those funds at a special
median home value in Austin) would see called meeting on June 7.
about $141 in savings on The ARPA money needs
property taxes annually. to be spent before Dec. 31,
However, the savings will
not be distributed evenly The Relief Funds: 2024. In March, Council
directed staff to focus on
The Ol’ Homestead
John Anderson
among all Austin home-
owners above and below Two Proposals four spending priorities
where a combination of
that median. Using data All $ figures in millions. local, regional, private,
from the Travis Central and philanthropic spend-
Staff Adler
Appraisal District, “hous- ing could be leveraged
Council set to offset high-end tax break with rent relief ing equity advocate” (per
COVID/APH $44.8 $44.8
with the federal funds to
Homelessness $80.0 $89.0
By Austin sAnders his Twitter bio) Tanner kickstart “transforma-
Child care $7.5 $7.5
Blair – who estimates the tional and generational”
Workforce $12.0 $16.5
City Council on Thursday, June 3, took now is the right time to go to 20%. “Even if aggregate tax reduction at change: homelessness,
Food insecurity $3.0 $3.0
the first of two votes necessary to double its we weren’t giving any additional money to $31.6 million – calculates early childhood care and
Arts/music $10.0 $12.0
property tax homestead exemption to 20%. renters,” Adler said, referring to the city’s that 70% of that amount education, workforce
Historic preserv. $10.0 $0.0
This tax break will apply to all homeowners, ongoing rental relief efforts, it “would still will go to the top 50% of development, and food
Rent relief $0.8 $20.0
although it disproportionately benefits be the right thing to do. The low-income homesteads, with the top and housing insecurity.
Other $6.2 $11.2
higher-value properties and provides no person on the Eastside having trouble hold- 25% of homesteads walk- Staff’s draft framework
Contingency $14.1 $8.9
direct benefit to the majority of Austin ing on to their home doesn’t care what the ing away with 46% of the in March contemplated
households who rent. Council also approved tax break is for the rich homeowner. They tax break (see chart, next TOTAL $188.4 $212.9 spending $236.4 million
an increased exemption for homeowners care about the relief they’re getting that will page). Meanwhile, from now through the end
living with a disability or those over 65. allow them to stay where they are.” non-homestead properties of FY 2022; $40.6 million
A final vote on June 10 is expected to Council also voted for staff to take the would see a $21 increase in taxes paid per of that would come from surplus General
pass, fulfilling a 2014 campaign promise steps required under state law to seek an $100,000 of taxable value. How that will Fund reserves (above the threshold set by
from Mayor Steve Adler that had lost steam 8% increase in the property tax revenue it translate into rents is difficult to predict, as Council policy), with about $20 million in
since then, in part, due to a tax code inter- raises in the fiscal year 2022 budget, should several factors influence Austin’s super- direct rent relief. Now, however, the Budget
pretation by the state comptroller’s office, Council so choose when it adopts the bud- heated rental market; after a slight dip in Office forecasts only $28.4 million will be
which limited cities’ ability to offset exemp- get in August. Legislation in 2019 had low- 2020, average rents are once again rising. available as surplus. The latest staff propos-
tions with revenue raised from other prop- ered the “revenue cap” threshold from 8% The exemption for seniors and people al directs $88 million toward homelessness
erties on their tax rolls. But Comptroller to 3.5%, beyond which cities would need with disabilities, however, is a flat rate, (including $4.2 million toward emergency
Glenn Hegar has revised that stance, clear- voter approval of their tax rate. But the law per state law. Council approved raising that shelter and support for service providers to
ing a path for Council to go to 20%. includes an exception for cities that experi- exemption by $25,000 to $113,000, reducing scale up operations), $20 million for cultural
Adler acknowledges that property taxes, ence disasters in the year prior, allowing the expected 2022 tax bill for those home- and historic preservation, $8 million for
like sales taxes, are regressive; they account them an 8% cap. Austin, and all of Texas, owners by about $3.52. As Council Member workforce development, $7.5 million for
for a larger share of homeowners’ cost of meets that criteria due to COVID-19 and Pio Renteria pointed out, any pause to childcare, $3 million for for food insecurity,
living at lower incomes, and exemptions are Winter Storm Uri, but at this point Council incessant increases in tax bills could help $1.5 million for the Colony Park Sustainable
more valuable to wealthier taxpayers as a has not committed to going above 3.5%. longtime East Austinites stay in place. Community Health Center, and $800,000 for
percentage of higher property values. But rent relief. Another $14.6 million would go
he says state law restricts cities’ ability to into a contingency fund to supplement
create flat-rate exemptions, and that
wealthy Austinites who will enjoy a larger
doubling the homestead exemption shifts about these four priorities over the next 16
months, or to fund something else if the
tax break also bear a larger share of the $27 million in tax burden to other property owners. need arises.
city’s property tax burden.
Still, Adler told the Chronicle, the guid-
according to the city’s Budget Office, that shift will Council generally agrees with this dis-
tribution of the ARPA windfall, but some
ing principle for him has been how a higher mostly be borne by apartment complexes and members are concerned about commit-
exemption would impact city services.
Because the tax cut can now be reve-
“residential non-homestead” properties – mostly ting so much of the funding to the ongo-
ing homelessness response without a
nue-neutral to the city, Adler said he thinks single-family rental properties. firm commitment from other partners,
10 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JUNE 11, 2021 austinchronicle.comsuch as Travis County, to do the same. In the $20 million for rent relief, while
Adler’s view, as he told his colleagues, “If increasing ARPA spending on workforce share of Benefits from 10%
to 20% Hs Deduction:
we’re going to do this at scale, this is part and live music support, but reducing
of a bigger lift. That scale is contingent spending on historic preservation and
on the whole community saying ‘Yes, this staff ’s proposed contingency fund. Casar
is a priority,’ and coming at a similar also revised his own amendment to trans-
scale, [but] it’s going to take someone fer $20 million from reserves to let City
going first.” Manager Spencer Cronk restore the funds the property at 10811 Pecan Park Blvd. by
At the June 7 meeting, staff noted that if they are “no longer needed to prevent $50,000, and a second item authorizes a
the Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants widespread evictions.” contract of just under $3 million with
program has served about 6,000 people, Meanwhile, Harper-Madison’s Equitable Caritas of Austin to provide services at the
with another 4,000 waiting for help. That’s Transit Oriented Development resolu- site once it opens. Predictably, Williamson
a problem for Casar and Renteria, who are tion, postponed several times as she and County Judge Bill Gravell continues to
trying to overcome concerns from their CM Ann Kitchen negotiated its terms, is huff and puff over Council’s efforts to
colleagues about dipping into reserves also back on the agenda, as are two items house the unhoused in his jurisdiction,
even as cities stare down an eviction crisis; related to the city’s purchase of a and in Council District 6, represented by
the federal moratorium on evictions is set Candlewood Suites hotel in Northwest the also-skeptical Mackenzie Kelly. n
to expire June 30. Austin to convert into supportive housing Council is scheduled to return July 23 to begin
An alternative version of the staff for people exiting homelessness. One its formal consideration of the FY 2022 budget.
spending plan drafted by Adler adds back boosts the authorized purchase price for courtesy of tAnner Bl Air
Palm School Austin’s current program is disproportion-
is just one of ately focused on the needs of the owners
many historic and design professionals who specialize in
properties that historic properties (particularly homes), and
has deep cultural with making often difficult calls in contentious
significance to the zoning cases in predominantly upscale histor-
Eastside. ic neighborhoods. “The policies and programs
are so expensive and time prohibitive,” Der-
rington said. “That’s why we end up having
these kinds of imbalances … Preserving any
heritage is a good thing, but we just need to
make sure more people can access that.
This plan will help us get there.”
Of Austin’s 600-plus structures and sites
landmarked by the city (others have state and
federal designations), only 7.7% recognize Black
JAnA Birchum Austinites, while a mere 2.5% focus on Latinx
BReaking The Rich, WhiTe “hisToRic” Mold
heritage. There have been changes in the past
year – 40% of the new landmark cases have
focused on historically underrepresented heri-
For decades, Historic Landmark Com ades, but also the changes in preservation tage, including two new historic districts that
mission Chair Terri Myers says, “Historic principles and practice. “The preservation honor Black, Latinx, and Lebanese history.
preservation was pretty much the realm of field itself has really seen a major paradigm The hope is for the new working group to
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Myers, an shift toward preserving communities, rather be empowered to go further to create a his-
active voice in Austin preservation circles for than just buildings; toward telling the full toric preservation strategy that reflects
35 years, continued: “The great mansions of American story, not just the stories of wealthy Austin’s diverse and intersecting cultures. To
great white men, primarily.” white men,” said Cara Bertron, a senior encourage more than the usual suspects to
Austin’s historic preservation program, planner in Austin’s Housing & Planning apply, the city is offering a $25 per hour sti-
which includes tools for recognizing anything Department. “We know that we haven’t pend for those whose jobs won’t pay them to
from a single home’s distinctive architecture to gone far enough yet in that paradigm shift, serve on the working group. It’s also using a
the cultural significance of an entire community, but there’s an intention to.” range of media channels to reach people out-
has long centered primarily on white and Although preservation plans can affect side of the city’s preservation circles.
wealthy property owners, who receive tax nearly every aspect of a city’s approach to “Historic preservation tools can help [us]
exemptions on their properties in exchange for housing and land use, the 1981 plan is so achieve bigger community goals, like equity,
maintaining them as parts of the city’s legacy. outdated as to be irrelevant, according to like affordability, like sustainability, like dis-
City planners and preservationists are hoping to Lindsey Derrington, the executive director placement prevention,” Bertron said. “These
change that, and to re-create the entire program of Preservation Austin. Even she, a preser- are the pressing questions that Austin is fac-
as viewed through an equity lens. A new work vation professional, has never read the docu- ing right now, and preservation has a really
ing group, for which the city is accepting appli- ment. The lack of a functional plan means solid toolbox [that] can be put to use, helping
cations from prospective members through that there’s little formal framework for the with some of these bigger priorities.”
June 14, has been tasked with rewriting the decision-making that follows, such as consis- – Clara Ence Morse
city’s preservation plan, last updated in 1981. tent review guidelines that could identify and Learn more about the preservation plan or
A new plan will ideally tackle not only the save overlooked historic structures, or a sys- apply to be on the working group at bit.ly/
many changes in Austin in the last four dec- tematic approach to community engagement. ATXpresplan. Apply before midnight Monday,
austinchronicle.com JUNE 11, 2021 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE 11news � cover story � arts & culture � food � screens � music
see You in August! Floor decals remind students
to practice social distancing
inside an AISD school
Graduations presage AISD’s return to in-person learning
By ClArA enCe Morse
The school year is over, and thousands of would have guaranteed school districts full
Austin ISD students celebrated – in person – funding for virtual instruction this fall. Its
the end of their K-12 years at graduations last failure means that, unless Education Com-
week. Now, with another huge influx of feder- missioner Mike Morath grants a waiver,
al pandemic relief cash due any day, the dis- school districts must pay to set up a costly
trict looks toward the fall, and a new school virtual learning program out-of-pocket or
year that may not feature remote learning. abandon the option entirely. To complicate
As COVID-19 case counts dropped and matters, schools won’t be able to mandate
vaccination rates rose across Austin, AISD masks this fall, as decreed via executive
courtesy of Austin isd
was able to host in-person commencement order by Gov. Greg Abbott.
ceremonies for the first time since the pan- These facts worry parents including
demic began, handing Meghen Hiller, whose
aiSd has not yet
physical diplomas to three children are all
graduates who made it medically fragile and too
through their final three decided that all young to be vaccinated.
classes should be
semesters of Zoom-school “We’ve already spent a lot
to earn their degrees. of time in children’s hos-
Perhaps most fitting was on campus come pitals over the years … will not offer virtual learning in the fall, ment opportunities. One of the options is
august – a question
the Anderson High grad- and COVID was just terri- both citing the failure of HB 1468. However, “blended learning,” which would add online
uation, when a thunder- fying,” she said. Unless Dallas ISD announced it will offer a “Hybrid components to classroom learning.
storm cut off power to the complicated when the vaccine is expanded Virtual Academy” this fall, to be paid for In addition, TEA recently announced
hB 1468 failed to
ceremony at the Delco to children under 12 soon, with local revenues if necessary. that $5 billion in ESSER II funds from the
Center. The outgoing Hiller said, if masking Such a large out-of-pocket commitment CARES Act, which the agency had been
Trojans finished with the pass the texas and distancing aren’t pos- might be tough for AISD, already facing a holding onto, will soon be heading to local
Senate.
help of a megaphone and sible, her children would deficit in next year’s budget. However, more districts, including $69 million to AISD.
the halogen glow of have to attend virtual than $155 million in ESSER III (Elementary However, TEA has said it will use some of
phone flashlights held up school out of the district and Secondary School Emergency Relief) these funds to backfill allocations for dis-
by their families as they crossed the stage. until they could be immunized. money from the American Rescue Plan Act tricts that needed to use the agency’s
The ceremonies were the largest in-per- Throughout this past spring, AISD, which will be coming to Austin soon, which could “hold-harmless” policies when their aver-
son events AISD has hosted in more than a advocated for HB 1468 at the Lege, had support virtual learning or many other age daily attendance plummeted during the
year. As planning for this fall begins, the planned to make virtual instruction avail- things, thanks to new federal guidance pandemic. That includes AISD, which lost
district has not yet decided that all classes able for the 2021-22 school year. The district which thwarted Abbott and the Texas thousands of students representing mil-
should be on campus come August – a ques- said it is still working through the implica- Education Agency’s attempts at microman- lions of dollars of state funding and was
tion complicated last week when House Bill tions of the bill’s failure, and has not yet agement. The district is currently gathering saved from financial freefall by the policy.
1468 failed to pass the Texas Senate before made an announcement about its plans for community feedback on top pandemic- Now, it could see significantly less of its
the legislative session ended May 31. this fall. (The timing of special sessions – at response priorities via a survey, looking for ESSER II funds, although TEA won’t
HB 1468, which fell victim to the Sunday- least two, according to Abbott – at which the short-term ways to spend the funds, as release the final sums until this September.
night logjam in the Senate after the Demo- bill could be revived is not yet determined.) required, over the next three years. Options Although the Zoom-school year is over,
cratic walkout to thwart the “election integ- Other districts have made the call: Hays range from improved campus ventilation AISD may be still stuck on mute in TEA’s
rity” Senate Bill 7 in the Texas House, Consolidated ISD and Round Rock ISD systems, to parent outreach, to extra enrich- waiting room for months. n
neW coVid MilesTones, BuT The saMe Message: geT VaccinaTed Interim Director Adrienne Sturrup. (Former APH head Stephanie Hayden-
Howard is now an Austin assistant city manager.) In an effort to combat vaccine
Nearly 15 months after Austin Public Health identified the first local bring a physician’s perspective into the city’s executive ranks; he continues hesitancy, some local and state health agencies are offering incentives for people
case of COVID-19, the agency hosted its final standing weekly Q&A with the to provide medical oversight to Austin’s emergency services, as he has since to get their shots, and Sturrup said APH is currently considering what might
media about the pandemic on Friday, June 4. “At this point in time last year, before the pandemic. make sense here. “We know that there’s still a concern with our working com-
we were beginning to embark on the very first peak of this disease pan- On the road toward herd immunity, Walkes said the biggest challenge munity about being able to take time off in order to get a vaccine, and so [we’re]
demic,” said Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Janet Pichette. “We didn’t know what lies in vaccinating residents who have been previously infected with the having conversations with local businesses and community partners to allow
lay ahead of us.” It was a poignant reflection, as last Saturday, June 5, was novel coronavirus, as they are still at risk of developing COVID-19 even their workers to have the flexibility to take time off to go and get the vaccine.”
the first time Austin’s seven-day moving average for COVID-19 hospitaliza- after recovery. Infection-acquired immunity does produce some antibodies About 75% of Travis County’s 65-and-older population is fully vacci-
tions – local health officials’ key indicator for evaluating Austin’s risk level – against the virus, but the vaccine is more effective, she said: “The [infec- nated as of June 9, but only 55% of the county’s entire eligible (12 and
dropped to 10 since Memorial Day of 2020. tion-acquired] antibodies themselves, we feel, only last for a 90-day period older) population is, according to Texas Department of State Health
Last week’s presser featured Austin and Travis County’s new non-interim of time, so our big push is going to be to convince and educate those that Services data. However, according to APH, more than two-thirds of all
health authority, Dr. Desmar Walkes, formerly holder of the same position in have had COVID-19 that they still should get a vaccination.” Travis County adults have received at least one dose, which aligns with
Bastrop. Austin’s favorite TV doctor of the pandemic, Mark Escott, is now the As APH winds down its mass vaccination efforts with the vaccine becoming President Joe Biden’s national goal of 70% of all American adults at least
city’s first chief medical officer, a position created mid-pandemic last year to widely available, it will focus on place-based and pop-up clinics, said APH partially vaccinated by July 4. – Beth Sullivan
12 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JUNE 11, 2021 austinchronicle.comwomen’s Jail Vote Postponed Need Money Now?
We can help! Apply at
Amid Community Pushback goldstarfinancetexas.com Call: 512-428-4304
Advocates and formerly incarcerated people
We like to say... YES! 1923 E. 7th Street
spoke in opposition to a new Travis County
women’s jail facility on Monday, June 7
linA fisher
On Tuesday, June 8, the Travis County long-term destabilizing effects of even short Support Austin’s
restaurants by eating
Commissioners Court delayed its vote on a stints behind bars. “[Jails] do have this last-
$616 million expansion of the Travis County ing effect on you,” said Camille Smith, who
Correctional Complex, including a contro- was arrested at 17.
local!
versial $79 million new women’s jail, until “They’re traumatizing, they mess up any
next week’s court meeting, June 15. The proj- opportunities that you might have. Because
ect was vehemently opposed at a press con- those conditions still exist when you get out,”
ference outside the court’s chambers at 700 Smith continued. “You’re still back in the
Lavaca on Monday by a coalition of formerly struggle, only now you can’t get a job, you
incarcerated women and advocacy groups, might not be able to get your kids back.” Coa-
including Grassroots Leadership, Texas lition speakers agreed that only increased
Fair Defense Project, and Walking by outreach and services outside the jail, with
Faith Prison Ministry. leadership from formerly incarcerated women,
Annette Price, co-director of Grassroots can address those root conditions and contin-
Leadership, directly addressed the commis- ue to reduce the number of women in jail in
sioners: “By building this jail, you are sending Travis County – only about 10-15% of the total
a message that incarceration is better than jail population, and a number that’s declined
providing needed resources to our communi- by half since the needs analysis for the TCCC
ty.” She, along with other speakers who have plan was completed nearly seven years ago.
direct experience with Travis County’s justice In a statement released after the post-
system, suggested that diversion and reentry ponement of the vote, the office of County
support programs could better use those Judge Andy Brown, who opposes the expan-
funds to further reduce the jail population, sion, said that improving conditions doesn’t
which has already decreased substantially require waiting for new construction: “We
since the TCCC plan was adopted in 2016. could … end predatory high-cost phone fees,
The coalition is demanding both a moratori- improve access to feminine hygiene prod-
um on jail construction and a “Justice ucts, and expand in-person visitation.” (Some
Reinvestment Plan,” led by directly impact- of these changes are also included in the
ed community leaders, to replace the entire coalition’s Justice Reinvestment Plan.) On
plan to rebuild the correctional complex. Price June 15, along with the vote, Brown and
advocated for increased investment in mental Commissioner Ann Howard will call on coun-
health support, substance abuse treatment, ty staff to develop a new plan, “convene a
housing, job training, and shelters for women working group to reduce the number of the austin chronicle
restaurant Guide
affected by domestic violence. women in jail, and … provide better physical,
Backers of the expansion plan, including mental, and behavioral health care inside
commissioners, have supported the new con- and outside of the jail.” Brown’s office calls
struction as a way to provide improved ser- the new jail “an expensive investment in an Your essential guide to local eateries – featuring
vices, including trauma-informed care, for outdated plan that no longer makes sense in-depth reviews, award winners, mini-guides, and more!
women in the jail, which is one of the coun- for our community,” but it’s unclear if a
ty’s largest providers of mental health ser- majority of the five-member court would vote
vices. But many speakers highlighted the to reject it outright. – Lina Fisher
austinchronicle.com/restaurantguide
austinchronicle.com JUNE 11, 2021 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE 13news � cover story � arts & culture � food � screens � music
customer relationship management market
– to design it.
The Chronicle interviewed a dozen for
mer and current tech workers with the city
to compile this report, many of whom pre
ferred to speak off the record. They say that
Salesforce did not test the vaccine portal to
see how many users it could handle before
the site went live. So when thousands tried
to sign up for vaccines, it crashed. This fail
ure to “load test” the portal, our sources say,
was one of several serious blunders Sales
force made in its design. But the workers
share the conviction that though a vendor
built the vaccine portal, its failure is the
responsibility of city leaders. As one said,
“If you’re going to use a vendor, you still
need to tightly control the process.”
City leaders have shown no eagerness to
embrace responsibility for what happened on
March 15, or before, or since. Chris Stewart,
the chief information officer of CTM, made it
clear after a prior crash in February that
though he is the city’s top technology man
ager, he wants no blame for the malfunc
tions. After KXAN ran a critical news piece
on the February crash, Stewart sent memos
to the City Manager’s Office and to his work
ers, both obtained by the Chronicle.
Stewart wrote to management: “The por
tal platform used for Austin Public Health’s
COVID19 vaccine and testing registration
system is entirely separate to the City’s main
website, austintexas.gov, and is managed by
Zeke BarBaro / Gett y ImaGes an external vendor. KXAN’s conflation of the
two is unfortunate and misleading.” To his
workers, Stewart wrote: “As many of you are
aware, that platform and the City’s website
are completely independent and have noth
ing to do with each other.” He then remind
ed his workers not to talk to reporters.
Everything needs to be online now. Austin is a world- Sarah Rigdon is another tech worker
“Just try to sign up,” Breitling said. “It’s a who recently left the city’s employ. She
renowned tech capital. Why can’t the city get it right? nightmare. I mean, it’s barely usable. If you points out that Stewart’s memos show the
by brant bingamon look at the APH Facebook page, in the com city’s IT department disavowing responsi
“They can’t keep the lights on. They can’t ments, you will see people complaining bility for a city webpage, one crucial to
For the thousands staring anxiously at keep the water running. They can’t even han about how horrible it is. You know, we’re saving lives. “The fact that this detail is
their computer screens for hour after hour, dle a basic scheduler. What a waste of space.” supposed to be this tech city? And Austin has something they considered important
the message came like a slap to the face. It wasn’t the first time APH’s COVID pages not hired one person who knows what they’re enough to single out, in a huge list of
“There are currently no appointments avail had crashed, or randomly kicked people out doing and put them in control. It’s embar things they could have addressed, is exact
able. As of 11:40pm, our scheduling system of its database, or confounded their attempts rassing. They all should be really embar ly the problem,” Rigdon said. “They are so
has run into technical issues resulting in to register in the first place. And while the rassed and frankly I can’t believe that they’ve separate from their users that it doesn’t
massive delays. After working with our ven dysfunction was shocking to some, many of managed to get away with it for this long.” occur to them that it doesn’t matter who
dor for multiple hours, it appears there is no the city’s own IT workers were definitely The city of Austin’s Communications & manages each website. For the user, it’s the
immediate fix we can make.” unsurprised. They had been predicting the Public Information Office is, among other same thing. And their lack of understand
With that, thousands waiting through the mess for months before watching it unfold. things, in charge of the content on the city’s ing and lack of interest in learning has
evening of March 15 to make appointments Tori Breitling was one. Breitling left the website. Another department, Communica endangered public health, and continues to
for the COVID19 vaccine on Austin Public city in January after three years of trying to tions & Technology Management, is, among make it harder on residents just trying to
Health’s webpage were kicked out of the sign reinvent, or just improve, its website, which other things, in charge of providing techni get the services they need every day.”
up process. Many immediately began typing: has fallen short of techfriendly Austinites’ cal support for the website. Both CPIO and
“We sat here for six hours. This is unac expectations since the city first went online CTM employ web developers and other The CiTy Knows whaT’s Up
ceptable.” in the 1990s. She spent the last weeks in inhouse technical experts. However, nei There’s a reason the heads of APH looked
“I was literally at the screen selecting an her position watching the city try to make ther department created APH’s COVID19 for a thirdparty vendor to design their vac
appointment time. Does this mean that I the vaccine portal work, offering her advice vaccine portal. Instead, the city contracted cine portal. It’s because the city’s website,
lose this spot and start completely over in in vain to confused bosses. It makes her with a thirdparty vendor – Salesforce, the austintexas.gov, is fragile, tangled, and a
the queue tomorrow?” angry to talk about. Fortune 500 tech giant that dominates the general mess.
14 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE JUNE 11, 2021 austinchronicle.comYou can also read
