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'I can't sleep': Austinite says he breaks into tears thinking of family stuck in Afghanistan

Haroon Abassy (center) served with the U.S. Army and Afghan Army for more than seven years. (Courtesy of Haroon Abassy)
Haroon Abassy is safe from Taliban rule—he's been a U.S. citizen living in Austin for the last seven years—but his heart aches just the same to watch chaos erupt in his hometown of Kabul, Afghanistan, from thousands of miles away.
A husband, father, board member for the Austin Afghan community and former translator for the U.S. Army, Abassy's phone has been ringing off the hook from friends and family members, including his parents and two brothers, who are looking for guidance on how to get out of Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control of Kabul just a few days ago.
Abassy (right) said he is worried the Taliban will target his family since he served in the military. (Courtesy of Haroon Abassy)
"It reminds me of the 'Titanic' movie, when the ship is going down and everybody's trying to get off somehow to save their lives—right now that's what's happening in Afghanistan," Abassy told Austonia. "In their minds, the only thing is to get out of Afghanistan. It doesn't matter for them which country, or even in America which state or which city, the only thing on their mind is to get out of Afghanistan."
Every time Abassy turns on the news, he sees women's rights being stripped away and his neighbors desperately clinging to planes in hopes of safety. He said he can't help from breaking down in tears.
This is heartbreaking💔.
Afghan girls beg American soldiers at Kabul airport to save them from what they know is coming.... #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/mClAaBwNle
— Fazila Baloch🌺☀️ (@IFazilaBaloch) August 18, 2021
When his three children ask what is going on, Abassy said he can't bear to break it to them. He tells them they will not be able to visit Afghanistan for a while because it is being controlled by "bad guys."
"They're insurgents, they're just trying to wait to resettle," Abassy said. "As soon as they settle in the country, and they have the full power, believe me, they will search home by home, they will find, one by one, the translators, the people who worked for the United Nations and their allies, and the news and the media people, the journalists and the Afghan military people, they will knock one by one on the doors and they will search the people, and they will kill them. I guarantee you the Taliban are not the people to trust."
Abassy left his country under similar circumstances—along with his family. Abassy fled to Pakistan to escape the Taliban in the late 1990s and lived there for 10 years, so he knows what Afghans are facing. Beyond that, Abassy worries that his family is in danger because he served the U.S. Army, which could leave them as targets for the Taliban.
Abassy said when American troops landed in Afghanistan, it brought hope and happiness of a normal life to the people living there. Now, after 20 years, all U.S. troops will leave the country by August. Abassy said he fears another 9/11 could be on the horizon.
"Why is a great country like America (making) wrong decisions by leaving a great country for a terrorist group? They could stay with us for at least a few more years and do their withdrawal, step by step, not leave altogether," Abassy said. "Now, thousands of people died, millions of people lost their jobs, millions of people don't have food, they don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. Everybody's hiding in their home."
His family was waiting on an appointment with the U.S. embassy to secure their Special Immigrant Visas that never came. Now, the U.S. embassy is closed as the Afghan government collapsed. Abassy said his family is in hiding for now—they left their home in Kabul, locked the door, likely never to return.
Abassy is doing the best he can to assist everyone who is reaching out for help. He said if they are lucky, they might get approved within a year. If not, they could end up waiting for many more.
"I can't sleep—I sleep two hours and I wake up again to check Facebook, to see if anybody got killed, if there are any attacks or something," Abassy said. "I don't have mindset, like I'm not normal at this time."
Abassy is very worried for the safety of his family; they don't fit either category of who the U.S. is prioritizing getting out of Afghanistan: Americans and Afghans who worked with the U.S. government. For now, Abassy is looking forward to welcoming the 107 refugees coming to Austin with open arms as they land.
"This story is going to repeat again, Afghan people will rise again, Afghan people will stand again and they will fight against the terrorist group of Taliban," Abassy said. "They cannot control our country. We cannot do anything right now, but we will do our best. One day we will kick the Taliban back to the mountains and to Pakistan."
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Popular
(Shutterstock)
Airbnb is moving to make its COVID-induced ban on house parties permanent—but from the affordable housing shortage to
"Under 25" bans, the short-term rental service may be losing its shine in Austin.
In 2019, the company moved to prohibit “open-invite” parties that were advertised on social media and “chronic party houses." By 2020, its ban broadened to all parties and events "until further notice," which was officially coded into policy Tuesday.
From August 2020 to January 2022, Airbnb denied over 48,000 reservations in Texas from serial party offenders, and around 3,300 reservations were declined through the "Under 25" system in Austin.
For some Austinites, the party ban may be the last straw.
Society has progressed past the need for Airbnb's https://t.co/44rTBDQPX1
— Caleb (@ipleadthef1th) June 20, 2022
But Airbnb has already caught plenty of flack for its possible contributions to the nation's housing shortage.
In Austin, short-term rentals are required to be registered through the city. And while the city reports around 1,900 rental units in the rental registry, according to city demographer Lila Valencia, data collection site Inside Airbnb has tracked close to 12,000 in the area.
Inside Airbnb founder Murray Cox said that too many Airbnbs in Austin could shrink the available housing market.
"If the housing units (have) been taken off the market, that's displacing people, it's making housing more scarce. And it's probably driving the cost of housing up," Cox told Austonia.
Short-term rentals could also eat into new housing in Austin, from apartment buildings to accessory dwelling units on single-family properties.
"If new housing has been built, and it's being tied to Airbnb, that's also really just servicing the tourism industry as opposed to the housing needs of the city," Cox said.
Because a large portion of its customers are tourists, Airbnbs may also tend to crowd around desirable areas, such as downtown or South Congress. South Congress's average rent now rivals New York City, according to Austin Business Journal.
"When that happens, you're taking away housing units in an already densely-populated area where there is more of a shortage of housing," Valencia said. "And so then the people who historically once lived there are no longer able to afford to live there, and the unit itself isn't even going to somebody who could afford to rent it on a more permanent basis, but rather to people who are coming in and visiting for a weekend or two."
Despite the pandemic—and growing frustration among homeowners and renters—Airbnb saw a record year in 2021. But two of Airbnb's billionaire founders have quietly sold $1.2 billion in company stock in the last year, a possible premonition of what's to come.
And while some have created an Airbnb "empire"—one company owns 338 available listings in Austin—many priced-out Austinites are fed up with big investors' influence in the tight housing market.
Empire?
These are not imperialist conquerors; they’re over leveraged milk toast millennials who probably borrowed money from their wealthy boomer parents and be bailed out by the same #housingmarket#airbnb#recessionpic.twitter.com/K6DM8bT730
— Texas Runner (@OGtexasrunner) June 21, 2022
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(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.