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This story was updated at 4 p.m.
At least 15 protesters organized by Rent Strike ATX were arrested today during a demonstration in honor of May Day.
The roadway is now open. We can confirm that 15 people were arrested for Obstructing a Highway, a Class B Misdemean… https://t.co/63jJ3elUaB— Austin Police Department (@Austin Police Department) 1588364546.0
APD tweeted at 3:22 that protesters were arrested for obstructing a highway as they had gathered along the I-35 frontage road in downtown Austin. Rent Strike ATX disputes the department's description of events.
This is incorrect. After the slow roll demonstration down I-35, APD forced drivers into a private parking lot, arre… https://t.co/5Ha2tpqlK2— Rent Strike ATX 🏳️ (@Rent Strike ATX 🏳️) 1588365926.0
The group's demands are free healthcare, no work, no debt, prisoner release and homes for all.
Rent Strike ATX wasn't the only organization that made plans for May Day.
Controversial local organization Defend Our Hoodz has also called for a rent strike to begin today. So far, residents of a half dozen apartment complexes have joined in, per the group's Facebook page, calling for an immediate stoppage of rent and utility bills, plus full wage restitution "regardless of circumstance or immigration status," per its website. It is unclear if the efforts are related.
Local police were prepared for such demonstrations.
"The Austin Police Department is aware of planned 'May Day' events, and will be appropriately staffed to ensure that attendees and the public remain safe while all parties have the ability to exercise their First Amendment Rights to assembly and free speech," the department stated in an emailed statement this morning.
Earlier this week, Austin City Hall was vandalized, with red paint smeared across the front doors and anti-capitalism messages spray painted on the steps outside, including one that read: "May 1 International Workers Day" with a hammer and sickle.
Yesterday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Workforce Commission has issued new guidance regarding unemployment claims. Now, certain people may refuse to return to work and still receive unemployment benefits, including people 65 years and older.
"This flexibility in the unemployment benefit process will help ensure that Texans with certain health and safety concerns will not be penalized for choosing not to return to work," Abbott said in a statement.
But workers advocacy groups are pushing for more protections as businesses reopen. In an April 29 letter to the TWC, the Center for Public Policy Priorities, Texas AFL-CIO, Texas Appleseed and other organizations called for this flexibility to apply to people with underlying medical conditions or otherwise immunocompromised and for clearer guidance on what qualifies as a suitable work environment.
"We really need to have more clarity in these uncertain times about who's actually going to be allowed to stay home if they don't feel safe going back to work," said Jonathan Lewis, senior economic opportunity policy analyst at the Center for Public Policy Priorities. "Especially because people can't contact TWC even for normal things that they need to do [because of high call volume]."
Lewis added that certain workers are more vulnerable—including people of color, immigrants and women—because they may not have the option to work from home or otherwise mitigate their risk of exposure. "There's not really a space for a strong collective worker voice," he said.
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Lately, the crypto market is looking shaky.
The price of bitcoin fell by more than half from its high, the digital currency luna crashed to $0 and a type of so-called stablecoin TerraUSD has been described as dead.
Reporting from the LA Times notes that experts seeing a correlation between traditional markets and the cryptocurrency market is high right now, with plunges in one being followed by a plunge in the other. On Wednesday, stocks had their worst day in more than two years with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 1,164 points.
Crypto’s volatility has long been questioned, especially after SXSW this year was filled with Web3 enthusiasts and displays.
With 8% of Texans owning Bitcoin and many others involved in the local crypto and Web3 scene, what are they feeling amid the crash?
In a written comment to Austonia, ATX DAO said a positive with the downturn is that “most of the speculative moneygrab type projects get washed out of the market, and the quality projects that deliver real value remain and gather more attention.”
The group went on to say it could work to their advantage as they carry out their latest project: a mural at Native Hostel that will have an NFT version. They’ll use sales toward donations to HOPE Outdoor Gallery, a local nonprofit that supports artists and creatives.
Meanwhile, Yagub Rahimov, a founder of an Austin-based Web3 company explains that they aren’t really impacted by the crash.
Since the company known as Tested Web functions as a Web3 online reputation marketplace, it is utilizing blockchain technology without tokenizing.
“We are a share to earn marketplace. That means that any activity that users have on tested web.com, we will be rewarding,” Rahimov said. “Those rewards are coming in the form of rewards points. And every quarter they can opt in to receive either a gift card or a check. We are not issuing any cryptocurrency. That's one of the important elements that I believe we got it right that way.”
With recent developments at Tested Web, Rahimov says he “couldn’t be happier.” After struggling to find tech talent in early spring, he’s had a hiring spree in the last 10 days and received a $1 million grant and partnership with Silent Notary, a blockchain-powered validation provider.
But his recent business success aside, Rahimov is noticing what’s happening in the markets and predicts that the correlation between the crypto market and traditional one will be broken.
“The way Bitcoin was introduced back in 2009, it was as a reply or response to the 2008 market crash,” Rahimov said. “And it really feels like we are in 2007, 2008, actually, early, early days of the market crash. And if it becomes that way, very likely that the winner is going to be those of decentralized parties.”
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Barton Springs Pool is on a condensed schedule while the city tries to fill out its lifeguard roster.
The popular pool is currently closed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays while it navigates a lifeguard shortage. The city is offering bonuses to new applicants who can start by early June.
Austin Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Jodi Jay said there are 207 lifeguards ready to work and 100 incoming but the department needs 750 to be fully staffed.
Zoom out: The pandemic has had a lasting impact on hiring—in 2019, the city was able to hire 850 lifeguards. The Aquatic Department has been unable to match those numbers since it reopened training classes in spring of 2021.
Why it matters: The city needs at least 400 lifeguards, plus 30 with open water certification, to open pools on a modified schedule by June 4. Without hitting that mark, some facilities could limit hours or close.
The job pays between $16-19 an hour, anyone over 15 can get certified and there are bonuses on the table:
- $500 bonus if you get certified and start working by June 6.
- $500 bonus if you work through August 14.
- $250 bonus if you get advanced certification.