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Local elected officials and community leaders are speaking out against what they call a "harmful, one-size-fits-all" bill that would, if passed, prevent the Live Music Capital of the World from regulating amplified sound above a certain noise level.
Filed by Texas House Reps. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, and Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches, the bill would prevent cities with a population of 750,000 to 1.5 million people from regulating amplified sound above 75 decibels at bars or live music venues from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. in residential areas. Harris said the bill would reverse Austin City Council's "runaway red tape," which he argued has driven visitors and local businesses away, during a House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee meeting last week.
The city of Austin, which has a population of just under 1 million people, currently allows noise up to 85 decibels from live music venues downtown. Anything louder is prohibited, which some downtown business owners find problematic.
But local elected officials, the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association and musicians oppose the bill, which they feel is an example of state overreach.
DANA is encouraging its members to contact state lawmakers to voice their concerns. "The Texas Legislature wants to remove Austin's ability to regulate amplified sound!" the group wrote in a recent Facebook post. "They want to allow loud music outside your window until 2 a.m.!"
Austin Mayor Steve Adler also spoke out against the bill at a press conference on Monday at 3TEN ACL Live, a 350-person venue next door to the ACL Live box office. "The suggestion that the state can come in and say that the city can't regulate sound at that level isn't right," he said.
City council members, including Kathie Tovo, who represents downtown, and Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison, said that the bill threatens to overturn the current local ordinance, which was developed with feedback from residents and business owners.
Graham Reynolds, a local composer, said that the current ordinance strikes a balance between competing interests. "I want to make live music all the time," he said. "And everyone else wants to sleep."
Nakia Reynosa, president of the Austin Texas Musicians advocacy group, also opposes the bill. "It's unfair that someone would try to come in and regulate something that has been worked on for years within the community," he said, adding that the sponsors represent cities with fewer than 40,000 residents.
Sounds above 85 decibels are harmful, according to the University of Michigan health library. Heavy traffic, window air conditioners, noisy restaurants and a power lawn mower typically have a noise level of between 80 and 89 decibels.
The bill was considered in a public hearing last week and left pending in committee.
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Popular
Austin FC kept rival FC Dallas to a draw Saturday night as it pulled off a 2-2 comeback. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Despite a 2-0 deficit, there was a pot of gold for Austin FC after all as it celebrated its annual Pride Night with rainbows and a 2-2 comeback draw to FC Dallas Saturday night.
After three FC Dallas losses last season, the Dallas derby draw marks the first time Austin FC has tied against its Copa Texas rival. Austin continues to edge over FC Dallas as it sits at 3rd in the MLS West.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the match:
A somber start
¡Ya Basta! Enough! End Gun Violence. #uvaldestrong
— Los Verdes (@LosVerdesATX) June 26, 2022
📷 @arubiophotospic.twitter.com/3PiVdTPtik
Decked out in colorful hues for LBGTQ+ Pride, Verde fans started the match on a somber note as they held up banners to take a stand against gun violence before the match.
As the national anthem began, fans held up banners with the names of each child that was killed in the Uvalde school shooting and a plea to "end gun violence."
The supporters' section was also dotted with Pride flags and a "Bans off Our Bodies" banner in protest of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
FC Dallas earns a 2-0 lead
Paul Arriola is there to put it away and put @FCDallas ahead! pic.twitter.com/Z4AMmM6lp3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
That sober tone continued onto the pitch. With midfielder Daniel Pereira's absence due to a red card, the Verde and Black lost two goals to FC Dallas by the 70th minute of play.
FC Dallas played it sneaky for the first half of the match, giving Austin FC plenty of room to hold possession as it waited to strike on a Verde error. That mentality proved dangerous for Austin as Dallas' Paul Arriola took advantage of Brad Stuver's deflection to score the first goal of the night in the 57th minute of play.
Dallas struck once more as Brandon Servant pushed past the Verde line to score the second goal of the match.
#DTID double their lead!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
The substitute Brandon Servania with a fine finish within five minutes of coming on. 💥 pic.twitter.com/IZm0YsPxG5
Austin FC strikes back
Sebastián Driussi pulls one back!#AustinFC are still in this one. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Yoi0x768jb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
But energy quickly returned to Austin's favor thanks to Designated Player Sebastian Driussi, who scooted past several FC Dallas defenders alongside Moussa Djitte to snag an unlikely first goal for Austin.
A full Verde comeback
Late drama in this Texas Derby!@AustinFC ties it up, Danny Hoesen with the diving header. 😱 pic.twitter.com/Jk2f4fIEXG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
Austin's subs proved deadly as momentum returned to the home team toward the end of the match. A well-placed cross from Nick Lima—and a diving header from a fresh-legged Danny Hoesen—helped the team secure the draw with a second Verde goal in the 84th minute of play.
Hoesen, who was Austin's first starting striker last season, has now scored two goals with the team after a yearlong injury stuck him on the bench.
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(Bob Daemmrich)
Hours following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion, on Friday, about 1,000 people gathered in Republic Square with signs calling for change.
The rally, organized by the group Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights Texas, started at the federal courthouse on Republic Square on Friday at 5 p.m. before the crowd marched to the Texas Capitol. More protests are expected to ensue over the weekend.
People showed up with all types of signs like Mindy Moffa holding up, "Keep your filthy laws off my silky drawers."
Austin joined cities across the country that saw protests for a women's right to an abortion after the ruling.
According to a recent UT poll, 78% of Texas voters support abortion access in most cases.
Sabrina Talghade and Sofia Pellegrini held up signs directed at Texas laws. A Texas trigger law will ban all abortions from the moment of fertilization, starting 30 days after the ruling. When state legislators passed the trigger law last summer, it also passed laws for more protection of firearms, including the right to open carry without a permit.
Lili Enthal of Austin yells as around 1,000 Texans marched to the Texas Capitol.
From the Texas Capitol, Zoe Webb lets her voice be heard against the Supreme Court ruling.
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