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(Courtesy of Brandon Lewin)
For the first time in months, comedy returns to the stage of one Austin venue.
<p>Big Laugh Comedy, an up-and-coming comedy company, is bringing live shows back to Austin by way of Vulcan Gas Company, located on 418 E. 6th St. While Vulcan Gas Company is known as an intimate nightspot, Big Laugh Comedy is turning it into the comedy hub on Thursdays at 9 p.m.</p><p>Live performances and comedy have taken a hit due to COVID-19 with Austin's famous <a href="https://austonia.com/cap-city-comedy-closes" target="_self">Cap City Comedy closing its doors</a> for good last month. Big Laugh Comedy CEO Brandon Lewin said in this dark time for comedy, they want to bring it back in the best, safest way.</p><p>"Everyone's really excited about the fact that live comedy is back and the fact that it's safe," Lewin said. "We're making sure that (safety) is the biggest thing for us and we're going to do it the right way in a safe manner."</p><p>For maximum protection, the venue is operating at 25% capacity with attendees assigned their own table, wearing a mask until seated and socially distanced. In fact, the feature comedian and the headline comedian don't even share a mic.</p><p>The maiden show at Vulcan featured Cory Michaelis with every seat on the bottom floor sold out. Lewin said he, as well as the audience, were very happy to see him perform.</p><p>"Cory did fantastic—he killed it," Lewin said. "Everyone loved him. Everyone was really happy with him."</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU1MzYyNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyODg5NjU2MH0.CrBp33fof48QvFH1Vxc3uuZ_Chr_tDoGkL2qro3eWcM/img.jpg?width=980" id="35850" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e1bcf147c40a7d8be6f6531b85fa5e99" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
(Big Laugh)
<p>Big Laugh plans to pull out all the stops and bring big names to the stage. This week, stand-up comedian Aida Rodriguez is coming from Los Angeles for the second show on Oct. 22.</p><p>Rodriguez, who is on Tiffany Haddish's Netflix special "They Ready," said this will only be her second time traveling to perform during COVID-19 and she is excited to bring laughter to a time when it is so needed.</p><p>"It feels good to know that during this time that I could possibly bring some laughter and joy and happiness to people who are being affected (by COVID-19)," Rodriguez said in an interview with Austonia. "It brings me joy to bring other people joy. I'm just grateful to be able to share that experience with the people of Austin."</p><p>Rodriguez often discusses race issues, social issues and family trauma in her sets, which she said is a cathartic outlet. This will be her first time performing in Austin and she said while she is nervous, she is excited to be able to use her art again.</p><p>"Comedy is what I do for a living but it's also my art, it's my profession, it's my love. It's something that fills me," Rodriguez said. "It's where I feel like I live because I exist in the world and I live on stage, so for that to be taken away is a castration of some sorts and you feel like a very important part of you is cut off."</p><p>Lewin said Big Laugh Comedy's goal is to restore that sense of fulfillment comedians get on stage by giving them a platform, an audience and payment for their art in a world that isn't always kind to performers.</p><p>Lewin said they are very selective with their choices of performers because they pay all of them.</p><p>"We're an advocate—we're really looking to partner with comedians," Lewin said. "So we really want to help them (and) we do help them."</p><p>Big Laugh Comedy plans to expand their reach to the suburbs of Austin and even neighboring cities, like Dallas and Houston. For now, they will continue to host shows at Vulcan for the foreseeable future. Big Laugh has plans to bring names like Tony Hitchcliffe and Craig Conant to perform soon.</p><p>"The mission has always been to make people laugh, bring laughter to people at the same time, give comedians a platform to do this and do it in a way where it makes sense for them and helps them to grow their brand, as well," Lewin said.</p>Tickets for Rodriguez's show on Oct. 22 are available for purchase <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aida-rodriguez-live-in-austin-tickets-126175055989" target="_blank">here</a>.
<p>More on comedy club's: </p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/cap-city-comedy-closes" target="_self">Austin's Cap City Comedy closes its doors for good in the wake of the pandemic</a></h2>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzgzNjY2OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzA0MzM4M30.OLvTSydqLncPOm2svJsft755prbXG05o4i0PYmTqBdU/img.png?width=980" id="a888a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="243c9fecf407df4c6d237c4f84828852" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Austin's Cap City Comedy closes its doors for good in the wake of the pandemic earlier this month.
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Hoping to celebrate Thanksgiving? Then Austin health officials recommend skipping Halloween
21 October
ATXN.tv
Dr. Mark Escott, interim Austin-Travis County health authority, updates reporters about COVID-19 conditions in Austin during a Wednesday press conference.
Halloween isn't canceled, but COVID-19 health risks should keep the holiday celebration at a minimum this year in Austin.
<p>At least that is what Austin public health officials are asking as COVID-19 cases likely increase, based on <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-covid-october" target="_blank">recent modeling predictions</a>. The city is averaging about 100 cases per day, down significantly from the summer spike, but the rolling 14-day averages show an overall increase in COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions and ventilator usage, according to Dr. Mark Escott, interim Austin-Travis County health authority.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f010fe521e42182a0de99e9bcad9157d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="639ae" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU1MjcwMC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMDE0NTgxMX0.P7wTqiomaH-DgZ4DaUeuz9Jw18Qm5p5nDoJyqrp_C2c/img.png?width=980"/>
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<p>"Cases are on the rise, and Halloween is just around the corner," Escott said. "If we do not want to have Thanksgiving in a period of crisis, we've got to really tamp down our activity for Halloween."<br/></p><p>This comes after several weeks of being "in a plateau," he said, potentially giving fatigued Austin residents false hope that it is now safe to resume normal activities. On the contrary, Escott warns that actions taken in the coming days and weeks will influence health conditions by late November during the holiday season. </p><p>"That's just the new way of life for us, at least at this stage," he said.</p><p>Austin health officials, including Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden, acknowledged that months of quarantine measures have exhausted Austinites, but the same safety measures still apply: social distance, wear masks, wash your hands, stay home if you're not feeling well and quarantine and get tested if you've been exposed to COVID-19.</p><p>Concerns are exacerbated as the influenza season kicks off. Austin already has documented flu cases, APH Chief Epidemiologist Janet Pichette said, making it all the more important that residents get their flu vaccination. Seasonal flu patients took up most of the hospital ICU capacity last year, according to health officials.</p><p>Hayden recommended that residents visit <a href="http://vaccinefinder.org" target="_blank">vaccinefinder.org</a> to find a flu shot provider that is covered by their insurance. Anyone without insurance can also get a <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/department/flu-austin-influenza" target="_blank">free flu shot</a> at two upcoming events:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><strong>Oct. 24</strong>: Southeast Library, 5803 Nuckols Crossing Road (8 a.m. to noon)<ul class="ee-ul"><li>Walk-up flu shots on a first-come, first-served basis</li></ul></li></ul><ul class="ee-ul"><li><strong>Nov. 7</strong>: Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)<ul class="ee-ul"><li>Drive-thru flu shots, with appointments recommended</li><li>Call APH Immunizations at 512-972-5520 to schedule an appointment</li></ul></li></ul><p>Despite concerns about rising COVID-19 and flu cases, Escott and the rest of the public health team insisted that in-person voting is still safe. In fact, Escott voted earlier in the day and considered the experience safe at every step.</p><p>"The risk of transmission is extremely low for in-person voting," Escott said. "(Voters) should feel confident in those safety procedures at their polling place."</p><p>Similarly, normal school activities also pose a low health risk. Most cases recorded in school settings have been isolated to social events outside of school or during extracurricular activities.</p><p>"Football programs, in particular, is where we have seen that situation develop over the past couple of weeks," Escott said. </p><p>It's important that anyone exposed or sick stay home the entirety of their 14-day quarantine period, health officials urged, or risk more dire circumstances by November. New hospital admissions are <a href="https://austin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/0ad7fa50ba504e73be9945ec2a7841cb" target="_blank">just below 20 per day currently</a>, about halfway to stricter Stage 4 restrictions, which haven't been in place since late July.</p><p>"My hope is that in November on Thanksgiving that I was wrong about what I said today," Escott said. "I hope we don't see the rise that's predicted. But the only way that's going to happen is if we change our behavior."</p>
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(Shutterstock)
Researchers at the COVID-19 Modeling Consortium at the University of Texas at Austin predict there is a 96% chance the COVID-19 pandemic is growing in Austin.
<p>Their model uses local COVID hospitalization data as well as cell phone mobility data to estimate the local state of the pandemic. Last week, it predicted there was only a 66% chance the pandemic was growing locally. </p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a1c5c7edbd0101a32c6fa7ca9800b192" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="32800" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU0MTY5NC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNzMxOTgzNH0.vVPhFZ-FzNopH8mdY4wR_dwoU7-BoRmbLw9w9Xod608/img.png?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(COVID-19 Modeling Consortium at the University of Texas at Austin)</small></p><p>Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said these projections, coupled with local caseload data, should sound an alarm for residents. <br/></p><p><span></span>"I can't stress enough," he said on Tuesday, "we are in a very precarious time right now."</p><p>The moving average number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Travis County and related hospitalizations in the Austin metro are both in the midst of a two-week sustained upward trend. </p><p><span></span>The average number of daily new confirmed COVID cases is 93, as of Monday evening, according to Austin Public Health data. This represents a nearly 20% increase since Sept. 1, when the average was 78.</p><p>The average number of daily new COVID hospital admissions is 18, the highest it has been since Sept. 8. </p><p>In addition to an increasing number of new cases and hospitalizations, the number of total patients hospitalized with COVID, in the ICU and on ventilators have also increased in the Austin metro over the last few weeks.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3099f6d8afb6a853e18e13ffb9bc7d19" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="37fa1" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU0MTcyNy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MjgxODc1MX0.X0G9C-kuXUv3xBlaXW25oEGxaoFMmE6XMIgPNY9XWSk/img.png?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit..."><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/RationalAnarchy/" target="_blank">(Rational Anarchy/Reddit)</a></small></p><p>At this rate, the UT researchers project that the metro could approach its ICU capacity by mid-November. <br/></p><p>Escott attributed these shifts—which arrive after six weeks of a more-or-less flattened curve and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/20/health/us-coronavirus-tuesday/index.html" target="_blank">are mirrored across the country</a>—to pandemic fatigue.</p><p>"This disease hasn't changed," he said. "What's changed is us."</p><p>In addition to recommitting to masking, social distancing and other protective behaviors, Austinites should get their flu shots, per Escott's advice</p><p>Last year, hospitals in the Austin metro nearly hit their ICU capacity with flu patients alone. Although the flu test positivity rate is currently just over 1%—which Escott said is excellent—there is still concern about the prospect of a twindemic.</p><p>"We have the potential of effectively lowering the surge capacity that we have for COVID-19 if we have flu hospitalizations as well," Escott said. "So now is the time to be extra cautious." </p><p>Austin area primary and secondary schools are not posting significant increases in new cases, but clusters continue to emerge from extracurricular and social activities, such as parent-sanctioned parties.</p><p>Children and young adults are at very low risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, but they can transmit the disease to those in other age groups, such as their teachers and grandparents.</p><p>As a result, Escott said he hopes Austinites take note of these concerning trends.</p><p>"We can change this forecast," he said. "Thanksgiving is going to be ugly if we don't change our actions now."</p>
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COVID scare forces cancellation of Joe Rogan podcast episodes, including Kanye West interview
20 October
Popular podcaster—and new Austin resident—Joe Rogan canceled all podcast episodes for this week just days after the controversial music artist Kanye West teased that he would be on the show.
<p>The cancellation of this week's podcast episodes comes after Rogan's producer Jamie Vernon tested positive for COVID-19. On Instagram, Rogan said he and the rest of his team had tested negative. Rogan also said he had not seen Vernon in nine days, and his staff would be tested every day to make sure they did not contract the virus.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7c202cbb4acc79657709a6dd0f8b9b94" id="84d39"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGidLAbA1vQ/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
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</div></blockquote></div><p>While Rogan did not mention the guests of the upcoming episodes that were canceled, West tweeted screenshots of a FaceTime call with Rogan, which referred to West being a guest on the podcast this Friday. </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7f8f25e768b362c9f67e4db0cfdb03cd" id="4c70b"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1317550429895622657"><div style="margin:1em 0">Joe Rogan said it’s cool for me to design the set for our podcast this Friday ⛷ https://t.co/9FOPjU36K3</div> — ye (@ye)<a href="https://twitter.com/kanyewest/statuses/1317550429895622657">1602963476.0</a></blockquote></div><p>West has not publicly responded to the cancellation. </p><p>The rapper icon first mentioned he wanted to be on the podcast on <a href="https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/1315680854555848705?s=20" target="_blank">Twitter Oct. 12</a>. This would mean West would fly from his Calabasas home to Rogan's <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-businesses-behind-the-joe-rogan-studio-2647571718/timeline-of-joe-rogan-moving-to-texas" target="_blank">new Austin podcast studio</a>, as many guests on the podcast have done already.</p><p>West made news in July for <a href="https://austonia.com/politics/elon-musk-kanye-west" target="_blank">launching his candidacy for U.S. president</a>. While his name will not appear on most ballots, he is still encouraging fans to write his name in. </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="19a18f982b6c1115bb96e4146247aae8" id="a8fbc"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1314407219434196993"><div style="margin:1em 0">Friends writing me in 🕊 https://t.co/bC4NvFBWB5</div> — ye (@ye)<a href="https://twitter.com/kanyewest/statuses/1314407219434196993">1602214076.0</a></blockquote></div><p><strong>More on Joe Rogan:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/iconoclast-joe-rogan" target="_self">Austin's newest superstar resident, podcaster Joe Rogan, is a complicated, pot smoking, elk hunting, fight fan who wants everyone to just 'calm down'</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ1MzI4My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNDczNzU4NX0.7iTW7OLxrUqt24g-Zxe2TKriAjAIWIaNeeBjNHT0KLU/img.jpg?width=980" id="90c7a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3f1c8b335784ceacbf24509cb282d8d5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Austin's newest superstar resident, podcaster Joe Rogan, is a complicated, pot smoking, elk hunting, fight fan who wants everyone to just 'calm down'
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(Andreas Glöckner/Pixabay)
The Austin Film Society launched a new at-home streaming service, AFS@home.
<p>AFS@home members will receive discounted tickets for new films streaming on the platform as well as the ability to rent independent films not available elsewhere for around $10 to $12 apiece. </p><p>Current titles include the documentaries "This is Not a Movie: Robert Fisk" and "The Politics of Truth" and "Saul & Runy's Holocaust Survivor Band," adaptations of the Jack London novel "Martin Eden" and Richard Wright novel "Native Son," and the 2006 Chinese film "Still Life."</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="de2404a5fe6eead334e2cc8a325ba595" id="79e46"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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</div></blockquote></div><p>As with in-person screenings, AFS staff will provide virtual introductions to many of the films available through AFS@home.<br/></p><p>Proceeds from the new service will support the reopening of AFS' physical cinema, at the Linc development near I-35 and Airport Boulevard.</p><p>"The AFS Cinema will return! It's not a matter of 'if,' but when," according to a press release issued on Friday. "But we know that it isn't time yet, and we will not reopen until Austin is ready to return to the movies." </p><p>AFS was founded in 1985 by filmmaker Richard Linklater, of the films "Boyhood" and "Before Sunrise."</p><p>The local cinema is one of 11 arthouses across the country involved in the @homeArts program, which was developed by the Salt Lake City Film Society to help cinemas adapt during the pandemic.</p><p>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott <a href="https://austonia.com/texas-bars-covid" target="_self">announced earlier this month</a> that movie theaters and other businesses limited to 50% capacity could expand to 75% capacity. </p><p>But many cinemas remain closed, such as AFS, or otherwise impacted by the pandemic. </p><p>Regal Cinemas, which reopened in August, <a href="https://austonia.com/regal-cinemas-shuts-down" target="_self">recently announced</a> that it would suspend operations at all of its U.S. locations, including four in Austin. </p><p><strong>More on theaters: </strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/mueller-alamo-drafthouse" target="_self">Alamo Drafthouse caught in lawsuit over unpaid rent at Mueller location</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUxMjI1NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzEyMjY5MX0.92B8k5ZQ160KRB-gT5yjc2gz6yDUIzjxGDfbD1jjfLE/img.jpg?width=980" id="c26e3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5f63eebc01a4f84dc6c9a9e1513a5c9a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Alamo Drafthouse caught in lawsuit over unpaid rent at Mueller location(Alamo Drafthouse/Facebook)
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(Laura Figi/Austonia)
People line up outside 6th Street bars on Sept. 12.
More than 200 Austin bars have recently reclassified as restaurants, bypassing Travis County health rules that keep bars closed amid COVID-19 concerns.
<p>Some bars in Texas, shut down <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/26/texas-bars-restaurants-coronavirus-greg-abbott/" target="_blank">since late June</a>, reopened last week at 50% capacity <a href="https://austonia.com/texas-bars-covid" target="_blank">where local officials deemed it safe</a>. Travis County ultimately <a href="https://austonia.com/travis-county-bars" target="_blank">kept bars closed</a> because "the risk to our public health is too great," Judge Sam Biscoe said.</p><p>But at least 203 Austin bars are eligible to reopen anyway, based on mid-October permit records from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. These bars submitted paperwork proving they have on-site food service facilities where customers can order at least two entrees at the same time alcohol is served.</p><p>There has been a significant surge in converted bars locally since <a href="https://www.tabc.texas.gov/static/sites/default/files/2020-08/industry-notice-qualifying-as-a-restaurant-under-ga-28.pdf" target="_blank">state-issued guidance in August</a> told bars how to reopen as restaurants. Here is a map showing every Austin establishment that successfully applied to reopen.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=131hMua8aRgzZ9hifWe2gdeRd4Ex_SSYR" width="640"></iframe></div><p>Keep in mind that permit changes don't necessarily mean every business on the map reopened just yet.<br/></p><p class="media-headline">Bars that were unable to reclassify as restaurants remain closed in Travis County. Since the pandemic started in March, Austin bars have only been allowed to <a href="https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/as-covid-19-surges-gov-abbott-orders-bars-re-closed-restaurants-to-scale-back-capacity" target="_blank">open for about five weeks</a>, from mid-May until late June when shutdown orders were reissued statewide.<br/></p><p>Texas restaurants—including converted bars—can operate at 75% capacity as long as tables remain distanced and there are no more than 10 people per party. </p><p>In Austin, the city has established the "<a href="http://austintexas.gov/page/shop-the-block" target="_blank">Shop the Block</a>" pilot program to encourage businesses to expand outdoor operations during the pandemic. However, only 17 restaurants and converted bars have active permits to expand into private parking lots as well as public sidewalks, parking spaces and streets.</p><p>Many of the existing participants, mostly converted bars, have renewed their permit. The outdoor expansion into private parking lots and public rights of way is free as long as the expanded area doesn't include a tent or seat of more than 49 people. If so, then it's $306 per month.</p><p>Additional application, usage and inspection fees apply for public space closures. Most applicants have expanded into their private parking lots, avoiding those fees in the process.</p><p>See more details of each successful applicant in the map above. The city is encouraging more applicants for the sparsely used pilot program, which runs through at least Dec. 15. </p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on bars:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/travis-county-bars" target="_self">Travis County judge says bars must remain closed after governor granted authority to reopen</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUxODM3My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzQwOTk2OX0.-VZkqRMYxrTe51FxoDbIfBVFZdNFkhbjmiwSjAXf7bE/img.png?width=980" id="93449" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8cfbb97d60fef89f2c67787113690a58" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Travis County judge says bars must remain closed after governor granted authority to reopen(Laura Figi/Austonia)
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A rental relief program from the city of Austin has so far helped more than 750 residents access nearly $900,000 to cover rental costs for up to three months.
<p>The city <a href="https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiN2IwOGJlYzgtNzkzNS00Y2U2LWFhZDktMGM1NGU1NWYyOTE1IiwidCI6IjVjNWUxOWY2LWE2YWItNGI0NS1iMWQwLWJlNDYwOGE5YTY3ZiJ9&pageName=ReportSection890641d17a14a1a2636a" target="_blank">introduced a new dashboard</a> Wednesday that showcases how much rental relief money has been distributed since late August when the program debuted. The Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants, or RENT, program aims to provide rental aid to low-income residents who have been impacted by COVID-19.</p><p>But that's only a fraction of the $12.9 million allocated for rental relief efforts. As of Thursday morning, 776 recipients out of 2,600 applicants have received $897,698 in approved rental assistance. That means only 29.8% of applicants have qualified for rental assistance.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76ec241022e7477fa4d4008caf2078b2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="2b61f" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUyMTExNC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2Njc5MDk5NX0.hlt_LL0vR47gWF_FcT7rAbIukj5YqK5yvzZCefaDj90/img.png?width=980"/>
</p>
<p>The typical household received $1,095 toward monthly rent, according to the dashboard, which also breaks down recipients per ZIP code, industry, ace/ethnicity, as well as household size and income.<br/></p><p>Approved applicants have their rental money distributed directly to their landlord. Also, only those making between 0% and 30% of Austin's median family income qualify for rental assistance all three months. Anyone making between 30% to 80% of the median family income only qualify for one month of relief. </p><p>To better promote the RENT program, the city has partnered with nonprofit organizations to assist renters in the application process. The city announced Wednesday it spent $400,000 to partner with these community organizations, which focus outreach efforts on the following factors:</p><p>Low-income residents in ZIP codes with high COVID-19 rates<br/></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Black and Latinx</li><li>Large households or families with children</li><li>People with disabilities</li><li>Veterans</li><li>People with limited English proficiency</li></ul><p>According to the city, recipients are selected randomly from the pool of qualified applicants. Such drawings occur "periodically over the comings months" or until the $12.9 million relief fund dries up. </p><p>"All applications, regardless of when they are submitted, will be given equal chance in the selection process," the city's website states.</p><p>Qualifications also balance household size with income, as applicants cannot make more than 80% of the city's median family income. Want to know if you qualify? Follow this basic breakdown to see if your household income is lower than the maximum threshold:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>I person=$54,700</li><li>2 people=$62,500</li><li>3 people=$70,300</li><li>4 people=$78,100</li><li>5 people=$84,350</li><li>6 people=$90,600</li></ul><p>Also, be ready to show evidence that COVID-19 has created financial hardships, such as paystubs and unemployment notices. </p><p>For more information about the relief program and eviction information, visit the <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/rent#" target="_blank">RENT assistance homepage</a>.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More:</strong> </p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/austin-renter-market" target="_self">Austin market posts lower rents, a pandemic-era boon to some tenants</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ3OTQ2NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTY3ODc1NH0.starkffGkk6wJiQrq_JbQdOUe-0TW5UTi_EtpMsRsNA/img.jpg?width=980" id="a8a06" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="29c026154265589b9d960d55cc6ef4a1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Austin market posts lower rents, a pandemic-era boon to some tenants
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(Austin Public Health)
CARES Act funding has helped pay for testing sites in the Austin area.
As Congress faces a stalemate over another possible coronavirus relief package, local and state governments around the country are facing a looming deadline for the last one.
<p>By Dec. 30, they must spend all the federal coronavirus relief dollars they received through the CARES Act, a bipartisan bill that was signed into law in late March and provided more than $2 trillion in assistance. Any unspent dollars must be returned to the U.S. Treasury Department. </p><p><strong>At the local level</strong></p><p>The city of Austin received nearly $171 million in CARES Act funding, which was intended for necessary expenditures incurred by the pandemic, according to <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=338985" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">an April presentation</a> by Brie Franco, intergovernmental relations office for the city. </p><p>As of Sept. 30, the city has spent more than $101 million of its CARES Act allocation, spokesperson Bryce Bencivengo wrote in an email to Austonia. More than two-thirds of the spending occurred between July and September. </p><p>Some of this funding has paid for new pandemic-era hires, such as epidemiologists, contact tracers and strike force teams that have helped respond to clusters at long-term care facilities and schools, Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden said on Sept. 29. </p><p>Earlier this month, council members unanimously approved <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-music-venues-qualify-for-relief" target="_self">the SAVES Resolution</a>, which allocated $15 million in CARES Act funding to music venues and other businesses deemed vital to the local culture. </p><p>Although Congress has not yet developed a relief package that could extend funding into 2021, APH is already planning to continue its COVID response efforts beyond the deadline. </p><p>"We understand that the federal funding will end as of December of this year, but we must continue to provide testing and contact tracing, our case investigations, our surveillance and our enforcement," Hayden told City Council. "Those efforts have really helped us as a city and county be in this place that we are in." </p><p><strong>At the county level</strong></p><p>Travis County received just over $61 million in CARES Act funding. As of Oct. 9, it has spent around 43%, with a remaining balance of more than $34 million to administer in the next 11 weeks.</p><p>The largest expense for Travis County has been through its economic development and strategic investments department, which has disbursed nearly $10 million in small business grants. </p><p>The bulk of the county's unspent dollars fall under two programs: 1) rent and mortgage assistance and 2) direct response.</p><p>With a countywide ban on rental evictions in place through at least the end of the year, staff have recommended that some of the rent and mortgage assistance funding be reallocated toward other causes rather than risk it being returned. </p><p>Direct response funding covers direct personnel and operating costs for <a href="https://austonia.com/we-are-blood-convalescent-plasma" target="_blank">the county's public health response</a>. </p><p>Despite the unspent dollars, Budget Director Travis Gatlin told county commissioners on Tuesday that the county's COVID-related costs are far in excess of the CARES funding it has received.</p><p>"We want to spend every dollar as soon as we can because we don't want to take a chance on having to send a dollar back," he said. "We want to keep those funds in the community."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="dee8fd76e4334dbce369c75d5c9d5054" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="bba43" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUxOTExMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjgyOTExMH0.D8JFtmxA5LK9kBb9R4d3Bg-IhulteFhW8soi61PPefw/img.png?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">An Oct. 13 presentation by Travis County Budget Director Travis Gatlin shows how CARES Act funding has been allocated. </small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Travis County) </small></p><p><strong>At the state level</strong><br/></p><p>The state of Texas received <a href="http://sites.utexas.edu/covid19relief/funding-for-state-and-local-jurisdictions/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">approximately $8 billion</a> in CARES Act funding and had a similarly broad mandate for how it could distribute it. The act also included funding for specific applications, such as homelessness outreach and rental assistance. </p><p>Although the state has disbursed some of its CARES Act funding to public schools, it simultaneously reduced <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas-school-districts-cares-act-funds-tea-money-state-funds/269-3e09564f-afbb-4d7a-9acf-725011de20fb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">its typical funding to those same schools</a>, leaving many districts—<a href="https://austonia.com/austin-isd-enrollment-2648193236?share_id=5867054" target="_self">including Austin ISD</a>—scrambling to make up the additional costs incurred due to the pandemic. </p><p><strong>At the federal level</strong></p><p>Congress has not passed a relief package since May. Since then, more than 100,000 Americans have died of the disease.<br/></p><p>Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced an abrupt end to negotiations with Democrats over additional COVID relief funding until after the election. Hours later, he tweeted a request for Congress to send him a bill for a second round of stimulus checks. </p><p>Austin Mayor Steve Adler expressed hope that another relief bill was imminent during an Oct. 1 City Council meeting but acknowledged "it's like reading smoke signals or tea leaves." </p><p>Since then, Congress has struggled to reach an agreement. Treasury Secretary Steven Mncuhin <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/14/business/us-economy-coronavirus?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage#mnuchin-says-he-does-not-expect-a-stimulus-bill-before-the-election" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said Wednesday</a> that he does not expect a relief bill to arrive before the Nov. 3 election. </p><p>Despite the uncertainty of additional funding coming through in the new year, Hayden stressed the importance of the programs currently being reimbursed through the CARES Act.</p><p>"Public health is a number-one priority for the city of Austin and Travis County," she said at a press conference earlier this month. "We will continue to provide the level of service that we have provided thus far."</p>
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