Stories by Alyssa Weinstein
As Covid-19 and climate crisis continue, Brigid Shea persists
A tumultuous 2020 brought oceans of hardships for many, and Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea said she still can’t quite believe everything that happened this year. “Covid-19 has been just surreal,” Shea said. “Are we really living through a global…
Travis County • By Alyssa Weinstein • Dec 28, 2020
Human Rights Commission passes recommendation for domestic violence survivors
Late last month, the city’s Human Rights Commission unanimously passed a recommendation to continue providing hotel shelter for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking during the Covid-19 pandemic. Courtney Santana, a Human Rights commissioner and the CEO…
Austin • By Alyssa Weinstein • Dec 1, 2020
The pitfalls of being an Austin service industry worker during Covid-19
Gina Dvorak has been working since she was 16 – she’s never not had a job. So when she was furloughed from the serving job she’s held for over 10 years at an Austin Japanese restaurant, she fell into a…
Austin • By Alyssa Weinstein • Nov 3, 2020
City considers racial equity in Hotel Occupancy Tax distribution
Earlier this month, the city’s Economic Development Department provided an update and offered a handful of recommendations for how it plans to use Hotel Occupancy Tax funds to achieve greater racial equity in Austin. The three high-level recommendations mainly have…
City Hall • By Alyssa Weinstein • Oct 23, 2020
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Austin families navigate food insecurity inflicted by Covid-19
Jacylin Moya and her mom woke up early Saturday morning to do something they had never done before – go to a Central Texas Food Bank drive. With a line of cars ahead of them, they waited in their car…
Austin • By Alyssa Weinstein • Oct 5, 2020
UT Austin opens health clinic, weighs closure plan as it prepares for potential coronavirus spread
UT Austin said Monday it’s preparing to move all classes online if COVID-19 cases are confirmed in the Austin area. The university is also advising students on how to avoid spreading the disease and how to travel safely over spring…
