Callout: Today’s newsletter is supported by “Austin Parks Foundation’s Party for the Parks”
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Quote of the Day
This is just another one of those checkboxes of the Anthropocene Epoch… You can see in these dense areas just how much of our roadways is ending up in our reservoirs.”
— Watershed Protection Department’s Dr. Brent Bellinger, from “Study reveals alarming levels of tire and road microplastics in Austin’s reservoirs“
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Austin ISD to host meetings on closures as 12 more schools are flagged for failing grades
From Katy McAfee, KUT News:
The Texas Education Agency ratings were released last month. Austin ISD saw some improvements from last year, but roughly one third of the district’s 116 campuses still had unacceptable ratings.
In a letter sent to Austin ISD officials, the TEA said dozens of schools will need to submit plans to the state detailing how they will improve student outcomes. Twelve schools are required to submit plans by mid-November and implement them as soon as they are approved. Those plans could include major staffing changes and an infusion of new programs.
Study reveals alarming levels of tire and road microplastics in Austin’s reservoirs
From Mina Shekarchi:
A study from the University of Texas indicates a higher concentration of microplastics at the mouths of Austin’s major urban tributaries, like Shoal and Waller creeks. The majority of particles found in samples had tire and road origins, compared to lower numbers of plastic fibers or fragments broken off of other plastic products.
Scientists are still determining the full health impact of microplastics in waterways. Some companies have removed intentionally-created microplastics like exfoliant beads in skincare from their products, but particles are unintentionally sloughed off of everyday plastic or rubber materials as a result of friction. In waterways, microplastics have the potential to accumulate.
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Today’s newsletter is supported by “Austin Parks Foundation’s Party for the Parks”
Join Austin Parks Foundation for the 11th Annual Party for the Parks, featuring Passion Pit! This beloved event is happening under the lights at ACL in Zilker Park on Wednesday, October 8th.
Partygoers will enjoy delicious dining options, libations from Austin’s premiere beverage brands, games, a live auction and an intimate concert—all while helping raise funds for our city’s nearly 400 parks, trails and green spaces. Click here to get your tickets and join the fun!
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Newsroom check-in: How should a newsroom be?
Last month, we convened a small group of dedicated Monitor readers to hear directly about what areas of our coverage you’d like to see expand. It was a great session, where, among other things, we heard that you’d like us to keep our focus on local impact, improve our digital and visual experience and work on giving more historical context to stories.
Now it’s everyone’s turn! We’re hoping that all of you are able to take a few minutes to fill our new reader survey and help guide us through building our new newsroom and honing our future vision.
We’ve heard loud and clear that you’d like more opportunities for feedback, and we’re excited to offer this survey as one of our first steps towards becoming a more connected, collaborative newsroom that focuses on community engagement as a first step. Though we don’t have any plans to change from the trusted, reliable source that you know and love, we do have the opportunity to grow a bit.
That’s where you can help: Want more in-depth stories? Shorter stories? More visuals? More coverage of schools? A better, year-round focus on the budget? Expanded housing and affordability coverage? These are all things that we heard from our focus group, and we’re hoping to continue that conversation in our survey, which is a chance to let us know now where we should cast our net in the coming months.
It certainly won’t be your last chance to weigh in, but it’s an important one, so head over now.
Identity crisis
Former City Council Member and current Petition Starter Mackenzie Kelly is hoping to stop the city’s much-mocked new brand in its tracks with a plea via change.org.
The branding, which aims to replace the 300-odd brands now employed by various city departments and entities, is the result of a multi-year $1.1 million process. It was unveiled late last week and almost immediately skewered on social media.
Though there’s no recouping the million already spent, Kelly is asking for a halt to the rebranding and approval by voters before things go any further. As her petition explains, “We’re calling on the Austin City Council to: Pause the rollout of the new city logo. Put the final logo design to a citywide vote. Early estimates suggest the rollout could cost tens of millions over time, but the City hasn’t been transparent about the true cost. This is our city and our identity and taxpayers deserve a seat at the table.”
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Elsewhere in the News
The Austin American-Statesman investigates how the threat of deportation is impacting local schoolchildren.
The Texas Commission on the Arts has created two new cultural districts in Austin: Govalle and the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor.
The Texas Tribune has its wrap-up of the state legislative session (note that the plan to further limit city property taxes didn’t make it through.)
And apparently Congressman Chip Roy hates the city’s rebrand (or loves talking to Fox News.)
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