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🌱 Patch AM: Why thousands of Austin “affordable” apartments sit empty as homelessness grows.

And check out UT Austin Greeks Fight Childhood Cancer on the Austin Patch calendar

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Tuesday September 8th Patch AM
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Good morning Austin! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why thousands of Austin "affordable" apartments sit empty as homelessness grows.
  • Will Austin make Lake Austin's Jet Ski ban permanent?
  • How safe are Tesla's new driverless Cybercabs on Austin streets?

Also on today's calendar: The State Theatre & Resound Present: FunkyFrogBait: Internet Kid (The Comedy Tour) and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What happened to the pregnant cat that ate yarn? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny and hot, with a high of 101 and low of 76 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Wednesday: Hot; a stray p.m. t-storm, temps: high: 100, low: 77.
  • Thursday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 100 and low of 76 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. The poorest in the US can't find housing even as low-income units sit empty (wcvb.com) — Austin now has more than 4,500 city-classified affordable units sitting vacant—about a 16% vacancy rate—even as extremely low-income residents like shelter guest Mathew Davis struggle to find any place they can afford. The piece explains how most new "affordable" units target higher income tiers, why complex applications push renters toward market apartments, and how Austin is falling far short of its own goals for deeply affordable housing.
   

2. Jet Skis temporarily banned at Lake Austin during holiday weekend; new petition pushes further (kvue.com) — Lake Austin visitors face a temporary holiday ban on Jet Skis, and some homeowners are now pushing Austin leaders to make those restrictions permanent or extend them to all weekends. Local boat businesses warn the rules cut deeply into holiday revenue, while residents debate whether safety concerns outweigh recreation and economic impacts. City leaders will ultimately decide how Lake Austin is used.
   

3. IF Insights: Tesla Cybercab hits Austin roads, but is it really ready? (internationalfinance.com) — Tesla's new Cybercab robotaxis are now taking paying passengers on Austin streets, even as federal regulators immediately opened an investigation into whether the steering‑wheel‑free vehicles meet safety rules. The article details how many Cybercabs are in the local fleet, their incident record in Austin so far, and how U.S. and European regulators differ on approving Tesla's self‑driving technology compared with rivals like Waymo and Zoox.
   

4. Iran conflict squeezes Strait of Hormuz shipping, raising energy costs in Austin (cbsaustin.com) — Austinites are paying about $3.70 for regular gas this Labor Day weekend, nearly a dollar more than last year, as conflict near Iran disrupts oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Higher fuel costs are also pushing up local food and retail prices, with beef, produce, and snacks all forecast to rise, though egg prices are finally dropping. Travel plans, however, appear largely unchanged despite the squeeze.
   

5. Central Texas fire crews help with statewide wildfire outbreak (fox7austin.com) — Central Texas firefighters, including crews from Austin, are deployed to help battle several major wildfires burning in North Texas, led by Travis County ESD 1 Chief Donnie Norman. About 15 ESD 1 personnel are assisting statewide, but officials say Austin-area fire coverage remains fully staffed because the state reimburses backfill positions. New state-funded firefighting aircraft are also being added to future wildfire responses.
   

📸 Around Austin

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Joe Blackman's Insider Guide to September Events in Austin —Joe Blackman Read on Patch
  • Double birthday at Austin Retirement and Nursing Center[ now Coral RNC ].
    Roberta had to wait a couple of days for her party but it was very worth it. She was raising her arm in pure joy while Lou played and the birthday… (Nextdoor Crestview)
  • Community gathering- gauging interest.
    Is anyone interested in getting together for an abundance gathering where people bring whatever they have (food, herbs, clothing, kitchen items) and… (Nextdoor Beckett Meadows)
  • Greater Austin YMCA posted a job opening for Afterschool Counselor in Austin. Apply here.
  • The University of Texas at Austin posted a job opening for Stagehand, PTBE in Austin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Austin here.

Ok Austin! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: She had mittens! (Thank you April M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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