Opinion

Opinion: Servers and Bartenders Deserve More than $2.13/Hour

My first job was waiting tables at a small Italian restaurant in 1994; I made the federal pre-tip minimum wage of $2.13 an hour, plus tips.

Keep Austin Freelancing

I find myself constantly surprised by how many adults I see hiking trails, swimming or just lounging poolside during work hours here in Austin. Then I remember that these folks are just like me – they’re pursuing portfolio careers in a city that encourages individuality and freedom.

Your Dog’s Poop Is Your Problem

One of the things I love about the Austin area is the abundance of hiking trails and parks. Year-round, Austinites of all ages and backgrounds take to the trails to enjoy the beauty and solitude of nature.

Blame the IRS, the White House; AND CONGRESS

While there is plenty of blame to be directed toward the IRS and the White House (and it's now clear some in the White House knew about it), those throwing the most stones are the most to blame: Congress.

Austin Drivers: Put the Phone Down

As I recently walked on the sidewalk down Burnet Road, about a mile from my house, several cars passed me; I noticed one driven by a man who was clearly looking down at his cell phone.

Shoot First, Aim Later, in West

I attended the Texas Tribune morning conversation on Earth Day, when (naturally) the subject was supposed to be the environment. But on the heels of the tragedy in West, it turned into something else.

Will the Austin Bubble Burst?

Austin has been experiencing unprecedented growth more or less since the 1970s, but especially since the 1990s. The population has more than doubled since then, while housing prices and the cost of living continue to rise.

Let’s Become a City of Walkers

In a city as fit as Austin is, it’s always strange to me that people don’t walk more here. I think part of the reason is that Austin isn’t a very walkable city yet, but part of it is the car culture that perpetuates in Austin and its surroundings.

DA Lehmberg Should Step Down, Except for the Fact That....

Amidst all the big news last week, one local incident also managed to make headlines here: Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg's DWI arrest.

Opinion: Counter Service Takes the Fun Out of Dining Out

There’s a trend among Austin restaurants right now that I really wish would end. It confuses customers, it makes for a hurried experience, and it takes away the “luxurious” aspect of dining out. It’s the counter service model.

"Weird" Jumped the Shark; Let's Keep Austin Unique

It was a good and useful idea at the time: "Keep Austin Weird." Now, some dozen years later, does it still make any sense as a civic slogan?

What’s a Background Check?

We are told that the public overwhelmingly supports a universal background check on any gun purchase. Such a law would force everyone selling a gun to run a background check on an individual buying a gun in the United States before exchanging the gun for pay.

A Modest Proposal: Funds Follow the Student

 

Nearly every two years, there is a giant sucking sound coming from the round dome in Austin.  Yes, sometimes the legislature does suck.  

The cause of the sucking tends to be focused on a single issue: school finance.  

HBO's "Girls" does nothing for me. A Mid-Season 2 Review

Maybe it’s being in my early thirties. Maybe it’s that I was not born into money or privilege. Maybe it's that I'm an Austinite and not a New Yorker.

Opinion: Population Growth Isn't All Bad

Throughout the history of the United States, new arrivals to this country have told everyone arriving one minute after they did to stop coming.

The volunteer at the sign-in desk looked young enough to be my kid, 25 years old, tops. He smiled brightly as he looked at my name on the badge and handed it over.

“So...

I don’t often get excited by hardware, but getting to try the Leap Motion Interactive Controller felt like walking right into "Minority Report." Actually, it was even better.

You don't have to be a circuit judge or work for the Washington Post to have an Austin story or view. We're hear to let you rant and rave - whether it's an opinion on the Austin community, an editorial on local politics or a warning about invading hipster zombies.

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