Very cool! Would love to hear what students think of it

Conversation turns to rising cost of homeowner's insurance. Homeowners in West Austin, which is at great risk for property damage bc of wildfire, saw their insurance rates go up by 40% in one year (on average).

Watson, speaking to state legislators, says "Help us with that issue."

Watson is asked about proposed staff cuts at the federal govt and how that could impact housing in Austin:

"We don't know," he says. Says city relies heavily on fed funding for affordable housing. "There's reason to be concerned."

Watson now turns to housing issues at the lege, where Austin leadership and Republicans find themselves on the same side.

Watson: “When it comes to housing … Austin is on the vanguard in regard to what’s going on in the country … And we’re actually working in partnership with folks at the Capitol”

“We want generational equity, we want generational fairness. We want anyone and everyone to be able to stay here … [We] can’t do it if you don’t have the housing," Watson says.

Watson mentions the vote this city council took in the past years to lower minimum lot size and to allow property owners to build 3 homes on land where historically you could only build one.

Some background here: www.kut.org/austin/2024-...