Austinites have turned to the arts for distraction and solace, and its creatives are doing what they do best: getting creative. Austin is still the live music and creative arts capital of the world. DJ Mel has become a staple across the country with his Saturday Night Dance Party on Facebook Live. Local musicians like Gina Chavez are streaming their music, giving listeners everywhere access to it. Virtual tours invite us to explore local and international museums and landmarks from our couches.
A temporary new economy, centered on remote work, is also taking shape in Austin, changing the way we think about our infrastructure needs. Traffic congestion has dropped dramatically, a boon for front-line workers, delivery drivers, and emergency vehicles—and a clear indication that a much larger re-think about how we manage work and mobility in Austin is needed. And the crisis has exposed Austin's "digital divide" between those who have adequate internet services and those who do not. If it wasn't clear before, it is now: we need to start thinking of broadband as a public good.
We are gaining a better appreciation of the impacts that city planning and design have on our physical and mental health. Even before the crisis, our city was expanding its bike networks, adding sidewalks, and improving access to green space. Now that we are confined to our houses, we realize what a basic need it is to be outside, to move around, and feel secure. Building a more people-friendly Austin, with places in every neighborhood where we can walk, bike, run, and scoot will make our city safer, healthier, and more equitable.
We are the creative capital of Texas, and we are proving it every day, in hundreds of big and small ways. This is a scary and uncertain time, but Austin is uniquely positioned to recover. We have experienced other crises and have always learned from them and come out stronger. Let’s make sure that we do the same this time, by fixing the things that need fixing and keeping the innovations that work.
Read the full story at the Austin American-Statesman.