Austin

One grassroots group has raised concerns with Tesla leadership over hiring practices at the company's new Austin gigafactory, urging the car manufacturer to improve opportunities for residents who only speak Spanish.

The big picture: Tesla, which recently announced it will move its headquarters to Austin, will employ at least 5,000 workers at the new plant. 

The hiring process has already begun, and many of the jobs at the plant require only a high school education. CEO Elon Musk said he doesn't care "if you even graduated high school" to get a job at Tesla.

The company listed 364 Austin-based jobs on its website Tuesday. 

But Texas Anti-Poverty Project, a group created by Austin Independent School District trustee Ofelia Maldonado Zapata, is worried that Tesla lacks opportunities for Spanish speakers.

Tesla officials and Travis County representatives meet with the anti-poverty group once a month to discuss the company's Austin hiring practices, Zapata said. In their second meeting, Tesla representatives said they do not provide bilingual staff to translate for Spanish speakers at the plant.

"We all found out — even the county did not know — that [Tesla said] basically, 'We don't hire Spanish speakers,'" Zapata told Axios. "It's like what? How can you build a plant in an area that is high [in] Spanish speakers when they’re probably the ones building the plant."

Flashback: Earlier this month, a federal judge ordered Tesla to pay $137 million in damages to a Black former employee who accused the company of ignoring the racist abuse he endured from other workers.

Zapata said the lawsuit raised red flags for the anti-poverty group, making it all the more important to meet with Tesla representatives.

Tesla did not return Axios' requests for comment. A spokesperson for the county also declined to comment.

Yes, but: Tesla is working with the anti-poverty group to create a program to help workers learn English for their job.

Zapata argues the plan doesn't go far enough: "To me, it's the long way to figure it out."

What's next: The anti-poverty project plans to meet with city council members and county commissioners to discuss future incentives with companies moving to the area and the enforcement of those agreements. 

"I want this to be the platform for incentive deals with companies, where residents come and this is a way we can ask them questions that the community is concerned about," Zapata added. 

Exclusive: Grassroots group raises concerns over Tesla hirings

Texas Anti-Poverty Project is worried that Tesla lacks opportunities for Spanish speakers.

A photo of construction at the site of Tesla's proposed gigafactory in Austin.

The Tesla Inc. factory under construction on Harold Green Road and State Highway 130 in Austin on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. Photo: Bronte Wittpenn/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Texas

Business

News

Some good news for prospective homebuyers: September home sales slid nearly 5% compared to the same month last year, per new data from the Austin Board of Realtors.

Why it matters: Have you tried buying a home lately? Bidding wars this past year have meant homes go for hundreds of thousands of dollars over listing prices as frenzied hopeful owners try to secure their piece of the American Dream.

Austin homebuying has reached grim comedy: To the ESPN prompt, "Name something that isn't an Olympic sport, but feels like an Olympic sport," the Austin Twitter account Evil MoPac answered: "Buying a house in Austin."

💰 Yes, but: While prices are no longer increasing at a significant month-to-month rate, the metro area's median sale price in September was a record $450,000. That's an increase of 28.5% over last year’s median sales price.

The home sales decline is a positive step, but there's "a long way to go for this to be a balanced market," according to Susan Horton, Austin Board of Realtors president.

By the numbers: Sales dollar volume increased 18.5% year over year to more than $2 billion. The Austin Board of Realtors also found that in the metro area:

New listings increased by 16.9% to 4,136. 

Active listings grew by 0.7% year over year to 3,723 listings.

Pending sales declined by 1.1% to 3,552 across the metro area. 

In Austin alone, the median home price rose 28% year over year to $525,000. 

"Increasing housing inventory — and ensuring that it is attainable across all socioeconomic classes by strengthening and diversifying housing options — is crucial to the health and vibrancy of our community," Laura Huffman, president and CEO of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement.

Austin home sales calm

September Austin home sales slid nearly 5% compared to the same month last year.

A house for sale in South Austin. Photo: Asher Price/Axios

Real Estate

A Fresh Sip, an Austin-based, alcohol-free beverage platform, aims to revolutionize the way consumers find non-alcoholic beverage options.

Details: Co-founders Aishwarya Balaji and Payal Thaker joined forces to create A Fresh Sip in December, launching a site to discover non-alcoholic beers, wines, spirits and other beverages. The group also offers menu curation at events and collaborates with hotels and other businesses.

By the numbers: The popularity of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages boomed during the pandemic, with sales increasing 30%.

By 2024, it's estimated that the market will represent one-third of the total beverage industry. In that same timeframe, the non-alcoholic beverage market is expected to grow by 34%.

In the waning days of sober October, Balaji spoke to Axios about A Fresh Sip and the growth of the non-alcoholic beverage space. Here's our condensed interview:

Why has there been this surge in alcohol-free drinks, especially during the pandemic? 

"I think that the reason this has been happening, and this has been based off of the conversations I've had with a lot of community members, is the pandemic was this jolt that got people out of autopilot. … Over the pandemic, people started to question their habits. They were starting to take note of how they were feeling. Did they really love the hangovers? Did they really love everything that came with it?"

"There is a heavy drinking culture in Austin, but there is also this very unique and fun-spirited space, where people are really embracing change, and they’re open to this kind of shift."

What does the future look like for A Fresh Sip?

"Within the Austin space, I really want us to do a lot more partnerships with some of the corporations that are in town. I think working with some of the ones that are headquartered here would be amazing."

What non alcoholic beverages have you been turning to recently?

"Anything sour and spicy. Ritual Tequila is one of my favorites. They have a tequila alternative that is fantastic. It really gives you that full flavor that you look for in a tequila to make any tequila-based cocktail. That's my go-to spirit. 

In terms of ready-to-drink, I love Curious Elixirs and Kin Euphorix. Both of them have functions, which is cool. They have adaptogens, nootropics that give you a sense of calm, relaxation while you're going through maybe a heavy workday or whatnot."

Any advice for someone making their way through sober October or considering cutting alcohol in the future?

"I would say, one: Don't be so hard on yourself. … It's OK. It's a process. Cut yourself some slack. The other thing is, you can be as transparent or not transparent as you need to be or as you want to be with the people around you. You don't need to tell everybody that you’re not drinking, and if you want to tell everybody that you're not drinking, that's fine too. People don’t need to know what’s in your cup."

Sober October: Austin company aims to transform how we drink

Photo Illustration: Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Food and Drink

Things to Do

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a longtime Democratic congressman from Austin, indicated to Axios that he plans to announce his run for a seat in a newly proposed congressional district in Austin.

Why it matters: The recently crafted district, part of the redrawing of political boundaries every 10 years to account for population growth, is expected to be a safe Democratic seat that will include parts of Travis and Williamson counties. 

It's also seen as a natural fit for Doggett, who spent his tenure as a political survivor in gerrymandered districts that have stretched to South Texas.

The creation of the Austin congressional seat is part of an effort by Texas Republican lawmakers to protect GOP incumbents across the state and win back political power in Washington.

What he's saying: "For years, I had the good fortune to represent all of Austin, the only city I have ever called home," Doggett told Axios. "After then being switched across Texas to Rio Grande City, LaGrange and San Antonio, Republicans have now created District 37, which for now reunites many of the Austin neighborhoods I was first elected to represent."

"Though designed for the wrong reasons and refusing to acknowledge that 95% of the growth in Texas has been from people of color, this new gerrymander seems to at least mean that most Travis County residents will no longer be forced into districts of Trump-supporting Congress members," he continued. 

"I will be asking neighbors to permit my continued service in Washington as a voice for our shared values."

State of play: Doggett has built deep loyalties and a wide network in his decades in office. Ahead of his announcement, other possible candidates included:

Wendy Davis, the former Democratic state senator who drew national headlines for her 13-hour filibuster over a restrictive abortion measure.

She's sought higher office before, facing a bruising defeat in her 2014 gubernatorial bid against now-Gov. Greg Abbott. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R) narrowly defeated Davis in 2020 for a seat representing a slice of Austin and the Hill Country.

Davis, who lives in Austin, has punted questions about a possible run, saying instead she has "serious legal concerns" with the map: "Discussions around who may or may not run for election and in which districts is not the right conversation to have at this time."

A spokesman for Davis declined to comment further.

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat, was also seen as a possible contender for the new seat. 

Her state House district fits squarely in the new 37th Congressional District, and she drew national attention when she joined Democrats in fleeing the state earlier this year to break quorum over a sweeping GOP-led voting bill. 

Hinojosa previously said it's not the time to discuss possible candidates for the district. She maintained that position Friday, telling Axios she's "trying to protect the voting interests of Travis County" and "will make a decision about next steps once maps are voted out."

What's next: In what amounts to a field-clearing move, Doggett isn't waiting for the congressional map to be finalized.

Doggett said he will make his decision about where to run publicly on Monday outside Bryker Woods Elementary, the same location as his original announcement for Congress. He was first elected to Congress in 1994.

Names floated for Doggett's old district include:

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, a San Antonio Democrat

Julián Castro, former mayor of San Antonio and Obama-era Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Yes, but: While Castro's name recognition and cash-raising prowess would make him a favorite for the seat, the job may not best position him for a statewide run in 2024 against Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. A spokesman for Castro did not return Axios' request for comment.

Our thought bubble: Even as Austin finally gets its own Democrat in Congress, it comes at the cost of communities of color across the state getting sliced and diced. Republicans did not add a new Hispanic-majority district in Texas, despite the group driving much of the state's population growth.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett poised to run in proposed Austin district

Speculation has swirled around who could run in the safe Democratic seat, which will include parts of Travis and Williamson counties.

the proposed congressional maps for Texas

The proposed map for Texas' congressional districts. Courtesy: Texas Legislative Council

Redistricting

Politics

Why it matters: The newly crafted district, part of the redrawing of political boundaries every 10 years to account for population growth, is expected to be a safe Democratic seat that will include parts of Travis and Williamson counties.

What he's saying: "For years, I had the good fortune to represent all of Austin, the only city I have ever called home," Doggett told Axios. "After then being switched across Texas to Rio Grande City, LaGrange, and San Antonio, Republicans have now created District 37, which for now reunites many of the Austin neighborhoods I was first elected to represent."

"Though designed for the wrong reasons and refusing to acknowledge that 95% of the growth in Texas has been from people of color, this new gerrymander seems to at least mean that most Travis County residents will no longer be forced into districts of Trump-supporting Congressmembers," Doggett continued. 

State of play: Doggett has built deep loyalties and a wide network in his decades in office. Ahead of Doggett's announcement, other possible candidates included:

Wendy Davis, the former state senator who drew national headlines for her 13-hour filibuster over a restrictive abortion measure.

She's sought higher office before, facing a bruising defeat in her 2014 gubernatorial bid against now-Gov. Greg Abbott. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy narrowly defeated Davis in 2020 for a seat representing a slice of Austin and the Hill Country.

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat, is also seen as a possible contender for the new seat. 

The proposed map has been approved by the House redistricting committee and is on the House calendar for Saturday.

If they make any changes, no matter how slight, the draft goes back to the Senate. But if the House approves it Saturday, it is final and goes directly to Abbott. 

Scoop: U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett teases run in proposed Austin district

"Most Travis County residents will no longer be forced into districts of Trump-supporting Congressmembers," per Doggett.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett at a rally in Austin in 2021.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett speaks at a rally at the state Capitol on June 20, 2021 in Austin. Photo: Sergio Flores/Getty Images)

Nicole Cobler

Featured stories

Austin home sales calm

Exclusive: Grassroots group raises concerns over Tesla hirings

Sober October: Austin company aims to transform how we drink

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett poised to run in proposed Austin district

Scoop: U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett teases run in proposed Austin district