Steven Rivas

Texas has some big decisions ahead on water.

Texas Farm Bureau has been raising concerns about what water scarcity means for our farmers and ranchers, and our Legislature is taking a closer look at whether Texas is planning for the growth we know is coming.

We don’t have to figure it all out from scratch.

Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah and, yes, California have spent years trying different approaches to water conservation. And before somebody hollers, “Don’t California my Texas,” nobody is suggesting that.

Let’s bring people who’ve done this work to the table with Texas farmers and ranchers, the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, builders, universities, cities and Texas Water Development Board. Let’s hear what worked, what didn’t and what might make sense here.

The Panhandle, South Plains, Big Country, Trans-Pecos, Hill Country and Rio Grande Valley don’t all have the same water needs. That’s an opportunity to try different approaches, measure the results and build something that works for Texas.

Texas doesn’t have to choose between growth and conservation. The Texas answer is figuring out how to do both.

Clayton Tucker has been saying Texas should lead on water. I agree.

We’re Texans. We can listen to everybody and still do things our own way.

I’m supporting the renaming of César Chávez Street for Dr. George I. Sánchez.

Sánchez was a pioneering Mexican-American educator, scholar and civil rights leader who made Austin his home and spent decades fighting for equal educational opportunity. At UT Austin, he challenged biased testing and educational discrimination against Mexican-American children, including barriers my own parents knew firsthand.

Sánchez put his education and research to work fighting discrimination and served as national president of@ LULAC. As a Texas LULAC member myself, that legacy speaks to me personally.

I’m also a 6th-generation Texan from a family rooted for generations in farming and ranching. I grew up understanding what education and opportunity can mean for a family.

Austin is the capital city of Texas. We have an opportunity to honor someone whose life and work tell an important part of our Mexican-American and Tejano story.

Someday, a young Texan may look up at that street sign and ask:

“Who was George I. Sánchez?”

I’d like Austin to give them a reason to ask.

I’ve created a petition supporting George I. Sánchez Street. I hope you’ll read it, sign it if you agree and share it with your neighbors:

Sign the Petition Rename César Chávez Street for Dr. George I. Sánchez

Washington is fixing to make a mess of a Texas election.

The Supreme Court today temporarily lifted one legal barrier to President Trump’s executive order on mail voting. It did not decide that the order is constitutional, rewrite Texas election law or settle the litigation.

Here in Texas, there’s a pretty basic problem: Washington is demanding a system our election laws weren’t written to accommodate.

Texas allows eligible voters to apply for a mail ballot until October 23rd, eleven days before Election Day.

Well, life happens before then.

A Texan can become sick or disabled. Someone may unexpectedly be out of the county. Texas law even provides an emergency process for certain voters who become sick or disabled just before Election Day.

Harris County warned the Supreme Court that Texas law and election procedures make the federal order impossible to implement as written for November.

That ought to concern every Texan, regardless of party.

Congress has constitutional authority to regulate federal elections. The states have constitutional authority too. A president cannot simply assume Congress’s legislative power and expect local election officials to sort out the consequences weeks before voting begins.

We know how to run an election in Texas.

Here at home, I have every confidence our amazing Travis County Clerk, Dyana Limon-Mercado, will continue administering the election under the law, following guidance from the Texas Secretary of State and the courts, and protecting the right of every eligible Travis County voter to cast a lawful ballot.

Changing the rules after the game has started isn’t election security. It’s asking for confusion.

Texas should protect its election laws, its election officials and every eligible Texan’s right to cast a lawful ballot.

I’ve been waiting for Texas to get serious about passenger rail since I was a teenager.

In the early ’90s, Texas had a real opportunity to connect our major cities by high-speed rail. Southwest Airlines fought the project from the Legislature to the courtroom, private financing ultimately fell apart, and Texas walked away.

Since then, we’ve seen the Trans-Texas Corridor and the ongoing Dallas-Houston bullet train effort.

Texas has been drawing passenger rail lines on maps for most of my life. I’d like to see us finally make one work.

That’s why I support Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai work to connect Austin and San Antonio by passenger rail.

A new Travis County study found no fatal engineering flaws with a dedicated route largely along SH 130 and I-10. Much of it could be elevated within existing public right of way, with higher-speed trains potentially making the trip between Austin-Bergstrom and San Antonio in about an hour. 🚆

With our two regions projected to exceed 8 million people by 2050, this deserves serious consideration.

So does the price tag. The preliminary estimate is $13.5 billion, and the study still needs ridership and market analysis.

I support passenger rail. I don’t support a blank check.

Any project this large needs an experienced transportation authority, strict contract and budget oversight, realistic ridership and a sustainable operating plan. Public-private models like Brightline are worth studying alongside federal and state investment.

The Legislature returns in 2027. Let’s use the opportunity.

Thank you to Judge Brown, Judge Sakai and the regional leaders keeping this moving.

I’ve watched Texas study passenger rail for more than 35 years. I’m ready to help find the right way to finally make it a reality. 🚆

The 89.6 mile rail line would run eight round trips between the two metros daily at 125 mph, potentially resulting in faster commutes between the metros.

We hope to see y'all tomorrow evening at our Austin Pride parade beginning at 8pm. The route will begin in front of the Capitol then proceed down Congress Ave. to Town Lake (LLL). Happy Pride Y'all!

Great Austin Pride week night with BJ and Dillion of Messy Thoughts at Cheer Up Charlies in the Red River Cultural District. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

BJ & Dillion hosted a great Civic Town Hall with Council Member José Velásquez and asked some thoughtful and tough questions about LGBTQ+ businesses, economic opportunity, housing and affordability. José showed again what a strong ally our community has at City Hall.

I got to sit with my friend Garry Brown as we cheered José on.

Garry is a longtime LGBTQ+ activist, a champion for Austin’s q***r community and a member of the City of Austin LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission. He spearheaded the effort for Austin’s q***r historical marker on 4th Street, and Friday morning we finally get to dedicate it.

And Saturday, we get to celebrate Garry as an Austin Pride Parade Grand Marshal! 🌈

I’m proud of José & Garry and grateful for the work they do for our community.

Come celebrate with us Friday at 10:30 a.m. at 4th and Colorado on Bettie Naylor Street for the historical marker dedication, followed by an 11 a.m. reception at Rain on 4th.

Then Saturday evening, the Austin Pride Parade steps off at 8 p.m. from 11th Street in front of the Texas Capitol and heads down Congress Avenue.

Q***r history is Austin history. 💖✨ See y’all at Pride!

I grew up knowing who Ryan White was.

For young gay kids of my generation, AIDS came with fear, shame and a lot of unknowns. There was no PrEP or U=U. There were few safe places to turn. Too often, what we got were Bible verses, condoms, “pray the gay away,” and schoolyard cruelty.

Ryan was a kid too. He endured the fear, insults and stigma of an entire era in public.

Thirty-six years after the Ryan White CARE Act, we know how far treatment, education and compassion can take us. I also remember what it was like when we didn’t know.

That’s why funding local LGBTQIA2S+ organizations, HIV prevention, care and outreach still matters to me.

Today, HRSA recognizes the 36th anniversary of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. On August 18, 1990, Congress enacted the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, which created a comprehensive system of HIV medical care, medication, and essential support services that today supports over 600,000 people with HIV in the U.S. Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6189aykQU

This is worth hearing directly from Austinites.

Austin studied mold and rental housing several years ago, including better moisture inspections and tools for Austin Code Enforcement officers. I’d also like to see us explore a Healthy Homes pilot that tracks repeat moisture problems, strengthens follow-up inspections, and helps qualifying renters access independent licensed assessments when needed.

Mold is often the symptom. Finding and fixing the water source is the real work.

If you’ve dealt with this, please share your experience with Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes and her amazing Team D2 staff.