Feedback: November 13, 2026

Fix Our Hearts

Dear Editor,

Incredible headline on James Talarico’s win [“Talarico’s ‘Politics of Love’ Wins Him the U.S. Senate Seat,” News, Nov. 6]. Cut it right out and put it right up on the fridge from now until the end of time. His victory speech moved me in a way a politician hasn’t in decades because he’s speaking from a human heart perspective that we don’t normally get from that political sphere. I think there’s something to be said about how Talarico has enthralled this state; from his roots in his Baptist church to the San Antonio schoolteacher days, he just ran away with the election and everyone in Austin knew it to be true the moment each one of us heard him speak.

The Republican smear campaigns failed because he’s impossible to take truly out of context when so much of what he is speaking on is just basic human decency, and his speech late Tuesday night exemplified this. How many times can you say in your life you’ve heard a victory speech that spends the entire middle act just talking about love and hate? And about how the hatred dividing us has gotten to be overwhelming our love of each other, and it’s up to us, to quote David Lynch, to fix our hearts or die? Furthermore, I would love to point out how he wasn’t able to avoid using a Jesus story in his speech BUT was able to tell the story without invoking his name once. I think this does a lot to separate him from the Christian Nationalist iconography that sours on a lot of Texans when they hear it. The Christian Nationalist crew loves to use the name Jesus but not the man, but now it’s Talarico who uses the man and not the name.

I’d love to be a fly on the wall the first time our two Texas senators sit down for a chat in January. I won’t hear any Talarico slander the whole rest of the year; he’s been nothing but respectful, kind, and honest to us this entire campaign. 

Dillon LaFollette

Ranked vs. Runoff

Dear Editor,

With the election of Austin Rep. Gina Hinojosa as governor and Rep. Vikki Goodwin as lieutenant governor, it should be an easy lift to pass a bill allowing implementation of Austin’s City Charter, Art. III, section 9 (adopted 58%-42% in 2021) for ranked-choice (or instant-runoff) voting for city elections. In fact, Rep. Goodwin filed such a bill in prior sessions, where voters vote for their top choice and their second or other choices the first time they go vote. No runoff election needed. The Austin mayor and three Council seat December runoff election in 2022 cost Austin taxpayers more than $866,000 (source: Statesman, Dec. 12, 2022, Ryan Autullo).

See? The Texas Legislature can still help local taxpayers of Austin save money.

Bill Aleshire

Culture Club

Dear Editor,

The Austin Chronicle’s recent report on the Art in Public Places (AIPP) panel vote (“Art in Public Places Panel Votes to Keep Artworks in Collection,” Nov. 6, 2026, by Caroline Drew) highlights a frustrating contradiction in our city’s values.

The expansion of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport would result in John Christensen’s Leaf, Pod & Samara and Michael Singer’s Uplifted Ground sculptures being bulldozed and removed, which goes against a key Austin value of maintaining a distinct city culture. While we could have been better prepared and instigated plans to relocate these important and well-thought-out structures, we have carelessly approved 23 new art contracts for the expansion of the airport and disposing of the old ones. Better civic responsibility would be taking better care of our existing art pieces instead of treating them like easily replaceable objects, in pursuit of expanding Austin infrastructure.

Prior to the vote of Austin City Council on November 19, Mayor Kirk Watson and members of the City Council should take great care to listen to the suggestions of the AIPP panel in order to attempt to find any solutions that involve relocation or preservation of current art pieces. Austin is known as a city which values its art and it should begin realigning itself with those values.

Kiara Mallen

Don’t Be Fooled

Dear Editor,

Congratulations to all those who worked so hard to change the direction of the United States. But I hate to be the bearer of bad news. The president was very subdued in his response to the Republican loss and seemed to be a cordial loser, but don’t be fooled! His uncharacteristic response is a disguise for a wolf in sheep’s clothing. His revenge is the agenda for the next two years, and with the appointment of Stephen Miller the agenda is going to be down and dirty. Our fight has just begun…

Art Klempner

American Dreamers

Dear Editor,

Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, DACA recipients are the “epitome of the American Dream” because they embody the core immigrant values of perseverance, hard work, and deep community commitment. While they are “American in every way but on paper,” they have integrated into the fabric of the country as essential workers, professionals, and homeowners. The Dreamers were brought up saluting the flag of the USA; they should receive immediate citizenship.

There should also be a bipartisan bill introduced for the parents and all immigrants who have been here without permission, some almost 40 years, who have been paying taxes, building and buying homes, and contributing to every facet of the inner fiber of our country, that gives permanent residency WITH ALL THE BENEFITS of course with no felony convictions with NO pathway to citizenship.

Andrew Goldsmith

Whew!

Dear Editor,

I can finally take a breath. Thank you Texas voters.

Delwin Goss

Personally…

Dear Editor,

As a student in AISD, “AISD Redraws Northeast Austin School Zones, Approves Turnaround Plans” [News, Nov. 6] by Sammie Seamon caught my eye because of the AI policy vote on November 12. Personally, I don’t think this vote would help our education system. AI is already blocked at schools, but people use their own devices. Knowing how to use AI is a great skill, and after speaking to people working in STEM, not knowing how to use it puts you behind. I personally use AI, like when I am trying to study for a test, I can just get it to teach it to me in as short as a couple of minutes.
So, I believe that the school board should ask for input from the students and parents on this issue. Consider all the good things that come with AI, and how they, personally, outweigh all the negatives.

Evren Aslan

Missing the Bus

Dear Editor,

Austin ISD wants students to succeed independently. Apparently, that independence now includes finding their own way to school.

The district’s decision to eliminate 27 bus routes and replace neighborhood stops with centralized hubs may save $5.2 million, but savings should not come at the expense of students’ access to education. For teenagers without cars, flexible parents, or safe walking routes, a bus stop miles away is not an inconvenience. It is a barrier.

High school students may be older, but that does not make transportation any less essential. School budgets are undoubtedly strained, but transportation is not an optional amenity. It is part of the infrastructure that makes education accessible. Austin ISD should evaluate whether every student can safely and reliably reach their assigned stop before treating centralized hubs as a workable solution. Independence should be taught in the classroom, not imposed on the journey there.

Anne Bromm

Noble Cause

Dear Editor,

After reading your recent articles covering the election, I feel like something is missing from them. In the article covering Gina Hinojosa [“‘We Shocked the World Tonight’: Gina Hinojosa’s History-Making Win,” News, Nov. 6], it talks at length about her accomplishment, a bit of her background as an Austin ISD school board president, and briefly touches on her address to the people and what she may be promising. I wish there was more covering their intentions with the state and the country, and not simply their road to being elected. The people of Austin deserve to immediately know what the future holds for their city and their state, and focusing entirely on the effects of the election on the current way their city is acting – potentially on major issues like ICE, and more minor things like road plans – would be an incredibly important and noble cause for the editors to take.

Finn Dickerson