Austin landlords should accept Section 8 housing vouchers 

By Mary Dolan

I believe this opinion article did a good job covering the bases of the current topic. Ms. Dolan introduces and states the current issue in the allowing the reader to understand her possession pretty clearly.

First, the author introduces what the vouchers under the “Section8 program” provided by the Housing Authority of the City of Austin and funded by the Federal Government actually ensures. “These vouchers are meant to help lower-income residents pay for rent without overwhelming them financially. Because of this, residents with vouchers are supposed to have a greater choice of places to live.” This background information allows the reader to grasp a better understanding of actually topic being discussed so there is no confusion.

Next, the author clearly states the issue, “Regrettably, many homeowners and rental apartment complexes have refused to accept vouchers.” So, this made citizens unable to move in to better homes and forced to stay in the same or equally low income areas. Thus, enabling the Section 8 program unsuccessful.

Then, after the issue was stated the author discusses the reasoning behind why many of these vouchers were refused by landlords. However we do see a quick resolve made by the Austin City Council who decided that landlords could not deny potential tenants on the whether or not they were using housing vouchers.  

Lastly, we see the author’s thoughts and opinions towards the ordinance implemented by the Austin City Council, “The real problem in this matter is not the ordinance but the attitudes of landlords that made the ordinance necessary.”  The author breaks up the information each positions side of the argument stating that liberal are for the Ordinance and Republicans who are very much against the ordinance such as Charles Perrys recently introduced bill, “that would prohibit local communities from enacting ordinances requiring landlords to lease to tenants who pay with housing vouchers.” But, what is funny is that Ms. Dolan shortly after states the confusion behind Charles Perry’s logic.

Overall I believe the author did a very good job relaying the information and further stating her opinion on the topic and not just quietly sitting in the neutral zone.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy push for progressive legislation

Natalie Cerna and Stephanie Hamborsky members of the Sensible Drug Policy in Texas seek to educate students on the governments War On Drugs, beginning each discussion with myths, facts, racial objectivity, harm reduction, and social stigmas.

 

Stephanie Hamborsky the clubs president stated, “It’s unscientific, and a lot of it is based off of social stigma. Because we are demonizing these drugs, we are rejecting the idea of drug education, which gives the misrepresented idea about drugs, facilitating the increase rates of addiction." The clubs Vice President Andrew Hood also stated that the group does not advocate the use of drugs but more on how to employ policies that will keep the community safe such as the Medical Amnesty Policy.

 

The members of the Sensible Drug Policy intend to lobby, pair with larger groups such as the Texas NORML, hold letter writing campaigns, hold fundraisers, and bring educational speakers like Brad Burge who works for a drug research group.