Evidence shows that people are flocking to Austin which subsequently creates more and more traffic congestion. This isn’t news to many of us who commute by driving regularly. I think anyone who resides here in Austin would agree that rush hour traffic, to say the least, has got to go. It is safe to say that much of the incoming population moved here to take up college or a new job and the metro system is barely catching up to this burgeoning population.  Austin should extend the Metrorail transit system because of the harsh affects traffic has on connectivity, jobs, and overall growth. Austin’s metro system is one of the most efficient ways of commuting to work or school. Unfortunately, much of the population doesn’t have a metro station around the corner.  The convenience of personal vehicles is undeniable, although being provided with public transportation would alleviate the necessity to pay extra for insurance, gas, etc. Taking advantage of public transportation to commute will not only help leave a smaller carbon footprint but also help lower the number of man-man collisions. To recap, the alternatives to public transportation are numerous but the main limitation comes from the lack of access to these routes and stations. Change in the way we commute is on the horizon. It is in the hands of each commuter to make it a reality.

            In the article "Commentary: Why small elementary schools are essential to the future" Sara Villanueva explains how the need for small elementary schools of around 300-400 students is a concern for the city of Austin because of how they're beneficial to young people and communities. Her intended audience could be any member of society who believes education reform is essential for a progressive future. She brings up how the Facilities and Bond Planning Committee (FABPAC), "fails to appreciate the increasing role small elementary schools play in urban settings, where there is increased competition between public, charter and private schools." Villanueva does not fail to highlight the social science evidence facts that reflect how in small schools there's a much higher chance of success among all students, putting an end to the achievement gap. Another key fact mentioned is that small schools enhance cohesion within communities.
        Bringing her and her audience to the conclusion that these facts should be first and foremost on FACPAC's list of "modernization" renovation for Austin ISD.  Villanueva overall portrays her argument coherently and objectively argues that these small schools are more effective than larger schools since they benefit small communities and society as a whole.

In the article “The American empire could fall under Trump” May Olvera seeks to draw parallels between the Berlin Wall and Donald Trump’s proposal for building a wall to divide America from Mexico. Her main point is the weakness of this proposal and how it could be detrimental to the United States’ at home and our relations with the rest of the world. Olvera does a feasible job with conveying her own opinion with facts and even remarks the counter side of her argument.  

How the media and public are reiterating the historical context between the Berlin Wall and the current Mexican border wall make the merits for this argument valuable to some degree. Whether or not the comparisons are true is a politically subjective matter. I believe that it doesn’t hurt to bridge the distinctions and similarities to the prevalent controversy that Trump's rise in America draws parallels to Hitler's rise before and after the war. After all, history has a way of repeating itself.  

Olvera expresses her opinion that Trump’s wall could cause the collapse of the American “empire” as other countries form negative opinions of our president’s, thus our countries, politics. She explains how Trump’s plan of action is viewed with “mixed opinions” and compares Trump and his party’s foreign policy decisions to “proto-fascists” ideas. Bias is evident throughout the article although I do believe she makes well thought-out points about how defense isolationism is understandable to a point but could cause serious global tensions. Also that disrespecting fellow Americans and the rest of the world is not an incisive way to solve today’s world problems. Olvera has a big-picture perspective about this issue and articulately conveys reasonable opinions on her viewpoint of the current Mexican wall controversy.

On Thursday, February 9th, 2017, the National Public Radio published the following article which describes how The South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH), will conduct its annual head count of the homeless population in San Antonio. Although this is a San Antonio-based survey, it will reflect the homeless population throughout other populous Texas cities. Homeless is a prevalent problem throughout the world and I can attest to the ample homeless population here in Austin. One of local government’s primary purposes is to ensure all locals have access to basic means of life, like having a home. Providing homeless shelters and scrapping our change to the next homeless person is progressive, but not cutting it. Louisa Jones flawlessly states in this article, “humanizing a homeless person can have a bigger impact than giving money.” It is fundamental to the well-being of our society that local government steps in to boost the awareness of the magnitude of adversity that is among the homeless.