SXSW Aftermath Continues

SXSW responds as City of Austin launches official festival evaluation

Earlier this week, Austin City Council Member and mayoral candidate Mike Martinez announced he would bring forth a resolution asking for an official evaluation of SXSW. On Thursday, March 27, the City Council voted 7-0 to approve the resolution, paving the way for City Manager Marc Ott to helm a 90-day analysis of everything from crowd control to event sprawl.

Martinez defended his decision saying, "I think it’s time we take a comprehensive look at how SXSW weaves into the fabric of the city every year, and consider whether there are steps we could and should take as a city to help ensure the festival’s sustainable success — not just for organizers and attendees, but for everyone in the community who’s impacted."

During the evaluation, the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission will look into alcohol-related issues, the City will hold public forums for neighborhoods most affected by SXSW, and the Urban Transportation Commission will oversee traffic management related to the event.

After a particularly chaotic SXSW, one that received international criticism, it appears Martinez's fellow council members agree, passing the resolution unanimously.

SXSW was quick to respond to the news, sending a statement via email saying,

We fully support this 360-degree examination of the ways in which the City of Austin, SXSW and all involved parties can better improve the event. It's a terrific initiative, and we're eager to incorporate the results to produce the best possible event for all SXSW attendees — global and local alike. We look forward to the discussion and ongoing collaboration.

The resolution passed just moments before it was announced that a fourth victim died from injuries sustained after Rashad Owens allegedly plowed a car into a crowd of revelers on Red River Street during the festival. De'Andre Tatum was pronounced dead on March 27 University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he had been in a medically induced coma since the accident. Tatum was just 18 years old.

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Worker Bee News

Amazon wants to hire 1,000 seasonal employees in Austin for holiday

Photo by Wallstplaybook.com

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As the 2024 holiday shopping season approaches, Amazon is doing its annual round of holiday hiring, seeking to fill 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal roles across the U.S., including 18,000 positions in Texas — including 1,000 openings in Austin.

The bulk of the open positions in Texas are in Dallas-Fort Worth, but they're also hiring in Houston and San Antonio.

Seasonal Amazon jobs offer competitive pay, flexible schedules, and, as a release so eloquently puts it, "the opportunity to be part of the bustling retail industry during its busiest time of year." LOL. Many of these seasonal roles also come with the potential to transition into regular, full-time employment after the holidays.

The release does not specify which positions are open but one can assume packing and delivering boxes are involved.

Interested applicants can go to amazon.com/localjobs or text NEWJOB to 31432 to sign up for job alerts. Open roles are posted throughout the holiday season.

Pay and Benefits
All seasonal employees earn at least $18 per hour, and have access to comprehensive benefits like health care coverage from their first day of employment.

Approximately one-third of seasonal employees stay on year after year.

Seasonal employees who stay at the company can see an average pay increase of 15 percent over their first three years.

Amazon perks include career advancement opportunities; access to earned pay at any time; health, vision, and dental insurance from the first day on the job; a 401(k) with company match; and up to 20 weeks of paid pregnancy/parental leave for birth parents (six weeks for eligible supporting parents).

They also get Amazon Prime employee discount, and Amazon’s Resources for Living program, a free benefit offering mental health and financial services and support for employees, their families, and their households.