https://simplecast.com Jack Craver talks with local leaders and everyday people about rebuilding community in cities and towns across America. 2023, Jack Craver, Urban Affairs en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:38:47 +0000 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:38:59 +0000 https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/90e9af87-a4ed-4419-907b-ae839fe6d6e0/1438de50-f9b3-450a-bb93-4dd3e70e9205/3000x3000/chatgpt_20image_20dec_2029_202025_20at_2009_03_25_20pm2x.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com episodic Jack Craver talks with local leaders and everyday people about rebuilding community in cities and towns across America. Jack Craver true https://feeds.simplecast.com/SzngvQOU Jack Craver jack@austinpolitics.net 8d0ba3e5-edbc-47a3-96fa-04200f56e5e0 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:38:47 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/ai-enabled-urbanism-BqZN3K2k AI-enabled urbanism Jack Craver 01:17:08 I talk with Kyle Vansice, founder of Cedar, an Austin-based startup that uses AI to help builders figure out what they can build on a given piece of land. We have a broader conversation about the damage done to American cities by 20th century planning and zoning. I talk with Kyle Vansice, founder of Cedar, an Austin-based startup that uses AI to help builders figure out what they can build on a given piece of land. We have a broader conversation about the damage done to American cities by 20th century planning and zoning. true full 12 bbc65fba-20c5-43a1-a93a-dd0afc267fd5 Sun, 29 Mar 2026 04:01:44 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/how-america-is-failing-its-elders-s73QZHEK How America is failing its elders Jack Craver 01:23:29 America is increasingly handing off care of our elders to private equity-backed longterm care facilities. Judy Karofsky, author of "Diselderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice" says it's only going to get worse. We also reminisce on her colorful political life, including the time she was the ONLY woman mayor in Wisconsin (Middleton!) and why she enjoys living among young people in old age. America is increasingly handing off care of our elders to private equity-backed longterm care facilities. Judy Karofsky, author of "Diselderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice" says it's only going to get worse. We also reminisce on her colorful political life, including the time she was the ONLY woman mayor in Wisconsin (Middleton!) and why she enjoys living among young people in old age. true full 11 c67f7ea9-7c75-4713-990c-57fdfc1bb46f Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:57:13 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/how-community-gardens-can-save-the-world-q8XUk99y How community gardens can save the world Jack Craver 01:28:36 Amy Seponara, co-founder of the Ambler Community Garden, talks about the tremendous value of community gardens and the vociferous pushback she encountered from longtime residents of Ambler, Pa. Amy Seponara, co-founder of the Ambler Community Garden, talks about the tremendous value of community gardens and the vociferous pushback she encountered from longtime residents of Ambler, Pa. true full 10 03b41a0d-9256-497e-a8f8-9d9819571662 Sun, 8 Mar 2026 04:15:58 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/ai-austin-pkCdTZ5x AI & Austin Jack Craver 01:24:52 Alexander Pasch talks with me about starting a career in tech in the midst of the AI revolution and why he devotes all of his political energy to local government. Alexander Pasch talks with me about starting a career in tech in the midst of the AI revolution and why he devotes all of his political energy to local government. true full 9 ff2027f5-1958-47dd-8950-9ab0e2f7ac47 Sat, 28 Feb 2026 05:31:45 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/the-case-for-making-austin-walkable-tqhwaLTZ The case for making Austin walkable Jack Craver 01:08:16 Adam Greenfield of Safe Streets Austin joins me to talk about the battle to undo decades of car-centric planning that has sapped the life out of many American neighborhoods and confined many of us to traveling everywhere by car. Adam Greenfield of Safe Streets Austin joins me to talk about the battle to undo decades of car-centric planning that has sapped the life out of many American neighborhoods and confined many of us to traveling everywhere by car. true full 8 ed8a9b2f-4b1e-45c1-9a65-b37a78c228e0 Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:04:59 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/the-good-ol-days-of-tv-Nt_Cr6_s The good ol' days of TV Jack Craver 01:10:06 J.B. Sauceda, host of Texas Country Reporter, America's longest-running independently produced TV show, talks with me about his thirst for optimism and community in a media landscape dominated by doom and division. We also talk about why smart TVs suck, the disappearance of local news outlets, the pros and cons of raising kids in a big city, and whether kids today are actually more depressed than we were. J.B. Sauceda, host of Texas Country Reporter, America's longest-running independently produced TV show, talks with me about his thirst for optimism and community in a media landscape dominated by doom and division. We also talk about why smart TVs suck, the disappearance of local news outlets, the pros and cons of raising kids in a big city, and whether kids today are actually more depressed than we were. true full 7 f54e9da7-47c9-4641-ad2d-c10fb8ad82f9 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:21:26 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/digital-billboards-gso79igZ Digital billboards Jack Craver 01:00:17 Should cash-strapped cities try to monetize their public spaces with digital advertising? Alice Woods, chair of the Austin Planning Commission, is usually on the side of change & development, but she feels strongly that allowing digital wayfinding kiosks that show ads in downtown Austin is a bad move. Should cash-strapped cities try to monetize their public spaces with digital advertising? Alice Woods, chair of the Austin Planning Commission, is usually on the side of change & development, but she feels strongly that allowing digital wayfinding kiosks that show ads in downtown Austin is a bad move. true full 6 b5d24797-c078-49b4-83a5-7dc9835aadae Fri, 6 Feb 2026 15:30:22 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/homeless-kids-__5jAsRQ Homeless kids Jack Craver 01:12:23 Rising child homelessness represents a profound moral failure in society. I talk to Liz Schoenfeld, leader of an Austin nonprofit, LifeWorks, that helps young people who have been chewed up and spit out by the state's dysfunctional foster care system. The bad news is that child homelessness is on the rise. The good news is there are people like Liz working hard to reverse the trend. Rising child homelessness represents a profound moral failure in society. I talk to Liz Schoenfeld, leader of an Austin nonprofit, LifeWorks, that helps young people who have been chewed up and spit out by the state's dysfunctional foster care system. The bad news is that child homelessness is on the rise. The good news is there are people like Liz working hard to reverse the trend. true full 5 896f69e2-4db7-4f1d-969c-d53010428e73 Tue, 1 Apr 2025 00:43:36 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/a-conservative-who-cares-about-cities-I5b6zEWF A conservative who cares about cities Jack Craver 01:16:08 Nicole Gelinas, fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of the new book, "Movement: New York's Long War to Take Back Its Streets from the Car," is the rare conservative who believes there are too many Ubers and not enough public transit. We also talk about homelessness, criminal justice and whether Airbnb affects housing costs. Nicole Gelinas, fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of the new book, "Movement: New York's Long War to Take Back Its Streets from the Car," is the rare conservative who believes there are too many Ubers and not enough public transit. We also talk about homelessness, criminal justice and whether Airbnb affects housing costs. true full 4 a54b3934-7ada-4809-9845-c0550eae7ccb Tue, 11 Mar 2025 19:13:28 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/vanessa-fuentes-can-southeast-austin-get-a-grocery-store-lwdMtYqy Vanessa Fuentes: Can Del Valle get a grocery store? Jack Craver 01:13:39 Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes is one of the few local pols who uses social media effectively to promote her work. She talks about why Instagram is a "no-brainer" & why she's given up on Twitter. We also discuss why Trump appeals to so many in her family, the immigration crackdown in her district, her fight for a grocery store in Southeast Austin, and whether it's a good idea to try to "protect" her district from growth. Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes is one of the few local pols who uses social media effectively to promote her work. She talks about why Instagram is a "no-brainer" & why she's given up on Twitter. We also discuss why Trump appeals to so many in her family, the immigration crackdown in her district, her fight for a grocery store in Southeast Austin, and whether it's a good idea to try to "protect" her district from growth. true full 3 917348fd-1a5b-4cd5-b0c8-0189e9411f37 Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:05:00 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/labor-of-love-pain-ems-americas-broken-health-care-system-LfH0H0ij Labor of love & pain: EMS & America's broken health care system Jack Craver 01:17:31 Selena Xie, an EMS commander and former head of the Austin EMS Association, talks with me about how EMS fills the gaps in America's broken health care system. We also talk about death, DEI and the future of the American labor movement. Selena Xie, an EMS commander and former head of the Austin EMS Association, talks with me about how EMS fills the gaps in America's broken health care system. We also talk about death, DEI and the future of the American labor movement. true full 2 f20f0f8f-2eca-4f76-99c4-85f03dd4f8d4 Mon, 3 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0000 jack@austinpolitics.net (Jack Craver) https://neighborhood-matters.simplecast.com/episodes/homelessness-a-housing-problem-or-a-drugs-problem-qn0Nn8Ny Homelessness: a housing problem or a drugs problem? Jack Craver 01:47:28 Chris Baker, executive director of The Other Ones Foundation, a group that runs the Camp Esperanza homeless community in Austin, talks with me about the many reasons people become homeless & what the most effective solutions are for getting people off the streets and into homes. Chris Baker, executive director of The Other Ones Foundation, a group that runs the Camp Esperanza homeless community in Austin, talks with me about the many reasons people become homeless & what the most effective solutions are for getting people off the streets and into homes. true full 1