Argentina vs Austria-World Cup Action At Its Best In Dallas, Texas

We are back at home safely. This trip was an education for me. Argentina has the most devoted and ardent soccer fans in the world. A couple of centuries ago, Charles Dickens wrote a classic book, "A Tale of Two Cities." I am going to briefly give you a tale of two cities this morning: Dallas, Texas, and Arlington, Texas. Sunday morning, Elena and I found ourselves in downtown Dallas around ten in the morning. Even at that early hour, Argentina fans were starting to congregate in the principal downtown park, which is like a long walking trail. A huge flat screen television was already showing soccer games. When the Dallas Museum of Art opened at 11:00, Elena and I toured the museum. It was impressive. It was amazing to see the museum full of people wearing Argentina soccer shirts. The sports fan also appreciated culture. After the museum tour, Elena and I emerged onto the street. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of Argentina fans were now on the streets. All sorts of food trucks and souvenir vendors were seen. Some fans from Spain and Austria were also spotted. Things were peaceful and mellow. We went to lunch at an excellent Tex-Mex restaurant. The restaurant was full of upper-middle-class and wealthy Argentine fans. These were the people with actual tickets to the game coming on Monday. What was amazing was that many Argentine fans of humble means found the way to travel to Dallas. They did have tickets to the game. They would watch the game on the big screen television in the downtown park. What a beautiful moment full of love. Law enforcement stayed discreetly in the background. They let the party go on. It reached its height at five in the afternoon. So many people came that the major Dallas freeways were clogged as if it were rush hour traffic. The next day, Elena and I boarded a trolley at nine in the morning that took us to the stadium where the game between Argentina and Austria was to be played. The crowd at the stadium was counted at 70,649. There was a massive law enforcement presence from the Arlington Police Department, with officers in full battle dress and often riding around in ATVs and other military vehicles. A helicopter prowled overhead. I am sure there was a large contingent of law enforcement and intelligence officers in plain clothes. The stadium was an engineering marvel. It was covered on the top with a highly efficient air conditioning system. Elena and I rode escalators up five levels to find our modest seats. We had a pleasant surprise. The seats assigned to us were comfortable. We had a marvelous view of the field below. Argentina perfomed brilliant in the second half. They scored two goals and won. Lionel Messi set a FIFA record for the most goals scored. What a beautiful and unforgettable time.

Austin, Texas Has Created Affordable Housing

Austin, Texas, has built a substantial amount of affordable housing (and overall housing) through a combination of aggressive zoning reforms to boost overall supply, targeted subsidies and incentives for income-restricted units, voter-approved bonds, public-private partnerships, and streamlined permitting. This multi-pronged approach has helped it lead the U.S. in affordable housing production in some recent years while significantly increasing total housing stock. pew.org Massive Overall Housing Supply Increase (Market-Rate + Affordable)From 2015–2024, Austin added ~120,000 new housing units — a 30% increase in its housing stock (far outpacing the U.S. average of 9%). This surge, including many market-rate apartments, helped drive down median rents (from ~$1,546 in late 2021 to ~$1,296 by early 2026). pew.org Much of this came from land-use reforms that made it easier and more profitable to build:HOME Amendments (2023–2024): Allowed up to 3 units (including duplexes/triplexes/tiny homes) on single-family lots and reduced minimum lot sizes (down to 1,800 sq ft in Phase 2). This enabled "missing middle" housing and more attainable homes on existing lots. enotrans.org Reduced/eliminated minimum parking requirements and eased other restrictions (e.g., compatibility standards, setbacks). better-cities.org Affordability Unlocked (2019 onward): Density bonuses, height increases, and waivers in exchange for setting aside a high percentage of units as affordable. This program significantly boosted production. kut.org These changes encouraged private developers to build at scale, with many "affordable" units emerging naturally from increased supply (especially in Class C/older buildings).Targeted Affordable (Income-Restricted) Housing ProductionAustin led the nation in new affordable units in 2024 with 4,605 built — more than double 2023 levels. Projections suggested strong continued output. kut.org Strategic Housing Blueprint (2017): 10-year plan targeting 60,000 units affordable to households ≤80% of median family income (MFI) by ~2027. Progress reached ~37% of the goal by 2023, with strong gains in some districts and near transit. austintexas.gov Voter-approved bonds: Multiple General Obligation bonds (e.g., $250M in 2018, $350M in 2022) funded land acquisition, rental/ownership development, rehabilitation, and programs. These provided direct subsidies and gap financing. austintexas.gov Density bonuses, tax incentives, public-private partnerships (e.g., with Housing Authority of the City of Austin), and federal/low-income housing tax credits supplemented local efforts. huduser.gov Other Supporting FactorsStreamlined online permitting (Austin Build + Connect) sped up approvals. Focus on transit-oriented and "Imagine Austin" centers/corridors for equitable distribution. Nonprofit and for-profit partnerships (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, developers like NRP Group). Broader Texas context: No state income tax, business-friendly environment, and pro-growth policies attracted developers. Results and caveats: Rents and some prices have moderated despite population growth, proving supply works. Challenges remain for the deepest affordability (≤30–50% MFI) and equitable geographic spread. Not all new units are subsidized "affordable" — much of the relief comes from filtering and competition in the broader market. pew.org Austin's success stems from aligning supply-side deregulation (to unleash private building) with targeted public investment (for deeper affordability), rather than relying on one alone. This model has been studied as a practical example for other growing cities. For the latest data, check the City's Housing Department scorecards or reports from Pew, HousingWorks Austin, or Yardi Matrix.