joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter
@joshuafechter.bsky.social
4.6K followers 440 following 57 posts
@texastribune.org journalist covering housing, transportation, cities, property taxes & more. Have tips? Email me at [email protected].
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Aug 20
Watch the vote live here: www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/t... @texastribune.org
Watch live: Texas House to take up GOP congressional map delayed by Democrats’ walkout
Republican lawmakers are pursuing the unusual mid-decade redistricting plan amid pressure from President Donald Trump to protect the GOP’s slim majority in the U.S. House.
www.texastribune.org
joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Aug 20
NEW: The Texas House is debating a voting map to give the GOP five more seats in Congress.

From Fort Worth to McAllen, here's how Texans could lose clout in D.C. under the new map.

w/ @beregarcia.bsky.social & @carla-astudi.bsky.social

www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/t... @texastribune.org
From Fort Worth to McAllen, Texans could lose clout in Washington if GOP changes political lines
The GOP push to redraw the state’s congressional maps isn’t just a partisan move but one that deeply affects how Texans are represented in Congress.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · May 16
Uncertainty spurred by President Donald Trump’s trade policies is having a chilling effect on Texas businesses, business owners tell the Dallas Fed.

A majority of business owners say consumers will ultimately pay the price of higher tariffs.

www.texastribune.org/2025/05/16/t... @texastribune.org
Texas businesses feel the pinch from Trump’s tariffs, Fed survey finds
The higher taxes on imports will shrink Texas businesses’ profits and raise costs for consumers, business owners say.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · May 15
New this morning: Fort Worth is now home to 1 million people,
new U.S. Census Bureau data show. DFW is now the only metro area in the U.S. with two cities with 1M people.

But another North Texas city grew faster than anywhere else last year.

www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/t... @texastribune.org
The fastest-growing city in the U.S. is in Texas, and it’s not the one you’re thinking of
With Princeton leading the Texas pack, the state continues to set the pace for the rest of the nation, with seven of the 15 fastest-growing cities.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · May 9
New this morning: Texas homeowners have faced skyrocketing insurance bills over the last few years.

State lawmakers hope to rein in those bills — but they acknowledge there’s only so much they can do to tackle costs.

www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas lawmakers want to lower homeowners' insurance costs, but have few options
Texans pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the country, putting lawmakers under pressure to tackle rising costs.
www.texastribune.org
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Reposted by Joshua Fechter
mcpli.bsky.social
Michael Li (李之樸) @mcpli.bsky.social · May 5
Based on preliminary counts, it looks like turnout in Dallas city elections on Saturday was 6.8%, which would be a historic low.
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · May 5
New this morning: Texas GOP lawmakers may enact stiff financial penalties for cities & counties that adopt progressive policies

The proposal's among a slate of bills aimed at stopping local officials from pursuing those policies www.texastribune.org/2025/05/05/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas Republican lawmakers may “financially handcuff” cities that don’t play by their rules
One proposal would allow the attorney general to sue cities and freeze sales tax revenues for up to 90 days.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Feb 21
Catch up on our reporting on Texas' housing affordability crisis here: www.texastribune.org/series/texas... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas’ housing crisis
Once a bastion of cheap homes and affordable rents, Texas now finds itself in the grip of a severe housing affordability crisis. This series will examine how the state got here, how leaders plan to ad...
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Feb 21
@carla-astudi.bsky.social & I did a deep dive last year looking at rules in Texas cities that restrict how many homes can be built — a key driver of the state's high housing costs.

Here are five takeaways from our reporting: www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Takeaways from our reporting on Texas’ housing affordability crisis
The Texas Tribune examined the state’s housing affordability crisis and why the state has struggled to build enough homes to meet demand.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Feb 21
Texas needs about 320K more homes than it has, per one estimate.

But Texas cities have rules that effectively limit how many homes can be built, rules that state lawmakers may loosen this year:

www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas has a housing affordability crisis. Here’s how state lawmakers may tackle it in 2025.
A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Feb 21
Some ideas Texas lawmakers are weighing to address the state's high housing costs:

-Make it easier to build accessory dwelling units
-Allow single-family homes on smaller lots
-Allow religious groups to build homes on their land

www.texastribune.org/2025/02/21/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas bill could help turn empty offices into housing
Supporters hope easing zoning rules will entice landlords to renovate and ease the state’s housing crisis.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Feb 21
As Texas faces a housing crunch, state Sen. Bryan Hughes' bill would automatically allow homes to be built in places that now only allow:

-Offices
-Commercial development
-Retail
-Warehouses

www.texastribune.org/2025/02/21/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas bill could help turn empty offices into housing
Supporters hope easing zoning rules will entice landlords to renovate and ease the state’s housing crisis.
www.texastribune.org
1 1 2
joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Feb 21
Texas has a ton of empty office space.

State lawmakers want to make it easier to convert those vacant offices into apartments & condos.

w/ @carla-astudi.bsky.social
www.texastribune.org/2025/02/21/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas bill could help turn empty offices into housing
Supporters hope easing zoning rules will entice landlords to renovate and ease the state’s housing crisis.
www.texastribune.org
1 7 14
joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Feb 10
NEW this A.M.: In his bid to curb Texas’ high property taxes, Gov. Greg Abbott wants a high bar for local tax increases

Local officials, school advocates & tax policy experts say Abbott's idea could have dire impacts on basic services

www.texastribune.org/2025/02/10/g... @texastribune.org #txlege
Gov. Greg Abbott wants to set a high bar for local tax increases
Local officials, school advocates and tax policy experts said such a proposal could have dire impacts on basic services.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 29
NEW this evening: President Trump’s push to freeze federal funds sparks widespread confusion in Texas

Local governments, nonprofits, higher ed institutions & public transit agencies scrambled today to figure out just how deep cuts could go

www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/t... @texastribune.org
Donald Trump’s push to freeze federal funds sparks confusion in Texas
Texas cities, counties, higher education institutions and nonprofits clambered Tuesday to gauge the potential fallout from the suspension, later blocked temporarily by a federal judge.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 22
Austin rents skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as tens of thousands of new residents flocked there and the region’s job market boomed.

Now, Austin is one of the only major U.S. cities where rents are falling.

www.texastribune.org/2025/01/22/a... @texastribune.org
Austin rents have fallen for nearly two years. Here’s why.
A massive apartment building boom in the Austin-Round Rock region has driven rents downward, real estate experts and housing advocates have said.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 6
Check out the @texastribune.org's coverage of the state's housing crisis here: www.texastribune.org/series/texas... #txlege
Texas’ housing crisis
Once a bastion of cheap homes and affordable rents, Texas now finds itself in the grip of a severe housing affordability crisis. This series will examine how the state got here, how leaders plan to ad...
www.texastribune.org
6 6
joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 6
Texas lawmakers will likely look at other ways to reduce housing costs:

-Cutting property taxes (likely)
-Reining in institutional investors' homebuying activity (🤷‍♂️)
-Spending more on housing for low-income families (doubtful)

www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas has a housing affordability crisis. Here’s how state lawmakers may tackle it in 2025.
A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 6
Some Texas lawmakers may balk at moves to allow more homes in predominantly single-family neighborhoods.

A bill filed by a Lubbock Republican would shield single-family neighborhoods from cities' attempts to allow more housing.

www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas has a housing affordability crisis. Here’s how state lawmakers may tackle it in 2025.
A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.
www.texastribune.org
1 1 3
joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 6
State lawmakers may consider reducing how much land Texas cities require single-family homes to be built on.

One GOP bill would tackle lot-size requirements, which can drive up a home's final cost & limit how many homes can be built apps.texastribune.org/features/202... @texastribune.org #txlege
How local rules fuel high housing costs in 11 Texas cities
Texas desperately needs more and denser housing to keep up with demand. But zoning restrictions get in the way, a Texas Tribune analysis found.
apps.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 6
Texas lawmakers could make it easier for homeowners to build ADUs in the backyards of single-family homes.

Two GOP lawmakers have filed bills aimed at doing so after a similar one died in the Texas House in 2023. www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas has a housing affordability crisis. Here’s how state lawmakers may tackle it in 2025.
A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.
www.texastribune.org
1 2 3
joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 6
Texas lawmakers could look for ways to build more homes & put a dent in the state's housing shortage.

One avenue they may go down: addressing local regulations critics say prevent the state from adding enough homes to meet demand.

apps.texastribune.org/features/202... @texastribune.org #txlege
How local rules fuel high housing costs in 11 Texas cities
Texas desperately needs more and denser housing to keep up with demand. But zoning restrictions get in the way, a Texas Tribune analysis found.
apps.texastribune.org
1 1 3
joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 6
One way Texas lawmakers may try to solve the state's housing affordability crisis: addressing Texas' deep housing shortage.

Texas needs about 320,000 more homes than it has, per a recent estimate.

www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas has a housing affordability crisis. Here’s how state lawmakers may tackle it in 2025.
A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.
www.texastribune.org
1 2 2
joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Jan 6
New this A.M.: Buying or renting a home in Texas used to be relatively cheap. But the state's once-lauded housing affordability has slipped.

Here's how state lawmakers may tackle the state's housing affordability crisis this year.

www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/t... @texastribune.org #txlege
Texas has a housing affordability crisis. Here’s how state lawmakers may tackle it in 2025.
A likely fight over how much power to take away from local governments may dominate the debate.
www.texastribune.org
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joshuafechter.bsky.social
Joshua Fechter @joshuafechter.bsky.social · Dec 30
Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!
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