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”Think local. Think Brazos!” The Think Brazos Podcast hosts conversations with locals, politicians, and experts to discuss policies that impact housing affordability, economic opportunity, and financial resiliency for families in Brazos County. Disclosure and disclaimer: The purpose of the Think Brazos Podcast is to present to the public a deeper sense of who the candidates are who hope to lead this community and to create a space for them to present their ideas, especially about housing and affordability. However, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Bryan-College Station Habitat for Humanity (which created and sponsors Think Brazos) does not and cannot endorse any particular candidate or political party. The open dialogue we create by doing our utmost to speak to every candidate for a particular political race we decide to cover should in no way be construed as an endorsement of the candidate or his/her political party. Further, the ideas and opinions expressed by the candidates we interview are purely their own and not necessarily those of Habitat for Humanity. Housing affordability is an important issue, so we thank you for following the Think Brazos Podcast. Executive Producer - Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity, Inc. Producers - Charles and Whitney Coats Host - Charles Coats Videographer and Sound Engineer - Mario Treviño
Episodes
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Monday Oct 04, 2021
On November 2, 2021, the residents of College Station, Texas will have an opportunity to decide who will represent them in two places on their city council. Many potential voters will stay home and let others decide the future of College Station. What will you do?
In this episode, Think Brazos host Charles Coats talks with Elizabeth Cunha, who is the incumbent running for re-election to the College Station City Council Place 4 seat against challenger William Wright. In her almost one year on the council, she has become known as a minority voice on the dais and she hopes to continue to prioritize mobility, housing affordability and voter engagement if elected to a second term. To learn more about her campaign, visit her website.
Episodes in this series include interviews with all five candidates:
Place 4
Elizabeth Cunha - incumbent
William Wright
Place 6
Dennis Maloney - incumbent
Marie-Anne Mousseau-Holland
David Levine
You won't find any endorsements in these episodes; we want you to decide for yourself who is the best choice for College Station. We host the conversations, emphasizing our values of housing affordability, economic opportunity, and financial resiliency for local families.
This series is sponsored by the Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity ReStore - the store that builds homes and hope. All the funds raised at our resale shop are used to build more homes in our community for families in need of affordable homeownership. Before you pay full price for home decor, check out the Habitat ReStore!
B/CS Habitat for Humanity ReStoreThe store that builds homes and hope!
Support the show (https://www.habitatbcs.org/donate)
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Monday Oct 04, 2021
On November 2, 2021, the residents of College Station, Texas will have an opportunity to decide who will represent them in two places on their city council. Many potential voters will stay home and let others decide the future of College Station. What will you do?
In this episode, Think Brazos host Charles Coats talks with William Wright, who is the challenger running for election to the College Station City Council Place 4 seat against incumbent Elizabeth Cunha. Wright is a long-time resident of College Station and works for Reynolds and Reynolds. He currently serves on the College Station Planning and Zoning Commission. To learn more about his campaign, visit his website.
Episodes in this series include interviews with all five candidates:
Place 4
Elizabeth Cunha - incumbent
William Wright
Place 6
Dennis Maloney - incumbent
Marie-Anne Mousseau-Holland
David Levine
You won't find any endorsements in these episodes; we want you to decide for yourself who is the best choice for College Station. We host the conversations, emphasizing our values of housing affordability, economic opportunity, and financial resiliency for local families.
This series is sponsored by the Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity ReStore - the store that builds homes and hope. All the funds raised at our resale shop are used to build more homes in our community for families in need of affordable homeownership. Before you pay full price for home decor, check out the Habitat ReStore!
B/CS Habitat for Humanity ReStore
The store that builds homes and hope!
Support the show (https://www.habitatbcs.org/donate)
Monday Jun 14, 2021
Monday Jun 14, 2021
Join the local conversation! Think Brazos podcast hosts Charles and Whitney Coats ask their congressman, Representative Pete Sessions (TX-17), about his views on President Biden's infrastructure plan, the housing market, eviction and foreclosure moratoriums, and the upcoming redistricting in Texas.
If you live in Brazos County, we'd love to hear what you think of the podcast. Send us an email at thinkbrazos@gmail.com or contact us through social media.
The Think Brazos podcast is brought to you by Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity and hosts conversations about housing affordability, economic opportunity, and financial resiliency for families in Bryan and College Station, Texas.
Facebook: @thinkbrazos
Twitter: @thinkbrazos
Instagram: @thinkbrazos
Support the show (https://www.habitatbcs.org/donate)
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Fred Dupriest discusses the College Station City Council's proposed Restricted Occupancy Overlay (ROO) with Charles Coats. As a member of the College Station Association of Neighborhoods, Mr. Dupriest explains what the ROO is and why he thinks it will help families afford a good home in College Station. This interview is part of a series of Think Brazos interviews with local residents about this potential enabling legislation.
Here's the video Mr. Dupriest refers to in this episode.
Visit cstx.gov/roo for more information about the ROO.
Listen to the other episodes in this series.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity, focused on affordability, opportunity and resiliency for families in our community.
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Jeremy Osborne discusses the College Station City Council's proposed Restricted Occupancy Overlay (ROO) with Charles and Whitney Coats. As a member of the College Station Planning and Zoning Commission , Mr. Osborne believes the ROO would not be a good policy for our community and explains why in this episode. This interview is part of a series of Think Brazos interviews with local residents about this potential enabling legislation.
Visit cstx.gov/roo for more information about the ROO.
Listen to the other episodes in this series.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity, focused on affordability, opportunity and resiliency for families in our community.
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Leslie Donovan discusses the College Station City Council's proposed Restricted Occupancy Overlay (ROO) with Charles and Whitney Coats. Ms. Donovan is a College Station homeowner who rents out her extra bedrooms to help pay the mortgage and medical bills. Her story is unique, and one worth listening to. This interview is part of a series of Think Brazos interviews with local residents about this potential enabling legislation.
Visit cstx.gov/roo for more information about the ROO.
Listen to the other episodes in this series.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity, focused on affordability, opportunity and resiliency for families in our community.
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Elianor Vessali discusses the College Station City Council's proposed Restricted Occupancy Overlay (ROO) with Charles and Whitney Coats. As a former College Station City Council Member, Ms. Vessali is concerned that the ROO is overlooking the diversity of socioeconomic needs in College Station. This interview is part of a series of Think Brazos interviews with local residents about this potential enabling legislation.
Visit cstx.gov/roo for more information about the ROO.
Listen to the other episodes in this series.
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity, focused on affordability, opportunity and resiliency for families in our community.
Support the show (https://www.habitatbcs.org/donate)
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Potential Consequences of a Restricted Occupancy Overlay (ROO) for College Station
The College Station City Council is considering adopting a Restricted Occupancy Overlay. Also called a ROO, this potential rule could allow neighborhoods to vote on restricting how many unrelated people can live in a home together.
College Station and Bryan, Texas are both home to Texas A&M University, the largest university in Texas. Some students live on campus, but many live off campus and their housing options and costs are impacted by decisions made by the city councils of these two cities. When housing options are limited, these students compete with the low-income population for good housing. Local regulations such as this ROO can impact local housing costs, so Think Brazos will continue to follow and update you on this potential ordinance.
In this video and podcast episode, Habitat staff Charles and Whitney Coats ask policy experts Emily Hamilton, Salim Furth, and Nolan Gray from the Mercatus Center about the potential consequences of this kind of regulation for residents in College Station. This interview is part of a longer interview where we discussed housing policies that could help reduce the spread of the Coronavirus (and future viruses).
If you would like more background information on the Restricted Occupancy Overlay, please listen to our podcast interviews with College Station city council opponents Elizabeth Cunha and Joe Guerra—they disagreed on this issue and explain why in these episodes.
Visit Think Brazos for more conversations about how we keep a growing community affordable for everyone—Texas A&M students, Aggie graduates, employees, and fans!
Support the show (https://www.habitatbcs.org/donate)
Sunday Nov 29, 2020
Sunday Nov 29, 2020
COVID-19 has taken lives and livelihoods in Bryan and College Station. Hopes are rising for a vaccine, but what else can a community do to help recover?
Mercatus Center scholars Emily Hamilton, Salim Furth, and Nolan Gray join Charles and Whitney Coats of Think Brazos to discuss how certain housing types could help Bryan and College Station recover from COVID-19 and what that recovery may look like. The Mercatus publication discussed in the video is “Policies to Help Communities Recover: Housing Restrictions”.
Enjoy the show and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes. Just remember – “Think local. Think Brazos!”
Think Brazos is a project of Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity focused on policies that help local Brazos County families thrive. This interview is not an endorsement of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
Friday Oct 09, 2020
Friday Oct 09, 2020
Who will you choose to lead the City of Bryan out of the Coronavirus pandemic? Think Brazos sat down (via Zoom) with both candidates who are running for Bryan's Single Member District 4. In this episode, Charles Coats interviews Flynn Adcock about his background and priorities for Bryan.
The winner of this race will join the Bryan City Council and create policies that impact housing affordability, economic opportunity, and quality of life for Bryan residents. Turnout for local elections is often much lower than national elections, so your vote has a bigger impact! We appreciate you taking the time to learn about these candidates and decide for yourself who is best qualified to lead this community. Let us know what you think about these interviews by leaving us a review or sending an email to us at ccoats@habitatbcs.org.
When you’re at the ballot box, just remember - “Think local. Think Brazos!”
You can learn more about the candidate by visiting his facebook page here.
Please listen to his opponent Doris Machinski's interview here.
Think Brazos podcast episodes are available at habitatbcs.org/thinkbrazos, and also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google and TuneIn Alexa.
Support the show (https://www.habitatbcs.org/donate)