Tuesday, September 8 · First Light Books · Doors 6:00 PM

Mayor Steve Adler celebrates the release of Hot Seat—Hot City, his unflinching account of governing Austin through crisis. Adler sits down with Congressman Greg Casar for conversation on leadership and what democratic governance demands when consensus is elusive. Audience Q&A and signing to follow. Free RSVP helps us plan accordingly.

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About the Event

Doors open at 6:00 PM, with the evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Mayor Adler takes the stage with Congressman Greg Casar for a conversation on Hot Seat—Hot City—his first-person account of eight years leading Austin through a serial bomber attack, the pandemic, homelessness crises, police accountability debates, housing affordability collapse, and unprecedented political polarization. Following their discussion, there will be audience Q&A and a book signing.

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Hot Seat—Hot City

From 2015 to 2023, every crisis landed on the Austin mayor's desk—and every decision carried immediate, real-world consequences. Hot Seat—Hot City is Adler's unflinching, first-person account of what governing actually looks like when there are no great options.

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As national politics grows more dysfunctional, cities have become the front line of American democracy. Mayors absorb the consequences of failures they didn't create, forced to make real-time decisions under intense public scrutiny. This is the story of mayors everywhere.

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About the Author

Steve Adler was elected Austin's 52nd Mayor in December 2014. After completing his undergraduate studies at Princeton, Mayor Adler moved to Austin to work his way through law school at The University of Texas. Like many others, he fell in love with Austin and has made it his home for nearly four decades. Adler has been a practicing attorney in Austin in the areas of eminent domain and civil rights law for 35 years. He served as the 58th Mayor of Austin from 2015 to 2023 and was the first mayor of Austin to serve under the 10-1 council system.

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About the Conversation Partner

Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas's 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes East Austin and parts of Hays, Comal, and Bexar counties. A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Congressman Casar was sworn into office in January 2023 and serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Before being elected to Congress, he served on the Austin City Council from the 4th district from 2015 to 2022, elected in 2014 as the youngest City Council Member in Austin's history. Casar has worked to ensure that everyday people—especially those who are often excluded—have a seat at the table when it comes to decision-making.

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