Travis Mateer
Travis "William Skink" Mateer is an artist and citizen journalist documenting the New Normal in Missoula, Montana. Read more of his work at Zoom Chron.
Popular
- How Many Pumpkins Does It Take To Disappear a Homeless Camper From Cedar Street?
- Why My Ellie Boldman Problem Is Your Ellie Boldman Problem
- Am I Seeing the Twilight of Missoula’s Rattlesnake Democrats?
- It’s Clear As Mud Where The Rubber Hits The Road In Missoula
- Is Anything About Surajit Khanna’s Returning Youth Initiative Real?
Are Montana Republicans the Party of Reality TV?
Before I make my argument that Montana Republicans are the party of reality TV, we need to define what we are talking about, so here’s a definition from Wikipedia: Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as…
When Kangaroos Run Courts, A Relationship with AI Becomes Inevitable
Facing a legal system stacked against him, Travis Mateer turns to AI for help in navigating the complexities of civil law and ‘lawfare’ in Missoula.
Is Anything About Surajit Khanna’s Returning Youth Initiative Real?
The Khanna Con: Is Dr. Khanna exploiting Montana’s well-meaning do-gooders for photo-ops, while offering little real help to those he claims to serve?
Journalism Is Not A Popularity Contest
Facing criticism and opposition, Travis Mateer highlights the importance of independent journalism in uncovering the truth about homelessness in Missoula.
A Reluctant Citizen Journalist’s First Date With AI
Travis Mateer explores his first experience with AI, sharing insights and humorous reflections on a ‘date’ with ChatGPT.
It’s Clear As Mud Where The Rubber Hits The Road In Missoula
Explore the complexities of Missoula’s homeless initiatives as Travis Mateer investigates rumors of church parking lots hosting “urban car campers”.
Mayor Davis’ Culture of Controlled Curiosity, Brought to You by Lee Enterprises
Travis Mateer critiques media framing of Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis’ involvement in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, covering local politics, city officials, affordable housing, and media narratives for Western Montana News.
Lawfare: A Very Effective Tool Of Attack
Travis Mateer reflects on how lawfare is used in politics to attack and delegitimize opponents. He shares his personal legal battles and creative resistance with the Lego Meth Lab, highlighting the high stakes of truth-telling.
Am I Seeing the Twilight of Missoula’s Rattlesnake Democrats?
Explore the hidden power center of Missoula in the exclusive Rattlesnake neighborhood. Discover the waning influence of Westridge Creative, the legacy of Pat and Carol Williams, and how urban development and environmental issues shape local politics.
From Local Ordinance to Supreme Court: Unpacking Missoula’s Urban Camping Debate
In his latest piece, Travis Mateer explores the complexities of Missoula’s Urban Crisis Camping Ordinance and its implications in light of the Supreme Court decision on Grants Pass v. Johnson.
Why My Ellie Boldman Problem Is Your Ellie Boldman Problem
In his weekly op-ed, Travis Mateer offers a candid profile and his personal experiences with Montana transplant politico Senator Ellie Boldman. Explore the controversies and key events shaping her influence in Missoula’s political landscape.
Am I Broken Windows Or Am I An Opportunity?
Travis Mateer discusses the challenges of “urban crisis camping” in Missoula, sharing real experiences, interactions with law enforcement, and the impact of the Broken Windows theory.
My Weapon of Mass Instruction for the Culture War
You might not consider yourself a culture warrior, but, like it or not, you’re in a culture war, and it’s being fought in all kinds of new-information ways.
What Kind of Homeless Will I Be?
I used to have a respected position in this Missoula community describing what the various sub-populations of “the homeless” were like, and the different approaches needed to address the unique challenges they presented. I wonder, what would THAT Travis think of me now?
Let Me Introduce Myself
Hello, my name is Travis Mateer, a writer and tax-activist from Missoula, Montana, who in past incarnations online has written under the pseudonyms William Skink and lizard. What am I doing here? That’s a good question, and the answer is even better. I’m here to do a weekly report UNIQUE to the audience…
How Many Pumpkins Does It Take To Disappear a Homeless Camper From Cedar Street?
At $10 dollars a piece, it would take 10 pumpkins to make one homeless person disappear from Cedar Street.