Austin, Monitored: A goodbye to Jackie Goodman
Thursday, June 5, 2025 by Austin Monitor
Today’s newsletter is supported by Austin Energy and the Value of Public Power
Quote of the Day
“Working alongside Jackie for the last five years she was on Council was the most gratifying years I had working at the City. Of course, Jackie taught me how things really work at City Hall, the politics. But more importantly Jackie taught me the importance of empathy in government. Empathy for the environment, with her work on the SOS movement and with the Save Barton Creek Association. Empathy for neighborhood residents through her work with Austin Neighborhoods Council. And empathy for less-fortunate residents through her work with the Community Action Network. Jackie spent her 12 years on Council providing a voice for those who often felt powerless at City Hall. She loved Austin and dedicated her professional life to making our city a better place and preserving those things that make us so unique (not weird, she didn’t like that). She will be dearly missed,”
— Jerry Rusthoven, from Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died.
Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died
From Jo Clifton:
Jackie Goodman, 79, who served on the Austin City Council for 12 years starting in 1993, passed away on Tuesday. She had been hospitalized but had come home before her death. She served as Mayor Pro Tem for several years starting in 1998. She is survived by her sisters, Janis Morgan of Austin and Joann Morgan and nephew Chris Freid of Washington state.
Goodman, who was selected for Austin’s 2016 Women’s Hall of Fame, is remembered for her dedication to the environment, civil liberties and advocating for the less fortunate in the community.
City saves $2.5M by electrifying fleet with plans to nearly double EV count by 2030
From Madeline de Figueiredo:
At the Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee meeting Monday, Austin officials reported $2.5 million in savings from electrifying the city’s fleet and outlined plans to nearly double the electric vehicle fleet size by 2030 as part of a broader push to cut emissions and grow citywide charging infrastructure.
“Every electric vehicle that we deploy reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves local air quality and supports healthier communities, especially in frontline neighborhoods that are most impacted by pollution,” said Rick Harland, assistant director of Fleet Mobility Services.
A message from today’s sponsor, Austin Energy:
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But we’re not just an electric utility. As community members, we care deeply about this ever-changing city we call home. Discover more about Austin Energy and how we are Powering Our Community at AustinEnergy.com/PublicPower
Culture is set to reset
This week, the Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) gave the Music Commission an update on the city’s “Creative Reset” effort to update and unify the cultural funding guidelines following years of feedback from artists, musicians and community groups. Staff reported that ACME is on track to complete the current round of public engagement today, so get those survey responses in now, if you haven’t already. As of Monday, the city had collected more than 800 survey responses, four focus groups and dozens of one-on-one interviews collected. Assistant Director Morgan Messick told commissioners that internal leadership teams are analyzing the feedback and using it to revise program guidelines, which are expected to be presented publicly in July and then submitted to City Council for approval later that month.
Commissioners asked questions about transparency and influence during the process, with some expressing concern about who staff are meeting with and whether informal input is being documented. Messick responded that ACME is building a framework to record and link all feedback to the forthcoming guideline revisions, and said the department would consider providing more regular updates about meetings and conversations. She also acknowledged that the city recently paused plans for an external working group due to concerns about conflicts of interest, and said staff are now serving in that role while trying to be as transparent as possible.
The creative reset is part of a broader planning process to restructure how Austin funds and supports its creative community. It is expected to include updates to programs like the Live Music Fund, Elevate and Thrive grants, and the Heritage Preservation Grant. Staff said that draft guidelines will be shared with the Music, Arts, and Historic Landmark commissions, as well as City Council’s Economic Prosperity Committee, before going to Council on July 24. The goal is to launch revised funding programs this fall, with disbursements expected to begin in early 2026.
— Chad Swiatecki
Free Narcan training for all (in Travis County)
As part of an ongoing effort to combat opioid overdoses, Travis County is now offering free Naloxone (NARCAN) training for any individual, group or organization in the county. According to a press release from Travis County, the course will cover:
- The local and national impact of the opioid overdose epidemic
- How to recognize signs of an overdose
- How to administer NARCAN properly
- The role of harm reduction in addressing substance use
Anyone who would like to take the course can request it here. The length, content and mode of attendance (virtual or in-person) is flexible and participants are eligible to receive free NARCAN spray after completion. Travis County has been under a public health disaster declaration about opioid overdose deaths since 2022, though the number of deaths has been decreasing. Since fiscal year 2023, the county has distributed 22,086 doses of NARCAN to community members.
Elsewhere in the News
A bill that would have banned guaranteed income programs (including Austin’s) failed during this year legislative session.
KXAN reminds us that, as of this month, parking in the bike lane is truly forbidden.
Axios reports that, since the pandemic, permits to develop multifamily projects have “plummeted.”
And the Texas Tribune follows up on a March raid of supposed Tren de Aragua members, and finds no evidence gang ties for the 47 people that were detained.
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