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APD, Public Safety Commission clash over decorum, responsiveness

Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon threatened to withhold his department’s participation in future meetings of the city’s Public Safety Commission, citing a lack of decorum and exposing deep-seated tensions between the two entities. Commissioners, in turn, spoke of APD leadership’s…

Police • By Emma Freer • May 3, 2023

Music Commission pushes city to analyze, publish latest music census data

The Music Commission wants the city to look for ways to analyze data from the latest census of the Austin music ecosystem and find a way to publish the raw data from that third-party project on the city’s open data…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • May 3, 2023

Housing and Planning Committee weighs in on light rail design plans, preparing for challenging decisions

With the June deadline for a final proposal fast approaching, Austin’s long-awaited light rail system is beginning to take shape. Austin Transit Partnership, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and city staff all joined City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee last week…

Transit • By Kali Bramble • May 2, 2023

City looks to train, grow new developers to target affordable housing

Smaller developers without years of experience in the Austin market are invited to participate in a new city housing program designed with the goal of creating more affordable housing throughout the city. Applications are open for the Austin Small Developer…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • May 2, 2023

Parks board recommends park safety task force

The Parks and Recreation Board is calling for City Council to establish a parks safety task force to evaluate park safety, consider whether to reinstate a parks police unit and recommend ways of supporting the growing number of homeless residents…

Parks • By Nina Hernandez • May 2, 2023

Environmental groups sue FAA over SpaceX damage to Boca Chica

In response to the massive explosion of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket at Boca Chica in South Texas, the Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy, the Surfrider Foundation, Save RGV and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas Inc. sued the…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • May 2, 2023

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Fentanyl-related overdoses doubled in a year in Travis County, per medical examiner

Despite significant work across Travis County over the last year, the number of overdose deaths increased 35 percent and the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths climbed 108 percent. That number has increased tenfold since 2019 and has doubled since last…

Public Health • By Seth Smalley • May 1, 2023

Proposed 48-story tower to replace Irene's, Taquero Mucho

A new 48-story residential tower may soon rise at 506 and 508 West Ave. in downtown, replacing restaurants Irene’s and Taquero Mucho. The Planning Commission last Tuesday voted unanimously to support a rezoning that would enable the developers to build…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • May 1, 2023

A month into Austin patrols, state police are disproportionately arresting people of color

New data from the Travis County Attorney’s Office shows Black and Latino people have been disproportionately arrested by state police in the last few weeks. The data provides a look into the first few weeks of the Austin Police Department’s…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • May 1, 2023

City officials say no to bond elections before 2026

The city of Austin has promised voters it would build a wide variety of projects, ranging from roads to affordable housing to parks, libraries and health centers. City financial advisers told the City Council Audit and Finance Committee on Wednesday…

Bonds & Propositions • By Jo Clifton • Apr 28, 2023

Economic Development staff opts to withhold music census data from city data portal

Staffers in the Economic Development Department have declined to publish data from the most recent census of the Austin music ecosystem on the city’s open data portal, despite a request to do so from the Music Commission and the support…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 28, 2023

Parks board hears update on project to convert Nash Hernandez building into intergenerational community hub

The city’s Parks and Recreation Board reviewed progress in the ongoing effort to convert the Nash Hernandez building in East Austin into an intergenerational resource and activity center. At the board’s April 24 meeting, members of the Intergenerational Resource and…

Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Apr 28, 2023

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