Mobility Committee to receive annual update on bond fund plan

At today’s meeting, the City Council Mobility Committee will discuss the Mobility Annual Plan, a document that explains how mobility bond funds are used citywide. The meeting is part of a larger annual effort to incorporate public feedback into the…

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 by Seth Smalley

Health & Human Services

Top doc Escott defends decision to vaccinate state legislators

Interim Austin-Travis Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott doubled down yesterday on his conviction that state legislators should receive priority vaccinations, even if it means young and healthy lawmakers receive the vaccine ahead of more at-risk people. Citing both the in-person…

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 by Jo Clifton

Energy

Consumer advocate seeks audit of Austin Energy program

Consumer advocate Paul Robbins, who has argued for years that Austin Energy is wasting money and inadequately screening participants in its Customer Assistance Program, is asking City Auditor Corrie Stokes to audit the program for wasted expenditures. The program, which…

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 by Jonathan Lee

Politics

Commission hears preview of complaint against Voices of Austin in truncated meeting

An audio problem during last week’s meeting of the Ethics Review Commission cut short what was promising to be a contentious hearing for a complaint against a local nonprofit. Political consultant Mark Littlefield, who also brought a complaint against Save…

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 by Jo Clifton

City Hall

Audit shows problems with city pagers

According to a report issued by the Office of the City Auditor, the city is not effectively managing many of the 1,600-plus pagers issued to city employees. The result, auditors say, is unnecessary spending and the possibility that the lack…

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 by Jonathan Lee

Politics

Ethics commissioners request more evidence in complaint against Save Austin Now

Save Austin Now, the nonprofit that is gathering signatures to reinstate the city’s ban on homeless camping, faced an ethics complaint at last week’s Ethics Review Commission meeting. The complaint, brought by political consultant Mark Littlefield, alleges that the organization…