Poll suggests support for unions and sustainability in AISD

The Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees will vote today on the bond proposals they’d like to advance onto November’s ballot. While both of the bond proposal options the administration recently debuted include a number of improvements to local…

AISD • By Willow Higgins • Aug 11, 2022

Cap Metro expands free rides to cooling centers. Advocates for homeless Austinites push for more.

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Tuesday it will give free rides to cooling centers on days when a heat advisory is in effect – that is usually when the temperature hits 103 degrees or higher. Previously, the transit agency offered…

Public Health • By Skye Seipp, KUT • Aug 11, 2022

City seeks developer to partner on transformation of two historic blocks

Over the next three months, the city’s quasi-governmental development entity will perform the early work that will result in a development plan next year for two long-discussed blocks in East Austin. This week’s Community Development Commission meeting featured a presentation…

Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 11, 2022

Equity Action submits police oversight petition ahead of November election

Austin voters may get the chance to decide whether to expand police oversight in the November election. Equity Action, a local political action committee dedicated to public safety reform, submitted 33,000 petition signatures to the city clerk on Monday in support…

Police • By Emma Freer • Aug 10, 2022

Music census leaders try new approach with lessons from other cities

Austin’s second attempt at using a music census to gather data about the state of local musicians and the creative economy is underway. The team conducting the census hopes to use lessons from the 2015 version, as well as results…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 10, 2022

New water quality rules aim to promote green infrastructure

In a presentation to the Environmental Commission last Wednesday, staffers from the Watershed Protection Department presented a bundle of code updates aimed at improving water quality and making drainage infrastructure more environmentally friendly. “We couldn’t be more excited about the…

Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Aug 10, 2022

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Austin-Travis County officials issue emergency order in response to monkeypox outbreak

Local leaders issued an emergency order Tuesday in response to the monkeypox outbreak in Austin-Travis County. Since the first case in Travis County was reported on June 23, the number of monkeypox infections has risen to 68, including nine women…

Public Health • By Seema Mathur, KUT • Aug 9, 2022

Proposal to audit animal shelter fuels debate about choice of auditor

Austin’s Animal Services Office, which runs the Austin Animal Center, will soon be audited, per a recent resolution approved by City Council. The Office of the City Auditor will report on the department’s effectiveness and bring in an expert on…

Austin • By Willow Higgins • Aug 9, 2022

Law Department predicts challenges ahead for equity-based preservation programs

The Historic Landmark Commission was in an unusually gloomy mood last Wednesday, as the meeting kicked off with an ominous briefing from the city’s legal department. At the request of Commissioner Blake Tollett, Assistant City Attorney Neal Falgoust dropped by…

Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Aug 9, 2022

Kitchen seeking more funding to house the homeless

It’s budget time, and although City Manager Spencer Cronk’s team has put together its proposed budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, each City Council member will be presenting their ideas for making the city a better place in the form…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Aug 9, 2022

Decision to hike pay to $22/hour will cause future budget deficits

The upcoming wage increases for city staff will cause budget deficits in coming years and force leaders to identify new revenue sources, according to analysis by the Human Resources Department. A memo released last week presents a number of scenarios…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 9, 2022

Mayoral candidates outline plans to make housing more affordable

Since the pandemic began, most Austinites have felt the effects of increased rent, higher property taxes, or home prices growing increasingly out of reach. With rising costs forcing people out of their neighborhoods (or out of the city entirely), candidates…

Housing • By Jonathan Lee • Aug 8, 2022

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