As Austin reimagines public safety, new police findings emerge

Arrests made by Austin police declined 51 percent from 2017 to 2020, yet use-of-force incidents increased 58 percent, according to an independent review of the Austin Police Department. A city-retained consulting firm, Kroll Associates, spent 48 months reviewing Austin’s police…

Police • By Amy Smith • Jan 28, 2022

Landmark commission approves 'Keep Austin Weird' sculpture

The Historic Landmark Commission approved plans for a public artwork installation on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Congress Avenue this past Monday, but not before a heated dispute over the piece’s cultural merit. Plans for the statue, a…

Planning • By Kali Bramble • Jan 28, 2022

Council appears ready to hit pause on downtown court relocation

City Council appears set to delay a decision on relocating the Downtown Austin Community Court to the former City Hall building on West Eighth Street. At Tuesday’s work session, Council Member Kathie Tovo said she planned to ask Council to…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 27, 2022

I-35 frontage roads would be on the same side of the interstate under TxDOT's new plans

The Texas Department of Transportation’s latest proposal to expand Interstate 35 includes a plan to run the northbound and southbound frontage roads directly next to each other on the same side of the highway between Cesar Chavez and Dean Keeton streets.…

Roads • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 27, 2022

Trail Foundation begins major enhancement of Rainey trailhead

The Trail Foundation, which will soon be taking over the management of the city’s hike-and-bike trail, is working on one of its first major enhancements of the trail. The Rainey Street Trailhead, which is situated at the southern end of…

Parks • By Willow Higgins • Jan 27, 2022

County invests in nonprofits and cash assistance to prevent evictions

On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a series of investment strategies to prevent evictions and smooth the potentially rocky transition away from the federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance program to other forms of rental assistance. “The key questions…

Housing • By Seth Smalley • Jan 27, 2022

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TipSheet: City Council, 1.27.22

Today marks the first regular Council meeting of 2022, after an extended holiday break. Despite that, today’s agenda seems pretty manageable, though that may be the recharge of optimism from the extended break talking. As usual, this is just a…

TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 27, 2022

Vela easily wins District 4 race

A look at the election results Tuesday night showed that José “Chito” Vela would handily defeat his six opponents in the special election to replace outgoing Council Member Greg Casar. Vela won 2,137 votes for 59.23 percent. His closest rival,…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jan 26, 2022

Library Commission pushes for fine-free books

Austin librarygoers may be in luck: The Library Commission unanimously voted Monday to do away with late fees for overdue library books. While City Council still has to approve the resolution in order for fine-free libraries to become the new norm,…

Austin • By Willow Higgins • Jan 26, 2022

Experiment in car-free housing pays off for East Austin project

Can car-free housing work in Austin? If a proposed project in East Austin is any indication, the answer is yes.  Those willing to ditch their cars have lined up to buy a unit in the Ivory, a mostly income-restricted project…

Planning • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 26, 2022

Transit partnership moves on $17 million contract for consultant

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors met Monday to discuss several important updates to the Austin Transit Partnership (whose board convened last Wednesday), including a multimillion-dollar service contract with the consultancy Ernst and Young. Board Member Eric Stratton…

Transit • By Seth Smalley • Jan 26, 2022

MACC expansion plans headed for review

City leaders are getting an up-close look this week at the project details for the long-planned expansion of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. The Design and the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory commissions are slated to…

Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 25, 2022

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