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Most Popular Stories
- Despite safety concerns, Council OKs new buildings above Shoal Creek
- As Acacia Cliffs rezoning is approved, Critics say Council has sold out on its affordability commitments
- Austin ISD eliminating jobs at its central office to reduce budget deficit
- City eyes fund to preserve affordable housing, capitalize on overbuilt apartment market
- Dozens of city music grants stalled over missing final reports
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Council may abandon designated campsite strategy
City Council members Paige Ellis and Natasha Harper-Madison have announced that they will not support designated campsites for people experiencing homelessness, casting doubt on the viability of a strategy Council adopted in May. “After a week of extremely difficult conversations,…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Jul 28, 2021
City postpones skate shop demolition
A groundswell of support for a beloved Austin skate shop did not fall upon unsympathetic ears at the Historic Landmark Commission. Austin Community College was seeking a permit to demolish No-Comply Skate Shop at 812 W. 12th St. to make…
Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 28, 2021
Public safety looms over city budget talks
The plea for more staff at Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services has reached City Council’s ears. The majority of Council members expressed a desire at Tuesday’s work session to increase that funding for next year, as requested by Selena Xie,…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Jul 28, 2021
County looks to expand jail-diversion programs
The Travis County Commissioners Court discussed the prospect Tuesday of expanding the scope of the Austin-Travis County Sobering Center to include aid (in the form of jail diversion) to those experiencing homelessness and mental health issues. Currently, the Sobering Center…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Jul 28, 2021
Downtown shootings bring plans to address violent crimes
Just over a month since a mass shooting incident on East Sixth Street killed one person and injured more than a dozen, the state of downtown safety is receiving special attention in a pair of public sessions offering differing views…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 27, 2021
Austin narrows down police chief candidates to seven finalists
The city of Austin has narrowed the pool of candidates for police chief down to seven. The finalists are: Joseph Chacon, interim Austin police chief since former Chief Brian Manley retired in March Anne Kirkpatrick, former police chief, Oakland, Calif. Avery…
Police • By Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera, KUT • Jul 27, 2021
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South Austin rezoning sails through ZAP
The Zoning and Platting Commission unanimously recommended the requested Family Residence (SF-3) zoning for a 2.4-acre lot at 2414 Drew Lane in South Austin on Tuesday. Council’s approval of the request would pave the way for 16 units that are…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Jul 27, 2021
Panelists tout benefits of growing use of public-private partnerships
With real estate prices rising and land availability becoming more scarce throughout Central Texas, local governments and public institutions are finding more opportunities to consider public-private partnerships as a way to maximize the use of public land. While the Mueller…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 27, 2021
Some board and commission meetings may stay virtual
Will the future of city board and commission meetings be in-person or virtual? Based on discussion at Wednesday’s Audit and Finance Committee, perhaps both. The committee decided to further study the feasibility of allowing hybrid or entirely virtual meetings after…
City Hall • By Jonathan Lee • Jul 26, 2021
Wanted: More residents to participate in city redistricting hearings
Austin commissioners charged with redrawing the boundaries of 10 City Council districts clearly have their work cut out for them. For one, they’re obligated to hold public hearings in each of the 10 districts, yet the first two forums drew…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Jul 26, 2021
Austin announces new policy to release video footage of police shootings within 10 business days
The Austin Police Department says it will try to release video footage of incidents where police seriously injure or kill someone more quickly than in the past. Previously, the department’s policy was to release this footage within 60 days; the…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jul 26, 2021
Police spending proves top concern in first budget comment session
Community members weighed on the city manager’s preliminary budget proposal Thursday before a mostly in-person City Council – the first in-person meeting since the beginning of the pandemic. A vast majority of speakers criticized the proposed police spending, arguing that…
