The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Planning Commissioners blast unequal treatment of renters

A rezoning case at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting sparked a conversation among commissioners over the disparate treatment between renters and single-family homeowners in the rezoning process.  A 330-unit multifamily project with 33 income restricted units is slated for a long,…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 11, 2021

Local leaders see pandemic, winter storm as openings for economic opportunities

Local leaders say the past 15 months of Austin’s history have been a test for how the city can best serve the people and businesses that are most at risk as growth changes the economics and character of Central Texas.…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 11, 2021

Emergency funding for musicians, creatives waiting on Council, staff action

City staffers expect to have initial guidelines next month for how to spend money in the city’s Live Music Fund, part of a series of spending programs to aid local creatives in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. This week…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 10, 2021

City tax increase likely, but not 8 percent

Although City Council can raise the city’s tax rate by 8 percent under Gov. Greg Abbott’s disaster declaration related to Winter Storm Uri, Council members will have to carefully weigh how to spend any revenue collected on money generated above…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jun 10, 2021

Austin legislators fought hard for city, Franco reports

It was no surprise to City Council Tuesday when Brie Franco, Austin’s intergovernmental relations officer, described the recently concluded 2021 session of the Texas Legislature as “one of the most difficult sessions I’ve actually worked on in my over 20…

Texas State Legislature • By Jo Clifton • Jun 10, 2021

Commissioners clap back at justice advocates protesting county jail plan

The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday responded to pushback from criminal justice reform advocates upset at the county’s plan to approve a $4.2 million design contract for a new women’s jail. While commissioners ultimately decided to delay the motion…

Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Jun 10, 2021

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

With self-imposed deadline approaching, Council rushes to divide stimulus funds

City Council plans to pass a spending framework for the remaining $143.6 million in American Rescue Plan funds, but the allocations for a variety of services and programs are still in flux as their Thursday meeting approaches.  Because of its…

City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 9, 2021

New police chief expected to be named by late summer

More than three dozen people have applied to become Austin’s next police chief, a role that comes with a number of challenges critical to the success of the city and its process to reimagine public safety. Recruitment for the position…

Police • By Amy Smith • Jun 9, 2021

Former Long Estate granted demolition permit after March fire

Last month, the Historic Landmark Commission unanimously voted to issue a demolition permit for 2308 Woodlawn Blvd., a property located in the Old West Austin National Register Historic District. Unlike many demolition permit requests that the landmark commission hears, this…

Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Jun 9, 2021

Austin-Travis County health officials say Covid vaccine data shows there's still work to be done

More than three quarters of people age 65 and older in Austin-Travis County are fully vaccinated, public health officials said Tuesday. For the entire eligible population – that’s people 12 years and older – the number is more than 54…

Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Jun 9, 2021

Council to commit to 'transformational' homelessness spending – if others do too

City Council’s plan to spend a majority of the city’s share of American Rescue Plan Act money on homelessness is gaining traction, with a vote scheduled for Thursday to approve a spending framework for the $143.6 million in federal stimulus…

City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 8, 2021

Criminal justice reformers push back on county jail renovations

Just outside the Travis County Commissioners Court at 700 Lavaca St. yesterday, a number of criminal justice reform groups held a press conference to protest Travis County’s plan to spend $600 million on construction and renovation of new jail facilities…

Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Jun 8, 2021

« Previous Page — Next Page »