Naming process for Waterloo Park features raises questions about equity

What’s in a name? That question quickly moved to the fore of a Parks and Recreation Board discussion last week about proposed names for new features at Waterloo Park, which is set to reopen to the public Aug. 14 after…

Parks • By Amy Smith • Jun 30, 2021

Goodwin wins suit against Bee Cave Council

Bee Cave’s mayor and City Council members acted illegally last year when they voted to remove one of their members – Bill Goodwin – from the Council, according to a ruling from Travis County District Judge Lora Livingston. Livingston ruled…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Jun 30, 2021

County deliberates joining city to end homelessness

On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court discussed the cardinal question of how to allocate a considerable amount of money coming to the county from the American Rescue Plan Act. Much of the discussion centered on homelessness, and whether the county would…

Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Jun 30, 2021

PARD continues to work through lifeguard staffing shortages

After a year of lockdown measures and closures aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus, Austinites have entered the summer season ready to interact with the world again. But as people head outdoors, they’re noticing that the city’s aquatics operations…

Parks • By Sean Saldaña • Jun 29, 2021

Nearly four dozen people have applied to be Austin’s next police chief. Here are four things to know.

The police chief in Wichita, Kansas. A commanding officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. An engineer with a cybersecurity firm. A real estate investor. These are some of the 45 candidates who have applied to be Austin’s next police…

Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 29, 2021

Cap Metro proceeds with vision of sustainability

At the June 28 Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority board meeting, board members fielded discussion on a yearslong sustainability and planning effort put forward by Capital Metro staffers. Most of the presentation centered around the structure and vision of the plan,…

Transit • By Seth Smalley • Jun 29, 2021

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Local news is a two-way street

I often describe the Austin Monitor as a news source that exists at the intersection of local government and community. One of the many reasons we believe this space is so important is because of the tremendous influence each side…

Mission Note • By Joel Gross • Jun 29, 2021

County rebuffs city's offer to buy Palm School, leaving its future uncertain

In a vote few people were aware of until last week, the Travis County Commissioners Court rejected the city of Austin’s offer to purchase the historic Swante Palm School building on the eastern edge of downtown. Community activists, who for…

Planning • By Amy Smith • Jun 28, 2021

An Austin nonprofit is raising money to help make state homeless camp feel more like a neighborhood

For the better part of two years, the Esperanza Community in Southeast Austin has been home for many people experiencing homelessness. On any given day, roughly 150 people live and work on the weather-beaten, 5-acre blacktop owned by the Texas…

Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jun 28, 2021

Want free entry to Barton Springs? Take the bus.

The Zilker Park road loop will be closed from July 6-30 pending construction of new tracks for the fully electric Zilker Eagle, the train formerly known as the Zilker Zephyr. Following slope failure at the previous turnaround (due to erosion from rain),…

Transportation • By Seth Smalley • Jun 28, 2021

Pandemic, winter storm prompt Council to address local food system

In response to the double-whammy of the pandemic and Winter Storm Uri, City Council adopted a resolution at its June 10 meeting with the goal of strengthening the city’s food system and aiding the local agricultural industry. “During the pandemic, one…

City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 25, 2021

Developers, planners key to housing the city's homeless population

City and nonprofit leaders tasked with helping the city’s growing homeless population see a need for short-term temporary housing and longer-term planning strategies that will make it easier to build homes and provide services for those in need. The ongoing…

Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 25, 2021

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