What's the plan for American Rescue Plan money?

After seeing a rough outline of how city staffers plan to spend $143.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to house the homeless, address food insecurity, and provide affordable child care and job training, City Council still had a…

Austin • By Jo Clifton • May 19, 2021

Report pushes local philanthropies to help solve housing crisis

Austin Community Foundation is encouraging local philanthropic organizations to get more involved in addressing the housing affordability crisis in Central Texas, considered the root cause of the area’s growing homeless population. A recently released report, “Housing Affordability in Central Texas,”…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • May 19, 2021

Piecemeal shelters during winter storm highlight need for better coordination

At a meeting Monday to discuss the city’s response to Winter Storm Uri, City Council highlighted one of its biggest priorities to prepare for future disasters: strengthening Austin’s network of disaster shelters.  Though Council members praised the community and city…

Austin • By Jonathan Lee • May 18, 2021

City waives permit fees for food charities

Effective immediately, City Council has voted to waive permit fees, fines and other charges for charitable feeding organizations like food banks and soup kitchens that distribute food to vulnerable populations and increase access to healthy foods in the community. The…

Public Health • By Sumaiya Malik, Reporting Texas • May 18, 2021

Zero Waste Advisory Commission talks through logistics of Prop B

With the passage of Proposition B earlier this month, Austin residents voted to reinstate local laws establishing prohibitions against sitting, resting and camping in public in certain parts of the city. Opponents of the proposition argued that in addition to having…

Austin • By Sean Saldaña • May 18, 2021

Our decisions shape the community

I previously described elections as a “high-stakes civic intersection between information and action” – in other words, right in the Austin Monitor’s wheelhouse. When it comes to turnout, this recent special election had numerous factors stacked against it: mid-year (not…

Mission Note • By Joel Gross • May 18, 2021

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A beloved post office in Hyde Park is closing. The Austin neighborhood wants to know why.

Barbara first heard the rumor from the mailman. Deaton learned the news from her neighborhood listserv. Michele saw the gossip on Facebook. And it was true: The post office that’s sat at the corner of 43rd and Speedway in Hyde…

Austin • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • May 17, 2021

Water conservation items move to Council, but not without debate

The City Council committee overseeing Water Forward, Austin’s long-range water resource plan, approved two resolutions last week containing code amendments that would both underscore and expedite the work required to conserve and reclaim water for reuse. One resolution, brought by…

Water • By Amy Smith • May 17, 2021

Budget report reveals Capital Metro has money to spare

On May 12, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority CFO Reinet Marneweck presented the financial report for the 2021 fiscal year to the Capital Metro Board of Directors. The report covered revenue, operating expenses and Capital Metro sales tax as they relate…

Budget • By Seth Smalley • May 17, 2021

Public, Council members push for new emergency plan after winter storm

The head of the city’s new task force examining the impact of Winter Storm Uri says the city must create an updated and far more robust emergency response plan. Sareta Davis, chair of the Winter Storm Review Task Force, also…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 14, 2021

Planning Commission gives developer and neighbors more time to break ‘impasse’

The developers of a small East Austin mixed-use project will have to keep talking it out with concerned neighbors to resolve their differences. The Planning Commission, after trying and failing to break the “impasse” between the developer and several neighbors,…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • May 14, 2021

Planning Commission recommends PUD zoning for Brackenridge Hospital tract

The Planning Commission Tuesday recommended Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning for the tract that was formerly home to Brackenridge Hospital, bringing one of the biggest downtown redevelopment projects one step closer to design and construction. Owner Central Health is planning…

Development • By Jonathan Lee • May 14, 2021

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