Public lines up to oppose police contract

The Austin City Council sat through hours of speeches from the public on Tuesday, mostly from citizens who oppose the proposed five-year contract with the city’s police union. A few spoke in support, but the vast majority of the 236…

Police • By Jo Clifton • Oct 23, 2024

City looks to reduce lead time on approved bond projects ahead of expected 2026 proposals

City staffers hope to dramatically shorten the early lag in approved bond projects that typically add a year to construction and acquisition schedules, which can also increase costs or reduce the scope for proposed projects. Last week’s meeting of the…

Bonds & Propositions • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 23, 2024

Residents may get relief from persistent mechanical noises

Life in the big city can be exciting and … noisy. Now that Austin is certifiably hustling and bustling, the city may soon join other big cities in regulating noise pollution caused by mechanical equipment that disrupts neighboring residents’ quality…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Oct 23, 2024

Ethics complaints won’t be heard before Election Day

As voters flocked to the polls on the first day of early voting, the city’s Ethics Review Commission decided it would postpone considering complaints about Mayor Kirk Watson and challenger Doug Greco accepting more than the allowed amount from non-Austin…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Oct 22, 2024

Ambitious proposal for Congress Avenue includes pedestrian plazas, bike lanes

At its meeting last week, City Council’s Mobility Committee learned the details of a proposed ambitious redesign and reconstruction plan for Congress Avenue, which would convert the avenue into a more pedestrian-focused area over a number of possible phases. The…

Roads • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 22, 2024

Where do Austin's mayoral candidates stand on public safety issues?

Austin has seen meteoric growth over the past decade and a half, and its police department has found itself rethinking its priorities to address public safety amid the influx of newcomers. So, we asked the five candidates for Austin mayor…

Elections • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 22, 2024

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Tourism Commission withholds support of equity-based preservation plan

The Tourism Commission voted to not recommend the city’s proposed Equity-Based Preservation Plan to City Council, which is expected to consider the plan next month. The 5-4 vote, which failed because it didn’t have a majority of the 11-member body,…

Preservation • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 22, 2024

Ballot measure asks taxpayers to help fund access to affordable child care

In May of this year, Travis County committed to a broad investment in child care with the Creating Access for Resilient Families, or CARES initiative. To fund that care sustainably, the county will ask voters on Nov. 5 to approve…

Bonds & Propositions • By Lina Fisher • Oct 21, 2024

Austin Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes for 'community of tomorrow'

Habitat for Humanity International announced on Oct. 15 that Austin Habitat for Humanity will host the 2025 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, an annual, weeklong home-building blitz that attracts thousands of handy volunteers. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, last…

Housing • By Hunter Simmons • Oct 21, 2024

Vela, Guzmán and Herrin raise quality-of-life concerns in race for District 4

In the race for the District 4 seat on City Council, incumbent Chito Vela is facing four candidates, with the two most visible challengers – Monica Guzmán and Louis Herrin – notching their third and fourth races for City Council,…

Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 21, 2024

Austin's previously secret 'G-files' on police misconduct are now public. Here's what that means.

More than a year after Austin voters OK’d a measure to make them public, the so-called “G-files” of police officers accused of misconduct are now available to the public. Disclosure of these disciplinary files was a sticking point in discussions…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 21, 2024

Benefits of urban trees justify projected price tag for city’s tree inventory plan

Funding to conduct an inventory of Austin’s public trees did not make it into this year’s budget as a City Council-approved resolution called for, but city officials say cost recommendations should be ready for the next budget cycle. An Oct.…

Environment • By Amy Smith • Oct 18, 2024

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