Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
-
Most Popular Stories
- A plan to end night swimming at Barton Springs is over before it ever began
- Downtown report: Office vacancies up, infrastructure growth continues
- Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died
- Council looks to change the ‘unhappy experience’ of DB90
- City to postpone UNO vote to consult with UT
-
-
-
Discover News By District
-
Popular Whispers
Sorry. No data so far.
Reporter's Notebook: A doozy of a notebook
A doozy of a day… Council Member Ora Houston is a consistent advocate for citizen input. But that doesn’t mean she has to enjoy it. “Thank you Jesus,” she muttered to herself when City Council voted at 9:40 p.m. Thursday…
Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Sep 5, 2017
Council supports reducing HOT funds for convention center, visitors bureau
After a lengthy public hearing featuring scores of public speakers on all sides of the issue, City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday night in support of diverting millions of dollars generated by hotel occupancy taxes from the Austin Convention…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Sep 1, 2017
Fred Lewis appointment stirs controversy
Fred Lewis, an attorney who served as the main architect of the city’s new lobbying ordinance, surprisingly became the center of an ethics controversy on Thursday when City Council appointed him to serve on the 2018 Charter Review Commission. Lewis…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Sep 1, 2017
Council delves into liquor politics
A proposed liquor store in Northwest Austin still faces long odds due to intense opposition from surrounding neighbors, but it won a key procedural victory Thursday when City Council voted to give the property owner another chance to make his…
Zoning • By Jack Craver • Sep 1, 2017
Single-family occupancy limits drop back to four in CodeNEXT second draft
There is a two-sided nature of the CodeNEXT drafting process. On the one hand, staff and third-party consultants meticulously work through the details of the new land use code on a daily basis. And, on the other, the land use…
Land Development Code • By Joseph Caterine • Sep 1, 2017
Federal judge blocks Texas' ban on 'sanctuary cities'
A federal court in San Antonio has blocked Senate Bill 4, Texas’ so-called “sanctuary cities” law. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia said, “The best interests of the public will be served by preserving the status quo and enjoining, prior to…
Courts • By Stephanie Federico • Aug 31, 2017
Subscribe to our newsletter
Housing advocates want a bigger housing bond
With Austin facing an affordable housing crisis, city leaders are hoping that taxpayers will OK tens of millions of dollars to fund the construction of low-cost apartments and houses as well as repairs to homes for Austin’s low-income and working-class…
Bonds & Propositions • By Jack Craver • Aug 31, 2017
Harvey revives flooding concerns about CodeNEXT
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the land use commissions questioned staff on how CodeNEXT would address local flooding at their Aug. 29 joint meeting. “Austin came real close to having another catastrophe this (past) weekend. Real close,” Zoning and…
Planning • By Joseph Caterine • Aug 31, 2017
Whose job it is to provide recycling in Austin parks?
Austin’s Universal Recycling Ordinance mandates that by Oct. 1, all commercial properties in Austin will be required to provide recycling. However, open spaces, including public parks, are not included in the current ordinance, which leaves the Parks and Recreation Department…
Parks • By Jessi Devenyns • Aug 31, 2017
Adler attacks plan to move hotel tax money
Mayor Steve Adler made clear at Tuesday’s work session that he would try to derail Council Member Ellen Troxclair’s plan to reallocate money from the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue when it comes up for City Council consideration on Thursday.…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Aug 30, 2017
Central Health concerns continue to stymie Commissioners Court
On Tuesday the Travis County Commissioners Court once again failed to reach a compromise that could satisfy all parties involved in the seemingly interminable controversy over transparency at Central Health. Before the court was a review of the new financial…
Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Aug 30, 2017
Council looks to Waller Creek TIF for homeless funds
City Council is looking to tax increment financing, a tool designed to address urban blight, as a way to address homelessness in downtown Austin. Council is considering extending the life of the Waller Creek Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone for…
