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City puts environmental inequity under the lens

Austin’s first chief equity officer has hit the ground running. Last year, Brion Oaks took the position as head of the new Equity Office, and he is now hard at work introducing an “equity lens” intended to focus city departments…

Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Aug 14, 2017

Guadalupe plan still in the works

The long-delayed report that will recommend giving two lanes of Austin’s iconic Drag entirely to buses is near the finish line, according to Austin Transportation Director Rob Spillar. “If these improvements are to be considered for funding, we’ve got to…

Transportation • By Caleb Pritchard • Aug 14, 2017

Planning Commission endorses east side plan to replace auto salvage yard with mixed-use project

Continuing tension over gentrification, density and a lack of adequate planning for growth on the city’s east side converged on an unlikely fight to preserve an East Austin junkyard at the most recent meeting of the Planning Commission. In the…

Planning • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 14, 2017

Reporter's Notebook: Fine by APL

We’re thunderstruck… Into the apparent state Democratic vacuum for next year’s governor’s race steps Austin musician – and owner of an absolutely superb and bitchin’ beard – Thor Harris. The news came last week via Twitter when Harris, holding a…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Aug 14, 2017

Austin Monitor Radio: Capital Metro's Todd Hemingson

This week, Todd Hemingson, Capital Metropolitan Transit Authority’s vice president of strategic planning and development, joins freelance Austin Monitor reporter Caleb Pritchard to talk transit – specifically Project Connect and a plan to put dedicated transit infrastructure on I-35, with…

Radio • By Austin Monitor • Aug 14, 2017

TxDOT document reveals limp projections for I-35 bus plan

The Texas Department of Transportation has projected less than stellar ridership numbers for a proposed enhanced bus line on I-35, but a top Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority official says he isn’t losing any sleep over it. On Wednesday, Capital Metro…

Transit • By Caleb Pritchard • Aug 11, 2017

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Environmentalists swarm City Hall in push for carbon-free electricity

In what was clearly the largest turnout for a City Council meeting yet this year, hundreds of activists showed up at City Hall Thursday night to speak out on Austin Energy’s proposed update to its resource plan. Following a rally…

Energy • By Jack Craver • Aug 11, 2017

Surprise vote ends liquor store zoning case

With Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Pio Renteria out of town, leaving just nine City Council members to vote at its meeting yesterday, the owner of the property at the intersection of Hymeadow Drive and U.S. Hwy 183 lost…

Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Aug 11, 2017

Penick Place historic bid goes 'a bridge too far'

Will Penick Place be Austin’s next local historic district? It’s possible, but a rough start at the Historic Landmark Commission means that neighbors hoping to enshrine their neighborhood will have to rethink their priorities, and most likely scrap a dogged…

Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 11, 2017

Publisher's Note – Penny Pass

As you know, we operate on a subscription service. That is how we are able to pay our awesome reporters and bring you all the great coverage that we do. (To make it simple, the more subscriptions we have, the…

Mission Note • By Ashley Fisher • Aug 11, 2017

Council moves toward tax swap with AISD

In an effort to help the Austin Independent School District lower its tax rate and send fewer dollars to the state under the so-called Robin Hood plan, City Council voted 6-4 Wednesday to begin consideration of raising the city’s property…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 10, 2017

Ethics panel reluctantly approves final hearing for former police monitor

The city’s Ethics Review Commission voted Wednesday to move to a final hearing over whether former police monitor Margo Frasier violated city ordinance by using her city computer for activity related to a private consulting business she ran. The commission…

City Hall • By Jack Craver • Aug 10, 2017

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