Stories by Austin Monitor
Monday, September 16, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: The end of Austin?
And another thing… In arguing against the proposed expansion of the Austin Convention Center at last week’s Music Commission meeting, local developer Brian Rodgers drew some confused and sideways glances from commission members. Rodgers, a Tourism Commission member who helped…
Monday, September 9, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: (Cont’d)
If forums were homes… South Austin residents concerned about the city’s policies regarding homelessness and plans for opening a housing center in the area are pushing for candid questions and answers at a community meeting scheduled for Tuesday night. The…
Monday, September 9, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Water Forward
In this edition of Austin Monitor Radio, Austin Water Forward program manager Marisa Flores Gonzalez sits down with Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns to talk water conservation. Specifically, the pair dive into the city’s plan to ensure access to safe drinking…
Monday, August 26, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Uncategorized
Reporter’s Notebook: Taking to task
Council calls out enemies among us… Council had no qualms Thursday shaming the Texas Legislature for its arrogance in passing the “shot clock” bill, House Bill 3167. In the words of Council Member Leslie Pool, the bill demonstrates that the…
Monday, August 26, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Wildfires with Justice Jones
This week, Austin Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns sits down with Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division Manager Justice Jones. Listen in below for a comprehensive discussion about Austin’s wildfire risks, how the city is managing those risks and what still needs…
Monday, August 19, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: At what cost
Where’d you go, Harper-Madison?… After District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison filed her mid-year campaign finance report in July, it turned out that she raised $3,695 in campaign funds in January, February and March and spent $3,589. As Council members…
Monday, August 19, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: ECHO’s Matthew Mollica
Earlier this month, Matthew Mollica stepped into his new post as executive director for the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition. On this edition of Austin Monitor Radio, he talks to Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns about the timing of that move, how Austin…
Monday, August 19, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: SAFE Alliance
This week, Juliana Gonzales, the senior director of sexual assault services at the SAFE Alliance, sits down to talk with Austin Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns about her work at SAFE, which is a merger between SafePlace and Austin Children’s Shelter.…
Monday, August 12, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Have some pride
Build that fence… The Austin Music Commission has asked the city to send a representative to its September meeting to update the group on work to address the recent rash of shootings and violence in the area around Red River…
Monday, August 5, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Uncategorized
Reporter’s Notebook: What lies beneath
SoClose… Tourists scrambling to get their photos taken at Jo’s Coffee were unaware of how close they came to a lurking danger, but the city’s Watershed Protection Department sure was. In a July 31 memo to City Council, Watershed Protection…
Monday, July 29, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: AISD school consolidation
This week, Austin Independent School District’s Dr. Lisa Goodnow, who is the associate superintendent of academics and social and emotional learning, and Matias Segura, AISD operations officer, join Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver to talk about the current process to…
Monday, July 29, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: APL Director Roosevelt Weeks
Curious about the latest at Austin Public Library? This week we go straight to the stacks to discuss just that. Listen in below as Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver talks with Library Director Roosevelt Weeks.Austin Monitor Radio is produced in…
Monday, July 22, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Hearsay and opinion
Careful what you read on the internet, folks… Capital Metro’s current incarnation of Project Connect is no different from anything else the agency ever does: complicated, controversial and confusing. Time, however, is running out for the community and the agency…
Monday, July 22, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Stream ecologist Mateo Scoggins
This week, Mateo Scoggins, who is a stream ecologist with the city’s Watershed Protection Department, sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns. Listen in below to learn all about the city’s natural waterways, their current and future health, and…
Monday, July 15, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Uncategorized
Reporter’s Notebook: Considering the totality
Lodge party… After a divisive case in April concerning the use of the home at 2311 Shoal Creek Blvd., the question of whether a fraternity house is considered a single-family use or a club/lodge use was still up for debate.…
Monday, July 8, 2019 by Austin Monitor
City Hall
Brent Lloyd’s statement in response to allegations
Editor’s Note: On June 3, three members of the Board of Adjustment filed a complaint with the State Bar of Texas alleging that former City Attorney Brent Lloyd had violated the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct by simultaneously representing…
Monday, July 8, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Publisher Dan Zehr
This week Dan Zehr, Capital of Texas Media Foundation executive director and Austin Monitor publisher, sits down with Monitor reporter Jack Craver to talk about the future of the Monitor and plans for a local policy think tank. Curious about…
Monday, July 1, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Parting words
When Planning commissioners say adieu… The June 25 meeting marked the end of an era at the Planning Commission. Despite several years of rarely seeing eye to eye when it comes to development, Karen McGraw and James Schissler stepped down…
Monday, June 24, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Ethics, at a cost
Frank Rodriguez case costs city… After the Ethics Review Commission failed to agree upon a settlement in the case against Frank Rodriguez last May, the case came back before the commission for a final hearing last week. Rodriguez had received…
Monday, June 17, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Phone home, ETJ
Racial discourse… When Defend Our Hoodz came to the June 11 meeting of the Planning Commission, City Hall was prepared. Protesters opposed to the 4700 E. Riverside project – a development they refer to as the Domain at Riverside –…
