Stories by Austin Monitor
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 –…
Monday, June 17, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Deece Eckstein
This week, Travis County Intergovernmental Relations Officer Deece Eckstein sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver to catch up on the past session of the Texas Legislature. Listen in below to hear why Eckstein considers it the worst session…
Monday, June 10, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Uncategorized
Reporter’s Notebook: Very arcane issues
Details, details… Recently, a complaint by the Board of Adjustment brought to light their perceived issues with city-provided legal counsel. It also brought to light a misconception about Austin Monitor coverage. In William Burkhardt’s “Bar Grievance Complaint Against Mr. Brent…
Monday, June 10, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: HACA
On this week’s Austin Monitor Radio, reporter Jack Craver talks with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin about projects in the works and the agency’s ongoing effort to serve an increasing population in need of housing. Listen in…
Monday, June 3, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Trees, fiber, petition
Heritage tree transplants see high success rates… Moving heritage trees within the city of Austin is no easy feat. It is, however, almost always successful. Out of the 20 transplant sites listed on the City Data Portal, all of the…
Monday, June 3, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Hill Abell
This week, Bicycle Sport Shop owner Hill Abell sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver to talk about his work as a cycling advocate in the city and to catch up on issues currently facing the community. To catch…
Monday, May 20, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Trees and tribulations
Water woes… Out of the 33 water utilities in the South that deliver water to at least 400,000 customers, a new study by J.D. Power reports that Austin ranks 28th in terms of customer satisfaction with 707 points. San Antonio,…
Monday, May 20, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: ECHO’s Ann Howard
Ann Howard, the executive director of the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver this week to talk about recent initiatives, challenges and the current state of homelessness in Austin. To get the latest…
Monday, May 13, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Once upon a time … and other stories
Renteria remembers… Texas Health and Human Services, the city of Austin and several area nonprofits, including Age Well Live Well, are collaborating to record and exhibit the stories of longtime East Austin inhabitants for a new storytelling project. Beyond preserving…
Monday, May 6, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Uncategorized
Reporter’s Notebook: Game of homes
Whiner Ranch… Roughly a dozen residents of Steiner Ranch showed up at citizen communication at the April 30 meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court to decry potential plans to build a new road through the subdivision. The road, Route…
Monday, May 6, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: County Judge Sarah Eckhardt
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt joins Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver at KOOP this week to talk about how pending state legislation could impact the county, development regulations and why Travis County might soon have a public defender’s office. For…
Monday, April 29, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Eyes on the Prii
Now we’re here… As public engagement sessions go, the April 27 kickoff for the input gathering process for the Drake Bridge Commons Project was certainly among the more novel we’ve encountered. Among the planned activities: actors portraying historic Austinites William…
Monday, April 22, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Politics, resurrected
The return of Zimmerman… After a few years of (relative) silence from Don Zimmerman, it appears that the former District 6 Council member is once again ready to enter the fray. In an Easter Facebook post, Zimmerman announced he was…
Monday, April 15, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Chopped
Bueller?… Council Member Alison Alter took time from Tuesday’s work session to highlight a concern that current appointees to some city boards and commissions have been racking up absences, creating an issue of making quorum at several points. During discussion…
Monday, April 15, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Matt Hollon on Atlas 14
This week, Matt Hollon, the manager of the Watershed Protection Department Planning Division, sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Jessi Devenyns to talk about our city’s evolving flood plains and what, exactly, Atlas 14 is. To get up to speed…
