Stories by Austin Monitor
Monday, March 25, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Child care in Austin
This week, Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver sits down with Cathy McHorse, who is the vice president of the United Way’s Success by 6. McHorse dives into some recent moves by the city to increase access to affordable quality child…
Monday, March 18, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Dark Skies over ZAP
Doggone open data… During last week’s SXSW-adjacent session at Capital Factory about the value of open data provided by governmental entities, the city of Austin got an unexpected plaudit that also offered a not-unexpected snapshot into the city’s priorities. Panelist…
Monday, March 11, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Of departures and festivals
Cofer resigns… Rick Cofer, the vice chair of the Parks and Recreation Board, resigned several hours after City Council approved his reappointment to the board. His resignation came just hours after a concerned constituent emailed Council Member Kathie Tovo, who…
Monday, March 4, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporters Notebook: APD on ICE
Life after SB 4… Following Texas’ Senate Bill 4, also known as the “Sanctuary City bill,” Austin City Council asked that all instances of city collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement be tracked. A Feb. 28 memo from Austin Police Chief…
Monday, February 25, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Chinese Democracy
The press release is made of cheese… How best to follow up a City Council meeting that saw unanimous action to ease the development of affordable housing? If you’ve got the big office on the second floor at City Hall,…
Monday, February 25, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Blackland CDC
In this week’s radio show, Bo McCarver, president of the Blackland Community Development Corporation’s board of directors, talks to Austin Monitor freelance reporter Jack Craver about the history of the group and how they are working to create more affordable…
Monday, February 11, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Clarifications
The devil (or the donut) is in the details… When it comes to zoning and platting, make no mistake that the commissioners who sit on ZAP pay attention to the details of each and every case. In fact, this was…
Monday, January 28, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: At long last, an end
Casar wins!… Friday’s news that the Texas Supreme Court has ended the long-running legal battle over the 2014 District 4 City Council race between since-re-elected Greg Casar and former opponent Laura Pressley broke quickly on Twitter, and came with a…
Monday, January 14, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: The bonus no one wanted
Violations that make lawyers giggle… On Jan. 9, the Ethics Review Commission heard the preliminary case of DeShawn Scott, an administrative specialist in the Public Works Department, who used his city computer for purposes related to his own outside businesses: Texas…
Monday, January 7, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: We’re back, and so is this
Taking her talents… Ellen Troxclair, whose term on Austin City Council concludes with today’s swearing-in ceremony that’ll install Paige Ellis as the new representative for District 8, is taking her focus on property tax issues to the state level. News…
Monday, December 10, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: UTC on Project Connect
This week, Urban Transportation Commission members J.D. Gins and Mario Champion join Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano for an insiders’ look at the current state of Project Connect. Listen in below for their take on when…
Monday, December 10, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Chas Moore
Austin Justice Coalition director Chas Moore stops by the studio to talk about the recently approved Austin Police Department contract, and the road to said contract. Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano chat with Moore about what…
Monday, December 3, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Lord of the files
Pig-headed politics… At a recent City Council work session, Council members were discussing proposed changes to the ordinance that dictates the extent to which people can exercise their First Amendment rights on library grounds. Specifically, what limits, if any, should…
Monday, November 26, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: AISD elections with Austin Sanders
This week, Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard sits down with The Austin Chronicle‘s Austin Sanders to talk AISD. Listen in below to catch up on the results of the recent election along with everything facing the Austin Independent School District…
Monday, November 19, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Carrying on
A bump in the road… As long expected, the state’s Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals voided the city’s paid sick leave ordinance on Friday. The 24-page opinion by the three-judge panel found that the ordinance – which was passed in…
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Planning
Reporter’s Notebook: Dark arts
Manchaca, continued… An Austin business group plans to file a lawsuit against the city over the recent decision by City Council to rename Manchaca Road. An announcement from attorney Roger Borgelt, also a board member for the Republican Club of…
Monday, November 5, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: More tales of the city
The tale of the errant Prop K sign… Mayor Steve Adler’s former law partner, Mike Barron, found it hard to believe when a reporter from the Austin Monitor informed him last Thursday that there was a sign promoting Proposition K…
Monday, November 5, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: D1 candidates
In this, the most recent installment of our radio show, Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard sits down with District 1 candidates Mitrah Elizabeth Avini and (write-in candidate) Misael D. Ramos. Why do they want to be on Austin’s City Council?…
Tuesday, October 23, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Elections
Austin Monitor Radio: District 3, Part II
This week, City Council candidates Amit Motwani and Susana Almanza join incumbent Pio Renteria for a … spirited … discussion with Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano. Tune in for a discussion about why each candidate is…
Monday, October 22, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Every dog has its day
And another thing… At the beginning of Thursday’s City Council meeting, Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano took a minute to update Austinites on the flood conditions in the city and efforts by the city to mitigate the issues caused by…
