Stories by Austin Monitor
Riley seeks to transform city by combining jobs, environment
When native Austinite Chris Riley helped form the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association in 1997, he did not intend to become one of the city’s prominent neighborhood activists or run for city council. Instead, Riley, an attorney for 19 years and…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Apr 7, 2009
Austin losing some of its middle class, says demographer
While the nationwide recession may have slowed growth and development activity, in the long run, pressures on the city’s housing supply and transportation infrastructure will continue, according to speakers addressing a joint meeting of the Planning Commission, Design Commission, Downtown…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Apr 3, 2009
Council requests revisions to street closure ordinance
Standing-room only Council chambers and dozens of speakers gave some hint to the sensitive nature the street closure ordinance public hearing had on Thursday night’s agenda. Council members voted unanimously for Lee Leffingwell’s motion to approve the ordinance on first…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Apr 3, 2009
Chief finds new solutions to reduce Fire Department spending
With firefighter overtime is expected to reach $5 million this year—half a million dollars more than the amount budgeted—Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr is planning some staffing changes she hopes will rein in the overtime and cut $200,000 from the…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Apr 3, 2009
Ozone season begins with warning
Last year, EPA toughened the federal ozone standard, and now, at the start of ozone season, leaders of the Central Texas Clean Air Force are making an urgent plea for city leaders and individuals to keep Austin from violating the…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Apr 2, 2009
Musicians boost McCracken candidacy
Local musicians backing the mayoral candidacy of Council Member Brewster McCracken held a press conference Wednesday morning to talk about why they’ve hitched their political hopes to his campaign. McCracken revealed a list of 40 performers, club owners and…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Apr 2, 2009
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East 7th Street makeover still pending
It’s been so long since the project started – 2001 – that it’s hard to imagine the city actually intended, at one time, to improve East 7th Street. Planner Clay Harris was on hand at the Design Commission on…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Apr 1, 2009
Stimulus money approved for federal courthouse
Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett announced late Tuesday that $116 million in federal stimulus funds have been allocated to build the new U.S. Federal Courthouse—a project that has been on hold for lack of funding for more than four years. …
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Apr 1, 2009
McCracken campaign’s oversight noticed
While Council Member Lee Leffingwell has courted, and won, the labor and Democratic clubs that make up a large part of activist voters in city elections, his chief rival in this year’s Mayor’s race, Council Member Brewster McCracken, has spent…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Mar 31, 2009
Stimulus money approved for federal courthouse
Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett announced late Tuesday that $116 million in federal stimulus funds have been allocated to build the new U.S. Federal Courthouse—a project that has been on hold for lack of funding for more than four years. …
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Mar 31, 2009
City staff recommends streamlining street closure process
City staff proposed changes Thursday on how the city deals with street closures during festivals and parades. The biggest change would be in how street closures are approved. Now event planners have to secure signatures from neighbors supporting the closure,…
Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Mar 27, 2009
Is Austin ready for full-throttle car sharing?
On Thursday, the Daimler company and Mayor Will Wynn announced that the City of Austin could be the first city in North America to begin a trial run of a vehicle-share car2go program pioneered in Ulm, Germany. Originally modeled after…
