Stories by Elizabeth Pagano
Monday, August 20, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: District 8 candidate Rich DePalma
This week, City Council candidate Rich DePalma sits down with Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard to explain why he is seeking the District 8 seat. Hear his reasons for running and more below, where the entire show has been embedded.Austin…
Monday, July 30, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Parks
Reporter’s Notebook: Grave concerns
We only know how to bury ledes… A very strongly worded memo from the Parks and Recreation Department’s Acting Director Kimberly McNeeley warns that failure to extend a contract for interment and burial services in city cemeteries could have serious…
Monday, July 23, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: District 1 candidate Vincent Harding
This week, former Travis County Democratic Chair Vincent Harding sits down with freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk about why he’s running for City Council and explain what issues he is hoping to tackle for District 1.…
Monday, July 16, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Environmental Officer Chuck Lesniak
After 28 years with the city, Environmental Officer Chuck Lesniak is retiring. In this week’s show, he sits down with freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk about the lessons that he’s learned during his time at the…
Monday, July 9, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: History lessons
Fighting for your government seems to run in families… With Independence Day looming on the horizon, not much was happening at the July 3 Zoning and Platting Commission meeting. In the spirit of patriotism, and to make everyone’s journey to…
Monday, July 2, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Deece Eckstein
This week, Travis County Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Deece Eckstein joins Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano. Listen in below to hear predictions about the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature and a review of some of the…
Monday, June 25, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Reporters’ Roundtable
This week, Austin Monitor freelancers Jack Craver and Caleb Pritchard join The Austin Chronicle‘s Nina Hernandez to drill down on the current state of our fair city. Tune in below to hear a discussion that covers everything from Sam’s BBQ to…
Friday, June 22, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: District 1 candidate Mariana Salazar
In this week’s radio show, City Council candidate Mariana Salazar joins Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk about why she wants to represent District 1, and how her background led her to seek public office.…
Tuesday, June 5, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
After years of delays and protest, West Lynn demolition moves forward
It took a long time to get there, and there was a lot of angst in the process, but, in the end, the demolition of 611 West Lynn St. was approved without much fanfare at all.“This is a case that…
Tuesday, May 22, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
City Hall
City contemplates restaurant inspection changes
Austin may change how it inspects restaurants in the city, and City Council members are taking a look at how the change could impact the bottom line for some local businesses.Don Hastings, who is the assistant director of the Environmental…
Monday, May 21, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Overheard, signs of the times
And on and on… Last week brought a tentative update to the ongoing labor negotiations with the Austin Police Association. Those negotiations resumed after City Council voted against a proposed contract in December. Since then, police have been operating without…
Friday, May 4, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Planning
North Shoal Creek plan put on hold
Despite an overwhelming workload courtesy of CodeNEXT, Planning Commissioners managed to spend more than three hours discussing a plan centered on just one neighborhood at its most recent regular meeting.Neighbors have been pushing for a North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan…
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
City Hall
City Manager Spencer Cronk settles in
City Manager Spencer Cronk already has allergies. “When I first moved here, they hit me hard. I’ve never had allergies in my life,” he explained. “I haven’t gone to the doctor yet, but I’m pretty sure I either broke or…
Monday, April 30, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: District 8 candidate Bobby Levinski
This week, City Council candidate Bobby Levinski joins Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk about why he wants to represent District 8. Listen in below to hear his take on CodeNEXT, MoPac and other issues…
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: District 9 candidate Danielle Skidmore
This week, Danielle Skidmore joins Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk about why she’s running for City Council’s District 9 seat, how she prepared for the challenge, and what she hopes to tackle if elected.…
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Planning
BoA puts Bouldin variance on hold
There’s no use being coy at the Board of Adjustment. That’s the lesson one Bouldin Creek homeowner learned at its most recent meeting.Architect David Webber spoke on behalf of homeowners William Mass and Nancy Hellman. Webber was seeking a variance…
Monday, April 16, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
Mary Street historic district sails to Council
Travis Heights is one step closer to getting its first local historic district after a trip to the Planning Commission last week.The Mary Street historic district is a modest bid for a historic district that would cover just 2.5 acres…
Monday, April 9, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: District 1 candidate Natasha Harper-Madison
This week, Natasha Harper-Madison joins Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk about why she’s running for City Council’s District 1 seat and what led her into local politics. To hear her take on local issues,…
Friday, April 6, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
Landmark commission drills down on CodeNEXT
As the final draft of CodeNEXT inches ever closer to City Council, city commissions are compiling their recommendations in preparation. This week, the Historic Landmark Commission took a look at the third draft of the Land Development Code rewrite at…
Thursday, April 5, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Planning
Grove PUD plan postponed
The Grove at Shoal Creek Planned Unit Development was back at City Hall for a moment this week. This time, the Zoning and Platting Commission postponed approval of its preliminary plan, with some commissioners citing unanswered questions about the plan,…
