Stories by Jack Craver
Alter: Council is letting garbage company rewrite lobbying rules
City Council Member Alison Alter said Tuesday that her colleagues were allowing one company to rewrite city lobbying rules, suggesting that an ongoing rewrite of the Anti-Lobbying Ordinance was largely the result of bullying by Texas Disposal Systems, a waste…
The Code • By Jack Craver • Nov 8, 2017
Commission fails to endorse police contract
Citing a lack of information, the Public Safety Commission on Monday declined to endorse the union contract recently hammered out between the Austin Police Association and city labor negotiators. In addition to concerns expressed by some commissioners about shortcomings of…
Police • By Jack Craver • Nov 7, 2017
Water quality groups wade carefully into CodeNEXT debate
While the Austin environmental community appears divided on what to do about CodeNEXT, three green groups say the proposed overhaul of the Land Development Code will strengthen water quality protections in a number of key ways. In a statement released…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Nov 2, 2017
Report: 'No-kill' policy an asset to Austin
An analysis prepared by researchers at the University of Denver argues that the benefits of Austin’s “no-kill” policy outweigh its costs. The decision to no longer euthanize stray dogs and cats has certainly cost city taxpayers, but those dollars do…
Austin • By Jack Craver • Oct 31, 2017
Council members question free parking for Second Street stores
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo isn’t sure whether shoppers on Second Street should get free parking courtesy of the city of Austin anymore. At a City Council meeting last week, Tovo questioned city staff about its recommendation that Council renew…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Oct 26, 2017
Council continues to wait on new lobbying rules
On Thursday, Council Member Leslie Pool, who has been leading efforts to make changes to the city’s Anti-Lobbying Ordinance, told her colleagues that stakeholders are close to reaching an agreement over new rules. “We’re achieving really good progress,” she said.…
The Code • By Jack Craver • Oct 20, 2017
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Council looks to roll back CURE zoning
Driven by concerns over gentrification, City Council is poised to do away with the final remnants of a policy that was put in place two decades ago to encourage redevelopment downtown. The central urban redevelopment (CURE) combining district that Council…
Zoning • By Jack Craver • Oct 18, 2017
Texas Disposal Systems unhappy with proposed new lobbying rules
City Council is scheduled to take up a recommendation from city staff at its meeting on Thursday that will make changes to the longtime Anti-Lobbying Ordinance in response to problems the city has encountered with its waste contracts. The main…
City Hall • By Jack Craver • Oct 16, 2017
Council pushes ahead with CodeNEXT contract
City Council has voted to authorize spending what is supposed to be the final chunk of money allocated for the consultants hired to craft CodeNEXT, the rewrite of the city’s Land Development Code. The $2.27 million will go to Opticos…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Oct 13, 2017
Push on at Council to delay CodeNEXT vote
Council Member Leslie Pool is pushing to further delay a vote on CodeNEXT, the controversial rewrite of Austin’s Land Development Code that is already years behind schedule. In a message to fellow City Council members Monday evening, Pool suggested rethinking…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Oct 11, 2017
Council approves resolution condemning Columbus, celebrating indigenous peoples
City Council jumped into the long-standing debate over Columbus Day when it approved a resolution this week in favor of recognizing the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The vote was purely symbolic. Columbus Day has never been…
Austin • By Jack Craver • Oct 6, 2017
Police chief describes new community policing focus
The Austin Police Department is no longer recruiting new officers by promising them an action-packed thrill ride. In a presentation to City Council members on Tuesday, Interim Police Chief Brian Manley described the video that the department used as part…
