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Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
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- Office slowdown sparks new downtown housing ambitions
- Parks Board recommends vendor for Zilker Café, while voicing concerns about lack of local presence
- City leaders evaluate surprising ideas for water conservation
- Audit: Economic official granted arts, music funding against city code
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Stories by Jo Clifton
Firefighters considering whether to oppose Prop A
Austin firefighters are considering whether to oppose Proposition A, a proposal on the Nov. 2 ballot that would require the city of Austin to spend between $54 million and $119 million more on police officers each year, according to Austin’s…
Bonds & Propositions • By Jo Clifton • Sep 29, 2021
PARD needs more funding, audit update shows
Since audits in 2016 and 2017, the Parks and Recreation Department has taken actions to address the management of its resources as well as cash handling problems. However, according to a follow-up report by the Office of the City Auditor,…
Parks • By Jo Clifton • Sep 23, 2021
Report: City lacks complete list of homelessness agreements
The Office of the City Auditor reports that City Council initiated 47 resolutions, ordinances and other orders related to alleviating homelessness between September 2018 and May 2021. As a result of those directives, the city entered into at least 101 agreements, mostly…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Sep 22, 2021
County judges criticize Abbott, state
Over the past 18 months, county judges – especially the chief executives of Texas’ largest counties – have faced an array of unprecedented challenges. Joshua Fechter, urban affairs reporter for The Texas Tribune, had a virtual sit-down with five of…
Local Government • By Jo Clifton • Sep 21, 2021
Proposed 'Statesman' PUD draws criticism
Members of the city’s Parks and Recreation Board will be deciding in less than two weeks whether to recommend approval of the Statesman planned unit development from a parks perspective. It could prove to be a difficult decision. Parks planner…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Sep 17, 2021
Parks board says no to parkland compromise
Austin’s Parks and Recreation Board voted unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting to reject a developer’s appeal related to city regulations for parkland dedication for a proposed apartment complex at 403 E. Koenig Lane. Only six members of the board – the…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Sep 16, 2021
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Code takes a step to address mold complaints
In the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, numerous Austin renters found their homes uninhabitable due to water and the resulting mold. Many were forced out of their apartments as a result and the city experienced a surge in the number…
Housing • By Jo Clifton • Sep 14, 2021
How many cops do we want and at what cost?
Reporters and promoters of Proposition A have been using two officers per 1,000 Austin residents to describe the police staffing required if the proposition wins voter approval on Nov. 2. But that number may be insufficient, according to calculations done…
Bonds & Propositions • By Jo Clifton • Sep 9, 2021
Addressing affordability no easy task in Austin
During last week’s speech on the state of the city, Mayor Steve Adler identified issues the city has been grappling with, including defeating Covid and homelessness. He also pointed out the next big issues the city must tackle in order…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Sep 8, 2021
Council OKs new ballot language for Prop A
As directed by the Texas Supreme Court, City Council on Thursday approved new language for Proposition A, the ordinance that would increase Austin’s police force to two officers per every 1,000 residents. Although the political action committee Save Austin Now…
Bonds & Propositions • By Jo Clifton • Sep 3, 2021
Both sides claim victory in Prop A ballot language ruling
Save Austin Now, the political action committee behind Proposition A, which would require the city of Austin to hire two police officers for every 1,000 Austin residents, claimed victory Wednesday when the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the city must…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Sep 2, 2021
Conduct of meetings is going to change – and change again
Just as Austin’s most civically engaged citizens – including some new to the process – have gotten used to phoning in their comments on the City Council agenda, the rules are changing. In addition, Council will be considering new rules…
