Stories by Jo Clifton
Mayor touts justice agenda, Project Connect in State of the City speech
Although “the current state of our city is anxious, troubled and hurting,” Mayor Steve Adler said during Wednesday’s State of the City address, the city has “a once-in-a-century opportunity to no longer be bound by who we were a year…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Aug 6, 2020
Audit accuses parks department leaders of waste
The Office of the City Auditor released a report Tuesday accusing Parks and Recreation Director Kimberly McNeeley and Assistant Director Liana Kallivoka of giving another employee a “special privilege,” improperly using more than $22,000 worth of sick leave and wasting $39,000 of…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Aug 5, 2020
Subdivision change initiated to help homeowner
Council Member Kathie Tovo and her staff have been trying for more than a year to help two constituents in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood solve a complicated subdivision problem that prevents them from building an addition to their 486-square-foot home.…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Aug 4, 2020
Council OKs short contract to clean up homeless camps
Ten people signed up to tell Council on Wednesday they were opposed to awarding a three-year contract to Relief Enterprise of Texas Inc. for “removal of debris and cleanup services under bridge overpasses, under bridges, and in the transportation right…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jul 31, 2020
Council approves condemnation of Bull Creek property
With the exception of Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, who was off the virtual dais, Council unanimously approved filing eminent domain proceedings to acquire what the city describes as the final piece of property needed to complete the Upper Bull Creek…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Jul 30, 2020
Owner resists city plans for eminent domain to complete Bull Creek Greenbelt
David Kahn, the owner of 11-plus acres of scenic property along Bull Creek in Northwest Austin, will be calling in today to oppose a proposed City Council decision to file eminent domain proceedings to acquire the land to complete the…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Jul 29, 2020
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Rodriguez concedes, calls for unity, Eckhardt headed to Texas Senate
Eddie Rodriguez announced Monday that he was opting out of an uphill battle for the Senate District 14 seat against former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt. Instead, Rodriguez said he would focus his efforts “on winning a Democratic majority and…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jul 28, 2020
PAC readies to oppose rail bond
The political action committee Our Mobility Our Future, whose backers plan to oppose a proposition on the November ballot to fund the Project Connect transit system, reported this week that they had collected more than $98,000 during the reporting period…
Bonds & Propositions • By Jo Clifton • Jul 17, 2020
Updated: Runoff likely in Senate District 14 race
With six candidates vying to take the place of Senate District 14’s Kirk Watson, it seemed reasonable to assume there would be a runoff, most likely between two popular Democrats: former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and state Rep. Eddie…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jul 15, 2020
Manager proposes tax hike, 2 percent employee raise
Presenting a budget with a 2 percent employee pay raise and no layoffs and a 3.5 percent property tax increase, City Manager Spencer Cronk told Council Monday that his budget proposal meets the twin crises of the pandemic that has…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jul 13, 2020
Is money going to decide Travis County races?
With early voting ending today for Tuesday’s Travis County runoff elections, the Democratic candidates for district attorney and county attorney were busy making phone calls trying to coax pandemic-weary voters to the polls. They were also filing campaign finance reports…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jul 10, 2020
Council seeks to add teeth to virus regulations
Mayor Steve Adler is proposing two ordinances: one would authorize the city health authority – in this case Dr. Mark Escott – to adopt rules protecting people from Covid 19 and create a class C misdemeanor with a fine of…
