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Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
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Stories by Jo Clifton
Council OKs Springdale Green PUD on first reading
While a number of residents of Saucedo Street next to the former East Austin tank farm strongly support plans to turn the property into a six-story office building with a height ranging from 75-93 feet, other neighbors object to the…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Apr 28, 2021
Convoluted audit tale shows conflicts of interest, but no harm
Two city employees violated city conflict-of-interest rules when one of them routed funds meant for the city through a nonprofit he set up. However, according to an audit conducted by the Office of the City Auditor, the funds were sent…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Apr 27, 2021
Gas companies seek interim rate hikes
The three companies that supply natural gas to Austin residential and commercial customers are each seeking a rate increase under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program, or GRIP. City Council acted on April 8 and again on Thursday to temporarily suspend…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Apr 23, 2021
Report raises questions about convention center finances
In the wake of Covid-19, revenue at the Austin Convention Center dropped from more than $35.8 million in Fiscal Year 2019 to about $12.8 million in FY 2020, according to a special review of convention center finances conducted by the…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Apr 22, 2021
Council to delve into Airport Hilton questions
City Council is preparing to discuss extending a $2.6 million loan to cover overdue bills from the Austin Airport Hilton. The hotel, which is operated by Austin-Bergstrom Landhost Enterprises, or ABLE, lost a considerable amount of revenue over the past…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Apr 21, 2021
Groups report endorsing, rejecting propositions
The Travis County Democratic Party has endorsed Proposition A on the May 1 ballot, which would give Austin firefighters the authority to require the city to participate in binding arbitration. The party has also urged its members to reject Prop…
Bonds & Propositions • By Jo Clifton • Apr 20, 2021
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City's vaccination task gets harder
Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott has been advising City Council members and Travis County commissioners that there was more demand than the city had available vaccine for all the Travis County residents who want to be protected…
Public Health • By Jo Clifton • Apr 14, 2021
Neighbors nix liquor store at south-side mini mart
Last December, the Galindo Neighborhood Association told the city it had no objection to a zoning change that would allow for the development of a liquor store at the Sunrise Mini Mart at 913-915 W. Oltorf St. By March, opinions…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Apr 13, 2021
Council barely OKs eminent domain for U.S. 290 expansion
With just six members voting in the affirmative last Thursday, City Council authorized staff to move forward with eminent domain proceedings to purchase new right of way in order to move wastewater lines that are in the path of the…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Apr 12, 2021
Neighbors tell ACC board: No concrete plant here
Neighbors of Austin Community College’s Pinnacle campus in Oak Hill begged the ACC Board of Trustees to reverse its apparent decision to allow a Texas Department of Transportation contractor to operate a concrete batch plant on the campus. About 20 neighbors…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Apr 8, 2021
Mayor, City Council express opposition to state legislation
Mayor Steve Adler and several City Council members expressed their frustration with the Legislature at Tuesday’s work session, after Intergovernmental Relations Officer Brie Franco described legislation aimed at curbing Austin’s authority to govern itself. Among Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s announced…
Texas State Legislature • By Jo Clifton • Apr 7, 2021
Council stresses need for cooperation in forming strategic plan for homelessness
After hearing the results of a follow-up audit related to the city’s efforts to help the homeless, Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Leslie Pool both stressed the need for other segments of the community to get involved in resolving…
