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Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
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Stories by Jo Clifton
Winter weather shuts down the city
The storm that brought Austin to a standstill continues to impact city operations this week. Services are closed across the city due to extreme weather with an expectation that more winter is on the way. City officials announced Monday that…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Feb 16, 2021
Council rejects meeting to consider adding ballot measure
After a majority of Council members told City Attorney Anne Morgan they did not believe a special called meeting on Friday night was necessary, Morgan advised Mayor Steve Adler that the mayor would not have a quorum to consider the…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 12, 2021
Council to consider proposition fix at Friday night meeting
City Council is scheduled to meet once again this Friday night to consider one more possible ordinance to place on the May 1 ballot. On Tuesday night, after a long day of making decisions about how to word eight proposed…
Bonds & Propositions • By Jo Clifton • Feb 11, 2021
Camping ban, strong-mayor proposal set for May 1 ballot
Austin voters who go to the polls on May 1 will have no candidates to vote for. Instead, they will have numerous questions to answer about how Austin’s government should be run and whether to reinstate the ban on camping, sitting…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Feb 10, 2021
After OK by Austin, ESD vote goes to Travis County
City Council voted unanimously Thursday to allow voters in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction within Emergency Services District 2 to vote on whether to create Travis County Emergency Services District 17. If approved by voters, the vote would authorize creation of…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Feb 8, 2021
Council approves District 6 hotel purchase for homeless
After hearing from scores of citizens, both in favor of and opposed to the purchase, City Council voted 10-1 Thursday to buy a hotel in far Northwest Austin for conversion to permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness. The…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 5, 2021
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Former Commissioner Ron Davis dies at 75
Former Travis County Commissioner Ron Davis, who is remembered for his staunch advocacy on environmental issues, died Tuesday at age 75. Davis served on the Commissioners Court from to 1998 to 2016 representing Precinct 1 in eastern Travis County. His…
Travis County • By Jo Clifton • Feb 4, 2021
What we could be seeing on a May ballot
Austin voters will likely have a lot to think about before going to the polls on May 1. City Clerk Jannette Goodall has already certified two petitions – one from Austinites for Progressive Reform and another from the Austin Firefighters Association…
City Charter • By Jo Clifton • Feb 3, 2021
Pier property rezoning wins final OK
City Council gave final approval at Wednesday’s meeting to rezone a small piece of property on Lake Austin at 1703 River Hills Drive. The property sits in District 10 Council Member Alison Alter’s district and she made the motion to…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Feb 1, 2021
HealthSouth redevelopment moves forward
As she made the motion to move the HealthSouth project forward Wednesday, Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison added some requests to Council Member Kathie Tovo’s long list of asks for the team working on the exclusive negotiating agreement with Aspen…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Jan 28, 2021
Tovo crafts complex motion for HealthSouth talks
At today’s meeting, City Council will finally consider negotiating an exclusive agreement with Aspen Heights Partners for the company to lease and redevelop the city-owned HealthSouth property at 1215 Red River and 606 E. 12th St. Council Member Kathie Tovo…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Jan 27, 2021
City watching bills that would cut its authority
As has been the case for several sessions, Austin is facing numerous challenges as the Texas Legislature begins to do its business. Due to Covid, this session will present new challenges, not just for city advocates, but for members and…
