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Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
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- Firefighters to seek firing of Chief Baker
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Stories by Jo Clifton
Abbott plots DPS takeover of APD
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Twitter Monday that he had received draft language to seize Austin’s Police Department and put it under the control of the Texas Department of Public Safety “just in time for Christmas.” The Austin Police Association,…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Dec 22, 2020
Unions line up to oppose 'strong mayor' plan
Fifteen community leaders, including nine representing labor unions, have written to Andrew Allison, the chair of a political action committee behind a suite of proposed charter amendments that would remake Austin city government, asking him to end his campaign to…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Dec 17, 2020
Alter wins reelection in tight District 10 race
Incumbent District 10 City Council Member Alison Alter pulled out a win over her conservative challenger, Jennifer Virden, in Tuesday’s runoff election. The race was too close to call early in the evening, but at the end of the night…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Dec 16, 2020
Pier on Lake Austin rezoning takes next step
The new owners of the once popular Pier restaurant on Lake Austin will have to wait at least until January to get the zoning change they need to repair 20 boat slips on the marina at 1703 River Hills Road.…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Dec 15, 2020
Council OKs contract for Ullrich repairs
After a considerable amount of discussion at its Thursday meeting, City Council approved a contract of more than $22 million, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a joint venture to rebuild the electrical pump station serving the Ullrich water treatment…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Dec 11, 2020
Garza questions penalties in water reuse rules
City Council is poised to adopt two ordinances at today’s meeting establishing regulations for on-site water reuse systems as well as water cooling towers. Council has unanimously supported the ideas behind the Water Forward plan that are aimed at reducing…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Dec 10, 2020
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Adler, Pool voice support for cadet class this spring
With Austin police officers either retiring or simply quitting the force in record numbers this year, Mayor Steve Adler told his colleagues at Tuesday’s City Council work session that he really wants to have a cadet class this spring. Council…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Dec 9, 2020
Reports reveal party loyalties
Even though City Council elections are generally nonpartisan, Austin’s incumbent Council members, Alison Alter and Jimmy Flannigan, both Democrats, have made it clear that they, not their Republican opponents, represent the voice of the people. Their runoff opponents, Jennifer Virden…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Dec 9, 2020
East side cold storage zoning put on ice
At the urging of Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, City Council agreed last Thursday to postpone consideration of a zoning change for an industrial property at 6215 1/2 Johnny Morris Road that might serve as a cold storage facility. The 14-acre…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Dec 8, 2020
Council delays HealthSouth vote but OKs Red River Street fee waiver
City Council members will have one more week to think about whether they want to choose a design team made up of Aspen Heights Partners, Civilitude, Studio Balcones and STG Design to redevelop the former HealthSouth tract at 1215 Red…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Dec 4, 2020
Downtown court not moving to east side
Last month, when City Council Member Pio Renteria expressed his dismay about staffers’ proposal to relocate the Downtown Austin Community Court to 1719 E. Second St. in his district, instead of downtown, other Council members agreed with his request to…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Dec 3, 2020
Audit cites ethics violations by employee, supervisor
An investigation by the Office of the City Auditor has concluded that Alex Perez, a project coordinator at Austin Energy, violated city ethics regulations by making official decisions affecting a company owned by members of his family. In addition, auditors…
