Stories by Madeline de Figueiredo
City saves $2.5M by electrifying fleet with plans to nearly double EV count by 2030
At the Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee meeting Monday, Austin officials reported $2.5 million in savings from electrifying the city’s fleet and outlined plans to nearly double the electric vehicle fleet size by 2030 as part of a broader…
Energy • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Jun 5, 2025
Austin Resource Recovery expands waste services and reuse programs
Austin Resource Recovery shared the department’s latest initiatives with the Environmental Commission, detailing expanded waste collection services and sustainability programs aimed at keeping Austin cleaner and advancing the city’s zero-waste goals. Ron Romero, Assistant Director of Austin Resource Recovery, said…
Resources • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Jun 2, 2025
Environmental Commission approves heritage tree removal for East Austin housing project
The Environmental Commission voted to approve the removal of a 32-inch heritage pecan tree in East Austin to allow construction of a 120-unit supportive housing project for youth exiting foster care and the juvenile justice system. “This is the exact…
Development • By Madeline de Figueiredo • May 14, 2025
Chief Animal Services Officer Don Bland to retire following administrative leave
The city announced last week that Chief Animal Services Officer Don Bland will retire, effective May 9, following his placement on administrative leave in early March. Bland, the director of the Austin Animal Center since 2019, was placed on administrative…
City Hall • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Apr 3, 2025
City intensifies efforts to encourage vaccination amid state’s worst measles outbreak in decades
Last Thursday, Austin city leaders marked the 30th anniversary of a program that provides free vaccines to children as Texas faces its worst measles outbreak in over three decades. Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that can spread through…
Public Health • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Mar 31, 2025
Council members celebrate unanimous defeat of bill that proposed putting Austin under state control
Austin City Council members celebrated the resounding defeat of House Bill 274 on Wednesday, a bill that would have created the “District of Austin” as the state’s official seat of government. “Our message is loud and clear: local leaders are…
Austin • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Mar 28, 2025
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Eviction crisis spreads as affordability pressures worsen
A record-breaking 13,210 evictions were filed in Travis County in 2024, according to a memo released last week from BASTA (Building and Strengthening Tenant Action), a project of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. The memo, a snapshot with key evictions-related findings…
Housing • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Mar 24, 2025
Technology Commission approves FY 26 budget recommendations to address digital equity
Austin’s Technology Commission unanimously approved five recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, based on a digital needs assessment, to address digital equity in Austin including funding for affordable devices, expanded public internet access and increased digital skills training for…
Budget • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Mar 11, 2025
Parks and Rec Board to explore "rainbow bridge" pet memorial
The Parks and Recreation Board voted Tuesday to form a working group tasked with exploring the creation of a “rainbow bridge” pet memorial at a city park. The proposed interactive feature would allow park visitors to honor their pets, particularly…
Parks • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Mar 4, 2025
Commercial EV station moves forward despite opposition
After the Planning Commission denied the request for a commercial electric-vehicle charging lot in East Austin last April, the project is moving forward based on an ordinance passed by City Council. Last April, the Planning Commission voted 7-3-3 to deny…
Land Development Code • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Feb 19, 2025
Commissioner Travillion finds integration of public services as key to success
In 2024, Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion approached his work with a clear conviction: The challenges facing East Austinites are deeply interconnected. To truly serve his constituents, he recognized that solving these issues required a multidimensional approach – what he…
Travis County • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Jan 7, 2025
Council Member José Velásquez seeks to reframe local representation
As Council Member José Velásquez tackled a wide array of issues in 2024, he has remained focused on the three tenets that guide his work and decision-making: “affordability, accessibility and action.” Pursuing these principles has pushed him to redefine the…
