Austin
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 by Claire McInerny
AISD
Austin ISD equity officer calls closure plan ‘racist’ before board votes to close four schools
The Austin Independent School District’s Board of Trustees voted 6-3 on Monday to close Brooke, Metz, Sims and Pease elementary schools at the end of this school year.Trustees Ann Teich, Arati Singh and LaTisha Anderson opposed the closures.Parents and community…
Friday, November 15, 2019 by Andrew Weber
City Council
Austin OKs plan to buy and retrofit a motel to house homeless
The Austin City Council unanimously passed an $8 million plan to buy and repurpose the Rodeway Inn in South Austin to house people transitioning out of homelessness.The motel could house at least 87 people.Billed as a more proactive approach to…
Friday, November 15, 2019 by Jo Clifton
City Council
New worries arise over tax increment financing
Council members approved a resolution Thursday directing the city manager to bring them a plan for financing two Capital Metro Red Line rail stations in north Austin, one at McKalla Place and one at the new Broadmoor development. However, several…
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 by Andrew Weber
City Council
Austin abandons South Austin shelter as it prepares to buy hotels to house the homeless
Austin is no longer pursuing a 100-bed shelter in South Austin and could opt instead to provide housing in motels for homeless Austinites.The move comes after a suggestion from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, the nonprofit that coordinates Austin and Travis…
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Music commissioners push ACL Fest promoters for more local involvement, equity
Members of the Music Commission appear to have opened the door for a partnership between the city and local concert promotion giant C3 Presents to feature more Austin musicians at Austin City Limits Fest and other festivals run by the…
Friday, November 8, 2019 by Andrew Weber
Austin
Gov. Abbott says he’ll use five acres of state-owned land to temporarily house homeless Austinites
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office said the state will use five acres of state land at U.S. Highway 183 and Montopolis Drive as a temporary campsite for homeless Austinites. The site would serve as a stopgap until a privately backed effort…
