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City Council
Mayor Steve Adler: Reflections on a challenging year
At the start of 2020, Mayor Steve Adler was thinking about how to convince his colleagues to pass a new Land Development Code and how to convince the public to vote for a $7 billion mass transit bond proposal in…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 8, 2021
Paige Ellis: Preparing for climate change resilience
Despite enduring a year of trials, Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis is determined to continue getting work done for her constituents and for the city. Two of Ellis’ most significant accomplishments this year with Council include the Healthy Streets…
City Council • By Miriam E Jewell • Jan 7, 2021
Kathie Tovo: A 'completely unexpected' year
For Kathie Tovo, who has been on Austin City Council since 2011, 2020 was a year like no other. Tovo told the Austin Monitor that she’s most proud of some of the work she did on the city’s response to…
City Council • By Daniel Salazar • Jan 7, 2021
Alison Alter: 'Excited to begin again in 2021'
While 2020 was a challenging year for every member of the Austin City Council, it was particularly challenging for District 10’s Alison Alter and District 6’s Jimmy Flannigan, who had to defend their seats in the purple areas of the…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 7, 2021
Jimmy Flannigan: Taking care of unfinished business
Since losing to Mackenzie Kelly in Northwest Austin’s District 6 runoff election, City Council Member Jimmy Flannigan has focused on keeping his head down, continuing to work and trying to “figure out what’s next.” “There’s a lot of work that…
City Council • By Daniel Salazar • Jan 6, 2021
Mackenzie Kelly: Ready to collaborate and communicate
Speaking to Mackenzie Kelly, it’s clear she’s touched by the early overtures from her new colleagues, who are already helping her adapt to her new post as City Council member for District 6. “They’ve been wonderful and kind and gracious,…
City Council • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 6, 2021
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Leslie Pool: Governing not for the faint of heart
The year 2020 has been a stressful year for almost everyone. For those considering running for a seat on City Council at some point in time, District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool has some advice. As she told the Austin…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 6, 2021
Pio Renteria: 'We are going to come out of this really strong'
Austin City Council was forced to overcome many setbacks during 2020, but Council Member Pio Renteria said he was encouraged that he and his colleagues made strides on their efforts to help the city’s most vulnerable populations. After shifting gears…
City Council • By Aiden Snasdell • Jan 5, 2021
Greg Casar: 2020 was the 'hardest year'
“I was wrong,” Council Member Greg Casar said. He was recalling his observations of 2017, the first year of the Trump presidency. At the time, he’d called it “a hellish year” – but that was before he knew what a…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 5, 2021
Ann Kitchen: Building better solutions
Council Member Ann Kitchen has spent the year juggling difficult decisions – about the Covid-19 pandemic, reallocating police funds, finding solutions for homelessness, improving mobility and preserving the arts. “Covid has highlighted disparities in our community and highlighted problems that…
City Council • By Sumaiya Malik, Reporting Texas • Jan 5, 2021
Natasha Harper-Madison: Creating a more equitable city
“Greetings!” Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison’s phone voice message said, “I look forward to connecting with you.” Harper-Madison represents District 1, which includes Northeast, East Central and far East Austin. The Council member has been hard at work, sometimes even on…
City Council • By Sumaiya Malik, Reporting Texas • Jan 4, 2021
Delia Garza is on the move
Delia Garza is blazing a trail of firsts: first Latina on Austin City Council; first Latina mayor pro tem; and soon, the first Latina Travis County Attorney. “I stand on the shoulders of other Latinas,” Garza noted. “There were four…
