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City Hall
Cronk proud of city's accomplishments in 2020
By many metrics, this year has been a difficult one for the city of Austin. The pandemic has played a role in the local unemployment spike, led to a number of permanent business closures and strained the city’s medical staff.…
Austin • By Sean Saldaña • Dec 11, 2020
The 'Moment' has passed. Austin's most controversial public artwork might be coming down
Frank Wick remembers the first time he drove through the underpass on Lamar and saw the blue panels on the walls. “It felt like it was art; I wasn’t sure. It was a nice moment,” said Wick, a collection manager…
Austin • By Matt Largey • Dec 9, 2020
City Council takes steps toward relief for live music venues and 'legacy' businesses
Austin’s struggling live music venues, restaurants, bars and longtime businesses are a step closer to getting some Covid-19-related relief from the city, but some are still holding out hope for quicker relief. City Council approved Thursday the guidelines for two…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 4, 2020
City to replace five more names dedicated to Confederate history and white supremacy
In line with a resolution that called for the renaming of city assets whose names were associated with white supremacy and Confederate history, the city is moving forward with five more name changes. A Dec. 2 memo from Chief Equity…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 4, 2020
Adler backtracks after initially saying he did 'not do anything wrong' by flying to Mexico during the pandemic
After initially saying he didn’t do anything wrong, Austin Mayor Steve Adler now says he realizes he “set a bad example” by traveling to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for vacation last month. An Austin American-Statesman story revealed Wednesday that Adler…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Dec 3, 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
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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…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Dec 3, 2020
New SAVES programs face uncertain funding
The city has started nine programs in nine months to help local Austin businesses survive the pandemic. On Thursday, City Council will consider final program guidelines for three more programs providing relief for child care providers, local music venues and…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Dec 2, 2020
Human Rights Commission passes recommendation for domestic violence survivors
Late last month, the city’s Human Rights Commission unanimously passed a recommendation to continue providing hotel shelter for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking during the Covid-19 pandemic. Courtney Santana, a Human Rights commissioner and the CEO…
Austin • By Alyssa Weinstein • Dec 1, 2020
For child care providers in Austin, city relief couldn't come soon enough
Patsy Harnage doesn’t get a lot of holidays. For the last decade, she’s grown accustomed to working herself to the bone. Operating a child care center is hard work, built on razor-thin margins. That’s part of the job; it’s an…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 1, 2020
City leaders and Cap Metro get to work crafting Project Connect anti-displacement plan
In November, Austin voters approved a tax increase to support Project Connect and the expansion of public transportation throughout the city. Now, local leaders need to figure out precisely where and how to spend some of that money, including $300…
Austin • By Jasmine Lopez • Nov 25, 2020
Austin music venues won't get Covid relief money until next year. They say they're running out of time.
Jeannette Gregor was shaking, her voice quivering. “I am not a public speaker. This is actually kind of a nightmare for me – especially after about five months of isolation and no social contact,” she said back in September. “So…
