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Austin
Panelists eye affordability pains in music, EMS, hospitality sectors
Leaders from two of Austin’s most prominent economic sectors – housing and hospitality – see passage of a new Land Development Code and eliminating the tipped minimum wage for restaurant staff as two long-needed steps to address increasing affordability concerns…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 30, 2023
Annual count shows small drop in Austin's homeless population
Data from the city’s first point-in-time count of the local homeless population in three years show a slight decrease in the total number of people living without shelter, with laws against camping in public causing a sharp decrease in the…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 25, 2023
Tourism Commission seeks answers on stalled hotel tax to fund homeless services
The Tourism Commission wants to take a hard look at the lack of progress on, and new considerations involved in, the long-discussed taxing district that could see large hotels contribute a new tax levy toward costs associated with homelessness. Next…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 12, 2023
City's animal commission OKs cat educator
The Animal Advisory Commission unanimously approved a motion for a second permanent position for community cat public health educator last Monday. The Community Cats program in Austin helps the thousands of free-roaming cats in the city remain healthy and safe…
Austin • By Ava Garderet • May 12, 2023
Austin in line for billions in tech, transportation, clean energy funds from feds
The message to local developers and real estate professionals on Wednesday was clear: Austin is in the mix for tens of billions of dollars in federal money that will continue to transform the area and attract newcomers for decades. Panelists…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 27, 2023
Arts, music commissions to renew push for short-term rental tax collections
It appears arts and music advocates will likely ask City Council to reach an agreement with short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and begin receiving millions of dollars in uncollected hotel taxes that could in part benefit the local creative…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 11, 2023
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Drained from emergency debris collections, Austin Resource Recovery prepares for a squeeze this budget cycle
As it continues to pick up the pieces of Winter Storm Mara, Austin Resource Recovery is preparing to weather financial challenges thanks to the $20 million relief effort. Four months out from budget season, Director Ken Snipes and Finance Division…
Austin • By Kali Bramble • Apr 4, 2023
Complaint from deaf traveler at Austin airport sparks changes to TSA policy
A recent complaint concerning the Transportation Security Administration’s treatment of a deaf passenger at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport prompted changes in the ways the agency treats travelers with accessibility needs. Topher Avila, who is deaf, told the Airport Advisory Commission…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Feb 23, 2023
Chamber partnership looks to strengthen connection to startup community
The Austin Chamber of Commerce has extended its reach to become directly involved with launching startups in the city, bringing the business incubator Founder Institute Austin into its offices downtown. The one-year pilot program allows the institute, which has chapters…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 21, 2023
Notley/Monitor Poll: The need for local leadership and deeper understanding
In the second installment of our Notley/Monitor poll series, commissioned by Notley and conducted by national pollster Change Research, Austinites clearly expressed the desire for stronger local leadership and show areas where they are divided and unsure of how to…
Austin • By Joel Gross • Feb 17, 2023
Notley/Monitor Poll: Digging into the data
In a poll commissioned by Notley for the Austin Monitor, Change Research surveyed 429 voters in Austin, Texas, from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 2023. Over the course of the past week, we’ve published a series of stories examining the data. Now it’s…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Feb 17, 2023
Notley/Monitor Poll: Austinites want reinstated camping bans on the homeless enforced
Austin residents feel the city isn’t doing enough to manage the effects of homelessness throughout the area, according to a January/February poll of 429 voters commissioned by Notley and conducted by national pollster Change Research for the Austin Monitor. Homelessness has…
