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Black leaders in Austin want to build a racial justice movement that sustains itself for years to come
Black leaders in Central Texas are forming a new coalition called the Black Leaders Collective to address systemic racism. The group has about 40 members, including activists, educators, artists and policymakers who say they want to create meaningful and transformative…
Austin • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Jul 23, 2020
Austin music venues seek $20 million from city to prevent closures
Austin’s Music Venue Alliance plans to ask the city to provide $20 million in aid specifically for music venues that have been closed since mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Music Venue Preservation Fund request was discussed at Wednesday’s…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 23, 2020
Some Covid-19 economic recovery programs see progress while others stagnate
While six of the city’s 11 Covid-19 economic recovery programs have received or are about to receive applications for their grants and loans, the rest have yet to move on from the development stages. Austin’s economic recovery programs are designed…
City Hall • By Savana Dunning • Jul 22, 2020
Public Safety budget discussion wrestles with demands to defund APD
Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo gave the Public Safety Committee a public safety budget overview at its meeting on Monday. Much of the discussion centered around the Austin Police Department budget. Community members and some City Council members have…
Budget • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 21, 2020
Push for 2021 charter amendments could make Austin a 'strong mayor' city
A new group of community activists and political insiders intends to push for amendments to the city charter that could bring about a change to a “strong mayor” form of government, along with other changes focused on increasing voter turnout…
City Charter • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 21, 2020
Economic Development Department to update progress on CARES Act relief funding programs
As of June 29, five of the eight grant programs approved by City Council to provide economic relief to Austin’s economic sectors through the CARES Act had not yet passed the development stages in their funding allocation plans. The Economic…
City Council • By Savana Dunning • Jul 14, 2020
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Manager proposes tax hike, 2 percent employee raise
Presenting a budget with a 2 percent employee pay raise and no layoffs and a 3.5 percent property tax increase, City Manager Spencer Cronk told Council Monday that his budget proposal meets the twin crises of the pandemic that has…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jul 13, 2020
City prepares ordinances to tap brakes on reopening and slow virus spread
City Council approved two ordinances Thursday intended to bring local businesses into compliance with regulations near to Phase 1 of Gov. Greg Abbott’s reopening plan. “We can’t take the foot off the gas – we are not clear of this…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Jul 10, 2020
Council seeks to add teeth to virus regulations
Mayor Steve Adler is proposing two ordinances: one would authorize the city health authority – in this case Dr. Mark Escott – to adopt rules protecting people from Covid 19 and create a class C misdemeanor with a fine of…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jul 9, 2020
Survey predicts 90 percent of Austin live music venues to close by Halloween
A survey of Austin businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic finds that 90 percent of the city’s live music venues are likely to permanently close by this fall. That forecast was one of the conclusions of a June survey conducted…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 8, 2020
Animal advocates decry Austin Animal Center intake policy changes
In a video making the rounds on social media, a woman is standing near the entrance to the Austin Animal Center with a medium-sized dog on a leash. She’s telling a staff member she cannot keep the dog, who is a stray,…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 7, 2020
City stepping back from bulk pickups
As cases of Covid-19 continue to spread through the community, it becomes more onerous for many essential workers to do their jobs, including those who provide trash, recycling and compost collection services. As the twice-yearly curbside collection of bulk items and…
