The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Public Safety
AFD calls for more rescue boats, improved notification systems
Just more than a month after the Halloween flood devastated parts of Austin and Travis County, Austin Fire Department representatives told the Public Safety Commission Monday that more rescue boats and an improved emergency notification system are needed to better…
Public Safety • By Gene Davis • Dec 3, 2013
County official says damage from Halloween flood likely underestimated
A Travis County official says that estimates of the damage from the Halloween flood may have been “grossly underestimated,” and further examination of the damage could bring the total high enough to trigger federal aid. Travis County Emergency Management…
Local Government • By Mark Richardson • Nov 27, 2013
Police Monitor’s report suggests profiling, illegal searches
New data released last week by the Office of the Police Monitor show that, based on statistics, some Austin Police officers may be illegally profiling minorities and performing questionable searches of detained individuals. Austin Police Monitor Margo Frasier also…
Public Safety • By Mark Richardson • Nov 26, 2013
City promises local funding for 115 homes destroyed by flooding
City officials are disputing charges made by an ad hoc relief group last week that funding may not be available to buy out 115 Onion Creek area homes damaged or destroyed in the Halloween floods. However, both City of…
Development • By Mark Richardson • Nov 18, 2013
City, county to expand home buyouts for flooded areas
The City of Austin and Travis County are both preparing to expand their ongoing programs to buy and demolish the homes of residents who live in flood-prone areas. And with last week’s severe flooding in the Onion Creek 25-year flood…
Development • By Mark Richardson • Nov 7, 2013
Local leaders file disaster declarations in hope of federal assistance
Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, and Hays County Judge Bert Cobb have each filed local disaster declarations in the wake of massive flooding that struck Central Texas last week. The move could preface action by Texas…
Local Government • By Michael Kanin • Nov 5, 2013
Subscribe to our newsletter
City, county pour staff and materials into helping flood victims
On Sunday morning, In Fact Daily Editor Jo Clifton accompanied Council Member Laura Morrison on a drive to the flood-damaged Onion Creek Neighborhood. Residents of the hardest hit areas of this Southeast Austin neighborhood continue to sort ruined belongings…
Local Government • By Jo Clifton • Nov 4, 2013
Austin, Central Texas to begin recovery from major flood event
People across the Central Texas region woke Thursday morning to a major flood that local officials say will likely go down as a record event. Some parts of South Austin and Hays County received almost 15 inches of rain,…
Public Safety • By Michael Kanin • Nov 1, 2013
Fleet Services says it needs more staff, bays to service vehicles
The head of the city’s Fleet Services Department told members on the Council Audit and Finance Committee last week that his department has numerous unmet needs, noting that department is short 60-80 repair bays for the city’s vehicles, including nearly…
Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 28, 2013
Council, police chief clash over district representative assignments
Austin City Council members continued to do battle amongst themselves and with Police Chief Art Acevedo Tuesday over lingering issues associated with the opening of three segments of city hike and bike trails to 24-hour traffic. It all comes against…
Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 16, 2013
Public Safety Commission criticizes Special Events Ordinance
Members of the Public Safety Commission, upset that they could not get information on the amount of money Special Events were costing the city, passed a resolution on Monday asking that the city monitor such expenses and seek reimbursement. …
Public Safety • By Adam Schragin • Oct 9, 2013
Cole, Morrison question use of employee criminal background checks
An audit designed to examine the effectiveness of the city’s approach to criminal background checks has raised the ire of two City Council members, who thought they had removed such checks from city hiring protocol in 2008. At last…
