Austin, Monitored: Police cameras are under review and live music is understaffed
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 by Austin Monitor
Today’s newsletter is supported by Austin Energy and the Value of Public Power
Quote of the Day
“Today we heard powerful testimony from residents, nonprofit leaders, privacy experts, and many others… We are in an unprecedented time of authoritarian rule at the state and federal levels, and we should not be using City of Austin resources to fund a mass surveillance tool that can be used by private companies, immigration authorities, and other outside entities. I look forward to working with my colleagues on Council to support public safety strategies do not create such a risk of injury to our diverse communities.”
— Council Member Mike Siegel, from City delays decision on license plate reader program.
City delays decision on license plate reader program
From Amy Smith:
After a prolonged discussion during Tuesday’s City Council work session, a proposed extension of the city’s Automated License Plate Reader program is no longer under consideration.
“Given concerns expressed today, I have decided to withdraw this item from the agenda at this time to provide more opportunities to address council members’ questions and do our due diligence to alleviate concerns prior to bringing this item back to City Council for consideration.” City Manager T.C Broadnax said in a message to City Council.
A message from today’s sponsor, Austin Energy:
Public Power Works for You
Austin Energy is your community-owned electric utility, bringing power to our vibrant city for more than 125 years. Since 1895, we’ve been powering the greater Austin area—lighting up homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses—and now serve more than half a million customers every single day.
But we’re not just an electric utility. As community members, we care deeply about this ever-changing city we call home. Discover more about Austin Energy and how we are Powering Our Community at AustinEnergy.com/PublicPower
To go or not to go, that is the question
As a continuation of yesterday’s Planning Commission roundup, we present: A rezoning case for a humble plot of undeveloped land at 9117 Northgate Boulevard in the Northgate neighborhood from “general office” to “general commercial.” It was pulled at the request of commissioner Nadia Barrera-Ramirez after public comments against the rezoning included allegations of a pattern of criminality by patrons of convenience stores owned by the same man requesting the rezoning, businessman Abdul Patel.
Activist and former City Council candidate Monica Guzman was one of those speakers. She said the neighborhood wanted assurance that the site would not be used as a convenience store selling alcohol to go. That would require that the city prohibit “food sales” and “general retail sales-convenience” as acceptable uses under the new zoning. Sherri Sirwaitis, who is an urban planner with the city, noted that the applicant had submitted a letter with a list of prohibited uses agreed upon with the neighborhood. However, that letter didn’t suggest banning those uses.
“We don’t see any reason that (these categories) can’t be struck out in addition,” Guzman said.
Tamara Mitchell, who spoke in favor of the rezoning on behalf of the applicant, said the developers were not amenable to banning food sales because it would effectively ban a wide range of uses, potentially including food to go, but would reluctantly support banning general retail sales-convenience.
Commissioner Barrera-Ramirez introduced a motion banning both, which commissioner Greg Anderson responded to with a substitute motion banning general retail sales-convenience while making food sales a conditional use, opening it up to further fine-tuning. The substitute motion passed unanimously.
— Miles Wall
AUS live music is slowing down… but it isn’t terminal
City staff told the Music Commission this week that the popular live music program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is in a transitional period marked by significant staffing challenges and operational strain. Following the ongoing leave of longtime airport music coordinator Michael Pennock, staff have scaled back the number of weekly performances from 27–30 to a more sustainable 20, according to airport arts manager Constance White.
White said the live music program, which includes eight stages embedded in airport concession areas, has grown significantly in recent years without a corresponding increase in administrative or technical support. White noted that the program’s rapid expansion and one-to-one booking model became unsustainable, leaving the system vulnerable to disruptions. While concessionaires fund the performances and support the program’s continuity, ongoing efforts are to develop a more scalable booking process in partnership with the city’s new Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.
“Before Michael left we had determined that 27 to 30 shows a week with one music coordinator, one full-time sound engineer, and a part-time sound engineer was just not sustainable, even with the level of expertise that he had. And so we had started planning for the future, and the airport expanding,” White said.
The division currently relies on temporary staff and contracted sound engineers while it works with city talent acquisition and ACME to design long-term solutions. Music commissioners expressed concern over performance cancellations, artist diversity, and continuity through the summer months, calling on staff to protect the performance program that is seen as a major component of Austin’s reputation as a national benchmark for airport music programs, as well as being a leading local employer of local musicians.
— Chad Swiatecki
Elsewhere in the News
As City Council is poised to consider extending its license plate reader program, the Austin Chronicle has come out with a damning report on how more than 20 percent of searches didn’t have a clear reason — information left out of a recent audit of the program.
KUT reports on how one (massive) storm has upended predictions of a very dry spring.
City Budget Officer Kerri Lang talks to City Cast Austin about the $33 million deficit that the city is facing this budget season.
And, yesterday KXAN reported on the ongoing rift between Black’s and Terry Black’s. Today, they bring more hopeful news: Kreuz and Smitty’s have laid down their swords (not their cleavers) and are now “moving forward as a family.“
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