Tag Archives: Austin Human Rights Commission
Human Rights Commission finds the naming of Austin public spaces inequitable
In Austin, streets have their names changed from time to time. City parks, however, rarely seem to undergo name changes, but the Human Rights Commission wants to change that. On Nov. 27, the Human Rights Commission considered amending its previous…
Parks • By Jessi Devenyns • Nov 30, 2017
Commission asks if curfew ordinance does any good
Austin and the United States at large share a history of law enforcement policy discriminating against non-white people, and Monday night Human Rights commissioners Sukyi McMahon and Kristian Caballero invited Texas Appleseed staff and community members to help them answer…
Austin • By Joseph Caterine • Jul 27, 2017
Human Rights Commission talks density bonuses
Housing affordability in Austin as it relates to CodeNEXT was the center of attention at the Human Rights Commission meeting on Monday, June 26. On behalf of Austin Habitat for Humanity, Greg Anderson, the organization’s director of operations, presented a…
Land Development Code • By Sommer Brugal • Jul 11, 2017
Human Rights Commission ponders CodeNEXT
The city’s Human Rights Commission is taking a look at CodeNEXT in an attempt to understand the implications of the controversial overhaul of Austin’s land development code on vulnerable populations. On Monday, the commission, which last year urged City Council…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Apr 28, 2017
Human Rights Commission condemns Trump
Austin’s Human Rights Commission is pushing City Council to take the bold move of condemning the president of the United States and banning official use of his company’s products and services. At its meeting on Monday, the commission voted 8-2…
City Council • By Cate Malek • Jan 24, 2017
Human Rights Commission prepares to take on Trump and SB 92
Austin’s Human Rights Commission is testing how much influence city government can have at both the state and national levels this year. Members of the commission are proposing to take a strong stand against President-elect Donald Trump in January and…
Austin • By Cate Malek • Dec 7, 2016
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Human Rights Commission pushes Council to address gentrification
Although gentrification is a well-recognized problem in Austin, the Human Rights Commission believes it has reached crisis level and is pushing City Council to take concrete action. The commission passed a recommendation that Council recognize gentrification as a human rights…
City Hall • By Cate Malek • Jun 29, 2016
Disparate treatment of women comes back into focus at City Hall
Last spring, Austin found itself in the national spotlight when news broke about a training session held with the intent of helping city staff cope with a female-majority City Council. Though the repercussions were quick for then-assistant City Manager Anthony…
City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 13, 2016
Is gentrification a human rights issue in Austin?
Over the past few months, the city’s Human Rights Commission has been taking a hard look at preservation and gentrification. Though such issues might seem outside the commission’s purview, onetime City Council candidate Fred McGhee has a different opinion. McGhee’s…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 7, 2015
Fair chance hiring moves forward
City Council’s Economic Opportunity Committee voted Monday to direct staff to move forward with writing what is known as a fair chance hiring ordinance. It would include a one-year period to educate employers before they would face penalties for noncompliance.…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Nov 10, 2015
Police claim no disparities in marijuana arrests
Austin police say African-Americans are not unfairly targeted by police for marijuana offenses, despite community claims to the contrary. The Austin Human Rights Commission met last week to hear a presentation from Assistant Police Chief Brian Manley about statistics related…
Public Safety • By Kara Nuzback • Sep 2, 2014
Rights commission recommends source of income as protected class
After hearing stories from low-income residents about how they were vilified while trying to use housing vouchers, the Austin Human Rights Commission last night backed a recommendation to make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against people based on the…
