Save Austin Now, which brought us the successful referendum to reinstate the city prohibition against camping as well as the unsuccessful proposition that would have required the city to hire more police officers, has issued what might be described as an anti-endorsement. In addition, the group has endorsed three conservatives for City Council seats. The political action committee has called out Celia Israel for her votes in the Legislature against measures requiring the city to add more funding to its police department and criminalizing camping. Both bills passed. Save Austin Now PAC’s press release directs voters to look at the websites of Kirk Watson and Jennifer Virden to decide how to vote in that race. However, the PAC did endorse Clinton Rarey, who is running against incumbent Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison. The group also endorsed Richard Smith, who is on the ballot against incumbent Council Member Paige Ellis. The group’s third endorsement is for Greg Smith in the District 9 race. Council Member Kathie Tovo is retiring, so there is no incumbent in that race.

Travis County’s new “I Voted” sticker makes its debut today as in-person early voting for the Nov. 8 election begins. The new version of the familiar sticker features a bluebonnet – the Texas state flower – and was designed by UT Austin student Ashwara Pillai, who won the design contest earlier this year that was open to all Travis County college students. The county has printed only 100,000 of these stickers, so early voters will get the worm (or in this case, the sticker). So get out and vote!

On Thursday, the Austin Chronicle released its list of endorsements just ahead of Monday’s first day of early voting. The editorial board chose Celia Israel over Kirk Watson to lead the city for the next two years. (The other candidates in the race include Jennifer Virden, Anthony Bradshaw, Phillip Brual and Gary Spellman.) Although Israel has gathered some neighborhood and Democratic club endorsements, Watson has gotten the lion’s share, so this endorsement seems important for her. The Chronicle also endorsed incumbents Natasha Harper-Madison in District 1 and Paige Ellis in District 8. José Velásquez got the nod in the crowded District 3 race. The board did dual endorsements in District 5, choosing Ryan Alter and Ken Craig to take the seat currently held by Council Member Ann Kitchen, and Ben Leffler and Linda Guerrero in District 9. It seems likely that there will be runoffs in districts 3, 5 and 9; if that is the case, the Chronicle may have to choose between its endorsed candidates.

On the heels of scant rain this month, Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District general manager Tim Loftus has declared that the area is in a Stage III, or critical drought. The last time the district was in critical drought was 2013. According to a press release from the district, Central Texas has seen below-average rainfall every month in 2022, save August and February while May, June and July were the hottest on record in Austin. The combination has pushed the aquifer district into a drought, with reports of dry wells and more to come if conditions don’t improve. According to the district, “Flow from Barton Springs could eventually decrease to the point where ecological, recreational and aesthetic uses of Barton Springs would be damaged.” In light of the drought, officials urge water conservation. Those with groundwater wells should take a look at the district’s well owner guide and other drought resources to help reduce water consumption. “We can’t afford to underestimate the threat that the current drought poses and the need for everyone to do their part to conserve water,” said  Loftus. 

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is preparing to celebrate its 15th Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead festival, an annual tradition in which family and community members celebrate the lives of ancestors, family, friends, veterans, and public figures who have passed on to the other side. This year’s multi-day event kicks off with the Austin Studio Tours opening reception on Nov. 1, continues the following day with a viewing of the Día de los Muertos ofrendas and winds up with the gran fiesta on Nov. 5 from 4-10 p.m. at Sanchez Elementary, 73 San Marcos St. Find more details here.

Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett has organized a concert in support of the Travis County Democratic Party’s campaign to get out the vote. Turn Up the Vote will feature local performers Shawn Colvin, Kelly Willis, Ray Benson, Marcia Ball, Darden Smith, Rosie Flores, The Derailers, Ian Moore, and The Bluebonnets. Advance tickets are $30/$40 at the door. Attendees can expect speeches from Doggett, congressional candidate Greg Casar, state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt and a host of other elected officials. The concert and rally will be at Sagebrush, 5500 S. Congress. Doors open at 1 p.m. Sunday and the concert is 2-8 p.m. Early voting starts Monday. Election day is Nov. 8. Purchase tickets here.

The Moody Center has announced the initial gifts from its Red River Rising initiative, which is intended to positively impact the musicians, businesses and residents connected to the city’s Red River Cultural District, located near the new 15,000-seat arena. The center is awarding three $10,000 grants to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, Mobile Loaves & Fishes and the RRCD, which helps lobby on behalf of music venues and associated businesses in the downtown district. In a statement accompanying the grant announcement, Moody Center vice president of marketing Veronica Cantu said the three recipients, “have performed tremendous work in our community, and I could not be prouder to work with each of these organizations. Living and working in the Live Music Capital of the World where local musicians are the heart and soul of our city, it was important for us at Moody Center to create a platform to give back to the community we play in.”

Austin’s economic growth ranks second in the U.S., according to analysis of the country’s major metro areas by the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business. The study looked at cities’ yearly change in gross domestic product as well as population and total size of their economies. Austin’s 4.3 percent growth rate trailed only San Francisco’s 4.8 percent pace, though Austin’s $216 billion GDP is still dwarfed by the $1.38 trillion economy of the California tech mecca. Other growing Texas cities are Dallas (3.1 percent), San Antonio (2.4 percent) and Houston (1.8 percent). Local leaders can get a close analysis of the Austin economy on Nov. 16 when the Austin Chamber of Commerce presents its annual Economic Outlook luncheon at the JW Marriott hotel downtown. Featured speakers are Texas comptroller Glenn Hegar and Texas A&M University economist Mark Dotzour. Register for the event here.

The Office of the City Auditor is starting work on an audit of the city’s Animal Services Office as directed by Council in a resolution this summer. As part of the audit, community members are invited to talk about their experiences with the shelter at one of three public meetings, starting next Monday from 6:30-8 p.m. at the North Village Branch Library, 2505 Steck Ave. A second meeting will be virtual via WebEx on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 6:30-8 p.m. The third meeting will be in the City Hall Boards and Commission room at 301W. 2nd St. on Nov. 10, 6:30-8 p.m. The auditor’s office plans to hire an external animal sheltering expert knowledgeable in no-kill policies and practices to assist in identifying strategies and recommendations for improved flow of operations, quality care of animals, and a successful, sustainable no-kill shelter. Auditors are expecting recommendations from the public on an expert to help them with the audit. The audit team is also asking community members for their views on the areas of greatest concern regarding animal services. The public input will assist the auditors in narrowing down the focus areas. The audit is expected to be completed by January.

The first performance in a multiyear collaboration between Forklift Danceworks and the Watershed Protection Department will feature 25 Watershed employees, 15 vehicles – including a forklift – and a live musical score by Austin composer Graham Reynolds. The performance, titled The Way of Water: Waller Creek, “will explore the way water moves through Downtown Austin, and what it means for our community,” according to the press release. Watershed assistant director Ramesh Swaminathan said,“It’s going to be unbelievable to see some of the things that Watershed Protection does on a day-to-day basis in the light of an artistic rendition. Our field crews make a dump truck look beautiful and Forklift Danceworks is going to shine a light on the beauty inherent in the work of Watershed Protection.” Tickets are free with reservations. Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 18 & 19 at 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. at the Waller Creek Tunnel Inlet Facility at Waterloo Greenway.

Nonprofit organizations that need help with a project involving data, measurement or program evaluation are encouraged to apply to UT’s RGK Center for Philanthropy & Community Service’s CONNECT program. CONNECT matches community organizations with graduate students who can give an assist with better data practices. Project applications for spring semester are due by Nov. 4. Find more information at RGK Center or by emailing alyssa.studer@austin.utexas.edu.

“Another wave of infections has begun in Europe and will likely reach the U.S. in the next few weeks,” declared Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority, in a news release. “We can get ahead of this by getting the bivalent booster,” she said. “The updated boosters can protect against serious illness caused by newer variants including BA.5 sublineages BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. We need more people – especially children – to complete their primary series to better safeguard our community.” Following Dr. Walkes’ recommendation means getting updated booster doses for those who don’t yet have them. Austin Public Health supports the CDC’s updated booster recommendations for kids 5 and older at least two months after their most recent Covid-19 vaccine. According to the release, “About half of Travis County’s 5- to 11-year-olds are not yet eligible for Covid-19 booster doses because they have not completed their primary vaccination series. About 40 percent of children 5-11 have completed their primary series in Travis County.”