The city’s Office of Civil Rights is hosting an in-person open house “to better understand how implementing changes to support tenants’ rights will impact Austin renters,” according to the news release. The meeting will cover eviction notices, tenant organizing, rental payments and more. The meeting will begin with remarks from Carol Johnson, director of the Office of Civil Rights, and Patricia Link, division chief with the Law Department. As Johnson pointed out, “The right to assemble and redress grievances has always been a significant hallmark of change. The opportunity to provide safe places to address housing issues through tenant organizing will provide another tool for landlords and tenants to continue to work hand-in-hand to ensure that housing choice and housing opportunity is equitable, safe, decent and affordable.” Community members are invited to attend and provide feedback on the topics that interest them. Those who cannot attend the meeting may leave feedback on SpeakUpAustin. Wednesday, June 29, 6:30-8 p.m., Montopolis Recreation and Community Center, 1200 Montopolis Drive.

In a unanimous vote, City Council has approved the Austin CROWN Act, which is intended to prevent hair-based discrimination. The CROWN Act – which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair – was first introduced in 2019 as part of a national movement. It was passed by the U.S. House earlier this year and will next be voted on by the U.S. Senate. In Austin, the city code will be amended to protect people with hairstyles such as afros, braids, locs, twists and Bantu knots from discriminatory employment practices. “Austin will be a much better city for the protections we will bring to those who live, work and play here. Too often minorities are judged not only by the color of their skin, but also by the texture of their hair,” civil rights officer Carol Johnson said in a statement to the press. “Across the country we continue to see the harmful effects of racial discrimination due to natural hair and many states and cities are finding ways to address this through CROWN Act legislation.”

The Watershed Protection Department is expanding a chemical treatment in Lady Bird Lake that has been shown to slow the growth of harmful algae in the water. Last year, the department applied Phoslock over 22 acres of the lake near Red Bud Isle, with encouraging results. This year the treatment will include the north shore of Lady Bird Lake from Interstate 35 to the lagoon by the Festival Beach boat ramp. The rising temperatures and ongoing drought in Central Texas create conditions that are ripe for the growth of harmful blue-green algae, which produces toxins that can sicken both people and pets. The Phoslock treatment will be applied next Monday or Tuesday initially, with a second treatment planned later in the summer. Watershed regularly collects and tests algae samples; find current status of lake samples here.

The Economic Development Department has released a quarterly schedule for public art opportunities. According to the department, “The second quarter of the Art in Public Places’ application period features two public art projects totaling over $1,000,000.” The artwork commissions range from $43,000 to $625,000 and artists have until Aug. 4 to apply online. EDD Director Sylnovia Holt-Rabb said, “We are excited to continue quarterly application open calls for artists to apply for public art. This period of opportunities for artwork are citywide and will expand our public collection in park spaces for all residents and visitors to enjoy.” Find more details about AIPP here. View a map of second-quarter AIPP opportunities here.

March for Our Lives, a national grassroots organization committed to ending gun violence, will be marching once again. According to a news release, Central Texas teenagers are coordinating March for Our Lives Austin, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday on the south steps of the Texas Capitol building. The group is working in partnership with the Austin Justice Coalition, Community Justice Action Fund, and Texas Gun Sense. Participants will call on policymakers as well as communities and individuals to work for tangible solutions to prevent gun deaths. March for Our Lives started in Parkland, Florida, following the February 2018 massacre of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The Austin rally is just one of dozens expected across the country, including at the U.S. Capitol building.

Ironically perhaps, June is Gun Violence Awareness Month. Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter is inviting the press to City Hall at 5:30 p.m. today as she makes a proclamation regarding gun violence. Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon, along with representatives from Moms Demand Action, Texas Gun Sense, Austin’s Office of Violence Prevention, APD’s Victim Services, Community Justice Action Fund, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, Lock Arms for Life, and others are expected to attend.

Two Austin environmental organizations have filed suit against the Federal Aviation Administration seeking to overturn its decision allowing new fuel tanks to be installed at the Austin airport. The groups are the new Southeast Austin Residents and Neighbors Organized for Environmental Justice, or SANAR, and the well-established People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her Resources, or PODER. Austin attorneys Marisa Perales and Lauren Ice are representing the two organizations. The suit, which was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in May, challenges the FAA’s finding on April 8, 2020, that the new fuel tanks will have no significant impact. Construction has begun on the tanks. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, who represents the area, attempted to convince her colleagues to seek a new location for the fuel tanks, but fell one vote short. Airport officials warned that delaying the new tanks would be detrimental to airport operations and potentially raise costs for passengers.

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In collaboration with BookPeople, Austin Public Library is responding to the rash of book-banning across Texas with a summerlong series of events called Banned Camp. A press release explains that the calendar of author events, storytimes and book clubs is a way for community members to “engage with books that have been banned or challenged, and be part of the conversation around the freedom to read.” As Austin Public Library Director Roosevelt Weeks said, “Libraries exist to give people access to all kinds of information, stories, and ideas, and unfortunately, that is increasingly under threat.” Banned Camp, he said, will highlight the library’s efforts “against censorship and book banning.” Launching the series is a conversation with George M. Johnson, author of All Boys Aren’t Blue, on June 16 at 6 p.m. at the Carver Branch Library. Find the full schedule of Banned Camp events here.

Central Health is holding several community conversations this month to inform residents about its recently adopted Healthcare Equity Plan. Attendees will learn how Central Health is “already addressing gaps identified in this plan while working toward developing a comprehensive health care system for Travis County residents with low income.” Choose one of the following events to attend:

• Thursday, June 9, 5:30 p.m., Navarro Early College High School (for patients and community members)
• Thursday, June 16, 11 a.m., Central Health Cesar Chavez office and Facebook Live (for partners and stakeholders)
• Thursday, June 23, 11 a.m., Central Health Southeast Health & Wellness Center (for patients and community members)

Who doesn’t have a favorite tree – or several – around the city? Now you can nominate your best-loved trees for Austin’s retooled Tree of the Year Awards. The original Tree of the Year observance was launched in 2007 and ran until 2013. Nearly a decade later, the awards are back and better than ever, thanks to TreeFolks, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, and their partners and supporters. Community members may submit their nominations in a variety of categories: Small, Large, Schoolyard Tree, Story Tree, and Unique Tree. It shouldn’t be difficult to find suitable trees in every category. Nominate your tree!

Linda Guerrero, 67, who has served on numerous city commissions and boards, has announced her candidacy for the District 9 City Council seat, joining a growing list of candidates for the job. Council Member Kathie Tovo, who currently represents District 9 and has served on Council since 2011, announced earlier this year that she would run for mayor; however, it is unclear whether she still intends to run. Tovo, Council Member Leslie Pool, Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea, former state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos and former Council Member Ora Houston have all endorsed Guerrero. In her news release, Guerrero said, “My goal has always been to bring people together to find sensible, practical solutions that equitably serve the whole city. Our growth is explosive. In some ways, of course that’s good, but it’s creating huge problems, in affordability, transportation, public health, rising property taxes, and our quality of life. Dealing with those problems is the central task of the City Council in the years ahead.” Other District 9 candidates include four men with urbanist views: Tom Wald, Joah Spearman, Zo Qadri, and Ben Leffler.

Over in the race for mayor there are some new candidates too. In addition to Kirk Watson, Celia Israel, Jennifer Virden and fitness trainer Erica Nix, Anthony Bradshaw and Phil Brual have filed appointments of campaign treasurer in recent weeks. Brual, 21, is a government student at the University of Texas. Bradshaw does not have a Facebook page or website. He told the Austin Monitor, “I’m not really into answering questions right now.”

The Project Connect team is preparing for a community engagement meeting to update residents on proposed changes to the Drag that will be needed to accommodate the light rail Orange Line. At design workshops held in December 2021 and February 2022, the team depicted ways the Drag might be transformed. “Design options presented included a transit mall with light rail and bus lanes with no vehicular traffic, as well as light rail with lanes for vehicle traffic and/or buses.” This next meeting “will present updated Orange Line design concepts and corresponding vehicular traffic planning strategies around the Drag.” Register to attend: Tuesday, June 14, 5:30 p.m.

Starting this week, Barton Springs Pool will reopen Wednesdays, returning the wildly popular swimming pool to full operational hours. The pool is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with lifeguards, and 5-8 a.m without lifeguards. The exception is Thursdays, when the pool closes from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for its regularly scheduled weekly cleaning. Speaking of lifeguards … the city’s Aquatic Division continues to seek lifeguards to staff and operate the city’s summertime pools. Pay ranges from $16-$19/hour and includes signing bonuses, paid sick leave, free bus passes and flexible scheduling. Find more details and apply at LifeguardAustin.com.